MAF SA Newsletter Vol.5 No. 4 2022

WE HAVE GONE DIGITAL

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FROM THE BOARD

to bring this into alignment…

Firstly, my character, I am a relatively unstructured, people centric individual who is naturally more inclined to holding a conversation along the way than watching the timepiece on my arm, something my fellow board members thankfully understand and tolerate. Our MAF missionaries understand this only too well in most of the cultures they serve in and I believe it’s a quality of character that “3rd world children” can teach us. We should all embrace this quality, where “western time”, governed by the man made constraints of hours, minutes and seconds become insignificant in contrast with the art of pausing to listen attentively to another person in our often hurried, rushed lives. John Mark Comer writes in his book, Ruthless Elimination of Hurry…”Hurry and love are incompatible… our time is our life, and our attention is the doorway to our hearts”.

PAUL HENNING Chairperson of MAF SA

As I engaged autopilot at 37000 feet above sea level and sat back for a moment to take a breather, (a luxury few MAF pilots have in their C208 Caravans as they hop from one isolated airstrip to another), I reflected briefly on the year I’ve had. The MAF International Global Forum, an annual event held to consolidate news, ideas and current affairs between MAF resourcing groups around the world, was indeed a learning experience for me. A revelation for me, was the risk we face as board members of an NPO. We are inclined to focus too heavily on the governance responsibilities and aspects of the organisation and we loose sight of the core of our existence, that being the people we serve and of course our own people who serve and make MAFSA what it is.

Fortunately for all of us, there are three aspects which I believe the Lord has used to help me

Secondly, Jesus Christ, whose birth and life we celebrate now at this time of year. This man, the reason for everything we do, and the person who we have been gifted with to model our own lives on, exhibited gentleness, patience and an unhurried life devoted first and foremost to a relationship with his Father and secondly to an unselfish servant heart towards others. It is this name Jesus, who has given our faithful workers out there in the fields we can only read about in this newsletter, the motivation, desire, tenacity and most important, the love for others to continue with their commission to sow into isolated communities where people have been forgotten. As we take a few breaths in our elimination of hurry, what is it that God is saying to us about our commission?

And thirdly, our contributions to the “human element” of our organisation. It was only when my wife and I began supporting a missionary family in Papua New Guinea, that I realised the privilege and blessing that it is to be a small

part of what our missionaries are doing on the ground. The support we receive as an organisation from the personal support raised by our missionaries is vital to achieving our vision and mission, without you, there would be no “Serving together to bring help, hope and healing through aviation”.

As you read the beautiful stories in this newsletter, your name may not appear in print, but rest assured, it is embedded in the tapestry. I encourage you to read them as your own stories, stories of child soldiers being emancipated from their slavery to become empowered woman making a difference, stories where God literally raised MAF in TimorLeste from the ashes as those people served by MAF were able to give back as a community by serving MAF in return, and the blind receiving sight after years of debilitating blindness, in our very own country, because these stories would not exist if not for you, our faithful supporters. Those of you who give generously of your resources, those of you who pray unswervingly and those of you who take time to share these stories far and wide so that MAF may continue the legacy for years to come, we salute you and thank you, for your commitment, passion and love for MAF.

So as we enter this hurried Christmas season, let us take the time to be attentive to others, to follow in Christ’s footsteps as we strive to serve and disciple others as he did and let us be generous as the Holy Spirit convicts and leads us. My prayer in this frenetic world is that we renew our minds so that they may be in alignment with our hearts, and in so doing that we may experience the Peace that transcends human understanding.

Wishing you all a blessed Christmas as you experience our Father’s favour upon us,

Paul Henning

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.

FROM CHILD SOLDIER TO RESILIENT PROVIDER

JA scene that has stayed with me was one from a documentary about the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) child-escapees in Uganda. They were hiding inside sewage drains, terrified of being abducted by the LRA. As many as 40,000 children, known as the “night commuters”, would flee their village homes each night to sleep or hide in the relative safety of towns. This particular group of children was using torches to study whatever tattered notebooks they had left from school, determined to educate themselves in a bid to secure an otherwise very fragile future. Their hunger for education left a permanent mark on my memory.

MAF has recently flown passengers working for Four Corners, an organisation instrumental in meeting the educational needs of thousands of Acholi children in Gulu. Although the LRA was pushed outside the borders of Uganda back in 2005, their mark of trauma in northern Uganda since 1987 has been left on the generation that was taken and forced to become child soldiers.

MAF Pilot Hansjoerg Schlatter flew a group visiting from churches in Georgia and Alabama to hold a 10-day women’s conference at Abaana’s Hope, a 30-minute drive from the Gulu airstrip.

Story by Jill Vine

Photos by Four Corners

“I am so thankful to God for everything that He has done for me, for without Him and without this ministry I would not be alive.”

One of our passengers, Rebecca Cummings, told us about the conference. “The theme of our ladies’ conference at Living Stones Community Church was ‘Jesus Christ is Better’. We had the honour of sharing this great news from Hebrews 12 with over 200 women. Pilot Hansjoerg and the MAF team could not have been kinder or provided a smoother flight from Kajjansi to Gulu to allow our team from the United States to partner with the ladies from Living Stones Community Church to host the conference. We are so appreciative of the service MAF provides, allowing short and long-term missionaries to reach hard-to-reach people groups.”

“I was taken by the LRA when I was a young girl. I decided one day to escape. The soldiers came to find me, but I told them I wanted to go home to my mother.”

Somehow Grace was able to break free from the LRA, but when she returned to the village, she was forced to beg to find food for her family.

While in Gulu, Rebecca was also able to meet the lady her family has been sponsoring for many years. Grace was an ex-child soldier struggling to survive when she was found by Four Corner’s ministry.

“My injuries from the war were so severe that I was unable to work the land or sell anything for money. Then Four Corners found me. I began working for them and my life changed completely. I’ve been able to provide for my five children’s schooling and food and have bought my own land.

I am so thankful to God for everything that He has done for me. For without Him and without this ministry I would not be alive and would not be here today.”

Four Corners has implemented a multi-faceted ministry made up of Living Stones School, a child development programme, a women’s refugee centre, and Abaana’s Hope, which offers pastoral training and sponsorship. Each one has been designed to take the local community in Gulu from vulnerability to strong sustainability. Their mantra stems from Matthew 28 vs 19-20: “As you go make disciples of all the nations baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

Four Corners also understands that westerners are not the answer to Africa’s problems, but rather training up local pastors, and mentoring and empowering them with the aim to eventually hand over.

Photo P.5: Passenger, Rebecca Cummings met Grace for the first time who her family have been sponsoring for many years .

Four Corners President, Yancy Carpenter, acknowledged the partnership MAF has had with Four Corners over the last 10 years. “Jesus is worthy of worship from every tribe. Four Corners Ministries exists to communicate and demonstrate the gospel of Jesus to underequipped and unreached people groups. We are grateful for MAF for flying us many times over the last decade in northern Uganda and South Sudan to make disciples of all nations. May God continue to use His servants at MAF and FCM for His glory through the fulfilment of the great commission.”

Global media are overflowing with sad news. We are encouraged that at MAF we witness daily outstanding testimonies of partners working together for Jesus to restore broken lives.

Photos P.5: The conference: MAF fly in passengers working for Four Corners who exist to communicate and demonstrate the gospel of Jesus to underequipped and unreached people groups many who were impacted by the LRA in Northern Uganda. Photo P.5: Grace, and one of her family members.

Photo P.5: Gulu Women’s Conference leaders.

Image: Grant Strugnell

The role would suit an experienced aircraft engineer, preferably with a Quality Management background.

We are looking for an experienced pilots to help us in our goal to reach isolated communities.

PRAY FOR OUR MISSIONARIES

BRAD & MICHELLE VENTER | PNG

For the approval process (in PNG) that Brad and his team are working on to allow them to fly under instrument flight rules. Pray that God will provide more family time and guide them in the areas where they need to be focusing.

SUPPORT

MARK & LORRAINE LIPRINI | DISASTER RESPONSE | UGANDA

THIS FAMILY SUPPORT THIS

Families from South Africa are working in third-world countries across the globe, to bring the love of Christ to the isolated.

TOBIAS AND MORIAH MEYER | SOUTH SUDAN

Please pray for more teachers for the school Moriah is teaching at; Juba Christian Academy. Please pray for Tobias’ health - for the doctors to figure out what is wrong and for wisdom with how to treat it.

GRANT & EMILY STRUGNELL | LESOTHO

Please pray for a spirit of rejuvenation over the family as they gear up for a new year.

BAXTER & CHISOKWA KAMBOLES | PILOT IN PROCESS

Baxter is having difficulty getting a visa to go to Mission Aviation Training Centre in the Netherlands for his flight assessment. Pray for breakthrough in his visa acceptance and the funding to get him to the Netherlands.

GIFT AND

ABIGAIL MPOSIS | AIRCRAFT

MAINTENANCE ENGINEER IN PROCESS TO BE BASED IN PNG

Gift is close to being placed in the programme in PNG. Pray for funding for the journey ahead.

KENNEDY & JOTHINA MARIMBE | AVIONICS ENGINEER IN PROCESS TO BE BASED IN UGANDA

Kennedy has been accepted into the Uganda programme. They will probably be based in Kampala. Please pray for covering over their process and funding to activate their travels.

1 Peter 5:10

SUPPORT THIS FAMILY

SUPPORT THIS FAMILY

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

Hebrews 10:23

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.

Image: Grant Strugnell

PRAY FOR OUR PROGRAMMES

HEARTS TO SERVE CRUCIAL ROLES SOUTH SUDAN AUSTRALIA

Pray for more people with hearts to serve in challenging places, and pray for our recruitment teams as they seek to attract potential candidates.

Pray for MAFI resourcing groups in raising financial resources – especially where their currencies are weakening against the USD.

Pray for additional teachers at Juba Christian Academy in South Sudan, and for all the pupils who attend.

A number of new staff are moving to Arnhem Land. Pray for their training and preparations to go smoothly.

Thank God for MAF Technologies and all they do in PNG to improve access to information in remote communities.

Pray for muchneeded rains in parts of Kenya. Pray for the team and for the pilots who are moving on to new things.

MAF Italy participated in the gathering of Italian military Christians, pray for what was sown to grow according to God’s plan.

Continue to pray for the Ebola situation in Uganda and that the spread will be contained.

PNG KENYA ITALY UGANDA

MAF serves in several countries around the world with the vision of taking Christ’s love into the most remote places on earth.

WEST AFRICA SA RESOURCING SA RECRUITMENT CHAD

Pray for the well digging teams in West Africa. Pray for those who have received Living Water & for those fearful to do so.

The team has welcomed a new Fundraising Manager, and Comms and Marketing officer. We praise the Lord

for them. Pray for them as they settle into their new roles. Pray for funding for our recruitment applicants.

There has been flooding and civil unrest in Chad. Pray for the MAF programme and for peace in the country.

SOUTH SUDAN MAF TECHNOLOGIES

Pray for all those working in South Sudan to strengthen the Church and spread the gospel.

Praise God for the MAF Technologies team who restored the Hydro Power in Mougulu, bringing power to the people.

Give thanks for longterm MAF partner, Elisha Moita. After 45 years, he is retiring. Thank God for all he continues to do.

Pray for global economic stability. Small fluctuations in currencies can have a big impact on MAF’s work.

TANZANIA MAF GLOBAL

“

Prayer is like breatheing... it should come naturally, happen continually, and we die spiritually without it.”

Bobby Schuller

HIS PROMISES

Written by Samantha Somdle, Projects Manager

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

Matthew 7:11

Our father in heaven is a responsible father, sometimes because of all the hurts and disappointments from our earthly parents, we reduce God to our earthly parents. He has appointed them to parent us through his guidance but, he is our father. What a privilege to be able to call the creator of the whole universe FATHER.

Recently the Holy Spirit convicted me that the pain l was in (it was emotional pain) was because l was not letting my creator in. It was as if l wanted to fix myself before l go to him and just go to him and say you know l was not okay now l am fine. But l realised that my father wanted to be involved even in the tiniest details of my life, my fears, my frustrations, my joys, what makes me happy - it all matters to Him.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”.

Hebrews 13:8

This verse is one of my favourites. It reminds me always that my God is faithful. He has no weaknesses that we often find in our earthly relationships; He does not shift like shadows. He is a faithful and responsible father. Imagine if humans were perfect, we would not have sought-after God or think we need him as our father.

I call on everyone who might have lost that connection with the father to run back to him. No matter how old you are, you will always be a child in His eyes.

We fly where roads end.

Image: Mark & Kelly Hewes

BEAUTY FOR ASHESGOD RESTORES

Mission Aviation Fellowship’s service in TimorLeste has emerged from the flames of a devasting blaze, with a massive outpouring of support allowing flights to resume quickly. Although the fire destroyed valuable equipment and documents at MAF’s base in Dili, staff and firefighters were able to protect the aircraft and prevent any casualties.

Domingos Falo, MAF Ground Operations Assistant, said, “I came early, as usual, to check the aircraft before we fly. Suddenly, I heard a fire alarm ringing. I saw the smoke coming out from the main office window.

ran to check the office and attempted to open it and rescue some documents and other important materials, but I was unable to do it because the fire had spread.”

The firefighters arrived after 10 minutes and extinguished the flames, but they were unable to save the office. All the devices and important files stored in the main office were destroyed, including flight documents, iPads, personal computers, servers, and other staff documents. Only a few documents were saved.

“I

Story and photos by Lobitos de Jesus Alves

“I have seen how the Timorese people who came to help us, felt good about being able to give something back to MAF. We are usually the ones helping them, and this time it was both humbling and rewarding for us to be on the receiving end.” Lobitos de Jesus Alves

Photo P.18: Staff member, Domingas Falo, searching through the ashes for what could be salvaged.

Photo P.19: The burned walls of the MAF office.

Photo P.19: Domingos Falo found the aircraft keys after cleaning the burned office. Now, the aircrafts are able to fly as usual. Especial thanks to Domingos Falo who found these keys.

Photo P.21: Captain Ping’s Flying Logbook survived from the incident

Captain Ping Domtta, explained, “I was at home on Sunday morning when I got a phone call from Domingos Falo. He said our office was burning. When I came, I could see the flames out of the main office door. Then we went to the hangar and removed the aircraft. The event was unsettling, but thank God no one is hurt, and our planes are safe.”

The MAF Country Director in Timor-Leste Programme, Nick Hitchins, said, “Obviously, I was shocked when it happened, and I was really impressed with how quickly the team responded and how quickly the firefighters came and put the fire out. They really achieved the main goal,

which is to protect the airplanes and the people. So thankfully, nobody died or was injured and none of the airplanes were damaged.”

He said the response from locals in Timor-Leste and from MAF colleagues in Australia was essential to keeping flights operating.

He added, “I have seen how the Timorese people who came to help us, felt good about being able to give something back to MAF. We are usually the ones helping them, and this time it was both humbling and rewarding for us to be on the receiving end.

“We worked together with the authorities to make sure that we had all the paperwork in order, and we had great support from the Cairns Support Office. Many people dropped everything they were doing to help us resume flying and get the necessary paperwork approved by CASA. I am very grateful because we couldn’t do it on our own, and this is a great example of why it’s good to be a part of a wider MAF family.”

Domingos Falo added, “I know it’s a tough situation for us, and we might have lost a lot of important things, but God protected us, and He did not let us get hurt. He also protected our aircraft because He knows that this country needs MAF help.

Ping Domtta shares about what happened after the fire. “One day after the incident, we worked together and tried to clean up the burned room and search for some items that survived”, he said.

“If we lose the aircraft, this country might lose a lot of people’s lives in remote areas because there is no reliable transportation that can help them in an emergency evacuation.“

“Surprisingly, it’s like a miracle because everything burned down completely, but my license and flying logbook were safe. I thank God because he protected my flying logbook, which has recorded my flying experience since 1 December 2009, almost 13 years.”

“I am so thankful and excited to share this wonderful miracle I have encountered. I still ask myself, how is this possible? But with God all things are possible. This incident reminds us of some passages in the Bible that tell the story of the prophet Daniel and how God protected him in a dangerous situation.”

Nick Hitchins said the teamwork and determination was inspiring.

“I can already see how God is working this together for good, and I’m looking forward to the future to see what else God does to help us as we rebuild and continue our work here”, he said.

“I’m very proud of my team, of the work they did

and for their perspective. They didn’t get sad or lose their motivation. They stayed positive and they all joined together to support one another and worked together to get through this. It really was amazing!”

“Then King Nebuchadnezzar leapt to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, ‘Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?’

They replied, ‘Certainly, Your Majesty.’ He said, ‘Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.’”

Daniel 3: 24-25 (NIV).

LETTING GIRLS BE GIRLS IN KURON

Loge (15), Nakeno (12), and Anna (20) are Bonga girls benefitting from an initiative of the Stromme Foundation and the Holy Trinity Peace Village in Kuron. The trio is gaining valuable skills and confidence to voice their hopes for a future they can chose.

MAF transported members of the Stromme Foundation to Kuron where they provided empowerment training for young girls in challenging situations.

At Holy Trinity Peace Village Kuron, the Bonga girls gathered on a mat to talk to the Stromme Foundation team about some of the challenges they face. The informal education initiative targets girls between the ages of 13 and 19. They come together once or twice a week under the guidance of an older girl, a so-called “animator”, to talk about the issues affecting them as teenagers.

The group is a safe space to develop self-esteem and confidence, and to gain skills that will help them in their lives.

Some have received education, but not all have had the chance. The informal setting acknowledges that for Toposa girls much of their life is still lived outside the classroom. At a time in their life when most young girls are attending youth groups and preparing for exams, girls in rural South Sudan are preparing for marriage and motherhood.

Story by Jill Vine

Photos by Ide Gooden

The word Bonga literally means “let’s talk”. What they talk about varies, from managing periods to family planning, to life skills and managing a home. It isn’t a radical agenda to challenge the traditional values that anchor this community – pushing new ideas onto impressionable teenagers. Everything they learn, from bead jewellery-making to farming and baking, equips the girls to make a greater contribution in their family setting. Their voices will get louder as their confidence, value and potential are revealed.

CHALLENGING STIGMA AND WINNING OVER PARENTS

Earlier, fifteen-year-old Loge had been among the teenagers who gathered at Kuron Airstrip to greet the visitors from the plane. Each girl was beautifully adorned with traditional beaded costumes as they sang and danced, welcoming their guests.

Loge had been part of the Bonga girls for a year. She participated in the meeting arranged by the Stromme Foundation to hear feedback about the group. With the help of a translator, the teenager shared what being part of the Bonga girls group meant to her.

“I joined the Bonga girls in 2021 and am happy to be part of Bonga. My favourite thing about

the Bonga programme is the teaching on hygiene,” Loge explained. “I am thankful that we have some sanitary pads that have never been used before. This has helped us to be clean. Also, we have learned to make them and can sell what we make at the market. I have also learnt about cooking, farming and beadmaking through the group.”

Loge’s parents have been supportive and are happy that she’s part of the group. But she said in the wider community, not everyone was happy about the programme. “There are some negative attitudes toward the group from some of the older people who say that it encourages prostitution. In the Toposa culture girls don’t go out on their own. People also fear that a programme like this can lead to girls misbehaving,” she said.

Photo P.22: Community mem bers and the Bonga Girls gather to speak with the staff whom had just flown in.

Photo P 23: Communal benefi cary groups.

In a Bonga mobilisation carried out in February this year, the mobilisers reported facing exactly these issues. They encountered resistance from parents who were not willing to let their daughters receive a Bonga education. The parents were reluctant to engage with the Bonga animator to find out more. Despite the objections, the outreach was successful with 39 young girls and 29 boys invited to join the Bonga groups.

Loge encourages other girls to join the group. “What we are learning is helping us. I would say that the group has a bigger benefit for the future. You will get some skills that will help you for the future,” she said.

GAINING SKILLS AND GROWING IN CONFIDENCE

The delicious smell of freshly baked bread wafted across the area where the Bonga girls were seated. Twelve-year-old Nakeno was helping the facilitators to tip the bread onto the serving platter from the pan. It is not the only skill Nakeno has mastered participating in the Bonga programme. She’s also learnt how to garden and make mandazi, the fried donut

snack popular across East Africa that many people sell.

“My name is Nakeno Lomong and I am 12 years old,” she told Kuron Livelihoods Officer Okori Emmanuel. “I am a Toposa by tribe and a South Sudanese by nationality. I was born in a village called Gumariang, about a 30-minute walk from our Bonga Centre. I have four sisters and one brother in the family and my mother, Regina Lopem.

“I am now in the Bonga group. I am proud that I can do a lot of things very well. I am happy because I know many things that can make me self-confident and strong. I can stand alone when I grow up. I thank Peace Village for helping me develop. There are many other girls like me and I hope we can all have the chance to learn and develop like this. If not for Kuron Peace Village, where would we be?”

Nakeno told Okori how her family had struggled, “I lost my father when he died four years back. He was a good man who could help with food and other things to support the family. He was a very successful and a good man. He was called Lokeno Natyang. When he died, we really lost a lot of stability in the family.

“My mother is a hardworking woman but for a widow in Toposa Land it is not easy. After the unexpected death of my father, life became very hard. All the brothers of my father (my uncles) took everything away from my mother. Our family had nothing to survive with. We really suffered,” she said.

“When I joined the Bonga girls for the first time in 2020, I thought I could not manage what the others were doing. I was afraid of the others as they were strangers to me. I was shy around the other girls because they were unknown to me. Doing other things like baking bread, making mandasi was a problem, but now I can do all of them without any problem.”

Meeting other girls like her, has boosted Nakeno’s confidence. She has gone from being shy and fearful to being a confident girl who is keen to reach out to others. “I like helping others to be like me because I was also like them. What I don’t like is when other young girls are given to ’big’ men [as wives]. If I see that, I have to report it to the Bonga animator. We are informed that early marriage is bad for our health and welfare. Marriage is okay but not at so young an age and not to such old men.”

Nakeno’s mother is her inspiration and continual support. “My mother struggled as a great woman for her family and was finally able to join the Bonga team. My mother always escorts me to our Bonga Centre. She is also among the Bonga Support Team of Gumariang. Now I stay with the family of one of the teachers who works with St John Paul II nursery school. By living with a different family, I am learning a lot which I didn’t know before.”

Photo P.24: Just landed, and saying cheers with the little group of fans.

INSPIRE OTHERS

Twenty-year-old Anna Nadapal Meri has overcome many challenges in her life to become a Bonga animator.

She has first-hand experience facing the group of teenagers who gather twice weekly to learn life skills. She embodies many qualities, including fortitude and resilience, it takes to succeed, which makes her a great role model. Her own story is one of triumph over adversity, trying to find a place in a culture that often devalues and denies opportunities to women.

The youngest of nine children and the mother of two, Anna completed her primary education in 2019 despite having her studies interrupted by an early forced marriage instigated by her elder brothers. The teenage mother returned after each pregnancy and completed her primary education, determined to carry on her education, scoring 359 out of 500 marks in the final exam.

Anna gained valuable work experience when, soon after leaving school, she got a job with

a two-month contract distributing nutritional supplements to pregnant and nursing mothers for Andrea South Sudan, which led to an opportunity to become a Bonga animator in Napil.

In March 2020, Anna registered to continue her education at the newly opened St. Thomas, Secondary School in Kuron. At the same time, she also enrolled her two children in school and kept active. Covid temporarily prevented Anna from pursuing her studies. She remains resolute in her desire to complete her secondary education and maybe even go to university in the future.

Photo P.26: An Animator speak ing with the new arrivals.

Photo P.27: One of the Bonga girls.

LETTING GIRLS BE GIRLS

Teenagers continue to face very different prospects depending on where in the world they were born. For the Bonga girls of Kuron, the struggles of adulthood lie ahead. If they can come together, sharing what they know, others can be encouraged and equipped. New skills and new resources will help them face the future with hope.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Thank you for supporting us and ending the year strong.

Story by Inako Beshe

Photos by Jazz Christie

A VISION FOR THE SIGHTLESS

A gift to the school children. A gift to the grandchildren. A gift to the matriculant… If we take care of the elderly, we take care of the future.

We can all imagine that losing one’s sight will affect a person’s life in every way. At Flying for Life, we believe we can offer second chances. With your help, we can gear up to provide as much upliftment as we can to our country’s isolated communities. The impact of equal opportunity is improved quality of life for all.

People in the rural communities of South Africa often lack access to comprehensive medical services that sufficiently cater for their needs. There is a shortage of skilled medical professionals in these areas, resulting in numerous challenges

within these communities. Being faced with oncoming blindness and no means of treatment will change your life irrevocably. The basics are no longer attainable: you are unable to clean, work in your garden, grow or cook your food, or do your laundry. This is the beginning of a ripple effect that claws into generations. Your grandchildren miss out on the developmental stages crucial to the progression of their own lives. They stay home from school to look after you. They don’t go to work to make sure you can get to the loo safely.

Starting with the individual, one person affects another, which has a knock-on effect in the community. On September’s eye-doctor flight we returned to rural Limpopo. When sitting down

and speaking with the patients from Venda, it became clear that the elderly often have to live on their own. Most families have only one or two family members to depend on and take strain when providing support to an elderly relative. These elderly patients find assistance where they can, to make their way to various checkups at local clinics in order to be transferred to a hospital for surgery. This normally takes years, with a long list of people awaiting surgery at public hospitals access to specialists is difficult.

Most of the patients we spoke with depend on their pension funds, or social and state grants, which makes it difficult or impossible for these individuals to afford private institutions that can provide them with the time-sensitive surgeries they need to go on with their daily lives.

The encouraging news we did take away from this was that these government pensions went a long way in accessing hired domestic help for these patients.

Sam Thitshi, one of the patients we attended to, mentioned he was supposed to be operated on before Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020.

But due to the lockdown, all procedures were cancelled. Considering the severity of his case, and the infection in his right eye at risk of spreading, he had no choice but to use R17 000 of his life savings for a private operation. He is one of the few who still receives a pension from his previous employer. He depends on it and that is how he can take care of himself and his family. This September he’ll receive his second surgery for his left eye, at no cost.

Photo P.30: A privileged and humbling view on the way home from operating on 14 individuals who will now have their sight back.

Photo P.31: Preparing for surgery.

Photo P.33: Two patients waiting to go into theatre, local anaes thetic has just been aplied.

There is an endless list of citizens who, with the loss of their vision, are unable to work and earn an income to sustain themselves and their families. A former teacher, one of our patients, was forced to stop teaching and resign years before his retirement age. If you cannot read, you cannot teach in school. He taught mathematics, economic management science, and technology. What a loss of such an asset to the school, the children, and that community!

He is now 68 and has been staying at home with his family, depending on them. Today he received cataract surgery. A new lens. And a chance to use his skill and invest in his grandchildren.

IT IS FLYING FOR LIFE’S VISION TO UPLIFT COMMUNITIES AND PREVENT THE LOSS OF LIVELIHOODS. WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO BRING CHANGE AND HEALING. WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO FLY VOLUNTEERS, WHO WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, TO REMOTE LOCATIONS. THIS SEPTEMBER WE MANAGED TO SUCCESSFULLY PERFORM 14 EYE SURGERIES. THIS IS HOW WE CHANGE THE NARRATIVE AND KICK-START A NEW RIPPLE EFFECT.

Join us for Help, Hope, and Healing. We offer many ways to get involved, We would like to encourage you that everyone can play a part.

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HOW TO TRANSLATE THE BIBLE IN

14 (NOT SO EASY) STEPS

It takes years, even decades to complete a Bible translation. It is a painstaking process that requires input from dozens of people. MAF flights serve SIL at every stage of the process from the initial scripture engagement assessment at the beginning where they hear from the community to the final delivery of scripture. Laura Robison, Country Director for SIL in South Sudan, takes us through the process step by step.

1/ START WITH A STORY

There are four different main styles within Scripture. A good portion of the Bible is narrative, which means stories. Then there’s poetry (Psalms) which has its own unique translation challenges, prophecy (the major and minor prophets), and finally the epistles which are the letters of Paul.

Narrative is usually the easiest so that’s what people tend to start with before they move into the other books. When you begin translating, ideally you want to start with a book like Ruth or Jonah because they’re more narrative and they’re shorter. If you start with something like Revelation, it will be hard and discouraging.

2/ TRANSLATE IDEAS NOT WORDS

You can’t translate word for word. Word for word translation has never actually existed. If it did exist it would be the vocabulary of one language with the grammar of another, and that just wouldn’t work. They all have some adaptation. A lot of times, as translators you’ll go through a 2–3week introductory course to learn translation principles. In that course they’re introduced to thinking about things like figures of speech and

idioms and hyperbole. All those things that are present in the Bible and how would you handle translating those. They’re not just straightforward.

3/ WORK TOGETHER

When it comes to actually doing the translation, usually there’s a team of two or three or four people drafting a section each. Together they create a first draft which is the initial translation.

4/ RESEARCH YOUR SUBJECT

A lot of times the translators don’t know Greek and Hebrew, but they’re expected to use at least three English versions or Arabic, whatever is easiest, to compare not just follow one English translation. They will also look at different commentaries to bring in the different interpretations of scripture that are there. All the time they’re making sure they’re being true to the text and not just choosing one interpretation.

5/ BREAK IT DOWN INTO BITE SIZED CHUNKS

The translators will start by reading the whole book in one go. Next, they read through each chapter which gives them the context of the book first and then the chapter. Then they go, not necessarily verse by verse, but section by section within a chapter and work on translating it.

6/ SOMETIMES THERE ISN’T A WORD

As much as there are many similarities, language we can sometimes let you down. There are many words in the Bible that don’t exist in an indigenous

setting. Greek, Hebrew and English are very open to abstracts. Things like righteousness and holiness. We call those things key terms. They are basically key themes throughout the scripture or very key ideas that need to be understood for the whole picture of Scripture.

Other key terms that need special attention include things like temple and synagogue and God. Usually, that needs the community to get together and decide with an exegetical advisor or some help of this is what was initially meant in the Hebrew or Greek in that time. We ask, in your culture, what do you have that’s similar?

People can either decide to adopt a word if they don’t have a word for it or just bring one from outside. And decide that’s what they’re now going to use. An example is the case of baptism. Sometimes people use ‘baptisma’ because that’s what the church has been using in their home area, so they just continue with that. You need to explain it however, so you add a footnote in the Scripture to say that the word is foreign, and this is what it means.

7/ AIM FOR UNDERSTANDING

Sometimes people choose to use a phrase instead of a word to describe what that word represents, which helps with clarity. But if you do that for everything, it makes the Bible really long and hard to read. If everywhere that you have righteousness, you have a six-word phrase, it can make it hard to read. It’s a balance of, where do you use a foreign word with a footnote, and where can you use a phrase? A lot of languages here explain ‘righteous’ as ‘holy good.’

There’s a good number of the key terms where the word substitution doesn’t fully grasp the meaning. They really have to grapple with what is meant by this abstract idea and figure out how to explain or represent it in Scripture.

8/ GET INPUT FROM OTHERS

Periodically, the translators will come to what’s called a team review. They’ll bring their drafts to

the whole translation team who will be asking questions like: Does this sound natural in our language? Do we think you’ve been true to the text?

After that their exegetical advisor will do an exegetical review, which is looking at whether they’ve been true to the original languages and text bringing in other commentaries or the grammar of Hebrew that speaks to Greek. Based on this feedback they’ll do a team revision.

9/ ASK THE AUDIENCE

At this point they do a community check to check more for naturalness and clarity. They’ll come up with different questions around sections of the book to make sure that it’s clear to the community, not being misunderstood, and the meaning is coming across as it’s supposed to. They’ll make revisions based on the feedback from the community.

10/ SEEK EXPERT ADVICE

The consultant check is where someone that’s trained in biblical languages and has been in translation for quite a long time and has risen to the level of consultant will then look through it again and say, “Here’s some areas where I think there might be misunderstanding,” or “is this clear in that way?” After that check, they’ll produce what we call it a trial edition.

11/ DON’T SHORTCUT THE PROCESS

Cultural and language differences mean that things that can go wrong if you don’t have those checks in place. I remember hearing an example from a few years ago in another country. They were just starting to work on the parables of Jesus. The culture had their own parable which made it a logical place to start. The difference was that in their cultural context, a parable had to have the moral at the end of it whereas Jesus’ parables often don’t.

The consultants realized over time that the translator was adding this extra tag. Because

that was the culture, they just automatically did that in their drafting. The translator had chosen what they assumed was the moral of the story. Sometimes it was probably correct, although not necessarily the whole thing. Sometimes it may have been completely different from what Jesus intended. If you do something very quickly or don’t have all the checks in place, you might not catch that. And then what, what’s being represented in the Bible?

12/ PUT THE BIBLE ON TRIAL

With all books, whether it’s literacy, scripture, engagement or translation, we do trial editions. That’s getting a small number of books out into the community to use and then give feedback on. You do a community check, but that can only involve so many people and only lasts so longand sometimes you don’t see things until you’re actually using it. With a trial edition they have one final opportunity to feedback, “Oh, this was really confusing!” or “This doesn’t sound like our language.” With all of that feedback, they’ll raise it up to a first edition and add it to the Scripture Library that they’ve been working on.

13/ GET THE WORD INTO PRINT

It takes all of those steps and more to get to a final translation. With the final text you still have the formatting, typesetting for print, and proofing, publishing and procuring the finished bookswhich are not part of the actual translation process but have to be thought about too. We’ll have an audio version created at the same time as the Bible is published as a book, so people can engage with it in different ways.

14/ DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER – READ IT!

When the bibles get delivered, it’s exciting. Some people see that as the completion of that workand it is something significant to celebrate. A Bible translation is really just the beginning. The next

step is engagement with the community to train the church leaders, and train teachers for literacy. This work can be ongoing.

The Bible dedication of the Tennet New Testament in Arillo in January this year wouldn’t have been possible without MAF. We had some key church leaders fly in from Juba to the Tennet dedication. They wouldn’t have been able to take part in their community’s dedication if they weren’t able to join the flight. MAF had reopened the airstrip and flew the Bibles just a few days before. I went to Arilo by road once. It took us two full days - seven hours to Torit and then seven or eight hours from there. We definitely appreciate MAF!

We often use MAF shuttle flights to reach communities for other aspects of our work. Back in 2013, 2014, we could have still done these things by going by road. But now we couldn’t do those things without MAF because of the security situation on the roads.

Written by Laura Robison, SIL

To read more about this work and MAF’s involvement click here.