This past week, Dinah and I have been reminded of the passage in James 4:14, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away…”
Last Thursday morning about 9:15 a.m. we departed the Rockport, Texas airport after having spoken the night before. We climbed to 5200 feet in route to 5500 feet for a short one hour trip to meet a luncheon appointment in Huntsville, Texas.
I suddenly smelled something strange and soon saw oil streaming over the top cowling and covering a part of the windshield. I told Dinah that we had a problem and she helped me write down information about our nearest airport in Port Lavaca, Texas. Our decision was to fly toward the airport while watching for a suitable field to put the plane in. There was always a change that we could make the 17.6 miles! We made it 12 miles before the engine lost all power. I picked a pasture that looked dryer than the others and made the approach to land. We were doing fine until at the last minute I saw a cross fence. I pulled back and got the prop and front gear over the fence and just caught the top wire on the strut panels above the main landing gear. The landing was smooth and we rolled to a stop. When I got the engine shut down and gas turned off, Dinah was about 100 yards away wondering why I was so slow.
Other than the engine, the damage was very minor. The big problem was how to get the airplane out of the field which was wet and muddy around the edges and over to the airport about 8 miles away by road. This was done on Friday with a 30 ton cherry picker, and the aircraft was put on the back of a large truck. Things went well until we were stopped at the paved road by the Highway Department, who demanded a permit despite the 6 police car escort we had arranged. At this writing we are still waiting for the folks in Austin to allow us to move the truck. We are told that the permit is “being processed”?
We are most thankful to be alive and unhurt, and have faith that we will be able to raise the funds needed to buy a new engine. We are looking at about $25,000. This includes the cost of getting the plane to the airport. We had hoped to delay this task for another 2 years or so. These engines must be overhauled or replaced every 2000 hours of flying or less since we fly over the ocean.
There are many things to be thankful for. There was a dry field (the only one for 5 miles), the landing was good, we were not hurt, the plane had only minor damage, we were not over the ocean miles from land, we were helped and well treated by the local farmers and pilots, and the local airport has one of the finest engine shops in the State of Texas.
We had a very tight and busy schedule which is now being rearranged. Once we start on the engine after getting the plane to the airport, we will face a minimum of 4 weeks before the work is done. We have much work that can be done during this time. Writing study materials, doing radio programs, and visiting supporting congregations. We still have 4 appointments left on this trip, before returning home.
We have been touched by the generosity of several already. One lady gave Dinah a check for $35 dollars on Sunday night and asked that it not be cashed until her social security check comes in May 4th. She insisted that she wanted to help. Another friend is selling a car to help! Several congregations have contacted us and are looking for ways of helping.
We have done some soul searching, and are convinced that the work must go on, and despite the harrowing experience we must continue in the great work in which we all share. Just Sunday before last, the young people at the Longmire Church in Conroe, Texas presented me with a check for $1000 for buying Bibles in our new WBS outreach. They plan to sell enough “soda cans” to give $5000 to this cause. (Three have already been baptized in the first 8 weeks of this outreach). We can not abandon the work because of a milestone that must be passed.
If you would like to assist in getting the new engine, Checks can be made to the Bahama Mission Church of Christ, and mailed to Gulf Coast Church of Christ, 3825 McGregor Blvd. Ft. Myers, FL. 33901. Mark them for the engine!
david
Bahama Mission Home Page
http://www.flyingpreacher.com/
Mission Contact
David Caskey
Webmaster
Jerry Pickup
http://www.jpickup.com/
