2014 flightwatch volume 2

PD

a publication of

from the

Mission Aviation Fellowship

PRESIDENT’S DESK

Our Mission

Sharing the love of Jesus Christ through aviation and technology so that isolated people may be physically and spiritually transformed.

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.

Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?” —Luke 15:4 (NIV)

Bring Home the Lost Sheep ...

Dear Friends,

Managing Editor: Tracey Werre Production Manager: Kelly Hewes

Art Director: Colby Dees

Design: Clayton Borah Writers/Resourcing: Chris Burgess Jennifer Wolf

EVERY GIFT YOU SEND, every prayer you offer for MAF, helps change lives through aviation and technology.

When asked why He was spending his time with sinners, tax collectors, and society’s other outcasts, Jesus responded with a parable about a determined shepherd who stopped at nothing to bring one lost sheep back to his flock.

We enjoy hearing from you!

Please send comments and questions to MAF-US@maf.org.

It has always been the mission of MAF to reach the dear ones the world has forgotten—taking incredible measures to ensure even the most remote people have a chance to hear the Gospel message. I feel a holy pride knowing MAF empowers our partner organizations and churches to work toward the same goal.

MAF PO Box 47 Nampa, ID 83653-0047 208-498-0800 1-800-FLYS-MAF (359-7623) maf.org

God has blessed MAF, not only with skilled missionary pilots and mechanics, but also with people in the nations we serve, who are willing to come alongside us as we work toward our goal.

As you read ahead, please remember to pray for the many MAF missionaries and other believers who are stopping at nothing to bring home the lost sheep.

MAF maintains the highest standards of financial accountability and public disclosure to donors, the government, and the world at large. MAF is a member of ... Accord™ (formerly AERDO) • CSC Christian Service Charities • ECFA Evangelical

In His Grace,

Council for Financial Accountability • IAMA International Association of Missionary Aviation • Missio Nexus.

All Scripture references, unless otherwise noted, are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2010 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

John C. Boyd President and CEO

On the Cover: The village of Danokit,Indonesia. Photo by Amberlynne Claussen.

Get Connected

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Seizing Every Opportunity How local workers are making a big difference in MAF programs around the world

R

ethabile stopped working. The man leading a donkey past the Kuebunyane health clinic caught his attention. Rethabile and Maila, another Basotho MAF worker, put down the bricks they were unloading from the airplane and approached the man—a more pressing task was at hand.

High in the mountains of Lesotho, Kuebunyane is only three miles from the nearest road—yet traversing those three miles would take several hours by foot, horseback, or four-wheel drive. MAF flights are the only easy way in and out. Rethabile, Maila, and MAF pilot Justin Honaker were bringing building supplies to this clinic that treats cases ranging from minor injuries to HIV and AIDS.

“I became a Christian by talking to Sefiri,

an MAF chaplain, and the rest of the MAF team,” said Rethabile. “Sefiri mentored me,

and I watched everyone at MAF and how they lived, and it helped me grow as a believer.”

“The man and his donkey were coming from the other side of the mountain. He was on his way even further to try to find work so he could give his family something to eat,” said Rethabile. “So I asked him about his life and he was kind enough to stay and talk to us a while.”

Rethabile began working as a loader for MAF Lesotho in October 2012. Since then, he accepted Christ and takes every opportunity to share his faith. At this remote worksite, the Lord presented Rethabile with a wonderful chance to show His love.

Rethabile and Maila asked this man to stay and help them work for the day. While they worked, Rethabile told him the story of Jesus.

“It was pretty cool,” said MAF pilot Justin Honaker.

“Rethabile later told me ‘Well he couldn’t go anywhere so he had to listen to me. And he actually wanted to hear what I had to say!’”

When they had finished for the day, Rethabile watched the man and his donkey begin the trek home from Kuebunyane. Because of Rethabile and MAF, this man returned to his family both with a day’s wage and the message that God loves them so much He sent His Son to die for them.

END

An MAF airplane flies over a mountain region in Lesotho, Africa.

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The Forgotten Tribe

MAF partners with missionaries to reach a small tribe that has been overlooked.

An aerial view of Danokit in Papua, Indonesia. Story photos by Amberlynne Claussen.

M

issionary Andrew Claussen lay on the floor of a village hut for the third day in a row, hallucinating.

The buzz of his table saw had stopped, and his family’s unfinished house frame was left unattended—all work now at a standstill.

Outside the long bamboo hut are rows of identical homes lining two perpendicular white-sand paths. They sit in an open clearing surrounded by lush jungle. This is the village of Danokit, where some 300 people live—each one precious to the Savior.

The Komyandare people of Danokit have yet to hear of Jesus, as previous efforts to bring the Gospel to them have had little effect. Some tried in the past, but they arrived speaking only Indonesian, a language barely known by the Komyandare.

Until the Claussen’s arrival, no one had come to live among the tribe and learn their native language.

“It has been passed over by other missionaries because it is such a small tribe,” said Amberlynne Claussen, a World Team missionary who, along with her husband, Andrew, and three children, is planting a church in Danokit. “We wanted to reach a group that had absolutely no access to the Gospel.”

Getting to Danokit is no easy task, as it does not yet have an airstrip. The Claussens travel in an MAF airplane for over an hour then transfer to a Helimission helicopter for the final half-hour flight. During the family’s house-building stage, MAF’s KODIAK airplanes carried large loads—roofing,

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“We are very thankful for the MAF pilots who help us come in and out of the village, who

evacuate us when we are sick, and pray with us before flights. Church planting in remote areas would be a lot more challenging without MAF!”

—Andrew and Amberlynne Claussen

sinks, a toilet, heavy tools, a generator, and even a 1,500-liter water tank. MAF planes are the most efficient way to transport a large quantity of supplies to the hidden corners of Papua.

But just as the house was starting to go up, illness struck. Andrew had been in the village without his family, cutting wood for the house, when he contracted malaria and ended up on the floor of the hut with no one to care for him—and no medicine to heal him. After he called Amberlynne twice in one day (not the normal once every three days), she knew it was serious and ordered a medevac flight. Helimission picked up Andrew in the village and flew him to MAF pilot Kevin Lynne’s aircraft, which brought him back to the town of Sentani for lifesaving treatment.

But for missionaries working in such difficult places, illness is an ever-present threat. After recovering from malaria, Andrew was struck by dengue, with Ross River Fever added to the mix. His body went into septic shock, and he was flown on a commercial flight to Australia for treatment.

A nurse who cared for Andrew commented, “There were many times he should have died, but he didn’t.”

Amberlynne knows all too well how close she came to losing her husband and will be the first to tell you that “he is only alive because of God.” Many have asked if the Claussens will continue now that they know the cost— war threats by another tribe jealous for their own missionary family, sickness, broken tools, and endless mud. But God has provided the strength to endure.

And MAF will continue to be there to partner with the Claussen’s ministry.

“Andrew’s physical life was in jeopardy,” said Amberlynne, “but the eternal lives of the Komyandare are in jeopardy until they are able to receive the gift of the Gospel.

“We have counted the cost, and we would gladly give our lives if it allowed 300-plus people to trust in Jesus.”

END

If you want to learn more about the Claussens and follow their progress, visit claussenministries.org.

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MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT: the Robinsons

Always Hot and Sometime s Hotter

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hirty years, four Latin American countries, and a welldeveloped ministry—that sums up the MAF career of Steve and Debbie Robinson who have adapted to every location, every season of change, by keeping God first.

The Robinsons joined MAF in 1984 and, after language school in Costa Rica, spent their first term at a very remote village (a swamp, actually) in Honduras, where Steve served as base manager and Debbie did radio flight-following. They were nearly two hours away from civilization by plane.

“We lived 13 years where it was always hot and sometimes hotter,” Steve said.

They later served in the Venezuela program as a pilot/mechanic family and lived in a city where they had all the amenities— pavement, electricity, stores, everything except good ice cream.

But they took care of that with the purchase of an ice cream maker because …

“It was always hot and sometimes hotter,” Steve emphasized.

During their last term they moved to the MAF program in Oaxaca, Mexico, where Steve continued to hone his skills as a field instructor pilot and Debbie enjoyed fellowship with a variety of missionaries from different organizations. “I really liked Mexico,” said Debbie, “even though we were only there nine months.”

“It was much cooler there,” Steve added.

In 2000 the Lord brought them back to the U.S. Today Steve serves as an aviation maintenance instructor at MAF headquarters in Nampa, Idaho (where the weather is a little more varied). He plays a critical role in evaluating new pilot/mechanics coming into MAF and preparing them to maintain the fleet overseas—by conducting standardization training and helping lead a yearly maintenance instructor seminar at headquarters.

“We’re flying larger, more expensive airplanes now,” said Steve.

“It’s a much more complex picture than it used to be.”

In addition to their work at MAF, God is using the Robinsons’ knowledge and passion for Latin America in another way. In the “off hours” Steve and Debbie lead a small, largely immigrant, Spanish church, El Crucero (which means “The Cross-bearer”).

Over three decades of service with MAF has given the Robinsons the tools they need to keep reaching those around them with Christ’s love—from Central America to Nampa, Idaho.

If you are not supporting an MAF family, you may be missing a special blessing! You can learn more about the Robinsons by visiting maf.org/robinson.

END

“We found we really love Latin America and Latin Americans,” said Steve. “That for me was the best part of flying. Not that flying isn’t cool ... but it’s the people the Lord let us get to know, and love, and help.”

—Steve and Debbie Robinson

Photo courtesy of the Robinsons

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TECH CORNER

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everal stacks of paper clutter a workbench next to the KODIAK airplane parked in the MAF hangar in Nampa, Idaho. These are the instructions for installing the External Cargo Compartment or “pod” to the bottom of the airplane.

Attaching what is essentially a fiberglass box to the bottom of a KODIAK might sound like an easy task, yet it can mean weeks of work and requires extensive knowledge of the aircraft.

But it’s well worth the effort. With a pod, the KODIAK’s cargo is easier to access, load, and unload. The pod does not increase the airplane’s weight capacity, but it allows cargo that could not be easily carried in the cabin to be safely stored without having to be tied down—things like bulky building materials, pigs, or even crocodiles.

Clay Walter, a maintenance specialist at MAF headquarters, is in the process of adding the pod to this KODIAK, which is bound for service in Indonesia.

“Installing a pod is a surprisingly long process,” said Walter.

“But it makes the KODIAK much more useful to MAF and those we serve.”

MAF mechanics consider many factors when attaching the pod to the airplane, so great care must be taken. The pod changes the aerodynamics of the KODIAK, so Walter must attach finlike ventrals to channel air evenly over the surface of the plane when it is in the air.

The pod can even interfere with the KODIAK’s radio, so a grounding mesh must line the bottom of the pod. This metallic mesh breaks up static electricity that could disrupt the radio signal. The firewall in front of the cabin must be extended to prevent potential engine fires from spreading to the cargo hold. Fuel drains and vents are installed to allow pilots and mechanics to access fuel and clean the lines without removing the pod.

For MAF, the weeks of intricate work Walter and other mechanics undergo to install a pod drastically increase the KODIAK’s impact. A simple cargo pod means MAF is better equipped to share Christ’s love in the most isolated places on earth.

END

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NEWS BRIEFS

MAF Partners with Mercy Ships

HIV/AIDS Education in Papua

“Once again, thanks for your excellent flying! We really appreciate our partners in doing His work!” —Matt Tveite with Mercy Ships

A new initiative by The Alliance (C&MA) missionaries, Buzz and Myrna Maxey, in partnership with MAF is educating Papuans about HIV/AIDS—a disease which has become a serious problem throughout Papua. The Maxeys recently presented their program to the MAF Sentani staff. Named “Semua Harus Tahu,” or “Everyone Must Know,” it conveys how the virus is transmitted or not transmitted, as well as lifestyles that can put someone at risk for the disease.

The couple has developed a laminated brochure that includes information about HIV/AIDS, as well as a hotline number to call for help. Copies are being inserted in the seat pockets of MAF planes and have the potential to reach some 40,000 passengers a year.

In December, MAF conducted a flight to Impfondo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), for a Mercy Ships team that was screening 175 people for possible surgeries. Mercy Ships team member Matt Tveite said, “We selected 62 people to come to the ship for surgeon screening and likely lifechanging surgery. Your work had a DIRECT impact on each of these 62 lives!”

MAF Pioneer Passes Away

People waiting to be screened by the Mercy Ships team. Photo by Rod Hochstetler.

Doctor and Dentist Needed in Mozambique The MozMed flying doctor program is currently seeking a doctor and a dentist for two-year assignments in Mozambique. Candidates must be motivated by Christian faith, speak Portuguese or be willing to learn, and be willing to raise part of their own support. MozMed is closely connected to MAF, but the doctor/dentist positions are not with MAF. Help spread the word about this opportunity to serve! Visit maf.org/mozmed to download the job posting and share it with anyone who might be interested.

Hobey Lowrance, one of MAF’s earliest staff members, died on February 7, 2014, at age 92. Hobey joined MAF in 1948 and flew many of the survey flights that allowed the ministry to establish flight operations in Latin America. Hobey was instrumental in developing MAF’s flight training and safety programs that subject pilots to conditions they are likely to encounter while flying in unfriendly terrain and poor weather.

Please join the MAF community in praying for Hobey’s family while rejoicing in his life of faithful service.

Join us in prayer ...

“Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.”

—Hebrews 13:18 (NIV)

… and pray ...

For those who have recently received a Bible in their own heart language, thanks to an MAF flight, that the Word would take root and transform lives.

For MAF missionaries who are struggling with health issues, or have lost loved ones lately, that they would receive healing, comfort, and strength from the Lord.

That the people who are struggling with HIV/AIDS, particularly in Lesotho and Papua, would feel Christ’s love and come to know Him through the care they are receiving through MAF and its partners.

Thanking God for his provision, and asking Him to raise up supporters to fund airplanes needed for missionary work.