Scottish Special (July-September 2021)

SCOTTISH SPECIAL JUL-SEP 2021

For love comes from God Love comes in all shapes and sizes — a parent comforting their child, a kiss or hug for a dear friend (in your bubble!), a charitable act towards another.

A vaccine in a bottle.

MAF continues to spread love to isolated communities — delivering medicines in Chad, taking children to school in Papua New Guinea, healthcare in Timor-Leste, or supplying God’s word to the indigenous people of Arnhem Land through audio bibles in their native language.

Here at MAF Scotland, we connect people to these acts of love through the presentations we deliver, our digital presence and our attendance at events.

We work hard to share our work overseas with new audiences and, ultimately, introduce them to the love God has for them — His unconditional agape love.

Please pray with me that, as MAF reaches out to those in isolated places, we continue to extend that love to new audiences in Scotland so that they can also know the transformative power of Jesus.

‘Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love’ (1 John 4:7-8).

Together for the Kingdom Heather Malloch Head of MAF in Scotland

It won’t be long now!

Story Andy Martin

Photo Tom Bolser

It’s been a while since we had the opportunity to meet with you face to face.

However, things are changing and we’re ready to share with you and your church the incredible ways in which MAF has been sharing God’s love with people in the developing world during the pandemic.

While we can achieve a lot remotely, nothing beats meeting face to face — sharing fellowship, the Word, and the work.

In John 13:35, we read the words of Jesus, ‘By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’

Every man, woman and child is made in the image of a God who delivers hope to them in many various forms. One of these, of course, is love.

MAF presentations are supported by words, pictures and video footage to transport you directly to the heart of the mission field where MAF demonstrates the love of God in practical and accessible ways.

No matter where in Scotland you are, we have you covered.

Our diaries are open! To book your visit, please email me at andy.martin@maf-uk.org

www.maf-uk.org/scotland

Impressions from the air Photos Katie Machell and Becky Waterman

Becky Waterman — wife of Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Dave — reflects on an MAF flight in Liberia This was the Liberia I’d heard of: sea breezes evaporating the sweat accumulated in the 90% humidity this country calls ‘normal’, the long coastline looking picture-perfect from above, and the capital city Monrovia hugging the ocean and the rivers reaching inland.

My inbound commercial flight offered a brief snapshot of Liberia’s terrain, but it was as I took to flight in ‘Scotty’, one of MAF’s Cessna Caravans, that my appreciation for MAF’s work in West Africa grew.

Pilots Roy Rissanen and Andrew Mumford steered us east, away from Liberia’s coastline.

Sparse vegetation surrounding the sea quickly gave way to dense, impenetrable jungle, punctuated occasionally by tiny villages reached by winding dirt tracks that cut through the undergrowth.

We flew by the tiny airstrip of Sabo, visible only as a small section bare of trees in the midst of thick jungle. The trees brushed the edges of the strip and, as we made a low pass, I could see how travel by air is the only way to reach destinations such as this without many hours spent bumping along tiny tracks.

The trees faded away as soil turned to sand once again. I asked a doctor travelling to a medical clinic in Harper how long the road journey would take her. Two days, she explained, and that’s in the dry season!

When Liberia’s heavy rains drench the nation, the journey takes four days.

The flight takes just 90 minutes.

As we flew north along the coastline, I could see why. Many waterways branched out from

the ocean and none of them were bridged.

Reaching Monrovia from outlying areas means driving great distances around the encroaching rivers and estuaries, on dirt roads that can become completely impassable in heavy rainfall.

In every conversation I had with passengers on my flight, one sentiment was clear.

MAF is providing an essential service within Liberia – facilitating the work of missionaries, health workers, NGO staff and local pastors in reaching a wider community with the Gospel message.

MAIN Approaching Harper airstrip LEFT MAF Liberia’s residential compound in Monrovia ABOVE Passengers boarding ‘Scotty’

An MAF adventure Story Sarah Foulger

Photos LuAnne Cadd, Katie Machell and Rembrand Rodenburg

Scottish Special extends a very warm ‘welcome back’ to the Mumfords, who’ve recently returned to Scotland after nine years serving overseas with MAF Aberdeen (2012) In 2012, Andrew — then a pilot with Scottish Air Ambulance — and his wife Hannah felt called to serve as a family with MAF. Their first stop was an immersive language programme in France, which prepared them for their initial destination.

Chad (2013-2018) The young family began adjusting to a very different life on an MAF compound. They still have happy memories of their children Zack (5) and Esther (2) bathing in a big red bucket on the veranda!

Despite intermittent terror threats in the capital N’Djaména, the family flourished and expanded, welcoming their third child Jacob in 2015.

Everyday life included group shopping excursions to increase safety and 3:30am alarms for Andrew, to avoid the excessive 40oC midday heat by flying as early as possible.

Liberia (2018-2021) Next, their MAF journey took them west as they joined our expanding programme in Liberia.

The coastal capital Monrovia is a comparatively cool 28oC and the family enjoyed spending free time at the beach.

where the most important things are not seen in our appearance but cherished within our hearts.

‘And we’ll miss our house help Lucie and driver Moses who’ve also been a big part of our lives — they are wonderful people.’

Please pray for: Aberdeen (2021) Speaking to Hannah recently, she told us, ‘It’s not easy to leave the amazing ministry of MAF and return to Scotland. But the time has come for the children to transition to the British education system.

‘I’m looking forward to turning the tap on and knowing water will flow, and driving without crazy traffic!

We can’t wait to return to our church in Aberdeen. It’s been a blessing to tune into their services online during the pandemic, and the kids have really connected with the Sunday School.

‘But, of course, we’ll leave behind a piece of our hearts in Africa. I’ll miss having our door open for people to wander in, and the simplicity of each day

• Job opportunities for Andrew and Hannah • The children to restart their education as quickly as possible, joining the right schools for them at the best possible time • Guidance in navigating the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in Scotland.

If you’d like to welcome back Andrew, Hannah, Zack, Esther and Jacob, you can email scottishoffice@maf-uk.org MAIN The Mumford family, Chad 2017: Esther, Jacob, Hannah, Andrew and Zack INSET MAF Pilot Andrew Mumford, Liberia 2019

Peace of mind Photo Mark and Kelly Hewes

Will Relief Scotland is a partnership between Scottish solicitors and four Scottishbased Christian charities specialising in relief and development work overseas For the month of September, participating solicitors from all over Scotland waive their set fees for writing or amending a Will. Instead, clients are asked to make a donation to be divided between the four charities – MAF, Blythswood Care, EMMS International and Signpost International.

Natalie took part in Will Relief Scotland 2020 and shared her experience with us.

‘My husband and I didn’t have a Will. It was something we had talked about doing a number of times, but we kept putting it off as we thought it would be a long and complicated process.

‘However, last year a number of things changed: we became homeowners and we had our first child, so we knew that making a Will was something that we had to do.

‘We made an appointment with our local participating solicitor and the first meeting only took half an hour.

‘After that, we corresponded with the solicitors via email and only had to return to sign the final version of the Will.

It’s easy to do!

• First, select and contact a participating solicitor and make an appointment in September • Your Will document will then be drawn up and prepared to your requirements • Once you are happy with it, give your donation to your solicitor, who will forward it to Will Relief Scotland.

‘It was such a quick and easy process and I now have the peace of mind that my husband and daughter are protected and cared for.’

For more information, see the enclosed leaflet or visit the website willreliefscotland.co.uk Do you know a solicitor who would like to partner with us?

If so, please phone Blythswood Care’s Mairi Ferrier on 01349 830777

STOP PRESS! From now until the end of August, MAF Scotland is asking you to help raise £7,500! In May, the MAF Scotland team walked 75 miles and — hopefully — this sponsored event will be the first of many.

Now we’re asking people across Scotland to make a big difference to the lives of those in isolated communities by hosting their own fundraiser. Whether holding a BBQ for friends in the garden or climbing your first munro, it will make a world of difference. So, let’s reach this target together!

Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mafscotland75

Scotland Office Challenge House 29 Canal Street, Glasgow G4 0AD T 0141 332 5222 E scottishoffice@maf-uk.org

www.maf-uk.org MAF Scotland

@MAFScotland

@mafscotland

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