MAF Youth Magazine #1

C O NN E C TING THE DOTS. ABC

ABC

E-MAGAZINE EDITION #1

LET’S BEGIN IMAGINE LIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, WITH DENSE JUNGLE AND NO ROADS TO HELP YOU REACH THE OUTSIDE WORLD. Worse than that, you’ve broken your leg and are unable to get help. It’s a terrifying scenario, but one that faces many people living in remote communities. The people that MAF is here to help!

WHO? MAF stands for Mission Aviation Fellowship and we’re a Christian charity filled with amazing individuals who team together to help some of the poorest and most isolated people in the world!

HOW? We use over 130 light aircraft to transport people from around 1,500 organisations, along with food, essential supplies, doctors and patients, to remote and inaccessible areas.

WHERE? We’re all over the place! MAF works in around 25 developing countries – from Africa to South-East Asia to South America!

WHY? Good question!

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, recently visited MAF’s Folkestone office and summed up our work pretty well: ‘To have the ability to fly in and out of inaccessible places makes the difference between communities who know and believe that they are loved… and not knowing that.’

We serve those who are forgotten through natural disaster, war or geographical isolation and, through practical care and help, show them the love of Jesus.

We want to show you more of the hows, whys and wherefores of MAF, and have put this little number together to do just that.

We’ve got amazing stories to tell, challenging thoughts to share about world mission, and encouraging words to inspire you to take action and do something ginormous for God!

GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT E A C H D AY. . .

• M A F F L I E S A R O U N D 1 7, 4 0 0 N A U T I C A L M I L E S E V E R Y D AY • M A F C A R R I E S O U T 2 2 2 F L I G H T S E V E R Y D AY, M O R E T H A N 9 EVERY HOUR • AN MAF PL ANE TAKES OFF OR L ANDS AT LEAST EVERY 3 MINUTES • MAF FLIES MORE THAN 600 PASSENGERS AND OVER 22,300KG F R E I G H T D A I LY ( N O T I N C L U D I N G PA S S E N G E R B A G G A G E ALLOWANCES) • M A F D O E S A R O U N D 14 6 H O U R S O F F LY I N G P E R D AY 2 MAF Youth E-zine 2015 www.maf-uk.org/youth

STORY – SHOT FOR £60 Man survives deadly attack from roadside bandits It was a routine trip that turned into a nightmare. The two-hour drive from Matany to Soroti in Uganda is known for its terrible road conditions, not its terrible danger.

Driving slowly to avoid potholes, the man saw four figures ahead of him. As he edged towards them on his motorbike, he suddenly realised they all had AK-47 assault rifles and

were about to shoot.

A bullet ripped into his upper-right arm, shattering the bone and rendering it useless.

Crashing to the ground, he felt certain the bandits would kill him as he lay in the dirt.

Instead, they took the money from his wallet, which was about £60, then disappeared.

When they heard the gunshots, some local villagers reported the incident to the nearest army post. The soldiers there later found the man and took him to hospital.

As the poor motorbike rider writhed in pain, the medical centre cleaned and disinfected his wound. To save his arm – and his life – the man needed extensive surgery. But specialist treatment was a six-hour drive away in Kampala, the country’s capital. There simply wasn’t enough time for him to get there alive.

So the hospital contacted MAF. Ready to respond in an emergency, MAF Pilot Simon Wunderli answered the call and changed his planned route to make the life-saving stop. When road travel becomes too dangerous, too long or too tough, MAF provides a safe and reliable service that not only helps lives but saves them.

For this badly wounded man, help came in the nick of time. But rising reports of banditry and violence leave many remote communities living in constant fear.

MAF exists to support isolated people, providing safe connections to the basic necessities of life or, in this particular case, saving it.

Above A security guard armed with an AK-47 rifle Left A Cessna 208 Caravan in Uganda

THERE SIMPLY WASN’T ENOUGH TIME FOR HIM TO GET THERE ALIVE. SO THE HOSPITAL CONTACTED MAF. 3

ARNHEM LAND

WHEN MAF YOUTH M E T… DANNY GILL

Q1 WHY MAF? WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT MAF?

MEET DANNY GILL, ONE OF MAF’S LATEST AND YOUNGEST PILOTS! - 24 years old - Born in Nepal - Parents are Northern Irish missionaries - Parents moved to Nepal in 1986 - Dad’s a civil engineer - Mum’s a nurse - Moved to Brighton in July 2013

Q2 WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING?

It married my passion for rural areas, helping people in remote areas, serving with your life, using aviation and just having a massive adventure. Growing up, I saw people in rural areas who didn’t have the opportunities I did. It fascinated me how planes fly and then I met MAF Special Projects Manager Max Gove and he showed me pictures of aircraft landing on the side of hills. I just thought ‘that’s so crazy, I want to do it’.

I guess the main thing is flying aid and support to empower remote communities. Being salt and light and making relationships with local people to share Jesus with them. I’ll be in Arnhem Land, which is in Australia’s Northern Territory, and I’ll be serving in a community which is extremely isolated, and is inhabited by the Aboriginal Yolŋu .

Q3 HOW DID YOU KNOW YOU WERE BEING CALLED TO MAF?

When I heard about MAF it just clicked that God had shaped me for a purpose and it made sense with MAF. It almost

4 MAF Youth E-zine 2015 www.maf-uk.org/youth

Above GA8 Airvan flying in Arnhem Land Left Danny Gill (Pilot) and Jonny Ward (MAF Youth)

seemed that God had created me for this purpose. He’d shown me the need in rural areas. I could see the opportunity that aviation had to fill that role.

Q4 HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE IDEA OF BEING “CALLED” TO SOMEONE WHO EITHER DOESN’T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS OR DOESN’T KNOW WHAT THEIR CALLING IS? It might sound that it was all well and good that, from the age of 14, I knew what I was going to do. But I still had to struggle with it and really test it. I firmly believe that you need to follow your passions. If you say to God, ‘Put your desires in my heart’, then He will put those desires in your heart. When His desires become your desires, then what you’re chasing is what God wants for you. You really have to remember that you can be a missionary in whatever job you’re in.

Q5 WHAT’S THE SCARIEST THING ABOUT MOVING ABROAD AND TO SUCH A REMOTE PLACE?

The thing I struggle most with is: ‘Am I going to be good enough?’, ‘Am I going to be able to make these decisions?’, ‘Am I going to be able to be responsible and professional?’ I guess I’m daunted about whether I’ll be good enough in terms of flying. But although there are those niggles of doubt and struggle, it has to come back to trusting God that in my weakness, He is strong.

P R AY !

P R AY !

P R AY !

• We are in the process of setting up a new base in Liberia. Please pray that all the paperwork we need to be able to fly goes through quickly. (It can take ages!)

• The weather in Chad is challenging! The team is currently experiencing disruptions in their flight schedule due to the sandstorms and crazy winds.

Pray for wisdom, patience and safety.

• Unrest in Bangladesh has been going on for over two months, with small explosions taking place daily among traffic in high density areas. Praise God for protecting our staff to date, and continue to pray for their safety.

• MAF simply cannot run without aircraft maintenance engineers to look after our planes. We urgently need experienced engineers in many of our programmes, so ask God for the right people to come forward and apply!

• Life can be tough for our missionaries and their children. Please pray they will feel encouraged, strengthened and energised – knowing they are right where God wants them to be!

P R AY F O R D A N N Y • Please pray that all the support funding comes in • Pray that Danny will keep up the same level of passion and enthusiasm when he arrives in Arnhem Land, and during the times he’s working.

MAF Youth E-zine 2015 www.maf-uk.org/youth 5

YO U ARE HERE

GET DEEP – GETTING TO GRIPS WITH MISSION

The idea of ‘overseas’ mission comes primarily from the New Testament command to ‘go into all the world and preach the Gospel’. But all too often we can focus on going into any other part of the world but our own, missing out on the adventures that God has for us beyond our front door. It’s not a new idea! Take a look…

‘But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare’ (Jeremiah 29:7).

At this particular time the Israelites were forced to live in Babylon, a pagan and blood-thirsty city where they were the outsiders. Look closely though, the fact that God said, ‘I have sent you into exile’ means God had a purpose for His people in Babylon even though they were far from home.

What was true for the Israelites remains true for us today! God has placed us where he wants us, from rural village to bustling city.

Mission begins just beyond your garden fence, and God wants you to embrace that ‘mission field’ whether you feel at home or are itching to be elsewhere.

What images come to mind when you hear the word ‘mission’? For some, it’s Tom Cruise dangling from a carbon-fibre wire, for others it’s a picture of helping the poor in a developing world country.

As Christians, the idea of being ‘on mission’ can so easily be seen as courageous individuals travelling the globe and winning millions to Jesus.

There are a few people who actually do this and it’s incredibly inspiring to hear about, but it can be rather unhelpful – we start to assume that this is the only way mission works!

6 MAF Youth E-zine 2015 www.maf-uk.org/youth

But what can you do? In Jeremiah 29 it speaks of seeking ‘the welfare of the city’ – this is about doing things in your community, school or neighbourhood that helps to make it a better place.

In Babylon, it was God’s plan for the Israelites to integrate themselves into the culture – not so they would become like the Babylonians, but so they would understand the culture, love the people and earn their trust and respect. The Old Testament is filled with stories like this!

God’s method remains the same today. He has given us gifts and talents to be used for His glory. Many of these are shared by those who don’t know God.

God has equipped you for mission by giving you unique skills. Whether it’s in music, business or cleaning – your skills can be used to reach those whom God is calling to Himself!

At MAF, our pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers and accountants use their specific skills in remote places throughout the world to enrich communities and provide a vital, lifesaving service. But their serving God didn’t begin there! They didn’t discover their skills when they landed in a foreign land. Mission starts now!

So what are you good at? Go and do it! Go and make friends with those with mutual talents and passions. If you’re unsure, then ask God. Ask Him for clarity in what He wants you to do and how to use the talents He’s given you to influence your world for His glory.

It may seem a small thing, but if we are faithful with little, God will give us more. Who knows what adventures will unfold?

MISSION BEGINS JUST BEYOND YOUR GARDEN FENCE, AND GOD WANTS YOU TO EMBRACE THAT ‘MISSION FIELD’ WHETHER YOU FEEL AT HOME OR ARE ITCHING TO BE ELSEWHERE.

RESOURCES

THIS SUMMER WE NEED ENTHUSIASTIC, ENERGY FILLED, MUD FRIENDLY FOLK FOR OUR EVENTS TEAM.

HELP YOURSELF! OUR WEBSITE IS JAM PACKED FULL OF GREAT RESOURCES FROM FUNDRAISING PACKS TO BLOG POSTS FOR YOUR GROUP!

THE BIBLE BIT

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WHAT IS MY OWN SPECIAL WORK?

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–

We have limited spaces so make sure you get your application in by the Friday May 15th and let us know your preferred week (B or C). All applicants will be considered but must be over the age of 16. We look forward to hearing from you!

N REFLECTIO AND PRAYER

WHAT CAN WE DO NEXT?

Its high impact, engaging and tonnes of fun.

If you would like to meet likeminded people, help Represent! MAF Youth and go to this top Christian festival for free with food thrown in too, then what are you waiting for? APPLY!

READ TH

of love’

MAF Youth is returning to Soul Survivor to spread the word about our incredible work to reach the isolated.

THE BIBLE BIT

ES ESOURC YOUTH RHER] ET G [TO

FREEZE FRAME

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? YOU CAN APPLY HERE:

F Youth’ Search ‘MA org/youth W maf-uk. maf-uk.org E youth@

www.maf-uk.org/volunteer-youth

REFLECTION AND PRAYER

MADAGASC

AR BANG LADE

SH

HAITI

TANZANIA

Mother of

YOUTH RE [CARRIER SOURCES S OF HOPE ]

www.maf-uk.org/connect

a sick child

.

Search ‘MAF Youth’ W maf-uk.o rg/youth E youth@m af-uk.org

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE RESOURCES! www.maf-uk.org/youth/resources

THANKS FOR READING THIS ZINE - CONNECT WITH US AGAIN SOON - VISIT www.maf-uk.org/youth

THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S, AND E V E R Y T H I N G I N I T. THE WORLD AND ALL ITS PEOPLE BELONG TO HIM. PSALM 24:1

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