Mission Aviation Fellowship is the largest humanitarian airline in the world; we are a Christ-centred non-profit using aircraft to reach the most isolated communities for the sake of the gospel. Our missional pilots cross mountains, rivers, deserts, jungles, and war zones, – to reach areas that would otherwise be inaccessible due to a lack of infrastructure or security. We partner with ministries and other non-profits on the ground, to provide medical assistance, disaster relief, educational resources, and Christian missions - such as bible deliveries in local languages, and support to local churches. We believe that spreading the Good News is both a spiritual and physical act.
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FLIGHT BRINGS HOPE FOR SEVERELY BURNT BOY MADAGASCAR
MOZMED | FORGING TRUST WITH A NEW COMMUNITY MOZAMBIQUE
MESSAGE FROM THE CEO
As we reflect on 2024, it is clear that the Lord has opened new doors for MAF, allowing us to reach isolated communities around the world with the love of Christ. At our recent Global Annual General Meeting, we were reminded of the immense need that still exists. The statistics presented by the Joshua Project were sobering:
7,219 unreached people groups
3.44 billion people in these groups
41.8% of the world’s population remains unreached
2 billion people living in conflict zones
882 million undernourished
765 million with access only to dirty drinking water
120 million refugees
10.6 million deaths from hunger
790,000 deaths due to unsafe drinking water
1 billion people living in isolation
As I sit surrounded by modern conveniences— reliable infrastructure, clean drinking water, quality healthcare, and the Bible in countless translations at my fingertips—I’m reminded of how easily we take these blessings for granted. Yet, there are still so
many people around the world who lack even the most basic necessities.
This reality is a stark reminder of why MAF’s work is so critical. Our mission is not only to bring the hope of Christ to these remote and unreached communities but also to provide practical assistance—whether it’s access to healthcare, clean water, food supplies, or Bibles in their native languages.
Now, more than ever, we must raise awareness and inspire those with the skills and passion to join us in serving the most isolated people groups. As Jesus reminds us: “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field” Matthew 9:37-38.
As we continue to reflect on the past year and plan for the next year, let’s continue to pray and act, trusting God to send more labourers for this vital work.
MAXINE HOLMAN CEO OF MAF IN SA
PSALMS THAT SING IN TUNE WITH AFRICA MOZAMBIQUE
MAF MADAGASCAR FLIGHT BRINGS HOPE FOR
SEVERELY BURNT BOY
Angelo suffered at home with horrific injuries for months after a tragic accident. Now he is receiving the care he needs after MAF brought him to hospital from his isolated community.
Angelo has suffered in agony with severe burns for over a month but an MAF flight to hospital is giving the eight-year-old access to the specialist treatment he desperately needs.
Angelo has suffered in agony with severe burns for over a month but an MAF flight to hospital is giving the eight-year-old access to the specialist treatment he desperately needs.
The adventurous boy with a heart full of curiosity was badly injured after playing with a discarded piece of construction material left by workers in his community. Angelo was burned by acid from unlabelled bottles left on the ground, where they were easily accessible to anyone, including children.
“In the local language, the word acid can refer to any chemical, so it remains unclear what
substance caused the burns,” said Jeremy Aitkens. “It’s likely this was a tragic accident, perhaps Angelo or other children were playing with the bottles, unaware of the danger.”
“We can only speculate whether he was balancing one on his head or if another child was playing a prank by pouring something on him.” We pray that no foul play was involved,” Jeremy added.
"In a place like Europe, he would have been rushed to a hospital, put into a medically induced coma, and treated by a team of doctors, nurses, and specialists"
— Isabelle Danneels from the Fondations des Brûlés
He was engulfed in pain, suffering second and third-degree burns, injuries that would require years of treatment and rehabilitation.
But Angelo lives on Nosy Be – an island off the northwestern coast of Madagascar, with limited access to healthcare. Instead of receiving emergency treatment, Angelo remained at home with only a small amount of pain relief to ease his suffering.
MAF pilot Wouter Nagel arrived at Nosy Be to transport the boy and his aunt to Mandritsara where the Good News Hospital, and MAF’s partner, could provide care.
Despite the unimaginable pain, Angelo’s bravery shone through.
As word spread of Angelo’s situation, the burns charity based in Europe reached out to MAF in France, who in turn contacted the MAF programme in Madagascar.
The MAF flight was a lifesaver for Angelo because travelling by road in his condition was unthinkable.
"We don't just fly from A to B; we fly to see change in people's lives"
— Wouter Nagel MAF Pilot
During the long painful periods at home, Angelo’s mother and stepfather did everything in their power to comfort him, with the help of an extraordinary nurse who visited him.
“The road to help Lolo grow up in the best conditions will still be long.”
The conditions at home were dire; the roof of their home had holes, and rats scurried, sometimes leaving droppings on Angelo’s bed. Water had to be fetched from miles away, and his nurse had to clean his wounds on the edge of his bed with makeshift supplies.
"He is a hero. But a hero who suffers"
— Isabelle project manager for the foundation
As MAF’s Cessna 208 aircraft soared above the island, Angelo felt a sense of safety as he was accompanied by Jeremy Aitken, a compassionate nurse from the Good News Hospital in Mandritsara who joined the pickup flight.
“ He played games with my phone in the plane, and held my hand once we landed,” Jeremy said.
A f ew days after the transfer. MAF Madagascar was able to fly essential equipment from the capital Antananarivo to the hospital for the skin grafts Angelo would soon receive. Angelo’s story is one of courage, community, and the power of partnership. Without the combined efforts of the Burns Foundation, MAF, and the Good News Hospital, Angelo’s future would have been bleak.
But now, Angelo has a chance to heal, grow, and return to his family as a new person. His strength is an inspiration, and as he continues his recovery, all those involved are praying for his full restoration.
"I want to fly back to my family after I get better"
— Angelo Betombo
“To better prepare Angelo for the next steps, the worst burn sites have been cleaned in the operating rooms, giving the upcoming grafts
a better chance of success. In the meantime, Angelo is receiving daily dressings to keep the burns clean and covered,” Jeremy added.
Being a part of the MAF family, you have joined a network of impact to bring about this upliftment of help, hope, and healing. Thank you for being the backbone of this inititaive, fueling our wings and working with us to sustain these flights through Christ.
God bless you!
THIS CHRISTMAS, YOUR GIFT CAN REACH THE REMOTE CORNERS OF THE WORLD...
MAF’s Christmas Gift Catalogue offers meaningful gifts that bring hope to the vulnerable. From example, a gift of fuel, when the equivalent of one jerrycan gets poured into our aircraft, we are fuelled for up to 20 minutes of flying time. For isolated communities, these flights replace days of travel on foot and save many lives. Or, a ticket for a student on MAF’s ‘Flying School Bus’ - giving a child access to education where rough, remote, and unsafe roads can make travel nearly impossible. Each gift is a step toward transforming lives. Be part of a new tradition of giving. Browse the catalogue and select a gift. Not able to give this Christmas? You can still support by sharing the gift catalogue. Every bit helps to bring tangible joy!
Christmas Miracles Delivered by Air
NEW ‘MOZMED’ SERVICE | FORGING TRUST WITH A NEW COMMUNITY
God’s favour paves the way as we touch down for the first time in a remote muslim village of Mozambique.
Early morning 24 April found our Cessna Grand Caravan dodging clouds as the MozMed medical team slept for much of the 1.5 hour journey to Matondavela, Mozambique. I was a bit apprehensive for this first MozMed visit to Matondavela since we were not acquainted with this local administration, police, military and clinic technician. The people are almost entirely Muslim and animist and our Portuguese language will be uncommon to most. ISIS insurgents are threatening not so far away causing heightened security awareness by all. Will this very remote community welcome and trust us? Would we see God bless them and work in them through our efforts?
A helpful hunting concession operator had made initial negotiations for MozMed to serve in Matondavela each month, and they prepared the
disused airstrip. Maneuvering overhead amidst the small mountains, the airstrip was determined to be in excellent condition and landing on the long dirt airstrip was not difficult. Hundreds of people respectfully lined the airstrip and we exited the plane. We were greeted by smiles and warm handshakes from the leaders and we were grateful.
Th e doctor, dentist, ophthalmologist, national missionary and the MozMed director,
loaded their gear and made their way to the local clinic. There was a speech to the growing crowd that ended with -- “If you are not here to visit the clinic go away”. We were concerned that the clinic technician was absent but the concession operator had a trained medical assistant who obtained the keys and helped the doctor.
Doctor Preciosa worked tirelessly with 78 patients. I saw many young mothers with small children waiting to see her. Dentist Claudio pulled many teeth from 27 grateful suffering patients. Ophthalmologist Basilio cared for 17 patients (34 eyes). We offered to bring one person back for cataract surgery but the offer was declined. Like at our other locations, it will take some time, and small successes, to gain trust.
Late afternoon we flew to Lugenda Airstrip. Another concession operator fed and lodged us for the night, along the banks of the Lugenda River -- with occasional sounds of lions, elephants and hippos in the distance.
The next day was work again for the MozMed Team as they tended to the camp staff and others. Again Preciosa had the bulk of patients treating 33, Claudio treated 7, and Basilio 24 patients.
It was an honor to serve these extremely remote people - especially after praying, hoping and waiting for maybe 4 years. It is so very difficult for them to receive any medical care. We will bring caring Christian medical workers once per month April to December (avoiding the rainy season). We hope they see Jesus in how we love them. We will build relationships and earn trust and look for opportunities to speak to hearts.
‘TECH TALK’ SHINES A LIGHT ON THE DARK SIDE OF TECHNOLOGY
An MAF Technologies team guided a local PNG church on the dangers of social media and how to protect young people.
A team of four from Goroka-based MAF Technologies conducted ‘Tech Talk’ training with a church ministry in Kudjip called the Community Church Network (CCN).
Caine Ruruk, team leader and MAF Technologies Ministry Partnership Officer, told the church in Jiwaka Province why the training was so important.
“ Tech Talk is building awareness against the wrong use of technology. We are just warning the churches against its wrong use, the danger it brings to the members of the congregation,
especially the youth,” Mr Ruruk said.
“Sinc e the arrival of technology many churches and even the government were not prepared to grasp its negative impact. Many Papua New Guineans were only aware of its usefulness and were not prepared to overcome the dark side of it.”
The training, though covering broader use of technology, was focused on the internet and particularly the viewing of pornography and its negative impact on people.
“So, we ar e dealing with churches, church leaders, the congregation and especially the youths and we are finding out more. It is pornography that we are dealing with in depth, but we are also dealing with social media, video games and just wasting time on things that are not productive,” Mr Ruruk added.
Pastor Samuel Igusam remarked on the need for more to be done to help the church, and young people especially.
“Such a programme is a need, and since the first training, I have learned how to handle social media as a pastor,” he said. “Many of my youths and church members have given positive feedback saying they would want to learn more on this, and I am so happy we all have learned something towards change in the community.”
Women and children’s representative for CCN, Mary Igusam shared the value of the training. “This is not just an ordinary training but a path into living a holistic life of God’s calling for every individual,” she said.
“I have not been given a chance to know the bad side of technology but now I am aware, and I would like to use technology only for the right purposes.”
"I am so happy we all have learned something towards change in the community."
— Pastor Samuel Igusam
The MAF Technologies team were pleased with the number of attendees including four people from MAF’s Mount Hagen base, and two from Goroka who were also trained to be Tech Talk facilitators.
The training was warmly received, with leaders of CCN requesting that the MAF teams pray for them to handle technology and its issues well. Ten audio Bibles were gifted to CCN as part of the event, programmed with English and Tok Pisin.
MAF Technologies Executive Assistant Sophia Okuk said the training was also intended to help people get to know Christ Jesus through the use of technology.
“We not only train people on how to use technology wisely but we are allowing people to know Christ through technology,” she said. “One of our services is delivering audio Bibles to people who cannot read and write, so that they get to know Christianity.”
WHO WE SERVE
With your support we are honoured to serve multitudes of different people around the world. These photos are dedicated to the people we have the chance to work alongside over the years.
Kenya
Lesotho
Kalimantan
Lesotho
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Manage the recruitment activities within the Recruitment systems: Provide a lead and oversight on the development and maintenance of HR/Recruitment processes in the recruitment systems and its application to ensure they are efficient, and customer focused. Oversee the reporting and analysis and actions from the recruitment database. Lead the changes and development of the MAFI recruitment policy and processes aligned to the HR strategy. Develop a long-term attraction strategy to increase the employer branding footprint across Southern Africa.
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I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love.
EPHESIANS 3:16-17 NIV
PSALMS THAT SING IN TUNE WITH AFRICA
Making Psalms come alive in northern Mozambique.
A woman kneels to the ground and uses sidewalk chalk to draw a stick-figure king. She hands off the chalk to the next person, who draws a bow and arrow.
You might not guess by watching them, but the two are taking part in a Psalm translation workshop in Mozambique, working to capture the main ideas of Psalm 45, a psalm about a royal wedding.
The chalk drawing is just one step in a translation project called Psalms that Sing, which incorporates poetry, music, and drama to help believers understand and internalize the truths found in the Psalms.
The r ecent workshop was held in Montepuez, a city in northern Mozambique home to 1.2 million people who speak the Meetto
language. Psalms that Sing project consultant June Dickie led the workshop for a group of Meetto speakers, which included Bible translators, musicians, a poet, and teachers.
“We did eight psalms in ten days, which is unbelievable,” June said. “The Lord really blessed us.”
A translation team finished the Meetto New Testament two years ago, and the Old Testament translation was launched, beginning with the Psalms.
The Psalms that Sing method of translation has multiple steps, starting with listening to the psalm and getting the big picture. Then participants use
games and chants to come up with key words and phrases from each psalm.
They also write the psalm down and do a lineby-line check against the original Hebrew with translation consultants. They make sure the translated psalm fits in with the poetry of the local culture. Lastly, they turn it into a song, using all the verses, then another song that uses the main points along with New Testament examples.
“Yesterday we finished Psalm 23 and checked it again,” June said. “We were happy with it, then we said, go off now for an hour and come up with a song. An hour later, they had it. Music just bubbles out of them!” (Don’t miss the video clip of this at the bottom of the story.)
They also incorporate drama, so that it’s clear who is speaking in the psalm, and to whom and about whom.
For Psalm 45, June brought costumes props and enlisted the translators and even children of the local missionary to play parts.
“Then they know who’s speaking in the psalm,” June said. “That’s why we act it out. It shows the participants in the psalm, because most psalms are not flat speech, they are speaking to God, they’re speaking to enemies, they’re encouraging the congregation.”
One participant, who found this method especially helpful, said, “I realized for the first time that each psalm came out of a real-life context, and was not just a piece of writing, but served a real purpose in a real situation.”
In an area frequently rocked by insurgency
violence, translating psalms of lament was especially meaningful and brought comfort to the participants, June said.
“Laments—bringing our pain to God and trusting Him to respond—is a sign of faith. God knows we need laments. There are more laments than praise songs.”
Moses, another workshop participant, said his family had fled insurgency violence the previous week, making the lessons of the lament psalms immediately applicable. “I learned that when I am in difficulty, I should hand it over to God. He answers all requests.”
Another participant, Riquito, said he was particularly impacted by Psalm 121, which begins with the words, ‘I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.’ (NIV)
“It is not the mountains that are big, but it is God,” Riquito shared. “God does not only protect us, but He is the Protector.”
On the Sunday during the middle of the workshop, Napoleão a local church leader, went home and preached on Psalm 12, using the text they had just translated. “My community was very touched by this lament, and how fitting it is to our situation.”
To get to the workshop, June traveled up from her home in South Africa to Nampula, where MAF (known as Ambassador Aviation in Mozambique) flew her to and from Montepuez.
Overland travel can be difficult, June said. On her last workshop trip, she had to go by car, a journey that should have taken just over three hours, but instead took seven and a half, because of a roadblock and car breakdown. “The road is appalling. Thank the Lord for MAF!”
Supporting the work of Bible translation projects like this one in Mozambique is at the heart of the vision of MAF—to see isolated people, including Meetto brothers and sisters—changed by the love of Christ.
MAF SERVES IN MULTIPLE COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD WITH THE VISION OF TAKING CHRIST’S LOVE INTO THE MOST REMOTE PLACES ON EARTH.
PRAY FOR OUR PROGRAMMES
Pray for the final aircraft in Haiti that requires additional maintenance before it can return to operation.
Praise God for the delivery of the first of three new aircraft to serve in Papua New Guinea and the impact this will have for people in isolated towns and villages.
Continue to pray for the community of Panintza, Ecuador, where MAF has invested time discipling the Christian community. Maintenance technician Juan Guzman recently visited and delivered a series of teachings. He helped set up a generator to be able to hold meetings at night, since there is no electricity.
PAPUASOUTH
Pray that the gospel would change hearts in the community of Timika, Papua, Indonesia, where MAF recently did a medical evacuation for a man wounded in tribal war.e.
Pray for South Sudan and the effects of flooding in the northern parts of the country. Pray for supplies and aid workers to bless the people of South Sudan.
Pray for the ongoing efforts to secure a floatplane to serve isolated communities on Lake Victoria in Uganda.
We continue to pray for the safety of women across the world and specifically those in countries where safety is a luxury and not a necessity.
Praise God for the recent flight to the CURE Children’s Hospital in Uganda where eight babies were flown to receive treatment for neurological conditions and increase their quality of life.
Pray for the new pilots in Arnhem Land as they navigate operating during the wet season. Pray for Godly resilience and a heart to serve.
Praise God that the legal case against pilot Ryan Koher, and volunteers Eric and Willem, who were detained in 2022 whilst doing a routine flight, has been dismissed. Ryan can now return to serve in Mozambique later in 2025.
ARNHEM LANDCHAD
Praise God for the work in Arnhem Land allowing children to have access to education in their hometowns.
INDONESIA
Pray that the new airstrip opened in Londin, Papua, Indonesia, would be a blessing to the community there and would allow the gospel to take root.
Praise God for the hangar lease renewal in Chad and the ongoing aircraft maintenance that allows communities to be reached.
TANZANIA
Pray for the Airfield Development team in Tanzania, as they work to develop several of the airstrips that MAF use to accommodate the new Cessna Caravan 208 that has arrived in programme.
Praise God for a recent flight to Mougulu, Papua New Guinea, where food was delivered to a boarding school of 600 children.
Pray for ministry tools like hymnals and commentaries, for more Bibles and trained pastors in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
TIMOR LESTE INTERNATIONAL
In the wet season, weather can cause delays/postpone our medevac services in Timor-Leste. Pray that we will be able to continue our medevac flights safely.
Pray for the teams that are short staffed at the moment. Pray for vacancies to be filled and for strength for those filling gaps in the meantime.
MADAGASCARLIBERIA
Praise God for a flight with Mercy Ships in Madagascar that allowed Nery to get treatment for a painful hernia that had prevented him from enjoying his childhood.
Praise God for the opportunity in Liberia, where pastors were swiftly flown to Maryland County to host biblical teaching for church leaders that otherwise would have taken days to travel to.
CHECKING IN WITH MAF’S MEDEVAC PATIENTS
They were flown to hospital in poor health, fearful of what happens next, but now they’re back home with their families and doing well. Meet the medevac patients in Timor-Leste with joyful reports of hope and healing.
MAF’s team has made a special home visit to follow up with medevac patients on Atauro Island to hear about their improved health after medevac flights brought them in for treatment at the National Hospital Guido Valadares (HNGV) in Timor-Leste’s capital Dili.
The visit gave the MAF team an opportunity to reach out to two mothers who had needed medevacs due to birth complications.
MAF Country Dir ector Nick Hitchins explained what the continued care meant for the patients experiencing God’s love in their lives.
“I think it’s incredibly important that we can walk the journey through the entire process of someone being brought to Dili for treatment, and then spending time in the hospital, and taking them back home again,” said Mr Hitchins.
“Because it does deeply touch their lives, and it gives them the opportunity to experience God’s love in a way that they otherwise probably would not experience.”
"It gives them the opportunity to experience God’s love..." — MAF Pilot and Country Director, Nick Hitchins.
Bernadete Soares de Sousa, a 35-year-old mother from Atauro Island who suffered from postpartum bleeding, explained what this special visit meant to them.
“We are grateful to MAF because they not only help us with a medevac but also continue to follow up to check on our situations,” she said. She was transferred from Atauro Island on
April 16 last year. They stayed at the hospital for almost a week and returned home by boat.
“I suffered from bleeding at that time, and MAF saved my life. Without MAF, I would have lost my life,” she added.
Bernadete, who has two children, is now teaching at a school in Vila-Maumeta in Atauro. She first experienced flying with MAF when she was flown to Dili to give birth to her daughter Luisia in 2019. She had a second medevac when she suffered from severe bleeding after giving birth to her second child, Joao.
Eliazefa da Silva, a young mother who was evacuated by MAF from Atauro Island after suffering pregnant complications, explained how MAF helped her.
“I was in critical condition at that time, and I had fever and felt cramping on my belly. But MAF brought us to Dili and saved us from this tough situation,” she said.
Eliaz efa, the wife of Atauro fisherman Salomao da Costa and mother of baby Hajam, is now in good health again.
She was evacuated on July 11 last year and has since recovered. She also mentioned what MAF’s care meant for them.
“From the bottom of my heart, I want to express how much MAF has supported us. They provided a medevac flight and provided a bag containing basic needs and facilitated a return flight to our hometown,” she added.
Since 2007, when MAF began operating in the nation, it has flown more than 3.000 patients from communities in seven municipalities, including Atauro, which is an island to the north of the capital Dili, 35km across the sea.
