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.
TOP STORIES
GUIDANCE AND GRIT MAF ENGINEERS UNITE LIBERIA
WATER MATTERS KENYA
CHOOSING THE CROSS OVER THE COCKPIT
EZRA’S PATH TO MISSION AVIATION
MAF’s first student from Singapore has begun full-time pilot training at Mareeba in Far North Queensland, Australia. But Ezra reveals why his own dreams had to ‘die’ first.
The new student sits alone in the sun on an outdoor chair. His notes are in his lap, his eyes are closed. He speaks to himself, methodically working through a checklist with his hands reaching for switches around his mental cockpit. Meet Ezra Tan, who recently commenced flight training at the MAF Training Centre, with Aviation Australia’s Diploma of Aviation.
“It’s quite a remote, outback place,” Ezra said. “I arrived about two weeks ago. I was very impressed. The first few times I got to touch the aeroplanes; I was very impressed with their condition. I’m very impressed by the open communication channels as well.
“My first flight here was just last week. The moment the vibrations from the wheels stopped—oh man, my vocabulary isn’t enough!
I remember the feeling. I don’t have the words. It was just surreal, it felt like flotation. It felt very comfortable.”
Ezra’s fascination with technology began at a young age. Not only planes, but trains, bikes, submarines and even his sister’s alarm clock caught Ezra’s attention. Having successfully fixed the clock, he turned his developing skills to the refrigerator light. Then when he saw the Space Shuttle at the NASA World Tour in Singapore, his love for winged aircraft took hold.
At fifteen years of age, Ezra questioned his purpose in life. His youth pastor challenged him with the Parable of the Talents, imploring him to find out what his talents were.
“And that’s where I felt God say ‘missions’ But at that time, I struggled because I also really felt very passionate about aeroplanes. I wanted to pursue a career as a pilot, and it felt at odds because of the limited information I had about what missions really meant,” he said.
“I felt that if I want to go and do missions, I would have to give up my dream of being a pilot because there just wouldn’t be the time or space for it after being ‘delayed’ by a missions term. Or if I choose to be a pilot, then I would be too old to do missions by the time I finished the many years of bond with the airlines or the Air Force.
“ That struggle went on for about seven years. One random day, I felt God prompt, ‘Choose now. Do you want to be your pilot, or do you want to be my missionary?’ About three days later, I guess you can say in frustration, I decided, ‘Okay, fine, God. I’ll just go and do missions. I’ll give up being a pilot.’
“I caught up with my missions pastor and told him about my decision. He knew about this dilemma… We had a conversation in the church office making plans, preparations for me to be sent on missions. But halfway through that conversation, he suddenly remembered about my dilemma between the call to missions and my dream to be a pilot. He asked what would happen to that dream, to which I responded that I’m giving it up. At that very moment, he recalled that he received an email from MAF that very same week, and suggested ‘Why don’t you go and take a look at this organisation first? It might be a better fit for you.’
E zra attended a MAF Singapore event where Chad Tilley, a MAF pilot who previously flew in Bangladesh, was speaking and sharing stories of MAF’s work.
“ The ministry blew me away. It was the perfect middle ground between being a pilot and serving in missions,” Ezra said.
But Ezra was angry at God, having already made up his mind to give up flying. He asked his pastor why God hadn’t revealed such a ministry earlier.
“My pastor responded, ‘God is often like that. He waits for us to put to death our own desires first. Then he reveals more.’
“ That struck me, particularly the words ‘put to death’. Because at that same season, I was also dealing with the words from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, ‘When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.’
“I know it sounds crude. ‘Come and die.’ But it’s actually an echo of Christ’s words. When you want to follow Him, you have to carry your cross daily.
“It was at that moment I realised—if I didn’t reach that altar of surrender first, before knowing about MAF, then I would be pursuing this mission organisation for all the wrong reasons. I’d be pursuing it because I get to fly aeroplanes, because I get to be a pilot, and I’d completely miss the missions heart behind it.”
Ezra c ontinues to move forward in his training and has just flown solo in Mareeba.
“Upon successfully completing that first solo flight, as the engine finally rumbled to a stop, I felt a sense of reaffirmation and peace that I am indeed aligned with God’s plan for me. And that traditional drenching of water after one’s solo flight somehow felt like a washing away of the many years of lies and discouragement from pursuing a ministry in missions. I am going to ‘fly for life’, preferably, for life!”
WATER MATTERS
I wanted to share a remarkable experience I recently had while piloting for MAF to the remote area of Loglogo in northern Kenya.
I had the privilege of transporting a team from Water Matters Sweden to deliver water filters to communities in dire need, especially in places where clean water is scarce and often unsafe to drink.
When we touched down in Loglogo, we were greeted by Meshack Gayere, a dedicated health officer from Marsabit. His warm welcome reminded me once again why we do what we do. Meshack spoke with such heartfelt appreciation, saying, ‘These water filters are a lifeline for our community. They don’t just provide clean water, they bring hope, health and the promise of a better future.’
In northern Kenya, access to clean water is a daily struggle and water sources are often contaminated. The risk of waterborne diseases like cholera is ever-present, and the people here have endured several outbreaks due to the
scarcity of safe drinking water. The situation is made worse by conflicts over these limited water sources and the worsening effects of climate change.
But on that day in Loglogo – after I’d taken off – something extraordinary happened. As the
team demonstrated how to use the water filters, the villagers watched in awe as murky, dirty water was transformed into crystal-clear, drinkable water.
The look of sheer joy and relief on their faces was something the team told me they’d never forget. Many of them called the team ‘angels sent from heaven,’ and they could see in the people’s eyes just how much these simple devices meant to them.
Marcus from Water Matters Sweden, who led the team, expressed what we were all feeling: ‘MAF’s commitment to reaching the most remote locations makes all the difference. Together, we’re not just delivering filters; we’re delivering life.’
Thanks to this c ollaboration, we’ve been able to provide clean water to 17 villages, benefiting around 2,000 people. It’s incredible to think about the impact this will have – not just in terms of health, but in boosting education, empowering women and children, and strengthening communities.
As I flew back from Loglogo, my heart was full. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve these communities and to work alongside such dedicated people.
These flights remind me that we’re not just pilots – we’re a lifeline to those who need it most. And I’m committed to continuing this work, knowing that every flight makes a world of difference.
Your generosity over the years has changed countless lives. Thank you for your unwavering support and for being a crucial part of the MAF family.
Sincerely,
Daniel Loewen-Rudgers, MAF Pilot
P.S. You are so much more than a generous supporter, you’re a vital part of the MAF family. We are so thankful to you for your support. Please be assured that the gift that you give will help change lives.
GUIDANCE AND GRIT ENGINEERS
UNITE TO KEEP MAF FLYING IN LIBERIA
MAF SA’s Gift Mposi brings years of experience to MAF, but it is the guidance of another dedicated engineer that helped him settle into his new workplace.
Ugandan engineer David Moiti returned to MAF’s programme in Liberia to help guide new arrival Gift Mposi, as they work together to keep the planes flying to serve isolated communities.
David Moiti, a long-serving engineer with MAF, was back in the Liberian capital Monrovia to conduct a crucial 100-hour inspection alongside teammate Gift Mposi, who has joined MAF from Zimbabwe.
Gift is already an experienced engineer, serving for 30 years with the air force in Zimbabwe before choosing to use his talents with MAF. David was on hand to help Gift settle into the new workplace and a change of systems.
“Working here is a dream come true,” Gift said. “David’s guidance has been invaluable, and I’m learning so much every day.
“It’s about more than just fixing planes. Every plane we work on is bringing hope, help and healing for someone in a remote village.”
As the two engineers worked together on MAF’s Cessna Caravans, David reflected on what a pleasure it was to be serving in Liberia again.
“ Travelling from afar to conduct training, to pass on knowledge to MAF Liberia’s new staff, brought joy to my heart,” he shared.
“It’s about helping others grow into their roles.”
Gift is a certified engineer with a speciality in engines and airframes and whose heart is deeply rooted in mission work. He is a devoted father of three daughters and is happily married to his wife Abigail.
“I learnt about MAF from a close friend who shared with me a link with MAF opportunities
describing the organisation as Christian based in the aviation industry, and that sparked my interest,” he said.
“I started doing my research and I liked the fact that MAF was involved in helping isolated people all over the world, similar operations to what we did at the military ferrying food and medical supplies to those in need and with no access to roads.”
Gift and Abigail Mposi
The bond between David and Gift built a foundation of trust and mutual commitment to MAF’s mission. David sees his role not only as an engineer but also as a mentor, helping to develop a culture of knowledge-sharing.
In turn, David has found Gift’s passion and energy to be a source of motivation.
“Gift has this incredible drive,” David said. “His passion motivates me to keep learning, too.”
For Gift, this mentorship is not only about technical development; it is also deeply spiritual.
“Being here feels like a calling,” Gift said. “Having someone like David to guide me makes the journey even more meaningful.”
Outside o f their time in the hangar, David and Gift engage in discussions that have strengthened their bond.
David reflected: “It’s inspiring to see how dedicated Gift is, not just to the technical side but to the overall mission.
“We’re always thinking about how to improve.”
Gift echoed this sentiment, sharing his appreciation for David’s guidance and its lasting impact.
“This journey has been life-changing, and with David’s support, I feel more confident and prepared for the challenges ahead,” he said.
If you have been engaging with our stories over the last year you would have been journeying with Gift through his onboarding experience. Thank you for backing our MAF SA candidates, your investment and prayer is changing lives.
Click on the button below to support our Missions Fund, to push more missional staff onto the field and into isolated spaces.
Support MAF’s Missions Fund
MAF LANDINGS AROUND THE WORLD
EVERY 5.5 MINUTES A MAF PLANE IS EITHER TAKING OFF OR LANDING AROUND THE WORLD. HERE’S A PILOT’S VIEW OF SOME OF OUR ISOLATED AIRSTRIPS ACROSS THE GLOBE.
Lesotho
Kenya
Indonesia
Papua New Guinea
Tanzania
Papua
Arnhem Land
Madagascar
Chad
Haiti
South Sudan
JOIN THE MISSION FIELD
CRITICAL VACANCIES
COUNTRY DIRECTOR
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MAF is looking for a strategic and driven Country Director to help spearhead our mission to share the love of Jesus Christ by providing humanitarian aviation and related technology to transform individuals and move them toward the fulfillment of basic needs and spiritual transformation in PNG.
Come fly with the biggest little airline in the world... If you’re passionate about flying light aircraft, and eager to make a meaningful impact, this opportunity is perfect for you.
Liberia is one of the oldest republics in Africa, also one of its poorest. It has suffered more than a decade of civil war, seeing hundreds of thousands die in conflict. The nation was also devastated by the Ebola crisis of 2014. Today, many people live below the poverty line and have little access to electricity and running water. As the Country Director there are five key areas we are looking this person to fulfill: Strategic, Planning, Leadership, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, Influencing.
Flying with MAF
Join us and be part of something extraordinary We currently have vacancies in Liberia, Guinea, South Sudan, and Papua New Guinea. These locations offer unique and challenging environments where your skills can make a significant difference.
In the landscape of my life
You don’t rush through any season
You always take your time
A careful hand, a gentle guide
You take what’s dead away
And you prune what’s running wild
So be the gardener of my heart
Tend the soil of my soul
Break up the fallow ground
Cut back the overgrown
And I won’t shy away I will let the branches fall
So what you want can stay
And what you love will grow
‘TEND’ - LYRICS BY BETHEL MUSIC AND EMMY ROSE
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
FAMILIES FROM SOUTH AFRICA ARE WORKING IN ISOLATED COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE GLOBE, TO BRING THE LOVE OF CHRIST TO THE ISOLATED.
PRAY FOR OUR MISSIONARIES
BRAD & MICHELLE VENTER | PNG
Please pray for a permanent Country Director in PNG which will alleviate a lot of stress from the current team. Please pray for God’s leading with the new float plane project; as the team works on best helping remote communities in a way that is economically sustainable for MAF.
MARK & LORRAINE LIPRINI | TANZANIA
Praise God for a new Caravan (5X BIL), that arrived in Dodoma, TZ, to much joy and excitement in the team! The Caravan (Cessna 208) has been serving in Uganda for approx. 31 years, and before that in Ethiopia. The Ugandan MAF team, chose to release BIL to Tanzanian programme due to the need in Tanzania.
TOBIAS AND MORIAH MEYER | CHAD
The Meyer’s are currently in transition from South Sudan to the MAF Chad programme; please pray for them as they create a new home; settle into a new community, culture, and country.
GRANT & EMILY STRUGNELL | LESOTHO
It’s been a challenging few months for MAF in Lesotho; the staff have been stretched over the winter season as they fill in for pilots on furlough and lack of a Country Director. Please pray for renewed strength for the team, and the onboarding of a new programme director in Lesotho.
CANDIDATES FROM SOUTHERN AFRICA WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN THE MAF SA RECRUITMENT PIPELINE, IN PREPARTION AND TRAINING TO ENTER THE MAF GLOBAL MISSION FIELD.
PRAY FOR OUR CANDIDATES
DANIEL CHILIPAMUSHI
AIRCRAFT ENGINEER
Daniel began his standardisation training in Madagascar; he is now with the Uganda team which is a larger programme to best suit the standardisation requirements. He is well and happy; please pray for solid mentorship and guidance as he settles and orientates himself.
Daniel is from Zambia.
GIFT & ABIGAIL MPOSI AIRCRAFT ENGINEER
Gift is the newest member of the MAF Liberia programme. We praise God for the wonderful hands-on mentroship he has received. Please continue to pray for his funding.
Gift is from Zimbabwe
EVERETT MONTAGU PILOT
Everett has been away from his base airfield fighting wildfires elsewhere in the country and as a consequence missed the flight evaluations. He is up for flight evaluation at our earliest opportunity.
Everett is from South Africa.
MOMPATI SHABANE AIRCRAFT ENGINEER
Currently in the US doing his FAA (Federal Aviation Authority) license conversion. He is doing well and has also completed his Bible school with partner organisation, All Nations. Mompati is from Botswana.
EDUCATION
IS NOT JUST A LUXURY WORKING TO HELP VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN LIBERIA
Street Child Initiative of Liberia, supported by MAF flights, reaches rural areas to give children an opportunity to learn.
Abednego V. Johnson leads the office of Street Child of Liberia in Harper, Maryland County, where he works tirelessly to provide a path to education for those left in the shadows.
“ Education is not just a luxury; it’s a fundamental right,” says Mr Johnson. “Our mission is to ensure that every child, regardless of their circumstances, has the opportunity to learn and prosper.”
The group, which relies on MAF flights from Liberia’s capital Monrovia to Harper in the southeast, drives initiatives which extend to helping children get off the streets, focusing on education and community development.
“We recognize that building schools is just the first step,” he says. “To truly make a difference, we must empower the community to sustain
these schools themselves.”
One key strategy involves empowering local educators, often community members, to teach in these newly constructed schools, fostering a sense of ownership and sustainability.
The difficulties of travelling by land are one of the biggest challenges. MAF flights support the work of the Harper office but, from there, staff reach outlying areas by vehicle or bike.
“For over months and years, we’ve been struggling with transportation challenges,” says Mr Johnson. “But thanks to the support of organisation like MAF, we’ve been able to overcome these obstacles and reach even the most remote communities.
“ Our partnership with MAF has been invaluable. Without their support, many of our projects would remain worthless in the rural areas.”
As they prepare for another mission to help give children the opportunity to get into classrooms, Mr Johnson insists: “Our work is far from over. But with the support of MAF and the unwavering determination of our team, we will continue to light up the path to education for generations to come.
“We build schools in rural communities, sponsor, and support volunteer teachers to teach in those schools.
“We also have a professional social worker team who go into various communities, work with community leadership to identify children who are not in school. We support them by providing all necessary schooling materials for them to go to school.”
Str eet Child also provides grants to caregivers/parents to run a small and profitable business to help support and maintain their children in school.
It also c onducts business training for caregivers/parents to enhance a good business idea so they can sustain their families.
Mr Johnson adds: “In one of the communities we built a school, kids of that community could hardly understand English.
“ They only spoke and understood the Grebo dialect. After we built the school and active learning started over a few months, the children are now speaking English to their parents.
Parent, grandparents, and relatives thanked Street Child for helping their kids have access to education. They called Street Child ‘the light that gives life’.”
PRAY FOR OUR PROGRAMMES
Pray for the resources and staffing necessary to see the programme transition from the start-up phase into a sustainable programme.
Give thanks for an internet safety course run by MAF Technologies, PNG, which taught the benefits, as well as the risks, of using the internet, and social media.
Give thanks for a recent flight in Madagascar which brought the gospel to three isolated communities.
Pray for several key positions being held by interim staff at this time. Pray for the right candidates to hear God’s prompting in their call to mission.
KENYA SOUTH SUDANUGANDAAUSTRALIA
As Kenya develops and modernises, the rural isolated areas in the north are becoming a focus for charities and churches. Please pray that MAF flights to these communities will enable the NGOs and faithbased missions to help the people there.
Give thanks for a recent flight in South Sudan brought access to healing for a man who sustained a severe break in his arm two years ago. The peace and reconciliation workshop brought him spiritual and physical healing.
Give thanks that the Kalongo airstrip in Uganda has been reopened for the first time since the pandemic.
Give thanks for the success of MAF Australia’s ‘Fuel for Father’s Day’ campaign this year and for the more than 400 churches that got involved.
Give thanks for MAF flights which are providing access to remote places such as Bremer Island in Arnhem Land, bringing staff and essential supplies.
Pray for our ministry planning. Several opportunities are on the horizon, and we are beginning to meet with ministry leaders.
Pray for pilot availability, with furloughs coming up in October.
LESOTHO CHAD
Pray for missionaries in Lesotho who are encouraging young people to stand firm in their faith and to share their faith with others.
GUINEA
Without adequate supplies of fuel, our planes cannot fly. Please pray for an effective, longterm solution to the fuel shortage caused by an explosion last year in the main fuel depot. Pray too for those who lost loved ones as a result of the blast.
Give thanks for Deborah from SIL, a linguist working with a minority language in an isolated community in Chad. This vital work is providing access to local children attending Frenchspeaking schools without knowledge of the language.
Pray for the nation of Chad as they face unusual amounts of rain causing flooding in parts of the country.
MAF STAFF
Pray for our missional staff living in isolated spaces across MAF’s programmes. Adapting to new cultures, acclimatising to heat, high levels of humidity and poor infrastructure isn’t always easy!
Pray for ministry tools like hymnals and commentaries, for more Bibles and trained pastors in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
TIMOR LESTESWEDEN
Give thanks for flights in Timor-Leste which are providing economic benefits to communities on Atauro Island.
Pray for MAF Sweden’s CO-PILOT trip where young people are visiting some of MAF’s programmes in East Africa over the next few weeks.
MADAGASCARPARTNERSHIPS
Give thanks for a flight in Madagascar which brought relief and healing to a young boy suffering with severe acid burns months after his accident. The boy is currently being treated in Antananarivo.
Pray for MAF partners who work tirelessly over many years to translate the Bible so that isolated people can have access to the Word of God.
WHY YOUNG DANIEL DREAMS TO BECOME
A SURGEON
Meet the herdboy in the Karamoja whose life was changed by school. Now he wants to change the lives of others.
13-year-old Daniel Ngorok will never forget the sunny morning that drew him closer to his dream of becoming a surgeon.
While grazing his father’s sheep on a hot dry day in Napak district, Daniel saw strangers in a gathering. A team from Ezekiel 37 Ministry were registering children for school, and that is how Daniel got himself enrolled.
Back in 2019, aged eight, Daniel had never stepped in school. Like many boys in Karamoja region, taking care of his parents’ animals and, in later life, raiding cattle was all he envisioned.
“I’m so happy for this school, I did not know that I would go to school. I was just walking on the village when I came across this school and they allowed me and took my photo,” said Daniel, who is now head prefect at Akigyeno Nursery and Primary School.
Mission Aviation Fellowship partners, Ezekiel 37 Ministry, were led to begin a school in Napak district, in Uganda’s Karamoja region. This school is turning around the life of not only
Daniel, but more than 300 young girls and boys. Ez ekiel 37 Ministry director Rebecca Sekamanya says, “MAF flights are very vital, and
we could not do without them.”
Karamoja region is more than 400km from Uganda’s capital, Kampala, and is marred with insecurity, stemming from cattle raiding.
The most recent attack on UN staff happened in 2022 when they were ambushed by armed cattle rustlers while they were heading to the field. This situation makes road transport insecure, and a MAF flight is a much safer option.
Akigyeno Primary School’s loca tion enables hundreds of children to acquire an education. The other few schools in the area are located across large rivers that cut off villages during rainy seasons.
“ There are many children who don’t go to school in our neighbourhood, so it’s a big privilege for me to be in school,” Daniel adds.
“When the school had just started, we were sitting down on the mats to study. But now things are very different. Even when we were at home, we had nothing to eat sometimes, but the school gives us posho (food made from corn), beans and even soap.”
In a region with a high student dropout rate, only two children dropped out from Akigyeno school out of the 278 students in 2023. This statistic brings hope that Karamoja’s literacy rate which currently stands at 25% will soon go up. The national literacy rate for Uganda is 80.6%.
While the school would like to enrol nearly all the local children, this is practically impossible.
“Choosing which child gets enrolled is the most difficult thing, but we now pick a child from each home in order to give different families a chance. We work with local councils who help us to identify the children in their villages,” says Rebecca.
“A surgeon is a person who operates on people. I know I should study hard to become one,” he says.
Daniel says he knows many children in his neighbourhood who have no food at home.
“When I grow up, I will help those children when they pay me my salary. I will make sure that I feed those children, or at least buy some maize for them,” he says.
Most street children in the capital, Kampala, come from Napak. In February 2024, Kampala City Hall Court sentenced over 100 women from Napak to a one-month community service, for sending children to beg on the streets of the capital.
The school aspires to start vocational training for its students, which can be useful especially during holidays.
“We have got most of the children we have here from kraals (farm enclosures),” Akigyeno Primary head teacher Alex Okello says.
“ Vocational training will help especially the girls to stay busy. We want to keep them from challenges that come with staying at home.”
