Becoming a Jungle Pilot: An Amazon Missionary Story

By Ruth Scheltema

Growing up on a farm as a boy wasn't easy and sometimes even dangerous for Hank. Filling the tall silo with chopped cornstalks was always hot and sweaty, so he and his friend decided to push their hayforks into the pile and climb down for a cool drink.

On the way down the ladder, Hank heard a noise from above. He looked up to see a pitchfork falling straight at him. He pressed himself tightly against the ladder, ducked his head under one arm, and screamed, "Watch out below!"

The falling pitchfork whizzed past Hank, but his friend, now on the ground, didn't have time to step back out of harm's way. The pitchfork slammed into his skull and knocked him to his knees.

It was the hardest thing Hank had ever done, but with his heart hammering, he grabbed the fork with two hands and yanked it from his friend's head. Helping his friend lay out on the ground, he ran to get help.

This fearful accident that might have threatened his own life caused Hank to question, "What if that happened to me? Why did God spare my life.?"

Read and find the answer to God's plan for Hank.

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9781638748601

Book preview

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Becoming a Jungle Pilot

An Amazon Missionary Story

Ruth Scheltema

Copyright © 2022 by Ruth Scheltema

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

All Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible. Copyright @ 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson Inc. Nashville, Tennessee.

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

On Your Mark—Get Set

Detours

Go!

Standing in the Need of Prayer

Jungle Indians

Children’s children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their father.

—Proverbs17:6–7a

Several of our grandchildren and all of our great grandchildren did not have the privilege of knowing Hank personally. To them, I dedicate this partial biography. I want them to think of Herwin Henry (Hank) Scheltema as a loving, faithful servant of God, whom God blessed and used throughout his lifetime. I remind them of their grandfather’s life verse in 1 Corinthians 15:58: Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Acknowledgments

This book has been in the making for many years. With the passing of those years, it became evident to me that flash cards, for a teacher’s use in the classroom, would not become a reality. I had originally intended it to be a biographical missionary story (based on my husband, Hank’s, life), formatted in five lessons for vacation Bible school, five -day Bib le club, or children’s church. I contracted an excellent artist, a good friend of Hank’s, to paint the eleven-by-fourteen-inch illustrations for twenty-two teaching flash cards to accompany the story and classroom activities.

Due to many stops and starts—all in God’s plan—Barry Thomas was unable to complete them all; however, I’m thankful that most of the beautiful renditions appearing throughout the chapters display his God-given gift. Interspersed among his works are many photographs, taken by Hank himself, which I used to make up the deficit of painted illustrations.

I’m thankful to family members and many friends who have prayed, encouraged, and helped me get this book published.

Since Hank’s passing into heaven in 2003, grandchildren and great grandchildren have matured without ever having known him personally. I pray that this partial biography of his first years serving God as a pioneer pilot in the Amazon of Brazil will acquaint them with an amazing great grandpa. His life blessed many around the world, and I pray you will be blessed as you read.

On Your Mark—Get Set