MAF Flying For Life - (Jan-Mar 2024)

MAF UK’S QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

JAN-MAR 2024

Setting captives free

GPs. Goats. Gospel

'MAF is a perfect choice'

Prison ministry in PNG

Health clinics in Kenya

Medical flights worldwide JAN-MAR 2024 Flying for Life 1

www.maf-uk.org supporter.relations@maf-uk.org 01303 852819

Front cover MAF is flying for life in Timor-Leste Lobitos Alves

MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) is a Christian organisation reaching men, women and children in over 25 countries. Operating more than 115 aircraft, MAF’s pilots overcome terrain that has become inaccessible due to derelict roads, natural disaster, or violent conflict. MAF aircraft fly into more than 1,000 destinations — transporting food and water, health professionals and medical supplies, and emergency workers and Christian missionaries where they are needed most. Each flight brings practical help, spiritual hope and physical healing to thousands of isolated people in remote communities for whom flying is a lifeline not a luxury. MAF is flying for life.

MAF respects the indigenous people of Arnhem Land. We have tried to ensure that names and photographs of deceased indigenous people do not appear in our publications.

Thank you for your special gift!

Flying for Life

In September, we sent thousands of MAF supporters the story of our medevac flight for 12-year-old Ruth, who had been shot while playing with her friends in Papua New Guinea.

Editor: Richard Chambers Email: editor@maf-uk.org Copy Editor: Gary Clayton Designer: Ben Dyer Printer: Fretwell Print and Design Ltd Printed on sustainable paper produced from a managed forest © MAF UK JAN-MAR 2024 FFL ffnr 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 Registered charity in England and Wales (1064598) and in Scotland (SC039107) ® Registered trademark 3026860, 3026908, 3026915

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We were so grateful for the generous gifts we received from MAF family members who were deeply touched by Ruth’s courage and forgiveness. Those donations helped to fuel hundreds more flights that took off across the world this autumn.

Sign up to receive the special appeal letters that our faithful supporters enjoy so much by emailing our team at supporter.relations@maf-uk.org

Landen Kelly

Change the world This time last year, you were saying goodbye to Ruth Whitaker — most likely having made a special gift to her last ever appeal letter: Fuel the fleet.

Then, at the start of 2023, I arrived with the stated desire to lead MAF into a future where we would play our part in meeting the 2030 global poverty goals.

But, with warnings of a recession next year, that objective may seem to be even more ambitious than it sounded when I wrote it down in the spring issue of Flying of Life!

However, you and your fellow MAF family members have been magnificent in strengthening the resolve of us all — keeping our planes in the air in spite of the economic and political headwinds we're facing.

Hundreds of speaker engagements, thousands of donations and countless prayers define a year of immense generosity and endless love for those we serve in some of the Earth’s most isolated places.

With Christmas upon us and an exciting New Year beckoning us in, please be assured we will continue to meet your expectations for MAF as we seek to change the world one flight at a time.

God bless you.

Donovan Palmer Chief Executive, MAF UK JAN-MAR 2024 Flying for Life 3

Setting the captives free Thanks to the ministry of the wives of two MAF pilots, women in a Papua New Guinean prison are experiencing the beauty of God's transformational love We bring light into a very dark place. We bring them God’s love and show that, whatever’s happened in life, they are loved and are daughters of the almighty God.

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he ladies give me so much love. It’s so rewarding,’ says Harriëtte Knigge (right, left of photo), wife of Wewak-based MAF Pilot Wilfred.

One of the homeschooling mum’s ministries involves visiting the women’s prison there.

Harriëtte’s been visiting Boram Correctional Institution for about four years, teaching the ladies Bible verses, discussing God’s Word, providing trauma healing and teaching conflict management.

‘We bring light into a very dark place. We bring them God’s love and show that, whatever’s happened in life, they are loved and are daughters of the almighty God. ‘Of the ten female prisoners, eight can’t read or write properly.

So, to help, we started a pen pal project with some Christian women in the Netherlands. They write to the prisoners in English, and we translate it into Tok Pisin.

‘Then we help the ladies write back. It’s really good for their literacy, and it’s encouraging for both groups to share life and their favourite Bible verses.’

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Helen Symmonds (above, centre of photo) — another homeschooling mum with an MAF pilot husband — joined Harriëtte’s ministry at the start of 2023 so the visits could continue while she was away.

‘Visiting these women,’ Helen says, ‘has been a great joy to me.

These are women who’ve made mistakes but are hungry to hear God’s Word. They want to grow in their relationship with God. It’s been beautiful to see and beautiful to be part of.’

Harriëtte agrees, ‘No matter the circumstances they’re in, they still make the best of it. Every week, we ask what we can pray for. They miss their children, and often ask for prayers for their court cases, so we pray for that.’

Helen recalls one lady saying, ‘Since I’ve come to prison, I’ve found freedom. Before, I found myself in a lot of trouble. But since I’ve been taken out of that situation, I’ve found freedom.’

‘The course,’ Helen concludes, ‘is about bringing people to a place where they can find freedom in their lives through Jesus. It’s really exciting doing this in prison.’

– For the women returning to their homes and spreading God's love throughout their communities.

The world we live in is crying out for healing, restoration, redemption and provision and — to see change — we need to pray. MAF’s new, FREE prayer pack is here to help you

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cross the nations, people are experiencing famine, displacement, war, sickness, natural disasters, hopelessness and fear.

There appears to be much polarisation both inside and outside the Church. Post lockdown, many people are still functioning in survival mode — unable to think beyond their own needs or their experiences of loss and frustration.

To see change, we need to pray.

As believers, although we’re not immune to the suffering of this broken world, we do have the eternal hope of Jesus Christ, our risen King. The One who was, and is, and is to come (Revelation 4:8).

There is a day for which all creation is waiting — the day that Jesus returns and completes His restoration plan! Until that day, however, we need to stand in the gap. We serve, we give and we pray.

MAF has created a prayer pack to enable you to share the wider missional need with your church and local community, inspiring and equipping people to take their stand and pray.

Inside each pack, you'll find everything you need — including a written message, presentation notes, a creative prayer leaflet, country fact sheet and map, children’s and youth resources, recipe card, song suggestions, Scripture references, plus a short MAF history.

There is also a link to an incredible short film for you to download and share as part of your presentation.

The great thing about this pack is that it can be used at any time over the next two years. Fitting it into your church calendar couldn’t be easier!

When we join with others in this mission to pray, and look to the One who is able, we feel encouraged and uplifted.

So, as ‘we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, will be revealed’ (Titus 2:13, NLT), let’s stand in the gap together — trusting that, as we pray, God will hear our prayers and answer them.

Order your FREE prayer pack now by phoning 01303 852819, or emailing our team at supporter.relations@maf-uk.org

JAN-MAR 2024 Flying for Life 5

Annelie Edsmyr

MAF is a perfect choice — and it’s really a great pleasure to fly with them!

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‘MAF is a perfect choice’ From detecting ineffective medicines to safe waste disposal and the regular delivery of life-saving cargo, MAF partners depend on our aircraft in the fight to provide basic healthcare for people living in remote communities

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AF Uganda flew a team of health professionals to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to continue their mission to prevent ineffective medication reaching patients.

Led by Dr Gisela Schneider (right) — Director of the German Institute for Medical Mission — and equipped with a portable laboratory, the team is dedicated to establishing safe standards in the DRC’s health industry.

Having served in several African countries for nearly four decades, Dr Schneider attributes low-quality drugs to weak regulation.

‘During the testing of medicines,’ she says, ‘we found a supply of “quinine” that didn’t contain any quinine whatsoever. A child that had been administered that drug died of malaria.’

Flying with MAF meant ‘same day arrival’ for the team, as opposed to two days by road.

Representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Health travelled with MAF Timor-Leste (below left) for the launch of a clean solution to hospital waste.

Munkhtuya Altangerel — the UNDP Resident Representative in Timor-Leste — said the flight to Maliana enabled the organisation to use their time at the hospital far more effectively.

‘We are flying to Maliana to officially begin using the medical waste incinerator in its regional hospital,’ explained Munkhtuya.

‘MAF is a perfect choice — we trust them in terms of safety and security, and it’s really a great pleasure to fly with them!’

Elsewhere in the MAF world, UNICEF booked nine flights with MAF Madagascar (far left) to deliver polio vaccines around the island. Pilots Patrick Keller and Wouter Nagel collectively transported 7.5 tonnes of cargo to 19 separate destinations in the space of 44 hours.

And in our newest programme, MAF Guinea (below right), nearly half a tonne of medical supplies reached the north-eastern coast thanks to one of the many aircraft your prayers and gifts keep airborne.

Our plane arrived in time to save the lives of several children that very day.

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Please pray for Sudan Every country we serve is uniquely special to us. MAF South Sudan has been close to many supporters’ hearts for such a long time, because it was in Sudan in 1950 that we established our very first programme

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hat is now South Sudan was still part of Sudan then, and that historic legacy was very much on our minds when civil war broke out in Khartoum shortly after Easter 2023.

In the last issue of Flying for Life, we reported that our pilots had been able to make some emergency flights to the transit camps in Renk, where Sudanese people had fled across the border in their thousands.

Since beginning those flights in June, a typically generous response from our MAF family members enabled more than 11 tonnes of life-saving cargo to be delivered.

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– The Sudanese people, stranded in their own country with civil war escalating – The families and friends of the thousands who have already been killed – The millions displaced from their homes over the past nine months – The refugee camps in South Sudan which have been overwhelmed since the summer – The thousands of men and women committed to averting a humanitarian crisis with the most meagre resources.

More than just a job: it’s a dream come true From the age of 13, Africa Regional Avionics Manager Dave Waterman has never doubted for one day that he would work for MAF. Today, he oversees the maintenance of MAF's West Africa fleet and assists the rest of the engineering team

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licking through MAF News magazine, it smacked me in the forehead,’ laughs Dave, remembering his first, teenage MAF encounter..

‘I picked up the phone and asked, “What do I need to do to work for you?” The advice I received shaped the course of my education and early career.’

After training in airframe and engine maintenance, Dave went to Uganda in 2005 to see first hand what an MAF career could look like.

He was so serious about wanting to work for MAF that, over the next five years, he gained approvals and licences for all three essential engineering elements — avionics, engines and airframes.

Dave’s dream finally came true when he and wife Becky touched down in Uganda in December 2017.

‘It’s hard to convey the mixture of emotions I felt that day,’ Dave recalls. ‘Fear, anxiety and excitement all at once — and there was no turning back!’

After 3½ years in Uganda — weathering a pandemic and complex engineering feats such as changing an aircraft engine in 43° heat — Dave and Becky felt God calling them to Liberia.

Dom Sant

‘When I first visited Liberia, I felt really excited by the place,’ Dave explains. ‘I could tangibly see the potential for real change and development. Every single flight is literally life-changing for someone.’

Dave’s biggest achievements in Liberia have been completing the state-of-the art hangar, helping launch operations in Guinea, and starting a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) project — to enable the regulation of MAF’s West Africa operations.

‘The FAA opens up a much bigger pool of engineers,’ Dave explains, ‘and MAF can plan more strategically for future growth under a long-established system.’

Summing up his MAF career so far, Dave says, ‘Being willing to do something out of the box means you have to be sure you want to be involved. If you have an element of doubt, then the tough days are really tough.

‘But every time an MAF aircraft takes off, I’m that 13-year-old boy again with a silly grin on his face!’

EMAIL HR@MAF-UK.ORG, PHONE 01303 850950 OR SCAN ME TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WORKING WITH MAF

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Faith is our business!

Corporate Partnerships Manager Terence Crompton introduces the MAF Business Club — a community of dedicated supporters committed to seeing their success in the business world transform lives in remote communities

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ecently, I had the privilege to reconnect with longtime MAF supporter and businessman Graeme Potts.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Eden Motor Group, Graeme took time out of his busy work schedule to share why he considers that faith, business and philanthropy are inseparable.

Having first heard about MAF through a speaker at his local church, Graeme's journey has grown in step with his business.

Graeme’s ethos about giving and business is a simple one. ‘The greater the business success, the more support I can give.’

And give he does! For the last five years, Graeme has supported a project that is this year’s MAF Business Club focus — sponsoring one of our Cessna Caravans.

‘Sharing the proceeds of my enterprise is truly gratifying.

It deflects from being entirely internally focused.

‘The effects are felt across our team — strengthening a sense of altruism and a purpose beyond just making money.’

We are incredibly grateful to Graeme and the other members of the MAF Business Club for their ongoing faithful support.

They truly are in the business of transforming lives!

The greater the business success, the more support I can give.

Graeme can be rightfully proud of Eden, a business he built from the ground up to encompass 20 vehicle dealerships across the UK today.

He’s worked hard to combine the best practices of big-name manufacturers with the individual service and personalisation of a smaller, private company.

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Affectionately known as ‘Leader’ due to its registration ‘5X-LDR’, this particular aircraft operates in Uganda – transporting those committed to delivering help, hope and healing to some of the most isolated people on Earth.

Graeme describes his relationship with MAF as a privilege, but also as a reward.

To learn more about the MAF Business Club and its growing community of entrepreneurial supporters, please scan the QR code below or email terence.crompton@ maf-uk.org

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NLT)

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Capital city Destination MAF base

ETHIOPIA

During the four days, we immersed ourselves in supporting the community through livestock care and evangelism 12 Flying for Life JAN-MAR 2024

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Olturot SOMALIA

UGANDA

K E N Y A Lake Victoria

Nairobi Enairebuk

TANZANIA

Indian Ocean

GPs, goats and the Gospel God is doing amazing things in drought-stricken Kenya, using evangelistic clinics — aided by MAF flights — to bring many to faith

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n July 2023, MAF partnered with Christ is the Answer Ministries (CITAM) to fly a team of doctors, dentists, veterinarians and missionaries to Olturot, Kenya.

The flight took less than 1¾ hours, sparing the team an arduous, 11-hour journey overland.

The time saved enabled them to spend far longer attending to the isolated community’s needs.

The doctors examined 2,957 patients. They treated cases ranging from respiratory tract infections to migraines and conjunctivitis, and carried out cervical cancer screenings.

The vets were also busy — treating more than 17,000 animals!

‘It warms my heart’ Dr Peterson Karimi, who took part in the outreach, says, ‘Whenever I witness the transformation of individuals from a state of illness to one of wellness, it warms my heart and underscores that divine intervention has played a role in their recovery.’

‘It’s an honour for me to be present,’ agrees dentist Joan Sambu. ‘Among the prevalent issues I’ve encountered, there have been cases of dental cavities, gum infections and dental fluorosis.’

The missionaries were also active, sharing their faith with around 1,480 people — 150 of whom became Christians — and showing the Jesus film as soon as the sun set.

About 1,520 villagers watched enthralled as Jesus’ life unfolded on the screen, with 800 more individuals finding solace and hope in Christ.

Many thanked MAF for making the outreach possible, with one villager expressing ‘gratitude to the mission for providing us with complementary medical and veterinary services combined with evangelism.’

Cows, hyenas and goats Earlier that month, we flew members of a veterinary clinic to Enairebuk in the south.

The action-packed safari saw 20 dedicated professionals combining veterinary camps with Gospel proclamation.

As a result, more than 300 Maasai herdsmen heard the Word of God, experienced the transformative power of Christ, and received spiritual support before tending their animals each morning.

Rev Malano Saiguran, Founder of Overflowing Life Ministries, warmly embraced the vets and thanked MAF for providing the air transport that had triumphed over rugged physical barriers.

‘Deep appreciation is owed to MAF for enabling the missionaries’ access,’ the minister exclaimed, pointing out that ‘this region’s geographical challenges would normally demand more than seven hours of travel by road. It’s a stark contrast to a mere 30-minute journey by air.’

Although the Maasai’s strong attachment to their cattle normally makes it hard for the reserved herders to attend church, the mission’s focus on livestock helpfully bridged the gap between evangelist and herdsman as 18,982 animals received care.

Cases included a cow that had been bitten by a hyena and a goat that had become lame due to severe arthritis.

‘Had the doctors not shown up on time,’ said a man called

Legishon, ‘my goat would have lost its ability to walk.’

The vets also visited neighbouring schools, sharing the Good News and offering footballs inscribed with the phrase ‘Enkinyor Enkai’ (‘God loves you’ in the Maasai tongue).

Glory to God! Dr Josiah Mandieka, founding member of the Veterinarians with a Mission Programme, summed up the action-packed safari, saying, ‘During the four days, we immersed ourselves in supporting the community through livestock care and evangelism.

‘In our interactions with the men, many have found their way to the Lord. God willing, we look forward to making a return mission in 2024.’

A third outreach saw Pilot Danny Gill transport a team of ten to Loyangalini, northern Kenya, for a medical and veterinarian camp.

Bishop Emeritus Boniface Adoyo reports that, through CITAM’s MAF-aided mission, many lives among the Elmolo, Turkana and Samburu people were touched by the Gospel, and God was glorified as a result.

By the end of the 5-day camp, 17,518 animals had benefited from veterinary care, with some 1,700 people hearing the Gospel and receiving medical help — one highly relieved patient pointing out, ‘I have had a tooth uprooted after many months in agony.’

Thanks to MAF enabling CITAM’s clinic to take place, around 500 people turned to Christ.

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On a mission!

Do you know anyone aged 14-18 with a passion for mission and to see lives changed? Then the MAF Youth team needs YOU to talk to them!

We’re looking for young people who are excited by our work to become MAF Youth Reps.

MAF Youth Reps will become our champions within their communities — church, youth, sports, etc — amplifying the voice of MAF Youth to young people far and wide.

MAF Youth Reps will strengthen the MAF mission using:

Prayer

MAF Youth Reps will receive exclusive access to prayer and project updates, praying regularly for MAF and encouraging their youth group to do the same

FUNdraising

MAF Youth Reps will work alongside their youth leaders to decide how best their group can support MAF through fundraising

Media

MAF Youth Reps will share MAF social media posts with their friends and help us to create future content highlighting key projects and new competitions

Resources

MAF Youth Reps will receive special resources created exclusively for young people which will help them spread the word about MAF throughout their communities

Each MAF Youth Rep will receive regular monthly email updates, one-to-one support, and the opportunity to meet throughout the year with other MAF Youth Reps around the country — and there’ll be some free goodies along the way, too!

If this sounds like something that a young person you know would be interested in, please get in touch through www.maf-uk.org/youth or email mafyouth@maf-uk.org

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To the ends of the Earth MAF urgently needs to recruit more overseas staff — engineers and pilots in particular — so that we can maintain and expand our services to isolated people

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nfortunately, we face two major obstacles. There is a worldwide shortage of licensed aeronautical engineers and very few pilots with an active Christian faith.

Meanwhile, brothers and sisters who do feel called to serve God overseas with MAF don't necessarily have the relevant skills and experience we need.

Therefore, we’re investing in the future of the organisation, and the lives of young Christian women and men in the UK, by training our own future pilots and engineers.

The Engineer Training Scheme (ETS) and Future Pilot Programme (FPP) are training packages through which MAF provides candidates with the theoretical knowledge and practical experience needed to serve overseas with us, as soon as they graduate.

We provide core funding, with trainees expected to build a support team who will pray and help to support them financially over the period of their training and beyond.

There are five ETS and three FPP trainees already in place, with room for another two people to join each programme annually.

Nathanael Smith (inset, with wife Joanna) is in his third year of the Engineer Trainee Scheme. ‘The scheme has opened up a way for me to use the gifts God has given me,’ says Nathanael, ‘to keep MAF’s aircraft flying — taking the love of Jesus to the ends of the Earth.’

James Gullett (right) is in his second year of the Future Pilot Programme. ‘Flying for MAF has always been my dream. The Future Pilot Programme is enabling me to get my licences and gain valuable flight time and experience. My wife Danielle and I look forward to serving overseas with MAF.’

Do you know someone who may be interested in either of these training schemes?

Do you feel called to partner through prayer and financial support with one of our young trainees?

Phone our HR team on 01303 850950, email hr@maf-uk.org or visit www.maf-uk.org/mets or www.maf-uk.org/mfpp

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Thank you for helping MAF to keep on flying for life!

There is a wealth of news on MAF’s website which you and your friends can enjoy at www.maf-uk.org/news Our work in Haiti, pictured here, is also featured in the Flying For Life Podcast at www.maf-uk.org/podcast And — if you were thinking about making a donation to our wonderful worldwide work, or starting a direct debit — you can do this in less than a minute at www.maf-uk.org/give

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