14 Barbers - December 2012

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    Greetings friends and family!

    Often I am asked by individu-

    als at home how I am enjoy-

    ing my role as Chief Engineer.I love my job here! This posi-

    tion keeps me very busy with

    many responsibilities weigh-

    ing on my shoulders, but I

    love being here and the peo-

    ple I work with. In October,

    we had the MAF Day of

    Prayer at the hangar and it

    was great to see our local

    staff leading prayer times,

    worship, and preaching that

    day! It is also encouraging to

    see how much of an impact

    MAF is making in Madagas-

    carnot only for the locals,

    but for the missions we serve

    as well. MAF is not just about

    flying people in and out of

    remote places. We specialize

    in logistics, vehicle mainte-

    nance, and communications

    too. Our large vehicle mainte-

    nance garage serves hun-dreds of different missions

    vehicles to help make their

    work possible here. Also, we

    handle logistics work for

    other organizations: import-

    ing containers, applying for

    drivers licenses, visas, etc.

    As Chief Engineer, my role is

    multi-faceted and at times,

    intense, but despite the steep

    learning curve and new sys-

    tems being implemented bythe local aviation authority, I

    really love my calling here. It

    has been fantastic to be a

    part of the work in Madagas-

    car this year.

    The demand on the Cessna-

    182 is high! And we are

    developing our parts in

    tory at the hangar for d

    repairs and maintenancewhen the aircraft is do

    missionaries are waiting!

    biggest challenge we

    rently face with this new

    craft is lack of spare part

    hand and knowing what p

    to keep on hand! Becaus

    parts must be imported,

    shipping costs are extrem

    high and it can take 3 t

    days minimum to rec

    them.

    Please continue to pray

    the MAF program in M

    gascar as we grow and

    velop more resources to

    the vision continue. Th

    you for being a part of

    ministry with us.

    December 2012December 2012December 2012

    A local girl selling lava rocks

    Working under the dash Working on the new engine mount

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    Prayer & Praise:

    Praise the Lord. Michel (Robs co-mechanic) is doing much better after his

    heart issues a few months ago.

    Please pray for Rob as many things are pressing and he is extremely busy

    with paperwork and aircraft maintenance! Pray for discernment and wisdo

    to balance it all.

    Praise God for the great demand

    on the Cessna 182!

    Praise God! This ministry is a partnership and we are so thankful for each anevery gift that continues to be received from our loved ones in Canada, the U.S

    and the U.K.! Your partnership is vital in keeping the mission of MAF going

    MAF Canada264 Woodlawn Rd. W.

    Guelph, ON N1H 1B6

    1 (877) 351-9344http://www.mafc.org

    MAF USA

    PO Box 47

    Nampa, ID 83653

    1 (800) 359-7623http://www.maf.org

    mafbarbers.blogspot.com

    The Barber FamilyServing Godin Madagascar through MAF

    We are so encouraged to receivemails and news from home!

    [email protected]

    Is it Christmas time already? Its beginning to not

    feel a lot like Christmas in Madagascar. The rainy

    season has begun, and the heat of summer has set

    in. The rain is welcome after a 6-month absence! I

    found myself smiling one morning lying in bed

    listening to the rain pound down on our roof. The

    flowers are blooming, school is in full swing, andthe activities of family life continue. Over the past

    several months we have enjoyed some new activi-

    ties and a long-awaited visit from a very special

    Oma (Robs mom). We celebrated birthdays and

    visited new places.

    Once a week, Faith goes to a local equestrian cen-

    ter. She loves the horses and always looks forward

    to riding. During Omas visit it was evident to me

    how much we really have adapted to life in Mada-

    gascar. Suddenly places we took her to, traffic we

    were caught up in, long waits at the bank, and

    being surrounded by the make-shiftness of a 3rd

    World City were fresh for me again. I realizedhow used to it I had become. It encouraged me,

    but also challenged me. I am encouraged by the

    idea that we are adapting first of all. Homesick-

    ness still plagues me at times primarily for peo-

    ple, but also for the niceness of a North American

    store, and nice residential areas, and niceparks.

    Then I am challenged to not become complacent

    where I am. Raising kids here, in many ways is

    the same as in Canada. Mothers and children face

    the same challenges: becoming discontent with

    our season, setting priorities, becoming weary in

    training and discipline. Suddenly those things

    distract us away from Madagascar and why we arehere! I pray that our love for the people continues

    to grow, and we do not become blind to their

    needs that we literally live in the midst of. Speak-

    ing of needs. We had the privilege of loaning our

    helper school fees for her family. Saving a large

    sum of money is not exactly cultural here, nor

    easy as most people live hand to mouth. So when

    the time comes for children to return to school,

    many locals are looking at a full months wage to

    cover it. And then all of the school supplies on top

    of that, probably another months wage. We have

    also offered to be her bank. So while she is pay-

    ing back her loan, we are also putting away part o

    her wage so when next September is upon her, she

    will have money for school and not require a loan

    She loved this idea! It seems to me, these systemsonly work as well as the employer and employee

    work together. Firstly, the employer must have the

    good of the employee in mind, and secondly the

    employee must trust their employer. We have seen

    too often, the rich taking advantage of the poor.

    And each time we discuss finances with her, its

    like a burden is lifted off her back and she be-

    comes more and more open to share her struggles

    with us. School is so important here! Too often,

    parents are unwilling to sacrifice for it, or cannot

    rather, and instead force their children to beg on

    the streets, orworkthe streets. Here, giving chil-

    dren an education, is

    the difference be-

    tween giving them a

    future, or no future.

    So by these things,

    we are so humbled, that

    God placed us in the

    families that He did.

    And we are so thankful

    that you have helped put

    us here to be instru-

    ments to help first-hand.

    Merry Christmas.

    We pray this season isalso filled with bless-

    ings and opportunities

    to share those Bless-

    ings.

    http://www.mafc.org/http://www.maf.org/http://mafbarbers.blogspot.com/http://mafbarbers.blogspot.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://mafbarbers.blogspot.com/http://www.maf.org/http://www.mafc.org/