We had been back on the ground for only 30 minutes when another urgent Palawan helicopter medevac call began a desperate search for a woman in need.
After a six-hour, 24-minute fixed-wing medical transfer, I thought the day’s flying was finished. Then the phone rang
The call came from a PAMAS jungle school teacher in the remote village of Bongbong. Reaching the area requires hours of hiking across rivers, ridges, and steep jungle trails.
A Woman Waiting for Help
The patient had a mass on her right knee. It had been growing for three years.
In 2024, she reached a hospital and learned that she needed surgery. However, her family could not afford treatment.
So she returned home.
The mass continued to grow. Earlier this year, the skin broke open, and the wound reportedly began draining pus. Eventually, she could no longer walk.
In isolated communities, sickness can become life-threatening when transportation is unavailable.
Still, God had not forgotten her.
Preparing for a Palawan Helicopter Medevac
Captain Bill Ringrose makes it his practice to preflight the helicopter so it’s ready every morning. His faithfulness helps our team respond quickly when emergencies arise.
Soon, we prepared for takeoff. However, locating the patient would not be simple.
Her relatives sent a message by radio. Someone near the school relayed it to the teacher, who contacted us.
Because the woman could not walk, we were asked to land near her home.
Unfortunately, we had no coordinates, landmark, or guide below.
We had only two clues:
- Fly toward Bongbong and search somewhere to the right of the school.
- Look for a white plastic sheet.
Searching With Prayer
With this limited information, we lifted off and prayed for God to guide us.
As we neared Bongbong, we scanned ridge after ridge. Eventually, we spotted something white and circled the clearing.
But the clearing was empty, with no one in sight.
Then I noticed something small and white waving in the distance.
It was a flag.
As we turned toward it, people became visible beside a narrow ridge.
We praised God for leading us there.
A Difficult Ridge Landing
The landing area was uneven and too small for the skids to rest flat. Still, Captain Bill landed safely.
After touching down, we learned the patient lived across a gorge and river from where we had landed.
Soon, two men appeared carrying a bamboo pole. Two woven cloths formed a makeshift hammock stretcher. Inside lay the woman.
Her swollen knee was roughly the size of a basketball. Her face tightened with pain.
As we loaded her into the helicopter, I wondered what three years of waiting had felt like.
Not Forgotten by God
During the flight, I asked permission to examine the wound. She hesitated, so I respected her privacy. However, the odor suggested infection.
We landed on the Provincial Hospital helipad and transferred her to the Emergency Room team.
In the remote mountains of the Philippines, mission aviation becomes more than transportation. It carries God’s compassion across barriers that separate patients from medical care.
That day, we departed with little more than a direction, a white flag, and a prayer. It was enough.
God was our ultimate compass. By His grace, we found the woman waiting in the mountains.
More importantly, she was reminded of His promise:
“Yet will I not forget thee.” —Isaiah 49:15, KJV
