Flying for Life 06/2013

Flying for Life June 2013

The quarterly magazine of MAF

CESSNA 182

TOUR Your opportunity to see an MAF Cessna 182 SMA aircraft before it starts its service in South Sudan See page 3 for details

2

Madagascar

A new aircraft arrives

15 2012 Review

Highlights from the year

MADAGASCAR: new aircraft

A gift from God

A Cessna 182 SMA

• Flies in Angola, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar • Our smallest and most economical aircraft is ideal for flying small teams and individuals

Main The 182 alongside bigger brother, the Cessna 208 Caravan Top Villagers greet the 182 on an airstrip built by MAF Lower Zanombavy is helped off the plane

2 Flying for Life June 2013 www.maf-uk.org

• Modified with SMA diesel engine, which uses cheaper Jet A1 fuel • Carries up to 3 passengers/270kg supplies • Cruising speed 138mph.

Cessna 182 SMA aircraft arrived in Madagascar by ship and land last year.

Once safely settled in our hangar in the capital Antananarivo, it was unloaded from its container and painstakingly reassembled.

Registered in August 2012, it was soon soaring through the skies of Madagascar – and has been busy ever since, assisting partners like SALFA, a health department within the Malagasy Lutheran Church, Africa Inland Mission, Global Missions Africa and Wycliffe Bible Translators.

Flights include airlifting patients, flying doctors and equipment, Bible translation teams and missionaries to isolated villages, and surveying cyclone damage.

‘The rate at which this little aircraft has been booked up,’ says pilot Josh Plett, ‘is a testament to its usefulness.’ Country Director Bert van den Bosch agrees. ‘The little four-seater plane,’ he points out, ‘is a huge blessing.’

Cheaper charters Prior to its arrival, we operated a ten-seater Cessna 208 Caravan in Madagascar. Its large seat and cargo capacity make it a wonderful tool for expansive mission flying. But its size makes it a potentially expensive option for smaller organisations and churches.

Fortunately, the lighter, more fuel-efficient 182 now enables us to offer smaller missions cost-effective ministry flights. On average, it costs approximately 80% less to run than the Caravan – resulting in cheaper charter fares for

CESSNA 1 82

TOUR

Between 1 June and 20 July 2013, the latest add ition to our fleet w ill be visitin g locations around th e UK. Visit www

.maf-uk o rg/182tou or call 084 r 5 850 950 5 for detai ls.

DATES

Our new aircraft may be small, but it’s having a huge impact on ministry in Madagascar

1 June Wo rcestershir e 15 June H am 29 June C pshire umbernau ld 6 July Leed s 13 July No rth 20 July Ess amptonshire ex

Story Gary Clayton Photos Josh Plett, Rob Barber, Kalvin Hildebrandt

those partners.

With lower costs making it possible for more trips to reach more people, more resources are released for our partners to spread the Gospel – transforming more lives and keeping our pilots busy!

Serving partners In November 2012, Wycliffe Bible Translators staff flew to Mananara in the 182 to make preparations for the village to receive a Jesus Film Ministries team. They recorded the film into the local dialect in December.

The aircraft also enabled two men from International Mission Board to visit two missionary families in south-eastern and north-eastern Madagascar. They thanked us for making the 182 available and said how happy they were to use it. We also used the plane to fly HoverAid personnel to the south-west to survey damage caused by cyclone Haruna when it struck in February.

Emergency airlifts One of the new plane’s life-saving medevacs was for a young mother. After delivery, Zanombavy’s baby died and she was bleeding a lot – which was potentially life-threatening. So the 182 flew her to Antananarivo for surgery.

‘Her life was saved,’ says Josh, ‘because of the rapid response.’

Another medevac involved returning a patient to his village, as his doctor said travel by road would be too dangerous. A road trip would take

36 hours, but the alternative flight took only 1 hour with our new plane. Two weeks previously, we had flown him out with heart problems.

‘What’s interesting,’ says Josh, ‘is that we normally don’t bring patients home after they’ve received treatment. But the gentleman was able to contribute towards the cost. So, after dropping him off in his village, we were able to offer a free medevac to a Malagasy who’d been gored by a zebu and needed an immediate operation.

‘After dropping off one patient, I flew to a nearby village to pick up the next so he could receive treatment in Antananarivo.’

Aiding the Malagasy Of the 19,000 villages scattered right across Madagascar, less than 100 are served by airstrips. Many of the rural population are still unreached with the Gospel. Our Cessna 182 SMA aircraft is a timely tool to advance mission and aid the Malagasy people.

When minutes count and Avgas is scarce and expensive, the 182’s turbo-charged engine burns less expensive and more easily obtainable Jet A1 fuel – providing a faster, more fuelefficient alternative to journeys that would otherwise take days by road.

The newest addition to our fleet opens up exciting new opportunities for MAF and, with the help of generous Supporters, we hope to be adding others like it in the years to come.

‘The Cessna 182,’ as Bert points out, ‘is for us the gift of God!’

Exciting possibilities In October 2012, a 182 made its first operational flight to Chad’s remote southern villages of Ba Illi and Kouno.

Bringing Dr Ann Fursdon (above) and carrying much needed medical supplies, the aircraft was surrounded by rejoicing villagers when it landed.

The excitement which surrounds the possibilities of ministry with the Cessna 182 SMA aircraft is being felt throughout the entire MAF world, as an increasing number of operations are adopting these planes as part of their fleet.

June 2013 Flying for Life 3

PNG: saving lives and spreading the Gospel

Saving Frieda ‘It was an amazing day,’ says pilot Mike Davis in Papua New Guinea (PNG), who was about to get on with some office work Story Glen Sim and Gary Clayton Photos courtesy of Sharlene Coker

P

ilot Mike Davis has completed a successful day’s flying and arrives ahead of schedule at our Mount Hagen base in PNG. He is pleased to be back earlier than expected and is looking forward to spending an unhurried afternoon doing paperwork.

Then an urgent request for a medevac comes through.

Frieda, a four-year-old girl from Jiwaka Province, has been unwell for several weeks with acute flaccid paralysis.

Her condition has deteriorated. She is now paralysed from the neck down and unable to breathe without assistance.

When Dr Bill McCoy and anaesthetist David Wan arrive in an ambulance from Kudjip Hospital, they explain the situation.

Mike removes the seats from the aircraft so Frieda, her parents and the medical team can fit inside.

Once Frieda is stabilised, Mike takes off for Port Moresby. During the twohour flight, Bill and David assist the patient’s breathing by providing artificial respiration. Each time Mike turns around, one or the other is helping Frieda to breathe.

Despite frequent calls to the hospital – ‘Yes, it is coming, it’s coming!’ – no ambulance has arrived to pick them up. It is dusk and things are looking serious.

Fortunately, as the plane lands, Mike sees Port Moresby Office Manager Dobie

4 Flying for Life June 2013 www.maf-uk.org

Bunemiga waiting to take them to the hospital in the MAF van.

Dr McCoy says he saw a case like this 16 years ago when a 6-year-old boy was also airlifted by MAF. ‘The boy,’ he recalls, ‘is now 22, and wrote not so long ago to say how he was doing.’

Now, according to reports from Kudjip Hospital, Frieda has also recovered fully and returned home.

Because of our strategic partnership with mission hospitals in PNG, another precious person from a remote community is alive – thanks to God’s grace, expert medical care, and an MAF pilot who had to do his paperwork a little later than anticipated!

Acute flaccid paralysis This is an abnormal illness characterised by a rapid weakness of the muscles and their nerves, caused by extreme disease or trauma. The condition can become fatal if weakness spreads to respiratory muscles, thereby posing the threat of suffocation.

Dr Bill McCoy says, ‘Since coming to PNG in 1997, a cluster of six instances of the illness have come from the Banz area, up the Wahgi valley. Since then, there have been sporadic cases, mostly in young children three to six years old, with only a quarter of the victims being adults.’

The most valuable cargo Meeting the amazing hunger for God’s Word in remote communities in PNG Story and photos Michael Duncalfe

‘

Main Michael Duncalfe in Yambaitok Above and bottom right Proud new owners holding their Bibles

Y

ou should have brought more Bibles,’ was the cry from people at Ambaluwa and Kol, two remote villages at the foot of PNG’s highest mountain Mount Wilhelm.

This was the first time Swiss pilot Michael Vogel and I had taken boxes of Bibles out with us when flying. The Bibles just went! We kept back one box for Ambaluwa, and Michael’s for Kol. We opened them up and started selling them among the people.

In PNG culture, it isn’t appropriate just to give things away – if you do, they are not valued. But we have a sliding scale so, if communities have some cash income, we won’t drop the price as much as for communities that don’t.

On that particular day, we came back to the MAF base at Mount Hagen, refilled our Bible boxes and then went out to Yambaitok in a completely different area.

The reaction there was the same. People crowded around and the Bibles went almost as soon as we opened the box.

They were just so enthusiastic to get their own copy of the Bible.

Then, more recently, we went out to Wanakipa and Hewa in Enga Province.

They are probably a day’s walk apart, but only a few minutes by plane. Again, I sold all mine at Wanakipa and Michael sold his at Hewa.

In our Bible boxes, we carry about 14 or 16 ‘Tok Pisin’ Bibles. I also usually carry about four English Bibles, the Good News version, and four or five audio Bibles in Tok Pisin.

People’s enthusiasm to buy them is amazing, and their sheer delight in being able to afford a Bible of their own is palpable. Everywhere we go, we are told, ‘Bring more, bring more! Next time you come, you must bring a whole box.’

June 2013 Flying for Life 5

SOUTH SUDAN: serving communities

Out of the ashes Our flights enable projects throughout South Sudan to get off the ground. But what happens when a misunderstanding with a government official arises? Information Officer Jill Vine reports Photos Jill Vine 6 Flying for Life June 2013 www.maf-uk.org

W

e land at Kajo Keji to the sound of a brass band rehearsing for a pastors’ conference. I am here to report on a number of projects that depend on MAF to fly supplies and personnel in and out.

Pastor Edward meets me at the plane and takes me directly to the Baptist mission property. I’m particularly struck by a tangible sense of peace here and very aware of the hive of activity in which MAF is intrinsically involved. The fresh pioneering feel of this brand new nation is very evident.

Nearly everyone I meet has lived most of their lives inside a refugee camp. Now they have the chance of a new life and are feeling their way as people of a new country. As we chat over beans and rice, a high-ranking government official remarks, ‘We have a long way to go.’

Now they have the chance of a new life

The birth of South Sudan is a real miracle, considering the tensions just over the border. Bombing attacks by the north mean that we are flying many casualties from the Nuba Mountains.

Planting churches On a more encouraging note, I learn about the work of East African Ministries, whose staff we fly regularly. One of the initiatives they’re involved in is called Seed Effect. Pastor Edward’s wife, Rose, works in the Seed Effect office. She explains how a team of American missionary women originally came to pray and reach out to local villages.

When they saw just how poor and disillusioned the local people were, they prayed for ideas to help break the poverty cycle and came up with Seed Effect.

This Christ-centred, non-profit, microfinance organisation, which lends

people money to help kick-start small businesses, is helping to pump life into this pioneering community.

Water Harvest International, another group we fly frequently, enables local churches to bore wells, and trains plumber mechanics to maintain them.

Over 160 wells have been dug since Water Harvest began in 2005.

Finally, I heard about Empower Sudan, led by Pastor David Kaya who, seemingly with mobile in one hand and computer in the other, has provided the logistics to help plant hundreds of churches. Pastor David and his team then help train young, willing pastors to go out and lead new churches.

staying. In march six officials – one of them wearing an army uniform loaded with stripes. They promptly sit down in front of me and look at me as though we are having some kind of a meeting.

They had heard that someone from MAF is staying with Pastor David and they need our immediate help. Kajo Keji’s dearly loved Commissioner Ben Yengi has collapsed suddenly with cerebral malaria and is in the local hospital. The

Emergency medevac

Main Beneficiary Rejoice Kiden with Seed Effect worker Rose Dime Right MAF flights support aid, water, education and peace initiatives across South Sudan

Just as I am meeting Pastor David, much to my surprise, a government car pulls up outside the compound where I am

June 2013 Flying for Life 7

SOUTH SUDAN: serving communities

MAF is here to stand shoulder to shoulder with South Sudan’s people officials ask if MAF could perform an emergency airlift to Kampala.

We wait for the doctor to arrive with permission for the Commissioner to fly and then return with him to the hospital to pray for the patient. The room is full of family members looking bereft.

Pastor Edward, Pastor David and I pray for him and the burning fever noticeably subsides. The Commissioner opens his eyes for a second, aware we are there.

We arrange for the medevac to take place the following morning.

SUDAN

Happy sounds The next day, I visit Charlotte Baby Home where I am greeted by tiny tots running up and wrapping their little arms around my legs, making delightful, happy sounds.

Inside, one of the babies lined up along

Nuba Mountains

Juba

SOUTH SUDAN Kajo Keji

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

UGANDA Kampala

100 miles

Top Top A Water Harvest project Above Matthais Jackson Bottom Jill Vine with children at Kajo Keji

8 Flying for Life June 2013 www.maf-uk.org

the wall in their cribs was flown by MAF from a church in Juba. They are all healthy and well dressed, and a real credit to those who care for them.

The baby home opened in September 2007 and houses 22 children ranging from 3 months to 5 years. Some lost their mothers in childbirth. Some lost their parents in the recent war. One orphan’s mother was tragically beaten to death by robbers.

St Bartholomew’s Orphanage cares for 130 children. There, I meet Matthais Jackson, a 17-year-old orphan I will never forget. He was born healthy but contracted polio, and is now disabled. He has the most twisted spine I’ve ever seen.

Matthais’ rusted, dilapidated wheelchair gave up the ghost some time ago.

Without it, he has to crawl five miles to

school and back every day in the dirt.

Despite this, Matthais has one of the most radiant smiles I’ve ever seen. His attitude is remarkable. A quick call to Operations Manager Dave Rogers, and arrangements are made for MAF to pick up the broken wheelchair and bring it to Kampala so it can be repaired. It is simple enough for us to arrange, but would be virtually impossible for the orphanage.

Altercation On the way back from the orphanage, we hear MAF’s Cessna 206 aircraft coming in to land. I grab my camera to film the Commissioner’s medevac. Unfortunately, even when you’re assisting an important official, permission is required from South Sudan’s security personnel before you can take photos.

Before I know it, I am being shouted at by the Captain of Interior Affairs. In front of lots of people who had come to see the Commissioner off, he tries to grab my video camera. The others explain how I have helped the Commissioner by requesting the flight, but the official

insists I come to his office.

My friends urge me to agree to his request, and the Speaker of Kajo Keji, a general, Commissioner Yengi’s representative and three pastors say they’ll stand by me. One of them says, ‘We are your brothers – we will go with you and, if he arrests you, he will have to arrest us also.’

Once inside his office, despite apologising for not asking the official’s permission, I am forced to delete the file.

Once the photos have been deleted, he relaxes, smiles, and makes light of the misunderstanding. It makes me think of how our pilots experience similar difficulties with the apparently everchanging official requirements.

Restoration When I am invited to speak directly to the security officer, I say that South Sudan is a new country with a chance to lay its foundations well. I ask him to help MAF by making it easier for us to help. I stress that MAF is here to stand shoulder to shoulder with South Sudan’s people.

At the request of one of the pastors, we stand, hold hands and pray together.

What a turnaround! The community of Kajo Keji, who depend on us to fly them in and out, have discussed the issue with the government and signed a petition to address the problem. Later in the week, I meet with the recovered Commissioner in Kampala, and he is also keen to iron out similar misunderstandings.

Change After a somewhat harrowing day, I gobble down some food and head out to interview some villagers beside their well.

Then I visit one of the beneficiaries of Seed Effect, who shares about the new life that she’s been given through the little business she has started.

It’s a great way to end my time in Kajo Keji, focusing on the villagers who, thanks to MAF, our partners and Supporters, are finding their lives changed for the better.

It is a real delight to see all the beaming faces at the end of the trip, and makes my somewhat exhausting time in South Sudan worthwhile!

June 2013 Flying for Life 9

KENYA: helping orphans

A hope and Joseph Garcia, President of SERV International, explains how MAF is helping to save and transform lives in north-western Kenya Photos courtesy of SERV International

Lodwar

UGANDA

KENYA Kisumu

Nakuru

Lake Victoria

Nairobi TANZANIA

100 miles

W

e regularly fly with MAF from Wilson Airport to House of Hope (HoH), our orphanage in Lodwar in isolated north-western Kenya. The Turkana region contains one of the highest concentrations of orphans in Kenya, and suffers from extreme poverty.

In 2007, John Nakara Lodepe, a native Turkana and orphan, shared his vision with SERV’s founder Steve L Kasha. ‘When I grew up,’ John said, ‘I wanted to pay back the Turkana community for what they did for me. I wanted Wilson Airport HoH to produce leaders who would change Turkanaland and give orphans a bright future.’

The concept of an orphanage in a remote Kenyan region seemed a bit ambitious. But Steve decided to take a leap of faith and seek support from donors in the USA to make John’s vision a reality.

10 Flying for Life June 2013 www.maf-uk.org

A real home We started with 5 orphans; now 40 children call HoH home. They receive housing, an education, proper medical care, new clothing and regular meals. HoH Director Thomas Ekai Eramram, an ordained pastor and native Turkana, leads their spiritual development through worship and Bible study.

It’s great to see the transformation that occurs when an orphan leaves the deplorable conditions they were living in and enters HoH. Seeing the smiles on the faces of the children and watching them learn about the great big world we live in is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever experienced. It’s so exciting to wake up each day and know the children now have a hope and a future.

With approximately two million orphans in Kenya, there’s a tremendous need to expand

a future Main Transformed lives at House of Hope Top Joseph Garcia Middle Clean water our work. We have a waiting list of several hundred children, and receive requests daily to take in more.

Invaluable Our teams visit Kenya for two weeks about four times a year. The visits introduce people to our work and encourage them to engage in projects that change lives. MAF usually flies 8 to 12 people each trip. The teams take part in relationshipbuilding, food distribution in the Lodwar area and house-building projects for widows in Kisumu. They also foster relationships with

orphans and staff at HoH, and distribute water filtration systems.

As well as flying teams to the areas where we work, MAF also transports the filtration systems, medical supplies and food. Their help is really invaluable. After the post-election violence in 2008, countless numbers of duffle bags full of relief food were brought to Lodwar by plane.

I’m certain that, without MAF, many people would have perished.

The flexibility, reliability and payload capacities of MAF aircraft helps our work and changes the lives of some of Kenya’s poorest citizens. Without MAF, it would be hard to transport our people and get supplies.

Ultimately, the people of Lodwar and the Turkana region would suffer and eventually die.

MAF’s help can make the difference between life and death.

Benson Imana (10)

Kebo John (12)

‘When I grow up, I want to be a truck driver. I like all my friends here. House of Hope is my home.’

Benson and his older sister lived with their grandmother after their mother died of TB. Their grandmother relied on what little she made from basketry, and could barely afford to feed them all.

Today, Benson smiles all the time and loves school.

He also loves hide and seek and playing pranks on other children.

‘When I grow up, I want to be a pilot. House of Hope means family to me and I love all of my brothers and sisters here.’

Kebo lived with his sister and grandmother after his parents died. Before coming to the orphanage, he couldn’t go to school because his grandmother couldn’t afford the materials. Kebo is now in primary school and learning a lot. Naturally athletic, he enjoys gymnastics and soccer.

SERV International SERV is a USA-based non-profit organisation serving in Nairobi, Nakuru and Lodwar. Its mission is to engage in global projects that make life-change personal.

SERV runs Serv 1 Feed 1, which is a food distribution programme that meets people’s physical needs and shares the Gospel, enabling millions of Kenyans to escape starvation and possible death – with thousands becoming Christians.

Over 6 million meals have been distributed in Kenya, and 21 churches planted through local partners.

SERV’s orphanage, House of Hope, began in 2008 in Lodwar. The 13 staff enable 40 orphaned children to break the depressing cycle of poverty and hopelessness and become the next generation of Christian leaders.

In the elections earlier this year, John Nakara Lodepe, who came up with the vision for House of Hope, was elected MP for Turkana South.

June 2013 Flying for Life 11

EAST TIMOR: defeating hunger

Pulau Wetar

BANDA SEA Pulau Alor

Pante Macassar

Dili

(Oecusse Airport)

EAST TIMOR

Aos Ero

INDONESIA

TIMOR SEA

50 miles

Main Villagers sell their produce at Oecusse’s main market Right Breeding livestock in Aos Ero Top right The co-operative bank Far right Cornelio Ase

E

xcitement fills the air in the village of Aos Ero, East Timor. Word has gone out that the key holders are required. The villagers are keen to show the results of their hard work, careful management and collaboration. All that’s needed is for those responsible for their co-operative bank to arrive.

After unlocking the external door, the door to the bank and the co-operative’s money box, Ermelindo Dacosta Anin brings out the villagers’ precious, hard-earned savings. His expression of delight speaks volumes!

‘Separated from the mainland, transportation is a big issue,’ explains Caritas Programme Co-ordinator Cornelio Ase, ‘It’s important to get support from MAF because reaching the other cities is a major concern.’

An MAF flight from Dili takes just 45 minutes.

The alternatives are overland travel through Indonesia which takes 9 hours and a great deal of paperwork, or a 12-hour ferry ride which isn’t an option during the rainy season as it’s too dangerous.

Isolated

Partnering with the villagers of Aos Ero, Caritas introduced a microfinance scheme in 2006, which complemented an agricultural project initiated earlier that year. Now, the 33 families trained by Caritas manage the bank themselves and are amazed at what they have achieved.

Some of the members of the co-operative borrowed funds from the bank

Aos Ero is in the district of Oecusse, the most isolated part of East Timor. With tropical seas on the north-west, its borders are surrounded

by Indonesian land, which cuts it off from the rest of the nation. It’s a striking place. Craggy mountains clad in thick vegetation give way to emerald green rice paddies and white beaches.

Despite the area’s beauty, the people live in real poverty.

Oecusse is a regular destination for our GA8 Airvan based at the capital Dili. Some 20 NGOs work here, including Caritas Australia.

12 Flying for Life June 2013 www.maf-uk.org

Amazed

Defeating hunger Thanks to Caritas Australia and our GA8 Airvan, villagers in East Timor’s most isolated area can now feed their families and become self-sufficient Story Stephanie Gidney Photos LuAnne Cadd East Timor • 75% of the population live in rural areas • 42% live on less than 67p a day • Many are subsistence farmers • 80% cannot grow enough food to feed their families for 2 months each year.

Caritas Caritas Australia works with 68 rural farmers and community groups across Oecusse, helping improve the standard of living in 14 villages.

Projects include sustainable agriculture, food and water security, and adapting to climate change.

and bought a cow to fertilise their vegetable gardens. This increased agricultural productivity and the income earned through selling their produce. Now they have more than one cow, the villagers can breed them and sell the bulls for additional income.

From May to October, the villagers sell vegetables at Oecusse market. By 8.30am, the place is already buzzing with activity. Marta Anin and Terejina Pauf from Aos Ero are selling corn, watermelon, pumpkin, onions and garlic.

From Nibin, another village Caritas is helping to become self-sufficient, Imakulada Elu is selling Japanese pumpkin and avocado. The variety of produce is a colourful testimony to the agricultural project’s ongoing success.

Enabled Before Caritas arrived, the villagers struggled to earn money and buy food during the January to March ‘hungry season’. They had to seek alternative work planting rice for other people or borrowing from outside the community.

Better farming methods mean they can now store corn, rice and peanuts for emergencies.

Their savings also buy rice for the October to

April rainy season, when roads are impassable and it’s impossible to obtain food from outside.

Thanks to Caritas’ microfinance programme, families can also buy medicine or obtain medical assistance.

‘Year after year,’ says Cornelio, ‘we trained them from growing plants to saving their own money. Most people are illiterate, but they have a big heart to learn and help themselves grow.

Now they are able to grow plants, consume good vegetables, access their own savings and send their kids to school or even university.

‘We support them with training, equipment, materials and funds. This is all about caring for the poorest of the poor, training them so they can stand on their feet. MAF flights also play an important role in responding quickly to medical emergencies – evacuations to the main hospital in Dili are a great support.’

Transformed Caritas’ investment in villages like Aos Ero and Nibin has transformed villagers’ lives. They no longer have to worry about not having enough food, and are grateful to Caritas and MAF for making this happen.

June 2013 Flying for Life 13

MAF UK: 2012 review

2012 Review MAF UK Chairman Roger Mitty and Chief Executive Ruth Whitaker give thanks for God’s goodness and the generosity of UK Supporters

L

ast year across the countries in which MAF operates, milestones were reached and celebrated: 25 years in Haiti, 15 years in Bangladesh and 5 in East Timor!

MAF enabled 1,500 partners to provide relief and development, education, evangelism, peace and reconciliation workshops, sustainable food programmes, and medical and dental safaris through over 80,000 flights to more than 1,800 remote locations.

Spreading the Gospel After Forward in Faith Ministries International held evangelistic events in Nhulunbuy and Yirrkala in Arnhem Land, our team discipled the new believers.

One night, a young man confessed, ‘Drugs, alcohol, break-ins – you name it, I’ve done it. But I know it’s not right.

Tonight I must give my life to Jesus.’

Towards the end of the mission, 12 people were baptised. When the evangelists left, MAF staff continued to support and instruct the new Christians.

Restoring sight Sight was restored to 400 people when we flew a CBM team with delicate medical equipment to Aweil in South Sudan. In two weeks, over 800 patients were screened – with 405 adults and children receiving their sight after a simple cataract operation.

Addressing hunger In East Timor, the MAF team helped address malnutrition among children.

Our pilot flew at weekends or changed routes to meet the needs of our partners.

World Vision’s General Services Manager explained, ‘Without MAF, we would have been in trouble many times.’

Enabling healing MAF also helped spread the Good News when we flew Peter and five Gospel Fire International staff to Malakal, South Sudan. Peter says: ‘Thousands heard and responded to the Gospel. One man had a prostate problem but, after prayer, he was no longer in pain. A boy who had been deaf since birth could suddenly hear. A 12-year-old girl who couldn’t stand upright for 4 years was also healed.’

Improving health We continued to enable healthcare for people like the 2,018 patients examined by the team of medics we flew from Haydom Hospital to remote villages in Tanzania, and the 160 patients treated for malaria, HIV and arthritis by a YWAM team we took to Jaja. The YWAM dentist examined 25 patients and their evangelist saw 10 people become Christians.

Children – enabling both organisations to improve conditions for poor and vulnerable people. An MAF pilot, who airlifted an old lady ‘in pretty bad shape’ to hospital, says the 40-minute journey from Khulna to Dhaka would have taken 12 hours by ambulance.

Many more flights like these occur every day, year after year.

We are thankful for the faithful prayer, financial and practical support we receive, which enables MAF to overcome barriers to reach precious individuals for whom flying is not a luxury but a lifeline.

Despite last year’s challenging economic climate, the giving of our loyal Supporters continued to grow. Your support enabled us to provide essential assistance to thousands of people in some of the most inaccessible areas of the world.

Thank you – together we are making a difference!

Increasing effectiveness In Bangladesh, 2012 saw our amphibious aircraft continue to fly members of Friendship floating hospital and Save the

Roger Mitty Chairman of Trustees

Ruth Whitaker Chief Executive

This is MAF is an international Christian aviation organisation serving around 25 developing countries to reach people living in some of the world’s most isolated communities.

Operating more than 130 light aircraft, MAF flies into 1,800 remote destinations, transporting essential medical care, food and water supplies, relief teams and church workers ­enabling physical and spiritual care to reach countless thousands of people cut off due to formidable geographical barriers, natural disasters and political unrest.

Each flight carries help and hope to men, women and children for whom flying is not a luxury but a lifeline. Transforming lives through enabling access, MAF is flying for life.

Mission Aviation Fellowship UK Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone CT20 2TN 29 Canal Street, Glasgow G4 0AD FREEPOST ADM4164, PORTRUSH BT56 8ZY Dept AA1818, PO Box 4214, FREEPOST Dublin 2 Telephone: 0845 850 9505 Email: supporter.relations@maf-uk.org Website: www.maf-uk.org Registered charity in England and Wales (1064598) and in Scotland (SC039107)

14 Flying for Life June 2013 www.maf-uk.org

Flying for Life Editor: Richard Hubbard Email: editor@maf-uk.org Printer: Headley Brothers Ltd Ashford, Kent Printed on sustainable paper produced from a managed forest © MAF UK June 2013 fflr

2012 2012 MAF UK Financial highlights summary • Over 80,000 flights • 25 countries served • 1,500 partners flown • Over 1,800 locations reached • 7,000 tons of aid and materials delivered • Over 12 airstrips opened or reopened in Tanzania, Papua New Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo

Income Individuals Legacies Churches Governments Trusts Companies Other Investment income

£11,764,000 53.2% 25.0% 7.4% 3.8% 8.2% 0.4% 1.1% 0.9%

Expenditure Charitable activities Publicity and fundraising costs Marketing and profile raising Governance Retained for future projects

£11,764,000 69.9% 17.1% 3.9% 0.3% 8.8%

• 32 skilled and dedicated UK families serving overseas • The addition of two Cessna 182 SMA aircraft to the fleet • 600 UK churches taking part in MAF’s Day of Prayer • New accommodation built in Juba, South Sudan, which is vital for the security and growth of our team.

Last year, one in ten of our flights worldwide were made possible because of gifts in Wills.

To learn more about supporting MAF in this way, contact Legacy Co-ordinator Miriam Wheeler on 0845 850 9505, or email miriam.wheeler@maf-uk.org

The purpose of this summary is to present simply and concisely the sources and uses of funds during the year.

These charts are based on information contained in the MAF UK accounts for the year ended 31 December 2012 which were approved by the Board of Trustees on 22 April 2013 and an unqualified audit report has been received.

This summary financial information may not contain sufficient detail to allow a full understanding of the financial affairs of the charity. Copies of the accounts are available from the registered office of MAF UK.

Signed on behalf of the Trustees Roger Mitty, Chairman MAF UK

June 2013 Flying for Life 15

The MAF Day of Prayer

Sunday 20 October

Together Love. Prayer. Action.

Will your church help complete the picture by joining with us in prayer?

To request your pack, please phone 0845 850 9505 or visit www.maf-uk.org/pray The pack will include a prayer leaflet, DVD, children’s activities and promotional poster.

Packs will be despatched mid-September.