MAF News March - May 2010

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New life and hope

in the jungleNO LONGER UNREACHED pages 2-3 DOUBLE DELIGHT pages 12-13

March - May 2010

The magazine of Mission Aviation Fellowship

pages 4-5



What is MAF?

Mission Aviation Fellowship

Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone, Kent UK CT20 2TN

Telephone: 0845 850 9505

Email: [email protected]

Registered charity number, England and Wales: 1064598

Scottish Ofce

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

Email: [email protected]

Registered charity number, Scotland: SC039107

Website: www.ma-uk.org

Chie Executive, MAF UK: Ruth Whitaker

MAF News team

Editor: Andy Prescott

Research: Stephanie Gidney, Shaun Oliver

Writers: Pandora Davies,

David Hall, David Longley

Photographers: Michael Duncale, Alan Duncan,

Pierrot Men, Layton Thompson

Design: Positiv Design

Purchasing: Mark Stanton

Art Direction: Richard Bellamy

Printed by The Website, LeedsBible reerences are taken rom the New International Version

unless otherwise stated

©MAF UK March – May 2010 mzrs9

MAF News March – May 2010

Mission Aviation Fellowship is a Christianorganisation whose mission is to y light

rat 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 Jesusist by word and deed, in places o deepest

man need. Isolated places where ying isa luxury, but a lieline.Every three minutes, an MAF plane isng o or landing somewhere in the world.se ights enable crucial work by manyelopment and aid agencies, missions, localrches 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 ass rom people concerned that others should

e a better lie spiritually and physically.In the UK, MAF is a registered charityded by voluntary gits which help fnanceF’s operational work and support services.Please use the enclosed response orm andelope or your donation to this ministry.MAF’s work is vital. Lives depend on it.

Chie Executive’s COMMENT

Deep in the jungles o north-western Ecuador,

the airstrip at Zapallo Grande (‘The Big Squash’)

has been the gateway to reaching the Chachi

people, supporting Bible translation work and

eradicating river blindness. Veteran MAF pilot

Gene Jordan shares this story:

Missionaries rst reached the ZapalloGrande region in 1955, aboutnine months beore MAF pilot

Nate Saint was martyred. I joined MAF as amissionary pilot in 1970 when we wereserving one jungle airstrip in the north-

western area.Even then, the Chachi people were truly unreached, being bound by Satan’s chainso witchcrat, idolatry and murder. They were spiritually blind, their hopelessnessclearly refected in their eyes.

I also remember the look in the eyes o local villagers aficted with river blindness.Parasites, the larvae o black fies, enter thebloodstream and slowly destroy the opticnerve. The eyes o its victims appear to benormal, but their look is vacant – just likespiritual blindness. Years ago, there was noeective treatment. Once people becameaficted with the parasite, they would thengo blind.

Throughout the 1990s, MAF carried outmedical fights, supported Bible translators who were all busy working on the ChachiScriptures, and transported indigenousevangelists. But in addition, nearly every

day, we few out blood samples to helpbattle river blindness. We always scheduleda two-hour window to pick up blood vialsrom patients and deliver them saely tothe jungle laboratory.

I am so happy to tell you that, through

the dedicated work o Dr Ron Guderian o the Heralding Christ Jesus’ Blessings GlobalMedical Division and, ater many MAFfights, river blindness should soon be erad-icated. This dreadul disease is now undercontrol with the help o an oral vaccine.

We can’t restore sight to those already blind, but we can prevent river blindnessrom striking others.

Now we have been rejoicing as a dier-ent milestone has passed. Ater years o hard and dicult work – and again throughmany supporting MAF fights – the Chachipeople have come together to mark thecompletion and publication o the New Testament in the Chachi language, as wellas the books o Genesis and Exodus.

People gathered rom miles around,some travelling or up to two hours by rivercanoe. It was a great day o celebration and

Wherever it is darkest –light shines brighter!MAF works in many countries where thesun shines brightly, but

where people, sadly, live in darkness.Having responded to the Good News

o Jesus Christ, I am delighted to be parto bringing the light to those hearing o God’s love or the rst time.

Good news is always pleasant to share.However, sharing the Gospel brings joy and hope, and also the love o God – thelight o the world which transorms livesor eternity.

The Bible tells us to shine as lights inthe world. We shine with His light as wetake practical help, medical aid and Bibleteaching to those in some o the darkestplaces. This sees hope and aith born andthe lives o many becoming brighter.

I am amazed and daily encouraged atthe Lord’s working through MAF andpartner organisations we fy. I trust youtoo will be encouraged as you read o some o the many lives you have enabledto be touched in many dierent places.

From medical work in Madagascar andprison ministry in Kenya, through Bibletranslation in Ecuador and literacy work in Papua New Guinea, needs o some o the world’s poorest people are being met.

Your prayers and nancial support are very much appreciated and vital as,together, we seek to reach unreachedpeople and tell them o the love o God,so they may walk and live in His light.

With thanks and blessings

No longer unreached

thanksgiving. A once spiritually blind, unreached

people group now counts many who cansee – healed or eternity.

In 2008, the MAF chaplain ministry in Ecuador distributed 2,056 New Testaments, made 159 visits to Puyo Hospital, and also helped 144 indigenous people rom the‘chaplain’s pantry’. Some 34 people turned to Christ through this ministry and werelinked with jungle churches or discipling.

Article sourced rom materials o MAF in the USA

March – May 2010 MAF News 3

Gene Jordan

Landing at Zapallo Grande

Local Chachi believers

J e n n y M a t t h e w s / P a n o s P i c t u r e s





n the midst o poverty, British doctorDavid Mann and his team are providingmodern medical care.

A small market town o 12,000 people,andritsara lies in the remote north o

adagascar. A urther 250,000 people livesubsistence armers in the surroundinguntryside.Many come to trade in

e town, some rom asas the east coast.th very ew roads,d most peopleable to aord a, travel isually onot or by cart.

R I N G I N G L I G H T A N D L I F E T O MADAGASCAR

oreign missionaries and

cal Christians have joined

gether to serve people in

andritsara through the

tal ministry o Good News

ospital. Stephanie Gidney

eports

Operations and opportunities

Saving livesOutside the hospital, X-ray lms arepegged out to dry in the warm air;laboratory tests are conducted;chemotherapy is administered tocancer suerers; and in the two

theatres, operations restore sight,save lives and renew hope.

Joy erupts rom patient and sta alike when a small elderly lady isable to see or the rst time in years.

Every month, 2,000 outpatientsare treated here; every year, themedical team carries out 1,000

surgical operations.Some patients come rom

ar away – i not on oot orby oxcart, then probably carried by others, some or

up to three days. The nearestalternative hospital is 120

miles away! Vanombelona, who is a young

mother, walked or two days toMandritsara to give birth toher third baby. Her previous

two children had been bornin her village, but they

were dicult deliveries and both o themdied during labour.

Coming to hospital this time, she receivesantenatal care and a Caesarean section, thusensuring she has a sae delivery. Now at last, Vanombelona has a healthy little daughter.

Shoulder-high‘A lot o babies die during childbirth in the villages where there’s inadequate maternalcare,’ Dr Mann tells me. ‘Quite a ew o the women in the district die in childbirthtoo, because o diculties rom bleeding orinection.

‘We are starting a maternity unit toimprove maternal and childbirth statisticsin the district through the service.’

Sylvie came rom hal a day ’s walk away.No road goes to where she lives. Four mencarried her, shoulder-high, on a makeshitstretcher. She lost a lot o blood when she

suered a stillbirth a month earlier. Sylviearrived at the hospital with heart ailurebecause o lack o blood.

When I meet Sylvie, she is receivingoxygen. She is eeling a bit better, notquite so breathless – though visibly stillstruggling and very weak.

She needs urther treatment, includingmore blood. Her ather has already donatedblood. The hospital team is looking orsome more relatives who have the sameblood group as Sylvie. I the search provesto be unsuccessul, they can use some o their existing supplies – all the hospitalsta are blood donors.

Air supportMAF aircrat have supported the hospital inMandritsara rom its beginning, transport-ing people, ragile equipment and items thatare urgent, valuable or need to be kept cold.

It is just a 90-minute fight rom thecapital Antananarivo. The alternative is aslow and dicult two-day road trip.

‘At times, during rainy seasons, nobody could get through by road or threemonths,’ Dr Mann reveals. ‘Then, every-thing and everybody has had to come by MAF.’

In addition to our fight services, MAFhas assisted with communications and wealso provide a weather orecast service,orewarning cyclones and severe weatherapproaching the area.

Gospel advanceThe primary motivation o the hospital –indeed the vision behind its very existence– is to share the Gospel.

Doctors, nurses and hospital evangelistsall proclaim the ‘Good News’ about JesusChrist as part o their daily activity. Patientsalso have access to Christian literature andaudio material in Malagasy and French. Thehospital radio station broadcasts the Gospeleven beyond the hospital compound to thelocal area.

Dr Mann shares: ‘In the last 15 yearssince we’ve been here with the medical work, the local church has grown consider-ably. About 30 villages now have Gospelgroups that didn’t have them beore.

‘Frequently, the initial contact has beenthrough patients coming to the hospital. I someone shows an interest, then they willinvite us to come to their village.

‘There’s a village that I go to once eachmonth. The original link there was a child who was knocked over and broke her legs.

Her mother didn’t think she would live.‘The girl was in hospital or a couple o

months and, when she let, her motherbegged, “Please will you come to the villageand preach the Gospel?” There’s a littlegroup o Christians who meet there now.’

Please pray or the ongoing work o Good News Hospital, and that the peopleo Mandritsara and the surrounding area will be increasingly blessed, physically andspiritually, by the Gospel.

For a brie flm rom Good News Hospital, please visit www.ma-uk.org/hospital

MAF News March – May 2010

Sylvie

Patients and relatives wait outside theatre

Vanombelona and her baby receive treatment



Lahiman with Dr Fernand

Andre (centre) and Dr Fernand

Hearing o our vision to help people inremote villages, Dr Fernand saw the opportunity to realise his dream

help people in remote places, too.’ Threears ago, he started Madagascar Medicalari (MMS) with MAF.The doctor’s medical practice is basedAntananarivo. But he commits a workingek ve or six times each year to go on

edical saari. His motivation is his love o angelism: ‘Hospitals receive more peoplean church now. Because people know how

love God and how we help them, it’s anportunity or me to share the Gospel.’Ater a very early start and a gruelling

six-mile trek all the way rom the nearestairstrip at Sahakevo, my welcome atManakana is overwhelming. A corridor o people lines the ascent to where Dr Fernandhas been based or the week. The wholecommunity lls the building to greet us.

Overwhelming welcomeThere’s singing and speeches, and then Ireceive a git o rice and two live chickens.It’s incredibly moving – such warmth andgenerosity brings tears to my eyes. Yetsimultaneously, there’s the quandar y o knowing that it would be very oensive todecline the git. The people here needthese supplies so much more than I do.

Women have spent the morning prepar-ing lunch over open res – chicken brothand rice. Rules o hospitality dictate that a village representative always accompanies visitors. So elders eat the meal with us,though at a separate table, and two menstay with the team throughout the night.

Eective treatmentThough Dr Fernand has worked with MAFin other places, this is his rst visit toManakana. Already, he has seen 200patients with Monsieur Charles, residenthealth worker.

Consultations included problems with vision owing to lack o vitamin A, highblood pressure caused by stress healthissues due to poor nutrition includingthyroid infammation, gastritis because o the method o cooking cassava, and alsoaddiction to chewing tobacco.

lling most o the day. In the aternoon or atnight, the doctor ocuses on children, sharingthe Gospel and teaching songs.

Once darkness settles on the village, it

rapidly quietens – except or insects thatbuzz nonstop throughout the night. Thereis no electricity. MAF provides a portablegenerator or the week. Apart rom the twolight bulbs it illuminates, it’s very dark.

Soon ater 5am, I wake in dull light and walk down to the river to wash, careully balancing on a rock. One or two others areup beore clouds feetingly glow pink atsunrise. Mist is rising rom adjoining valleys.

Slowly, the village comes to lie. Spiralso smoke curl upwards rom newly-kindledres, the still air tinged with their smell.Chickens, clucking with motherly urgency,hasten their broods out o my path. Theunseen insects persist in their singing.

Unlike Dr Fernand, this is not the rsttime that MAF has visited Manakana. Back in December 2006, most o the village –184 homes – burnt to the ground. Weresponded by fying in rice and building

materials – nails, hammers and saws, whiletimber to build the structural rames o new houses was sourced locally and paidor by MAF.

Eternal consequences Wandering through the village, it’s clearthat a number o the homes are still to becompleted. Dr Fernand tells me the ownerso most o these ‘have not rebuilt becausethey are very, very depressed – they losteverything in the re.’

Progress with others has been delayedas roong material is limited, availability being seasonal. But the village promises tonish the homes within a year.

It is a privilege to have briefy been parto people’s lives in Manakana. People withso little, yet so welcoming and generous with what they have. I am pleased that wehave given them something, too.

And with anticipation, I consider theeternal consequences o the MMS team’s witness and expression o God’s love orpoor people.

idden deep in a Madagascan valley, 100 miles rom theearest road, sits the village o Manakana. I’m visiting to

eport on MAF’s partnership with Dr Fernand

Realising the doctor’s dream

MAF News March – May 2010 March – May 2010 MAF News 9

by Stephanie Gidney

Monsieur Charles serves six villages within a our-hour walk rom his base inManakana. He has really enjoyed the week ‘because MAF brought us an experienced

doctor and we’ve had time to improve ourmedical ability and work.’ Our aircrat alsobrought supplies o medicines, providing himurther opportunity to do his work better.

Among the patients who have receivedmedical care this week is Lahiman, who isa 67-year-old armer. He was suering withabdominal pain and backache. He’s very happy with what the doctor has done orhim and is delighted with how his medicinehas helped. He has also stopped chewingtobacco.

Seventeen–year-old Andre underwentminor surgery to remove an extra toe. The wound is healing well and he is very happy.

Endless buzzing A day with MMS begins early. Between 6amand 7.30, Dr Fernand works with the churchon how to read the Bible and trains leaders.Medical consultations and surgery ollow,

tephanie receives her chicken gift Manakana: 2006

Manakana: 2009

R I N G I N G L I G H T A N D L I F E T O MADAGASCAR




When Pastor Charles Kabogoza read about the plight o

Kenya’s Turkana people, it changed his lie – and brought

hope to hundreds

Little screen, big change

Lie-saving drop

Living in Uganda, Pastor Kabogoza had

seen Sam Tsapwe using the Jesus lm.So he put the two things together,

sensing God’s call to help the Turkana – the‘dry people’ o Kenya’s arid north.

Two years ago, we started fying Charlesto Lodwar, where he stayed or six weekseach time. Ater assessing needs, he estab-lished a home there in September 2008.

And the results bear testimony to hisenthusiasm. As he only has the shorter version o the lm – made or children andin Swahili, a translator is needed.

Charles has ministered in Lodwar P rison with support rom Governor Julius Kirapusand Chaplain Raymond Chirchir. At times,

400 prisoners live in a acility built or 120inmates. Yet there is a surprisingly calmatmosphere.

Remand prisoner Anton watched the Jesus lm and now walks with Jesus, pray-ing with other Christians.

Sarah learned about Jesus in prison andno longer wants to drink alcohol and ght.

Prison Ocer Joram insists the work o ellow ocers is easier since Charlesarranged or donations o sports equipmentand a television to watch a local station andEnglish Premier League ootball. Joram P

roud parents Anton and Olipa hadmarvelled at their rst child, nick-named Sam, the biggest, healthiest

baby seen by the New Tribes Mission team.But Sam was not growing. Anton approached missionar-

ies Kubili Condit and Joanna Jansma or ood or a cere-mony to drive away an evilspirit so his child wouldgrow. Then Kubili saw Olipa coming:

‘I pulled back herbaby bag, expecting tosee the same chunky little baby but nobigger. I was horried!He was nothing butprotruding bones andfaps o skin,’ recallsKubili. ‘Olipa wasnot producingenough milk. We elt thelittle guy would notmake it with-out baby ormula. Then we heard that,although theairstrip was notready, MAFcould help.’

Pilot Kevintakes up thestory. ‘I arrivedoverhead to ndsolid clouds. And

adds that it’s also easier as prisoners andocers come to know Christ.

On the outskirts o town, Charles lives inone o two rented rooms. Up to 80 memberso the children’s church, started last year,meet in the second room on Sundays andmost evenings. Children such as Corine. Ater watching the lm, she was saved andnow prays together with others.

Meanwhile, Charles’ home is no longerbig enough or all the children.

The ministry is rippling outwards romLodwar. At Naotim Primary School eightmiles away, Charles played a Christian songand then showed the Jesus lm. The chil-dren were very attentive and, ater he

prayed, some indicated they wanted tobecome Christians.Having shown the lm in many schools,

Charles now plans to return and ollow up with more teaching. He uses material romSamaritan’s Purse to nurture new Christians, along with whatever work-sheets, Bible tracts and storybooks he canpersuade missions to donate.

‘I have seen God at work in this p lace,’Pastor Charles enthuses. ‘He brought mehere at the right time. But it would be very dicult without MAF.’

0 MAF News March – May 2010

Dead centre. That’s where the package landed on the hal-

built airstrip. Kevin Lynne had dropped it rom his MAF

aircrat watched by excited villagers at Tumdungbon in

Papua province o Indonesia

U P D A T E S F R O M

K U B I L I C O N D I T

Two days ater the drop: ‘Sam is already lling out.’

One day later:

‘He came in at 4½ pounds today!’

Eight days later:

‘I hardly hear hungry crying any

more.’

Six weeks later:

‘Sam is nine pounds, and at that

cute stage o starting to smile.’

so I prayed or a hole to get down overTumdungbon. Four miles west, I was ableto get down, then work my way back underneath to the uture airstrip. Two prac-

tice passes and then I was ready. Iprayed they would nd it and

dropped on the third pass.’The package landed

‘smack dab in themiddle o the strip –both lengthwise and widthwise,’ Kubilimarvels. ‘May thisincident and this acto love challenge the

thinking and world view o all Arimtap

people. May this prepareminds and hearts to

listen to God’s Word when we can

present it tothem in theirown language.

‘Thank youMAF

or using your skills to keep us here and toimpress God’s love upon the people o Tumdungbon. They may not yet understand who is the One orchestrating it, but prayer-ully and with the help o organisations likeMAF, one day soon the Arimtap people willknow and understand.’

And Kevin echoes: ‘What a blessing touse my pretty plane to drop some ormulaor Sam and do what we’re all here tr yingto do – meet a need and help lead them tothe One who can meet their big need.’

arah (centre)

nton

Joanna with Sam

Olipa



wice in one day, an MAF

rcrat carried building

aterials crucial to projects

at are tucked away in

accessible areas

Double delight

A n arduous task conronted our pilots

and ground sta in Papua New Guinea. For when the plane rst

ok its cargo o roong iron, plywoodeets, timber and water tanks to remotemnalem, there was a problem.On arrival, the two pilots discovered that

e short airstrip carved into a ridge on thee o the Bismarck-Schrader mountain

nges was covered in cloud, thus makingnding impossible.So the pair had to return the cargo to

ount Hagen 52 miles away, and unload itthat the plane could make other bookedls that day.In the evening, it had to be reloaded to

ow early departure next morning. Loadingd unloading building supplies is dicult,

me-consuming and labour-intensive.

wit transportt the morning was beautiul as the Twinter, fown by Michael Duncale and Mikevis, returned to Yimnalem, setting downthe airstrip where landing and the startthe take-o are both uphill!The materials were or a project to buildlassroom or school and literacy work ganised by Steve and Rhonda Hayward o neer Bible Translators.Coee beans – more than a ton o them

were heaved aboard or the return trip tosold by the missionary couple on behal village growers, who would then sende cash back to the community.Without the aircrat, Yimnalem is only cessible by long and arduous treks acrossountains ollowed by a lengthy journey inanoe.As the villagers rejoiced at the plane’srgoes, Michael and Mike returned toount Hagen, reloaded the aircrat with aiety o building supplies and few tonaria, another isolated area. This time,rt o their cargo was destined to becomee roo o the building o the Evangelicalurch o Papua New Guinea.

uccessul delivery most as soon as the engines were shutwn at Benaria, supplies were unloadedder the supervision o cabin attendantemiah Akesim. He has gained a privateot licence thanks to MAF’s Aviationaining Centre. Jeremiah now dreams o e day he will complete his commercialot licence and fy or MAF.Young people and children helped carry

e precious cargo into the church. ‘Theling has to be nished, and we are goingbuild a separate room or the women’s

March – May 2010 MAF News 132 MAF News March – May 2010

ellowship,’ Pastor Robert advised the pilots.Teacher Paul Parila was delighted to see

the aircrat. ‘Benaria is very remote,’ he explained. ‘It’san eight-hour walk to thenearest road and then a two-hour drive to Tari, which isthe nearest main town.’

That whole day’s journey ends just 16 miles rom itsstart. Tari is truly dicult to

reach rom Benaria which is situated in anarrow valley, but only ten minutes’ fyingtime away.

Solitary lieLie is lonely or Paul as other teachers donot like being in such an isolated place. ‘They run away back to the towns, and so childrendo not get an education. But I can stay herebecause this is my home and I am the ownero land on one side o the airstrip.’

Regular contact with the outside worldis possible only by high requency radio,installed by Christian Radio Missionary Fellowship in partnership with MAF. In thetiny room that houses the equipment at theback o the church, Pastor Robert told Mikeand Michael how the radio is the villagelieline.

He can use it to speak to other churchesand mission communities at xed times,and he can call or the plane when there isa serious medical emergency. Also, it is theonly way that MAF can get a weatherreport beore fying into Benaria with itschangeable weather patterns.

Spiritual building As the pilots returned to Mount Hagen atthe end o their day’s labours, they wereable to refect on the way their eorts andtheir valuable cargoes would enable the work o mission, church and economy move orward in such hidden communities.

Though it was much like any other day or them, or the people at Yimnalem inMadang Province, and Benaria, in SouthernHighlands Province, it was a day to rejoice– and resume building.

Material or physical buildings it may be, but the spiritual building o the Lord’speople will surely ollow.

Paul Parila

Yimnalem

Benaria church buildingUnloading at Benaria

Pastor Robert

A l l i m a g e s o n t h i s p a g e : M i c h a e l D u n c a l f e



For many years, MAF News has beenenjoyed by thousands o people who support our work. It has

arted our journey over the years. Its taken us to poor and isolatedmmunities around the world. And,thin its pages, we have introducedu to our sta, our partners and theople they help.Over the past ew months we have

ked many o our Supporters rom aller the UK or their views on MAF ws. You may have been one o thoseo completed our questionnaire or

oke to us directly.We listened careully and I’d like toank everyone who gave their opinion.always, you have inspired, challengedd helped us to move orward.Ater taking all your comments intonsideration, you will see someanges to your next magazine. Its look l be brought up to date with a reshd dynamic eel that we hope refectsAF as a ministry.In the next issue, you can read moreout the opinions expressed by ourpporters that infuenced our decisionupdate MAF News.I’d like to assure you that the quality d content o our articles will continuebe o a consistently high standard.d you’ll be happy, I’m sure, to know at the publication will remain inex-nsive to produce. But the changes willfect what you, our Supporters, havequested. I hope you like them.

dy Prescott, Editor MAF News

4 MAF News March – May 2010

or that licence. But beore applying to joinMAF, I must have at least 500. So I amkeen to fy as much as possible in order toreach that target.’

The 33-year-old fying enthusiast initially learnt o MAF at Gildersome Baptist Church,just outside Leeds, and at Guiseley Church o England which his mother attends.

Practical love of GodSteve and Ruth Lancaster rom Corshaminterrupted their hectic liestyle or longenough to instruct a solicitor to ensureMAF would benet on their deaths.

Now aged 40, Steve is Area Director orthe south o England and south Wales or AIM International, while Ruth works orSAT-7, a Christian Arabic television station.Steve’s work oten keeps him away romtheir ellowship at Emmanuel EvangelicalChurch, Chippenham.

Steve has visited more than 10 Aricancountries on short-term trips and also spent18 months in Zambia, in part helping lead amissions training course or young people.Ruth worked or 19 years in television, 2 years with Oak Hall, a Christian holiday

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

Address

Postcode

I enclose my gift of £for use where most needed

MY RESPONSE

PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS

Registeredcharityin EnglandandWales(1064598)andinScotland(SC039107)

I want to help bring God’scompassion to needy people

Mission Aviation FellowshipCastle Hill Avenue FOLKESTONE CT20 2TN

29 Canal Street GLASGOW G4 0AD

FSF mzrs2

Please tell me about becoming a local MAFVolunteer


Running or fying A newly qualied pilot who ultimately wants to join MAF tackled the Leeds hal-marathon – and raised more than £500 orthe cause on his heart.

Rob Perrett took to the city’s streets –closed or the event – or his rst attemptat the distance, along with 3,800 otherrunners. He managed to complete the 13.1

mile course in 1 hour 38 minutes, coming334th in the men’s open section.

‘I was delighted,’ he recalls. ‘I had run aew 10-kilometre races beore, but never ahal-marathon. Now I am considering tack-ling a ull marathon, perhaps in New York.’

Training or the run was somehow ttedin between Rob’s work as a lecturer ineconomics and employment at BradordUniversity and eorts to build up his fyingtime to 500 hours – one o the necessary qualications or joining MAF as a pilot.

Since the race, he has visited Zambia where he few visitors to saari lodges insmall aircrat. He ound himsel landing ontiny dirt airstrips. ‘It was demanding butexciting,’ he enthuses.

Rob, who gained his commercial pilotlicence in October 2008, continues: ‘I only needed between 250 and 300 fying hours

organisation, and 18 months with Tearundbeore joining SAT-7 in February 2008.

Already, Steve has completed a numbero sponsored events to raise unds or MAF,including several snooker marathons and atrek up Mount Kilimanjaro.

‘Having spent time in Arica and havingjust returned rom a Bible teaching trip toBurundi, I am aware o how vital MAF is inrural locations,’ he comments. ‘The serviceis essential or church workers and missionagencies – it shows the love o God in very practical ways.

‘When Ruth and I married in January 2008, we decided to sort out our Wills andleave money to our Christian charities,one o which is MAF. We very much wantto know that we are able to support MAFater our deaths.’

position to understand the role. However,one aspect bothered me slightly. The lack o a laptop and projector in order to givePowerPoint presentations.

But then I noticed a laptop box in thegarden shed o one o my customers. Andknowing the people well, I asked whetherthey had purchased a new laptop and, i so, whether they would sell me their old one. As my need was or charitable purposes,they gave it to me.

And Kevin told me a projector is now available or use by Area Representatives inKent and East Sussex.

Book an MAF presentation or yourellowship or group, or learn more aboutbeing an Area Representative by contacting Allyson Edwards on 0845 850 9505 oremail her at [email protected]

How could I refuse?by Bruce Buckingham

Last summer, I listened to a Sunday sermonabout using our talents. Having worked or

34 years in nancial services and the last 7running my own gardening business – and with retirement on the horizon – I did noteel awash with skills to oer.

But that sermon was very motivating. Iprayed that the Lord would show me what– i anything – He wanted me to do.

The very next day, a letter reached meat my Edenbridge home in Kent rom MAF Volunteers Manager Kevin Crook. It askedme to consider prayerully becoming an Area Representative, and give presentationsabout MAF’s work.

I had given many presentations in thenancial services industry. How could Ipossibly not oer my services to MAF? Theletter was most denitely not a coincidence!

Ater meeting Kevin, I was in a better

As the UN declared Haiti’s

earthquake its own ‘worst-

ever disaster’, MAF aircrat

were already there in the

poorest country in the

western hemisphere

More than fying planes

W e played crucial roles in early response.

With 16 runways around Haiti,MAF has served its impoverished peoplesince 1986. Suddenly, a host o additionalactivities became ours.

In three days, we established a centreor communications. The GATR infatablesatellite system provided an essential high-bandwidth service or at least 16 agenciesincluding World Relie, World Concern andFood or the Hungry.

As much emergency cargo was arriving without designation to any specic group,MAF was asked to co-ordinate getting it tothe worthiest organisations – a task o trust.

What’s more, the controlling UnitedStates Air Force directed many o thehumanitarian fights to our hangar or help with unloading and customs clearance.

That hangar became warehouse andoperational base or Operation Blessing andor Samaritan’s Purse – which sent a DC-6 with 12½ tons o urgent supplies.

On Day Four, we serviced a fight taking26 adopted orphans to new lie in the USA.But alas, we also helped repatriate the body o a missionary doctor.

And we handled a fight bringing 23 workers rom World Vision, MennoniteCentral Committee and Christian Reormed World Relie Committee along with ood,tarpaulins, blankets, hygiene kits, watertreatment systems and medical equipment.The aircrat let Haiti with 43 evacuatedchildren and short-term missionaries.

In act, our hangar meant dozens o relie fights actually landed that wouldotherwise have been turned away.

A real cause or praise, that same day we resumed internal fying. Many early fights evacuated people rom Jacmel, hit

hard by the earthquake. As you pray or God’s love, peace and

comort to reach right across this troublednation, please also remember our nationalsta, some not knowing the ate o a amily member or riend. Remember children whosaw things no child should ever see.

Even prior to the devastation wrought on12 January, 80% o Haitians lived in abjectpoverty. ‘But we know the country, theculture and the language,’ explains MAF’s John Boyd. ‘Our experience and knowledge will be invaluable to groups coming to help.’

Immediately ater the earthquake, pilot Jason Krul was asked at an orphanage i hecould do stitches. ‘I said I had done once.So with little know-how and no anaesthesia,I stitched up big gashes.’

Especially in times like these, servicemeans more than fying planes.

ews o MAF News



Ede’s only chanceIn remote Nebobongo, Democratic

Republic o Congo, 19-year-old Ede

had her baby by Caesarean section.

But then she became seriously ill rom

a severe inection. With antibiotics

fown in by MAF, Ede gradually started

to eel better. She acknowledges that,

without nurse Sebina helping her, she would have died. ‘I was very sick

and I elt very weak. My baby was crying a lot, too.’ Ede responded well

to the antibiotics and returned to her village with her baby. Flying in

medical supplies is essential or somewhere as isolated as Nebobongo.

The hospital is really the only chance many people have.

Documents

MAF News March - May 2010