Flying For Life - Winter Edition 2018 - Magazine

Flying for Life Winter 2018

The quarterly magazine of MAF

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onditions

2 Papua New Guinea New schools of thought

13 South Sudan 'MAF is a big blessing'

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: pray for schools

New schools of thought In the 1950s, the Gospel reached the remote valleys nestled in Sandaun Province’s Star Mountains. Today, the Tekin Valley is a testament to the grace of God Story Mandy Glass Photos Glenda Giles and Mandy Glass

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aptist missionaries were flying to a recently opened patrol post at Telefomin, Papua New Guinea (PNG) when they noticed many settlements occupied by a large number of people in the Tekin Valley below.

These were the Oksapmin people – a remote community only accessible by air.

First contact was made with them in 1951 and Baptist missionaries moved to Oksapmin in June 1960.

Piloting MAF’s Cessna 180 aircraft, Max Meyers was at the service of these early Oksapmin missionaries, helping them to establish a mission station. They eventually cleared sufficient land for the first airstrip in Tekin – opening access directly into the community.

The Baptist churches established during this time grew strong in the decades that followed.

Teaching the teachers Main MAF flights transform lives in the remote Tekin Valley Top left Juda Dafadap Above The Tekin airstrip Top right A student's essay about MAF Bottom right Oksapmin High School

2 Flying for Life Winter 2018 www.maf-uk.org

In 2007, former missionary Glenda Giles opened Oksapmin High School. Known affectionately as ‘Miss Glenda’, she had been a Bible translator before switching her focus to the education of young minds in PNG. Oksapmin is the fourth high school that Glenda has opened in a career spanning four decades. Earlier this year,

she passed her latest milestone by celebrating her 75th birthday!

‘We were privileged to go to Green River High School when Miss Glenda was the Principal,’ explains former student Hensit Wila. Alongside another former student, Juda Dafadap, Hensit started his teaching career at the Oksapmin High School for a couple of years, but now teaches at Telefomin High School.

‘It was through Miss Glenda I got my education from grade 7 all the way to grade 10. From Green River, we [Hensit and Juda] went to secondary school and then on to the University of Goroka!’

When they graduated from university as teachers, ‘Miss Glenda’ arranged for Hensit and Juda to work at Oksapmin High School – giving them the responsibility of reaching a new generation of isolated children.

Mother to a nation ‘A lot of the students in PNG have testimonies about Miss Glenda,’ says Juda. ‘She is not just a Principal – she is also a mother to the nation.

‘She brought a lot of students to be who they are today. Some of them are ministers in parliament, some are doctors, some are nurses… So many children from remote places… and I am one of them!’

Glenda is encouraging her students to be a force for good in the world. She also urges them to dream about the impact they can make as the ‘hero’ of their own stories.

If aeroplanes had never come

As 10th-graders nervously await the arrival of their exam papers via MAF, Glenda sets a test on the subject of, ‘If aeroplanes had never come.’

‘If aeroplanes had never come to my valley, my family, my clan and I would be living in the dark ages without a single glimmer of light,’ states student Nasep Arickeng.

The situation is straightforward for Glen G. ‘If aeroplanes had never come, most of the people in this valley couldn’t earn money. The MAF Airvan brings in cargo, transports sick patients and takes

out the vegetables we send to other places. It brings pastors in, too!’

Clay John Binan can’t imagine what it would be like if MAF had never come.

‘Nowadays, we have good buildings made of milled timber, plywood and nails, which last for a long time – unlike the old houses made of bush materials.’

But for Gondo B, the absence of essential services would hurt the community the most.

‘Without the plane, people would have no medical aid post to get treatment, no church to attend and no schools to learn at. People in this valley might not even know who God is. We say thank you to MAF because the plane came here and brought us all of this.’

Top ten Like many across PNG, Okspamin High School has mud floors and grass matting on the walls and roof. It is understaffed, crowded and has minimal resources. Yet many of the school’s 120 students will out-perform those in PNG’s most prestigious colleges.

It is consistently ranked among the top ten schools in PNG – a testament to the excellence and commitment of one extraordinary, faith-filled woman and the students and teachers she has taught.

Miss Glenda’s legacy 1976 - Koroba High School,

Hela Province

1987 - Margarima High School,

Hela Province

1991 - Green River High School,

Sandaun Province

2007 - Oksapmin High School,

Sandaun Province

Winter 2018 Flying for Life 3

TIMOR-LESTE: pray for MAF spouses

A helping hand Kim Job and Deborah Moser are married to MAF pilots.

Educators by training, they use their skills to bring joy to the lives of disabled children and their parents Story and photos Kim Job and Deborah Moser

B Main Sitting in the pilot's seat was the highlight of an unforgettable day for the children who visited Dili International Airport Above 'We met a group of kids hungry to learn but with no chance of getting an education'

oth ‘MAF spouses’ have served in Timor-Leste since 2015. Within months of their arrival in a new country, they met a missionary lady who assisted at Liman Hamutuk (‘Hands Together’) a disabled people’s centre in Hera, a town east of Dili.

In Switzerland, Deborah had worked with disabled children and Kim had taught many special needs students back in Australia.

Soon they were volunteering at Liman Hamutuk on Wednesday mornings – supporting students and their carers brought in by the centre’s minibus for breakfast, activities, songs and lunch.

Hungry for education ‘We met a group of kids hungry to learn but with no chance of getting an education because of their disabilities,’ Deborah recalls.

‘The Timorese staff had a great heart for these families but little expertise or resources to meet their needs. I knew this was God's place for us to be a blessing.’

Over the past 18 months, Deborah and Kim have been dreaming, planning and working towards improving the lives of these families.

Teaching in another language is hard – so is learning sign language. Every lesson needs an option for those who can’t hear, speak, sign or draw, as well as those who can.

4 Flying for Life Winter 2018 www.maf-uk.org

However, the joy on a child’s face as they draw for the first time – or recognise a written word – makes the hard work worthwhile. And Deborah and Kim can now sing ‘The wheels on the bus go round and round’ in Tetun – and in sign language – so the whole group can join in the fun!

A day to remember Several of the children love planes but had never seen one up close, so Deborah and Kim organised a school trip to MAF's hangar at Dili International Airport. Deborah’s husband Daniel explained how MAF flies seriously ill people in remote communities to and from hospital – Timorese staff member Aldo translating his words to the rapt audience.

Children, parents and even several grandmothers explored the aircraft, tried on a headset and sat in the pilot’s seat before enjoying a picnic lunch in the hangar.

Excitement levels rose sky-high again when Daniel taxied a plane out of the hangar to do his pre-flight checks.

How exciting it is to know that God’s plan for two pilots included roles for their wives that perfectly matched their skills, passions and qualifications!

UK news: pray for supporters

Flying for Life Editor Richard Chambers asks Head of Fundraising Mike Fagg how new Data Protection regulations could affect MAF's fundraising in future

Keeping in touch

Photo Stephen Rayner

Mike, charity fundraising has been in the media spotlight for some time. How have you been planning for the future?

However, it’s really important that we continue to work together in responding to these new regulations, and that supporters confirm they are happy for us to keep in touch with news of our mission's impact worldwide.

There have been intense discussions in the charity sector over the past couple of years. Away from the rumours and the headlines, we’ve used the time to think carefully about how we might ensure our supporters are happy with the ways we keep them updated about our work.

What’s the next step for MAF supporters?

How could these Data Protection regulations affect MAF’s approach to fundraising and communications?

Firstly, we plan to write to all our supporters and ask them to review the specific communications they receive from us.

This may vary based on their level of engagement with us.

Supporters may have noticed that we've started to include an option to change the way they hear from us; but this will be an opportunity for them to state clearly what their preferences are.

Secondly, we will also include a revised version of our privacy policy, which sets out how we process their personal information and keep it safe.

So, do you plan to change what supporters receive from MAF? Don’t worry – we know how much our supporters like this magazine and other materials we send them, and we will continue to produce them. However, we also see this as a great opportunity to tell them about other MAF resources they can choose to receive.

Do you expect a positive response from supporters?

They should keep a look-out for this special mailing in the New Year. In this way, we will ensure they know everything MAF has to offer them and can make choices about how much – or how little – they want to receive in future.

Thank you!

A huge thank you to everyone who responded to our Help us buy a plane! appeal in September.

At the time of going to print, you had raised a staggering £727,000 towards the £1.8 million cost of a new aircraft for South Sudan.

Praise the Lord!

Our supporters are incredible! Their continuing loyalty and commitment to the poor of the world and the way they live out the Gospel is overwhelming.

Winter 2018 Flying for Life 5

SOUTH SUDAN: pray for self-sufficiency

Sowing the seeds of transformation

Story Karyn Ball Photos World Relief South Sudan

Hillary Muni is South Sudanese. He is also head of World Relief’s Human Resource and Church Empowerment departments – working to build up the local church in remote villages such as Ibba and Maridi in South Sudan

'W Main The introduction of a new variety of cassava has enabled people to multiply their crop Above One of the new tukels built by churches for widows and elderly people in remote villages

6 Flying for Life Winter 2018 www.maf-uk.org

e couldn’t do anything without MAF,’ says Hillary.

‘The planes and pilots are essential to our project in Ibba. Without MAF, Ibba is like an island that we just can’t reach because the roads are so insecure.’

There wasn’t enough food in Ibba, Hillary explains. ‘The community didn’t have enough to eat and the people in the church didn’t have enough to eat. So how could the church help the most vulnerable, when they didn’t have enough food for themselves?’

It wasn’t a rhetorical question. World Relief stepped in with a helping hand and

trained the church leaders in farming.

Now there are 20 groups with 15 or more farmers in each group. World Relief provides the seeds, tools and training and now, thanks to them, people have enough to eat.

The programmes benefit over 120 families in Ibba by using simple and available resources like waste water to allow families to plant their own small garden.

Faith in action

Hillary’s humility and passion is evident as he explains what motivates him to serve his countrymen in practical ways. ‘This is the mission of Jesus. What we are doing

SUDAN

S O U T H Ibba

S U D A N

Maridi

Juba

Yei DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

UGANDA 50 miles

Key to maps

— Capital city /

— MAF base — Location

Top right Another flight from MAF, without which Ibba would remain isolated Bottom right The Ibba community was able to sell 12.4 tonnes of grain to the UN!

at World Relief is what Jesus has asked us to do.

‘I know God and I love Him. And I love the Church. But when I see people struggling to fix things without external support, it is hard for me. I believe that if we can give them a helping hand, the local church can make a big difference in the lives of those who are suffering.’

Hillary’s grandfather was an Anglican Minister in South Sudan and he regards his grandparents as his greatest role models. ‘Though my grandparents didn’t go to school, they taught me much. They trained me up in the Lord.

'My grandmother championed the opening of a church in Yei River State before she passed on. I knew that, if my grandparents could do this, then perhaps I could even do more.’

variety – more resistant to disease – and taught church leaders how to multiply the crop and share it among the farmers.

The initiative was so successful and the farmers grew so much food they were able to sell 12.4 tonnes of grain to the UN and save the lives of other starving South Sudanese! In a country gripped by a vicious famine, this is an amazing ministry.

World Relief started small savings groups because, without ready access to a bank, receiving a fair loan or saving money is almost impossible for the majority of people in the community.

Members add money to a shared box and, each week, a different person uses the money to open a restaurant or start a small business selling tea or vegetables.

Doing even more

Of course, no programme or community is perfect. Hillary is well aware that the people rely on World Relief’s support.

Together with his team, Hillary is encouraging the community to be self-sufficient wherever possible.

World Relief runs workshops on community transformation, reconciliation, unity and vision – helping churches to be at the forefront of caring for the many vulnerable people in their communities.

As a result, a number of churches have built new tukels (small African homes) for widows and the elderly. They are also creating gardens which provide food and clothing for those who are starving, and give seeds to people to start their own gardens – putting the Church back into the heart of the community.

It is inspiring for MAF to serve and pray for those like Hillary and his colleagues at World Relief as they continue putting the Gospel into action. It makes us wonder if we, like Hillary, can do even more.

And Hillary is indeed helping to do even more. When the cassava crop failed in Ibba, World Relief brought in a new

Towards independence

Winter 2018 Flying for Life 7

WORLDWIDE: pray for new recruits

MAF - what’s not

A career with MAF is a calling from God. We ask six of our international staff serving in vari

‘Prior to joining MAF I was Corporate Services Direct UK charity. But I felt called to return to the mission fi children. This process took much longer than we ha retrospect – we can see God's perfect timing in it all

Ken Brown, F

‘I serve with MAF because I believe in the work we do, and know that God has called me to it. I see the impact our flights have on the lives of missionaries in remote or difficult places, and on communities who need help, hope and healing. I feel privileged to be playing a small part in it.’

Andrew Parker, Pilot – Uganda

‘I could never be a missionary in the traditional sense – such as a teacher or preacher. However, by working for MAF, I can use the practical and organisational skills God has given me to enable those He has called to be on the “front line” of mission.’

Mark Newnham, Chief Engineer – Liberia

'I love working with MAF'

‘I serve with MAF because it was the only mission organisation that didn’t laugh when I told them what my previous experience was – 18 years as a motor racing engineer! I feel privileged that God could take my technical experience and use that for His purposes.’

Stewart Ayling, Base Manager – Tanzania

8 Flying for Life Winter 2018 www.maf-uk.org

to love?!

'I feel privileged to be playing a small part in it’

ious programmes why they answered that call

tor of a much larger field with my wife and ad anticipated but – in l.’

Finance Manager – Kenya

‘I love working with MAF because I’m able to use my skills to serve God and spread the Gospel. I didn’t need to do any mission-specific training to qualify for this job as I was already a manager, a logistician and a people person. I honed those skills serving in the military and they are of just as much use to MAF as they were to the RAF!’ Siobhain Cole, Operations Manager

– Papua New Guinea

‘Without someone taking photos, writing stories and filling in all the background information, no one would know about the amazing work of MAF staff worldwide. I get requests for information from all over the world which I love assembling so that supporters can hear about – and pray for – MAF’s programmes in the Asia-Pacific region. The staff in Mareeba are great and every day is different.

What’s not to love?!’

Jenny Beckwith, Communications Officer

– Mareeba base, Australia

To find out more about the many career opportunities at MAF, please phone Tricia Holley on 01303 852801. To find out how you can join a support team for an MAF staff member, phone Adam Pope on 01303 852819 or email adam.pope@maf-uk.org

Winter 2018 Flying for Life 9

KENYA: pray for refugees

‘We need orga Head of Communications Vivienne Pattison recently travelled to Africa to witness MAF’s impact first-hand. She visited Kakuma refugee camp, a burgeoning facility that is home to 170,000 people who have fled violence abroad

I

needn’t have worried about breaking the ice with the people at the Kakuma refugee camp in northern Kenya. My fair hair makes me an object of some curiosity and I am soon surrounded by a crowd of inquisitive youngsters three-deep!

There are children everywhere I look – not the greatest surprise as more than two-thirds of those fleeing South Sudan into neighbouring Kenya are minors.

Hundreds of thousands have fled South Sudan’s civil war and crossed into Kenya in search of safety. The journey is arduous and many arrive with nothing, having been attacked en route by animals or bandits.

Sanctuary on a grand scale This camp is vast. With a population of more than 170,000 – that’s larger than the city of York – and an average length of stay of 17 years, facilities are needed for every stage of the refugees' lives.

10 Flying for Life Winter 2018 www.maf-uk.org

After crossing the border, the first thing refugees are offered is a bottle of water and – incredibly – it’s the first time many realise water should be clear and not brown!

Our host from MAF partner Lutheran World Federation (LWF), whose staff and resources we fly frequently to Kakuma, explains that refugees are offered ‘an opportunity to reconcile with themselves and restore their dignity.’

This focus on care and personal dignity is reflected in the phenomenal LWF administrative and logistical operation I observe in the camp. Notwithstanding the remote setting, sweltering climate and limited resources, LWF ensures each new arrival receives clothes, counselling support and 2,000 calories a day.

A separate Peace and Arbitration Committee examines petty disputes, minimising police involvement, while consortiums address women’s needs and ensure that children are informed of their rights.

SOUTH SUDAN ETHIOPIA Kakuma

UGANDA

K E N Y A Lake Victoria

Nairobi

200 miles

TANZANIA

ganisations like MAF’ Photos Steve Charman

Feeding the tens of thousands

Alive on the inside

Food is provided by World Food Programme.

Throughout my short time in the camp, a steady stream of huge lorries flows constantly from the coast, 880 miles away – delivering the 3,000 tonnes of food consumed in the camp each month.

LWF has constructed more than 20 schools and equipped teachers – mostly refugees themselves – to educate 80,000 pupils. No learner is turned away, including adults who have never studied, and pass rates are high.

The school I am privileged to visit has nearly 8,000 students. Children are taught in shifts with half of them learning for six hours in the morning and the other half arriving after lunch.

A single teacher may teach several classes concurrently – many of which are so full there’s no room for desks or chairs. Hundreds of children sit on the floor to learn.

The camp has two hospitals and, again, many of the staff are themselves refugees. I am shown a ward for cholera patients and the makeshift reception area used to assess new cases for signs of the disease. A simple mural painted on the wall depicts a woman suffering ‘flashback’ nightmares – a reminder that psychological care is just as important as physical care.

Later, I discuss the role played by Christian organisations with staff from other relief agencies working in the camp. One worker explains to me, ‘We ask people “Are you alive?” but we don’t ask “Are you alive on the inside?”

Christian organisations address this.’

However, the schools, hospitals and especially the provision of safe, clean water attract the envious attention of those native to the Kakuma region. Like much of Kenya, the area suffers from a crippling drought which has dramatically elevated hunger levels.

To alleviate this constant tension, LWF sources workers for the refugee camp from the local hosting community wherever possible.

The hospital is open to all and schooling provision is also extended to local street children or those engaged in child labour.

My time in Kakuma is a whirlwind of people, meetings and emotions. Reflecting on how God is using MAF, LWF and other Christian organisations to assist those at the camp, one particular comment I heard from a worker in the camp remains with me: ‘Refugees have lost hope – we need organisations like MAF to reinforce hope.’

Amen to that, I think, as we touch down later in Nairobi.

Main Vivienne was an object of great curiosity at the refugee camp!

Top left Another lorry completes its 880-mile journey Bottom left More than 3,000 tonnes of food are consumed monthly Above One of more than 100,000 children who live in the camp

Winter 2018 Flying for Life 11

MONGOLIA: pray for healing

Race for life When a boy fell from his horse during an annual sporting festival, our aircraft was the only way to get the young Mongolian urgent medical help

Story Roy Rissanen Photos LuAnne Cadd and Roy Rissanen

With a mercifully clear sky and a favourable wind, we reached Ulaanbaatar in the nick of time

Main Each district holds its own Naadam festival Above Baasandorj is rushed to hospital for advanced care

M

ongolians love sport. The traditional festival of Naadam, which dates back to the time of Genghis Khan, features wrestling, archery and horse racing. The main event is held in Ulaanbaatar, but each district capital and village holds its own local festival.

It’s pretty intense, so when one of the participants, a 13-year-old rider called Baasandorj, fell from his horse during the annual summer event, we received a call for an urgent medevac to mountainous Tosontsengel.

The only way to reach hospital overland entailed an arduous 466-mile journey which would probably have proved fatal. Fortunately, in God’s providence, Tosontsengel has a gravel airstrip that MAF uses regularly.

Although our team immediately swung into action, there was just one problem – the weather! A potential thunderstorm appeared to be looming, though the weather forecast for Tosontsengel remained favourable.

Having fully prepared the aircraft to accommodate a stretcher, two local doctors and the family members who’d be accompanying the unconscious lad, I took off for Ulaanbaatar and the gathering storm (see picture right).

Despite heavy rain and lightning near their destination, this was still far enough away to make landing possible – our Cessna 208 ‘Jesus plane’ reached the remote airstrip after a 2½-hour flight.

12 Flying for Life Winter 2018 www.maf-uk.org

With only 40 minutes to go before our aircraft needed to depart, time was at a premium. So the doctors hurried to pick the patient up from the local hospital.

Just as it began to look as if Roy might need to delay the flight until morning, a four-wheel drive bounced towards the airfield. Wrapped in a blanket and with his head immobilised by a neck support, the critically ill patient was carefully transferred to the waiting plane.

With a mercifully clear sky and a favourable wind, we reached Ulaanbaatar in the nick of time. As soon as the aircraft landed, Baasandorj was met by an ambulance which rushed him to hospital for advanced care.

We later learnt that, because of the high profile nature of the accident, we’d been commended in the media and on various websites.

Baasandorj is just one of the thousands of seriously ill and injured people we airlift each day throughout the developing world. Pray that, as a result of our speedy response, the young rider will quickly recover.

SOUTH SUDAN: pray for the unreached

‘MAF is a big blessing’ While MAF planes soar through the skies of South Sudan, a growing number of Laarim are setting their hearts on heaven

Story Karyn Ball Photos Chris Ball and Caryn de Leeuw

A

lthough Dutch missionaries Ard and Carin de Leeuw were happy ministering to unreached people in Uganda with Africa Inland Mission (AIM), God then called them to South Sudan.

Ard was convinced this was where God was leading them and, having visited Kali, he returned – his heart ablaze for the South Sudanese living there. He felt sure God was calling him, his wife Carin and children Boaz (6), Manoah (4) and Amy (1) to set foot in this new country and meet unreached people.

A team of AIM missionaries has been focusing on the Laarim people since 2008. Their main base is in Kimatong – about three miles from the de Leeuw family’s home in Kali in the Boya mountains, around 150 miles from Juba.

They spend time learning the Laarim language, home-schooling Boaz and Manoah, visiting neighbours and taking those who are ill to the clinic. There is a constant queue of visitors. One needs soap or salt (MAF’s regular shuttle delivers essential supplies to the community); another is suffering from an agonising scorpion sting.

The church, which the de Leeuws set up shortly after they arrived, meets at the home of the village chief. With the help of their translator Peter Amos, Ard and Carin tell Bible stories and answer people’s questions about God. When the community desperately needed rain, they asked if God could provide it. So Ard and Carin taught them how to pray for this in

their own language. Two hours later, it rained – an isolated downpour that only occurred in Kali!

Life, according to Ard and Carin, is always ‘under the microscope’ – never more so than when they had to leave. With help from MAF and AIM Air, the de Leeuws were evacuated to safety when violence suddenly erupted. Six weeks later, the conflict calmed down and they returned.

While they were away, Peter Amos became a Christian – the first fruits of their ministry in Kali – so their reunion was particularly joyful!

Back ‘home’, Ard and Carin also had the joy of seeing the village chief and several of his sons come to faith. ‘God,’ they say, ‘is harvesting, and it is great to be a witness to it.’

‘Without MAF,' concludes Carin, ‘we couldn’t have a ministry to the unreached people in Kali.

There is only one road in and out, so when there is trouble, we have no exit. We rely on MAF to transport us safely. MAF is a big blessing.’

Please uphold their fruitful work in South Sudan, remembering those who’ve come to faith and asking the Lord of the harvest to bring more Laarim into His Kingdom.

Main Laarim boys tending their goats Top The de Leeuw family Middle Rain was desperately needed in Kali Bottom Another community is reached thanks to MAF and AIM Winter 2018 Flying for Life 13

UK news

Mission inspirational The original inspiration behind MAF was simple – to provide vital support to isolated missionaries in hard to reach places. In this issue, we bring you stories that show how we hold fast to this still relevant central aim in spite of an ever-changing world.

Duncan Hamlett BEM An MAF speaker since 2010, Duncan was presented with the British Empire Medal (BEM) this summer for decades of dedicated charitable service Even as the Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria invested him with the BEM, Duncan was still ‘completely shocked’ that his friends at the Rotary Club had nominated him for such a prestigious award.

Two days later, it finally ‘sank in’ as he and his daughter Jenny (pictured) attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace. It was there that Duncan had a great opportunity to demonstrate the volunteer speaking skills he’d honed over many years when he was introduced to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent.

Indeed, our first and last articles show how former missionary Glenda Giles (page 2) and modern missionary family the de Leeuws (page 13) sow and water the seeds of the Gospel in two of our busiest programmes; Papua New Guinea and South Sudan respectively.

And – as part of our reflection on the theme of inspiration – we ask six of our international staff to sum up what made them choose mission in general and MAF in particular (page 8).

The UK continues to change, too. Next year will be particularly important for all of you who honour our work through your prayers and gifts and we’ve taken this opportunity to interview our Head of Fundraising who explains why we’ll be writing to you in the New Year (page 5).

Thank you so much for supporting our first MAF Week of Prayer last month. May we continue to look to the Lord, who is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Wishing you peace and joy this Christmas

It’s safe to assume that the Duke knows more about the work of MAF than he did before he met Duncan!

Ruth Whitaker Chief Executive, MAF UK

This is Mission Aviation Fellowship is a Christian organisation serving 26 developing countries to reach the world’s forgotten people – those living out of sight, out of mind and out of hope. With land access denied by inaccessible terrain – due to natural disaster, war or economic crisis – thousands of communities are completely isolated.

Operating around 135 light aircraft, MAF’s pilots fly into some 1,400 remote destinations.

Whether landing in deserts or jungles, on lakes, rivers, tracks or roads, MAF planes transport essential medical care, food, water, relief teams and church workers to those in desperate need. Each flight carries practical help, spiritual hope and physical healing to thousands of men, women and children for whom flying is not a luxury but a lifeline.

MAF is flying for life.

14 Flying for Life Winter 2018 www.maf-uk.org

MAF UK Castle House, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone Kent CT20 2TQ 29 Canal Street, Glasgow G4 0AD FREEPOST ADM4164, PORTRUSH BT56 8ZY Dept AA1818, PO Box 4214, FREEPOST Dublin 2 T 01303 852819 E supporter.relations@maf-uk.org W www.maf-uk.org Registered charity in England and Wales (1064598) and in Scotland (SC039107) ® Registered trademark 3026860, 3026908, 3026915

Flying for Life Editor: Richard Chambers Email: editor@maf-uk.org Copy Editor: Gary Clayton Designer: Oak Creative Printer: Fretwell Print and Design Ltd Printed on sustainable paper produced from a managed forest © MAF UK Winter 2018 ffmm It costs us no more than 65p to produce and send you this magazine and prayer diary

Race to the Stones On a weekend in July 2017, thousands of people gathered together to take part in a 100km (62-mile) endurance race along Britain’s oldest path – the Ridgeway – starting from Lewknor, Oxfordshire, and ending at Avebury, Wiltshire.

Our team of six people had chosen to give up their time to raise money for MAF by running or walking along this beautiful, ancient pathway.

The MAF team conquered this challenge head-on.

Peter, who walked the 100km for MAF, said his highlight was ‘the feeling of having achieved something difficult for a very good cause.’

Thanks to these amazing people, we were able to raise a grand total of £6,245!

We are so proud of the team and all they achieved – they did an incredible job and we are so grateful for their hard work and dedication.

Up for the challenge in 2018? For further details, please email us at SupporterRelations@maf-uk.org or phone us on 01303 852819 or see the inspirational video and register your interest at www.maf-uk.org/event/race-to-the-stones

A heart for Africa

Dorothy Hinton was born in Kensington Mews in 1924, the youngest of three sisters.

It was while she was staying with her sister Joan before leaving for Singapore that she gave her life to Jesus. Dorothy said that God came rushing in like a flood!

On her return from Singapore, Dorothy spent time studying at Bible college and later trained as a nurse. She often preached at events and led prayers on the hospital ward.

Through her travels, Dorothy developed a heart for Africa where she sponsored a number of children through different Christian

charities. It was here that she became increasingly aware of MAF’s vital work.

During her retirement, Dorothy helped run Christian initiatives like Alpha and the local church youth group. The youngsters thought she was ‘quite cool’ for having a sticker with ‘Jesus is Alive’ emblazoned across the back of her mobility scooter.

As well as supporting MAF during her lifetime, Dorothy prayerfully decided to leave a gift to MAF in her Will. Her legacy is such a blessing to us because it enables our pilots to fly even further – reaching communities in need of help, hope and healing.

If you are interested in leaving a gift to MAF in your Will, please phone us on 01303 851958 or email miriam.wheeler@maf-uk.org

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A whole new world!

WIN A

Visit the website to find the answers, complete the clues and be entered into a prize draw for a free flight in a light aircraft. The more days you enter the more chances you have of winning A daily prize will also be awarded, visit the website for details of the prize of the day!

Want to see FREE more images, videos and stories of how we're reaching isolated people with help, hope and healing? mafadvent2017 FLIGHT * www.mafadvent.org Well, look no further than the wonderful world of social media where you can join supporters who are already part of the wider MAF adventure.

*See website for competition terms and co

Twitter: @flyingforlife

Facebook: mafuk

Instagram: mafuk

You can ease yourself into the pilot’s seat today at www.maf-uk.org/adventonline where your new MAF Advent Calendar is up and running for Christmas!

Go online! www.maf-uk.org/adventonline