A special thanks to Robert Rice of Great Commission Air (GCA), www.greatcommissionair.org  for lending his time and experience during international border crossings and initial pilot orientation into Guatemala.

As thunderstorms closed in on Tulsa OK, Chuck Martinez piloted N2379F (T206H) south bound to clear weather in Greenville Texas, a location near the Living Water Teaching U.S. office in Caddo Mills, Texas.  Rob Rice of GCA would join the homecoming on Monday 13 April 09.

In the afternoon, Chuck and Rob departed Greenville (KGVT) for McAllen, TX (KMFE), arriving early evening, 15 April 09.  The following morning before dawn we would depart Texas into Mexico for a fueling stop in Veracruz, Mexico (MVER)

In these early hours, an IFR flight plan was filed and a preflight inspection completed.  With clearance acknowledged, I applied power and began the take off roll and became airborne.  We were vectored and handed off to Mexican controllers as we joined the airway.  Our flight plan would follow the coast to Veracruz, then on to Guatemala.

The aircraft performed flawlessly as we found smooth air at 13,000 ft and settled into cruise flight.  We went on Oxygen as we climbed above 12,500 ft.  After four hours en-route, it was time to descend for landing and fueling in Veracruz.  We were met by the expected armed soldier and customs agents.  All of our paperwork checked out, and it was a matter of closing our flight plan, fueling, eating, paying our fees, and opening a new flight plan for Guatemala City La Aurora Airport (MGGT). 

Departing Veracruz we were cleared to our cruising altitude of 17,000 ft.  Again, the aircraft took little notice of the climb as we began the last leg out of Mexico to Guatemala.  Another four hours passed and we began our decent into La Aurora (MGGT).  It was unnerving descending into the clouds with a volcano poking through them.  From 17,000 to 14,000 to 9,000 Ft. MSL, only to encounter 3 miles visibility and haze so common in Guatemala.

Suspended from a sling on the back of the right seat is a portable oxygen system.  This system enables safe operation at a altitudes above 12,500 feet MSL

From five miles, I requested the visual approach and landed uneventfully.  Now to clear customs, immigration, and flight operations.  it would take another day to obtain a 15 day temporary permission to operate within Guatemala and enable flight to Quetzaltenango.

On the morning of 17 April, with flight plan in hand, MWI supported by GCA departed (MGGT) VFR for our mission base at Quetzaltenango (MGQZ), which is 60NM distance away.  Because of the high terrain between these two points, we did a circle climb from 6,000 to 12,500 feet placing us clear of most mountain and volcano. 

At altitude and over the clouds, a volcano peak still protrudes, shooting a column of ash into the air then back to sleep.  After crossing an 11,000 foot ridge, I got my first look into the valley Quetzaltenango is situated in.  Locating the runway, and after a few descending legs it was time to enter the pattern and land. 

A long anticipated homecoming. 

At 1030 local time on 17 April 2009, Mercy Wings International, a division of Living Water Teaching, at long last was home and at rest.  God is Good!

This Cessna T206H had been parked in this exact spot in 1999.  Now in 2009 the aircraft sports a new logo and refreshed mission in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.