None of the stories you are about to read would be possible without the support of people like you. It is our pleasure to show how you are making it possible for the gospel to transform the lives of isolated people around the world.
Your prayers, your gifts, and your time are key to MAF’s ministry. Thank you for sharing the love of Jesus at the ends of the earth!
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Tracey Werre
Managing Editor
Brad Hoaglun
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Micki Blair
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Katie Moen
Writers/Resourcing
Natalie Holsten
Jennifer Wolf
Kimberly van Veen
Designer McKenna Castledine
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Dianna Gibney
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FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK
“…whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14 (NIV)
Water is one of those things that feels so commonplace, so easily attainable, we hardly give it a thought. But if you don’t have easy access to it, attaining water can be all consuming.
When my family lived in Indonesia, we relied on rainwater to replenish the water tank that served our house. During the dry season we became hyper aware of our need to conserve water. When the rain finally came, there was great relief to see the tank start to fill and life return to normal.
A simple thing, but you just can’t live without it.
In this edition of FlightWatch you’ll read about how MAF helped bring water to a remote village in the African country of Lesotho. MAF is partnering with another ministry that brings safe, clean water to people living in poverty. We believe the simple gift of clean water is bringing more opportunities for the gospel to impact people’s lives.
This water project represents one of the things I love most about the work of MAF - we address physical needs in ways that can ultimately lead to spiritual transformation. Just like Jesus’ encounter with the woman at the well in John 4, our hope is to introduce people to the Living Water found only in Jesus.
We’re so grateful for your partnership with MAF through your giving and prayers. It allows MAF to be present in places like Lesotho. While the needs there may be profound, we are able to be part of bringing help, hope, and healing to others, in the name of Jesus.
Serving together,
David Holsten President & CEO
Front Cover: A waterfall in the mountains of Lesotho.
Photo by Smiley N. Pool.
WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH!
You helped us keep MAF airplanes flying to deliver the love of Jesus to isolated people. You helped us meet and surpass our matching gift challenge and funded over $1.85 million toward our plane maintenance budget. You made it possible to complete unexpected repairs, routine inspections, and these big projects:
Engine Overhaul/Replacement for HH-VAN (Haiti/now HQ)
Hot Section Inspection for C9-MAF (Mozambique)
Autopilot Systems for PK-MAE and PK-MAD (Papua, Indonesia)
Standby Instrument System Upgrade on PK-MAG (Papua, Indonesia)
Your support brings help, hope, and healing to some of the most remote places on Earth. We’re so grateful for your generosity!
THIRSTY FOR HOPE
Clean running water provides an avenue for the gospel
By Kimberly van Veen
Whenever MAF chaplain Sefiri Seepheephe visited the chief’s home, he knew what he would say.
The village headman for the mountain community of Kuebunyane, Lesotho, would bring up the lack of water for the approximately 1,500 Basotho people who lived in the valley. Even the medical clinic did not have water.
“I visited the chief almost every day, but there is no week that would pass by without him talking about the need for water for his people,” Sefiri said.
For washing and cooking, people hiked to the nearest well with a bucket and hauled it back up. During drought, this process took two hours, because people had to go down to the river. In these barren mountains, the only options for using the bathroom were an open field or to hike down to the river. And using the river as a bathroom led to unsanitary conditions. People in Kuebunyane were constantly sick with dysentery and other diseases.
Back in Maseru, Lesotho’s capital city, Sefiri mentioned the problem to pilot Joe Adams. Sefiri felt that addressing this basic need might soften hearts toward the gospel. MAF had been flying to Kuebunyane for years, bringing in evangelists and medical services. Kuebunyane is a seven-hour drive over rough dirt roads, then a hike with a 1,200-foot descent, a river crossing, and a 1,200-foot climb up the side of a mountain.
Joe contacted several organizations, but none worked in Lesotho. Then, by chance, he saw the Lokisa Water Project on Facebook.
After a survey, the Lokisa team determines the best placement for the taps. Then the work begins.
All photos courtesy of the Lokisa Water Project.
Lokisa Water Project
Lokisa is a small ministry run by Tom and Lauren Jacobs, two Australian believers who live in Lesotho. Tom is an engineer, and Lauren is a nurse. They both saw how access to safe, clean water is life-changing in Lesotho, where almost half the population lives in poverty.
During the pandemic, the Jacobs returned to Australia and worked remotely, but they knew from friends in Lesotho how bad it was for the people there. They were convicted by James 2:15-17 to live out their faith practically.
“One small thing we could do was assist by getting water to these people who were in need,” Tom said. “So that's kind of how Lokisa got born.”
In the Sesotho language, “Lokisa” means to repair, correct, or fix. The Jacobs started out small, repairing older systems or installing taps in communities. They’ve never had to look for a project; the projects come to them, usually through a friend of a friend who knows of a need.
They especially like to work with schools, because small conveniences like a water tap and a working toilet make a big difference in the lives of the kids, including improved school attendance.
The Lokisa Water Project trains community members how to make repairs and leave behind tools and spare parts.
The Largest Project Ever
When Tom got the email from Joe, he laughed, because they actually knew each other through the expat community in Lesotho. Joe hadn’t realized that Tom and Lauren ran the Lokisa water project.
Kuebunyane was so far off the beaten path, Tom had never heard of it before. And it would typically be much too far to reach without MAF’s help. “Without a plane, that place is like the ends of the earth,” Tom said.
But since MAF routinely visited Kuebunyane, “It gave us the courage to actually go to an insanely remote place,” Tom said.
MAF flew Lokisa staff to the community for a survey. Through careful planning, they identified the placement of water taps and toilets. They figured out how to pipe water down from the mountains using gravity or pumps and hired community members to dig the trenches, lay pipes, and pour concrete.
MAF transported crew and smaller materials for the project, but larger items had to go by road. Lokisa constructed the simple bathroom structures of corrugated metal in the capital city and then transported them to the location. That meant each structure, which is similar to an outhouse, was carried by truck and then by donkey up and down the steep valleys into the village.
Kuebunyane was Lokisa’s biggest project ever. It took eight months. They fitted 19 water taps, nearly a mile of pipework, fixed five springs/tanks, and installed 14 bathrooms. At the nearest primary school (which is a two-hour walk away), Lokisa installed two taps, a rainwater tank, a hand washing station, and eight toilets. Before, the 156 children at the school had no water or bathrooms.
Lokisa purposefully trains community members to make repairs, and they leave behind tools and spare parts. They also work with the village chief to set up a water council responsible for maintenance.
This forethought has already been useful in Kuebunyane. In January, one of the pipes was leaking, but the water committee soon fixed the pipe and had the tap working again.
Thank You for the Water!
The village of Kuebunyane has now had water for several months, and it has dramatically improved their lives. People are no longer constantly sick. The health clinic has water. Everyone is saving hours each week by not hauling water. People have privacy and feel safer when using the bathroom.
MAF staff are aware that bringing water to Kuebunyane is only one part of the mission there. “Bringing in water projects and helping out schools and bringing in health care, it only does so much,” Joe said. “When we bring Jesus, there's hope. Without it, without Jesus, there's no lasting change.”
Now, when Sefiri visits Kuebunyane, he no longer worries. The chief’s requests have changed to profuse thanks. “He says thank you so often, it’s become like a greeting,” said Sefiri.
Behind these happy diggers is the pipe that carries clean, healthy water to their community.
BY LAND, BY SEA, BY AIR
MAF flights help cover an island in prayer
By: Natalie Holsten
The sounds of prayers and praises blended with the hum of the airplane engine.
“We surrender our city into your hands, Lord!” one woman prayed with hands uplifted.
It was not a typical flight for MAF pilot Lance Kanagy. Most flights involve transporting cargo or picking up medevac patients or moving passengers from one village to another. This flight was all about prayer.
As Lance flew around the island of Tarakan in North Kalimantan, Indonesia, his passengers prayed for their city, with its shrimp farms, busy port, and population of nearly 300,000 people.
Indonesian believers pray during a flight over their home island of Tarakan. Photo by Lance Kanagy.
Praise at 2,500 Feet
The prayer flight was one of three Lance did for the GSJA (Assemblies of God) church in Tarakan as part of their prayer convoy ministry, an annual event MAF has helped with for over a decade.
Each flight was a quick 10 to 20 minutes over the island. “Since this was my first time helping with the prayer convoy, I had no idea what it would be like,” Lance shared. “It was super encouraging to be a part of it.”
Lance said the first two loads of passengers mostly sang songs during the whole flight. “I remember on the second round getting chills down my back as they sang with so much passion and heartfelt strength.”
The third group was exuberant, Lance said, singing loudly on the ramp as they waited for clearance to take off. In fact, he had to ask them to stop for a minute so he could hear air traffic control.
“As I fired up the engine and taxied, they sang a few more songs, then prayed the whole time once we took off.”
In addition to the prayer flights, a group of 20 people prayed as they circled the island in a speed boat. The day concluded with a convoy of vehicles driving around the island, stopping for prayer along the way at the beach and ending at the church with a prayer service.
A Vision for Evangelism
“Our goal in this prayer convoy, our vision, is to win this city for Christ,” said Frans Kansil, head pastor of GSJA Tarakan. “We pray so that the hearts of people will be open, that they will come to the Lord Jesus. We pray for open doors for evangelism.”
Beyond that, they pray for Tarakan, that it will become a blessing to Indonesia and to the nations. This year’s prayer convoy included pastors from other parts of Indonesia and two pastors from other countries.
Pastor Frans sees opportunities for evangelism in the country growing, compared to how it used to be. His church regularly sends out teams to bless other churches throughout Indonesia, providing training in evangelism, and through youth camps, women’s ministries, and pastors’ groups.
“This year, the door is very open,” he said. “I believe this all started with our prayers in Tarakan, and it’s not just Tarakan that is being blessed, but all of Indonesia. We pray for the fire of evangelism!”
The prayer convoy is a way for their church to unite in prayer, Pastor Frans said, and the MAF flights are a unique experience for many of their church members.
“I heard from those who went on the flights. They were amazed to be in a small plane, and when the plane turned, they were scared and prayed even harder!” Pastor Frans said with a laugh. “It was amazing. We’re so thankful to MAF for helping us facilitate this prayer convoy.”
Ready to fly and pray! MAF pilot Lance Kanagy snaps a photo with a group of Indonesian believers before one of the prayer flights. Photo by Lance Kanagy.
A Dynamic Ministry
As the last prayer flight for 2024 wrapped up and passengers were unloaded, an urgent call came in from the nearby town of Malinau. Two patients—a man with a brain bleed and a sick, dehydrated infant—needed to get to the hospital.
“I had a medevac flight shortly after the prayer flights and was just so thankful to be a part of such a dynamic ministry,” Lance said.
Medevac flights like this one are at the heart of MAF’s work in Kalimantan, seeking to meet the needs of isolated people, while also supporting the work of evangelists and local churches, like the GSJA prayer convoy ministry.
“It is truly a very special event to be part of,” MAF Kalimantan program director Jeremy Toews said. “May the Lord indeed light the fire of prayer and evangelism in all of our hearts.”
Above: An MAF Kodiak flies over the island of Tarakan in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Photo by Dave F.
MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT
TREY AND LAURIE DEWEY
In their four years with MAF, Trey and Laurie Dewey’s respective roles have straddled the visible and the invisible. Laurie serves as a middle school teacher at Hillcrest School in Sentani, Papua, Indonesia, and Trey provides vital behind-the-scenes financial oversight for MAF's global aviation ministry.
As a teacher, Laurie pours into the lives of missionary kids daily. While Laurie invests in the next generation of missionaries and teachers, Trey plays a crucial role in keeping them on the field. As part of MAF's international finance team, he recently helped implement new accounting software to provide more accurate and up-to-date data. He’s also intentional when it comes to mentoring local staff right there in the Papua finance department.
"Coaching in financial management doesn't sound like frontline ministry," Trey acknowledges. "But providing that financial training, mentorship, and oversight is absolutely vital for this work to go forward effectively. When you're talking about accounting and finances, that's the lifeblood of the organization to continue to do what they do."
Serving in remote locations like Sentani, Papua, requires stepping out in faith over and over again. Laurie says working with MAF has deepened her faith in unanticipated ways: teaching her about true community, vulnerability, accountability, and absolute dependence on God.
Trey also shares how he’s continually entrusting his skills and experience into the Lord's hands. "God reminds me regularly that my career experience alone isn’t enough. I have to rely on Him daily, because only He can ultimately accomplish this work through me."
From the classroom to the meeting room, the Deweys have discovered the beautiful truth that every role within MAF is indispensable, and ministry can happen anywhere and anytime believers are willing to answer God's call on their lives.
PRAYER REQUESTS
• Please keep praying for the people of Haiti during this turbulent time. Also pray for MAF staff as they work to restart flight operations in Haiti.
• Remember the tens of thousands of Kenyans who were displaced due to heavy flooding and landslides in the spring.
• Pray for volunteers and full-time missionary couples serving with Lesotho Mountain Discipleship as they share the good news of Jesus Christ and disciple new believers in remote mountain villages. This group was previously called the Lesotho Flying Pastors.
• Praise God Ambassador Aviation (MAF in Mozambique) and its MozMed partners are bringing health care to two more villages in the Niassa Reserve—six in total. Pray that the people will see Jesus in how the doctor team loves and serves them during their monthly visits.
On April 18, 2024, the MAF team in western Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) welcomed a third Cessna Caravan to its fleet! The plane arrived in-country back in November, and after a long wait to clear customs, 9S-EEM is serving on the flight line. During the plane’s dedication ceremony, MAF program manager Stephen Hale reflected on the generosity of so many who gave so that EEM could make it all the way to the DRC. Then the team laid hands on the plane to pray over it in Lingala, French, and English. —Photo by Erin Derbecker, MAF West DRC.
HELP FOR THE INJURED
Earlier this year, MAF Lesotho delivered dozens of community first-aid kits to the Kuebunyane area, as well as two nurses to teach local health workers how to use them. The kits will allow seriously injured people to get immediate treatment so they can then reach a remote mountain clinic for further care or be evacuated by MAF aircraft to a hospital in Maseru, the capital city. —Photo by Joe Adams, MAF Lesotho.
NEW BASE PROGRESS
Two MAF families, the Suttons and Simons, have moved to Pignon, Haiti, to work on restarting MAF operations in this desperate country. They’re also building relationships with future ministry partners. They helped install an electric water pump and a solar system at the airstrip, then helped refurbish a solar system at the local hospital’s staff housing. Now the house has power 24 hours a day, which will help immensely, as the city grid power has been off for months and diesel fuel for generators is hard to come by.
Photo: Working on the water pump, by Andrew Sutton, MAF Haiti.
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