Second Airplane for ITM
Purchase and Refurbishment
An aerial view of one of the communities where we work and teach. In this small village are many people hungry to hear the Word of God taught in their heart language.
The Lord has greatly blessed the ministry of ITM over the past several years. We have seen churches established and disciples raised up in remote communities where no churches or mature disciples of Jesus had existed. Our airplane is a vital tool for reaching these isolated locations. Many of the areas we serve can only be reached by river or by air, and travel by airplane is typically safer and faster, saving our missionaries from spending days in a canoe on the river.
The Lord is opening doors into new communities, and bringing more missionaries—including pilots and aircraft mechanics—to ITM. Because of this, we see the need for a second aircraft and have been praying for His provision. The Lord has brought several ministry partners who have come alongside us to support this project, desiring to see the Gospel preached among unreached people of Bolivia. Thank you for partnering with us as we trust the Lord for another airplane for our ministry!
Project Status (Updated April 22, 2021)
We've reached our goal of $110,000 to purchase and refurbish our second airplane! Through your faithfulness, the Lord has provided $40,000 to purchase our second aircraft, as well as $70,000 to refurbish it and import it to Bolivia!
Any additional funds received will allow us to upgrade some of the avionics, and to cover any unexpected expenses.
We thank the Lord for his provision and look forward to the day (hopefully around September 2021) when the airplane arrives in Bolivia ready to support the ministry of ITM!
$0 $110,000Why the need for a second aircraft?
ITM currently owns and operates one Cessna 206 based in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Much of our ministry takes place in “The Beni”, a region located to the north of Cochabamba. Flying to this area requires crossing the mountains at an altitude of up to 15,000 feet and can take up to three hours each way, depending on the specific destination. Our desire is to base a second airplane at another location that would serve the northern part of Bolivia, providing faster and safer access for our church planting and medical ministries.
A second aircraft would also provide redundancy in the case that one aircraft is undergoing maintenance or a required inspection. Two airplanes would also give us increased capacity and flexibility as we respond to needs in the region.
How much will it cost?
A fully refurbished Cessna 206G can cost around $250,000. However, we have the opportunity to purchase a decommissioned airplane from another mission organization for $40,000. As you may have guessed, at this price it will need a lot of work to make it ready to fly in Bolivia. But thankfully there are men and women whom the Lord has gifted and called, willing to give of their time and expertise to take an airplane like the one in the first photo, and transform it into the beautiful airplane in the second photo.
We estimate that an additional $70,000 will be needed for radios, replacement parts, inspections, taxes, duties, etc. This will bring the total cost to around $110,000—less than half of the market value of a newly refurbished airplane.
ITM’s current airplane, shortly after being purchased from MAF.
Our current airplane after being refurbished and flown to Bolivia.
How can I help?
First of all, you can pray with us. We believe the Lord is leading us in this direction, but we are dependent on His leading and provision.
Secondly, you can give. With an initial investment of $40,000 we were able to purchase the aircraft and move it to Georgia, where the aircraft was disassembled, stripped of the old paint, and carefully inspected. Corrosion has been removed, the aircraft has been given a fresh coat of paint, and we are now in the process of reassembly. The engine is currently being overhauled at MMS Aviation. Although we have received the funds we expect to need for this project, any extra funds would help us upgrade components and cover any unexpected costs. Click here to give to this project (select Airplane Project 2).
Finally, you can volunteer. Although specific training and experience are required for some tasks, there are others that only require a servant’s heart and a willingness to learn (although a bit of mechanical aptitude never hurts). Please contact us if you are interested in volunteering.
In Summary…
The Lord has blessed the ministry of ITM, and we have seen His hand at work even in the midst of a global pandemic. Our second aircraft will allow us to be more effective in reaching the areas He has called us to serve. From a human perspective, the timing did not seem right: there was a worldwide health crisis, people are suffering, and so is the economy. Yet, this is the time that God chose to place this opportunity in front of us, and He has provided abundantly!
We are grateful to the Lord, knowing that we are just humble vessels to be used by Him, and that the airplane is just another tool He can use to accomplish His Kingdom purposes. Thank you for praying with us as we continue to bring this project to completion!