"Lord if You answer this prayer, as we believe You will, we pledge to share the story with others." The Lord did answer the prayers, and here is the story:

 

 

In 2004 we were in the US at Uchee Pines Institute, Alabama-getting training in natural remedies & Lifestyle Medicine. We were short of cash but needing to make a move to return to Australia via South Africa, where I was to get some training in missionary surgery at Maluti Adventist Hospital, Lesotho.

 

At this time we were pressed for cash but felt the Lord was testing our faith. We felt we needed to make the step to purchase air tickets on credit, and trust the Lord to provide as we moved forwards in faith.

 

 

In searching the Scriptures for promises on which to base our faith, we found this statement:

 

 

This promise seemed to fit our needs. We needed God to open the windows of Heaven and pour out upon us just some of His many blessings. If He poured out just enough for our needs, it would suffice. Yet He had promised to give us more than we could receive, let alone use!

 

 

So we claimed this promise, but we noted the condition: PAY TITHE.

 

Simple. So we did it. We calculated what we needed to pay for the tickets, and calculated what was tithe (10%) of our need, and decided to do two things:

1/Book the tickets

2/Pay the tithe the following Sabbath.

 

 

We got a little excited about this experiment in faith. We felt like we were about to prove the Lord's faithfulness. We were not afraid to lose in this experiment. The possibility of gaining an experience in faith seemed to easily justify the risk involved.

 

So we booked the tickets by email, and on Friday night we gathered together cash to the value of US$600, which was 10% of what we needed. We put the $600 in an envelope, and wrote Malachi 3:10 on the back of the envelope. On Sabbath, we gave this tithe to the Lord.

 

 

After Sabbath, we checked our email. We were elated to discover that a recent patient at Uchee Pines had decided to send us $600. She had emailed us Friday night (about the time we put our $600 tithe in the envelope and claimed Malachi 3:10) to inform us of her decision to help us. Surely it was no coincidence that she pledged $600!

 

 

We felt that God was speaking to us, reassuring us that He was with us, and that He would provide. We had lost nothing by risking $600. Now we had only to wait to see the Lord provide the remaining 90% of our needs.

 

Within about 6 weeks, the Lord had impressed a variety of people to help us out, and to provide the remaining 90%. Our tickets were paid for, and we were on our way.

 

 

About this time we became increasingly aware of the fact that God requires us to use all our assets, opportunities and advantages for His glory. We analyzed carefully the possessions we owned and wondered if there was some way we could use the small & inexpensive home and property which we own in Australia for the progress of God's work. We didnt want to sell it, as we felt it would be useful as a mission base for the anticipated work we would be doing in the Pacific (Vanuatu). But we were willing to risk taking out a loan with the property as security, in order to advance the Lord's work-and we were willing to lose the property as a result of an unpayable loan-as long as our assets would be invested in the progress of God's work. So this led to the next step of faith...

 

 

Now that we had evidence that God had certainly provided for our needs, we found ourselves in South Africa, where the Lord gave me incredible experiences in surgical training. We felt that God's faithfulness had to be proved again. This time, we knew that God would test us on something much bigger. And that is exactly what happened.

 

South Africa is an excellent place to get a pilot's license-in that the flying standards are internationally recognized, yet the cost is relatively low. I had been impressed that I should get my pilot's license for a long time. I felt it would give me wings as a missionary to do much more and reach a wider sphere than if I didnt have one. I felt that it would perfectly complement my interest in medical missionary work, and would be especially useful in Melanesia and other areas of the South Pacific-our dedicated mission field. Now the opportunity presented itself-through the eyes of faith.

 

 

Again, we had very little money. But God had provided for Step 1 in the experiment. So we decided to take another risk. This time we needed a much larger amount of money, and we went forward once again, spending on credit and asking the Lord earnestly to provide. But before starting, again we calculated 10% of our need and paid it in advance as tithe.

 

This time we were a little scared of the whole venture. We realized that our only valuable asset-our small home in Australia, would be in jeopardy if we could not pay off the debt. If we were unable to repay our loan, the property would have to be sold. But we took heart, deciding that if we were to lose our home for the advancement of the Lord's work, then so be it. The risk seemed small compared to the possibility of being blessed by God.

 

 

I took the training, and got my pilot's license. What a blessing it was to go through that experience! The Lord especially blessed my flying skills and I was told I learned to fly unusually quickly, and was quickly at home in an airplane. I went solo very early and completed the course rapidly. I give God the credit for this. I felt that God's presence was with me, and that He was blessing me.

 

 

Nevertheless, months went by and we returned to Australia in mid 2005. Still we were in debt-heavily. We realized that the time was approaching when we would probably have to sell our small home to pay off our debt. But again and again we pled with God. We asked Him if we had gone into debt presumptiously in order to get my pilot's license. We asked for forgiveness if we had rushed ahead of Him and brought dishonor upon His name. But then we remembered Step 1. God had proved His faithfulness with Step 1 of the experiment. The problem now was the enormity of the money involved-it approached $20,000. Yet in spite of the burden of debt upon us, we accepted the fact that our property must be sold.

 

 

It was while we were carrying our heavy burden of debt and still wondering if God was going to help us, that something amazing happened. While I was sick-very sick with a fever, we were forced to stay with a friend. Learning of our situation, our friend pledged to help us get out of debt, on condition that the money became available to them. Time lingered, and it seemed that for weeks and weeks, our friend was be unable to pay, in spite of a desire to help us. Again we submitted ourselves to the fact that our property must be sold.

 

 

About this time, we were making final moves to come to Vanuatu to start the Vanuatu Project. Time was running out, and we made the decision to prepare the property to sell up. We calculated the time we could survive financially without selling, and presented our situation to the Lord in faith. We wanted to hold onto the property as long as possible, but if forced to, we were truly prepared to sell it. We gave the property to the Lord, asking Him to take it or to leave it as He saw fit. The last days of our time in Australia were passing. At last, 2 days before we were to leave Australia for Vanuatu, we got a phone call from our friend. The money had appeared, and our friend immediately transferred $25,000 in our bank account-enough to pay the debt, and provide us with a starting point for the next step of faith! The thrill of answered prayer elated us, and over and over we had to ask ourselves if we were imagining it, or if God has actually answered our prayer!

 

 

Transportation is a formidable problem in the South Pacific. Travel by water has its advantages, but it also has its disadvantages, difficulties and dangers. We feel impressed that God has given us the opportunity, the desire and the vision to be involved in low cost medical aviation in the South Pacific. Medical aviation as it is normally conducted, with its emphasis on patient retrieval can be very expensive, whereas a doctor who is able to fly himself to areas of need can accomplish more on a smaller budget. In combination with the spreading of the gospel, and with the presentation of the three angel's messages, we feel that our work is just waiting to be done...Click Here for More Information on our Aircraft Project.

 

 

Here we are, working as volunteer missionaries in Vanuatu. We need a plane-our biggest prayer request. Other needs are important, but this is the "big one". We seem to know that God has a step 3 for us. We know that it is the airplane. We know the risk on this one will be bigger than before. We know it will stretch our faith even more. We are waiting the right time. But we know what the Lord has done, and surely, surely it is our duty to have faith in His faithfulness! Our decision has been made, and again we know the procedure-calculate the tithe on what we need, give it to God, then risk all assets in faith to go forward. Leave no stone unturned. Risk all for God.

 

 

This story is written that you also may believe. We are about to embark on Step 3. Our faith has been stretched, but strengthened. We know that God is faithful, that He is well able to keep His word. We ask you to pray for us as we head for Step 3-and what about you? Maybe you are at step 5 or 6. Or are you waiting to start your own experiment in faith with God? We plead with you. Go ahead-give it a try:

 

"...Prove Me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts,