Flying for Life: Spring 2015

Flying for Life Spring 2015

The quarterly magazine of MAF Australia

4 Nepal

Our 4000th passenger

6 Timor-Leste

Time runs out with every drop of blood

CRMF: Connecting Up

Connecting up An airstrip is only as good as the communication networks that support it.

For those in the remote village in Tiri, they understand this more than most!

Story and photos David Feka

Y David Feka is a technician at MAF Technology Services in PNG (also known as CRMF).

ou’ve probably never heard of Tiri before. It’s an extremely remote village in the Erave District (in the Southern Highlands Province).

Being so remote, it’s very difficult to access. So difficult in fact, that earlier this year I tried and was unsuccessful on three different occasions to travel there to install a radio for them.

Recently, however, I made it! It took me six hours on a main road, eight hours on a bumpy road, a one week wait, and then a thirty minute chopper flight to arrive at the installation sight.

On the previous three times I had tried to get there, the villagers had waited all day to welcome me. This time my arrival took them by surprise. Even so, they quickly called everyone together to give me an enthusiastic and warm welcome.

The airstrip in the village took them almost nine years to complete using crowbars and spades. Sadly, in 2012, a landside destroyed one quarter of the strip, making it difficult for MAF aircraft to use. Currently only helicopters are able to access it.

42 Flying Flyingfor forLife LifeJuly2014 Spring 2015 www.maf.org.au www.maf.org.au

My first impressions The first thing I noticed about Tiri was that money had no value there. Because of its isolation, goods and services are really hard to access, so there was not much in the way of economical activities going on. The Tiri people told me that they used to plant coffee as a cash crop to sell for money but stopped when one of their tribesman dropped dead after carrying a heavy coffee bag to sell for his medical bills at the nearest trading village (about a 12-hour trip).

Secondly, I noticed an unused primary school made out of bush materials. They told me that it ran successfully for a few years but was shut down when the airstrip was destroyed because teachers didn’t want to teach in such a remote and difficult-to-access place.

The villagers have taken the initiative to rebuild their airstrip after the land slide took it away. They are once more experiencing the harsh realities of life without an airstrip. They have lost their only means of connection to basic services and goods delivery; without it

they miss out on many opportunities.

The airstrip is currently awaiting inspection from MAF. God-willing, the aircraft will soon be landing there once more.

Radio installation Of course the big question is, what good is an airstrip without a HF radio to give weather updates, voice their needs for supplies, or call for medical emergency evacuations etc.?

This is why these installation trips are so vital.

When I had completed the installation I could see the people of Tiri realising that the missing piece of the puzzle was completed. They were excited and most of them approached me just to tell me how happy they where and their appreciation for what CRMF is doing to serve remote places like Tiri and other parts of Papua New Guinea.

Personally, this is the most satisfying part of my job. When I complete an HF radio installation or solar installation and get to see the excitement in people’s faces, knowing that their lives has been touched and transformed by what the CRMF team is doing, I am very grateful that God allows me to be a part of this ministry.

Support the work of MAF Technology Services As isolated communities get connected, transformation takes place: light can break into the darkness!

To get involved with your donation, phone 1800 650 169 or visit: www.maf.org.au/donate

Spring 2015 Flying for Life

3

Nepal: Our 4000th passenger

MAF in Nepal: an update There are some exciting new developments regarding the future of the work of MAF in Nepal. MAF will continue coordinating helicopter services until the end of 2015, when our DFID (UK Aid) grant runs out. Moving forward into 2016, we anticipate that we will likely continue this work for a smaller core group of users serving extremely remote areas.

In January, MAF’s work in Nepal will transition from disaster response to a programme start-up phase, during which we will be exploring different options and opportunities for long-term service. We believe the Lord may be now opening doors for such a transition.

Please join us in praying...

• For wisdom as the plans for MAF’s ongoing involvement in Nepal continue to be developed.

• For good relationships with the Nepali Government and that we get the approvals we need now we have started the process of registering as an INGO in Nepal.

• For stamina for the Disaster Response team members, many of whom have now done several rotations in Nepal.

• Pray for the Nepali people as they continue the lengthy process of rebuilding.

• Pray that God’s mighty work will be done through the dedication of our partners operating in extremely remote and isolated areas.

Current stats:

3,941 flights | 4,373 passengers | 283 locations | 676,000 kgs of cargo From May 9 - Oct 2

f cy o d n e u e Freq rs serv o sect

Shelter Food Health Needs Assesment Water/Sanitation Monitor/Evaluation Nutrition Logistics Project Mgt. Protection Medevacs Emergency Coms Gov. Related

4 Flying for Life Spring 2015 www.maf.org.au

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

30%

35%

Our 4000th passenger !

Story and photos Laura Hibberd On Thursday, 24 September MAF in Nepal flew our 4,000th passenger in the earthquake relief efforts.

Fittingly - our 4,000th passenger was Simon Woolridge, Country Director for Medecins du Monde (MDM). Since the very first weeks of our work in Nepal, MDM has been utilising the MAF coordinated helicopter flights to transport their medical relief teams into remote villages to provide medical care, psychological care, training and medical supplies in areas heavily damaged by the earthquakes.

Woolridge and other key MDM staff members were heading into the village of Chaukati, a 20-minute journey by helicopter, otherwise accessible only by 5 hours driving to the end of the road, followed by 5 hours of hiking along narrow, landslide prone trails.

The medical clinic in Chaukati was a pile of rubble completely destroyed in the earthquake. On this trip, the MDM leadership was assessing the suitability of proposed sites for the building of a new, permanent clinic to continue to meet the medical needs of the region.

In the midst of the obvious physical damage to Chaukati there is also a more subtle damage as well. Anxiety, panic attacks, and other “unexplainable” physical symptoms have started to appear.

The uncertainty and fear caused by the earthquakes has left many suffering from psychological trauma ranging from minor to severe. The MDM health teams are working to train the area leaders (typically the school teachers, local officials, and health volunteers) in emergency preparedness, basic first aid and – a unique and needed element of the work here in Nepal – psychological first aid.

The classes teach awareness and symptoms of mental health issues, basic counselling/listening techniques, information about referrals and where villagers can go if more help is needed. Since the earthquake, MDM has shared these important skills with 400 leaders across 18 VCDs (regions within the districts of Nepal).

It is very fitting that the milestone of 4,000 passengers for MAF Nepal was reached while carrying the staff from Medecins du Monde. We are honoured to enable the great work MDM is doing in the remote, earthquake damaged areas of Nepal and we look forward to carrying many more passengers for MDM as they continue to reach these isolated communities.

Spring 2015 Flying for Life 5

Timor-Leste: Time runs out

Time runs out with every drop of blood While doing a research trip in Timor-Leste, Rich Thompson had the opportunity to ride along with Pilot Michael Bottrell for a medevac in Baucau, in the east of the country.

Story and photos Rich Thompson

W Pilot Michael Bottrell

On the ground at Baucau

e immediately knew it was serious. Medevac calls from Baucau are rare. The roads between the hospital in Dili and this region in the east are adequate for an ambulance to drive. For MAF to be called in meant the patient was in trouble.

Medevacs don’t often occur at the most convenient time and today was no exception.

At this particular moment pilots Michael Bottrell and Jonathan Lowe and both aircraft were at Oecusse after delivering teams of eye surgeons that morning.

Oecusse is in the far west of the country, a 45-minute flight from Dili, and another 30-minutes to Baucau.

To make things even harder, both pilots were away from the airstrip at the time.

They were visiting the hospital where the eye surgeons were operating: this is a good 40-minute walk from the airstrip.

We quickly set about trying to find transport

6 Flying for Life Spring 2015 www.maf.org.au

back to the airstrip, but the vehicles we had arrived in had disappeared. Finally, we found some men with motorbikes and spare helmets (this seemed to be the local version of a taxi).

Jumping on the back we said the word that is thankfully common to most languages: “airport”.

After the kind of motorbike ride you don’t want to be a part of too often, we reached the aircraft. As we left the dusty airstrip at Oecusse behind, we were each lost in our thoughts, wondering about the patient we were on the way to rescue.

Isabelle It had been a horrendous 24 hours for 28-year-old Isabelle Xavier. Having given birth to twins the day before, things took a turn for the worse. She began convulsing and the nurses at the clinic quickly realised she had developed eclampsia – a blood condition that

can take place after child birth. Under normal circumstances eclampsia is a very serious condition. In a remote community it can be a death sentence.

For Isabelle the situation was worsened by the fact that she had anaemia. This terrible combination is sadly not uncommon in developing countries and it makes treatment very difficult. For Isabelle, an urgent blood transfusion was required (this needed to happen alongside the magnesium sulphate treatment used to help women with eclampsia).

In the clinic in Baucau, where Isabelle gave birth, bags of blood are a rarity. More often than not, they simply wouldn’t be available for people in her condition. Today, however, they had one precious bag in store.

Of course as soon as the bag was hooked up, the clock started ticking. With every drop of blood, time was running out. Isabelle urgently needed to get to the hospital in Dili for additional bags of life-saving blood.

Approach For Pilot Michael Bottrell situations like this happen every other day. Lives often hang in the balance as the MAF aircraft speeds to one of the seven airstrips it serves.

As we approached the airstrip at Baucau I asked him how he deals with this kind of pressure. His answer was incredibly reassuring: ‘Medevacs move fast. I don’t spend time worrying about what I can’t control. I

focus on the aviation side of things, making sure that I arrive quickly and safely, fully prepared for the patient. Once they are onboard I commit them to the Lord in prayer.’

I am very thankful for pilots like Michael and Jonathan. The way they approach these situations is exactly what people like Isabelle need. There’s no room for panic here. Their ability to focus on the job at hand, keeping their nerve as they deliver Christ’s compassion and love to people in their time of need, is - I believe - a gift from God.

The twins keep their mother We are not on the ground for more than 10 minutes. In that time a group of men help us put Isabelle on a stretcher of the floor of the aircraft. Michael quickly and expertly straps her in. The nurse we brought along connects her to the oxygen.

There’s tension in the air. We have to move quickly. The husband climbs on board and we are soon back in the air. As I turn around to take a photo of the scene, the nurse looks up at me. The look I captured in his eyes says a thousand words.

In these moments it’s often hard to know if the patient will survive. Thankfully, this story ends happily. Isabelle and her husband are transported to the waiting ambulance and sped to hospital.

I arrived 30 minutes later and found Isabelle being well looked after, her husband smiling.

They were soon both reunited with the twins.

Isabelle and husband at Dili hospital

Spring 2015 Flying for Life 7

Timor-Leste

The twins in Timor-Leste

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8 Flying for Life Spring 2015 www.maf.org.au

Help us get the right people, to the right place, at the right time.

D

ay after day, these two MAF aircraft are greatly increasing the impact of the NGOs working in this desperate country. World Vision, Caritas, Water Aid, Oxfam and around 26 other NGOs in TimorLeste depend on MAF to maximise the help they deliver.

Right now, we are raising desperately needed funds for this programme. Your dollars donated to MAF don’t just put our planes in the air, they put teams where they need to be – where the

need is greatest.

Every flight we perform for one of our NGO partners is subsidised by donors like you. 30 minutes in an MAF aircraft can save hours upon hours of travel, greatly increasing the impact and the number of lives transformed.

To fill a GA8 Airvan with a team and fly them for 30 minutes costs the donor around $500, roughly $80 a seat. When you consider the impact of just one flight, we think you’ll agree that’s money well spent!

To donate or find out more, call 1800 650 169 or visit timorleste.maf.org.au Spring 2015 Flying for Life 9

MAF Australia: A Kingdom Adventure

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A kingdom adventure

For the last few years, MAF has experienced a critical staff shortage. Across the world, faithful supporters have been praying for God to provide the workers for his mission. For all those who joined in this, thank you. God is answering these prayers!

The number of Australians putting their hand up to serve with MAF is very exciting. We’d like to introduce you to a few of these new candidates. Please be praying for them and supporting them in whatever way you can as they embark on their new kingdom adventure.

The Henderson family

The Simmonds family

The Curtis family

From NSW to Arnhem Land

From VIC to South Sudan

From VIC to Mareeba

www.maf.org.au/henderson

www.maf.org.au/simmonds

www.maf.org.au/curtis

Hudson Jasper

The Meeks family

From NSW to Arnhem Land

From QLD to PNG

www.maf.org.au/jasper

www.maf.org.au/meeks

10 Flying for Life Spring 2015 www.maf.org.au

Hudson Jasper Hudson grew up on a farm in southern New South Wales, and at a young age developed a significant interest in aviation through watching crop duster aircraft sowing rice on his farm. He is now preparing to move to Arnhem Land, and looks forward to using his passion for aviation to ‘fly for life’ with MAF.

What first drew you to mission aviation?

This seems like such an obvious answer, but really it was just a combination of two of my passions—God and flying. I grew up in a Christian family, and at the age of five, I made a personal decision that I wanted to serve God with my life.

I was actually named after a missionary, Hudson Taylor, and I believe that God always had me lined up for mission work.

The aviation side of things started once again when I was only a child. We grew rice on our farm, and as the crop duster plane sowed the crop, I would help hold the guiding flags (this was before GPS I suppose) so he knew where he was up to. I decided back then that I wanted to learn to fly. In 2011, a couple of years after I finished school, I heard that MAF were short on pilots, and I saw a great opportunity to combine the two (mission & flying), and well, here I am.

Tell me about a challenge you faced in pursuing this and how you overcame it.

A big challenge when it comes to aviation is the enormous financial cost of

flying. This is something every potential pilot will have to deal with in some way.

My savings just scraped me through the first year (2013), but I remember at that point, I had no money, and to finish my training I needed another $20,000. What could I do? The only thing that really makes a difference—I prayed.

There is a great quote by Hudson Taylor that says, “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.”

After five months back working on the farm, I had saved only half of what I needed, but in that time (and I never asked anyone for donations during that time) the other half was donated to me from a number of different people. God supplied, and I was able to go back and finish my training by the end of 2014.

years and He has always come through.

How has this journey impacted you spiritually?

How can we be praying for you?

Not just in the finances, but in many other ways, too, the journey through flight training and on towards mission work has taught me to trust in God and rely on Him. I have always been a self-reliant person, and like to have everything in control, but I have had to rely on God in many areas in the last few

What are you most looking forward to about serving on the mission field?

I’m really looking forward to being there in a place of need, and meeting that need. As a MAF pilot, I have so much opportunity to serve others. People out there need food or transport, and I’ll fly them food or take them to where they need to be. People need God’s love, and I can show that to them. Practical serving is where I feel called, and I’m thankful I’ll get to use my love of flying to reach out to the needy. In short—I’m looking forward to being God’s hands and feet on the mission field.

I’m moving to Arnhem Land early next year to fly with MAF, and I need ongoing prayer and financial support while I’m there. Please pray that people will partner with me in my work with MAF through monthly sponsorship and regular prayer. It’s just so vital having a dedicated team behind me as I head out!

Spring 2015 Flying for Life 11

MAF Australia: A Kingdom Adventure

The

Henderson family

Matt and Rebecca, along with their (now) three children plan to move to Arnhem Land in early 2016. Matt will be serving as a pilot and Rebecca is hoping to get involved in language and teaching as much as she can.

What first drew you to mission aviation?

I had a passion for flying at a young age and started flying at 19. Even though my flying was sidelined by a motorcycle accident (and general life) for 10 years, I always wanted to go back to it.

My wife, Rebecca was a missions major at university and always felt called to cross-cultural missions. While attending a Reachout Conference in Katoomba, we were introduced to Mission Aviation Fellowship. At first, we thought it was a cool ministry that someone else should totally do, but then, we realised that what MAF does suited both of our God-given interests, and we knew it was what He was calling us specifically to do. At that point we thought, “Hey, maybe we can do this”!

Tell me about a challenge you faced in pursuing this and how you overcame it.

I have not come from a missions or an aviation background and was working in a corporate job and working on my flying training part time. The job funded the training, but with heavy travel for work, there were lots of setbacks and it always seemed like it was two steps forward and one step back. That meant that keeping my passion for mission aviation was difficult. At times, my training was inconsistent and I lacked confidence and the motivation to continue.

With Rebecca’s support, I persisted and found that staying involved with MAF, meeting and talking to other MAF staff members, and reading biographies about mission aviation was extremely helpful. All these resources served as an encouragement to persevere so that we, too, could serve God in this way.

12 Flying for Life Spring 2015 www.maf.org.au

How has this journey impacted you spiritually?

How hasn’t it?! There are really a lot of ways. The requirement of Bible college was pivotal and provided a great foundation for me, but studying the Bible with mission aviation as the end goal really put it into context. In addition, throughout our preparations, we have felt at times that we were forced into a place where we had to fully rely on God’s provision. As we readied ourselves for the mission field, we have practiced letting go of so much, but it makes you think of what it truly means to “drop your nets” and follow Jesus. This process of surrender is so daunting at times, but it has been a real blessing to draw closer to God and has given us the freedom to trust implicitly in Him. If God wants you there, He will get you there.

What are you most looking forward to about serving on the mission field?

Ha! Oddly enough, we are excited about stability. In a way, it is an end to many

years of limbo and preparation. Seriously, though, we are excited to see what ministry opportunities arise while we are flying around and living in community. Rebecca and I are looking forward to being intentionally involved with the Yolngu people in Arnhem Land outside of my role as a pilot.

What’s one thing our readers can pray for you?

By the time this article is printed, we will have added a third baby to our already young family and as we end this season and begin the next, we are excited, but also overwhelmed, unsettled, and anxious as it is all new to us. Even though we might be exhausted at times, God’s sovereignty is not! We must remind ourselves that God will continue to be at work in our lives and this process.

Please pray that we will continue to trust in our Great God as we transition from our preparation and support raising stage into new roles and life in an unfamiliar (and as of yet, undetermined) community.

The

Meeks family

Tom, Gemma and their three children will serve in Mt Hagen, PNG. Tom will be the Engineering Services Manager while Gemma and the children will be supporting Tom in this role and building relationships within the local community.

What first drew you to mission aviation?

How has this journey impacted you spiritually?

I was looking for something better for my family. Actually my wife, Gemma, was looking more than me and always looked at Christian jobs. We have always wanted our family to be closer in terms of work place and home, but more importantly the attraction of getting the house paid for before retirement just didn’t seem so important anymore. So God knew I was in this low place spiritually. Mission aviation ticked all the boxes for me. Opportunity to spread the Gospel, working closer to my family, being a better spiritual leader in my home (still working on this one!), great career move, getting to use the gifts from God in a better productive way.

I must confess my spiritual life wasn’t the greatest. But meeting other folks that were also going into mission service displayed for me a void that needed to be filled. I pray more now than I ever have and take a little more time each morning in my quiet times. This has led me to see things I didn’t see before in my Christian walk. Like the beauty of God’s word, a deeper meaning of the sacrifice that Christ made for the sinner.

I can actually see myself now being part of the whole Great Commission, I can also see that I always have been part of the Great Commission but never really understood it.

Tell me about a challenge you faced in pursuing this and how you overcame it.

The biggest challenge for me was letting go of the materialism that I have come to know so well. I have always had an agenda to have everything taken care of before I retired. Turns out that the only way to take care of everything is to give it to God and let Him take care of you.

When our pastor shared about New Beginnings in the Christian life and what it could mean to give up everything and follow Jesus. I had a great peace about not fulfilling my own plan anymore. This peace enabled me to see the blessing of serving for Him rather than working to no end.

What are you most looking forward to about serving on the mission field?

The opportunity to use the gifts God gave me for His purposes and not my own. It is natural to use our training and development for gain that is part of what success is all about. It is a gift to use our training and development for God and His successes.

What’s one thing our readers can pray for you?

Pray for continued growth in my prayer life.

Take the online journey Email 3 Who’s sitting next to you: Email 2 Look out the window:

Meet some of the families serving with MAF

Email 4 Your flight crew: The team at MAF Australia and how they can help you

MAF’s operations around the world

Email 5 Coming in to land:

Email 1 Pre-flight brief:

What’s next?

Your guide to MAF

We get it. Understanding a mission organisation - and the part that you can play in it - can be a daunting process. So we’ve put together a 5 part email series that will help unpack what it means to serve with MAF.

www.maf.org.au/bigger

Spring 2015 Flying for Life 13

MAF Australia

A message from our CEO I

CEO Michelle Dorey

We are excited to welcome back our CEO Michelle Dorey.

After an extended time of sick leave, Michelle is back in the office ready to go!

am excited to have returned to my role at MAF Australia! Thank you so much for your prayer support for myself, my family and our team here at MAF Australia. God has graciously returned me to MAF healthy and whole.

After 50 days in hospital, a fouryear chronic illness diagnosis overturned, 5 procedures and one major surgery, my overwhelming symptoms have gone and I am feeling better than I have in years! I know God is our Ultimate Physician and I am so thankful He had me in the palm of His Hand throughout this rough year!

I am also indebted to Ian McDougall for doing a stellar job as interim CEO in my absence.

What a busy year it’s been for our team! Garnishing support for our disaster response in Nepal, the excitement of the Australian funded second aircraft for our Timor-Leste program and the huge work that

goes into recruiting and delivering staff to our worldwide programs has kept us busy!

The wider MAF family sees MAF Australia as critical to its success.

We are producing exciting resources that are being utilised far and wide. We are thrilled with the growing collaboration that exists and we are delivering a growing number of staff to serve throughout the world. This all ultimately means we can expand our impact.

However, without a doubt all this is only possible thanks to your support. Without your prayers and support in all forms, our determination to bring hope to the remote would only be a dream.

Thank you so much for your partnership. I am excited about what we are going to achieve together.

God bless, Michelle Dorey

BORDER RANGES RAMPAGE 3rd to 8th July 2016 6 DAYS | 900KM | 15000M ALT GAIN | 22 CATEGORISED CLIMBS

One goal: fuel

rideforfuel.maf.org.au join the ride!

14 Flying for Life Spring 2015 www.maf.org.au

Staff movements ld!

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Mark and Jodie Simmonds

David and Ruth Curtis

Deputy Program Manager Sth Sudan

Pilot Trainer Mareeba FTC

Dean and Christie Giles

Jason and Kim Job

from Arnhem Land to Cairns to work in Management

from Arnhem Land to Timor-Leste as Pilot

We farewell

Thanks Chris!

We want to take this opportunity to thank Chris Patten for all the work she has done for MAF Australia in her role as Advocacy Manager.

With the upcoming arrival of her first grandchild and with her daughter moving to Victoria, Chris has decided to resign from MAF to spend more time with her family.

In her role with MAF, Chris has built up an incredible team of people passionate about making a difference through MAF. Her work with our advocates has resulted in real change and transformation on the mission field.

Again, thanks Chris! We’re going to miss you!

If you would like to explore advocacy, head over to

www.maf.org.au/voice Brad and Rachel Sinclair

Rob and Katie Hovenden

Flying for Life ISSN: 2202-0365 Editor: Rich Thompson Email: info@maf.org.au Printer: BHB Printing Flying for Life is the official magazine of Mission Aviation Fellowship and CRMF in Australia. Articles may be printed with acknowledgment.

Flying for Life is a member publication of the Australasian Religious Press Association.

If you no longer wish to receive Flying for Life (MAF News), please advise us at: MAF Australia 1800 650 169 and your name and details will be removed from our distribution list.

MAF Australia and CRMF ABN 26 134 583 887

PO Box 7187 Baulkham Hills NSW 2153 Phone: 1800 650 169 Email: maf@maf.org.au Website: www.maf.org.au Privacy Statement MAF is committed to your privacy. We will only disclose your information in accordance with our Privacy Statement and/or with your permission. Our Privacy Statement explains what information we collect from you and how we intend to use it. You can view our Privacy Statement at maf.org.au

Front cover: Rich Thompson

Spring 2015 Flying for Life 15

! d n u o r g e It’s off th

We’ve launched our brand new website!

Come and take a look.

www.maf.org.au MAF Australia

MAF_Australia

MAFvideosAustralia | www.maf.org.au | maf@maf.org.au | 1800 650 169