PD
from the
PRESIDENT’S DESK
“Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people.” – Revelation 14:6 (NIV) Dear friend, Throughout the pages of Revelation, we are swept up with John as he encounters the wonders of the heavenly realms. In the throne room of the Lord, he gives us a peek at the majesty of God, the splendor of His Kingdom, and His magnificent plans that are going to unfold. Now, to assume that in the above verse John was referring to an MAF airplane would be poor interpretation—not to mention thinking a bit too highly of ourselves. Still, I cannot help but be drawn to the beautiful parallels between this heavenly messenger and the small part an MAF airplane plays in taking the Gospel to “every nation, tribe, language, and people.” I cherish our role in the Great Commission! So it is with a grateful and hopeful heart that after 10 joy-filled years as CEO of MAF, I will soon be stepping down. There is a season for everything, and I feel the Lord is bringing my season with MAF to a close. MAF’s board of directors has begun the search for the ministry’s next leader, whom I hope to welcome within this next year. My wife, Tanya, and I have made this decision together after a great deal of prayer, soul searching, and planning. We have cherished these years with MAF; it has been our life’s calling and ministry. We will depart with the same sense of God’s gentle hand guiding our lives that we felt 23 years ago when we joined the ministry. Throughout my long tenure with MAF, in the various roles I have played—from pilot to president, I have seen the wonderful things our Lord is doing through MAF and people like you who support our work. And He has even more amazing things in store! I cannot wait to see how God moves. MAF’s work is far from over, and I am thankful to have played a small part. Together for His Glory,
a publication of Mission Aviation Fellowship The stories within FlightWatch are highlights of MAF’s ministry. Some days our missionaries get to see and experience the amazing things our Lord is doing. Other days are spent quietly and diligently serving the Lord through routine flights, maintenance work, and simply living among others in foreign countries. We believe that God works through all areas of service and at times blesses us with extraordinary glimpses of His work. Director of Marketing: Managing Editor: Production Manager: Art Director: Graphic Designer: Writers/Resourcing:
Tracey Werre Chris Burgess Micki Blair Colby Dees Clayton Borah Jennifer Wolf Chris Burgess
Every gift you send, every prayer you offer for MAF, helps change lives through aviation and technology. We enjoy hearing from you! Please send comments and 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.
EDITOR’S CORRECTION: In the Every Part Matters article on page 7 of FlightWatch 2017, vol. 2, the village mentioned is Umtang, the village is actually Long Alango.
John C. Boyd President and CEO
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Cover photo by Mark & Kelly Hewes, Vanga DRC.
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MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT KAYLA HARDER
Photo by Paul O’Brien
Kayla Harder sensed God’s call on her life to be a missionary at the age of seven. But it wasn’t until she was 16 and “co-piloted” a small aircraft with a friend’s dad in Florida that she discovered a love of flying and the avenue by which she would serve as a missionary. Kayla learned about MAF from her grandmother, who told her, “You can become a missionary pilot!” “She connected the dots for me,” said Kayla. That connection eventually led her to a degree in aviation technology in San Diego. She then returned to Florida to spend two years as a flight instructor. Kayla was accepted as an MAF pilot in January 2017. Now she’s preparing for her ministry in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Part of that preparation involves visiting churches and searching for the people God is calling to serve on her team—as prayer and financial partners. Having flown in California, Kayla was used to flying over mountains,
not through the valleys. But during her technical evaluation flight with MAF, her instructors kept telling her she could “get closer and still have safe margins.” “It totally pushed my little comfort zone that I’d built over the years,” said Kayla. “I loved it!” “I love big clouds, and I love big mountains, and I love big rocks … I’m a small person, and it gives me this perspective, reminds me how small I am in the grand scheme of things.” Kayla’s enthusiasm bubbles over like a runaway train, one that’s sure of its destination. She talks about the deep resoluteness in her soul that has never wavered, even when she’s had to work harder, being a female pilot, to prove herself. For someone whose life is “up in the air,” 24-year-old Kayla is firmly grounded. She knows where her strength lies and the focus she’ll need once she gets to Indonesia. “My own personal impact with
people depends on my being intentional with Him,” said Kayla. “Since I was born, He has been preparing me for this. He’s also been preparing people to join my team. I can invite them to partner with me in sharing Christ’s love in Indonesia, and encourage them in their journey with God.” Is God calling you to partner with Kayla in her ministry to the people of Kalimantan? To join Kayla’s team or to find out more, visit maf.org/harder.
1-800-FLYS-MAF
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by jennifer wolf
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It seemed like the only “help” available for 12-year-old Masha’s painful infection on her shin was either an herbal remedy or a trip to the local witch doctor, neither of which would be considered a legitimate option outside of the developing world. Superstitions aside, in remote villages like Masha’s in the African bush, even if you know of a small clinic in a neighboring village, you might be hard-pressed to reach it— by foot, canoe, motorcycle, or some combination of the three. By the time Masha was brought to the nearest small mission hospital, the infection had reached her bone, and she was in danger of losing her leg. These are some of the constraints facing people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where a simple cut or injury can turn into something quite serious. Because of situations like these, an American medical missionary couple is pursuing their vision of training the next generation of Congolese doctors and nurses in Christ-centered, whole-person care and making healthcare available to rural areas throughout western DRC. Dr. Tim Rice (back, Dr. Tim Rice serves as the medical director of the Vanga Evangelical Hospital, a teaching hospital that provides the only high-level medical care to a health zone of 250,000 people, and a local population of around 10,000. Kathy, a nurse and Tim’s wife, says she hopes that as the students practice and work in partnership with clinics in the rural areas, they
will catch a vision for what God may have for them to do in the “forgotten places.” She serves at the hospital as director of the Miriam Fountain School of Nursing, which offers a three-year university degree in hospital nursing, community health, or midwifery. “When nurses go out and establish a medical clinic, they have the opportunity to be a big influence, said Kathy. “We want to prepare them not just for healthcare, but also to be soul winners and nurturers of the faith.”
better prepared to offer this surgery after the team departed. Visiting doctors can share their expertise, provided they have a reasonable way to get to and from Vanga. Two thousand pounds of insulin, thousands of vaccines— requiring a “cold chain” or constant refrigeration—and fragile equipment such as an ultrasound machine have
“the reasonable way is maf.”
the sounds of healing A chorus of female voices sang out in the hospital ward. Women danced in the hallways as they left, their shame replaced by joy. “They couldn’t stop smiling,” noted another missionary doctor serving at Vanga. “Their joy was palpable.” Thanks to a Congolese medical team whom MAF flew in to Vanga,
made their way safely to the hospital. “Supplies … anything we need here. It’s best if it comes by MAF,” added Kathy. In fact, MAF brings some of the toughest cases to Vanga, like Masha, who was treated and whose leg was saved. Tim and Kathy are familiar with the uncomfortable alternative of traveling by road, having attempted the 14-hour one-way journey, stuffed into an overloaded Toyota Land Cruiser with 12 others. A trip they vowed not to do again anytime soon. “Bringing teams of physicians to Vanga to train center) with Vanga Evangelical Hospital doctors and nurses. Congolese would Photos by Mark & Kelly Hewes be much more these women received a life-changing limited if the team had to make obstetric surgery for a horrible an arduous day-long trip at the condition caused by prolonged, beginning and end of each visit,” said obstructed labor—one that led Tim. to them being shunned by their “The reasonable way is MAF,” husbands, families, and communities. added Kathy. To learn more about Masha’s Additionally, the Vanga surgeons story and another way and operating room team received that MAF serves the Vanga practical instruction and learned hospital, watch this video at current techniques so they would be maf.org/vanga-video.
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TECH CORNER HIGHS AND LOWS
Serving overseas with MAF might seem like a constant adventure—a dream come true. In many ways, it certainly is, but that does not mean that everything is always smooth sailing for MAF field staff and national workers. Life on the field can be both unbelievably hard and incredibly rewarding. MAF pilot Peter Neal collected the thoughts from some of his fellow colleagues in Indonesia expressing the joys and challenges of serving with MAF. Here is what they had to say: “The thing that has brought me the greatest joy in being here is seeing the impact that we make on isolated people. It’s really cool just to hear so many stories of how God has used MAF to show the love of Christ to them.”
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“The things that bring joy in Kalimantan are seeing God’s hand in the work that we are doing, being able to spend time with friends, and eating the food.” “It has been a joy working with MAF, helping others, serving God … and so many people here need help.” “I have really enjoyed the relationships that I have been able to build with neighbors.” “I think the thing that brings me the most joy here is that nobody else in the world gets to experience what we experience on a daily basis.” “The biggest challenge and the biggest joy were relationships.” “I would say the challenge that we have all felt is a need for people who can fill staff roles here.”
“My biggest challenge is this feeling that I need to be more so that I can help more people.” “I’d say the greatest challenge that I’ve faced has just been the lack of staff and all the burden that puts on us as families, as friends, and as a team trying to make it through our ministry here.” “One of the challenges that I think I struggle with a little bit is trying to figure out how to be involved with community—our MAF community, our expat community—and wanting my kids to be involved with the neighborhood Indonesian kids.” “If my greatest joy is knowing that we’re a part of something that God is doing, I think the challenge is just not always being able to see that.”
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MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT KAYLA HARDER
Photo by Paul O’Brien
Kayla Harder sensed God’s call on her life to be a missionary at the age of seven. But it wasn’t until she was 16 and “co-piloted” a small aircraft with a friend’s dad in Florida that she discovered a love of flying and the avenue by which she would serve as a missionary. Kayla learned about MAF from her grandmother, who told her, “You can become a missionary pilot!” “She connected the dots for me,” said Kayla. That connection eventually led her to a degree in aviation technology in San Diego. She then returned to Florida to spend two years as a flight instructor. Kayla was accepted as an MAF pilot in January 2017. Now she’s preparing for her ministry in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Part of that preparation involves visiting churches and searching for the people God is calling to serve on her team—as prayer and financial partners. Having flown in California, Kayla was used to flying over mountains,
not through the valleys. But during her technical evaluation flight with MAF, her instructors kept telling her she could “get closer and still have safe margins.” “It totally pushed my little comfort zone that I’d built over the years,” said Kayla. “I loved it!” “I love big clouds, and I love big mountains, and I love big rocks … I’m a small person, and it gives me this perspective, reminds me how small I am in the grand scheme of things.” Kayla’s enthusiasm bubbles over like a runaway train, one that’s sure of its destination. She talks about the deep resoluteness in her soul that has never wavered, even when she’s had to work harder, being a female pilot, to prove herself. For someone whose life is “up in the air,” 24-year-old Kayla is firmly grounded. She knows where her strength lies and the focus she’ll need once she gets to Indonesia. “My own personal impact with
people depends on my being intentional with Him,” said Kayla. “Since I was born, He has been preparing me for this. He’s also been preparing people to join my team. I can invite them to partner with me in sharing Christ’s love in Indonesia, and encourage them in their journey with God.” Is God calling you to partner with Kayla in her ministry to the people of Kalimantan? To join Kayla’s team or to find out more, visit maf.org/harder.
1-800-FLYS-MAF
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NEWS BRIEFS
phtoto by Jacinda Basinger
A RIVETING FUTURE
Twice a week, MAF hosts a “hangar hangout” for mechanically-inclined high schoolers from the Sekola Papua Harapan (SPH) school in Sentani, Papua. This photo shows MAF Papua’s maintenance manager, Jon Chin, teaching ninth grader Gerpatius how to install rivets. “Gerpa” has flown on MAF planes since he was five years old. Now, equipped with critical-thinking and problem-solving skills acquired through SPH, the MAF team hopes he will be inspired to consider becoming an MAF pilot in the future.
phtoto courtesy of Dylan Fast
FERRY FLIGHT FOR THE KODIAK ON FLOATS
In April MAF’s amphibious KODIAK departed the U.S. on its ferry flight to Indonesia. Dylan Fast piloted the plane, accompanied by his wife, Valerie (also a pilot). This is one of several ferry flights the Canadian couple has done for MAF. Now in Indonesia, the airplane will be registered as PK-MEE and
will remain in Papua while it goes through customs. It will also help out a bit there before it moves on to Kalimantan. In the meantime, two Cessna 185 floatplanes in Kalimantan will soon be boxed up and shipped back to headquarters as the program prepares for the arrival of the KODIAK.
JOIN US IN PRAYER ... For the approval of MAF’s Dangerous Goods and Security Manuals by Indonesia’s Department of Transportation. Our users have been waiting patiently for MAF to be able to resume shipping of dangerous goods and cargo, like generator fuels and gas for cooking stoves. For God’s provision for teacher visa slots for the Tarakan, Kalimantan, program. Give praise that one teacher family has committed for next year and two possible families are “in process.”
phtoto by Deeram Khong
AIRSTRIP CONSTRUCTION APPROVED IN MYANMAR
Nearly a year after MAF made its original assessment visit in Lailenpi, Myanmar, Vice President U Henry Van Thio of Myanmar authorized construction of an airstrip in partnership with NGO Health and Hope Foundation. Leaders from Chin State, and the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, and MAF’s Chad Tilley gathered in Lailenpi for the official occasion. The government also granted over $1 million to develop a hospital, community center, roads, and a generator. The hope is that the airstrip’s construction will lead to further projects and ultimately the commencement of MAFInternational’s flight operations in Myanmar.
That the Palangkaraya, Kalimantan, team will have wisdom as they transition to operating the amphibious KODIAK. For summer schedules in Haiti, as staff are on furlough and vacation, and there is still much work to be done. Lift up Haitians who are still struggling post Hurricane Matthew. Without seeds or the money to purchase them, many are unable to replant gardens; starvation is a problem in some areas.
“THEN YOU WILL CALL ON ME AND COME AND PRAY TO ME, AND I WILL LISTEN TO YOU.” - JEREMIAH 29:12 NIV