Long years of study, training, hard work, and fund raising found Clifton Brooks, Adventist World Aviation (AWA)–Philippines pilot; Andy Klein, mechanic; and Don Starlin, president, looking at an overwhelming $80,000 still to raise before a plane could be completed and shipped to the Philippines.
As the men agonized over what was already a shoestring budget for starting an aviation program from scratch, they debated whether or not to eliminate the tools/equipment line item and hoped they could conduct maintenance with whatever tools they could beg or borrow in the Philippines. That would, however, only reduce the bottom line by $10,000 and jeopardize proper maintenance.
Realizing this was a God-sized problem and concerned that discouragement could cause the loss of the Philippines crew, Don suggested they turn the problem over to God. It was, after all, He who had called them to build an air support system for frontier missionaries intent on reaching the remaining 100 language groups—mainly mountain tribes—in the Philippines who still lacked the presence of even one Bible-based church.
The men knelt and poured their hearts out in prayer. Only God had the solution.
On Sabbath, June 28, 2003, as Don greeted the congregation following the church service, a couple handed him an envelope and shared with him their passion for the Philippines. They had fallen so much in love with the Filipinos they met a number of years ago that the Delton (Mich.) Church adopted a school on one of the 7,107 islands.
On Monday morning, Don dialed the number on the Rorabecks' business card to thank them for their timely contribution. Herb Rorabeck answered and exclaimed, “God is so good! He sent a customer to my tool business yesterday. The customer purchased enough machinery that I cleared in commission more than twice what we gave for missions on Sabbath!”
“Praise the Lord!” Don responded.
Sensing God’s hand in the relationship, Don related AWA’s need for tools. Don asked Herb if customers traded in tools that could be donated or discounted for the mission project.
Herb responded, “I have three large buildings and 40-foot semi-trailers full of tools. You bring your list and I will give you whatever I have!”
On July 3, Brooks, Klein, Starlin, and Richard Rorabeck went to see the "tool man." They walked through his inventory and selected what they needed for the project! All three AWA representatives considered it one of the most exciting days of their lives. They drove away with a pickup truck and tandem axle trailer full of tools and equipment. When tallied, 90 percent of the items on the project tools/equipment list were in hand!
God continued to bless the project. Work on the plane progressed through the summer and into the fall, and was accomplished using tools donated by God’s tool man.
During the past three years, the mission plane has proven to be a tremendous blessing. Its presence saved the North Philippine Union education director's life after he was crushed by a van he was working under. It has transported malaria patients, flown air support for missionaries working with the Palawan Adventist Mission, Palawan Adventist Hospital, Adventist Frontier Missions (AFM), Philippine Frontier Missions, The Quiet Hour, Laymen’s Ministries, and others. Eight airdrops of food and medicines kept AFM missionaries in Kamantian alive when everyone was too sick with malaria to hike out over the mountains for supplies.
The airplane facilitated the proclamation of the Three Angels' Messages for the first time in the remote Cagayan islands in the Sulu Sea, which resulted in the establishment of two new churches in a region historically dominated by witchcraft. A school building constructed for a Tagbanua tribal village this year on Palawan produced an invitation for religious instruction of the children and a church!
Many Lake Union members played a role in launching and supporting this strategic ministry. Among the many shining examples of those dedicated to foreign missions are the Rorabecks. In the grand plan of salvation, they are humble co-stars in "God’s Tool Time."
For more information and video featuring the project, visit www.flyawa.org. Those interested in donating tools, equipment, HAM Radio gear, time, or other resources to open up the final frontiers, contact Adventist World Aviation at 269-473-0135.
Adventist World Aviation press release
