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.

Tasty Tidbits of Life on the Field

Every once in a while, I stumble upon some interesting blogs from the field that I think just exemplify the good work MAF is doing around the world. Here are some tasty tidbits of life as an MAF missionary ...

From Lesotho:

In Lesotho, MAF staff had the opportunity to participate in a "Letsema"--a partnership to complete a project for the good of the community. In a very remote village called Lebakeng, the airstrip had become unsafe due to deep ruts. This airstrip is an important lifeline to the people in the village to receive medical care. At best, without MAF and the use of an airstrip for quick medical evacuation, it takes a minimum of 16 HOURS to get to a hospital--lots of walking and if you're lucky, you'll catch the once-a-day taxi/bus, followed by at least 10 hours of public transportation to Maseru, the capital city! But with MAF, it's just a short 40 minute flight! WOW!

In April, the community invited MAF to come help them fix the airstrip, recognizing the vital importance it had in the community. 80 people gathered together to fix the airstrip and work shoulder to shoulder. The cost? Two flights and enough food to feed everyone. And the other cool part ... after everyone was fed, the Gospel was shared and Sesotho bibles handed out--one for each village represented! Some people even heard the good news of the Gospel for the first time. Now that ... that is good news! See full story here: http://www.mafblog.com/stories/it-takes-a-village-part-1

Working shoulder to shoulder to fix the airstrip ... looks nothing like a Canadian airstrip though, eh?
Photo by Kimberly Baker

From Mozambique:

I recently read the blog of MAF'er Jill Holmes. She recounted some of the work MAF flights had made possible over the past year or so. Take a look at some of God work that is going on:

• MAF flies a missionary along with some much needed supplies to a village, where two missionary families are teaching the Bible chronologically. 
• MAF flies doctors and workers to a titanium mine. When one worker got a serious head injury, MAF flew the man to a hospital--a journey that would normally take hours on very bumpy roads (not exactly preferable travel for someone with a head injury!).
• MAF staff, along with Mozambique pastors/evangelists often get the chance to show the JESUS film in different villages. This is an important ministry in sharing the gospel.
• See Jill's blog here: http://holmeslogbook.blogspot.ca

Delivering an injured mine worker to safety ... Photo by Jill Holmes.

"Ice"-olation and Isolation!

Brrrr .... it's COLD here in London!!!! Marcel said the wind chill makes it feel like -40 degrees Celsius out--a figure which makes me ready to move overseas any day, please and thank you!

This cold has me reflecting on the importance of MAF and their ministry of reaching the isolated. I tried to imagine this morning what it would feel like to be isolated--something that wasn't too hard to imagine on a cold day like this, where I don't want to leave my home or start my car.

How encouraging would it be to see an MAF plane land in the isolated village where you and your family serve as missionaries, bringing encouragement from other Canadians and comforts of home? 
How exciting would it be to see family you haven't seen in years coming off of an MAF airplane? 
How relieving would it be to see food, water, and basic living supplies coming from the cargo hold when your community is in the middle of an awful famine or terrible drought? 
How thankful would you be if an MAF plane brought in supplies, food, and hope in the midst of a terrible natural disaster that has left you isolated and terrified? 
How crucial would it be to your son or daughter's health if they could get a life-saving flight to a "nearby" hospital (200 miles away) after a terrible accident?

These are just a few of the important reasons MAF exists. These are just a few of the ways MAF ministers to isolated people.

I'd like to end by re-posting a couple cool photos from the MAF-US blog that show some of the work MAF staff do every day to help the isolated. Some of these pics are pretty cool and worth a scroll!!

A medevac flight for a miner with a head injury in Mozambique. Photo by Jill Holmes.

A joyful reception of 1000 Zandi language bibles along the CAR/Congo border. Photo courtesy of John Cadd.

South Sudan flight for amputees getting prosthetic limbs. Photo courtesy of John Woodberry.

The village of Kiwi comes out to greet passengers arriving. Photo by David Holsten.

A little taste of MAF ...

Hey guys! For those of you who haven't had an opportunity to talk with us or look up what MAF does, here are some quick facts, stats and stories that give you a little glimpse into the MAF world. So whether you like numbers, or stories, I've tried to include something for both types of people here!

• MAF's mission: Sharing God's love through aviation and technology
• MAF's vision: Isolated people physically and spiritually transformed in Christ's name.
• MAF operates in 30 countries around the world.
• MAF currently operates approximately 136 aircraft worldwide!
• Almost 1500 people work for MAF around the world--expats, nationals, and support staff.
• MAF partners with almost 1500 organizations to multiply their effectiveness--including organizations like World Vision, Samaritan's Purse, Tearfund, and UNICEF.

Click here to see this 2012 MAF fact sheet enlarged. So many cool stats!

So, those facts are pretty astounding ... but what does this look like on the ground level? What are MAF pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers, and IT staff doing on a day-to-day basis? We've been told it's hard to generalize--every day could look completely different! I did come across a cool story though that gives a little glimpse into one way MAF pilots and staff partner with others to "demonstrate and proclaim" the name of Jesus. It's a recent story from the MAF base in Madagascar.

A young woman in rural Madagascar was violently beat by cattle thieves and needed desperate medical attention for herself and her unborn child. It was a matter of life or death, and the only hospital that would be able to properly provide medical attention for her was in the capital--200 miles away, or a two day trek on some very difficult roads.

MAF was able to partner with two trusted doctors and fly out to the village the next day. Meanwhile, one of MAF's partners, an NGO called HoverAid, put all the necessary pieces in place to get the young woman to the airstrip where MAF could pick her up. The doctors were able to do a quick ultrasound to determine the baby was still alive--but the bleeding was such that no one was sure the baby would survive.

MAF was able to safely deliver the young woman to the hospital, and from there, to step back and pray for her. Fortunately, both mom and newborn daughter are doing well--and the young mother named her new daughter Faustine, after one of the doctors that had come to save her!

How cool is that? As Marcel and I wait to hear where we are going ... we love reading the stories of MAF's work. It fits so well with what we both believe is our jobs as "Christ-followers" in this world--to love people, serve people, and proclaim Jesus while doing so! MAF does just that--loving and serving (isolated) people! (P.S. More stories to come!)

People gathered around an MAF plane in Madagascar.

The young woman was transferred to an MAF aircraft and taken to the hospital.