USA (MNN) — The chairmen of the New York Stock Exchange and
the Boston Medical Center recently donated a $1-million dollar turboprop
airplane to JAARS for its humanitarian purposes.
JAARS, a ministry of Wycliffe Bible Translators, speeds
Bible translation by providing quality services to the missionary teams. Says JAARS President Jim Akovenko, "We are
very grateful for this timely gift from Mr. and Mrs. Carter [Chairman of the
New York Stock Exchange and chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Boston
Medical Center]. The aircraft is a
perfect match for the very short runways that are common in the field of
operations. This aircraft will complement the current fleet and will be pressed
into service immediately upon arrival."
It'll be a great addition to the fleet, which services five
countries with operations in Asia, the Pacific and Africa. The Pilatus PC-6 is well suited for the
conditions common to the hand-hewn airfields in lesser developed areas.
Teams will use the plane for medical evacuations and
assistance to local people in literacy and other forms of community development
through the efforts of JAARS partner, SIL International. SIL is a non-governmental, faith-based
nonprofit language development organization working in over 1400 language
communities worldwide.
The PC-6 will become
a critical component of the JAARS organization's plan to replace its aging
fleet of piston engine aircraft fueled by aviation gas with turbine aircraft in
response to a worldwide shortage of aviation gas. Turbine aircraft burn jet
fuel which is more readily available in places where JAARS aircraft are flown.
YAJASI, JAARS Indonesian counterpart and partner
organization, will operate the aircraft. The timing of the gift is an answer to prayer. Continue to pray that God would provide the
resources needed to allow the teams to translate the Gospel into more heart
languages around the world.
