FlightWatch - 2024, Volume 2

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!

Director of Marketing

Tracey Werre

Managing Editor

Brad Hoaglun

Production Manager Micki Blair

Production Assistant Katie Moen

Writers/Resourcing

Natalie Holsten

Jennifer Wolf

Kimberly van Veen

Designer McKenna Castledine

Copy Editor Dianna Gibney

Every gift you send, every prayer you offer for MAF, helps change lives through aviation. We enjoy hearing from you! Please send comments and questions to maf-us@maf.org.

Mission Aviation Fellowship PO Box 47, Nampa, ID 83653-0047

1-208-498-0800

1-800-FLYS-MAF (359-7623)

MAF maintains the highest standards of financial accountability and public disclosure to donors and the U.S. government. MAF is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) as well as other organizations. A list of all organizations can be found at maf.org/accountability

GET CONNECTED

For

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because

it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes...

Romans 1:16 (NIV)

Front Cover: Jubilant Moi villagers in Papua, Indonesia, celebrate the arrival of the New Testament in their heart language. Photo by Heather Marx

FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK

For those of us who are followers of Christ, it’s important to consider the impact that the gospel has had on our lives. As Paul wrote in the passage to the left, “...it is the power of God that brings salvation....” How has the power of God changed your life?

I was blessed to grow up in a stable Christian home, but for my mom, this wasn’t the case. Her mother abandoned her at a young age. Her father—an alcoholic— sporadically visited her and her sister at the orphanage where they lived and eventually brought them home to live with him and his new wife. Their world was chaotic; they never knew what their dad might do.

Then, one day, the truth of the gospel impacted their lives. My grandfather was saved, and the transformation that came about was radical. He went from being an alcoholic to a street preacher and later pastored several churches. At his funeral, many people testified to the influence he had on their lives and their decision to follow Jesus.

My grandfather becoming a Christ-follower changed the trajectory of my mother’s life and led to a multi-generational faith in our family that continues to this day.

This kind of gospel transformation is still happening, all over the world, even in the most remote places, because the “Word of God is alive and active” (Hebrews 4:12). At MAF, we get to have a front-row seat to seeing the gospel transform people’s hearts.

In this edition of FlightWatch, you will read about how MAF is bringing a discipleship ministry to isolated communities in Ecuador. Lives are being changed through this work in villages that seem forgotten by the outside world.

You’ll also read about the recent dedication of the Moi Bible in Papua, Indonesia. MAF staff have supported the work among the Moi for decades, and it’s exciting to see how multi-generational change is starting to take place!

I hope you’ll be encouraged by these stories of God’s redeeming grace at work in the lives of isolated people. Your partnership is making a difference for Christ around the world, and we are grateful!

Serving together,

David Holsten President & CEO

THANK YOU!

We praise God for you and all that you helped MAF accomplish in 2023.

The numbers represent countless stories of lives that were changed by the love of Christ, and communities that received critical help and healing in their time of need.

Without you, our airplanes could not take off to reach isolated people in the name of Jesus. Thank you for your gifts and prayers.

16,207 Flights

48,360 Passengers 271 Organizations served

1,151,965 Nautical miles traveled

4,927,925 Lbs. of cargo delivered

Photo by Heather Marx

FAITH GROWS IN THE JUNGLE

FAITH GROWS IN THE JUNGLE

HOW GOD IS USING MAF ECUADOR TO TRANSFORM LIVES IN THE AMAZON

By Jennifer Wolf

Sixto Quiñonez called out in his jovial, megaphone voice within the Amazon jungle, inviting the people of Panintza village in Ecuador to come to the evening service. Entire families started making their way to the small church.

In no time they had filed in and were seated on wooden planks with tree stumps for legs. Then they began shouting out the numbers of favorite worship songs, starting with a Spanish songbook and then transitioning to Shiwiar, their native language.

Their voices rose in praise to their Savior Jesus, accompanied by an acoustic guitar and a choir of jungle birds, cicadas, and other buzzing insects.

Suraka airstrip.

Photo by Chad Irwin.

A CALL FOR HELP

Samuel Mayancha was born in Panintza and attended elementary school there. As an adult, he went away to the city to be trained as a teacher and gain experience. During that time he also gave his life to Christ.

When he returned to the village to teach the children, Samuel found the community divided over religious ideas. There was no spiritual work happening, and there was no one to teach them God’s Word. He desired to start a congregation but wasn’t sure how to do that.

Then he heard that the MAF team in Shell had a jungle ministry. MAF would adopt a village in which to plant a church and disciple the people. Samuel and the leaders in Panintza desperately wanted this for their community.

Samuel made a video stating their need for missionaries to come and teach them about God.

Sixto, the MAF chaplain, says they had just finished three years of ministry in a small jungle community and it was time to choose the next location. They had already received many requests.

Then Samuel’s video arrived, imploring MAF to come to Panintza.

“And I remembered in Acts, when the Macedonian cried out to Paul to come over to them and help them,” says Sixto.

MAF doesn’t force its ministry on villages. They wait until they’re asked to come. It was obvious that Panintza was desperate for God’s Word.

MAF accepted Samuel’s request and, two years ago, Sixto and Wilson Cuvi, the MAF base maintenance manager, started making monthly visits to Panintza. Other teammates joined them as schedules permitted. MAF staff also donated their own money toward the trips and provided gifts of food, medicine, and school supplies.

Sixto Quiñonez, MAF Ecuador's chaplain, leads an evening service at the church in Panintza, Ecuador.

Children in Panintza, Ecaudor, listen as Sixto Quiñonez tells them the story of Martha and Mary in the book of Luke.

A young girl recites Psalm 119:105 in Panintza, Ecuador. Photos by Lemuel Malabuyo.

DOORS OPENING

MAF first started doing these jungle outreaches back in 2010, when an expatriate water engineer—a believer— was working in the Quichua/Sapara area of the jungle. At that time, many communities rejected the gospel and were opposed to having missionaries come. But in this area, the people began to ask the engineer about Jesus. He tried to answer their questions, but eventually suggested they talk to MAF, which they did. They invited MAF to come to their community one weekend each month to help them study the Bible.

Wilson was the main teacher then, and the fact that he is Quichua and spoke the language opened doors to preach the gospel there. Trust was built between MAF and the neighboring communities, who later asked MAF to come and work with them as well.

To date MAF has done this type of discipleship ministry in 15 communities. People have chosen to follow Christ in each place, but in one village in particular—Suraka—the teaching had a profound impact. Out of 30 families, ten couples made the decision to unite in marriage before God, committing their partnerships to Christ. MAF never told them they needed to do this. They just felt convicted to do it. Along with this special celebration, many were baptized that day.

“It was a joyful and connected experience,” said one of the MAF pilots who attended. Three MAF airplanes flew in with civil authorities, and MAF staff raised money to buy rings for the couples.

Wilson stresses the importance of working in these smaller villages, which tend to be neglected. He says there are more than 400 small communities within the Amazon jungle of Ecuador that need someone to disciple them.

Villagers meet an MAF plane in Panintza to welcome a discipleship team from MAF Ecuador and help carry cargo and supplies. Photo by Lemuel Malabuyo.

CHALLENGES AND REWARDS

When Sixto and Wilson began ministering in Panintza, people’s lives were a mess, home situations were not good, and there were complex sins.

“But the moment they knew and accepted Christ as their only personal Savior, it was different for them,” says Wilson. “Although there are struggles and there are still problems, they are feeling the love of God.”

At first Panintza’s new believers were meeting in the community gathering place, where there were all kinds of activities and parties. But Sixto challenged them to build a church because it would make a statement that they are Christians now. It would be their “light on the hill.”

Now, here they sat during the evening service, in the church they had built with their own hands. Bibles were open on their laps, as they followed along and took turns reading verses out loud for the group.

After the main message, Sixto asked for volunteers to come up front for a friendly competition to write the New Testament books within a certain amount of time—first the men, and then the women. As an added challenge, the men each had to blow up a balloon and then pop it before they could even start.

Laughter abounded as both groups completed the task and then checked each other’s work.

There was joy and a comfortable connection as they worshipped and studied God’s Word together—18 families united by the love of Christ.

The Panintza church, worshipping together through prayer and Bible study. Photos by Lemuel Malabuyo.

GOD’S WORD CHANGING HEARTS

GOD’S WORD CHANGING HEARTS

MAF FAMILY CELEBRATES BIBLE DEDICATION WITH THE MOI TRIBE

Words and photos

by Heather Marx

“Ah-EEE!” The Moi believer interrupted his own words with an emotional cry. “All praise to God! You brought this Word to us. We praise You, Father, that we have seen this day before we die!”

The villagers gathered around the MAF plane to receive the first shipment of Bibles my husband, Brian, flew in. As the engine spooled down, the people whooped and then danced around the plane. So much excitement! As the first box of Moi Bibles came off the plane, I looked around. Tears of joy streamed down the faces of those gathered—the missionary families, the pilots and other support staff, and the Moi believers themselves. Much hard work and sacrifice led to this moment of bringing the translated New Testament and 1,500 verses of the Old Testament to the Moi people.

Brian and I, along with our children, Ethan, Jayden, and Elyse, spent four days with the Moi in January, arriving a few days before the Bible dedication ceremony. Brian flew us to the village in a Kodiak, and we stayed in one of the missionary houses built over 20 years ago.

I was so excited to introduce our twins to a Moi mother of twins, a boy and girl, just like ours. This is the first time in Moi history that twins have been kept alive. The Moi used to believe that one twin was an evil spirit impersonating the baby. They would kill one twin, usually the smaller one. But the gospel changed that!

Celebrating with all the missionary families was so special. Brian has been flying for 13 years in support of the work in the Moi people group, flying in the missionaries, their children to and from boarding school, medevacs, flights for the Moi school run by Lantern of Hope, and the clinic. We also supported the work when we lived in Nabire, hosting guests and doing the occasional supply errand.

On the first night we were hosted for dinner in a honai (traditional Papuan house) by a Moi family and enjoyed a meal of root vegetables, sugar cane, and bananas, all roasted in the fire. Sepaiye is the MAF agent who helps when the plane comes to Daboto. His wife, Betani, gave me her necklace and said, “Your husband is my husband’s friend, so you are my friend.” We were so blessed and humbled to be hosted by this family who shared their food and possessions with us.

During the dedication ceremony, the Moi people sang, chanting in harmony. All involved in the translation work went forward. Speeches were made. A Bible was ceremonially given to each Moi clan, as well as to MAF and other support organizations. “We couldn’t have done it without you all!” said Steve Crockett, longtime missionary to the Moi people.

One of the Moi believers had this to say: “Regarding this book, it’s in our language. It’s ours. But, even more, the purpose contained in it is for causing us to live well. And for that reason, the joy in my heart is beyond words!”

On the day of the dedication, Brian and another pilot flew in dignitaries, pastors, and VIPs. There was more dancing and whooping around the planes. Boaz, the representative of the Bible society that paid for the printing of the Bibles, was lifted and carried around.

I loved watching the parade of Moi people, missionaries and dignitaries carrying boxes of Bibles down the airstrip, along the foot paths, through the hamlet, over pig fences, and to the sports gym where the ceremony was held.

After the dedication, a video chat was set up so 35 Moi students who are studying in Jakarta could speak with their parents and hear all about the Bible dedication. The students received their Moi Bibles the same day!

That afternoon while sitting on the porch, Steve translated for me as I asked one of the key church leaders, “How does it feel to have the Bible in Moi?” He answered, “I am thinking about the timing of the printing of it. We are so happy it is a time when we are not old. We now have the Word of God in our hands, and we can start using it for the rest of our lives. We’re very happy about that.”

He continued, “When you first hear God’s talk you’re thinking, ‘Is this some kind of legend or fairy tale?’ Now I know this is God’s word, He’s talking to us! It’s the truth!”

Photo by Jacinda Basinger.

MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT

JOEY AND KATHLEEN MARTIN

Working with manuals and data might not seem like most people’s idea of a good time. But Joey Martin, International Director of Quality, said, “Everyone can get behind a system that will improve our overall safety.”

Joey began his MAF career as a pilot/mechanic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where he and his wife, Kathleen, served for eight years. Joey especially enjoyed flying Bible translators. “A single flight for that missionary usually will not make or break the entire project,” Joey said. “But the faithfulness of MAF over many years will make it possible for the translator to accomplish their work.”

Then the Martins moved to Lesotho. “Most of the flying in Lesotho is in support of medical work in remote mountain clinics. It was a joy to be part of meeting the very tangible needs of the Basotho people,” said Joey.

After three years in Lesotho, the Martins returned to MAF headquarters as Joey’s job changed. “My experience as a pilot/ mechanic, and in safety and quality, provided the background necessary to perform our internal audits and to understand how the various pieces of the aviation puzzle fit together,” Joey said. “Looking back, I can see how God was preparing me.”

The Martins are looking for new ministry partners to pray for their ministry and provide financial support. To partner with them, visit www.maf.org/jmartin.

PRAYER REQUESTS

• Pray for MAF Ecuador as they recruit new pilots and mechanics and as they prepare to go through the recertification process for their authorized maintenance shop.

• Continue to pray for MAF’s Haiti team as they begin the process of reestablishing service in the country.

• Pray for more pilots and mechanics. MAF needs people who are called to meet the great need to spread the gospel in isolated areas.

• Pray for displaced people and refugees. MAF is assisting internally displaced people living in camps in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. MAF also worked with Mission Aviation Fellowship International (staff in Europe) to assist refugees fleeing Sudan into South Sudan. Now the conflict is spreading to Chad and Ethiopia.

IDP CAMP STUDENTS GRADUATE

In December 2023 and January 2024, several staff from MAF’s East Democratic Republic of the Congo program attended graduation ceremonies for students in MAF’s sewing and literacy courses at three Bunia camps for international displaced people (IDP). MAF president David Holsten was part of one of the ceremonies. March 2024 marked six years that MAF has been ministering in the Bunia camps in some capacity. These three camps house thousands of people who have been driven from their homes by violence. The camps receive little aid or assistance from NGOs. The sewing and literacy courses give the participants purpose and prepare them for the future.

On January 11, MAF pilots Lary Strietzel and David Petersen flew to Uganda with two MAF airplanes and picked up 5,500 pounds of medical supplies for an international medical NGO. MAF is the only operator other than the United Nations with permission to fly directly between Bunia, DRC, and Entebbe, Uganda. We regularly fly medical freight for hospitals and NGOs, including extensive cold chains that preserve the efficacy of vaccines.

WELL WATER AND LIVING WATER

Last year, MAF’s Mali Wells Project dug water wells in four remote villages. In each village, ministers also showed the “JESUS” film and shared the gospel. Thousands heard about Christ for the first time, and 25 accepted Him as their Savior. The film equipment had to be carried on motorbikes for over 25 kilometers (around 15 miles) so the team could spread the good news. They shared with over 300 villagers so no would miss hearing about the true Hope of the World. After the team left, the local pastor reported that four more people gave their lives to Christ.

JANUARY FLIGHTWATCH CORRECTION

An incorrect photo was used in the 1976 entry of the Kalimantan timeline. This is the correct photo of Lloyd and Diane Goheen, who established the Samarinda base. The photo previously used is the family of Tom and Marian Goheen, who served in Africa. We apologize for the mix up.

5,500 POUNDS OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES