Flying for Life JUL-SEP 2020

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h g i t y is m l A wi d r t o h L

Through God’s love God bless you At this moment in history – where unprecedented instability appears to have changed every aspect of our lives – the MAF family holds on firmly to those six words from Psalm 46:7 on our front cover While the number of MAF flights around the world have inevitably been reduced by the coronavirus outbreak, our fleet is still flying for life and saving lives.

In cases where it is safe to do so – and is absolutely necessary to the isolated people we serve – we are still able to fly our partners to places where they can assist vulnerable people.

We’re delighted to bring you this special issue of Flying for Life, and for two excellent reasons. To celebrate 2019 – another year of God’s peace, protection and provision for MAF – and to bring you news of how we've already adapted the way we work in response to this unique, global situation.

Above all, we want you to know three things. That we love you and pray regularly for your safety. That MAF will continue to remain in a state of complete readiness for whatever God calls us to do. And that you can continue, through your prayers and gifts, to keep our planes ready to fly whenever and wherever we’re needed.

The world is different now. But MAF is still the same Well, almost – just like everyone else, we’ve had to make some major adjustments due to the outbreak of coronavirus. For example, since you last received Flying for Life, all MAF UK staff have been working from home to bring you this unique issue of your favourite magazine.

Both the review of last year and the latest news from 2020 show that our vision to see lives physically and spiritually transformed through God’s love hasn't changed, even though we’ve had to adapt the way we work in response to coronavirus.

We hope you like the enclosed Supporter Special – a selection of wonderful memories and stories illustrating why MAF remains so important to thousands of people in the UK. Thank you so much to everyone who sent in their contributions. Please accept my apologies that there wasn't enough space for all the heartfelt words which made editing the Supporter Special one of the most enjoyable jobs I’ve been privileged to do for MAF. And thank you, too, for the first 75 years of extraordinary faith in – and tireless commitment to – our Gospel adventure.

Even after bringing 75 years of help, hope and healing to the people of the Africa and the Asia-Pacific regions, there’s never been a time when we've needed you more.

The MAF family may have been shaken and stirred in every one of those years by events both local and worldwide, yet – through God’s love – we keep on flying for life!

In the words of Stuart King, one of our founders, ‘God bless you and make you a blessing to others. And He surely will.’

Keep well. Stay safe. Trust God. Richard Chambers Editor, Flying for Life

Ruth Whitaker Chief Executive, MAF UK

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This issue's front cover illustrates our work in Tanzania with a 360-degree, panoramic image of Malambo airstrip

Healing in His wings Story Claire Gilderson Photos Stephen Biggs and Dave Forney

As an unprecedented disease plagues the planet, MAF’s planes and people continue to respond wherever they can

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ockdowns across the whole of Africa have reduced MAF flights by approximately 80%. But, whatever challenges lie ahead, every MAF staff member and volunteer continues to play their part.

Due to their tragic experiences with viruses such as Ebola, many African governments quickly enforced measures to restrict people’s movements.

Consequently, many aid organisations whose workers fly regularly with MAF left Uganda before Easter. No flights are permitted in or out of the country.

In South Sudan, a government spokesman thanked MAF in an address to the nation for continuing to fly whenever possible. Tanzania operates a ‘business as usual’ policy and MAF continues to fly medical teams to remote areas, but the situation is under review.

However, in Madagascar, flying is strictly prohibited, except in emergencies.

MAF is taking every precaution to protect its staff. For example, one aircraft maintenance engineer works at the front of an aircraft while the other works on the tail.

Staff also use masks and gloves to reduce the risk of infecting one another.

Praise God that flying is permitted in Liberia. In March, MAF answered the Ministry of Health’s call to fly a suspected coronavirus victim’s test from remote Zwedru to hospital.

Fortunately, for a country with minimal health facilities, the test was negative.

As the wet season approaches, MAF will be the only means of transporting test kits to Liberia’s remote towns.

Buses are prohibited in Chad, but not internal flights, so locals have been grateful they can use MAF aircraft.

People say hello with an elbow bump, or just from a distance, and hand washing facilities are installed in many public places.

We’re also working with the Ministry of Health so we can vastly reduce the time it takes to transport coronavirus test kits by road to remote towns such as Abéché.

‘God has been in Africa all the time,’ says our Regional Director for Africa, Henk-Jan Muusse.

‘We can bring any need before Him. God cares for us as much as He’s ever done.’

Please pray for Africa and MAF’s continued ability to serve its people.

Main MAF responds to the Liberian government’s urgent request for help Above In Chad, our planes are the new buses!

(The above information was correct as Flying for Life went to print.)

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‘MAF comes to the rescue!’

MAF people and planes in the Asia-Pacific region continue to respond to the changing needs of isolated people

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Main Mark Blomberg (left) and Chad Tilley Top MAF screens passengers for coronavirus Above A grateful recipient of our corn delivery

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AF Bangladesh’s floatplane is – quite simply – helping people to get home. One emergency flight on Good Friday rescued a Swiss volunteer working in a very isolated area near the Sundarbans.

The countrywide lockdown meant she was unable to travel by any means other than aircraft. Our floatplane was able to bring her back to the capital, Dhaka, 90 minutes before the international evacuation flight departed for her homeland.

The emergency flight saw MAF, the Swiss Embassy and numerous government ministries working together in what Country Director Mark Blomberg calls, ‘a monumental team effort’.

More recently, we flew a World Vision staff member from Khulna – where he was similarly frustrated by lockdown – to Dhaka. After landing, MAF Pilot Chad Tilley spoke briefly with him.

‘I’ve flown previously with MAF in Uganda,’ said the grateful passenger, ‘and I know that MAF comes to the rescue!’

Meanwhile, in Timor-Leste, flights vary from bringing a vital cargo of corn to Atauro Island – where the crop had failed disastrously – to the delivery of hand washing kits to remote Oecusse.

Story Richard Chambers Photos Chad Tilley Ferries have stopped and borders have closed, so an MAF plane flew to Oecusse laden with 430kg of antibacterial soap and information packs supplied by Oxfam.

This region is particularly vulnerable to coronavirus. However, thanks to one 50-minute flight, more than 14,000 homes will receive information on how people can protect one another from the disease.

Work continues at the new airstrip in Lailenpi, Myanmar, though at a slower pace. The borders are now closed and dynamite supplies, which are sourced from India, have been slow to arrive. Tar is being applied to areas which are already gravelled.

Few cases of coronavirus have been reported in Papua New Guinea, but MAF remains vigilant. Our fleet is on standby to support Aerial Health Patrols by transporting Personal Protection Equipment and medical supplies as soon as we receive the call to do so.

Please pray for Asia and MAF’s continued ability to serve its people.

(The above information was correct as Flying for Life went to print.)

Farewell, Mongolia After 19 years of serving the people of Mongolia as Blue Sky Aviation, it is with mixed emotions that we cease operations in this unique and beautiful country Story Richard Chambers Photos LuAnne Cadd

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Main MAF News announces our new ministry in Mongolia Above The Millennium Messenger has been part of church growth on an amazing scale in Mongolia

AF began its ministry in Mongolia at the beginning of this century.

An aircraft bought by our faithful supporters – the Millennium Messenger – arrived there in spring 2000.

In autumn 2000, MAF News Editor David Longley painted a a vivid picture of Asia’s fifth largest country for MAF supporters.

Stretching 1,500 miles east to west, 750 miles north to south, and with a population of only 2.5 million, Mongolia – he said – has been called ‘the definition of remoteness’.

Half its people lived as nomads, moving several times a year. Normal transport was horse or camel and temperatures ranged between 40°C and -40°C. A decade prior to our arrival, there were few Christian brothers and sisters in Mongolia due mainly to nearly 70 years of communist rule.

But when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, ‘freedom of religion’ was declared in this traditionally Buddhist country.

Today – thanks partially to MAF’s support for the Gospel – there are more than 50,000 Christians, and 600 churches thrive where

there had been practically none. Infrastructure has improved markedly, so that many of the locations our planes served for nearly two decades can now be reached by road.

However, following a detailed report from an external consultant, MAF concluded that, to continue having the same impact in a vastly transformed Mongolia, we’d need to considerably increase our financial investment.

We believe MAF’s aircraft should be put to maximum use where isolated people’s immediate needs are greatest. So we’re now in the process of redeploying the Messenger to serve those who need it the most.

An early MAF News article about Mongolia was entitled ‘Bringing a better future’. Every prayer and gift we receive ensures that our worldwide fleet is doing just that. As David wrote 20 years ago, at the start of our Mongolia adventure, ‘May the knowledge and loving care of the true God be known in the furthest corners of their land.’

Please pray that the Messenger will continue flying to the corners of the earth where the Gospel has yet to be heard.

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Highlights from 2019 MAF UK Chief Executive Ruth Whitaker pays tribute to supporters, without whom MAF would not exist

Globally, in 2019, MAF delivered: More than 2,000 tonnes of freight, carrying more than 80,000 passengers, to more than 650 destinations, on more than 28,000 flights; flying more than 19,000 hours.

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Thanks to our wonderful supporters, our fleet played a crucial part in the work of 2,000 humanitarian, faith and aid organisations We also flew the Most Rev Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, in the Democratic Republic of Congo to see Ebola treatment facilities.

We continued to expand our ministry through work on a purpose-built hangar in Liberia that will enable us to expand our operations, and an airstrip in Myanmar.

Our planes carried out medevacs in Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste, brought disaster relief to the Bahamas, the Philippines and Mozambique (pictured below), provided safe travel in war-torn South Sudan, supported education in Arnhem Land, and flew Bible translators and missionaries in Kenya.

Although our people and planes have changed over the decades, the vision

remains as great and relevant as it was 75 years ago.

We thank God for the sacrificial service of our 27 UK missionary staff and their families as they serve alongside many other nationalities in some of the world’s most challenging areas.

More than ever before, we thank you.

Without your prayers and gifts, life would be much worse for men, women and children in remote communities cut off from healthcare, education and the Gospel.

The impact of MAF on a world in desperate need is demonstrated throughout pages 6 to 11, which include stories of physical and spiritual transformation (pages 7 and 10) and a photographic centre spread.

We are thankful that, although the world is continually changing, the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. We are so grateful for His constant provision and your wonderful support.

Up – and walking again!

In 2019, one particular emergency flight for a married couple demonstrated why MAF must always be ready for anything

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verland journeys in southern Madagascar often take place overnight, putting those involved in grave danger of serious accidents.

One night last year, Mr and Mrs Zakatiana and a group of fellow pastors were travelling by bus from east to west.

After many hours, the driver fell asleep at the wheel, resulting in a terrible crash.

Poor Mrs Zakatiana suffered a suspected fracture of her ribs and sustained a huge laceration to her face.

Several other pastors were also injured, and all the passengers on the bus were taken to the nearest hospital in Fianarantsoa.

Mr Zakatiana was in a critical state – finding himself paralysed from his neck down.

Although the city is home to more than 190,000 people, Fianarantsoa’s hospital is very basic and doesn’t possess the specialist equipment needed to scan neck and spine injuries.

It soon became obvious that Mr Zakatiana needed to be transferred to a larger hospital immediately.

But the car journey from Fianarantsoa to the capital Antananarivo is a 15-hour

battle against bumpy roads with enormous potholes – a totally unsuitable ride for a patient with spine damage!

It was time for an urgent call to MAF Madagascar.

First thing in the morning, MAF Pilot Patrick Keller and a medical team from Mobile Hilfe Madagaskar flew in a Cessna 208 Caravan to Fianarantsoa.

On landing, the medical team went straight to the hospital to prepare Mr Zakatiana for the flight.

Securely fastened into a protective neck brace and strapped down on a vacuum mattress, he was driven cautiously back to the airport and transferred carefully into the waiting aircraft.

After an hour-long flight, they landed safely in Antananarivo before another short drive to hospital.

The scans revealed that Mr Zakatiana had a broken neck. However, thanks to God, today he is up – and walking again!

Naturally, Mr and Mrs Zakatiana and their family are extremely happy and very thankful that MAF supporters made this medevac – one of more than 1,000 worldwide – possible.

Story Charlotte Pedersen Photos Tanja Hock

2,476 passengers 147,163 passengers

2%

Madagascar

98%

Rest of the world

149,639 Total MAF passengers in 2019

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MAF planes flew more than 90 children to Juba Hospital so that staff from Samaritan’s Purse could operate on their cleft lips.

‘They didn’t stop smiling!’ said MAF Pilot Alistair Youren. ‘Their parents were clearly grateful for what had been done.’

We flew a team from One Child Matters to remote Lokori, where they aided the villagers’ spiritual development and administered vitamins and medicine. One team member said, ‘MAF did an excellent job transporting us to minister to people we couldn’t have reached without them.’

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MAF

in

2019

Dr Mark Hotchkin was treating a gunshot victim at Bardai Hospital, Chad when he ran out of IV fluid. MAF flew in an emergency supply and, as Mark explained, ‘Without that delivery, my patient would have died.’

Following the horrific damage caused by two cyclones, MAF’s Disaster Response team co-ordinated food, water and tent distribution. The Head of DFID in Mozambique said that a friend of theirs, ‘Simply couldn’t stop crying when she saw the first flight coming in to land!’

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Language of the heart In 2019, MAF ensured that the Word of God was being read by more people than ever before in Papua New Guinea (PNG) Story and photos Harriette Knigge 4,735 flight hours

12% PNG

35,123 flight hours

88%

Rest of the world

39,858

Total MAF flight hours in 2019

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he ever-increasing impact of globalisation means the world’s languages are under threat.

Every two weeks, one of the planet’s indigenous languages disappears, taking with it a community’s entire cultural and intellectual heritage.

Deep in the mountains of PNG, Harriette Knigge is asked for Bibles as soon as she steps off the MAF plane at Wanakipa. She sets up a stall in the shade and is immediately surrounded by people from the village (pictured above).

Every Bible, written in the national Tok Pisin language, is sold within minutes.

‘We ask for 10 kina – about 2 quid – per Bible,’ says Harriette, ‘from everyone who is in paid employment.

That’s equivalent to half a day’s pay.’

‘Most people in the bush live off what they can grow in their gardens,’ she continues. ‘There is little money here.

But it’s not that people are willing to give that touches me. It’s the overwhelming

desire to read God’s Word. Missionaries give their lifetime to translate the Bible into the local language.’

One woman told her, ‘It is so important to hear and read the Bible in the language of your heart. Because then it is not about the God of English or the God of Dutch, it is about the God of your own life. The God who speaks your language.’

Every MAF flight in PNG includes a box of Bibles in Tok Pisin. But there are more than 800 local dialects still to receive a dedicated translation. Please pray for interpreters to read and write the Word of God in many more mother tongues throughout the world.

Our new 75th anniversary video – visit our www.maf-uk.org homepage – dramatises one of the earliest encounters in PNG between MAF and a young boy.

It shows how long-distance, longterm relationships between supporters and isolated people are the key to transforming communities – decade after decade – to the glory of God.

2019 income and expenditure Funds applied £13,509,000

Infrastructure developments 7.2%

MAF UK is a member of MAF International (MAFI), an association of operational Flights and other services 54.3% and resourcing MAF groups around the world, with the same charitable Overseas staff costs 12.6% objects, vision and mission. MAF UK’s provision of funds and staff is passed to of raisingoperations. funds (before support costs) 15.9% MAFI which manages theCost overseas Support costs 9.8%

Governance costs 0.2%

Expenditure £13,509,000 Funds applied £13,509,000 Infrastructure developments 7.2% Flights and other services 54.3% Overseas staff costs 12.6% Cost of raising funds (before support costs) 15.9% Support costs 9.8% Governance costs 0.2%

Individuals 55.3% Legacies 24.3%

Income £11,684,000

Churches 7.5%

Individuals 55.3%

Governments 0.3%

Legacies 24.3%

Trusts 10.0%

Churches 7.5%

Companies 1.4%

Governments 0.3%

Other 0.7%

Trusts 10.0%

Investment income 0.5%

Companies 1.4% Other 0.7% Investment income 0.5%

We praise God for His provision to MAF UK in 2019 of: More than £11 million of income

Three new UK staff families who went overseas

More than £2.8 million received in legacy gifts

Nearly 800 MAF Week of Prayer packs distributed

More than 500 new regular givers

More than 9,000 new contacts and supporters

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Thankful

Story Victoria Fagg Photo LuAnne Cadd

For 75 years, MAF has used light aircraft to reach the most remote and isolated people with the Good News of Jesus

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ur planes have changed over the decades, but our purpose remains the same — to see isolated people physically and spiritually transformed in Christ’s name.

Your prayers ‘fuel’ our work.

We are so thankful for every faithful prayer that is said for MAF and for those we serve.

I’m sure you’ll agree that prayer is necessary, now more than ever, as we lean into God for healing, restoration, peace and provision for every nation across the globe.

We still want to do all we can to resource your prayer times.

The theme for our 2020 Global Week of Prayer in November is ‘Thankful’.

In response to supporter feedback, we’re ‘re-imagining’ the Global Week of Prayer resource. We’ll be producing a special eight-day prayer diary that will be sent out with the October-December issue of Flying for Life.

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This will be our main prayer resource for the week, alongside an online prayer calendar where you can register your commitment to pray for 30-60 minutes at a point during the 8 days.

In 2021, for those of you who would like to share MAF with your church families, we will create a more substantial bi-annual prayer pack that can be used at any time of the year.

We felt this would be a more flexible approach to sharing MAF with your churches and small groups, and would prevent diary clashes with special dates such as Remembrance Sunday.

The resource will contain everything you need to pray, including a prayer diary, speaker notes, short film, children and youth resources, creative prayer ideas and a special PowerPoint presentation.

We hope you’re as excited as we are about all these reimagined prayer resources! For further information, please feel free to drop me a line at victoria.fagg@maf-uk.org

Meanwhile, let’s be thankful that the same God who fed the Israelites while they wandered the desert for 40 years – and raised Lazarus from the dead – is the God who will bring purpose out of this time of global crisis.

Main MAF’s Godfrey Sim (right) at a church service in remote Ialibu, Papua New Guinea

Thinking outside the box An unusual request from doctors in Queensland, Australia set MAF engineers the type of rare challenge they relish Story Katherine Williams Photos Phil Snell

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rotection from coronavirus is a priority that connects everyone on our planet.

In the early days of the outbreak, hospital staff in Mareeba decided that a special shield was urgently needed to lessen the chances of infection. After scratching their heads as to who could help them, someone had a brainwave – why not call the team at the local MAF engineering and training facility?

As soon as the call was over, our engineers got straight to work – fully inspired by the immediate need to protect lives. Phil Snell and Ben Sibthorpe led the unique project, building the transparent prototype – ‘Mark One’ – within a day!

Mark One was then presented to doctors at Mareeba Hospital for testing in the real world. While they were pleased with the prototype, and the speed with which it had been produced, certain changes and additions were necessary to maximise the shield’s effectiveness.

Mark Two swiftly followed and was so successful that the MAF team were asked to produce another one for a second hospital.

To serve with MAF is often about using whatever you have to help the people God has placed around you.

The invention of Mark Two is just one example in MAF’s 75-year history where a combination of emergency and imagination has resulted in a surprising solution to an immediate problem.

We have always considered ourselves blessed to have staff around the world with amazing abilities that are regularly put to good use for the benefit of the communities they seek to serve.

Praise the Lord for everyone who played a magnificent, if unexpected, part in the response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Pray that we’re able to maintain the teams that make MAF programmes a beacon of help, hope and healing for people who need us to stay airborne.

Main The MAF shield on trial Top Ben Sibthorpe checks adjustments to the ‘Mark One’ shield Above A life-saving invention

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We’re all in this together Every MAF staff member is living with the threat of coronavirus.

From South Sudan, Communications Officer Jenny Davies describes the slow, steady arrival in Africa of the disease

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s the coronavirus outbreak spreads across the world, I find myself scrolling through newsfeeds like everyone else.

While it’s not particularly healthy to feed my anxiety, it seems wise to stay informed.

From the big window in MAF’s office at Juba International Airport, life goes on as normal. Traffic flows across the busy junction opposite.

Coronavirus seems a world away.

I arrived in South Sudan in February and was soon introduced to MAF’s Programme Security and Contingency Plan. Page after page of scenarios, risk assessments and checklists covering every eventuality.

Except a global pandemic.

There are no cases in Juba. People come to work, share food at lunchtime, and our flights take off and land. All the while, newsfeeds continue to churn out global updates.

We stop shaking hands

Main left MAF planes are on standby Above We’re all in this together

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Italy is suffering terribly – Spain too is heading in the same direction.

Conversations with my sister in Mallorca are more frequent now I know she’s stuck indoors. It’s so nice to hear her voice.

‘Social distancing’ hasn't yet entered common parlance, though MAF staff have stopped shaking hands.

We wonder how the country will react when government advice is issued. Most people in South Sudan don’t have the luxury of stockpiling food in comfortable homes.

Colleagues ask after my family as the situation in the UK becomes more serious. I think of my parents, who are approaching 70, and of vulnerable friends from church.

In the office, we reflect on the sobering inadequacies of the healthcare system. The rest of the world is counting their ventilators – an easy task in South Sudan. Here, you can count them on one hand.

The virus creeps closer We discuss medevac flights – those we could fly for our partners in remote communities, and the international transfers we may need ourselves.

Colleagues request prayer for sick children and ailing mothers.

Others share their concerns about the violence flaring up in the areas they come from.

Main right Our people are ready to react

Story and photos Jenny Davies In March, when coronavirus arrives in nearby Kenya and Uganda, our conversations suddenly change.

Government posters telling passengers to wash their hands and have their temperature taken replace our home-made versions. The logistics team obtains vital hand sanitiser, albeit at a hugely inflated price.

At the airport, MAF staff now wear masks and gloves.

The edge of a precipice We offer the South Sudanese government flights to transport test kits, samples and response teams.

The next day, MAF gets a mention in an announcement by the government’s special task force, which confirms the closure of borders to all international flights.

MAF has already reduced flying – though urgent charters and emergency flights continue.

It feels more and more like we’re standing on the edge of a precipice, desperately trying to avoid looking down.

A colleague asks when I will return to the UK. I shrug in reply, but I know why he asks. In every crisis, foreign workers are the first ones to go.

But this situation is different.

Counting the days South Sudan relies on humanitarian organisations to provide basic services like healthcare.

Many of these organisations rely on us to help them keep people alive.

If we can’t fly, the consequences will be dreadful.

We keep a mental tally of people’s behaviour – whether habits are changing; if rules are being enforced.

Meanwhile, restaurants close and the cost of food in the markets rises.

Palm Sunday The calendar turns over into April and there are still no cases here. On a map of Africa, South Sudan is now the continent’s largest patch of coronavirusfree territory.

‘Isolation’ has become a byword for community lockdown. But there are still places of long-standing physical isolation where basic healthcare isn’t available, let alone respirators.

For people dwelling in cramped living conditions and remote communities, filthy water and malnutrition have long been the norm.

On Sunday 5 April, the first case of coronavirus is confirmed.

MAF planes are on standby for thousands of men, women and children who lived in isolation long before the coronavirus outbreak.

But we can only stay on active duty – ready to react to the next urgent flight request – if you keep supporting us.

We need you, because they need us!

Your prayers and gifts will bless this world like never before.

Thank you.

(The above information was correct as Flying for Life went to print.)

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’You have nothing to worry about.

MAF planes fly in the most difficult places in the world, landing at the most difficult runways, and they do it to the highest safety standards.’

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby

In 2019, more than 2,000 organisations worldwide relied on MAF aircraft to enable them to reach isolated people in desperate need of help, hope and healing.

For 75 years, we’ve relied on you to get us this far. Please help us to stay ready for the future that God has planned for MAF.

If you can make a gift that will keep MAF ready to fly whenever and wherever we’re called, please phone 01303 850950, email supporter.relations@maf-uk.org or visit www.maf-uk.org/give God bless you!

Registered charity in England and Wales (1064598) and Scotland (SC039107)

www.maf-uk.org/give