This cool MAF couple ...

Hello! Last week we had the awesome opportunity to sit down with a totally awesome couple: Phil and Merilee Henderson! They are missionaries with MAF in Chad but they're home so that Merilee can have a child. And guess what? They live 5 minutes away from us!

We felt so blessed to meet up with them and learn about their life in Chad. They shared with us the ups and downs of life in a very hard country to live in ... life is expensive over there, there is little to do, extremely expensive and slow internet, it's hot, and so far from home. But they showed a real joy and passion for the work of MAF in Chad, and they were so welcoming and humble!

Thanks guys for meeting up with us! We can't wait to join you as missionaries out in the field, perhaps in Chad ... or somewhere else in Africa!

Stories from the Field: Life-saving work in South Sudan

Once again, I would like to share about some of the amazing work MAF does around the world, and one of the amazing organizations MAF partners with. This story comes from South Sudan, a country we feel a particular heart for because of two awesome people--Chris & Karyn Ball, who are serving there with MAF! It is also a particularly meaningful country to me, Kelly, after I read an INCREDIBLE book by Emmanuel Jal, called War Child. Please, if you get a chance, read this book. It will forever change you.

In South Sudan, MAF and an organization called Tearfund have an ongoing relationship, with MAF helping Tearfund overcome impossibly difficult travel situations to minister to the poorest of people there. This particular story happened back in May. MAF pilots were able to fly over 1800 kg of "Plumpy Sup", a nutritional supplement that has worked miracles in helping malnourished babies and infants.

For the full written story, click here. Otherwise, Pilot Ryan Unger made a brief video that highlights some of the work Tearfund was doing that day in May. Pray for thire continued work in South Sudan as there is still much unrest and violence in the country, an impending famine, and a great need for MAF's lifesaving flights. For more prayer points, check out MAF UK's Pray for South Sudan.

I NEED to write this

While sipping my coffee this morning, an overwhelming sense of urgnecy presented itself and I realized, there is something I NEED to blog about. It came about from this line:

"Good for you for wanting to move overseas and help people."

We've heard this a LOT. And fair enough ... what else are people going to naturally want to say when we explain our big plan with MAF?

But guys ... it's not about us.

It's not about "building up good karma" or "just tryin' to be good people" or "trying to change the world."

I'll be honest ... of my own accord, I do not want to go overseas and help people. I want to make money, have a nice house, raise some kids, take lots of fun vacations and travel, and never be bothered by other people's issues.

But all that changed (and changes) with Jesus.

Those of you who have known us longer than a half hour know that we are Christians, but man ... I don't think I've explained it totally right.

Being a follower of Christ literally changes everything. It's not about going to church (though that's nice, and fairly important). It's not about praying or reading your Bible (though those are two of the most important things I do). And it's definitely more than being a good person who follows the ten commandments.

Let me quote Jesus to help explain what it's really about, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10)

It's about LIFE. It's about life being meaningless until we met Christ. The gospel boiled down is this ... God is good and just. He loves us and created us in His image. He gave us the freedom of choice to follow Him, but we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Isn't this true? Even the best of us, who tries to be the best human being we can be, falls short of ultimate perfection. We try to earn God's favour by doing good things, but God is infinitely good and Holy ... and well, it doesn't take a genius to see that we humans make mistakes ... we fall short.

But God has a simple, beautiful, life-changing solution. "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous of the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit." (1 Peter 3:18). He sent His perfect Son Jesus, fully man but also fully God, to die on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. It's mind-blowing to grasp, but Jesus made the ultimate exchange ... his life, for our life. "Yet God, with undeserved kinds, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty of our sins." (Romans 3:24)

We are made right with God by believing and placing our faith in Jesus. We are freed from the guilt of our sins ... we are free to live and breathe with a new, lasting, eternal, peaceful life. We have purpose in this life on earth (to love God and love others) and the knowledge that we have ETERNAL life beyond our short few years here on earth.

And this is what motivates us to want to serve with MAF. It's not of our own accord. It's because Jesus loved us first, and now we want to serve and love others (1 John 4:19). 

It's not us trying to earn God's favour or even earn YOUR favour. It springs out of this great joy and peace in our hearts. It comes from a new heart that Christ has given us ... a heart for Him and a heart for people.

Phew. That was a lot to write for 8:30 am in the morning, the day after Canada Day. But it's off my chest and I'm glad. Because Jesus changes everything.

P.S. Lecrae (just one of my fav music artist ever) says it so, so well. Seriously, listen. It's so good.