WRITTEN BY LUKE HAMER
The call came like any other. Chris, our Medical Director answered. The person on the other end explained that a 10 year old boy had fallen out of a tree. A tall tree at that. After Chris hung up the phone, I knew we had a flight, but it would have to wait. The sun was just setting behind the horizon. We all felt a little anxious as we wanted to get this boy as soon as possible.
The last child our team had brought in that fell out of a tree passed away.
We planned for departure as soon as we got a weather report confirming the usual Sepik River fog had lifted. Chris and I were wheels up at 8am sharp and within 40 minutes we were circling the village of Amboin. A low pass to check for debris on the small tributary called the Karawari River told me the water was high enough to land, but a few sunken logs that I could see would not allow me too much room for error.
After the plane slowed to an idle on the water, we pulled up and beached the plane on the mud bank. A village health worker and the boy, along with his father, were already sitting there in a dugout canoe awaiting the arrival of the “Saman Balus.” I asked some young men along the shore to hold the ropes of the plane and make sure to not let go as the current was especially swift that day. The boy’s father skillfully paddled his canoe to the other side where we opened the rear doors of our Cessna 206 and where Chris was waiting to evaluate the boy and see what his future might hold.
The boy was awake. Good. Speaking? Yes. His name was Nehemiah.
We wanted to share because this is what is happening EVERY day through the ministry of Samaritan Aviation. Real people, with real names, from real families, in real communities, are experiencing the love, peace, healing, and restoration that is only found in Jesus through this ministry.
It wasn’t long before Chris knew he had a few broken ribs and a collapsed lung.
“Can you tell me what happened” Chris asked.
“I fell out of a tree, Masalai pushed me.” Nehemiah replied.
Less than a minute later, Chris had lifted Nehemiah onto the stretcher and his father was sitting in the backseat of the plane. Chris started an IV for him while I went to the other side to explain to the men how to release the plane on my cue.
The current was swift, and if the engine didn’t start on the first try, it wouldn’t be long until we swung around and hit the bank behind us. Chris gathered everyone around and we all bowed our heads as we asked God to protect us in flight, to give the doctors knowledge, and that Nehemiah would come to learn about Christ and how Jesus came to save him.
It was a pretty standard takeoff from the Karawari River. As I worked to dodge debris, we began to accelerate and make our way down-river. As we climbed out over the trees, I could hear Chris on his headset.
