FlightWatch 2015, Volume 4

A Publication of Mission Aviation Fellowship 2015 Vol 4

Expanding Grace

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from the

a publication of

Mission Aviation Fellowship

PRESIDENT’S DESK

Our Mission

Dear Friend, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”—Isaiah 43:19 Isaiah reminded the Israelites that God was with them even during times of oppression and exile. Even today, the prophet’s words encourage those facing hardship. The Lord is with you, He will provide, and He has done a new thing through Jesus Christ!

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

Managing Editor: Tracey Werre

Production Manager: Micki Blair

Art Director: Colby Dees

Writers/Resourcing: Chris Burgess Jennifer Wolf

New life is springing up in the Haitian desert, children are being healed and restored in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and people like you are making a real impact through faithful sacrifices so isolated people can experience Christ’s love.

EVERY GIFT YOU SEND, every prayer

As you read this edition of FlightWatch, I hope you will be swept away by accounts of how God is already working through MAF and through you to make all things new.

Please send comments and

Thank you for joining with us in going about our Lord’s work. You are opening doors so that people in the far corners of the world can be transformed by Jesus Christ. If the Lord leads you as you read this, I ask that you consider a gift to MAF, to help our ministry continue.

Thank you for partnering with MAF. Thank you for having a desire to see all people come to know the wondrous love of our Savior.

For His glory,

you offer for MAF, helps change lives through aviation and technology.

We enjoy hearing from you! questions to MAF-US@maf.org.

MAF PO Box 47 Nampa, ID 83653-0047 208-498-0800 1-800-FLYS-MAF (359-7623) maf.org 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 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: A student at Lemuel Ministies’ school in Anse Rouge, Haiti. Photo by Jason Chatraw.

Get Connected:

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The Ones God Loves Life-changing facial surgeries in the DRC

T

he theories ranged from absurd to ominous: a lizard bit her lip, her mother looked at a camel while giving birth, an ancestor or evil spirit had been angered, or perhaps this was God’s punishment. No matter the reason, Nzapa Kimbi knew her seven-year-old granddaughter, Lidia, needed help. Even if Lidia’s cleft palate were a curse, Nzapa—whose name means “God doesn’t like me”—would have done anything to give a better life to her granddaughter, even if it meant walking from the Central African Republic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Nearly two millennia ago, when the disciples came across a blind man (John 9), they asked similar questions to the ones asked about Lidia: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered: “Neither ... This happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

A deformity such as a cleft palate can be much more than a disfigurement in many parts of the world. In the DRC, people with cleft palates are often viewed as cursed and can be ostracized from society or face harsh persecution.

MAF recently partnered with the Evangelical Covenant Church and the Paul Carlson Partnership—an organization that encourages medical and economic development in the DRC—to bring skilled surgeons into the village of Karawa to meet the needs of people like Lidia.

Karawa is cut off from the rest of the country by the massive Congo River, one of the world’s largest rivers and the deepest—with depths reaching as much as 720 feet! In addition to the river, large forests and swamps mean many of the people living there often have difficulty getting help.

MAF’s PC-12 airplane is an ideal tool to open access to Karawa and the surrounding region.

MAF pilot Garth Pederson flew a medical team in the spacious PC-12 from the city of Kinshasa to Karawa— quickly covering the distance of 530 miles! Upon landing at the airstrip, the team was warmly greeted by over 100 people, many of whom were local nurses excited about the opportunity to meet needs in this area.

For 11 days, the team held medical training seminars on trauma care and performed cleft palate surgeries on 12 children—one of whom was Lidia.

Nzapa and her granddaughter, Lidia, experienced God’s healing because of your support of MAF. Photo by Kurt and Linda Lindquist.

“God has given us a unique opportunity to join Him in what He is doing,” said Garth. “The surgeons could not have done what they did without this flight. There’s no way to get up there without the airplane. And I could not have done the flight without the support of our ministry partners.”

“They had no money and no hope for a change,” said Dr. Linda Lindquist, the surgeon who performed Lidia’s surgery. “Now they can rejoice that something good has come into their lives.”

Contrary to her name, God does care for Nzapa. He loves Lidia, her grandmother, and others around the world who are hurting and scorned. And because of the support of donors like you, MAF is able to reveal His love to people in remote places like Karawa.

“Lidia’s life was physically transformed,” said Garth.

“And I believe that her grandmother’s life was spiritually transformed, with the realization that God more than likes her—He loves her.”

1-800-FLYS-MAF

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Out of the Thorns You are helping a Haitian ministry transform a remote community Residents of Anse Rouge clearing the land to make way for the airstrip. Photo by John Munsell.

“I

t’s long enough, but it will never happen,” said MAF pilot John Munsell as he surveyed an area for a possible airstrip.

It seemed unlikely that this patch of land could ever be more than the impossible wall of thorn bushes confronting him. But the people were determined to find a way for MAF to serve their community. Each family took a section and cleared out the thorns, then layered the gravel, dirt, and sand before pounding it down and making it firm. And MAF has been supporting the community of Anse Rouge, Haiti, and Lemuel Ministries ever since.

The area is known as the Plateau, or Grand Diable (Big Devil).

Living up to its name, the landscape is barren and depleted, offering little more than thorns.

Deforestation has decreased Haiti’s precipitation and created the desert-like Plateau.

Manis Dilus grew up in Anse Rouge with grandparents who, like most in this country, practiced voodoo. In fact, his grandfather

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was the witch doctor for this area. The practice likely would have passed to Manis were it not for his mother. Someone shared Christ with her when she was a teenager, and she accepted Him as her Savior. Manis, too, decided to follow Christ as a young boy.

After college, he founded Lemuel Ministries and returned to Anse Rouge to help his people.

A Landscape of Hope Manis and his wife, Judy, were committed to share Christ in this small community by providing solutions to overcome poverty through development, education, and spiritual discipleship. They wanted to heal the land and its people.

The couple began by addressing the lack of water, digging a well with a wind-generated pump, and enlisting the community to dig rainwater catchment holes and home cisterns to collect rain runoff from metal roofs.

The Diluses developed food- and cash-for-work programs, where individuals clear the land to make

way for new water holes, gardens, and trees. The community also works together to build cement-block homes and latrines for families.

The people have hope as they see the land cleared of the thorns, and they take pride in their work.

Today, when visitors fly in to Anse Rouge, they’re surprised to see the green spreading out from the center where Lemuel is based.

“It’s a shocking difference between the desert-like conditions. It’s a visual picture of what Christ does,” explains Judy.

Since Lemuel began ministering in Anse Rouge in 1999, more than the physical landscape has changed. The Diluses recall the earlier days of their ministry when they would hear the chanting and drumming of voodoo ceremonies.

But that’s rare now. Two key families that practiced voodoo have come to Christ, and that has had a big impact on the community.

Expanding Grace Thanks to your prayers and gifts, MAF has been able to support

Lemuel since 2000, when the airstrip opened. Flights bring in short-term teams to do medical clinics or work projects for the school and church. In times of crisis, MAF has been there, conducting medical evacuations and delivering food supplies and water filtration systems.

“It’s more than planting trees, providing education, or work.”

Building materials also have arrived by MAF airplane, as well as several work teams to finish construction of Lemuel ’s new school building.

“I did not see how we were going to get the school ready for the children to enter for the year,” Judy wrote in a letter to MAF. “We are so grateful to God for His provision, and we are grateful to you and the team for being a part of what He is doing here on the Plateau.”

Gradually, Satan is losing his grip on this land and the people. One Haitian woman nearly died before realizing she’d given her whole life to Satan, and he couldn’t heal or save her. Only God could. That’s when she finally turned to Jesus. She said, “Satan takes everything from us and gives us nothing in return … just these thorns and poverty. But God asks for nothing from us, except ourselves, and He gives us everything.”

The Diluses realize they can’t change the whole country, but they can make a difference in their community. “It’s more than planting trees, providing education or work,” said Judy. “It’s showing them Christ ... It’s the personal relationships and being able to impact a small area, and that impact is going to grow out from there.”

Please remember Manis and Judy and all of the Lemuel staff in your prayers, and ask for the Holy Spirit to change hearts in Anse Rouge.

An aerial shot showing Lemuel Ministries’ gardens, trees, and buildings, with the airstrip in the background.

Photo by Paul O’Brien.

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MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT: Jon and Cher Cadd

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nce in Mozambique, I was flying with one of our new pilots on his checkout in the country,” said MAF pilot Jon Cadd.

“I remember him saying, ‘This is exactly why I came to Africa,’ as we flew load after load of food into a refugee camp. The next day we were flying down the Zambezi River with more food when we were shot at, and one of our passengers was hit.

“It is not all fun and games. Most real adventures are better talked about after the fact than living in the moment,” said Jon. After 32 years in Africa with MAF, Jon and Cher Cadd have plenty to talk about. They’ve served in Zimbabwe and Mozambique and the last 10 years in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where Jon has added the responsibility of program manager to his flight duties. Last year they relocated to MAF’s Nyankunde base, which reopened in 2013.

In the DRC, with its history of civil war and ongoing violence, Jon explains that there is “little infrastructure, healthcare, food, and even less of what we consider essentials of life.

“We have the privilege of bringing our planes and people into this situation to share the love of Christ with those in need. Sharing the Gospel and taking part in meeting physical needs—who wouldn’t love to do that?”

“We have lived in cities and in the bush, and now in a village,” explains Cher. “Each has its good and bad points.

When we first arrived in Africa, I wasn’t familiar with the metric system, so that was hard for me. Not only didn’t I recognize the cuts of meat in a store, but I didn’t know how much to ask for. I would say most of life is easier for me now because it is my life and has been for 30-some years.”

One thing that hasn’t changed is the importance of their ministry partnership team. “Without their involvement,” says Cher, “we couldn’t even be here! Our supporters encourage us by sticking with us so faithfully and by praying for us. I don’t think we will ever know, this side of eternity, all they have done for us!”

The Cadds are looking for more people to join their team.

Would you like the blessing of coming alongside them to share the Gospel in the DRC? To find out more, visit maf.org/cadd.

“It is not all fun and games. Most real adventures are better talked about after the fact than living in the moment.” Photo courtesy of Jon and Cher Cadd.

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SUPPORTER SPOTLIGHT

One mission

M

AF supporters are passionate about reaching isolated people with Christ’s love—without them we would not be flying. If we shared every word of encouragement we received, this publication would be enormous. But we want to take the opportunity to highlight a few faithful people.

Here is what they have to say in their own words:

Gladys and Glenn, ages 86 and 82: “Dear MAF, we live near a small airport where small planes like ‘our’ MAF planes fly in and out a lot, practicing ‘touch and goes,’ as my husband puts it. Anyhow, every time we drive by, once or twice a week, I pray for MAF and all its needs (pilots’ safety, enough fuel, souls helped and saved). But it’s when I see a plane flying over that God reminds me to pray, and that’s almost every time! Just a word of encouragement for you.”

Samuel, age 10:

Many ways to give Maf.org/GivingCatalog

Celebrate God’s greatest gift ...

“My 10-year-old son Samuel wanted to send you some of his lawn care money. He wants to help put more planes in the air. He has wanted to work with missionary aviation since he was 4 or 5. He saw your letter in the mail and asked to read it. He came up with the return envelope and forgot the gift indicator card. I wanted to mail it to you just as it is. He’s a precious tenderhearted boy. God will use him in a mighty way someday. Thank you for all that you do in the Lord.”

Collin, age 10: “Dear MAF, I am really interested in missionary stuff and will keep on sending little amounts of money to you. And I want it to make a difference.”

The hum of a lawn mower in Minnesota and the buzz of small airplanes in California are reminders of the faithfulness of MAF supporters. These sounds echo the noise of an MAF plane touching down in a remote village to bring hope.

People like Glenn, Gladys, Samuel, and Collin are crucial to MAF’s mission to share Christ’s love with isolated people.

Without them and many others, it simply would not happen.

by sharing Christ with the world.

Please consider a year-end gift to MAF. Maf.org/year-end 1-800-FLYS-MAF

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NEWS BRIEFS

The Ecuador KODIAK is doused by a fire truck. Photo

by Chad Irwin.

KODIAK Dedication in Ecuador In August, Alas de Socorro del Ecuador, an MAF affiliate in Shell, Ecuador, held a dedication ceremony for a KODIAK that recently arrived. The team planned a big party and decorated the new hangar addition with tables in blue, white, and red accents and KODIAK-themed centerpieces.

There was even an elaborate cake! Those present included representatives from the Waorani, Shuar, Atshuar, and Quichua tribes, local dignitaries, a donor couple, and MAF staff from the U.S. The ceremony consisted of several testimonies, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a prayer of dedication, and the airplane being christened by a spray of water from a fire truck.

believers in Mokndoma to worship together and encourage each other.

The Wano believers loved hearing the Moi sing, as singing is not part of Wano worship. And the Moi were amazed at the generosity of the Wano believers who showered them with gifts; in the Moi culture, you are considered a fool if you give without receiving payment in return.

What a beautiful example of iron sharpening iron—and two different people groups coming together for fellowship via MAF flights.

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

—Hebrews 13:18 (NIV)

• For the new MAF flight program that just opened in Liberia. Pray that it would bless the people and help restore the country.

Two Sides of the Same Coin MAF and Raptim Humanitarian Travel both specialize in helping missionaries and aid workers reach distant places. While MAF flies beyond where roads end, Raptim specializes in helping missionaries and aid organizations book commercial travel from one airport to another all over the world. So if you are a missionary or aid worker, Raptim will get you to the foreign country, and then MAF will take you the rest of the way.

• For the Nepali people as they rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the earthquakes that struck earlier in 2015, and for continued protection for those communities prone to landslides.

• That new and longtime MAF overseas teachers will have vigor and vision as they pour into the lives of missionary kids.

Learn more about Raptim at raptim.org.

Praise

MAF Connects Tribes in Papua You may recall an earlier story about Liku and the Wano people (FlightWatch Vol 1, 2015—“A Mirror and a Shirt”). Recently a report came out saying 18 believers from the Moi tribe were flown by MAF so they could meet with the Wano

Join us in prayer ...

Praise God for a new ramp/ taxiway at the MAF Haiti hangar.

Photo by John Munsell.

• Give praise for recent improvements made at the MAF Haiti hangar in Port-au-Prince: concrete ramp, sidewalk, drainage area, and electrical connection.