Jungle Pilot

I will trust and not be afraid.

Isaiah 12:2

Johnny Keenan, Missionary Pilot Ecuador SA, 1956

photo by Bill Gibson

Not only was he a really nice man, he was an excellent pilot. I was never afraid when I flew with him, because I was convinced that even if we had to land on top of a tree, “Uncle Johnny” would somehow make sure we were all safe.

I can’t say enough about the pilots that fly for the MAF (Missionary Aviation Fellowship).

From My Inbox

Someone sent me this via email, I thought you guys might enjoy it, feel free to pass it on. (You can click on the images to view them full size.) Enjoy!



















God Bless You

Bill Gibson

I saw the Lord always before me, therefore my heart was glad.
Acts 2:25-26

Bill Gibson, Christian missionary.
Ecuador SA, 1957

There aren’t very many photos of Bill, since he was the photographer. This is a photo taken as he was leaving on a long trek to visit some natives that had never before been contacted by the “white man”. Bill talks about his visit to Wari Entza in this missionary story.

Bill was not a hunter, the gun was a necessary precaution, not just because of snakes, wild pigs, jaguars, and other wildlife, but also because a few years previous, several missionaries had been killed by the Huaroni, a tribe living deep in the jungle. So, Bill had no idea of what to expect.

I suspect that one of the reasons this picture was taken was in case he never came back.

Visiting Nurse

I do trust in the steadfast love of God
to time indefinite, even forever.
~Psalm 52:8

Gladis Gibson, missionary nurse.

Cumai, Ecuador SA, 1954, photo by Bill Gibson

The soft focus of this image really brings home the soft quality of Gladis Gibson’s heart and her healing work.

In order to make a home visit, everything that might possibly be needed was packed into a big basket that had originally been intended as a bassinet. The trick was to pack the basket as light as possible, because it had to be carried, and at the same time put as much into it as you possibly could because you never knew what exactly would be needed.

All the visits were made on foot, as there were no roads and no cars. I’m not entirely sure why horses weren’t used more often. It could be that they weren’t practical, because of the density of the rainforest and the depth of the mud.

Today's Gospel Message

Some thoughts on Hope

Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians closes with these words.." and now these remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." We hear much abut faith and much about love but hope seems to be the neglected triplet.

Dr. Armand Mayo Nicoli of Harvard Medical School writes: "The word hope is used and heard little in our culture. Perhaps hope conflicts with our concept of a scientific world." Many books exist about faith and love but very few on hope. Hope is essential to sanity and a balanced outlook on life. We all need to hope, as hope will sustain us in perilous times.

Hope looks forward to something good. Faith looks to the person who has promised and hope to the thing promised. Faith is the root, hope is the fruit. Faith looks to who and hope to what. Real hope for the future is grounded in the promise of God and guaranteed in the resurrection of Christ Jesus. Hope needs to be based on reality. It is not a mere wish or strong desire.

In a world filled with fear for the future, do you have a hope? Where is your hope and on what is it based? It seems we need to examine to see if our hope is real hope or a mere dream. The hymn writer wrote these words in his song, "The Solid Rock" :

"My hope is built on nothing less,
than Jesus blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus name."

Put your trust in God. His promise never fails.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace
as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
~Romans 15:13

Thank you very, very much.
Bill Gibson
Texas, October 1990

Shaman

The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.
Hebrews 13:6

Shuar (Jivaro) witchdoctor

transformed from enemy to friend through prayer.

Ecuador SA, 1953

photo by Bill Gibson

The shaman, or witchdoctor was greatly respected, feared and obeyed. Acting as the main leaders and focus of local conflicts, shamans were believed to both cure and kill through magical means.

It was very dangerous to have a shaman for an enemy, especially in the early days when heads were still being taken, and killing raids were not uncommon. Even as late as1980, group conflicts between local shamans still erupted into full scale feuds with loss of life.

Jungle Church

This I know, that God is for me.

-Psalm 56:9

Church built by believers. Unknown location. 1950
Photograph by Bill Gibson

What I remember most about church was that the split log benches had no backs, and so it was really hard to fall asleep during the sermon.

The natives who came loved to sing, and they especially loved to learn songs in English. They sang loudly, enthusiastically, and always off key. It was wonderful! My dad played the trumpet, my mom played the accordion, and there was an old pump organ that she also played.

Dogs, chickens, children, everyone came to church. One Sunday, someone saw a wild pig, and that was the end of the service. Everyone jumped up and ran out to try to catch it.

After church, my mom would open the clinic, and we’d share homemade bread, meat, and whatever else we had with all those who wanted to stay after.

There were no roads, no cars, everyone who came to church walked through the jungle. For some the walk could be as long as a couple of hours, maybe longer. So, every effort was made to care not just for the spiritual needs of those who came, but for their physical needs as well.