MISSION AVIATION FELLOWSHIP VOLUME 5 ISSUE 3 2022
NEWSPAPER OF MAF SOUTH AFRICA
REACHING THE ISOLATED
WE HAVE GONE DIGITAL You are receiving this e-Magazine because we have redesigned our quarterly newspaper into a digital format! We are so excited about this new venture and the people we will be able to reach because of it. 1
MAF is an international Christian organisation whose mission is to fly light aircraft, and to use other technologies to bring help, hope and healing to people in some of the world’s poorest communities. Every four minutes an MAF plane is taking off or landing somewhere in the world to assist missions, churches, aid and development agencies, and other local groups to transform lives and share the love of God.
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FROM THE CEO
MAXINE HOLMAN CEO of MAF SA
This year has gone by so quickly and we’re surprised that it’s already August. We have so many exciting and wonderful events to look forward to and can’t wait to see what God has in store for the rest of the year. Each year, we’re filled with gratitude for you – our MAF family, who always support us financially and in prayer. Thank you for making all of this possible.
aircraft. This is an encouraging to the mission field. Stay tuned story where we will see God for more updates on this. answering prayer and providing a way where there was no way. Finally, we would also like to share a heart-warming story You will also read about of how our local initiative – the people of the Indagen Flying for Life – has continued community as they patiently uplifting rural communities. endure hardships while they You will read through the eyes await medical assistance. of an optometrist what uplifting These needs are met by MAF the community she assisted and partners who bring them meant to her. the help they have been so graciously waiting for. Thank you for enabling us to This quarter, we want to continue doing the work God appreciate the amazing growth Another important update that has called us to. We could not that God has provided and we would like to share is that do any of this without you, trust Him to take it further. MAF South Africa has been and we sincerely thank you As we celebrate what He has reshifting its focus to recruiting for your ongoing support and done, we have a few stories missionaries for programmes encouragement. Your support of hope to share with you. In across the world. That’s why spreads the love of Jesus to this newsletter you will read we will be sharing details on isolated communities around about how MAF plays a part in how missionaries get to the the world. taking God’s Word to isolated field and up-and-coming pilots communities with the use of and engineers excitedly head
FEATURED STORIES
TAKING GOD’S WORD AND LOVE BEYOND
THE PATIENT PEOPLE OF INDAGEN
SEEING THROUGH THE EYES OF AN OPTOMETRIST
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Your support is powerful.
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Story by Bernie and Richie Axon, pilot family at Telefomin Photos by Mandy Glass and private
TAKING GOD’S WORD AND LOVE BEYOND THE VILLAGES WITH AIRSTRIPS When a MAF plane lands at a remote airstrip, our pilots often open their Bible Box. But if people are not present when the plane lands and the pilot opens his Bible Box, they miss out. However, Bibles bought at the airstrip travel further – thanks to dedicated brothers and sisters in Christ who care about their people living even more remote than they do.
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Joyce finished her talk, encouraging the people gathered to hear that true life was to be found by putting their trust in Jesus. This was the fourth day of meetings in the remote village of Fiamok, five days’ walk from Telefomin. Joyce and her sister Vero had spent the past four days encouraging the church and people of Fiamok. They had given Tok Pisin Bibles to the pastors, audio Bibles to the old, illiterate, or blind, children’s English Bibles to the Sunday school teachers, and basic items such as soap, salt, reusable sanitary pads, and clothes to the people there. This was the end of the journey. Tomorrow, they would head home. But what a journey it had been!
CARRYING HEAVY AND PRECIOUS GOODS ACROSS ADVENTUROUS JUNGLE PATHS Nine days previously, Joyce and Vero had set out on their mission trip with their mother Dipni, and friend Sena, to visit four remote villages. Between the four ladies, they had carried eight heavy bags of goods to be given to the people in these villages. The main purpose of the trip was to deliver much needed Bibles to the pastors of the churches in the villages of Sitamin, Kanamka, Inamptimin
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and Fiamok. It is hard for them to get even basic items in these villages, much less Bibles. These villages have no airstrips, so the only way to get there was to walk.
village. They stopped for one night each in the three smaller villages of Sitiman, Kanamka and Inamptiman, where they gave Bibles to the pastors and distributed some other items.
The four ladies did not have an easy walk. First, they had to cross the raging Sepik River on a bridge that was little more than a tightrope of vine with some rickety side supports. Somehow, they managed to ferry the eight bags across without any of them plummeting into the river far beneath them. Then they had to traverse two huge mountains, crossing a river with no bridge at its lowest point near the bottom of the second mountain. They were met by a man from Kanamka who walked with them as far as his
AN ANSWER TO PRAYER In Sitamin, they met an older lady who was blind, and gave her an audio Bible. She was overjoyed and shared with them that she had been praying for 11 years for an audio Bible. She was a widow with no children, and completely reliant on her
relatives to look after her. She had asked relatives when they were walking to town if they 6
Photo P.5: Bridge across the Sepic river.
Photo P.5: Joyce with mamas at Wara Efec
Photo P.5: Audio Bibles at Sitiman
Photo P.5: Mountain near Sitiman
Photo P.6: Pregnant ladies receiving pads at Sitiman
could buy her an audio Bible. But money is very hard to come by in these remote villages and is used to buy food and other essential items.
material houses themselves, with no electricity or running water, and neither of them has completed schooling past grade 6, yet they realise because they have an airstrip She was crying as she thanked in their community, they are Vero for the Bible, thanking God greatly blessed. for answering her prayers that now she could hear the Word They have access to of God. education, healthcare, basic trade store items, and Bibles. They know the joy of having a relationship with Jesus and CARING BY have the heart to share that SHARING with others. They want to share the little they have with Joyce and Vero and their those who have even less. companions came back from their trip tired, but very thankful they had blessed these bush TEAMING UP TO communities. They are planning to go back again sometime in the future, to take more Bibles and encourage and strengthen the churches there. Joyce and Vero live in bush
TAKE GOD’S LOVE BEYOND THE MOUNTAINS Bernie and the other MAF ladies in Telefomin were privileged to contribute in a 7
small way by donating the Bibles, soap bars, and clothing. Others sewed reusable sanitary pads for the people in the villages. Joyce, Vero, and their companions did the hard work of getting them to the communities. The impact of having an airstrip at a community here in PNG is huge, and we are thankful that MAF can be here to help the smaller bush communities that don’t have enough money to use commercial operators. We are thankful that we can support local missionaries like Joyce and Vero in taking God’s Word and love beyond the villages with airstrips and helping God’s blessings to extend past the airstrips. Photo: Pastors receiving bibles in Sitiman
SERVE WITH US AND LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN CRITICAL POSITIONS
COUNTRY DIRECTOR VARIOUS LOCATIONS
SAFETY MANAGER GUINEA
IT MANAGER PNG
Our Country Directors are at the
We are looking for someone
We are looking for an
sharp end of transformation as
with experience in Quality and
experienced IT Manager who is
you work with our partners to
Safety Management from an
looking for the experience of
reach isolated communities.
Aviation background.
a lifetime.
ENQUIRE
ENQUIRE
ENQUIRE
MISSIONS IN MAKING JOURNEY Serving as a missionary in MAF requires strong commitment to embark on a challenging journey based on faith and a calling to serve others, both in need of the Word, and in the provision of material aid and services.
? ENQUIRY Submission of CV
LANDING Programme orientation
Destination: Hope Time: Now Gate: Open Hallelujah: Amen
CHECK IN Submission of licenses
DEPARTURE LOUNGE References and formal interview
TAKE OFF Acceptance/rejection
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BOARDING Flight/ technical references
TAXI MAFI interviews
THE CALLING In wanting to serve as followers of Christ in a MAF programme, our candidates have felt the tug in their hearts… “Come, follow Me” and that is where the Enquiry is made. Once the “Missions in Making” recruitment journey is complete, the candidates are placed where they best fit in a MAF programme to help reach our end goal, keeping MAF aircraft in the air. We have Gift and Kennedy, both highly qualified aircraft engineers, ready for support roles. Baxter, a pilot experienced in challenging flying circumstances.
GIFT (AT TAXI STAGE)
Engine and airframe maintenance, to keep the airplane mechanically sound.
READ MORE ABOUT GIFT
KENNEDY (AT TAXI STAGE)
Avionics, to service and maintain radios, and flying as well as navigation instruments and aids.
READ MORE ABOUT KENNEDY
BAXTER (AT BOARDING STAGE)
To fly services to remote and forgotten communities.
READ MORE ABOUT BAXTER
Please pray for these candidates as they raise financial support to answer the call of God on their lives. If you would like to help send these candidates into the field, please contact recruitment@mafsa.co.za.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THESE MISSIONARIES TO THE FIELD! 9
Families from South Africa are working in third-world countries across the globe, to bring the love of Christ to the isolated.
PRAY FOR OUR MISSIONARIES
BRAD & MICHELLE VENTER | PNG For Brad as he leads a team of pilots as operations manager and for Michelle as she home schools their children.
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MARK & LORRAINE LIPRINI | DISASTER RESPONSE | UGANDA Thanks for blessings as Mark enjoys his new role in Tanzania, and for the pending move from Uganda.
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TOBIAS AND MORIAH MEYER | SOUTH SUDAN For travel and a restful home assignment to Germany from July, and for blessings for Moriah in the Juba Christian Academy, as they struggle with staff shortages. SUPPORT THIS FAMILY
GRANT & EMILY STRUGNELL | LESOTHO For winter mercies for safe flying in the Lesotho snow, and for successes for Emily in the Pulane Children’s Centre.
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[The Lord says] “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
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MAF serves in several countries around the world with the vision of taking Christ’s love into the most remote places on earth.
PRAY FOR OUR PROGRAMMES TIMOR-LESTE
Pray for our team in Timor-Leste whose work involves flying medical transport. Pray for patients and the staff who witness difficult things.
MAREEBA
Praise God for the new Mareeba hangars that were officially opened and dedicated in the last month.
GUINEA
Continue to pray that they will be able to secure all the permissions they need and recruit the necessary staff.
PNG
Continue to pray for peace in Papua New Guinea during election season, where tensions can result in violence.
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TANZANIA
UGANDA
Praise God for the approval of the work and residence permit for our new pilot in Tanzania.
Several of our Uganda team have been preparing for and writing their exams in the last few weeks. Pray for their ongoing success.
RECRUITMENT
MISSIONARIES
There is a critical need for a chief engineer in Chad. Pray for this recruitment process and for the team there.
Pray for the health of our staff who work in countries where the medical infrastructure is not as developed compared to home.
“Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.” Matthew 21:21 NIV
MADAGASCAR
CHAD
SOUTH AFRICA
WORLDWIDE
Praise God for the medical miracles. Pray for recoveries and for future opportunities to help.
Pray for the team, that God would give them new visions, strategies and partners for the success of their activities.
As we enter home assignment season, pray for our teams who may be providing a service with reduced staff capacity.
The rising cost of living is affecting many of our locations Thank God for His provision and pray for those struggling.
SOUTH SUDAN
LESOTHO
KENYA
WEST DRC
Last month marked the 11th anniversary of independence in South Sudan. Pray for peace and security, and for the leaders.
Pray for the Bible study meetings happening every day in Matsaile, Lesotho. Pray they will gain understanding.
Praise God – they had their busiest week since before the pandemic. Pray for continued increase and blessings.
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Praise God for the new, smooth runway at Ndolo airport. Our runway has been enlarged and repaved.
NEVER GIVE UP Written by Maggie Mumba
As I go through this life, I’m experiencing challenges and trials that can make it difficult to keep pursuing God and what He has called me to do. However, experiencing these trying times has been a major component in what strengthens my faith and spiritual growth. When faced with trials, many are the times that I find myself hesitating to press on and finish what I have started, but I am always inspired by Apostle Paul’s encouraging words about pressing on towards the mark of the high calling. These words remind me to always look beyond my circumstances and allow God to help me persevere through hard times in life, for God is greater than my circumstances. When my mom passed on to be with the Lord, the enemy made me feel like God didn’t love me and pressing on trusting God was a waste of time. I know the enemy always says the opposite of the truth to distract me from pursuing God. The truth is, God will always love me regardless of the situation that I’m going through. I just have to keep trusting Him to lead me in all circumstances and pressing on to do what he has called me to do. I have come to learn that pressing on requires a surrendered life to Jesus, which comes as a result of spending quality time in God’s presence. The goal is to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Press on and never give up.
Philippians 3: 13-14 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
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Your prayer is powerful.
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Story and photos by Samuel Mori
THE PATIENT PEOPLE OF INDAGEN
Indagen is an easy-to-miss, hidden community of six hamlets nestled within the peaks of the Saruwaged Range, accessible by air and foot. A chilly mountain breeze greets you with the scent of fresh shrubbery as soon as the pilot opens the cabin door. The landing strip is already crowded with village curiosity. A few minutes to explain your purpose and the sights of smiling faces and excited children running ahead of you into the village tell you you’re welcome.
impressed at the remarkably good state it is in. The building is well kept and clean. A pretty flower garden with berry laden shrubs welcomes you at the front. Inspection inside shows empty shelves – no drugs, bandages, IV fluids, drip lines and basic consumables. The local health workers sadly tell you, “Planti marasin nogat. Planti manmeri sawe sik na dai tasol lo haus.” Word of our arrival was quickly sent by running messengers to all the nearby villages that a health patrol was finally there.
The villagers eagerly pick your bags and equipment and lead you to the health centre. A senior colleague in the team tells you the last patrol was 20 years ago. Health services have since been effectively non-existent to these people. We arrive at the health centre and are
In the three days of clinics, health awareness and minor surgeries we attended to over 400 people. Each person happy to wait all day in line just for a chance to be seen. By Day 2 our supplies were 16
running out. It was heart-breaking attending to people who walked for 4-5 hours over three mountain ranges just to receive basic medical advice and six tablets of Panadol to take home.
their next visitor will bring. With heavy hearts we left them waiting patiently in the mountains for the next time a glimmer of service will arrive at their doorstep.
The relativity of value became clear: to sit for two hours in POMGEN and receive only Panadol would result in a tantrum – but to these people, after 20 years of waiting and five hours of walking it meant receiving service. I had never known how severely marginalised people could be that they would accept less than the minimum with a grateful heart.
Photo p.16: Runway at Indagen
Photo: Morobe clinic patrol at Indagen
Our mission was to give, but we received more in return. We received a lesson in humanity from forgotten people who appreciated the little they had and never acted victimised by the harshness of their circumstances. Each day saw abundant fresh garden produce and beautiful bouquets on our tables, warm smiles and exceptional hospitality. We were blessed to meet this vibrant community of people with a true preservation of “pasin PNG” thriving in remote Morobe. On our return our entourage comprised nearly the entire village to the airstrip. The same curiosity filled the air as our plane taxied down the runway, wondering what 17
Story by Elmien Verster and Photos by Patrick Black
SEEING THROUGH THE EYES OF AN OPTOMETRIST
Elmien Verster is an optometrist who volunteers her expertise to uplift rural communities. In collaboration with her, we were able to help 120 eyecare patients in one of our recent projects. And we are excited to share her experience!
helicopter to the different areas really made such a difference in the number of people we could see. I averaged an amount of +-30 people per day for four days (120 people). “The need for primary eyecare is so big in South Africa,” Elmien continued. “There are very few public hospitals in a country that prescribes glasses to the public and if they do, the waiting list and backlog is so big the people wait very long to be helped with the necessary glasses. During the trip, I visited four clinics and every single day there wasn’t enough time to help the growing queue that was waiting to be seen by the optometrist. Most of the people waiting in the queue had a mature cataract in one or both eyes that eventually leads to blindness if not
“This was my first trip with Mercy Air and Flying for life,” Elmien said. “I went as the registered optometrist. I did the visual screenings, identifying various health conditions related to the eyes and treating where possible. I also got a sponsor for readymade reading glasses and could help many people with distance and near vision with those glasses. We went to various remote clinics in the Limpopo province. The Vhembe District in Limpopo is so vast, and the different villages are quite far from each other. Being able to fly with a 18
removed. But if removed, their vision would be restored again. It really inspired me to know that I can pick up the cataract before it gets to that point and educate the person about it so they can understand what is happening to them. Detecting diseases before they become a huge problem is what it’s about for me.
dedication and the eagerness to do more, from everyone involved in our work. Together, we can go further in our journey of uplifting rural communities! Flying for Life is a local initiative of MAF South Africa.
“Many people received reading glasses that would help with their close work whatever that might look like,” Elmien added. “It really inspired me how many people got excited about the fact that they would now be able to read their Bibles again. “All in all, it was an amazing trip. It often happens that when you go on an outreach thinking you are going to help a certain group of people, you walk away feeling that they have taught you so much more than you could even give them. The people from Venda have so little but are so friendly and happy. Always laughing at something even though, to us coming from the more developed areas, it seems like their lives must be grim. I hope to join a trip like this again. Every little bit can make a difference.” Our passion for giving back is what drives Flying for Life’s workforce. We appreciate the earnest 19
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BANKING DETAILS Mission Aviation Fellowship Standard Bank Greenstone Branch code: 016342 Swift code: SBZAZAJJ Account No: 020044615 Reference: Surname V5N3
PLEASE NOTE When donating to a missionary family, reference the missionary families’ surname as well as your name and surname. Please don’t post cash, the envelopes are often tampered with. MAF SOUTH AFRICA Block 809/2 Hammets Crossing Office Park, 2 Selbourne Road, Fourways PO Box 1288, Lanseria, 1748 T 011 659 2880 | E maf@mafsa.co.za | M 073 368 1421 | NPO 006-942
Front Cover: Courtesy Annelie Edsmyr
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