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MESHACK'S STORY
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Meshack’s story Meshack Nagete is a normal Kenyan schoolkid with one of the most shocking stories you’ll ever hear. Photos Thorkild Jørgensen
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Main // Meshack receiving prayer Top frame // Meshack and his mum Hellen on board an MAF flight Bottom frame // Meshack with Doctor Joseph and his mum Hellen Left // Meshack being helped from the plane by MAF staff Right // Meshack in his new leg and wheelchair!
Life or death decision
The right guy for the job
On a Friday night in October 2017, he became one of the 18 pupils injured in a revenge shooting that occurred at his boarding school in Lokichoggio. Thankfully, he didn’t end up numbered among the seven who were killed.
Although unqualified, Joseph serves as the local doctor near Lokichoggio, having had many years’ experience assisting doctors tending to severe injuries – including gunshot wounds, – at the Red Cross hospital. Since then, Joseph has been the main man to go to for locals. Despite operating out of a small shack in Totubunoe, Joseph and his wife, dedicating themselves to helping Meshack, were able to prevent Meshack from losing another leg.!’
The shootings were carried out by a troubled fellow student who had been expelled for fighting and, having previously been a child soldier in the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, the former schoolboy reacted in the only way he knew how – with violence. The attack happened between 1 and 4am, with the attacker having plenty of time to get away before the police arrived. At some point during those gruesome three hours, Meshack was shot in the stomach and the legs.
Stepping into the future In November 2018, MAF was asked by partner organisation Children’s Mission to fly Meshack to Nairobi to measure him for a prosthetic leg. Months later, Meshack got a call from Jaipur Foot Trust to say his new leg was ready!
The trauma continued Making it to the hospital only made things worse for Meshack. The treatment he received for his injuries was so poorly managed his stomach was left clumsily stitched up and worse still for his legs. In an effort to stop the loss of blood from Meshack’s legs, the doctors ended up stopping his blood supply altogether. They then left him unchecked for 18 hours. This crucial mistake led to Meshack leaving hospital without his left leg. Meshack would have lost both legs that day if wasn’t for his mother Hellen and another man, Joseph Alinga, telling the doctors to stop. From that moment onwards, Joseph would play an incredibly important role in Meshack’s recovery.
Taking another MAF flight to Nairobi, Meshack and his mum were able to pick up the replacement leg, a free wheelchair and a brace for his recovering right leg. After such a horrific ordeal, Meshack is now able to look towards the future with a newfound hope. Not only has it been amazing to see the positive influence that others have had on Meshack’s recovery, it’s been a massive privilege for MAF to play a part.
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WHEN MAF Y O U T H M E T //
Dave Waterman What made you want to become an aircraft engineer? I was 13 when I first read an MAF magazine and it was just of one of those moments where the words jumped off the page and I realised, ‘That’s what I’m supposed to do!’ Both my grandparents were in the RAF – so there’s a bit of aviation history, with a lean towards the engineering side. I got in touch with MAF and said, ‘I’d like to become an engineer, how do I do that?’ They said I’d need an Aviation Maintenance Licence.
half 2½ years later, I’d gotten a few more qualifications. In a fit of boldness, I went and spoke to the manager and said, ‘If you pay for all my qualifications, I’ll become your next engineer.’ So they did, which was awesome! I then cross-trained to do avionics as well; specialising in that for the remaining five years I was with them.
What did you do during your school years to point you in the right direction? I skated through the last three years of secondary school because, when you start looking at the qualifications you need for aviation, you have to do it their way. When I went to college at 16, it was A-level Physics and Maths and things like that, but you didn’t need any GCSEs to get on the course. At the end of that, I came out with a diploma in aeronautical engineering and the aviation licence I needed.
What happened after college? I joined a company in Gloucester and started learning to fix aircraft. I originally trained as an airframe engine mechanic – fixing and doing all the engine structures and, about two-and-a-
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What difficulties did you have to overcome? Something I’ve always struggled with is low self-esteem. I don’t often think very much of myself and, looking back, I can see that the decisions and actions I took as a teenager were because of that. But, having this clear idea of what I wanted to do kept overriding that. One of our lecturers said to us, ‘When you qualify, if you get something wrong, you have the power to kill between 1 and 700 people.’ That might not be the best thing to tell 16-year-olds, but at the same time it’s a reminder of the responsibility you have as an aircraft maintenance engineer.
Main // Dave and Becky Waterman Left // Dave in the MAF hangar in 2005 Right // Dave working on the upgrade of a Cessna 208 Caravan
How did you eventually start working for MAF? I kept in touch. During that period, I met Becky – my wife – and we got married. What was really nice was that Becky’s heart has always been about mission. In 2014, I got a job with Garmin in Southampton – the manufacturer of most of the avionics used in MAF aircraft. Through that time, we learned a lot in the waiting. In the area where lived, some of the churches didn’t have a permanent pastor. So, Becky and I were able to go and take services, disciple others and learn how to work within a charity. In 2016, when God said, ‘Yes, now is the time’, we were probably readier than any of the previous times that we were desperate to go!
What’s been the hardest thing to adapt to since moving to Uganda? Weirdly, the weather! In the UK, you get used to working at a fast pace – you get things done and you’re busy, busy, busy! But every day, during the first two months, I was wrecked! I found it hard to deal with the change of weather and the humidity. If you come out here and try to work at a European speed, you’ll die!
What’s one of the strangest things you’ve seen? This morning on the bus, we saw someone wearing an apron with the Starbucks logo on it and she was carrying three chickens. Sometimes things can be so close to what you call ‘normal’ in the UK that things like that take you by surprise!
Describe a moment you’ve witnessed where you truly saw the impact of MAF About a month ago, one of MAF’s Cessna Caravans came back from a flight, having helped loads of people already. While it was being refuelled, a doctor boarded the plane
for a medical emergency flight. The aircraft had come back, then immediately flew off again to save someone’s life. That was one of those moments where I thought, ‘That’s really making a difference!’ With the skills I’ve got, I’m actually doing something that’s impacting lives.
SEE DAVE AND THE TEAM IN ACTION!
What advice would you give to someone following in your footsteps? Go for it! It’s so worth it. It’s hard work. Nothing that’s worth doing comes easy. Engineering is hard work. It takes a lot of study; it takes a lot of your time. There will be times you’ll think you’re crazy, but it’s well worth doing. I’m certainly a better person for getting involved in aviation!
What characteristics do you need? You have to be adaptable. You have to be able to be presented with a problem, then think of as many solutions as possible. It’s good to be able work under pressure. Being good at working with your hands and understanding how mechanical things work definitely helps. On the electronics side, being skilled with computers is good for becoming an avionics engineer. You also need a little bit of stubbornness, because it’s fine if you’ve got to fix something but sometimes have to put up with different aviation authorities working in different ways. Curiosity’s also a good thing, because it keeps you learning!
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COUNTRY MOZAMBIQUE CAPITAL MAPUTO POPULATION 27,233,789* MAF PROGRAMME EST 1999
*Statistic taken from the CIA World Factbook
GURUE // MOZAMBIQUE
PHOTO MARK and KELLY HEWES
e T A D p U r e sumM We are excited to announce that MAF is now offering gap year opportunities to students aged 18+ who are interested in volunteering in our Papua New Guinea programme! Are you interested in any of the following roles? • Construction — good with your hands? • HR — friendly, with excellent communication skills? • Vehicle maintenance — good problemsolving skills? • Business admin — well organised? • Hospitality — organised, friendly and culturally sensitive? • IT — keen interest in all things digital? • Videography and editing — creative, with good attention to detail? Do any of these suit you? Get in touch for more info! Email us at mafyouth@maf-uk.org
PRAY, PRAY, PRAY! Remember Meshack in your prayers as he makes moves towards adapting to life after the horrific attack on his school. Also, thank God for Joseph Alinga and his service to Meshack and the people of Lokichoggio.
Pray for Dave and Becky Waterman as they carry on serving with MAF Uganda. Pray for more opportunities for Dave to witness the impact he’s having on others as a result of his amazing engineering skills.
Keep the Culp family in your prayers, especially little Caleb. Pray that the disorder Caleb picked up last year won’t resurface. Also, remember missionaries who have had similar experiences and live far from convenience and comfort.
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Background // Lohutok, South Sudan by air Left // The Culp Family Middle // Amy and Caleb onboard an MAF flight Right // Justin getting his stuff on board
A family OrdeaL Photos Thorkild Jørgensen
Working overseas can lead to some pretty hair-raising moments, especially when it involves your family living in a remote location far from convenience and security. The Culps are one such family whose ordeal touched on these difficulties. Justin and Amy live in Lohutok, South Sudan, with their boys Ezekiel (6) and Caleb (2). Working with Pioneers, an organisation that plants and equips churches, Justin and Amy have been sharing Jesus with the Lopit people in and around the Lopa mountains.
A scary end to a holiday The family was just finishing up a welldeserved break in Uganda with Amy’s parents when Caleb, their youngest boy, fell ill with a fever. Just to be safe, Justin and Amy started Caleb on some malaria treatment. After arriving back in Lohutok, Caleb had broken out in a rash, which raised huge alarm bells. The previous year, Caleb had come down with a disorder that could lead to major liver and kidney damage. A rash could be a sign of its return. Having spoken to a doctor, it became clear that Caleb needed to be seen by a specialist. But the specialist they needed was in Nairobi, Kenya – a 621-mile drive!
Back in the air Fortunately, Justin contacted our South Sudan programme and got Amy and Caleb booked on an MAF flight the following morning. Within 36 hours of the Culp family arriving back home from holiday, Amy and Caleb were off again! The family needed to be apart for a least a week, with Justin and Ezekiel holding the fort in Lohutok. During Caleb and Amy’s
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stay in Kenya, Caleb was diagnosed with hand, foot and mouth disease! Sounds bad, right? Surprisingly, it’s not! It wasn’t a return of the disorder that struck last year and, thankfully, hand, foot and mouth disease goes away on its own without any need for treatment. Happy days!
Unable to return home With such good news in-hand, Amy and Caleb booked another MAF flight home. However, the night before they were due to fly, insecurity issues arose in Lohutok. Because of the fear and uncertainty in their home village, Justin and Ezekiel planned to evacuate – realising that an hour’s drive to Torit would ensure their
safety. Getting the Culp family reunited was becoming increasingly hard!
The family reunited! Thankfully, Amy and Caleb didn’t have to cancel their flight booking. Instead, our brilliant team diverted the plane to Torit at the last minute, so Amy and Caleb were flown there instead of Lohutok! The next day, Justin and Ezekiel arrived in Torit and the family was finally reunited! They stayed there for a week before finally being given the green light to return to Lohutok. Their three-week ordeal had come to an end!
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Wall SNAPCHAT PRAYER PORTAL MAF teens in Uganda have been praying for you!
jamie_leigh1712 For the past two years my mum has struggled with functional syndrome. This is where she receives symptoms of having a stroke. One evening I had to call an ambulance for her because she was having the symptoms again. I haven’t been able to sleep properly since. It would mean everything to me if you could pray for my family and for my Mum’s recovery.
Dear God, I ask today that you would be with Jamie and let her know how much you are with her and how much you love her. Surround her family and be their strong hold. Guide them through this hard time and give them peace and healing. Lord I ask all these things in your name. Amen.
its.lizzyx For my friend Michael to be healed of his depression and anxiety.
Ariela in Uganda Dear God, I pray for strength for Lizzy’s friend Michael and that he will be able to see you through his struggles. I also hope that you help to guide Lizzy with wisdom and show her how she can be a good friend and comforter to Michael in this difficult time. Amen.
INner
zoe in Uganda
golphert3 Please pray for my exams as I’m stressing so much.’
Jacob in Uganda I pray that God would come beside and comfort you and cover you with His peace. I pray that God would help you to remember all that you have studied. I pray that you would cast your fears on God. May God help you know what to study and help you focus. Amen.
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MESHACK'S STORY
12
INTERESTED IN ENGINEERING
14
GAP YEAR IN PNG!
Search ‘MAF Youth’ W maf-uk.org/youth E youth@maf-uk.org