MISSION AVIATION FELLOWSHIP VOLUME 3 ISSUE 2 2020
HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS IN SOUTH AFRICA Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) SA has not remained idle in our local community. Follow the story of a local family impacted by the lockdown and how MAF partnered with them to offer help, hope and healing… Page | 04 REACHING THE ISOLATED, DESPITE CIRCUMSTANCE The attitude that MAF has taken in this time is to be in a state of readiness to reach the isolated wherever we can. Read how this has been done, especially considering current COVID-19 restrictions… Page | 09 HOPE DELIVERED A district centre situated in the lowlands of Papua New Guinea has been suffering from prolonged depletion of supplies and morale. Until now. Read how MAF was able to deliver hope to this situation and help remove some of their struggles… Page | 10
“While many countries across the world declare a ‘state of emergency’, programme managers across MAF declare a ‘state of readiness’ to serve in this time and to continue with the mission at hand.”
CURRENT VACANCIES AVIONICS ENGINEER PNG Don’t miss out this opportunity, contact us today. Visit www.mafsa.co.za
NEWSPAPER OF MAF SOUTH AFRICA
REACHING THE ISOLATED
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COMMUNITY NEWS SA
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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 THE CEO
IES
can threaten human development, physical health, and spiritual freedom. And because of the changes we have had to make in daily living, many of us are experiencing isolation for the very first time in our lives. The very thing that MAF has worked to overcome for decades.
As we have been facing this time of uncertainty both in South Africa and around the world, we have seen and experienced the Lord’s sovereignty and grace. Despite the circumstances, our Father has provided for us richly and for the communities we have been able to serve. We have mainly experienced this through our MAF Family and the support you have given to us. We thank each one of you for every donation, word of encouragement, and prayer. With 75 years of pioneering missions to the remotest places on earth, we are so aware of how isolation
For MAF, isolation is nothing new, and we are excited to have been able to help those in isolation in this time – including you, South Africa. With your help, we have managed to reach local communities in desperate need and have partnered with our local initiative – Flying for Life – to accomplish this. As an organisation, we are dedicated to completing our mission of reaching the isolated, even when it looks a bit different from what we are used to. Throughout this newspaper, you will read stories of exactly that – overcoming isolation, despite the
obstacles present. You will read a story about one of the local families we have been able to help, as well as how MAF has been active and working across the globe. You will also read a story of provision and hope into Papua New Guinea – one of the countries our missionary families serve in. We pray for you daily and are so grateful for the incredible impact you have had on us and the communities we serve. You are as much a part of MAF as we are. We pray for your protection, safety, and provision in this time and that you will experience the love and hope of Christ like never before. May God bless you and your loved ones, and may He make His face to shine upon you in this challenging time. Maxine Holman CEO of MAF SA
I WANT TO KEEP MAF PLANES FLYING TO TRANSFORM LIVES
TRIBUTE TO JOYCE LIN The MAF family is deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague and friend, Joyce Lin. Joyce was a light reflecting Jesus, and she will be deeply missed. The final sentence of Joyce’s MAF biography reads: “While Joyce will always be excited to fly planes and work on computers, she is most excited to share the love of Jesus Christ by helping to transform other people’s deep discouragement and mourning into dancing and joy.”
COMMUNITY NEWS SA
MISSION AVIATION FELLOWSHIP
SERVE WITH US AND LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN
CRITICAL POSITIONS Aircraft Engineer - Training Specialist Bangladesh This programme needs a training supervisor to develop and train local aviation maintenance staff in order to improve technical skill and knowledge across the maintenance team; facilitating those eligible to become licenced engineers, and to mentor senior staff members in their roles.
CRITICAL POSITIONS
CRITICAL POSITIONS Avionics Engineer PNG
Experienced Mission Pilot Liberia
We are seeking an experienced, detailorientated avionics engineer. You will play a key role in maintaining, inspecting, and repairing the aircraft avionics systems. You will ensure that maintenance activities are performed in accordance with organisational and regulatory procedures.
This candidate must have at least 750-1000 flight hours experience. They must be able to ensure good stewardship of MAF resources and be willing to be trained for other roles in the programme. Essential: ICAO Commercial Pilot License with instrument rating.
VISIT WWW.MAFSA.CO.ZA OR CONTACT RECRUITMENT@MAFSA.CO.ZA TO ENQUIRE
JOIN THE CAUSE. BUY A TICKET, FEED A FAMILY. Buy a ticket to “join” our weekly outreach event across Gauteng. Your ticket will buy food to support ONE family for ONE week.
To find out more about her and her beautiful life, visit https://hub.maf.org/ memorial/joycelin-memorial
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
TICKET COST: R150 TO FIND OUT MORE, VISIT HTTPS://BIT.LY/JOIN-THE-CAUSE
Financially partner with MAF where you have monthly gifts automatically deducted from your account, saving MAF administrative costs, and sending more of your donation to where it can make the most difference!
https://www.mafsa.co.za/donate-partners MAF SOUTH AFRICA Block 816/3 Hammets Crossing Office Park, 2 Selbourne Road, Fourways PO Box 1288, Lanseria, 1748 T 011 659 2880 | E maf@mafsa.co.za NPO 006-942
BANKING DETAILS Mission Aviation Fellowship Standard Bank Greenstone Branch code: 016342 Account No: 020044615 Reference: SurnameV3N2
VOL. 3, NO. 2, 2020. MISSION AVIATION FELLOWSHIP Editor: Amber Thomson Designer: Gabriella Szabo Mission Aviation Fellowship is the official newspaper of MAF SA Articles may be printed with acknowledgment. If you no longer wish to receive MAF news, please advise us at maf@mafsa.co.za Front cover: Courtesy Mark Hewes.
PLEASE NOTE When donating to a missionary family, reference the missionary families’ surname as well as your name and surname. Please don’t post cash, the envelopes are often tampered with.
QUESTION & ANSWER BOX How was MAF able to help during COVID-19? XrOnp0Ii2
FOLLOW MAFSA ON
www.mafsa.co.za
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The MAF International team has been working hard to keep our mission alive. To be able to do that, we put together a capable disaster response team with the sole purpose of conquering this problem. Each programme has had to rethink the way we do flights and offer our services to each of our governments in the best ways possible. To do this, we reached out to ministers and governments in some cases and, in others, they reached out to us. The only way we have been able to help is with the grace and blessing of God our Father and with the financial support of our MAF Family. Praise God for His hand in all our programmes.
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EVANGELISM
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“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NIV
HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS IN SOUTH AFRICA STORY BY AMBER THOMSON AND PHOTOS BY CHÉ COETZEE
In many places in South Africa, large families are forced to “isolate”, often in very small dwellings. This is the case for Sarah* and her family.
Sarah’s husband used to work in construction, but because of the lockdown brought about by COVID-19, he has been unable to work or receive any income.
Flying for Life seeks to bring sustainable and, most notably, revealed just how solutions to isolated communities volatile the situation really is. across South Africa. Its main project in this time focuses on giving food packs, We would love to continue clothes, and other essential items to families in need across Gauteng. We to bring help, hope and provide primarily to those who are healing to communities and experiencing poverty and have no way will continue to do so with of making an income under the current whatever funds are available. COVID-19 regulations.
We continue to hope for a greater stream of finances as the necessary work continues to bring these families what they need.
The main challenges faced by the team are funding and security. Sadly, due to lack of financial resources, the team has been unable to help and support everyone who has asked for help. We currently have a waiting list of desperate families and are faced with *Name has been changed. the responsibility to choose which of them will receive help and which will not.
This has led to a desperate situation for Sarah. Many times, their only option for food was to take used pots that neighbours had cooked in simply to make small amounts of gravy from the leftovers. She has been unable to afford nappies for their 3-month-old baby and their only option was to cut In addition, there is such a large need up their clothes to wrap him in. within the community that has often This is only one of the many desperate resulted in violence with people actions that we have seen by the attacking those trying to help. This has families we have sought to help. put our staff and the community at risk
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Page 4: Maxine Holman, CEO of MAF, Samantha Somdle, Project Manager of FFL, and Jenni, a volunteer prepare for outreach. Page 5: Maxine Holman packs the FFL truck for delivery
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PRAY FOR OUR MISSIONARIES Families from South Africa are working in third-world countries across the globe, to bring the love of Christ to the isolated.
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“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
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PRAY FOR OUR PROGRAMMES MAF serves in several countries around the world with the vision of taking Christ’s love into the most remote places on earth.
BRAD & MICHELLE VENTER | PNG | Thank God for the Venters in Papua New Guinea. Praise God that they can fly and help with emergency situations. Pray for their protection as they do this. Also pray for homeschooling of the kids.
TOBIAS MEYER | SOUTH SUDAN Pray for Tobias in South Sudan. Praise God that they can still fly but pray for protection for him and the team as they are at risk on the “front-lines”. Pray also that he will feel uplifted and guided by the Holy Spirit.
GRANT & EMILY STRUGNELL | LESOTHO Praise God for the Strugnells who have recently been able to fly again. Pray for the busyness of the situation and the desperate need within the country. Pray also for their safety and protection.
MARK & LORRAINE LIPRINI | DISASTER RESPONSE Praise God that the Liprinis have still been approved to make the move to Uganda, despite lockdown restrictions. Pray for their safety at this time and for courage as they take this bold step. Pray for their family members who stay behind, that they will be able to continually support each other in this time.
KIRSTEIN & AMELIA COMBRINK | TANZANIA Praise God for the safety and protection of the Combrinks in Tanzania. Pray for their missions as they find new ways of reaching the isolated despite restrictions. “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ” Ephesians 1:18-21 NIV
Mark 10:49-52 “Jesus stood still and said, ‘Call him here.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart; get up, he is calling you.’ So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.”
LIBERIA
CHAD
SOUTH SUDAN
UGANDA
Pray for the increased confirmed cases in this area, for the safety of those most vulnerable and that MAF can help as much as possible.
Pray for increased safety measures to be put in place. Praise God for the limited number of deaths reported from COVID-19.
Praise God for the small number of cases confirmed in relation to other countries. Pray for God’s hand of blessing over the flights that continue.
Pray for all the obstacles facing the communities we help in Uganda. Praise God He made a way for us to continue working, despite flooding.
LESOTHO
KENYA
ARNHEM LAND
MADAGASCAR
From this passage, we can draw six applicable points for what we do in everyday life. 1. Listening to the cries for help As society, we are called to respond to cries for help that come in a myriad of voices: from the poor, marginalised, victims of abuse, people crying for a better life. We also respond to the cries of human rights defenders and justice activists. 2. Oppressed by systematic fears The very people that tried to silence Bartimaeus are the ones who have a change of heart and encourage him to approach the Rabbi. What happened? The more the people silenced him, the more Bartimaeus shouted out. All around the world we see poor, marginalised and oppressed people working hard for change. When they see possibilities for hope and transformation in the symbols of social justice organisations, they speak up and “shout” for the help they need seeing new possibility. Jesus action of reaching out to blind Bartimaeus was also an act of reaching out to the people on the margins of inaction, fear, and cynicism. 3. Partnership and advocacy for change When Bartimaeus comes into Jesus’ presence, Jesus sees him for who he really is. Although the travelling party is passing through, Jesus stops, makes time, and brings Bartimaeus into his compassionate gaze. He is not just a number, a social action project, a deliverable or a picture in the annual report. He is witnessed by Jesus in his fullness as a human being. This is the gift of social justice work that sees people more than project statistics accounted for in donor reports. Jesus sees Bartimaeus.
Pray for the missionary families who have all made the tough decision of staying. Pray that they will soon be able to operate again.
Pray for our Kenya staff who are still working. Praise God for the approval of clearance for medevac flights.
MOZAMBIQUE
Pray for the government as they consider reducing the level of emergency Pray for aircraft maintenance.
INDONESIA
RO’S
Pray that God will continue to provide financially for MAF even in this economically troublesome time.
MYANMAR
Pray for the development of separation screens as a precautionary measure. Pray for the continued flights taking place.
Praise God for a new aircraft for Madacascar. Pray for their engineers and staff as they continue to work and do medevac flights.
PNG
MISSIONARIES
Pray for God’s provision as flying is permitted. Give thanks for airstrip surveys and drop-offs that were able to take place.
Praise God that all our missionary families are safe in this time. Pray for continued protection and courage over them.
DRC
SOUTH AFRICA
Advocacy goes beyond compassionate acts of service delivery that meet immediate need, giving much needed aid, building infrastructure, and providing essential services. Advocacy addresses systemic issues getting to the root causes of injustice and oppression. When the root is cut off – evil can bear no fruit. Jesus taught us that both the acts of compassion and mercy as well as social activist capacity building and empowerment are necessary for sustainable justice impact. May His Kingdom come. Devotion provided by Dr Stanley Arumugam
Pray for their flights. Pray for comfort and peace for the family of a beloved MAF pilot who sadly passed away – Joyce Lin.
Pray for God’s grace as construction on an airstrip continues. Pray for the safety of all those at work.
RO’s: Resourcing Offices across the globe.
Praise God for the limited number of COVID-19 cases and pray for continued protection over their continued flights.
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“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” Psalms 91:1-2
GOD NEVER CHANGES The Gospel story of “Blind Bartimaeus” holds several lessons for social justice agencies (NGOs, churches, faith-based organisations) in the way we approach and do our work. The story joins Jesus coming from Jordan and passing through the city of Jericho with his disciples on their way to Jerusalem. On the way, they meet a man blind from birth called Bartimaeus.
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Pray for our local initiative to help the communities in need. Praise God that we have all been able to work from home.
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Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 NIV
REACHING THE ISOLATED, DESPITE CIRCUMSTANCE
STORY BY AMBER THOMSON AND PHOTOS FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES
While many countries across the world declare a “state of emergency”, programme managers across MAF declare a “state of readiness” to serve in this time and to continue with the mission at hand.
ensure safety measures and hygiene practices. MAF has implemented precautions like screening passengers we transport, wearing masks throughout the entire day and, most importantly, sanitising every single part of the plane once a flight is complete. Mark Blomberg, MAF’s programme These measures extend to also include manager in Bangladesh, shares, plastic shields between the pilot and “Right now, we just want to maintain the cargo or passengers. a readiness and an ability to respond as needed.” And this is the attitude of In South Sudan, Liberia, Indonesia and Madagascar, pilots and teams have MAF programmes across the globe. used the MAF aircraft to transport As the state of the world remains front-line responders into areas that uncertain and as levels of lockdown would be close to impossible to test and self-isolation fluctuate with time, otherwise. These tests have also the need for consistency and help been flown back to hospitals and grows stronger, especially within testing centres to receive results and Africa. This is where the mission of act accordingly. The most important MAF is so important to reach the partnership in these cases has been isolated for the sake of the Gospel. with the governments and response teams in these countries and the Under the COVID-19 restrictions and partnership continues to grow regulations within different countries, stronger. MAF has served in several ways, each dependant on the laws and regulations The MAF programmes in Arnhem within those countries. Here, we share Land have transported 450 kg of with you a few of the ways this aviation food donated by local supermarket organisation has been able to bring Woolworths into Aboriginal this much needed help. communities on Howard Island. This has been of great significance Before any flights could successfully as it helped the Yolngu stay in their take place, the greatest need was to community, further preventing risk
of COVID-19 exposure. Beyond this, MAF supporters united in donating a few hundred face masks to the programme, which were sent to the Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation to be used by local doctors, nurses, and clinicians. MAF has transported medical supplies, personal protective equipment, testing kits and equipment and essential personnel. They have even taken the time to educate communities, who have little communication otherwise, on the dangers of COVID19 and safety measures, such as social distancing and hygiene practices. With much of the circumstance surrounding COVID-19 seeming hopeless and overwhelming, these stories of hope and help have brought great encouragement and joy to the MAF team and they look forward to being able to continue the mission set out before them. •
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Page 8: The MAF Madagascar team works with the country’s national epidemiological response team to plan pick-up and delivery of COVID-19 testing kits. Page 9: MAF Liberia fly a medical team to Zwedru to test a suspected case of Covid19. Update, the case was negative.
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LIFE IN A PROGRAMME
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HOPE DELIVERED
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“...but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31
STORY BY HANNAH GARDENER AND PHOTOS BY SDP’S AERIAL HEALTH PATROL
“In our struggle you arrived...and That is, until now… removed some of those struggles.” On 10 May, in the midst of this Morehead, a district centre situated challenging time, an MAF plane, loaded in the lowlands of Papua New with SDP’s Aerial Health Patrol (AHP) Guinea’s Western Province, is home team members and abundant medical to a healthcare centre suffering from supplies (including PPE and antiprolonged depletion of supplies venom), landed in remote Morehead. and morale. Twenty years without AHP’s customary introductory desperately needed anti-venom is just meeting was followed by COVID-19 one supply shortage these healthcare awareness activities, outpatient clinics, immunisations, and trainings for health workers face. workers on COVID-19, snake bites, As if this weren’t enough, they now infection control, and family planning. face the challenge of providing healthcare in a pandemic without Morehead health workers were so proper personal protective equipment grateful for the COVID-19 awareness (PPE). One nurse summed up the and PPE supplies such as masks, staff’s sorrow over their inability to gloves, and hand sanitiser. One nurse give personal, hands-on treatment shared, “When you came today with during the pandemic: “Within this masks, you allowed us to work with our period of time we are not friends with patients…when you did the COVID-19 our patients because we are fearing to awareness, it cleared up the confusion.” treat patients without PPE.” The end of the day found Morehead
health workers anticipating the next day’s return to the health centre, armed with proper PPE. So, on 11 May, the healthcare staff happily donned their masks and gloves and returned to the health centre to give the hands-on patient care they value so much. These heartfelt words from a Morehead health centre staff say it all: “You relieved our fears…and enlightened our spirit…we don’t know what to say but only to thank you all.”
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Page 10: MAF PNG screen all passengers on the plane as part of preventative measures. Page 11: The MAF PNG team helps the community by repairing a generator for them.
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KEEP US FLYING
MISSION AVIATION FELLOWSHIP
GO THE DISTANCE, KEEP US FLYING Together we can go so much further. JOIN OUR MARATHON FROM HOME OR “HOMATHON” TO RAISE FUNDS AND KEEP OUR PLANES IN THE AIR. We, as a #MAFFamily will be running, cycling, or walking the distance of some of our MAF flights so that isolated communities don’t have to. You can join us in raising awareness of how isolated communities need to walk long distances to reach any kind of help: medical, education, food. Each person joining this cause will be running between 100-200 km for an entire month. You can split this up in whatever way works for you; from as little as 3 km a day! To raise the funds, you can invite friends or family members to pledge an amount of money (e.g. R10) for each kilometre you run, walk, or cycle. If you manage to raise R1 000 with the help of your Homathon sporters, you will be the blessed recipient of a MAF buff – to make running a little bit easier. Our total fundraising goal is R50 000 and every bit helps. As a bonus reward, for each person that you get to pledge, your name gets put into a raffle for a very special MAF gift. AND each of your pledgers will be put into a raffle for a MAF merchandise hamper! These raffles will take place at the end of July. The start date for this Homathon is 1 June 2020. To enter as an athlete, to pledge an amount or to find out more, visit www.mafsa.co.za/homathon. P.S. Our CEO will be running as well. P.P.S. After waking up, drink some MAF coffee, do some exercise with your MAF buff and come home to a good book from a beloved MAF pilot and legend – Gordon Marshall. Start your mornings with MAF by buying our Merch for Missions. WWW.MAFSA.CO.ZA/SHOP
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