In 1936, Alliance pioneer Robert A. Jaffray envisioned a "vast host of people in the mountains of New Guinea" crying out for the gospel. "If men after gold and oil may go [there]," he wrote, referring to early explorers, "why not the missionary seeking precious souls, even though he may have to fly to them? " The Alliance took up Jaffray's challenge and became the first Christian Mission to own aircraft for furthering the cause of world evangelization.
Captain Edward Ulrich, a highly skilled Army Air Corps pilot and training instructor, was assigned to be part of the first team to enter the Baliem Valley. Becoming a literal lifeline for missionary pioneers such as Walter Post, Myron Bromely, Einar Mickelson, Ken Troutman, and others was demanding work. Prayer and precision flying was necessary. Loading and unloading building supplies, furnishings, camping equipment, personal belongings, food supplies, generators, fuel- even a kitten as a Christmas gift for a young missionary boy - were veritable labors of love. Words like "adventure, adversity, peril and tragedy" also describe their experiences. Out There Beyond Beyond, is a gripping, white knuckle story of courage and caring- with a surpise ending.