Many people assume missionaries begin their calling when they arrive overseas. Sam and Nicole Fiala see it differently. They believe every follower of Christ is already on mission wherever God has placed them.
For them, the journey to Peru began long before boarding a plane. Their story reflects a simple but powerful truth. Christians are called to serve God in everyday life whether at work, in relationships or within their community.
Sam explains that faithfulness is not about waiting for a future destination. It is about asking a daily question. Where has God planted me today and how can I serve Him here?
This perspective challenges the common idea that missions only happens overseas. Instead it reminds believers that living for Christ begins right where they are. Mission work is not limited to pastors or pilots. A teacher, mechanic, parent or banker can also live on mission by pointing others toward Jesus.
For Sam and Nicole, this mindset shaped every step of their journey toward missionary aviation.
The path toward global missions was not simple or immediate. Sam first sensed a calling toward missionary aviation in high school. Yet the following years were filled with unexpected closed doors.
At one point during a pilot shortage, he applied to nearly twenty flight schools. None responded. At first, it seemed confusing. Later, he recognized that God was guiding his steps toward a different purpose.
Nicole experienced a similar moment of decision. While living in Costa Rica, she held a stable job with a strong salary and a clear career path. Yet she felt God drawing her toward full-time missions.
Leaving security behind was not easy. Friends and family struggled to understand the decision. Questions about finances and long-term stability surfaced often.
Still, the desire to serve continued to grow. Eventually, God brought Sam and Nicole together while they were volunteering in a youth ministry in Costa Rica. Through conversations and shared ministry, they realized they were both being led toward the same mission.
Their relationship grew from a shared desire to serve Christ and bring the gospel to places where it has not yet reached.
Following God’s call often requires sacrifice. For many missionaries, the greatest challenge is not danger or travel but leaving stability and community behind.
Sam describes the constant movement required during training and support raising. Over the past several years, he has lived in multiple places while preparing for missionary aviation. Each move meant entering a new community and then leaving again.
Nicole experienced another challenge. As a believer in Costa Rica, she often felt alone in her faith journey. Many people around her did not understand Christian convictions or the desire to serve in missions.
Despite those struggles, both discovered something important. God often uses obedience to spark curiosity in others. Friends who once questioned their choices began asking new questions about faith, marriage and purpose.
Even before leaving for Peru, their testimony was already influencing people around them.
A recent vision trip to Peru offered Sam and Nicole their first glimpse of the region where they will serve.
When they arrived, the Amazon jungle was experiencing unusually high flooding. Water levels had risen so much that they traveled by canoe from their home to the aircraft hangar.
While the experience felt adventurous, it also revealed deeper realities.
Nicole expected the transition to feel familiar since she grew up in Latin America. Instead, she experienced significant culture shock. Language differences, local customs and the harsh conditions of remote villages were far different from what she expected.
One flight to a jungle community left a lasting impression. The river that supplied drinking water was also used for washing clothes and bathing. Children played in the same water.
Even more surprising was the language barrier. Many people in the village did not speak Spanish.
In that moment, Nicole realized why aviation and Bible translation remain essential. Aircraft help missionaries reach remote villages while translation ensures people can hear the message of Jesus in their own language.
Throughout their journey, Sam and Nicole have experienced the power of Christian community.
Mentors, church members and mission leaders have invested time in their lives by offering wisdom, accountability and encouragement. These relationships have helped prepare them for both ministry and marriage.
Sam often reflects on a passage from Hebrews 12 that speaks about running the race of faith with endurance while surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.
That image reminds them they are not serving alone. Believers around the world stand with them through prayer, support and encouragement.
Community also fuels the mission itself. When missionaries show up in remote areas, their presence can inspire local believers to step into leadership and share the gospel within their own communities.
In many ways, the mission grows through relationships.
In the Amazon region of Peru, many villages are isolated by jungle terrain and rivers. Roads are rare and travel can take days by boat.
Missionary aviation helps overcome these barriers. Aircraft allow pastors, translators and medical teams to reach communities that would otherwise remain disconnected.
Flights can transport teachers, deliver supplies and connect local believers with training opportunities. In many cases, aviation becomes the bridge that brings the gospel to places where the road simply ends.
For Sam, as a pilot, and Nicole with her background in international logistics, their combined skills will help support these operations.
Together, they hope to serve communities that have limited access to Scripture and Christian teaching.
Stories like this reveal the reality of serving in the last mile of missions.
Millions of people still live in places where access to Scripture and Christian community is limited. Reaching them often requires creative solutions, skilled teams and a willingness to serve in difficult environments.
JAARS works to remove barriers so that unreached communities can experience God’s Word and His love. Aviation, technology and transportation make it possible to reach places that were once inaccessible.
The work can be challenging, but it is filled with moments where faith and adventure meet.
To learn more about how God is working in and through JAARS around the world, check out our Stories page, or click here to view all of our Uncharted Podcast episodes.