The best helper in the world, Robin is happy to do her bit assisting during a recent annual inspection. A clean freak by nature, her attention to detail can make an engine compartment shine. I explained that industrial chemicals can really make short work of otherwise difficult cleanup tasks. On this day I introduced her to one such miracle chemical, Methyl Ethel Ketone (MEK), and mentioned in passing, that the …
Who Are You Working for Anyway?
Many years ago, as a new missionary-pilot, I was also training to become an aircraft mechanic. On the mission field, I must be knowledgeable and well able to manage all the mechanical aspects of the aircraft, in addition to being the pilot. Back then, I was posted at Harvey Young (1H6), a small airstrip in Tulsa OK. While in training, there is always a level of supervision, a safety net …
Serving Creatively
When I was a young boy growing up in San Antonio TX, my family lived in a house with a large front yard covered with a dense, spongy carpet of St. Augustine grass, a gleaming white concrete walk made a lazy “S” from curb to front door. When the lawn was cut and edged it was the greatest thing to run around barefooted feeling the coolness of the deep grass …
Life on Pause
Like a scene out of the Twilight Zone, where for one science-fiction reason or another, hapless characters appear in a world that is seemingly on pause. In our city of Quetzaltenango (Xela Ju), there are areas that are near 500 years old. Some of these established routes started out as animal trail then developed into path, street, road, and finally into these concrete avenue’s. I can imagine that rarely if …
One Last Detail
“We Give Wings to Good Works” is the God-inspired mission and vision of SGSP Aviation. Good aviation comes from giving even the smallest detail adequate attention. Before I kick the tires and light the fires, prayer is always the first and final detail.
Silence is Golden
Chuck & Robin return-to-base (RTB) at Quetzaltenango (MGQZ), after SGSP’s last scheduled ministry support flight of 2019. If you have been following posts throughout the year, Robin has been mastering new tasks and duties like fueling, aircraft marshaling, hangar management, and flight planning. She also enjoys the headset/intercom system when we fly, because it gives her a direct and uninterrupted line to my ears. This enables Robin to chat with …
Making Way for the New!
We’ve marked the calendar, our 13th year as aviation missionaries in Guatemala will soon begin so, It feels right that we prepare a place for 2020 to land. SGSP’s international directors, Chuck & Robin Martinez, will be stateside from mid December 2019 through mid January 2020. Would you like to know how mission aviation (aircraft) helps ministries and missionaries extend the reach of their good works? We will be happy …
With Thanksgiving in Our Hearts
Pastor Wilson Moir, who was my outgoing passenger, took this shot as we flew past Lago Atitlan on our way to Guatemala City. I had not seen this photo until later in the day when it was posted to social media. Stunned, I realized that I was looking at the exact image God placed in our hearts over 20+ years ago, while living in south east Arizona. Up to that …
A New Marshall in the Territory
With 36 feet of wing extending from your A/C, gaining and keeping prospective is difficult when towing or taxiing an airplane, especially when the passage is snug. To perform ground maneuvers safely, so as not to run a wing tip into a wall or another A/C, the responsibility falls to someone who can direct movements from a wider prospective– the Aircraft Marshaller. From a Supreme Prospective, (Serving God by Serving …
Something for Yourself
These women, and several others, work long hours caring for the children at El Hogar Prometido (The Promised Home), in Quetzaltenango. Even so, these workers stay after hours for a little “Me-Time”, to laugh and learn basic sewing skills with Robin. Several have shared how these classes minister to their spirits, binding them together in their work as caregivers.