This past week, the missionary community in Haiti and the DR suffered a tragedy that has impacted us all.
Agape Flights, which provides essential cargo, mail, and aid to hundreds of missionaries and communities across the Caribbean, has been used by RMI and its missionaries for many years. Our missionaries have gotten to know the staff, especially the pilots, as they met the weekly plane. Our hearts were so heavy to hear of the loss of one of Agape’s planes last week in the mountains of southern Haiti.
The Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante, registered N316AF, was reported missing on Thursday, February 5, after delivering mail and cargo to missionaries in Jeremie. The aircraft departed from Jeremie, flying over the mountains on its way to Les Cayes, when it lost contact shortly after takeoff in the mountainous area near Beaumont, about halfway to Les Cayes. So far, the cause of the crash has not been determined.
The wreckage was identified, and rescue teams arrived on site. However, there were no survivors, and no cargo was salvageable due to the impact and subsequent fire. The plane carried 2 of Agape’s pilots. The bodies have been recovered and will be brought back to the US and their families for burial.
Please pray for the families of these 2 men and the whole Agape family. This is a devastating loss for all those who are a part of the Agape agency. Pray also for the many missionaries who knew these pilots personally, as they, too, grieve. I know RMI’s missionaries knew them well and are feeling great loss in the death of dear friends.
Not only were the 2 experienced pilots lost, but the plane as well. The plane has been a great tool in supplying missionaries and agencies as they share the Gospel both spiritually and practically across the Caribbean. It is a loss to many missionaries in Haiti and the Dominican Republic who have depended on this service for mail and essential supplies. It has been a key lifeline for many people and ministries.
With the terrible loss of Agape’s plane and the tragic loss of the lives of two of their pilots, there is also the loss of the cargo that was being transported to Haiti and the DR. Even though this loss is negligible in comparison, it still has an impact. Unfortunately, RMI’s two missionaries in the DR, the Tluecks and the Starkeys, were scheduled to receive significant deliveries that day. Tessa Andrews in Les Cayes also lost some cargo.
When I asked our missionaries and office to total up the cost to replace what was lost, the total cost came to $13,500. There were over 800 lbs. of RMI cargo on the plane between the 2 DR families. The Tluceks arrived in the DR on Dec 30th. They lost 80% of their wardrobe and shoes for the next year, including for themselves and their 3 boys, and are left with only the items they had in their suitcases. Many kitchen items and equipment for establishing their new home and ministry were lost. The Starkeys lost many of their Christmas gifts for them and their kids, as well as many items and some outdoor furniture they had ordered for moving into a new house they just rented. These are just a few examples of the items that were lost. Most of these things had been purchased with personal funds.
RMI has set up a fund if you would like to help these families replace what was lost. This is a real need for them, as these were essential to helping them establish their families and homes in their new mission field. If you would like to help, please designate your check or donation to “Lost Cargo.” The funds will be forwarded to the families to help them replace what they lost. This amount also includes shipping and customs costs.
Thank you for your prayers for our dear friends at Agape Flights and all those they serve. Thank you for praying for our missionaries who have been impacted in so many ways by this tragedy. Thank you for considering a gift to encourage them as they seek to replace the items lost in this tragedy.
Partnering together to see lives transformed in Christ,
Daniel Shoemaker
President
