Participants: Narrator: Chet Damron
Series Code: OTG
Program Code: OTG000045A
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00:01 Narrator: Scattered across the globe Adventist World Aviation
00:04 has mission outposts situated in extremely remote areas. 00:10 These were established to help minister 00:12 to local indigenous people. 00:15 Most of these locations are so difficult to reach, 00:18 that aviation is the primary means of reaching them. 00:23 Using aircraft, Adventist World Aviation can deliver 00:27 the gospel message as well as provide lifesaving 00:30 med-evac flights to hundreds. 00:33 The mission of AWA is to provide quick and reliable 00:38 transportation to many parts of the earth, that are 00:41 almost impossible to reach. 00:45 Adventist World Aviation missionaries use the means 00:48 of aviation to spread the love of Jesus all around the world. 00:53 Similarly, the aviation base in Nicaragua has become an 00:58 essential need, that services the Miskito people of that area. 01:50 Clint: I'm Clint Hanley and I live in Northeast Nicaragua, 01:55 in the upper corner along the border of the Rio Cocoa 01:59 with the border of Honduras and I live here with my family, 02:04 2 children and my wife, who is a nurse and we fly this airplane, 02:09 a Cessna 172, for medical work, all around this region, 02:15 covering about 150 miles in all directions. 02:19 Since we started flying 7 years ago, I have flown 530 patients 02:24 from remote communities, or from hospital to hospital and 02:28 approximately 50-80% of those would have, the doctors say 02:33 would have died for sure, had they not had transport. 02:36 To be able to offer them help from a remote runway and get 02:40 them to a place where they can have better medical care, 02:42 is a big blessing that they have and it saves a lot of lives. 02:47 The rest of them needed transport, because they were 02:51 in great pain, let's say they had broken femurs, 02:53 or something like that. 02:54 That if they would have transported by road it would 02:57 have been a lot worse for them, but they probably 02:59 wouldn't have died. 03:00 So it's been a big help to the people and we're happy 03:03 to be a small part of it. 03:05 Narrator: The native Miskito people live in dense jungles 03:08 of Nicaragua and they are often over looked due to their 03:12 difficult geographic location. 03:15 An aviation mission outpost located in this part of the 03:19 country is the perfect solution to helping the Miskito people. 03:25 Recently, Adventist World Aviation adopted a very active 03:29 aviation project in the north east corner of Nicaragua. 03:33 Clint and his wife Marilyn started this project 03:37 10 years ago and with God's guidance, they have developed 03:42 an amazingly active and growing aviation mission base. 03:49 The work the Hanley's do in Nicaragua is truly a lifesaving 03:54 mission to the Miskito people. 03:56 Almost daily, Clint flies med-evac flights and is truly 04:02 an answer to prayer for the people of this region. 04:06 Marilyn, his wife is dedicated to the mission to provide 04:10 medical care to the Miskito people with her skills 04:14 as a nurse. 04:16 Clint: We devote a lot of our attention and time 04:19 to humanitarian aid. 04:21 The right hand arm of the gospel is being able 04:23 to help people medically. 04:25 And being able to offer them this help and being able to give 04:29 them the hope that they can have a better medical care 04:35 by transporting them. 04:37 Narrator: The Hanley's are not satisfied with 04:38 only offering aviation service. 04:41 Their ministry here at Tronquera runs so much deeper than 04:46 the work they do with aviation. 04:48 The family finds new ways to help the local Miskito people. 04:53 Ultimately Hanley's goal is to point others to Jesus. 04:59 Currently, this AWA mission base is the only project 05:03 in Nicaragua conducting med-evac flights. 05:06 They are the ONLY humanitarian aviation support 05:10 in the entire country. 05:13 There are no other aviation projects to help 05:16 the people of Nicaragua. 05:18 Clint: We have the only ambulance for air travel 05:21 in all of Nicaragua, that can carry oxygen and a stretcher. 05:24 Now we are the only airplane is all of Nicaragua, 05:27 that is able to do this. 05:29 And we are the only airplane, that is based 05:33 on the whole Atlantic coast. 05:36 Narrator: Making quite a pair, Clint and Marilyn use their 05:39 individual skills to help the Miskito people. 05:42 Clint is a pilot and transports critically injured patients 05:47 with the use of aviation. 05:49 Marilyn is a registered nurse and finds ways to treat patients 05:55 Clint: Then my wife works with the clinic stuff and and so 05:57 that's another area, that we built a clinic house for and 06:00 built a pharmacy area for that. 06:02 And that's kind of in conjunction with mobile clinics 06:06 that I take doctors often in the airplane and we'll take them 06:09 to a remote village usually them and a nurse, and so my wife 06:13 sometimes will go or sometimes just help the logistics. 06:16 Packing all the medications and stuff that we need. 06:18 And having that all on hand and supplied and taking care of that 06:23 Narrator: To help meet the medical needs of this area, 06:26 the Hanley's have established 06:27 a clinic on the Adventist World Aviation base. 06:32 This clinic has the essential instruments and medications 06:37 needed to treat common medical conditions 06:40 among the Miskito people. 06:42 Each day, patients walk hours to been seen 06:45 in the clinic by Marilyn. 06:47 She graciously clears her schedule for any patient, 06:51 who finds their way to the clinic seeking medical help. 06:55 Often the illness is only minor and she can treat them with the 06:59 supplies she has in storage. 07:02 If the condition is sever, then Clint flies the patient 07:06 to the nearest hospital. 07:08 As a husband and wife team, they can lessen the pain 07:12 and suffering of so many of the Miskito people. 07:18 Caring for pregnant mothers and their young babies 07:21 is an important outreach of the Hanley's. 07:25 Pregnancy in the jungle is difficult, and often mothers 07:29 do not receive any medical care for themselves, or their babies. 07:34 Marilyn: One of the biggest needs, that we have been able 07:38 to help and meet down here in our village of Tronquera, 07:42 is with ladies who are pregnant. 07:44 There is a huge need of education within pregnant ladies 07:50 about how to take care of their bodies. 07:52 What food is nutritious for them to eat. 07:54 They don't always understand how to take care of themselves, 07:59 and often taking care of a new born and breast feeding is very 08:04 intimidating to them. 08:05 I help provide prenatal checks to women, who are pregnant. 08:10 They come every month and receive a prenatal check 08:13 from me, or from the nurse. 08:15 Following that, I provide free prenatal vitamins to them and 08:20 other medications that they might need for whatever illness 08:23 aside from their pregnancy, that might be bothering them. 08:27 Narrator: The Miskito people are poor and have very limited 08:30 opportunities, especially when it comes to health care. 08:34 Marilyn recognizes this need. Since she is a nurse, she has 08:39 taken on the responsibility to help anyone, who comes 08:43 to the mission base seeking medical care. 08:48 Marilyn: The Miskito people that live in small villages typically 08:53 have very little medical care available. 08:57 There is a nurse sometimes in their village or another village 09:00 nearby that is responsible for their healthcare needs. 09:06 However, the nurse is limited by the amount of medicine, 09:10 that they receive from the government clinic. 09:13 Narrator: Marilyn has been working with the Miskito people 09:15 and providing them with medical aid for more than 10 years. 09:20 The village people have come to trust Marilyn and seek her help 09:25 when they need medical care. 09:28 Even the local nurses refer to Marilyn on a regular basis. 09:33 Marilyn: I am a registered nurse and with that has brought the 09:39 availability of helping people understand 09:43 how to live healthier lives. 09:45 I have been able to supplement the medical care, 09:49 that they receive through the government health system. 09:52 I have also been able to do more teaching. 09:56 As a registered nurse, I have more medical training then most 09:59 of the nurses that are attending to the cares here 10:02 in the Miskito villages. 10:04 And what it has done is allowed me to understand what is 10:09 happening behind the symptoms and the other problems, 10:13 that they are having. 10:14 Which has given me the opportunity to explain to them 10:18 and using those explanations when at all possible to draw 10:21 them back toward the lifestyle or diet that the Lord has 10:27 originally given to us. 10:30 To be able to use those things to their health. 10:34 I will see anywhere between ten and fifty patients a month 10:38 on average. 10:39 Narrator: Miskito patients flock to the mission seeking help 10:42 from Marilyn. 10:44 Each day, the natives walk hours for her to see them. 10:48 The mission has the basic medical instruments and 10:52 a pantry full of medications. 10:56 Marilyn: This is our medical store room. 10:58 We have multiple different types of medicines here. 11:02 A few, a couple years ago we bought up to I think $6,000 11:08 in medicine and so we are still using up that right now. 11:12 We have pain medicine, antibiotics, children's liquid 11:17 medicines, gastro medicines for the intestines and worms. 11:22 Cold, cough, flue, vitamins. 11:25 Skin and all kinds of skin topical treatments, 11:31 that we have too. 11:33 The amount of medicine that you see here, using at the current 11:36 rate that I am using it will probably last a couple years. 11:39 However occasionally I have been a little more busy in mobile 11:45 clinics and when that happens, we go through the medicine 11:48 quite more quickly. 11:50 It is dispensed rather, rather fast. 11:55 Narrator: Now Marilyn is not satisfied staying on the mission 11:58 base when she knows neighboring villages need medical help. 12:03 She makes house calls and visits with Miskito people 12:06 as often as she can. 12:09 She especially likes to focus on developing relationships 12:13 with those in the villages that can provide help 12:16 to their fellow villagers. 12:18 She meets with them and continually passes on 12:21 her medical knowledge, so they can better help their neighbors. 12:26 Marilyn: Adealeah is a lay midwife, who we work 12:30 very closely with. 12:31 When the ladies are pregnant, they'll come to her first and 12:36 then if she sees anything that she thinks is a danger signal, 12:40 she'll send them over to us. 12:43 When there's women who need something, that are pregnant, 12:47 she'll bring them to us and we'll discuss it. 12:49 Occasionally they'll need a trip to town for an ultrasound. 12:52 Occasionally they'll need to go to town to have their baby. 12:56 We also, after she's seen them, we will provide vitamins 13:02 to any lady, who is pregnant. 13:05 As long as they have been to see a nurse or a doctor, 13:10 me, or a midwife, which includes Adealeah. 13:15 Just somebody has to check them and because if they don't feel 13:18 comfortable with one person, they're welcome to go to any 13:20 person they want but as long as they are checked, every month 13:23 to prevent problems and then they can receive free vitamins. 13:27 Narrator: Adealeah is the village midwife. 13:30 Her village has around 300 people and 43 homes. 13:35 She and Marilyn work closely together. 13:38 As a midwife, she keeps a close watchful eye on the condition 13:42 of pregnant mothers. 13:44 Then she consults with Marilyn. 13:46 Having a point person in each village to keep an eye on 13:50 pregnancies has made a positive impact. 13:54 Previously, it was very common for women and their babies 13:57 to die during childbirth. 14:00 Now that Adealeah is trained and knows the signs to look for, 14:04 women receive the help they need to deliver 14:06 their babies safely. 14:09 If she sees a worrisome symptom during pregnancy, Adealeah 14:13 immediately sends the patient to Marilyn 14:15 for a more through checkup. 14:18 This process has significantly increased the number 14:22 of successful live births. 14:26 Marilyn Hanley also works very closely with the area nurse. 14:30 Since she speaks fluent Miskito, she has developed 14:34 a relationship of trust and respect. 14:37 The nurse must leave and travel frequently and whenever he does, 14:42 he leaves all his patients to receive care from Marilyn. 14:48 Marilyn: I am available whenever the nurse is gone to back up 14:51 whatever patients might get sick while he is gone. 14:55 But we are also available to transport any patients, 14:58 that he sees at any time. 15:01 Be able to transport them to Waspam or Puerto Cabezas. 15:04 Usually in the truck, but occasionally a few have happened 15:08 in the plane also. 15:10 Sometimes, he or she, depending on who the nurse is, 15:14 has a question about a diagnosis of a patient or a medication 15:18 and then they'll call me in and I can consult with them and 15:21 discuss it and we can come up with a treatment plan together. 15:25 Other times it's been an emergency and they just need 15:31 an extra set of hands and I've been able to go and do that. 15:35 Narrator: This nurse greatly appreciates the relationship, 15:37 that exists with Marilyn. 15:39 He utilizes her knowledge and skills and is grateful to have 15:44 her serving the Miskito people. 15:46 Marilyn: He said that one of the biggest helps is that there's 15:50 not really a truck in most villages to be able to take 15:54 people to the hospital. 15:56 So children who are really sick, or women who are in labor 16:00 and they can't get a truck and they can't get to the bus 16:03 and we are able to take them. 16:08 Narrator: Marilyn and this nurse work closely together. 16:11 He provides the best care for his people 16:14 even with such limited supplies. 16:17 He is thankful to have the mission so close, where he can 16:20 send patients to see Marilyn if he cannot help them. 16:25 Marilyn: People who might feel subconscious about talking 16:29 to a male nurse that they are able to be able to come over 16:32 and see me and consult with us. 16:35 And that we're available to be able to take critical patients 16:37 and accidents, accident people to town. 16:42 So we like to work with him quite closely. 17:00 Today, a young pregnant mother has come to the mission 17:04 complaining of pain. 17:06 She fears for her unborn babies' life. 17:10 Marilyn takes her aside and begins a basic examination. 17:20 Marilyn: She's complaining of some pregnancy issues, 17:24 related to her pregnancy. 17:26 Probably a urinary track infection, but she is, 17:29 the nurse in the village has recommended, that she go 17:32 to Waspam and be checked there by the doctors. 17:37 She's a little more than six months, it's also time for her 17:39 to have her ultrasound. 17:40 So we are going to go ahead and give her money to go on the bus. 17:44 But before she leaves, I'm going to check the babies heart beat 17:47 before she goes. 17:56 Narrator: Marilyn checks for a baby's heartbeat. 17:59 Silence fills the room as they strain to hear any signs 18:03 of life from the ultra sound. 18:07 After a few moments, Marilyn locates the baby's heartbeat. 18:12 The echo of the heart beat rings throughout the room and all 18:16 breathe a sigh of relief. 18:20 The mother now has confirmation, that her baby is alive! 18:25 This mother still needs to undergo more testing then what 18:29 Marilyn can offer at her small clinic. 18:32 There is a hospital at Waspam, where this mother needs to go 18:36 for blood tests and more ultrasounds. 18:40 The mission will help her get the care she needs and help 18:44 transport her to the hospital. 18:52 Marilyn: She is going to go to Waspam and I'm going to 18:55 give her money for passage on the bus and she'll leave 18:58 tomorrow morning on the bus to go to Waspam. 19:02 She will go to see the doctors at the hospital. 19:07 She's not going to like be admitted to the hospital. 19:10 She's just going because that the primary place where she's 19:13 going to receive the care that they need to check her. 19:17 Check her blood, do an ultrasound on the baby, 19:21 check for a urinary tract infection. 19:23 Narrator: Marilyn also gives the mother basic information 19:27 about the nutrition she needs to keep her baby healthy. 19:31 The Miskito people are poor farmers and don't get the 19:34 nutrition they need from their standard meals 19:37 of cassava, rice and beans. 19:40 Before the patient leaves, Marilyn provides the mother 19:43 with prenatal vitamins. 19:44 These vitamins will help the expectant mother pass on good 19:49 nutrients to her unborn child. 19:52 The Hanley's strongly believe in preventative care, 19:55 when it comes to pregnancies. 19:58 However the Miskito women don't have the knowledge, or the means 20:02 to get the help they need. 20:04 In Waspam, the government established a mother's home 20:07 for pregnant women. 20:09 The goal is for expectant mothers to come to this home 20:13 just before they are due, so they are close to the only 20:16 hospital in the area and receive medical care 20:20 when it comes time to deliver. 20:22 However, many villages are too far away for women 20:26 to travel to this home. 20:28 Travel in this area is very difficult, and many villagers 20:31 are limited to places within walking distance. 20:35 Walking for days while pregnant is not ideal. 20:40 The Hanley's have stepped in to the gap and provided a way 20:43 to help these women and their unborn babies. 20:48 Clint: This is the Casa Materna. It's where 20:50 the pregnant ladies come. 20:52 It's sponsored by the government and they have free housing 20:54 for them and feed them. 20:56 And they come about a month before their babies are born 20:58 from the remote communities. 20:59 So we often fly people to this place. 21:03 Waspam is the town we're in. 21:05 We fly them here, if they have a high risk pregnancy. 21:08 Often the first baby, or if there is any complications. 21:11 And then they are able to stay here and if they need any 21:15 hospital visits they can keep going back and forth to the 21:18 hospital and then their baby can actually be delivered 21:19 in the hospital. 21:21 So what this does, is it enables us to be able to cut down on the 21:24 amount of emergencies because we can fly them on a schedule 21:27 or we pay for their bus trip or their boat trip or whatever 21:31 it takes to get them from the community to here when we 21:33 know they are high risk. 21:34 So it cuts down on the sudden emergencies and it enables them 21:37 to have a lot higher expectation of their baby and them living 21:41 because they actually are nearby a hospital when the babies born 21:44 if there're complications. 21:45 Narrator: The Hanley's work in Nicaragua is most valuable. 21:49 This mission base was established for aviation support 21:54 The work transformed into something much deeper. 21:59 Marilyn has been able to be the hands and the feet of Jesus 22:03 in ministering to the physical needs of Miskito people. 22:07 She spends hours each day seeing ill patients, and educating them 22:12 in ways to have a better life. 22:14 She has won the trust of the people in her village and they 22:18 come to her whenever they are in need. 22:20 She is then given the daily opportunity to show them 22:24 the love of Jesus through her medical ministry. 22:30 This work has transformed the area and has impacted hundreds. 22:36 Marilyn: John 10:10 says "I have come that they might have 22:40 life and have it more abundantly." 22:42 And ultimately our mission has been that by helping the people 22:49 have a more abundant life, that it has given them opportunity 22:54 to see Jesus in us, to reach out in spiritual questions and find 23:02 a more abundant life through the infrastructure, through 23:07 health care, through education. 23:09 Through saving their lives and giving them a second chance 23:13 through the aviation program. 23:16 Narrator: As Marilyn and Clint dedicate their work to helping 23:19 other families grow strong, they still have time 23:22 to cherish their own family. 23:24 Each member of the Hanley family is involved in helping 23:27 the mission reach others. 23:30 Having the opportunity to serve others as a family is most 23:33 valuable to Clint and Marilyn. 23:36 Even though they are young, the Hanley children are a valuable 23:39 part of the mission outreach. 23:42 Bredell and Bethany have spent most of their lives in Nicaragua 23:45 They speak the local Miskito language fluently, which opens 23:50 doors of opportunity with the local people. 23:53 Jud: The core of any mission work is building relationships. 23:57 And the Hanley's have been here for almost ten years 24:01 and they have, not just built relationships, but they've 24:05 become part of the community. 24:07 Become part of people's families in a way that no one else ever 24:11 has done here as far as I know. 24:12 By learning the language, and, of course those relationships 24:17 are what builds into sharing your faith. 24:20 Relationships are the foundation of mission work. 24:23 And the Hanley's are a prime example of building deep 24:27 heart felt relationships with the Miskito people here. 24:31 And of course without relationships, without trust, 24:33 it's impossible to share your faith. 24:35 So that foundation has now been laid. 24:38 To begin more ministry, more sharing of faith, and more of 24:43 sharing the love of Jesus Christ with the people 24:45 here in this area. 24:47 Narrator: Speaking Miskito is key to being accepted 24:49 here among the people. 24:51 The entire family all converse with their neighbors 24:54 in their native tongue. 24:56 This makes the local people accept the Hanley's 24:59 as one of their own. 25:01 Creating relationships and establishing a bond with the 25:05 people they have come to help allows the Hanley's to reach 25:09 deeper into the Miskito culture. 25:12 Marilyn: We learned Miskito. 25:14 And we talk to them in their language. 25:16 We have children, who talk in their language. 25:20 And to them, this has been the ultimate sign that we love them, 25:28 and that we care and that we are willing to live here with them. 25:31 Is because we can talk to them in their language. 25:33 We took the time and energy to learn it. 25:36 As far as they're concerned, my children are Miskito. 25:39 Because according to them, my children speak perfect Miskito. 25:44 However, my children speak without an accent. 25:47 And to them, that is a huge message that my children belong 25:52 here in this culture. 25:53 Obviously this is where they are supposed to be. 25:57 Narrator: Brendell and Bethany, both love where they live. 26:00 They enjoy living in this part of the world, where they can 26:03 explore the untamed jungles. 26:09 They experience ministry on a daily basis by being children 26:13 and befriending the locals. 26:16 The Hanley children have learned what it means to be the hands 26:19 and feet of Jesus. 26:21 With the jungle as their playground, Brendell and Bethany 26:25 can honestly say, they love growing up in the mission field. 26:47 Brendell: I am Brendell Howard Hanley and I am twelve years old 26:52 and I really enjoy living in Nicaragua. 26:55 And I have my family here and it's really nice. 27:06 Bethany: I am Bethany Hanley and I live in Nicaragua 27:08 with the Miskito people. 27:09 Daddy transports, people patients in the airplane. 27:14 And mommy is a nurse and teaches some. 27:20 Narrator: The Hanley's understand the value 27:22 of family relationships. 27:24 Although they spend most of their time helping others, 27:28 they make sure that their family is also nurtured. 27:31 At the end of each day, Clint and Marilyn put their work aside 27:35 and concentrate spending time as a family. 27:39 The busy demands of the day fade away, as the Hanley's enjoy the 27:44 company of one another. 27:47 The medical work that this mission does each day is focused 27:51 on strengthening other people's families. 27:55 At the day's end, the work that the Hanley's do, strengthens 28:00 their own family bonds with one another as they happily serve 28:04 the Miskito people as a united family working to advance 28:10 the kingdom of God in Nicaragua. |
Revised 2017-05-22