Scottish Special (January-March 2021)

SCOTTISH Scottish Special SPECIAL Summer 2019 – MAF Scotland news and events

JAN-MAR 2021

Looking forward with joyous hope As I reflect on the past year, it is all too easy to focus on its negative aspects.

Sadly, 2020 was dominated by the huge disruption coronavirus has caused and the many thousands of lives that have been lost to it. In addition, there was the cancellation of MAF’s 75th celebrations and the passing of Stuart King — one of MAF’s founders.

But, at the start of the year, Jesus knew how 2020 would look for each of us. He knew how we would struggle, what we needed during such a testing time, and what we need today.

Paul encourages us to forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead. He urges us to press on, to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize which God — through Christ Jesus — is calling us to claim.

I think the singer Israel Houghton best sums this up, ‘From my heart to the heavens, Jesus be the centre, it’s all about You.’ Let us all remember this as we enter 2021. May you be richly blessed this Christmas and in the year ahead.

Together for the Kingdom Heather Malloch Head of MAF in Scotland

Powered by prayer

Story Andy Martin

A total reliance on prayer is at the heart of MAF’s vision, which is why we need to establish prayer groups all over Scotland.

I pray with great expectation that you’re already asking, ‘How do I start my own local MAF prayer group?’ Well, anywhere you’re allowed to gather with one or two believers — your homes, church halls, the local cafe — you can start a weekly, monthly or quarterly MAF prayer group. Or, of course, online.

We’ll provide you with regular prayer resources and share the answers to prayers offered up.

The power of prayer is beyond earthly limits.

It’s sustained MAF’s ministry for 75 years and supports the work and ministry of more than 2,000 mission partners who depend on us. Just as importantly, it feeds into the hearts of the people living in poverty, isolation and spiritual darkness that we want our planes to reach.

Let this New Year be a new start for you — establish your very own local MAF prayer group!

Please get in touch by emailing me at andy.martin@maf-uk.org or phone me on 0141 332 5222

www.maf-uk.org/scotland

Do not be anxious Originally from Pitlochry, Andy Swanson has lived in Uganda with his wife Heather and their three children since 2014. MAF Scotland’s Cortney Lee asks him about life in lockdown so far from home Photos Dave Forney, Kelly and Mark Hewes and Rembrand Rodenburg

How has lockdown impacted your life and your work?

Tell us about what you do for MAF I’m an MAF Aircraft Maintenance Engineer in our Uganda programme. My main role in the team is to carry out the aircraft inspections and general maintenance that are as much a part of the mission as flying itself.

Operating in challenging places like eastern Africa means that everything has to be done to the highest standards. MAF Uganda has extra responsibility in its role as MAF’s regional hub.

In my six years here, we have carried out a number of major projects including avionics upgrades, structural repairs and aircraft repaints.

I enjoy that kind of work as it gives us a great opportunity to dig deeper into the aircraft we are working on!

The Ugandan government clamped down hard at the beginning of the pandemic and, for the first couple of months, Kampala was pretty quiet.

So far, we‘ve actually seen much less general disruption than most western countries.

Having said that, there have been quite big changes for MAF Uganda.

Our normal flying operations were suspended for months. So our usually busy schedule flying within Uganda, into South Sudan and over to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) all stopped overnight.

However, we were granted special permission to perform a couple of flights. Our aircraft helped out with a disaster response following some serious flooding in western Uganda, and we also flew vital medical supplies to a hospital over the border in the DRC.

What changes have the family had to undergo?

On the home front, we’ve joined millions of families worldwide in transforming overnight into ‘home-schoolers’! The schools here were among the first things to be locked down back in March.

Heather’s a music teacher.

So, after I went back to work in the hangar, she was engaged in a balancing act — fulfilling her responsibilities to her students while helping our children to do their school work at home.

We were due to travel back to Scotland at the end of June for six weeks. However, as Entebbe Airport was closed to regular flights, international travel was all but impossible for us, so our plans had to be cancelled.

Summer trips back home are an important time for us to reconnect with our supporters, family and friends. We were very sad not to be back in Scotland.

Living here brings many benefits for Abigail, Matthew and Eilidh but, unfortunately, they don’t get much time to build bonds with family while we are so far apart.

How can we pray for you?

Pray for a smooth transition into the new school year, with all the changes that will bring.

What are you learning about or from God in this season?

We are definitely learning lessons in patience and in submitting everything to God! While the complete change to our summer plans was a major disappointment for the whole family, it is always reassuring to know that God is still in control.

As Paul says in Philippians 4:6, ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation... with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.’ And Paul knew a thing or two about having his plans changed unexpectedly!

Pray that all MAF’s operations will return to normal and for us to be able to return to serving the many people and organisations that we normally help.

Pray that disappointment in last year’s failed plans will turn into excitement at the new opportunities in 2021!

MAIN MAF Uganda resumed limited flights in autumn 2020 TOP LEFT Sunset at our Kajjansi airstrip MIDDLE LEFT Andy Swanson BOTTOM LEFT Returning to the skies in response to the Kasese floods ABOVE In the Kajjansi hangar

CALLING ALL ENGINEERS! Meet Dan Perrett, an MAF Aircraft Maintenance Engineer who recently completed his apprenticeship in engineering (Certificate IV in Aero skills — Avionics) through Aviation Australia in Cairns.

‘I’m very relieved to have achieved my apprenticeship!’ says Dan. ‘I particularly enjoyed working on MAF programme aircraft, and I’m very grateful to the engineers who took the time to mentor me.’

A lifelong electronics enthusiast, Dan’s engineering career spans nearly two decades.

The two-part apprenticeship comprises:

After completing his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree, Dan embarked on a backpacking trip around Papua New Guinea (PNG). He visited some friends who were working with MAF PNG and attended a Bible translation dedication service.

Stirred by this experience, Dan believed God was calling him to a life of mission work.

Soon after this, Dan met Shannon — they later married and completed Bible college together.

Dan’s passion for solar power led to six years working with MAF Technology Services in PNG before the Perretts returned to Australia in 2014.

By his own admission, Dan had always been a bit of an ‘aeroplane nut’. So, when a colleague suggested he apply for an Avionics Apprentice placement at MAF Mareeba, it led to a five-year apprenticeship journey.

Study/exams (either in the MAF classroom at Cairns, or through self-study) Schedule of experience (a journal of all work in the hangar undertaken by the apprentice).

MAF offers apprentices the opportunity to obtain two licences — a European Union Aviation Safety Agency licence and a Civil Aviation Safety Authority licence. Gaining both enables MAF apprentices to work in as many countries as possible.

At present there is a worldwide shortage of engineers. If you’d like to explore the idea of an MAF engineering apprenticeship, please visit www.maf-uk.org/engineer-training As for Dan’s next step, he’s planning to gain his Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer qualification!

And, in 2020, that long journey came to a successful end!

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