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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!
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.
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