MAF News June - August 2008

8/3/2019 MAF News June - August 2008

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The magazine of Mission Aviation Fellowship

the new missionary mule page 8 satellite surGery page 12

June - August 2008

Supporting thefront-line teamsin

Ugandapages 6-7


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I watched the television. The disputedPresident was being sworn in. And thensuddenly, our words darted across thescreen. Violence erupting in Kibera. My heart sank.

Kibera is a Nairobi slum. I looked out o my window. Huge clouds o smoke werealready rising.

So as 2008 dawned, I went to the airportearly. Many Kenyan sta couldnt returna ter travelling to home areas to vote.

I aced an endless stream o emergency calls. A number o people were seriously

wounded. Others wailed, We are chasedby people we think want to kill us.

This is a country where tourists come to

What is MAF?

Mission Aviation FellowshipCastle Hill Avenue, Folkestone, Kent UK CT20 2TN

Telephone: 0845 850 9505Email: supporter.relations@ma -uk.org

Registered Charity Number, England and Wales: 1064598

Scottish O fce

Challenge House, 29 Canal Street, Glasgow G4 0ADTelephone: 0845 850 9505

Email: scottish.o fce@ma -uk.orgRegistered Charity Number, Scotland: SC039107

Website: www.ma -uk.org

Chie Executive, MAF UK: Ruth Whitaker

MAF News teamEditor: Andy PrescottResearch: Kate Allen

Writers: Kate Allen, David HallPhotographers:

Alan Duncan, Andy Forman, Richard Hanson,Paul Joynson-Hicks, Layton Thompson

Design: AdamartPurchasing: Mark Stanton

Art Direction: Richard Bellamy

Printed by John Blackburn Ltd

Bible re erences are taken rom the New International Versionunless otherwise stated

MAF UK June August 2008 mzrg9

MAF News June August 2008

Mission Aviation Fellowship is a Christianorganisation whose mission is to y lightcra t in developing countries so that peopleemote areas can receive the help they need.ce 1946, our planes have been speeding theead o the Good News o the Lord Jesusrist by word and deed, in places o deepestman need. Isolated places where ying isa luxury, but a li eline.Every three minutes, an MAF plane ising o or landing somewhere in the world.ese ights enable crucial work by manyvelopment and aid agencies, missions, localurches and other national groups. Medicale, adequate ood, clean water and Christianpe are reaching countless thousands o men,men and children.Normally, passengers contribute a highly-sidised are towards the true cost. Theance that makes ights possible comes asts rom people concerned that others should

ve a better li e spiritually and physically.In the UK, MAF is a registered charitynded by voluntary gi ts which help fnanceAFs operational work and support services.Please use the enclosed response orm and

velope or your donation to this ministry.MAFs work is vital. Lives depend on it.

watch lions. Where the people are so hospi-table. Now they were killing each other.

Two o our pilots were quickly airborne.I answered the phone. We are a missionorganisation. I you need help, well try toget you help.

By His graceIn the rst 2 days we evacuated 75 Kenyans

rom Eldoret, Kisumu, Kitale and Homa Bay. As sta ltered back, many o them were

despairing. One lady had lost her home. Wegathered around the tearoom television,

watching the deadly drama un old. All our Nairobi sta are Christians. But

all were seriously a ected by the tension. With thanks to Jesus our Lord, by His grace we stood together in ellowship. No ghtsbroke out among us.

A nervous woman phoned. Im not sa e.I am told to leave with my three-year-oldgirl. Please, please help! I studied the map,identi ying an airstrip. My heart leapt! Wehadnt fown there or years, but next day

we were to evacuate people rom there with space available! I cried: Thank You,

Lord. You do care. Its such an adventure toserve You!

One o our guards, a Kisii, had to attend auneral, travelling through areas dominated

by other groups. But then I ound him roomon an aircra t. Edward was overcome, neverthinking a guard would ever fy! I heard

Jesus words: Whatever you did or one o the least o my brothers, you did or me.

Pray or Kenya With resh fare-ups as January closed, wefew a whole day to and rom the Ri t Valley,rescuing 50 Kenyans rom a horrible ate.

The rst 40 days saw 508 passengers onemergency fights. Throughout, most o us

were very, very tired. As well as an MAF director, I am also a

pastor. I was concerned as news reportsextolled the triumph o witchcra t. Thatsbecause witchdoctors were called in, thencredited with many people returning goodsthey had stolen rom shops. Black magicstill exists. Its di erent rom Harry Potter its so real. Thats what Christians have tostop. Prayer is a weapon.

Pray too that God will give grace to those who have killed others, that they calm down.

And pray that people start seeing thatthey have to live with each other or the

uture, that God will open their eyes.O ten we wondered i peace would

return. We wanted our lovely country back.

With the President rom onepeople group and the chieopposition leader romanother, declared results oKenyas election broughtconfict

Bernard with Edward

Violence fter votingby Bernard Terlouw, MAF Country Director, Kenya

June August 2008 MAF News 3

Chie Executives COMMENTThank you!

Thank you whole-heartedly or supportingMAF and partnering usin the work we do. You

will have seen that, with this issue o MAF News , we have enclosed a report o just some o what has been achieved in2007. But none o that would have beenpossible without the generous supportand prayers o Supporters like you.

Last year was again a time during which God demonstrated His goodness inthe work o both our regular fying andspecial projects. We saw the delivery o asecond aircra t or Madagascar, and therelease o unds which enabled thecompletion o several much-neededprojects in the Asia Paci c region.

Thank you or your aith ulness in a llthe ways you support us; your aith ul-ness travels across the nations bringinghealth, hope and healing to those who,

without the arrival o an MAF aircra t, would go unreached and untouched by the love o God. I am con dent thatbecause o your aith ulness, you will beblessed; Proverbs 28:20 says, A aith ul

man shall abound with blessings. (KJV)Knowing that God answers prayer, weare again planning a Day o Prayer this

year. It is set or Sunday 5 October.Please do put this date in your diary, andjoin sta and Supporters across the UK as we pray or the worldwide work o MAF. This day also gives us a wonder ulopportunity to share with others locally all that MAF is doing throughout thedeveloping world.

I know you will be encouraged as youread o all you are involved with through

your aith ul partnership with MAF.Together we are making a di erence inso many o the worlds most isolatedplaces.


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Chad facts

1990 President Hissene Habre is removed rom power when rebels ledby Idriss Dby de eat his army

1993 A transitional government is established with Dby as interimPresident

1996 Idriss Dby wins Chads rst multi-party presidential election

1998-2001 The Movement or Democracy and Justice in Chad leads ongoingarmed rebellion against the government

January-February 2004

Thousands o Sudanese re ugees arrive in Chad to escape ghtingin Dar ur, western Sudan

April 2006 Hundreds o people are killed when rebels seeking to oust PresidentDby battle government orces on the outskirts o the capital

MAF wives and children return to their home countries or severalmonths and operations continue with a skeleton sta

May 2006 President Dby is declared the winner o presidential elections butthe main opposition parties boycott the poll

January-June2006

Thousands o re ugees fee rom eastern areas as Arab Janjaweedmilitia rom Sudans Dar ur region penetrate deeper into Chad

January 2007 Due to insecurity, many MAF sta are relocated temporarily toother countries. Operations continue with a reduced skeleton sta

May 2007 The Chadian and Sudanese governments agree to stop confictspilling across their borders, but ears o violence remain

Following several months o calm and increased stability, MAFamilies return to NDjamma bringing the team up to ull capacity

September2007

The UN Security Council sanctions a European Union peacekeepingorce to enter Chad to protect civilians rom violence in the east

October 2007 An emergency is declared along the eastern border as a Frenchcharity attempts to airli t a group o orphans to Europe in what isseen as an attempt to smuggle children

December2007

Six French aid workers are convicted o child-tra cking and arerepatriated to serve eight-year sentences at home

January 2008 The European Union approves a peacekeeping orce or Chad toprotect re ugees rom the violence spilling over rom Dar ur

February 2008 Rebels launch an attack on the streets o NDjamma, attemptingto overthrow President Deby. MAF amilies evacuate

The news wasnt good. Anti-governmentrebels had again crossed the borderrom Sudan into Chad and wererching on the capital NDjamna.Sta at our base knew that evacuationght well be essential. With the situationking bleak, they packed bags and spent aht away rom the relative com ort o ir homes sleeping in the MAF hangar,sed to fee.Their night was disturbed by the noise

a Chadian Army helicopter gunshipking repeated orays and, in the early urs, by French Air Force Mirage ghtersiving and departing.By mid-morning, the tension seemed to

have eased. So the team returned to theirhomes, only to be called out again withinhours as one o the Chadian sta rushedin, advising them to evacuate immediately.

Scary driveGrabbing whatever items they could, the

ugitives returned to their cars and madetheir tortuous return to the airport. The

our-mile drive bypassing the presidentialpalace seemed to take orever, pilot Mark Liprini recounts vividly.

Heavily-armed soldiers were everywhere. Blockades were going up. Things were unbelievably scary, admits Mark.

Within the hour, MAFs Cessna Caravan was cruising at 10,000 t across the borderand above the Cameroon countryside onthe 90-minute fight to Garoua and sa ety.Three exhausted amilies were sleeping,chatting or merely staring into space.

Mark continues: By early next day, withintense ghting around NDjamna Airport,there was not much more we could do. Wefew urther south to Douala.

Resting there, the shock started to setin. Realisation that everything most peoplepossessed in the world now was what they

were wearing and the ew items in theirbags. Yet despite all this, the Lords pres-ence and com ort kept the team in goodspirits and a sense o calm was present.

Mike Riley, our Country Director inChad, returned to Plymouth with his wi e

Jo ve days a ter their hurried evacuation.Only the previous week, we were all

having a conversation in Chad about how well things were going, Mike recalls. Wehad seen amazing developments in ouroperation, morale was high, and we wereall excited about the uture.

Precious cargoAll that changed with the news the rebels

were advancing. I dont think that I willever orget the emotion o driving throughNDjamna with my most precious cargo my amily on board. We had to raceround roadblocks and werent sure i wecould get to the sa ety o the plane. Thechildren, Abi and Hannah, were bliss ully unaware in the ba ck, calling out, Hey,slow down Daddy, youre driving too ast!

Back in Plymouth, Jo is thank ul or the way their local church has housed them ironically, in the home she and Mike rented

rom a church member be ore moving toChad and set about getting clothing andpersonal necessities.

We arrived with very ew clothes andnowhere to live. We do need prayer at thistime. We have to normalise li e as much aspossible. In act at six years old, Abis new school in Plymouth is her th.

Loving riendsGreg and Jill Vine and their daughters,Esther, Ariela and Zoe, also returned to theUK and were accommodated amongloving riends and amily in Bristol.

During the high-speed evacuation, likeeveryone else they had to leave many itemsbehind them. We managed to grab thehard drive rom the computer and ve o my avourite pieces o piano music rommy li es collection, Jill refects. We had toleave my cello, Gregs guitar, all our books,kitchenware, shoes and clothing, and Gregsfight case.

Mark Liprini and aircra t maintenanceengineer Garth Mo att with his wi e Claireremained in Cameroon or several days,evacuating a number o people be ore they returned to their homes in South A rica,leaving the Caravan aircra t in Kenya to bemaintained.

Chie Engineer Ben Sibthorpe and hisamily were still in the UK ollowing the

birth o baby Estelle.In March, Mike and Greg returned to

Chad on a visit to assess the situation, andplan or a resumption o MAFs operations

when easible.Please pray or all those evacuated, as

they seek to come to terms with both theirhectic dash and their losses.

MAF News June August 2008 June August 2008MAF News 5

Mike and Jo Riley

Ben and Anne Sibthorpe

Greg and Jill Vine

sudden ev cu tionrebel troops surrounded Chads capital in February,

AF sta were orced to fee the country leaving behindmost everything they possessed


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But Medair sta arrived with suppliesprovided by UNICEF, and then distributedtarpaulin sheets to cover hut foors, and abag containing a water can, cups, plates,utensils, household items and blankets.

In many places, youngsters must carry achair to school i they want to sit down.Parents are encouraged to provide essen-tials, but most cannot a ord it. Thats why notebooks, pencils, sports kits and eventeachers materials have to be provided.

Ammunition removed A school in Omot was burned by the LRA in 2002, and two classrooms le t roofess.

With 1,000 students between primary grades one and seven, only upper classescan be accommodated. Teacher Owesi

Jacob, who escaped the attack, stresses:Our prayer is that i the roo could berehabilitated then the whole school couldbe here.

Head teacher Apwa Jobs Justin pointsout: We need more teachers. I have noo ce, there is no toilet or the sta or the

Di pl ced but no longer de p iringour planes support ront-

ne teams, traumatisedople receive practicalpport as well as hope ormorrow

who su er trauma rom recent years.Today, Medair works in the regions o

Patongo, Adilang, Lapono, Lukole and alsosometimes in Omot. First priority is estab-lishing clean water sources and sanitation.Last year saw nine boreholes drilled.

But Medair teams tackle psychosocialproblems too. In September last year, theirsta organised 48 individual counsellingsessions with orphans, with ormer childsoldiers, and also with children who arethemselves heads o amilies.

Now, with a ragile cease re betweenthe government and the LRA, some o thepeople are starting to move out o thecrowded camps.

Yet many dont go all the way back home where they own land, but stop at new sitespart-way home. From the air, cultivated

elds can now be seen. But they are notgrowing enough ood or a whole year.

Adjusted emphasisMichelle, Medairs Director at Patongo,

comments: I dont know whether people will everreturn to their originalhomes. Psychologically,li e in the camp has really a ected them. They aremore interested in livingnear other people insteado in the isolation o

village li e. As the population starts to shi t, so does

Medairs emphasis. Weve increased ourcommunity participation, explains Michelle.

Desperate re ugees fed their villagesin northern Uganda. The year was2002.The government ordered people to move

special camps to protect them rom theared rebel group the Lords Resistancemy (LRA).Patongo was one o those camps orernally displaced people and 87,000hered there. There was no clean watersanitation. Unable to leave, the re ugeesre unable to arm either, so there were

ere shortages o ood.Typical o the many camps in the war-cken north, Patongo was too small andatly under serviced.

rstrip openedaser Bell rom Nottingham, then Country rector or Medair in Uganda, recalls:hen we started working at Patongo, we

d to start rom scratch. Because o thereme isolation, Fraser soon started toam about aircra t.With considerable local e ort and input

om MAF, Patongo airstrip was opened ine 2005. And it has made a tremendous

erence to tens o thousands o people


atida Okulu

Kadega Charles

Michelle

Experts rom Medair now drill smallerboreholes more like ones in villages. They use community action to encourage hygiene,and target amilies headed by a child.

On the outskirts o Patongo, Moodegecamp was one o the worst hit when foodsravaged Uganda last year. Its 70 householdshad nowhere to go when a oot o waterswamped the camp. All that Matida Okulucould do as the water subsided was to putstraw on the ground. Flies were everywhere.

boys, and we need more classroom space. Apwa himsel fed with his amily during

the attack, escaping to Lira. He returned toOmot two years ago, managing to reopenthe school last year. When Kadega Charleso Medair visited, the head teacher told himthey had been nding bullets in the school

yard. Kadega took immediate action to bringa team and clear any unexploded devices.

Although the camps are becoming lesscrowded, Medair still relies heavily on ouraircra t or support. Thank God or all whobring help to those who have su ered.One fight rom Kampala carriednine passengers rom venationalities.

The ghting might well beover, but li e will not return tonormal or thousands withoutthat extra support.

Praise the Lord that a peacedeal is being orged betweenthe LRA and the Ugandangovernment. Pray that this willresult in lasting peace.


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started in 1985. A meeting betweenMAF pilot David L Voetmann and aircra tdesigner Tom Hamilton began the proc-o producing a brand new specialist

ssion aircra t, one o which is due to joinMAF feet this autumn.As the pilot outlined di culties aced in

mote regions where each airstrip poses aerent set o problems, the designer

epted the challenge.The result is the Kodiak 100, developedQuest Aircra t Company o Idaho, USA.scribed as a mountain rocket, it is ancra t uniquely designed to overcome many tacles o fying in a mission situation.For MAF, it promises so much moren the Cessna 206, long the backbone atsmaller end o the feet.

hort runway advantagented cowling maximises the Kodiakse-o thrust, and the 4-blade 96-inchpeller contributes to the same goalile having a 19-inch clearance to allow iing on rough terrain.Its restricted wingspan permits turninghe tight con nes o a small airstrip, anddiscontinuous leading edge helps controlaircra t dramatically on slow approaches.Versatility is built in. The landing gear isily removed or conversion to foat oper-

new-style plane has beensigned specifcally withission in mind

ation. And in the utility version, acilitiesare also easily juggled rom passenger tocargo to hal -and-hal .

Doors open exceptionally wide to enablepatients on stretchers to be boarded easily,and there is a ready supply o spare parts.

The 750-horsepower Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34 turboprop engine is able to pullthe aircra t along at a 180-knot cruisingspeed. Landing is at 60 knots.

Load is up to nine passengers. The planecarries up to 320 gallons o uel so it canfy up to 1,200 nautical miles be ore re uel-ling.

The Kodiak can also take o on a really short runway needing less than required

by the Cessna 206. And a display on the aircra t panel showsthe pilot a real-time image o surrounding

terrain, enabling theplane to be guided easily around heavy storms.

Denny Hoekstra hasbecome MAFs expert onthe new aircra t, the rsto which is expected to bedelivered in October oruse in Indonesia. We are

anticipating our Caravan pilots will transi-tion to the Kodiak 100 very easily, Denny a rms.

Reliable uel supply One o the major eatures o the new planeis its use o jet uel. That is ar more readily available than the avgas needed by theCessna 206. The Kodiak can also operate


or 4,000 hours between engine overhauls. With the ability to carry about 68% more

cargo weight than the Cessna 206, theKodiak promises to increase signi cantly theamount o medical, ood or disaster relie delivered in one fight.

In the next 10 years, MAF intends toreplace 20 o its Cessna 206s with Kodiak 100s. And in the next 4 years, 13 aircra tshould be purchased including 8 orIndonesia, 2 or service in the DemocraticRepublic o Congo and 1 or our new oper-ation expected in Nepal.

As I investigate resh countries whereMAF could operate, Im convinced theKodiak really is our answer or a turbine-

powered aircra t in the most di cult andremote areas o the world, enthuses long-serving Max Gove.

David Voetmann, now 73, became amissionary a ter hearing o the death o pilot Nate Saint and others massacred by

Waorani (Auca) people in Ecuador. Hebecame an MAF pilot and engineer, fying

or 25 years in A rica.I believe this plane will be the next

generations missionary mule, he asserts.

Feature comparison Cessna 206 KODIAK 100

Seating capacity, including pilot 6 10

Use ul load, a ter pilot and uel or 500 nautical miles 414kg 697kg

Maximum cruising speed at 10,000 eet 125nm/hr 185nm/hr

Maximum fight distance at 10,000 eet 618nm 1,233nm

Fuel capacity (useable) 88 gallons 320 gallons

Fuel cost per gallon (estimated average worldwide cost) 5 2

Operating cost per nautical mile 91p 88p

Cost to deliver 408kg cargo based on 500nm trip (assumes maximum load or both aircra t) 448 258

the new missionary mule

Denny Hoekstra

Figures are correct at time o going to press


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Are you a Finance Manager? Would youlike to work in Australia or perhapsPapua New Guinea (PNG)? Are you up

or a challenge?Russell Gales role in MAF, eatured

alongside, is not the only vital supportunction in our worldwide work.

PNG is our most diverse operation.Throughout this mountainous country,large communities are without any roadaccess. People depend on our aircra tand the tiny bush airstrips to meet theirneed or medical workers and school-teachers, as well as to carry out localproduce as their only means o income.

We need somebody to serve in PNGto provide accounting and nancialmanagement skills in this truly uniqueenvironment. The position involvesmanagement and supervision o localsta , as well as liaising with auditors andbankers, and sharing in the local MAFsenior management team.

Janet Busk, who recently lled in orthe role, says, I loved it! But it is really

ull on.In addition, we are seeking someone

suitable to work in Cairns, Australia, toundertake accounting support orseveral o our smaller operations. Theseinclude Bangladesh,Cambodia and EastTimor, as well as amission aviationtraining base innorthern Australia.

I you are quali-ed and experienced

in accounting, andeel that God may be

leading you into anew adventure,please contact

Heather FaulknerRecruitment Co-ordinatorMission Aviation FellowshipCastle Hill AvenueFOLKESTONECT20 2TN

Email: heather. aulkner@ma -uk.orgTelephone: 0845 850 9505

an exciting new dventure

Heather FaulknerRecruitment Co-ordinator

G le-force ch nge

Base and Logistics Manager or MAF,Russell is the man to whom many inTanzania go or help when they hit abrick wall.

With his team o national sta , he is atthe ore ront o helping missions and aidagencies, whether with regular or emer-gency fights, assisting with immigrationmatters, or buying vehicles and computers.Like his wi e Maggi and their daughters,Phoebe (7) and Lois (5), he enjoys li e in

A rica. While studying ceramic art at Cardi ,

Maggi elt called to be a missionary. So shethen trained as a primary school teacher.Now she teaches art at a primary schooland secondary schools with children o 30di erent nationalities.

The couple is rarely away rom work.Even the weekly business break ast thatRussell helped to start mainly or missionleaders is an opportunity or them to sharenew ideas, discuss problems, and introduceothers to MAFs services. At one such get-together, he was shocked when the British

Department o Immigration, but Russell

managed to get agreement that he was inorder to continue. Such a service is really vital to the smooth running o smallermissions.

Childrens recognitionRussell is constantly looking or otherorganisations that could bene t rom MAFs

vital fying service. A fight or InternationalRescue Committee was the rst time thatthe agency had used MAF. Our aircra tdelivered 900kg o its medical supplies toKibondo along with its country directorand an ambassador.

Whether booking fights with MAF orthrough British Airways or other organisa-tions, obtaining or xing computers, Russellknows that he is doing Gods work.

While Phoebe and Lois both enjoy localschools, Maggi appreciates bringing anartistic ethos to the children she teaches.

Ten children have had their pictures o A rican animals ramed. They will hang inthe childrens ward o Ocean Road Cancer

High Commissioner told him, In the UK, we spend 5 billion on DVDs every year.That is the total budget the Tanzaniangovernment spends in a year.

Clockwork reliability Russell has a reputation or being in theright place at the right time.

While discussing immigration problems,he met with the brother o the countrysPresident and Deputy Minister or Home

A airs to help resolve these issues. Working on behal o agencies operating

in Tanzania is a very positive experience. Iprovide support just like the di erent partso the movement in a Swiss watch. I see thatas how the body o Christ works. I onepart is not working, it stops or runs badly.

Having grown up in several countries one o which was neighbouring Kenya Russell nds his many experiences valuable,including his years working in the coachingindustry.

His work in making visa applications orother organisations was questioned by the

Hospital. And pictures o the Easter scene

painted by the youngsters are being used ina Swahili magazine published by a Danishmission.

Constant reminderMaggi tries to build community spirit inthe city with a weekly Bible study group,mums and toddlers, and other events attheir house. One o the most excitingthings, Maggi recounts, is that, throughour house girl, our garden boy Juma hasbecome a Christian.

Loiss health has been problematic, butit is now improving. That comes as anencouragement that they really are in theright place.

Russell points out that a school riendhe knew in 1972 in Malaysia now lives just500 yards away. Thats not only a remindero his past Russell lived or nine years inMalaysia, six in Kenya and then three in

Australia but a constant reminder o how Gods plans o ten contain unusual twistsand turns.


For six years, Russell Gale has been watching thingschange in Dar es Salaam many o those changes comingunder his own guidance


7/9

news IN BRIEF

Business brainsPilot Chad Tilley flew several AmericanChristian businessmen to Dumki insouthern Bangladesh, the area mostaffected by cyclone Sidr . Most villagershad lost their homes and fishing andfarming businesses. The group met

with local leaders and families to getthem back on their feet practically.

Work included helping re-establishbusinesses and finding other ways toearn a living.Long march

After pilot Derek Moores flew threeteam members from Christian Family Network to an airstrip in southernSudan, they started on a 16-hour walk!Thats what it takes to reach a village

where they have established a churchamong formerly-unreached people.Elsewhere, they encountered an army commander who, two months earlier,

was unable to sleep. He saw a mancome to him, say he was Jesus, andexplain the Gospel. The commanderbecame a Christian and was delightedto receive a Bible in his own language.Health hopes

ADRA is planning to start up a c hildsurvival project with provision of healthcare in Madagascar. Josh Plettflew Director Peter Delhove, two of his staff, a representative from USAID,and Ministry of Health personnel from

Antananarivo to Marolambo, Sahakevoand Mahanoro. At each destination,the team conducted a survey of localhealth needs.Church plantingPilot Derek Moores flew Cush4Christmissionaries Vincent and Julie Wardand their two sons back to Malwalkon,southern Sudan, together with much-needed supplies. Based in Wanyjok

village, Vincent and Julie are depend-ent on our flights, particularly duringthe rainy season when the roadsbecome impassable. Cush4Christ isfacilitating church planting in Aweildistrict. Its work with communitiesaims to bring about holistic transfor-mation through the local church.Medical missionPartnering with HoverAid, our team inMadagascar is helping to establishmedical outreach to the remote villageof Ankavandra. The community therehas given land for HoverAid to build abase to serve people right along theManambolo River. Our team plans tobuild an airstrip closer to the village.

After an initial survey, Country Director Jakob Adolf reports, I have seldom seena village welcome us with open armslike the people from Ankavandra.

s tellite urgery people seek medicallp, those o ering it may ke advice by phone

his mother came to the local church.During the two years weve been in

Nyinbuli, the Lord has allowed us to be apart o situations that say Its only God,Charity testi es. Many times, we learnedas we were doing. Mary is no exception.

Mary came with her right breast almosthanging o with gangrene. She had anoperation on a wooden bench under a tree.I was the one doing the cutting to remove

rotting fesh but it took the entire team,recounts Charity. A ter 26 days, her wound was relatively small, in ection ree, andclosing. We praise God that He allowed usto be here or Mary and many like her.

Deliveries and discipleshipOur Caravans make the regular journey intwo days. Its a 6-hour fight rom Nairobi

with 2 re uelling stops. However, whenconditions on Nyinbuli airstrip allow thePC12 to land, it can make the return journey in a single day. One MAF fight deliveredbicycles, and metal cupboards or storingmedicines, as well as ood.

We few in an American team to build atoilet, a shelter or bricks or a permanentbuilding, and other construction jobs. They helped with medical work and tidied upa ter the meningitis outbreak.

The missionaries work with the church,

running discipleship classes. They have sentthree people away or training in both labo-ratory and primary healthcare. It is ourdesire and prayer that we can work ourselvesout o a job as we raise up the community toserve themselves, explains Charity.

During last year, the clinic treated 230meningitis patients and 2,441 or malaria,

with an overall monthly average o 729patients.

Vision and volunteersThen, over the next ten years, they want toestablish a permanent hospital, build atraining centre, encourage local Christians,develop education in primary healthcare,provide host homes or orphans, set upschools, and plant more churches.

It is a huge challenge. But the Sa eHarbor team aces it with the knowledgethat MAFs aircra t services are in support,helping ensure a regular supply o equip-ment, medication and as God provides

volunteer and permanent sta .I want to thank you, MAF Supporters,

or making the work we do here possible,Charity writes. Thank you or believing inthe calling the Lord has put on our lives.Thank you or the huge part that you play in ministry to the people o Nyinbuli. May the Lord richly bless you.

G iggling baby Dut is every mothersideal child thanks to the work o Sa e Harbor International Relie inuthern Sudan.Brought to the clinic at Nyinbuli when

o days old cr ying incessantly, Dut was

also premature by two months. Because he was so tiny, he was starving, as he was notable to suck.

Charity Lanman, a missionary nurse,and her team managed to tube- eed Dut or

ve weeks while working on his refexes toenable him to eed himsel .

When Dut and his 18-year-old mothercame back later, Charity recalls: He hadgained so much weight and was the happi-

est baby. He would bounce up and down allday giggling a huge encouragement. He wouldnt be alive i God hadnt providedthe way or our being here.

Two American missionaries Charity and Cindy work in the north-west o theBahr El Ghazal region, less than 100 miles

rom Dar ur. So they encounter Dar urre ugees as they serve an area o at least7,000 people.

Meningitis and malaria Apart rom occasional volunteer medicalexperts, their team is Abraham, a pastor

rom Sudan, Titus, a clinical o cer romUganda, and Divinah rom Kenya, acting aspharmacist. Even though Charity studiednursing or a year in India and Cindy is anemergency medical technician, there is noquali ed doctor.

The primary healthcare centre that the

pair runs is a two-day cycle ride rom thehospital at Aweil. But that is inaccessible

rom May to September during the wetseason. Then, they are totally isolatedexcept or our fights.

Without the support o MAF, we couldnot do what we are doing, insists Charity.

As a meningitis epidemic struck Sudan,the small clinic treated 200 patients. Thenheavy rain brought fooding and 1,500

patients with malaria arrived.Other cases need major surgery. Themissionaries per orm this, o ten a ter send-ing photographs by Internet to specialistdoctors and surgeons who advise them onprocedures. Sometimes, they get real-timeadvice using a satellite phone.

Moses and Mary A ter witchdoctors had ailed to help him,three-year-old Moses arrived in such a badcondition that the team believed that he

was dead. But he was only unconscious,su ering rom both severe meningitis andcerebral malaria. Doctors in the USA toldthem he would probably not make it or i he did, he would have brain damage.

But ollowing round-the-clock care andconstant prayer, Moses regained conscious-ness seven days later. Soon, he was walkingand talking just like any normal boy. And


Moses before treatment

From left to right: Abraham, Cindy, Charity, Divinah, Titus

Moses today

Cindy with baby Dut

Charity with new born Dut


8/9

Mercys work in 22 countries, which hastreated 40,000 children.

A quali ed pilot himsel , David nds ourservices indispensable. Without MAF, many people would be without the care and thesupport that they need.

To ensure that children remain healthy a ter treatment, the mission also cares ortheir amilies. In a typical 5-day visit we willsee about 2,200 patients, 1,500 o whom arechildren and 700 are adults, David explains.

He has devised the Healthcare WorkerProgramme in order to train teachers andcounsellors to assess the healthcare statuso children, make diagnoses and begininitial treatment.

Seven-year-old Pepe came to Davids rst

Kate AllenKate Allen came to work with MAF in ourFolkestone o ce in 1999.

Since 2001, she has led our News andMedia team, developing our capability toensure Supporters have good-quality newso overseas ministry on the pages o MAF

News and in our other communications.During the last seven years, Kate has

visited many o the countries in which weoperate. From Mongolia to Sudan, romBangladesh to Tanzania, she has gatherednews, stories and photographs.

And rom Aceh which is on the island o Sumatra, Indonesia, she reported on ourcritical relie work in the a termath o the2004 Boxing Day tsunami. Kates gi t or

vivid portrayal o all that she has seen andexperienced has made so many poignantscenes come alive.

David Beyda is a critical care doctor,administrator and teacher in PhoenixChildrens Hospital, USA. He rstvelled to Cambodia in 1979, spendingmonths as Paediatric Director at theao I Dang re ugee camp on the Thailand-mbodia border. While there, he helpedungsters who had escaped Pol Pot andtnamese atrocities.In 2004, he established Medical Mercy en Mission o Mercy approached him to

aluate the medical needs o children in itse. David led teams o up to 12 experts tolated areas o the country, o ering nutri-nal support, control o in ectious diseasesd preventative medicine.Today, he is responsible or Medical

C mbodi life- ver

Mr, Mrs, Miss, Rev, Dr, Christian name and surname

Address

Postcode

I enclose my gift of for use where most needed

MY RESPONSE

PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS

Registered Charity Number, England and Wales: 1064598Registered Charity Number, Scotland: SC039107

I want to help bring Godscompassion to needy people

Mission Aviation FellowshipCastle Hill Avenue FOLKESTONE CT20 2TN29 Canal Street GLASGOW G4 0AD

FSF mzrg2

Please tell me how I can best give to MAF on aregular basis

Kate le t MAF in early April ahead o her marriage to Chris Bryant later thatmonth. Chris expects to begin a course atthe London School o Theology in October

with a view to church leadership, whileKate hopes to work in central London. We express our warmest appreciation to

Kate or the vital role she has played, and we wish both her and Chris every happi-ness together as they seek the Lords plans

or where they will serve Him in the longterm. Thank you, Kate.

Andrews ear: I was the pilot who few youto hospital!

The voice was that o now-retired LesBrown.

I was thrilled that God had arranged orme to meet the pilot who had rescued me,recalls Andrew, now an MAF Trustee.

On occasions, God lets us see some o the e ects o our teamwork or Him,

Andrew muses. In teams, people areconcerned about the part each memberplays in achieving common objectives.

Would you consider joining the MAF Volunteer team? We are looking or people who can help raise the pro le o MAF right where they are.

You might lead a prayer group, ensure your local church is keptin ormed about our work and needs, or speak to

wider groups. Some Volunteers make greetingscards in aid o MAF. Any ability is welcome.

To help you decide i this is or you, phone

Allyson Edwards on 0845850 9505 or email her at

allyson.edwards@ma -uk.org


clinic in Cambodia. She had a high ever,and was having extreme di culty breathing.We saw that she would die within severalhours i we did not intervene.

We quickly inserted an intravenousdrip, starting her on aggressive antibiotics,gave her oxygen and observed her or 48hours. In the middle o the village, the teamcontrolled her overwhelming in ection andpneumonia and watched her slowly getbetter. She made a dramatic recovery. Now she is healthy and happy.

For Davids latest trip to ve villages inBattambang area o Cambodia, we few histeam rom Phnom Penh. In 8 days, the teamtreated 2,000 patients in an a ter-churchclinic on the Sunday and in 5 village schools.

And while the medical team was at work,other volunteers were building playgroundequipment or the church.

David is described by Dr Wayne Goodall,President o Mission o Mercy, as a man

who is literally driven to help children. What motivates this unique physician is achild that would not make it without him.

June August 2008 MAF News 15

Tears in our eyesby Michael and Dawn CuthbertsonNeither o us knows much about planes oris technically minded, so leaving a legacy toMission Aviation Fellowship might, at rstsight, seem rather a strange thing to do!

Our interest stems rom our roles asheadmaster and wi e at Monkton CombeSchool until 2005. Part o the mission o the school is to provide a Christian educa-tion or children o missionaries.

A number o MAF parents sent theirchildren to the school in our time there.

And without exception, we were both very impressed by their stature, spirituality,pro essionalism and commitment. Indeed,they were the reason that we became MAFSupporters and ound our hearts drawn toits work.

Our work or Monkton Combe Schoolo ten took us to East A rica, where theschool has strong and long-standing links.

We remember one occasion at Wilson Airport, Nairobi, when we happened to

nd ourselves watching an MAF planetaking o . We had tears in our eyes as werefected on its small size yet strategic rolein such a needy region.

So it is not surprising that our heartshave drawn us to remember MAF in our

Wills and we would like to encourageanyone reading this article to considerdoing the same!

MAF praises God or 237,952 received aslegacies in the frst quar-ter o 2008. I you would like to know more about

remembering MAF in your Will, please call our Legacy Co-ordinator Miriam Wheeler on0845 850 9505 or email

her at miriam.wheeler@ma -uk.org

Allyson

Valuable Volunteers Andrew Cunningham had been speaking o his experiences as a child in A rica at ourannual Volunteers Day in Scotland. His li ehad been saved when an MAF aircra t took him or urgent medical help in Ethiopia.

During a break, a voice whispered in

Pepe receiving treatment

David and medical team

David with pilot Emil Kndig

Andrew and Les

Miriam

hildren in remote parts o Cambodia owe their health to a-year-old doctor whom it is our privilege to fy


9/9

God showed meI repented all my sins I did in the past.I believed in God with my heart, I flled

with joy. I am thank ul God showed me true way.

I thought I would go to hell because o all my sins. I was relieved

so much a ter I understood how much Jesus su ered or me.

I did lots o sins in my li e. Now I believe God orgave me,

crucifed on the cross, shed His blood or me.

Three testimonies ollowing three days o Bible teaching when the

Millennium Messenger few a team rom Ulaanbaatar Baptist Church

to western Mongolia.

Documents

MAF News June - August 2008