Flying for Life June 2011 Magazine

June 2011

The quarterly magazine of Mission Aviation Fellowship

New airstrip celebrations 8 Deadly remnants

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This is Kalimantan

CHAD: wide-ranging ministry

‘We want to know about this Jesus’ For 15 years, MAF has been supporting Mark and Diane Vanderkooi of TEAM serving in Tchaguine, Chad, among Kwong people. Jill Vine, wife of pilot Greg, was thrilled to visit them. Here is her report Story and photos Jill Vine

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chaguine airstrip is a legend – it’s so difficult.

As our plane approached, I saw two stunned goats, frozen in the middle of the runway in direct line with the aircraft. Thankfully, they skedaddled before touchdown and we landed smoothly on the dry airstrip – Mark and Diane had been praying the rains would hold off until after our flight.

A large arc of villagers welcomed us. Mark was striding up the runway. Later, he told us that a boy tried to run on to the airstrip as we were landing, but thankfully an older child tackled him to the ground.

The medical clinic that Mark and Diane have set up is a wonderful success story. It now has a trained nurse, a pharmacist/cashier and a midwife.

Lifesaving clinic

Mark comments on how fewer people have died in the village since the clinic opened. ‘You hear obituaries on the radio. It used to take up

to 20 minutes listing local deaths. Now it’s amazingly very few. They take better care of their health because the clinic provides advice and healthcare. It has saved thousands of lives since it began.’

It has been a relief for Diane and Mark to delegate clinic responsibilities to trained staff, so they can concentrate on Bible translation into the Kwong language, and on teaching and writing music.

Kwong people tend to leave their children to themselves, so the church is under threat of dying out without outside intervention. So Mark and Diane have been working to help raise up the next generation. Diane shares, ‘We’ve been training the adults to work alongside the children.’ They have also been helping Jonas, who is a local storyteller, prepare Bible stories for weekly transmission from their radio station.

Christian broadcasting

In 2006, MAF flew in a big transmitter and also work teams to build the radio station.

Today, broadcasts reach up to 20,000 people in areas where the written word is not able to penetrate, bypassing the problem of illiteracy.

Programmes are heard by Kwong and by Fulbé nomads who have settled in the region.

Material from different Chadian missions is broadcast in languages including Arabic, French and Fulbé. There are around 50 women’s programmes that provide practical advice and Bible teaching. For example, 14 lessons are about women in the Bible.

The radio studio also broadcasts a flagship programme, ‘The Kingdom of God’, with 107 lessons from Genesis through to Revelation, ‘The History of the Old Testament’ and 24 lessons from Luke.

Feedback as to how these programmes are being received comes by word of mouth. Fulbé 2 Flying for Life June 2011

Far left: Diane and Mark Vanderkooi Below left: Greg and Jill Vine with Esther, Ariela and Zoe Centre left: Jonas Main: Villagers gather to pray for Mark’s and Diane’s journey Left: Diane with local staff in the radio studio

people have approached the Kwong saying, ‘We want to know more about this Isa (Arabic for Jesus).’ They have also requested for the programme schedule to be altered, so they won’t miss it because of their prayer times.

Completely dependent

During the rainy season, Tchaguine is totally cut off. ‘If we need to get out in an emergency, MAF is the only way out of here. We’re completely dependent on them,’ Diane explains. ‘MAF is a security lifeline for us. If the country falls into chaos, if it’s not possible to drive, or we need

urgent medical treatment, MAF is there.’

As Mark and Diane left for seven months’ home assignment, the bond I observed between them and hundreds of villagers surrounding the plane to say a heartfelt farewell was beautiful.

Everyone knelt to pray for their voyage, and I was struck by the peace all around as they prayed together.

I am so thankful that we are able to help this wonderful couple and the people of Tchaguine.

It’s an honour to see God’s Kingdom at work and to be able to give ‘good report’ of all that He is doing among unreached people in this region.

‘MAF is the only way out of here. We’re completely dependent on them’ June 2011 Flying for Life 3

ANGOLA: meticulous and risky work

Deadly remnants of war Angola is home to some of the world’s deadliest weapons: landmines. Littering the landscape, they threaten lives, make road travel hazardous, and are detrimental to livelihoods Story Emma Stewart Photos Layton Thompson

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AF has been flying in Angola since 1988. It was precisely this danger of road travel for missions and other agencies that brought us here. During the war, people’s movements were restricted. Roads were mined, in poor condition and often guarded by bandits.

Although war has ended, with at least six million landmines still undetected across the country, many roads remain dangerous.

Cuito Cuanavale lies in Cuando Cuvango province – the most heavily-mined place in Angola. A strategic location during the war, both Soviet and South African forces wanted control, laying mines to prevent the area from being taken.

Today, we’ll be entering live minefields. I’m flying to Cuito Cuanavale to visit the work of HALO Trust, the world’s largest humanitarian landmine clearance organisation. The HALO

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teams fly with MAF when they travel with large groups and supplies, as well as in emergencies.

Safety briefing

The current Cuito runway isn’t operational.

Instead, HALO’s base leader Julian Hocken

Main: Pilot Brent Mudde and Emma join the HALO team in the field Below left: Julian Hocken conducting the safety briefing Top left: The MAF Caravan aircraft lands on the road Left: A deminer engaged in systematic mine sweeping Bottom: A HALO deminer checking the minefield periphery has arranged with the military to close the road. Our landing on that road is without event, and Julian and the police are waiting for us.

Military buildings surround us, as do remnants of war – old tanks and vehicles.

Cuito itself seems quite sleepy. It’s dusty, surrounded by agricultural land and basic buildings including a few hotels. But I can’t imagine there are many tourists passing through.

Back at base, Julian runs through our safety briefing. ‘If you hear an explosion, check yourself to make sure you are OK and stand still.’ This reminds me of the risks of demining. Yet every day, thousands of people do this job all over the world.

Strict procedures

HALO Trust has strict operating procedures.

Accidents have occurred when procedures haven’t been followed. A few weeks before our arrival, a local man was injured. Gathering firewood, he stepped a few metres out of a cleared area and was caught in an explosion.

He managed to drag himself to get help. But his accident is a stark reminder to the local community of the risks all around them.

Demining of five active minefields in Cuito is in progress. We head off to visit one of the smaller ones so that I can see for myself what

the work involves. I’m given a protective vest, helping to shield my internal organs, and a visor. It’s hot; even hotter wearing this gear.

But it could save my life.

Every step that I take, I take with care. Red and white striped sticks mark the periphery of the minefield. Red-topped sticks mark the boundary between cleared and uncleared land – a warning to stay on the path at all times.

Systematic sweeping

Demining can be tedious, requiring high levels of concentration. For this reason, teams work in 30-minute blocks with a 10-minute break.

They wear protective vests and visors at all times. Visors may be removed during the break, but only in the rest area. Deminers work crouched down – this helps protect internal organs should there be an unplanned explosion.

Each area has a team of eight working systematically in lanes. Deminers work in metre-square areas, ‘sweeping’ with small garden tools to clear the area, cutting away vegetation then getting closer to the ground.

A safety distance – a minimum of 20 metres – is kept between deminers. This helps to build confidence. If there is an uncontrolled explosion, fragmentation is not going to reach where the second deminer is working.

For every section cleared, two supervisors

Red-topped sticks mark the boundary between cleared and uncleared land June 2011 Flying for Life 5

ANGOLA: meticulous and risky work

check, marking the area with a green and then a yellow stick – declaring it a safe zone.

Working from 7am to 2pm, deminers can clear about 30 square metres a day in decent ground. But when the ground is thicker with vegetation, it might be less than ten square metres.

Surreal experience

This is by far the most surreal experience I have ever had

Main: Deminer carefully laying explosive fuse Above left: Live mine close to the surface Above right: Controlled explosion Top right: Crater remains from a controlled explosion

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At one of the bigger fields, six mines have been uncovered. These are now ready to be destroyed – safely. I get to be part of this.

I arrive with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Julian explains the complexity of this minefield – it is littered with a number of types of mine, often laid in an erratic way.

As I walk, I pass craters marked off with white sticks – a record of the mines that were once there. Tall white sticks mark the place of

former anti-tank mines, short white sticks the anti-personnel mines.

This is by far the most surreal experience I have ever had. My adrenalin is pumping. I am experiencing something most people will only ever read about or see on television. It is only later that I think about how I felt: a little bit scared, a little bit excited and very much in awe.

Controlled explosions

As I watch Julian carefully dig round one uncovered mine, I’m surprised at how close to the surface they are and how close together they have been laid.

In many places around here, the team have discovered anti-personnel mines laid on top of anti-tank mines. Anti-personnel mines will explode with the weight of a person – they’re designed to maim. Anti-tank mines take the

Making land safe

weight of a tank to explode them. But by laying them on top of each other, the person would trigger the anti-personnel mine which in turn would trigger the anti-tank one – killing instantly as well as taking out those around him. Deadly.

As the end of the working day approaches, the team begins to lay charges – dynamite with a fuse wire – to carry out controlled explosions. The time for the fuse to burn has been calculated – the deminers know how long they have to get to the safe zone.

We make our way there too and watch from a distance. Extremely loud bangs are followed by clouds of smoke rising in the distance. Another small patch of land is safe.

Serious accident

Our day draws to an end. We fly Julian to HALO’s headquarters at Huambo. The flight saves him a day by road. He’s thankful, and now he knows we can land on the road at Cuito should there be any problems.

‘We have an excellent safety record in HALO. But accidents do happen from time to time and where we are, really at the end of the logistical train, if we had somebody that was very seriously sick, or we did have an accident in the minefields, then it’s a day’s drive to the hospital in Huambo.’

Just a few months after Julian’s words, an accident occurred at Cuito. The news reached MAF with the request to fly those injured to hospital in Huambo.

Our team responded immediately, as they rescheduled the day’s plan. The ambulance was waiting for them as pilot Brent Mudde came in to land on the road – again closed off by police.

Sadly, one of the victims had died instantly in the explosion; the other three urgently needed medical help. The injured people were all deminers and the explosion occurred on land that had been marked unsafe.

Professional assistance

In an accident like this, time is of the essence.

Loss of blood is a serious risk and all of the deminers needed help as soon as possible.

Brent took off, heading towards Huambo and the main hospital.

Unfortunately, one deminer died on the flight. The other two were safely transferred to hospital and both made a full recovery.

Later that evening after a difficult day, Brent received a message from HALO’s Angola Programme Manager Rory Forbes: ‘In the midst of all the sadness, it was encouraging to receive such prompt and professional help from MAF. So please accept HALO’s thanks for your assistance today.’

Years after they are laid, landmines remain one of the world’s deadliest weapons, claiming innocent victims, limiting farming, posing a risk to livestock. HALO estimates that it will take another ten years to clear mines out of Angola’s land.

HALO Trust employs 8,000 people. Worldwide, it has cleared 1.3 million mines and 10 million unexploded shells.

It has destroyed 50 million bullets and 128,000 assault rifles.

More importantly, it has made 62,373 acres safe from landmines, and cleared 7,498 miles of roads in the 10 different countries in which it works.

When HALO moves into an area to survey for mines, it faces a complex task. Project managers consider the area’s history – what armies have been through and how long ago? Countries use different tactics, and different eras have focused on certain types of weapons.

One particular problem is the legacy of the lone guerrilla sent to plant explosives on a road, which he does – and then dies shortly afterwards without telling anyone where he has put them.

Overgrown vegetation and unfarmed land is a sign that local people believe the area is mined. HALO teams talk extensively to the communities, who often know where minefields are because of accidents to farm animals or people. Where poverty is rife, wasted land and losing an animal are both devastating.

June 2011 Flying for Life 7

TANZANIA: joyful celebrations

‘I am building this airstrip for God’ Woodland-covered hills stretch as far as the eye can see – and that’s from the plane above as it prepares to descend for landing and the official opening of Lualaje airstrip in Tanzania Story Stephanie Gidney Photos Geoff Crawford

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nitiative for building the airstrip came from the Lutheran church in Mbeya.

They wanted to support the church at Lualaje and to provide medical assistance in this very needy place. After MAF surveyed the area for possible sites, the local authorities granted permission to proceed.

Our airstrip development officers, Julius Luhala and Patrick Kawawa (who is known as ‘Kawawa’) were based at Lualaje for four months, working with local people to build the airstrip. In the early stages, support from villagers was low – after all, it’s a big job to clear woodland of trees and level the ground for a 1,000-metre airstrip!

But one man, Philemon Mwilonga, brother of the village chief, called Julius and Kawawa

8 Flying for Life June 2011

to him: he already knew MAF and they could count on his help.

Philemon told the villagers they could trust the team and expect a big benefit from the airstrip: ‘I have seen the work of MAF in my village – they brought us medical help and saved lives. I will help to build this airstrip!’

Coming from Msangaji, where MAF planes used to take Usangu Plain mobile clinics, Philemon was a huge help in mobilising support for the Lualaje airstrip.

Old traditions

When Julius and Kawawa both returned to Dodoma after their third stint at Lualaje, they reported that the whole 1,000 metres for the airstrip had been cleared.

Patrick Kawawa

Julius Luhala

Life in Lualaje Population: 4,000 people per ward; 700 under five; 300 under one year; 800 women at reproductive age.

However, when they began setting the concrete markers, they noticed villagers started to withdraw and become fearful of even approaching the airstrip. Enquiring what was the matter, Julius and Kawawa discovered people expected someone would be killed as a sacrifice and their head buried under the airstrip – common practice for such a big project, to gain protection against evil forces.

Deeply shocked, the pair explained to the people that, as Christians, we do not need to bring such sacrifices: ‘We took the people along as we filled each marker hole with cement, so they would see there was no magic in it. While we finished the work, we began to teach them about Jesus Christ and urged them to leave the old beliefs.’

Julius shares, ‘People were listening and asking many questions – and continued to work with us, so I think they are open.’ And Kawawa adds: ‘The people here feel they need to know God.’ As days passed, our team won the trust of both the local leadership and the villagers.

Airstrip opening

People were amazed Julius and Kawawa were still alive, making such good progress and kept going strongly after weeks of hard work – ‘There are some powerful witchdoctors here, you better be careful!’ Julius responded: ‘I am not afraid to die. I am building this airstrip for God, so He is responsible for me.’

Work on the new airstrip complete, there was a carnival atmosphere as people gathered for its official opening. Crowds appeared with the arrival of the aircraft. The choir from the Lutheran church, thanking God, sang His

Common health issues: malaria, respiratory diseases, diarrhoea, HIV, bilharzia, TB, leprosy, dental problems, fungal infections, eye infections, ear infections, obstetric emergencies, scabies.

Main: A crowd greets the MAF plane at Lualaje airstrip Left: Woodland surrounds the airstrip Above: Stephanie takes part in the celebrations

June 2011 Flying for Life 9

TANZANIA: joyful celebrations

praises: ‘He takes care of everything’, ‘He can do it’, ‘You are Lord’.

Elsewhere, Kinyakyusa and Sukuma people spontaneously began celebration dances, with improvised instruments and flags created on the spot. Now, people were very happy to have the airstrip.

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Difficulties with transport make it very hard to get medical or education services.

There is a lack of adequate primary schools and no secondary school in our ward – our children go 34 miles to a secondary school at Isangawana

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The people here are trying hard to meet the challenges they face. For example, as we have lots of children who are of school age, the community here has prepared bricks for building schools

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We request help with communication and to build two schools (especially for the classrooms and houses for the teachers) in our villages – Mwiji and Lualaje; for staff for services like hospitals, schools and agriculture, like other places in the region; to help us obtain solar electricity; and help with building a hostel for the secondary school at Isangawana, so our children who go to secondary school will have a good place to stay while studying

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And we request help for others: for the people at Mpembe, Mtakuja and Konde who are trying hard themselves to build a school; and help to construct additional airstrips at Mpembe and Mtakuja, so that they can get health services.

Village voice

For the official opening, Mr Chiwanga from the District Commission of Chunya was guest of honour. On behalf of the village people, both thanks and requests were brought before him, shining a spotlight on the great need in the area. Points in the speeches included:

Main: Celebrations underway with instruments created on the spot Far right: Guest of honour Mr Chiwanga opens the airstrip Below right: Pilot Stephan Schramm discusses plans for other airstrips with local officials and Mr Chiwanga

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We would like to give our sincere thanks to MAF for their support for this work, without which we would not be able to meet on this occasion today

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The purpose of constructing this airstrip is, among other things, to enable us to have health services. The main challenges that we are facing in our ward are very poor road conditions, lack of transport, and the lack of any reliable means of communication such as telephones. So much so that there are ‘no government workers who are willing to be transferred to work in our area’

It’s sobering to hear of the lack of such basic services, highlighting how our planes are so valuable in enabling access to these remote places.

Government approval

Since the airstrip opened, we have flown in almost every month. But it has not been easy to provide assistance quickly to the people of Lualaje. The original intention was to fly the Brandt Mission medical team to Lualaje, the same team we fly to Madundas. However, during construction of the airstrip, district borders changed, placing Lualaje in a different district. It is difficult to gain support from the government for medical work across district borders.

The Moravian Church leadership offered their doctors from Mbozi Mission Hospital for Lualaje clinics. But again, government funding across district boundaries was a problem.

We flew the Doctor-in-Charge of Mbozi Hospital to Lualaje to carry out a medical survey of the need. We also flew Moravian and Lutheran Church leaders to Chunya to meet the District Commissioner and the District Medical Officer to discuss medical teams crossing districts with government funding. Thankfully, in the absence of resources within the district, full approval was obtained to bring in other teams.

despite the setbacks. The village received its first-ever visit by a dentist, who performed 22 extractions in 3 hours, and gave teaching on oral hygiene. Ian Sinkinson, our Tanzania Country Director, accompanied him and reported: ‘With extraction being the only treatment available, and with only limited amounts of anaesthetic to go around, patients received the same dosage. For those with problematic molars or wisdom teeth, the anaesthetic dose was clearly inadequate.

‘I have never seen such pain, or such stoic acceptance of it, in my life. When it was over, even those who had suffered so much were so grateful. The short-term agony was worth the relief from months of toothache they would otherwise suffer.’

Ongoing collaboration

Completion of the hard work of building an airstrip is just the beginning of effectively accessing isolated people. Challenges can arise at every step, and in unexpected forms.

Finding solutions and overcoming these challenges to reach isolated communities with help and hope is a collaborative work – a work that MAF and our partners are committed to for the long term.

Please pray for Julius Luhala and Patrick Kawawa, our airstrip development team, who have been true missionaries and share their faith while they work

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for the people in Lualaje.

The building of the airstrip was a huge amount of work – but the work of the Gospel has only just begun

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that isolated people in the whole Chunya area will be transformed spiritually and physically through Christ.

The Church has urged MAF to bring hope and help into these areas

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that government support in the form of free drugs and funding allocated to the district will be released

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First dentist

In January, an eye clinic was to be held – the first ever in Lualaje. Dr Eric Msigomba, a Christian Missions in Many Lands eye surgeon, was thrilled to use MAF, having a lot of work in the Mbeya region but with little access. The planned eye clinic was advertised throughout the district, with 100 posters distributed.

Disappointingly, on the day, the plane could not land there because the grass was too high.

But other visits have been more successful,

Overcoming challenges to reach isolated communities is a collaborative work June 2011 Flying for Life 11

FLEET ENHANCEMENT: testing for the future

Ferry flight adventure Pilots Garth Pederson and Nate Birkemo flew MAF’s first Cessna 182Q aircraft from Seppe in the Netherlands to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Garth reports:

Day 1

Friday morning, we loaded the plane with spare parts and extra bottles of water, and took off to fly through Europe’s complicated airspace. Nate busily negotiated permission to enter each airspace sector while I flew the plane. We were careful to avoid flying over nuclear power plants in France due to the €20,000 fine we would have incurred. Our first overnight stop was Pamplona, Spain.

Day 2

Arriving before dawn to pre-flight the aircraft, we discovered it was coated with ice. Knowing that another large weather system was on the way, we began scraping ice off the plane’s tail and wings. After an hour of scraping, I noticed a red streak where I had been working – my knuckles were bleeding. I had worn holes through my gloves and hadn’t realised it since my hands were numb from cold.

Turning the plane to face the rising sun, we completed removing ice from the windshield and propeller. We had a bit of trouble starting the engine but, after a quick prayer, it finally fired up. Following a stop in Seville to clear customs, we continued south across the Strait of Gibraltar into Morocco.

Day 3

After our night stop in Ouarzazate, Morocco, we learnt that, although we had our flight permission for Algeria, Moroccan authorities 12 Flying for Life June 2011

Why is this aircraft so special?

wouldn’t let us cross the border there because of tension between the two countries. With a revised flight plan, we climbed into 50-knot headwinds. I just about wore out the keys on my calculator figuring and refiguring fuel burn and speed numbers. But finally, the wind turned a bit in our favour.

I can personally attest to the incredible expanse and desolation of the Sahara Desert!

We arrived in Timbuktu, Mali, after 8.2 hours’ flight time with 2 hours’ reserve fuel.

As we ate our supper on the roof of our guesthouse, we heard the Muslim calls to prayer eerily reverberating over the city.

Day 4

Our day’s plan called for a fuel stop in Niamey, Niger. However, we had learnt earlier that the country had experienced a coup d’état and the borders had closed. I called a missionary pilot with SIMAIR in Niamey on our satellite phone to get the latest news. He confirmed that the situation was calm and the airport had by then reopened. We flew on to Niamey, but were then blocked from continuing the same day as our flight permission for the next stop in Cameroon was delayed by a day.

SIM International missionaries graciously welcomed us and even let us park our aircraft in their hangar out of the 100+°F heat. After freezing in Europe, we definitely thawed out in the searing heat of the desert. SIMAIR operates a similar Cessna 182, so we took the opportunity to compare notes on operation and maintenance of the aircraft.

Day 5

We flew over busy Nigerian airspace, the landscape changing from desert to rainforest.

Arriving in Douala, Cameroon, after 6.3 hours’

flying, we were soaked in the coastal heat and humidity. We discovered that the area had experienced a severe thunderstorm with high winds and torrential rain the day before. It reminded us of God’s sovereignty – if He hadn’t allowed the flight permission delay, we probably would have arrived at the height of that thunderstorm.

Day 6

Our final flight took 4.8 hours over the lush rainforests of Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of Congo and the DRC. We landed at Kinshasa International Airport to get our passports stamped, then continued ten minutes to our home airport Ndolo. Met by several of our staff who excitedly welcomed us, we gathered to pray near the plane and thanked God for His faithfulness and protection.

After flying over 5,000 miles with a trip total of 36.5 hours of flight, we were glad to be home with our families.

The Cessna 182 with an SMA engine burns jet fuel.

This is crucial as the scarcity and skyrocketing cost of Avgas have endangered the continued use of our Cessna 206 aircraft. The plane ferried to Kinshasa has been used to trial its viability for service around the world.

With it, we will be able to fly at about 40% of the cost of the 206. Although the 182 is smaller and carries a smaller load, it has a greater range of up to eight hours. Turbocharged though acting like a normally aspirated engine, it has better short take-off performance than the 206.

We anticipate the 182 will be especially useful for medical emergency flights and for carrying up to three passengers for multi-day trips to minister in the interior of countries with difficult terrain.

As we adapt to changing economic and operational realities, it is our desire to be faithful stewards of the resources God has provided through MAF Supporters.

Far left: Pilots Garth and Nate Main: The 182 in service in western DRC Left: Fuel cap with helpful reminder

June 2011 Flying for Life 13

ISOLATED COMMUNITIES: overcoming barriers

A future of hope I love to hear of new airstrips.

They are like doors opening – gateways of hope through which MAF can enter new areas, reaching new communities to share God’s love and deliver vital supplies. Working together with isolated communities to prepare an airstrip is a privilege for the MAF team, and the result of hard work and heartfelt partnership.

The end of 1 Corinthians 13 tells us that faith, hope and love remain and are to abide, to live together. Airstrips enable us to do just this – giving access and bringing help to people who were previously cut off by unforgiving geographical barriers.

There are many places in the world where people have little hope. It is to those places MAF seeks to go in order that God’s hope can fill them with His joy and peace.

Hope speaks of the future, so I would like to ask you to continue to pray for the future of Sudan, now the referendum has taken place. Pray that the people will have a future of peace, a future abounding in hope.

Your support travels miles, blessing thousands of men, women and children. Thank you for partnering with us – together we are opening many doors and gateways of hope!

Ruth Whitaker Chief Executive, MAF UK

This is Kalimantan Story Stephanie Gidney Photo Dave Forney The largest portion of the island of Borneo, Kalimantan covers 225,000 square miles. It is divided into east, west, south and central Kalimantan provinces, and is part of 33 provinces making up Indonesia.

Borneo’s interior is one of the world’s most remote areas, and remains largely undeveloped. Its geographical and logistical barriers are truly formidable: vast, dense rainforest covers dramatic mountainous terrain. Despite this, people live here. But the absence of roads means villages are isolated. There is very little access to services such as health clinics and education beyond elementary school.

MAF’s primary base is in Tarakan, on the coast of the eastern province.

Operations began here in 1973, and today a fleet of five aircraft flies into the interior daily in support of indigenous churches and communities. In the interior, 95% of the population are Christian, as a result of missionary work before World War II. This is in direct contrast to 86% of Indonesia’s

population of 243 million being Muslim.

Flying over the interior in a Cessna 206 aircraft piloted by Dave Forney, it’s very clear why MAF is serving here – all I can see is an uninterrupted blanket of green jungle stretching right to the horizon. Our first passengers flew with us for just over an hour. By foot and boat, it would have taken them up to three months!

I spoke with one passenger – Pastor Hendry – who is working in Data Dian.

He shared: ‘We’re the smallest of the villages in the area and, without MAF, no one else would care for us. As a servant of God ministering here, it would probably be impossible to be here without MAF.’ His enthusiasm was clearly evident.

With three 206s in Kalimantan, our flying has been particularly affected by the shortage and escalating cost of Avgas. In a step to address this problem, the fleet’s first Kodiak aircraft, which uses Jet A1 fuel, began serving there in 2010 – the same Kodiak that many MAF Supporters saw touring the UK in 2009.

This is MAF Mission Aviation Fellowship is a worldwide Christian organisation operating over 125 light aircraft in more than 30 countries. Around 280 flights every day transport patients, relief teams, medical supplies and Christian workers in the world’s remotest regions and places of deepest human need. Places where flying is not a luxury but a lifeline.

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Normally, passengers contribute a highly-subsidised fare towards the true cost. The balance comes from people concerned that others should have a better life spiritually and physically.

In the UK, MAF is a registered charity funded by voluntary gifts which help finance MAF’s operational work and support services.

MAF UK NEWS

MAF on the road

Taking the Chair

Around the UK, our MAF Roadshow continues to excite and challenge many people. Already this year, it has proved very popular at the Christian Resources Exhibition (CRE) in Peterborough, and hopefully drawing crowds at the Esher CRE as this magazine reaches you.

Today, the exhibition trailer has a fresh interior and new interactive features join the fly-a-plane simulator.

In the cinema area, a new film depicts better than ever the exciting work MAF is doing overseas.

Usually, the trailer is joined by a life-sized, ex-working model Cessna aircraft. If you have never had the opportunity to sit in a light aircraft, here’s your chance – even though it will not fly you anywhere!

For the latest information about a Roadshow event near you, please visit www.maf-uk.org The Roadshow is staffed mainly by members of our Volunteer Team. Other Volunteer roles include Speaker, Church Representative and Prayer Group Leader. Each plays a vital part in raising prayer and profile for MAF’s ministry in their own communities.

If you would like to join this evergrowing team of faithful and willing Volunteers, please contact Allyson Edwards on 0845 850 9505 or visit our website where you can apply online.

We are pleased to introduce the new Chairman of Trustees of MAF UK, Roger Mitty, who has been a Trustee for 7½ years.

Following ten years in publishing, he then joined Help the Aged, later setting up successful fundraising for causes in South Africa. These included a feeding scheme for township children and care facilities for elderly black people in Cape Province.

After ten years as a Director of The Chapter One Group, Roger became Director and Co-owner of FR&C Ltd, providing development and fundraising solutions for many charities. Over the last 18 years, Roger has also run courses on fundraising and not-for-profit management.

Recently retired, Roger still speaks at fundraising conventions in the UK, the Netherlands, the USA and South Africa.

In a voluntary capacity, Roger has established a trust to provide educational resources for a school. He is married to Janice, and they have three sons and a granddaughter. They worship at St Laurence’s Church, Appleton near Oxford.

She saved to give Abridged from a tribute by Ray Bodkin Born in Hammersmith in 1913, Marie Dixon committed her life to Christ as a teenager.

With her inseparable friend Hilda Legg, the children’s work at Thornton Heath Free Church prospered, over 1,000 children passing through their Sunday School.

Experiencing the hardships of world wars and seeing the suffering of the depression, Marie’s formative years left her conscientious, thorough and thrifty.

Everything had to be done properly, and nothing should be thrown away. No need to buy a notebook while old envelopes

would do. She used TV Times as her engagement diary.

Her thriftiness was the foundation of her generosity – she saved in order to give.

A great prayer warrior, Marie had a heart for mission including the work of MAF. She gave to several missionary organisations, spending many hours reading magazines she received from them and turning the contents into prayer.

Marie knew what it meant to tithe her time, her money and her talents, and God’s Kingdom has been enriched by all that she has done. So too the future will be through her Will, which included MAF. Her working life was spent at the Ministry of Education, and for her dedicated service there, Marie was awarded an MBE.

Lifeline beyond your lifetime We thank God for legacies totalling £581,499 in the first quarter of 2011. A gift to MAF in your Will is a special way of saving and transforming lives in the future. To learn more about supporting MAF in this way, contact our Legacy Co-ordinator on 0845 850 9505 or email juliettec@maf-uk.org

My response I want to help MAF bring God’s care and compassion to needy people I enclose my gift of £ for use where most needed Please use Block Capitals

Mr, Mrs, Miss, Rev, Dr, Christian name and surname

Address

Postcode Mission Aviation Fellowship 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)

Flying for Life Email: editor@maf-uk.org Printer: Headley Brothers Ltd Ashford, Kent Printed on sustainable paper produced from a managed forest ©MAF UK June 2011 ffle

lease tell me how I can best give to P MAF on a regular basis Registered charity in England and Wales (1064598) and in Scotland (SC039107)

Mission Aviation Fellowship Castle Hill Avenue FOLKESTONE CT20 2TN 29 Canal Street GLASGOW G4 0AD FSF ffle2

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To the ends of the earth

Praying together for MAF’s worldwide ministry Sunday 16 October 2011 To help plan your Day of Prayer, please order a resource pack today by telephoning our Supporter Relations team on 0845 850 9505, or visiting www.maf-uk.org

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