Strengthening the Capacity and Talent of National Staff

We get excited about what God is doing in and through our 300-plus national staff who serve with MAF in their own countries.

Here is some of what was accomplished in the last year: MAF chaplains ministering to internally displaced people in the DRC and sharing the gospel with shepherds in the mountains of Lesotho; a finance worker and quality director staff couple serving in our office in Mozambique; and an MAF office manager training young adults for a rural discipleship ministry in Papua.

Here are four whose educational accomplishments we celebrated in 2022:

Mantlibi Mafa (Lesotho) graduated from the School of Missionary Aviation Technology (SMAT) with her airframe and powerplant (A&P) certificate. She is currently awaiting MAF standardization and hopes to become the first female MAF maintenance specialist in Lesotho by the end of 2023.

Waren Lelewa (Papua) graduated from Blue Ridge Community College in Virginia with his A&P license. He also was the recipient of the James Rardon Student of the Year Award from the Aviation Technician Education Council (ATEC), which recognizes one aviation maintenance technician student in the U.S. for outstanding achievement.

Juan Antonio Rivera (Mexico) graduated from SMAT with his A&P certificate. Juan and his wife, Amy, now work with MAF’s affiliate in Mexico and are considering future service with MAF in a restrictedaccess country. [Waiting for Brock’s okay for wording.]

Zacharie François (Haiti), the first foreign student admitted into SMAT’s flight training program, graduated with a commercial pilot license with an instrument rating. He has served as an MAF mechanic in Haiti and is working towards becoming an MAF pilot.

“The conservation groups we partner with do a wonderful job of incorporating their conservation efforts with care for the communities, and it is a blessing to be a part of helping these communities and stewarding God’s amazing creation.”

—Jill Holmes, MAF security manager, serving in Mozambique