2013 A YE AR IN RE VIEW
MAF reaches people living in extreme isolation, worldwide, with the love of Jesus Christ.
You Helped... ...
BRING HEALING
MAF’s holistic approach to ministry focuses on meeting people’s physical needs. MAF planes can make a vital difference and prolong life for those who still need to hear the Gospel. Examples
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
LESOTHO Daily flights for the Lesotho Flying Doctor Service and Partners in Health clinics, based in the mountains of Lesotho, made healthcare and emergency medical treatment available to nearly 300,000 Basotho people. Routine cargo flights kept the clinics stocked with critical food and coal supplies, which was especially important during winter months.
MAF delivered close to 2,000 pounds of medicines quarterly for Mennonite Central Committee hospitals in Mukedi and Nyanga, which serve a population of around 60,000.
“Our health intervention projects are in some of the hardest to reach corners of DRC. MAF is an important partner for us as we deliver health care to over 8 million people.”
TED
RESTRIC
MAF made several flights to deliver a year’s worth of medicines and medical supplies to a remote mountain village—nearly two tons worth. This clinic is the only source of medical care for hundreds of people living in a rugged and isolated area in a politically sensitive nation.
— Dr. Larry Sthreshley Congo Director for IMA World Health
THE YEAR IN NUMBERS
27,740
Flights
Watch the year in review video at
www.maf.org/impact
IN 2013 MAF... Completed
RESTRICTED ACCESS
Transported
94,005
Passengers
Delivered
8,513,366
Pounds of Cargo
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SHARE CHRIST’S LOVE
Around the globe, MAF is committed to supporting local churches and missionaries working to make Christ known. Whether it’s providing technology solutions, enabling Bible translation projects, flying pastors to church conferences or to share the Gospel, MAF is there to serve. Examples
COSTA RICA The MAF-Learning Technologies team conducted Oral Strategies workshops in Costa Rica and seven other countries, training over 300 believers to share the Gospel through Bible storytelling and discussion.
River Landing Opens Door to Ministry There are no roads leading to Ottodemo, deep in the jungles of Papua, Indonesia. The Sudate tribe lives there in isolation, practicing a mix of Christianity and animism—a belief that natural objects like rocks and trees possess spirits. Despite the efforts of evangelists from the Dani tribe trying to teach the people the Word of God, the head of the tribe wasn’t going to trust them unless they brought an “orang barat/buleh” (white man) to help. He even prayed for white missionaries to come.
On August 12, 2013, those prayers were answered as an MAF floatplane made its first landing on the Wapoga river at Ottodemo. On board was a young couple, Iwan and Maggie Boersma, who felt called to share the love of Christ with the Sudate people.
MOZAMBIQUE Ongoing supply and passenger flights aided the ministry of New Tribes missionaries in the Zambezia province. The missionaries have been leading some 150 Mwinika people in a chronological study of the Bible and—praise the Lord—many hearts are turning to Jesus.
“You have done so much to get us all around Papua so that Ngalik OT translation can go forward, HIV and AIDS awareness can be taught, soccer coaching and discipleship teaching can happen and pastors retreats can be held. Thank you for your partnership in building the Kingdom here in Papua.” — Buzz and Myrna Maxey Missionaries with Christian and Missionary Alliance
The couple’s initial trips to the village involved two days of traveling by river: one full day in a motorboat, and another full day in a dugout canoe. The long, taxing trip was full of risk, including crocodiles. And the task of bringing in equipment and materials to build a house would be a daunting one. But after meeting with MAF pilots Pieter van Dijk and Tom Bolser, the Boersmas learned about the possibility of an MAF floatplane landing on the river at Ottodemo—a 30-minute flight would replace two grueling days of travel! When the MAF plane touched down for the first time at Ottodemo, the people greeted the plane with dancing, singing and jumping. “This was to them a sign of God’s care and provision and help in the future. For us as missionaries, it was God opening the door to our future,” said Iwan. With MAF flight support, the couple is now building their house in the jungle, as they prepare to help Dani evangelists share Christ’s love in Ottodemo.
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STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES
By providing a link from cities to distant villages, MAF serves as a supply line for adequate food supplies, goods for family-run businesses, agricultural and water projects, and education—enabling communities to grow and flourish. Examples
INDONESIA MAF delivered 28,000 tea plants to the village of Long Nawang, part of a government-sponsored project to enable residents to start a small tea plantation.
Flying Hope for the Future Chimene Nwasido and her little sister, Togulusi, trek to a stream four times a day to retrieve water for the family. Their mother, Bwanzi Dungubako, worries about them. “Every day I struggle to find a little bit of food to feed the children,” Bwanzi says. Her daughter Chimene dreams of going to school but Bwanzi cannot afford the fees. Fortunately for Chimene and others like her in Gemena in the northwest corner of Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a new project led by World Vision and various church groups is transforming her community, and MAF is a critical partner in this effort. The Congo River presents a formidable roadblock for anyone trying to travel from Kinshasa to Gemena. Besides MAF, there is only one other flight carrier approved for travel by World Vision staff. The other carrier’s schedule can be sporadic and it can be difficult to get a seat. Passengers risk being bumped from a flight and stranded. “You know, they can’t plan. They don’t know when
HAITI MAF Haiti conducted 49 flights for the Children’s Hope orphan ministry in Jacmel, Haiti. Visiting teams, transported by MAF, helped complete a new mission house, and conducted medical and dental clinics at the orphanage and in neighboring mountain villages.
they’re actually going to make the trip or how long they’re going to be there, because they can get stuck for a week or more,” said MAF pilot David Francis. “It’s our dependability that they really like,” he added. MAF’s reliable transportation allows other organizations to get things done. From initial flights for a leadership team to survey the area to follow-up visits, MAF has enabled World Vision to make great strides. To date, 12,000 children are participating in the program; they’re going to school, receiving medical care, and learning about faith in Jesus Christ. A spring-capping and welldigging program is already providing access to clean water for 36,000 residents. Three new schools are being built. Parents are receiving training on nutrition and agricultural practices, and learning job skills so they can better provide for their families. Entire communities are being transformed. For Chimene and Togulusi, education and hope for the future are becoming a reality, thanks to World Vision, partnering churches, and flight support from MAF.
So That...
the Gospel can transform the hearts of isolated people. THANK YOU
In 2013, lives of real people were changed because of your support. Remote communities received Bibles in their own languages for the first time. Church leaders were trained and equipped to take the Gospel to their own people. Children got life-saving medical care. Wells, building-materials, schools, teachers, missionaries, and doctors brought hope to isolated places … all possible thanks to your gifts and prayers!
We are excited to see what God has in store in 2014. Please continue supporting MAF so the love of Jesus Christ can be shared in the farthest corners of the planet! MAF PO Box 47 Nampa, ID 83653-0047 1-800-FLYS-MAF
www.maf.org
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