MISSION AVIATION FELLOWSHIP VOLUME 1 ISSUE 1 2018
NEWSPAPER OF MAF SOUTH AFRICA
REACHING THE ISOLATED
DOUBLE RESCUE ACT Satish Moka, a new MAF pilot reports on a very unique double rescue mission - one technical and the other life-saving. Page | 04 SALT AND LIGHT Sarah Newnham, wife of MAF engineer Mark Newnham, uses her professional background to serve children in Monrovia, Liberia. Page | 10
REACHING REFUGEES MAF’s journey with a resilient person with disabilities, who has been orphaned and is now a refugee in Uganda. Page | 12
“Through the years, I have been humbled to see how God uses my skills in places I could never have imagined.” Sarah Newnham Speech Therapist & wife of MAF Engineer
CURRENT VACANCIES MAF PILOT - ARNHEM LAND Flying to some of the most remote airstrips, in deserts, mountains often in changable weather conditions you will need an extensive set of skills. Visit www.mafsa.co.za
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COMMUNITY NEWS SA
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MAF is an international Christian organisation whose mission is to fly light aircraft, and to use other technologies to bring help, hope and healing to people in some of the world’s poorest communities. Every four minutes a MAF plane is taking off or landing somewhere in the world to assist missions, churches, aid and development agencies, and other local groups to transform lives and share the love of God.
Jaso n Bo u w man
FROM THE CEOIES As you navigate our newspaper, you’ll read stories of hope for the medically evacuated (p4), for those who are spiritually lost (p11), and for refugees suffering from war and conflict (p12). You’ll read about life in a programme, about those who have heard God’s call to share the beauty of His love and grace (p10).
recommend it. So why not help fuel our flights while you fuel up on coffee. Christmas is around the corner and gifts with a purpose are well received.
Mi Av Fe
Jesus is our hope and He has made us the salt and light of the earth. Let’s remember this as we go into the holiday season, spending time with friends and You will also find a new Fuelled by family. Prayer insert. This has replaced our prayer diaries and we hope Thank you for reaching the lost Welcome to volume one, issue that you enjoy the new form. We with the good news that in Christ one of MAF South Africa’s encourage you to bring this to we are new creations, may you newspaper. We hope you will your church’s prayer meetings be encouraged by the stories of feel at home with this change. and to share with us any words hope that you are enabling. that you get from the Lord. There have been many new Maxine Holman beginnings for MAF SA this year. You will also notice that MAF CEO of MAF SA Our partnership with Mercy Air SA has a new coffee blend. We and our two new missionaries have been drinking this coffee entering the field are just a for months now and highly couple to name.
MAF Blend Blueberry Dark chocolate Earthy Science of Coffee in partnership with MAF SA
We have partnered with Science of Coffee, which works with farmers from niche areas within the tropics that cultivate exquisite coffees. In the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, coffee is one of the main sources of income for remote communities, but only if they have access to buyers. Tropical and mountainous terrain covers most of PNG. Over 80% of the population lives in rural isolation. MAF’s aircraft fly tonnes of coffee beans from the farmers in dense jungles to the market in the city where it can be sold. Without MAF, these farmers would suffer and their business would be virtually impossible.
MAF SA’S INITIATIVE, FLYING FOR LIFE HAS PARTERENED WITH MERCY AIR to fly to isolated communities in South Africa. For years we have flown to a hospital in the Vhembe District of Limpopo to perform cataract surgeries. We have become a beacon of light to people who have suffered from blindness. The word has spread, and many more people are now travelling to the hospital where we fly our ophthalmologists so that more people can receive sight. Thank you to our faithful donors who have made this possible.
TRANSFORM LIVES WITH A GIFT IN YOUR WILL | YOUR GIFT CAN HELP MANY | Large or small, a gift to MAF in your will can save many lives. A single legacy can cover fuel for an emergency flight, provide life-saving medical equipment, or even help educate a child. Whatever the amount, your legacy will make a lasting difference. For further information or resources please contact our Relationship Manager, Precia Ngoepe at 011 659 2880 or email precia@mafsa.co.za.
MAF SOUTH AFRICA Block 816/3 Hammets Crossing Office Park, 2 Selbourne Road, Fourways PO Box 1288, Lanseria, 1748 T 011 659 2880 | E maf@mafsa.co.za NPO 006-942
BANKING DETAILS Mission Aviation Fellowship Standard Bank Greenstone Branch code: 016342 Account No: 020044615
VOL. 1, NO. 1 , SUMMER 2018. MISSION AVIATION FELLOWSHIP Design/Editor: Gabriella Szabo Printer: Insights Publishing Mission Aviation Fellowship is the official newspaper of MAF South Africa. Articles may be printed with acknowledgment. If you no longer wish to receive MAF news, please advise us at maf@mafsa.co.za Front cover: Courtesy Dave Forney.
PLEASE NOTE When donating to a missionary family, reference the missionary families’ surname as well as your name and surname. Please don’t post cash, the envelopes are often tampered with.
Order your MAF blend on www.scienceofcoffee.co.za 100% of the profit goes to MAF SA
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MAF LOGO LIVERY 2012 - CMYK Mission Aviat ion Fellowship June 2012 Jason Bouwman
SERVE WITH US AND LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN
CRITICAL POSITIONS
CRITICAL POSITIONS
Ground Operations Manager South Sudan
Area Director of Maintenance Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania
We require someone with excellent skills in organising and communication. You will monitor the ground operations teams’ daily work, ensuring they comply with all policies and procedures (particularly Safety and Security) and maintain high standards of delivery and customer service.
We need an Area Director of Maintenance to ensure that MAF’s flight operations in Kenya, South Sudan and Tanzania operate with airworthy aircraft, that all scheduled aircraft maintenance is accomplished within allowable time-frames and that any defects are rectified correctly.
CRITICAL POSITIONS Chief Pilot Arnhem Land The chief pilot will manage and promote flight safety policies and standards in consultation with the Aviation Department, oversee the professional performance and well-being of the programme pilots, provide administration support and other tasks and exercise spiritual leadership in MAF.
VISIT WWW.MAFSA.CO.ZA OR CONTACT NATALIE AT RECRUITMENT@MAFSA.CO.ZA TO ENQUIRE
HIKE WITH US & FUEL A FLIGHT There are three hiking events that you can join next year. If you’re an avid hiker, don’t miss the five-day Hike for Flight in June 2019 of the Bell Traverse in the Drakensberg. If you prefer a five kilometre one-day hike, join us in March and bring the whole family. Finally, if you’d like to support our hikers and help raise funds for medevacs, you’re welcome at our hike fundraising dinner, where you can experience the hiking atmosphere and procure mountain photography. See all our events online at mafsa.co.za. “I didn’t know a lot about MAF before I climbed with the MAF SA team. It was an adventure that created friendships, memories, and a lot of pain...but it also made me realise how desperately isolated people need MAF to reach them. Thank you for allowing me to experience this journey - if you’re a hiker, HFF is something you have to do - Nick van Renen, MAF hiker and photographer
QUESTION & ANSWER BOX We would like to invite you to ask the questions you may have about MAF and we will anonymously post the answer in the next edition. Email maf@mafsa.co.za subject line: MAF Question QUESTION: What is the greatest current need in MAF? One of the greatest needs in MAF at the moment is missionaries. When people think of MAF, they think of pilots. But we need many more people for pilots to be able to take off. We are looking for engineers, ground operations managers, programme managers, administrators or finance personnel. When someone works for MAF as a missionary, they raise support. That means they partner financially with their friends and family who will support them in their positions overseas. This is not just a job, it’s a calling.
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STORIES OF HOPE
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Satish Moka, a new MAF pilot and husband to MAF PNG’s new HR manager Sonali Ghosh, joined his wife and sons in Papua New Guinea. During his settling in period, he received a phone call which allowed him be part of a very unique double rescue mission - one technical and the other life-saving.
A Double Rescue Act STORY BY SATISH MOKA. PHOTOS SATISH MOKA AND LUKE NEWELL
AN UNEXPECTED OPPORTUNITY
Lazarus was ready with his kit He chatted with the villagers and was soon busy getting MFM and soon prepared the aircraft back on its wheels for its last for its return trip to Mt Hagen. When I thought nothing unusual trip to Mt Hagen. As Steven manned the aircraft, was happening in the land of the the well-tuned discipline of unexpected, which Papua New RESCUE OF A PATIENT the villagers was again seen in Guinea is often promoted as, a AT TAMO action as they cleared the area call from the flight scheduler and logistics officer, sent me We were back navigating around and stood behind the fence in scrambling to the base. There the grey clouds. The endless a neat line. was an opportunity to jump on evergreen forests stretched a plane for a flight that involved below us, interrupted only The late afternoon weather was a double rescue act. The flight by the fast-flowing mountain ready to pose further challenges that day would carry on board rivers. As we negotiated around to the returning aircraft. It was an engineer to rescue a stranded the last mountain range, it was a great opportunity for me to MAF aircraft at Tsendiap and a delightful sight to see a vast see first-hand decision making handle a medical evacuation flat forested plain extending into in weather avoidance, as I prepare for my flying, which the horizon. from Tamo. will commence soon. The well-oiled machinery of Steven made the necessary MAF had already swung into radio calls and positioned the We found a hole of blue above action. Steven Eatwell, a South aircraft for a smooth touchdown the green pointed ridge line and squeezed in through the pass African pilot, was getting the on the grassy strip at Tamo. and back to the Hagen valley. Cessna Caravan P2-MAF ready for the flight. The maintenance The people stood well clear We extended our downwind leg controller was galvanising the and in a disciplined row, but to cater for a local passenger engineering team to address soon thronged the aircraft. The flight and finally landed at Mt the tyre change on the GA8 patient who fractured his shin Hagen. There we entrusted the Airvan stranded at Tsendiap. bone was carried to the aircraft patient into the hands of our The ground team coordinated on a makeshift stretcher. After ground staff who were already the loose ends and within a briefing the people about how waiting. few minutes, the Caravan was to best and most comfortably airborne from Mt Hagen with transport the patient, Steven It was a joy to see Luke and the engineer Lazarus Nuleya and then prepared the aircraft. He Airvan P2-MFM already on the me as an observer. Steven, the dismantled two seats to make ground back at Mt Hagen. pilot, was soon negotiating the space, brought the stretcher out typical highland clouds that from the cargo pod and fixed I watched our Rumginae-based filled the Hagen valley and the mattress onto the cabin pilot Steven supervise fuelling the aircraft for its next flight skilfully wove his way through floor using the harnesses. and pondered my first-hand the gaps and past the mountains into the valley, where the small Under the wing of the aircraft, experience. I realised that it grassy strip of Tsendiap was the patient was transferred was just another day in the life carefully onto the stretcher of MAF Papua New Guinea – nestled. and Steven supervised the where we are indeed “Flying for Life”! positioning into the cabin.
RESCUE OF THE STRANDED AIRVAN P2-MFM Pilot Luke Newell, who was flying the Airvan P2-MFM on its last operational day, had experienced a tyre burst on landing. Luke expertly handled the situation and the Airvan was parked in the clearing. The airstrip, being a narrow one, needed all the skill of an experienced MAF pilot. Steven brought the Caravan to a stop, well clear of the aircraft already there on the ground.
As this drama unfolded, it was time for the children of the village to inspect the “balus” (Tok Pisin for aircraft) and of course, the pilot and his new accomplice. As I was not yet acquainted with “Tok Pisin”, the local trade language, my communication was restricted to broad smiles and shaking hands in abundance. The importance of knowing “Tok Pisin” dawned on me as I saw Steven fluently passing instructions to the men who were helping him in the task.
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Right: The injured passenger is comforted by his community From the Top: Satish and Sonali Steve Eatwell attends to the injured passenger The staff attend to the flat tyre The Eatwell family Papua New Guinea
MAF LOGO LIVERY 2012 - CMYK Mi ssi o n Avi at i o n Fello w sh i p Ju n e 2012 Jaso n Bo u w man
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MAF LOGO LIVERY 2012 - CMYK Mission Aviat ion Fellowship June 2012 Jason Bouwman
FUELLED BY PRAYER MAF SOUTH AFRICA SUMMER 2018
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PRAY FOR OUR MISSIONARIES Families from South Africa are working in third-world countries across the globe, to bring the love of Christ to the isolated. He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. Psalm 104: 13 KJV BRAD & MICHELLE VENTER | PNG | Pray for renewed vision and strength as the Venters finish their furlough and return to PNG. Pray for wisdom as Brad leads as a flight operations manager and pilot. Pray for increase in the lives of the people Brad and Michelle minister to.
MARK & LORRAINE LIPRINI | DISASTER RESPONSE Pray that as Mark flies, his years of experience benefit those around him. Pray for protection and energy for both Lorraine and Mark. Mark is often flying in many different countries, pray that He is able to minister in each one.
Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey. Deut 6:3 KJV “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jer 29:13 KJV
TOBIAS MEYER | SOUTH SUDAN Pray that Tobias will settle well into the South Sudan programme. Praise God that his training went well in Uganda. Pray for ground to be taken for Christ wherever he flies. Pray for peace and speak transformation over the South Sudanese. Pray for divine appointments to share the gospel of Christ.
GRANT & EMILY STRUGNELL | LESOTHO Pray for MAF Lesotho’s outreach plan for 2019. Pray it meets the needs of the people and spreads the love of Christ. Pray they achieve the goals they have set. Pray for more funding for the Pulane Children’s Centre where Emily works as director.
KIRSTEIN & AMELIA COMBRINK | TANZANIA Pray for strength and protection as Kirstein has a busy flying schedule. Pray for Johann, their first-born to flourish in his new school. Pray for favour with the people involved in approving airstrip development and for open hearts of nomadic tribes to receive God’s love.
STEVE & CAMILLA EATWELL | PNG Many people pass through the Rumginae. Pray the Eatwell’s will deal well with the constant saying of goodbyes. Praise God for His grace in providing for the many medical evacuations that are done by Steve.
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” Col 3:1 NIV “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Col 4:6 BSB “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Prov 3:5-6 NIV
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SETTLING OR INHERITING? “‘If we have found favour in your eyes,” they said, “let this land be given to your servants as our possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan...’ Then they came up to him and said, ‘We would like to build pens here for our livestock and cities for our women and children.’” (Numbers 32:5,16) The tribe of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh decided to settle on the east side of the Jordan, because that land was green and looked pleasing to their eyes. It made logical sense – they had large herds and flocks and their wives and children could stay in a protected border. But we know that that was not in God’s perfect will. His will was that all the tribes of Israel inherit the promised land. How often do we settle for something that looks pleasing to our eyes and makes logical sense, instead of taking a step of faith and obeying the perfect will of God? Faith does not involve logical reasoning. God’s will is always the best way, no matter how “green the pastures look” on the other side of your inheritance. What happened to the tribes that placed a border between themselves and the rest of Israel? They experienced exactly that – a separated life. They were still covenant people – and in today’s terms we can say, “they are still Christians”. But because of their choice they were vulnerable to attacks by the enemy, wouldn’t travel to the tabernacle and therefore tried to build a replica and, in human nature, grew separate from the rest of the tribes of Israel. God’s perfect will is always better than our logical reasoning. Follow Him in faith; don’t settle for something less than the inheritance He has for you.
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MAF LOGO LIVERY 2012 - CMYK Mission Aviat ion Fellowship June 2012 Jason Bouwman
PRAY FOR OUR PROGRAMMES MAF serves in several countries around the world with the vision of taking Christ’s love into the most remote places on earth.
LIBERIA
CHAD
SOUTH SUDAN
UGANDA
Pray for restoration for the children of Liberia. Pray for healing from wars and the loss of family. Pray for orphans to be parented.
Pray that the Gospel would be preached boldly and wisely and pray for missionaries to stand strong under persecution.
The youth of South Sudan are reconciling their relationships with different tribes. Pray for more of this!
Pray for the people to meditate on the Word day and night and to follow Jesus wholeheartedly.
TANZANIA
KENYA
ANGOLA
MADAGASCAR
Pray for our pilots to reach every nomadic people group with the gospel and medical help on our safaris.
Kenya hosts many refugee camps. Pray for the people to release bitterness and receive healing.
Pray for the four missionary families to see an increase in miracles in the lives of the people they reach.
Pray for malnutrition to cease and for food to become a daily reality for every person countrywide.
MONGOLIA
TIMOR LESTE
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
DRC
Pray for health during the winter. Air pollution levels reach fatal highs. May God’s breath fill their lungs.
Pray for open hearts. Bitter occupation has caused pain. Pray for the Word to be received in good soil. May there be fruit.
Pray that violence and other crimes end in the Name of Jesus. Pray against jealousy and pray for love and thankfulness to grow.
Pray for women to be seen as daughters of the High King. Pray for children to be protected in refugee camps.
BANGLADESH
ARNHEM LAND
CRMF
SOUTH AFRICA
Pray for deliverance from drug addiction and depression. Pray for racism to cease and unity to abound.
Pray that an audio Bible is available to every tribe in PNG. Pray for the people to hunger for the Word.
Pray for God’s will to be done. Pray for open doors for the gospel to be preached. Pray for the success of all our projects.
MAF accesses over 300 hard-to-reach water landing sites. Pray for protection over each flight.
PRAYER NOTES
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P R A Y Do you ever wonder how you can pray strategically? Put this map of the world on a wall or noticeboard. Push a pin into your current location and another into the location of the MAF programme you are praying for. Tie a length of string connecting the two together, then pray through the Word. Repeat this for any nation, MAF programme or need. The Psalms have great prayers for nations.
Praise the Lord, all His heavenly hosts, you His servants who do His will. May the Lord our God bless South Africa to lend to many nations and borrow from none. May our nation’s leadership be filled with God-fearing people. May our elections be peaceful and may God’s will be done. May MAF SA be a beacon of light carrying the gospel within our nation, the African continent and across the world. May we enlarge the site of our tent and stretch our curtains wide, lengthen our cords and strenghten our stakes. May the heart’s of the isolated people we reach be open to receive the gospel. Inspired by a variety of verses.
May (nation) open their hearts and listen to the Lord, for You, Lord, have ordered peace for those who worship You. Lord, don’t let them go back to foolishness. You say that you will soon save those who respect You, and Your glory will be seen in their land. Love and truth belong to God’s people; goodness and peace will be theirs. I pray that these people will be loyal to You. Thank you that Your goodness will shine down from heaven on them. You Lord will give Your goodness, and the land will give its crops. Goodness will go before You God, preparing the way for them. Inspired from Psalm 85.
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MAF SOUTH AFRICA T 011 659 2880 | E MAF@MAFSA.CO.ZA NPO 006-942 C O M PA S S C R E AT I V E S T U D I O I N C 2 0 1 -3 2 2 8 s o u th s er v i c e r d
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MAF LOGO LIVERY 2012 - CMYK Mission Aviat ion Fellowship June 2012 Jason Bouwman
EMERGENCY RELIEF AROUND THE WORLD MAF has been responding to disasters since 1976 when earthquakes hit Indonesia and Guatemala. This year alone we have responded to earthquakes in PNG, the Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Typhoon Mangkhut in the Philippines, and the earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia, Sulawesi.
Our disaster response team enables aid, food, building materials, or any other necessity to reach the site. In the picture below, our team evacuated a young boy hurt during the PNG earthquakes. When a disaster strikes in an area that suffers from isolation, MAF responds with spiritual and physical help, hope and healing.
DISASTER RESPONSE
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Sarah Newnham, wife of MAF engineer Mark Newnham, uses her professional background and skills to serve children at SALT Rehabilitation Clinic in Monrovia, Liberia.
SALT AND LIGHT STORY BY SARAH NEWNHAM PHOTOS BY MARK & KELLY HEWES
To me, Speech Therapy has always been more than a career. Every session begins with the anticipation of what is to come, a sense of achievement as I discover new methods of working with each person and great joy in helping people overcome difficulties. When my husband and I joined MAF in 2002, the hardest thing for me to leave behind was my career. As I followed him first to the USA for training and then on to Africa, where he is the main job holder as an Aircraft Engineer, I felt I was letting go of part of my identity.
not being able to access assessments or offer solutions that might be available in the developed world. The difficulties fade as I focus on the joys; such as watching other therapists learn new skills and seeing people achieve their goals or regaining some of their independence. I have the freedom to pray openly with many of the people, trusting that Christ can make a difference when I don’t know the answers. Fifteen years on, my passion for Speech Therapy is as alive as ever! Working with those with disabilities brings a whole new dimension to my faith and I always co m e a w a y f r o m interactions with people being more aware of the uniqueness and gifts of each individual, of Gods creativity and His grace at work in every life, even my own.
Through the years, I have been humbled to see how God uses my skills in places I could never have imagined. He has also helped me to recognize other gifts he has given me, to let my light shine and to grow my identity in Him through it all. “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear We are now living in and the blind can see.” Liberia and I volunteer at Mark Twain SALT one day per week working with paediatric client s, super vising Speech Therapy clinicians and offering in house training. There are many challenges; being creative with minimal resources, barriers with local dialect and the frustrations of
1 C208B Aircraft
15 Locations
5 Staff
168 Partners
LIBERIA NEEDS PRAYER It took MAF four patient years to establish a programme in Liberia. We faced many barriers but in 2015 breakthrough came! Pray for continued favour with the authorities and for us to reach as many as possible.
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LIBERIA MAF is the only humanitarian flight service in Liberia, a country recovering from a devastating Ebola outbreak and recent civil war. Liberia’s 14-year civil war, claimed more than 250,000 lives and left the country in economic ruin. Today, around 80% of the population live below the poverty line and the terrible impact of the 2014-2015 Ebola epidemic is still being felt. Adding to the challenges is Liberia’s average rainfall of over 4.6 metres a year, which makes travel difficult as vehicles get stuck in thick mud, sometimes for days at a time, on the country’s unpaved roads. Did you know? The aircraft 5X-SCO is currently being used in Uganda but will soon move to Liberia to serve.
May the God of hope fill the people of Liberia with all joy and peace in believing, so that they will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
MAF LOGO LIVERY 2012 - CMYK Mi ssi o n Avi at i o n Fello w sh i p Ju n e 2012 Jaso n Bo u w man
CMYK COLOURS C: 100 M: 57 Y: 0 K: 40 C: 5 M: 100 Y: 71 K: 22 C: 0 M: 1 Y: 0 K: 51
VOL.1 NO.1 2018
MISSION AVIATION FELLOWSHIP
STORIES OF HOPE
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“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
C O M PA S S C R E AT I V E S T U D I O I N C 201-3228 south service rd
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www.compasscreative.ca
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MAF LOGO LIVERY 2012 - CMYK Mission Aviat ion Fellowship June 2012
Jason Bouwman
Matthew 28: 19
Sarah Newnham writes about one of MAF Liberia’s partners, Wordsower Liberia.
SOWING SEEDS OF GRACE
STORY BY SARAH NEWNHAM PHOTOS BY MARK & KELLY HEWES
F O L LO W I N G OUT OF OBEDIENCE “Thousands of people have come to Christ. Thousands have been
baptised. And all I did was show up in obedience, not with great talent or ability.” It’s rare that you meet a man like Kim Smith who quite literally stepped into the unknown in obedience to Gods call on his life. He arrived in Liberia nine years ago and began by walking from village to village sharing the gospel.
of the pastors are not trained. So God provided a printing shop, with which they can print 40,000 pages a day. “It was not my planning but God spoke to several donors who donated the equipment, paid for shipping and it all came together in a way I could not have orchestrated if I had tried,” Kim explains.
His organisation Wordsower Liberia, is based in Zwedru, SE Liberia. “We call ourselves Wordsower Liberia because we’re sowing the Word of God. And I love the name as that’s what we do”, he shares enthusiastically.
The print shop has allowed them to print Bible teaching materials and deliver them to thirteen counties across the country.
“I never went with a denomination or a church board. The Lord just said to show up. I was a high school teacher, completely untrained, and I think the Lord likes that sometimes. H e s ay s , ‘Show up I’ll take care of the rest’, and he has.”
“When I first came, there were no planes flying around. MAF wasn’t here. So we’d have to take the road all the time. On one occasion I bought a brand new computer. I kept that computer on my lap from the United States to Zwedru and when I got here, the case was cracked. It had been sitting on my lap the whole time. That’s how bad the road is!” “Flying is heaven and the roads are hell,” Kim laughs. “Commonly it takes twenty- to thirty- hours to go just under 500 kilometers. If the roads are flooded it can take a week and our belongings are destroyed. MAF comes regularly and they fly in our supplies. They flew in our print shop.”
In Liberia, there is an interesting juxtaposition of cultures. One can walk into a village and be surrounded by thatched roofs on mud huts and a man will walk out with a cell phone. One can put the Bible in their dialect, teaching material, and music on micro SD cards, so even a person who is unable to read can access all this teaching via their cell phone.
“We fly from Monrovia in an hour and our equipment arrives without getting damaged... MAF, thank you. You’ve helped us many times, and I appreciate it. You’re given by God, and you are sacrificing and suffering, that the word of God can continue to spread in the hardest of areas.”
PRINT SHOP & BOOKSTORE There are thousands of villages in rural Liberia. Many don’t have churches and most
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Main: Cessna 208b in Liberia Bottom: Kim Smith
CMYK COLOURS C: 100 M: 57 Y: 0 K: 40 C: 5 M: 100 Y: 71 K: 22 C: 0 M: 1 Y: 0 K: 51
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WORLD NEWS
MISSION AVIATION FELLOWSHIP
VOL.1 NO.1 2018
REACHING REFUGEES
C O M PA S S C R E AT I V E S T U D I O I N C
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MAF LOGO LIVERY 2012 - CMYK Mi ssi o n Avi at i o n Fello w sh i p Ju n e 2012 Jaso n Bo u w man
STORY AND PHOTOS BY JON CADD
Violence and conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has caused thousands of displaced people to flood the city of Bunia, where two makeshifts refugee camps have sprung up. Earlier this year, MAF visited the camp. The staff walked through the hundreds of thousands of people, living inches away from each other. Stopping along the way, they greeted, encouraged and prayed for the families. Jon Cadd, MAF’s East DRC programme manager reports, “There is a tent where wounded are being placed but no medical work is going on and it’s hot
beyond reason and feels very unhealthy. We saw people with machete wounds to the head including a one-year-old who was cut across the face, her mom had been killed, and there was a little eight- or nine-year old girl cut across the back of her neck.” Through spending time with the people, they found out that some had not eaten for four days. MAF duly bought a 300-litre pot along with large amounts of firewood and rice. After delivering the load, Jon and the team heard loud sounds of joy inside the stores tent. When they went in, the cooks were beating the pot like a big drum and dancing around with sacks of rice held up in their
hands. They were chanting “MAF, MAF, MAF”. MAF East DRC staff are continuing to do what they can to support the thousands of people still living in the refugee camp. On a more recent visit they showed the “JESUS” film and gave out one hundred and fifty Swahili Bibles. According to Jon, “It was a very wonderful time of praying that the Word of God would go into people’s hearts.” On another visit, they saw people reading those very Bibles. “We know that the Word will not return void and it was encouraging to see as we walked through the camp that it was being read,” said Jon.
Main: Bunia Refugee Camp • Top: Bibles are received in the camp • Bottom: Cheryl Cadd greets one of the ladies they ministered to. •
FOUND AGAIN STORY AND PHOTOS BY JILL VINE
It seems to be like a season of open heavens right now. Even amidst war and brokenness, we get glimpses of God’s inestimable mercy and goodness. After searching for two orphans we met five years ago in Kajo Keji, South Sudan, we successfully located both Jackson and Josephine in two separate locations in North Uganda. Jackson’s story has already been told but after finally collecting a donated wheelchair for Josephine, we can now side of the runway. We flew into update you on her story. Adjumani and spotted Josephine waiting in a broken wheelchair The wheelchair was donated in the shade. To embrace this from the very same person who woman was a delight, a relief, donated a chair for Josephine an encouragement among all of five years ago. The donor, the discouragement of seeing so Francis, is also a paraplegic. She is many of our partners projects completely unstoppable and with looted, relocated, closed or in a huge heart for importing chairs some cases defiantly continuing for other people with disabilities. even after the war ripped through One of our partners, Pastor South Sudan. Edward Dima had helped us find both Jackson and Josephine and There are days when one is also helped arrange transporting reunited with a soul they didn’t Josephine to Adjumani airport. expect to see again. Josephine There we met with a technician had been through a lot since our Francis had sent along with her first introduction in 2013, and yet new wheelchair, boxed and she still has a beautiful smile. ready to be put together on the
her senior school year, which was abruptly ended. Because of MAF’s vast connection with so many incredible partners, we’re able to once again hopefully link Josephine with one of the ones we know can best help provide her with the senior year she needs within the Morobi Camp. Please pray that this can become a reality and that Josephine’s dreams can be realised in the same way Jackson’s dreams of becoming a doctor are on their way to becoming true. Stories like Josephine and Jackson’s need to be told and broadcasted… the ones that give hope and show God’s goodness working through mankind turning beauty into ashes and lifting tired souls from the dust.
After shooting broke out in Kajo Keji on 30 January 2017, everyone in the area ran for the border. Josephine’s chair was broken, but two friends, Florence and Babiya carried her to their car and drove her to the border of Uganda where she was registered as a refugee, along with millions of others in that same week. She was suddenly not only a person with disabilities and orphaned but MAF is taking part in seeing also displaced and facing starting and hearing these many stories because of being in partnership her whole life over. with so many saints whom we fly She came with her ”mama” or in and out every day. Thank you carer to Morobi Camp in Moyo. for taking part in this venture. In the short hour I had with Josephine, she was keen to let me know her earnest desire to finish
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Main: Josephine receives her new wheelchair.
