Decisions, decisions, decisions

Hi Folks,

As much as Carolyn and I are just "chompin at the bit" to get this Avion trailer out to Puerto Cabezas, we have decided to pause, pray, and consider.

We have been thinking about the last leg of our trip to Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua quite a bit, naturally. We have prayerfully decided that it is a bit wiser to leave the trailer here in Managua, safe and secure, at the National Overseers office, while we continue on to Puerto and prepare a secure location for the trailer.

When we finally DO get the trailer out to Puerto Cabezas, it is likely to draw attention, both good and bad. We want to ensure the security of the trailer so we will be going on out to construct a fence to encircle the area, and a concrete pad for it to rest on.

We expect it to take a couple of weeks, or at the MOST a couple of months, depending on how/when God helps us to raise the funds for this little construction project. You can help of course, if you feel like it is something you want to get involved with.

We feel this is the wisest course to pursue right now, what do YOU think?

Dios le bendiga grandemente a su familia y ministerio.

Casa de Servicio, International

Missionary Aviation, Medical Evacuation

Church of God, World Missions Project #: 065-0497

http://www.casadeservicio.org/

Richard & Carolyn Becton

1135 Ponderosa Dr

Cleveland, TN 37312

210 392-9574 (for dialing from the US, and for messages)

011 505 613-5824 (Our number in Nicaragua)

flight@flash.net

http://www.myspace.com/rbecton

http://www.casadeservicio.org/blog/

ADDRESS IN NICA:

Iglesia de Dios, Central

Missionero Richard Becton

Barrio: 19 de Julio

Puerto Cabezas, R.A.A.N.

Nicaragua, Central America

We have arrived into Managua

Hi Folks, Carolyn and I have made the easy part of the trip, we have arrived into Managua...last night in fact. We crossed the border into Mexico on Monday afternoon (Aug. 18) at 4:30pm, and we crossed into Nicaragua at about 4:00pm (local time, 5:00pm CST) yesterday afternoon. We arrived into Managua last night at about 8:30pm (local). We had many occasions to test our skill at backing up a 32' long travel trailer. We had many tense situations that led us to doubt the wisdom of making this journey, while pulling this trailer. I believe that, so far, the most challenging leg of our journey was the trip through Guatemala. The streets through the cities in Guatemala are phenomenally narrow. We had serious doubts as to whether or not we would make it through, a time or two. We survived the trip through Guatemala with only two major instances. As we were passing through the city of Aguacatlan, we managed to "swap paint" with a Toyota Hiace that was passing through in the opposite direction. We broke his rear window and he scraped a small protrusion off of our trailer. We met on the other side of town, with the police attending interestedly. After an hour or so it was agreed that I should pay for the window to be replaced. God was with us in this encounter. Those of you that have traveled in Central America know that it could have turned out a WHOLE LOT worse. We were a bit anxious until the whole situation was resolved. I really didn't want to spend any time in a Guatemalan jail cell. You really have to SEE the narrowness of the streets to understand how this happened. We were passing through to the east, and the other guy was passing through to the west. We were passing fine, I had clearance of inches on the right and maybe a little less on the left. The other guy wasn't pulled as far over to the right as he probably should have been, but that is perfectly natural...we drive on the left side and most of us aren't as confident in our depth perception on the "far side". Anyway, as we were passing, the trailer rolled over a small pothole and took a slight "jog", a tilt, to the left and right. That's when his window broke. We were traveling very slowly of course, creeping along. The second incident in Guatemala happened coming down the mountains just before the town of Sacapulus. The mountains are incredibly steep! We lost the brakes partway down the mountain and had to pull over. We had just enough brakes to come to a stop on a somewhat smaller incline. The brakes were "roiling smoke". We let everything cool down, waited about two hours, and then got back on the road. We had intended to park overnight at that lovely little spot, but the local people gathered around and asked questions like, "how much is this worth?", and "how many people are in there?". We didn't have a warm, cozy feeling about the spot after that. Those questions really are rather innocent, but we felt it better to move on. We limped down the road past Sacapulus, and even further. Though we didn't have confidence in the brakes, we did have enough to make it work. I'm afraid we may have abused the transmission on the next couple of hills in order to not build up any speed. You just haven't lived until you've crawled down a Guatemalan mountain, in the middle of the night, doing 20MPH with brakes that are worrisome...hahaha. God was with us the whole way. He provided a spot for us to pull over when we needed to pull over badly (coming down the mountain, with almost no brakes), and He also provided the perfect policeman to attend the "swapping paint" incident. The policeman that came to the scene was really on our side. Telling the OTHER driver that the damage wasn't that bad, and that since HE knew the roads better (he was a local) that he should have been more careful, etc. I could've hugged that cop! It cost us $205 dollars for the window, cheap! Other than getting lost a few times in major cities (a part of driving down here) while pulling a 32' travel trailer...nothing much else happened. I was offered the opportunity to bribe a border official, we were pulled over by a policeman in Managua and offered the opportunity to bribe a local police officer, and silly little things like that, typical for Central America. We still need your prayers folks! The hardest part of the journey is YET TO COME. We are planning on leaving Managua for Puerto Cabezas on either Tuesday or Wednesday. The roads are plenty wide, in most places, but extremely BAD. THIS is the part of the journey that I have been dreading. Keep us "prayed up", please! Richard and Carolyn Becton

just because

Hi Folks,

 

     Simply because we have a good internet connection here in Brownsville, I am passing along a note to tell you that God loves you.

 

     We extend an invitation to you to visit us in Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua.

 

Richard and Carolyn Becton

flight@flash.net

www.casadeservicio.org

 

Leaving for Nicaragua tomorrow.

Hi Folks,

Carolyn and I are leaving San Antonio today, headed for Brownsville, TX. We will spend the night in Brownsville tonight, and cross the border into Old Mexico tomorrow morning.

We have enjoyed our stay in the United States (although it IS expensive here). I have gained weight, caught a cold, ate a LOT of hamburgers, ate a TON of Mexican food, and am now ready to head for HOME, Nicaragua.

Carolyn had a bout of food poisening yesterday, thank God it was only a "touch". She was physically nauseous all day long, and didn't eat anything but two pieces of toast. Keep her in your prayers please folks. She is feeling much better this morning. Well enough for us to depart San Antonio.

We will keep everyone updated as to our progress, and please keep this journey in your prayers as well. We know that God is IN CHARGE, and we need His help for this journey to progress smoothly. We are driving down, pulling a 32' travel trailer.



Dios le bendiga grandemente a su familia y ministerio.

Casa de Servicio, International
Missionary Aviation, Medical Evacuation
Church of God, World Missions Project #: 065-0497
http://www.casadeservicio.org/

Richard & Carolyn Becton
1135 Ponderosa Dr
Cleveland, TN 37312
210 392-9574 (for dialing from the US, and for messages)
011 505 613-5824 (Our number in Nicaragua)

flight@flash.net
http://www.myspace.com/rbecton
http://www.casadeservicio.org/blog/

ADDRESS IN NICA:

Iglesia de Dios, Central
Missionero Richard Becton
Barrio: 19 de Julio
Puerto Cabezas, R.A.A.N.
Nicaragua, Central America

General Assembly and road trip to Nicaragua 2

Hi Folks,

 

     The 72nd General Assembly of the Church of God has now been closed.  The Assembly was a blessing to us personally, and the church as a whole.

 

     Our trip to Puerto Cabezas by travel trailer has taken a slight delay while we work on two electrical problems with the Avion trailer.  We need to get these two things fixed prior to our trip, while we are still here in the United States.  The electrical system in the Avion consists of two separate types of systems, 12volt and 110volt.  The trailer is supposed to automatically switch from the 110volt system to the 12volt system when the trailer is unplugged from its 110volt source.  That isn't happening.  When we are "unplugged", we are supposed to have full usage of the 12volt system, drawing from the two batteries on the Avion, or the towing vehicle if it is attached to the trailer.  That would give us lighting and power the master electrical panel which tells the refrigerator to switch (automatically) from AC to LPgas.  As it is right now, when the trailer is unplugged, we have NOTHING. 

 

     This tells me that the converter is working, because when we ARE plugged in, we have full 12volt service available, just nothing when we unplug.  The Avion has a "12volt kill" switch, which according to the manual should always be kept in the "on" position.  We can't run it in the "on" position, because as soon as we switch it to the "on" position it immediately "clicks back to off".  That leads me to believe that there is a short in the trailer.  I am spending my time trying to figure out where this "short" is.  If I can't find it in the next few days, I will be forced to take it to a dealership.  The "kill switch" itself COULD be bad too. 

 

     THE SECOND PROBLEM we are having is a minor one, and I should be able to fix it today.  The trailer braking system isn't working properly.  I know that the system on the Avion works well, because when it is attached to my Toyota Tundra the brakes work with no problem.  However, when it is attached to the Suburban (donated by my Christian Brother in South Carolina) the trailer brakes do not work.  I am thinking it is the trailer brake controller in the Suburban, and I will fix THAT today.  Either by rewiring the existing controller, or by purchasing a new controller and installing it. 

 

     Please keep our mission in your prayers as we struggle to fix these problems.  Each and every day we remain in the United States costs us a lot of money, and so your prayers that we can solve these problems quickly, and without the necessity of visiting an RV repair facility are coveted.

 

     God bless you!

 

Dios le bendiga grandemente a su familia y ministerio.
 
Casa de Servicio, International
Missionary Aviation, Medical Evacuation
Church of God, World Missions Project #: 065-0497
http://www.casadeservicio.org
 
Richard & Carolyn Becton
1135 Ponderosa Dr
Cleveland, TN 37312
210 392-9574 (for dialing from the US, and for messages)
011 505 613-5824 (Our number in Nicaragua)

 

flight@flash.net
http://www.myspace.com/rbecton
http://www.casadeservicio.org/blog/

 

ADDRESS IN NICA:

 

Iglesia de Dios, Central
Missionero Richard Becton
Barrio: 19 de Julio
Puerto Cabezas, R.A.A.N.
Nicaragua, Central America

our old company

Hi Folks,

 

     An interesting thing happened in the last couple of months.  This "thing" is outside the realm of ministerial application and harkens back to the time when Carolyn and I both worked at Flight Options, LLC.

 

     One of our aviation "heroes" has retaken the helm of that once venerated company.  Because Ken Ricci is once again involved in the decision making at Flight Options the prospects not only for its success, but the companies actual continuation as a corporate entity, is practically assured.  Ken has taken the position as Chairman of the Board at Flight Options, and we wish him the heartiest congratulations on reacquiring control of his "baby".

 

   Richard Becton

Dios le bendiga grandemente a su familia y ministerio.
 
Casa de Servicio, International
Missionary Aviation, Medical Evacuation
Church of God, World Missions Project #: 065-0497
http://www.casadeservicio.org
 
Richard & Carolyn Becton
1135 Ponderosa Dr
Cleveland, TN 37312
210 392-9574 (for dialing from the US, and for messages)
011 505 613-5824 (Our number in Nicaragua)

 

flight@flash.net
http://www.myspace.com/rbecton
http://www.casadeservicio.org/blog/

 

ADDRESS IN NICA:

 

Iglesia de Dios, Central
Missionero Richard Becton
Barrio: 19 de Julio
Puerto Cabezas, R.A.A.N.
Nicaragua, Central America