WatchFlightWatchM i s s i o n A v i a t i o n F e l l o w s h i p

Summer 2012

Committed to the call ... Spiritual and physical healing

a publication ofMission Aviation Fellowship

Our Mission Sharing the love of Jesus Christ through aviation and technology so that isolated people may be physically and spiritually transformed.

EVERY GIFT YOU send, every prayer you offer for MAF, helps change lives through aviation and technology.

We enjoy hearing from you! Please send comments and questions to MAF-US@maf.org.

MAF PO Box 47 Nampa, ID 83653-0047 208-498-0800 1-800-FLYS-MAF (359-7623) www.maf.org

John BoydPresident & CEOMAF USA

Dear Friend in Christ,

The continent of Africa remains one of the most fascinating tapestries on earth, weaving together interesting cultures, beautiful landscapes, exotic animals, and a wide variety of people. It’s where I grew up and later served with MAF. So, naturally, Africa is dear to my heart in so many ways.

Yet Africa can also seem like a dark, forgotten place at times. Human injustice. Corruption. Poverty. Poor education. Famine. Disease. Spiritual darkness. Those things plague this continent incessantly, serving to depress a place that needs to be lifted up.

More than 50 years ago, MAF’s early leaders saw an opportunity to be a light in Africa. They saw a chance to share the Gospel by helping missionaries reach people in remote areas.

Today, Africa still needs MAF. Many people groups remain isolated due to poor infrastructure. Christian missionaries, medical groups, and development agencies that rely on MAF for transportation continue to provide vital services for people living in unreached areas.

Through the years, one encouraging fact remains: African lives are being transformed by the power of the Gospel. In this issue we have captured stories of how MAF’s presence there is assisting partner organizations that are committed to bring spiritual and physical healing to Africa.

Thank you again for your continued support and partnership with this ministry. You are the reason we can continue to reach the world for Christ.

In His grace,

John C. BoydPresident and CEO

A Light in Africa

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Managing Editor: Tracey Werre

Production Manager: Kelly Hewes

Art Director: Colby Dees

Writers/Resourcing: Jennifer Wolf Jason Chatraw

FromthePresident’sDesk

All Scripture references, unless otherwise noted, are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2010 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

MAF maintains the highest standards of financial accountability and public disclosure to donors, the government, and the world at large. MAF is a member of ... ACCORD • CSC Christian Service Charities • ECFA Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability • IAMA International Association of Missionary Aviation • Missio Nexus.

Zephaniah 3:17

“The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save.He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”

On the Cover: Committed to the call. Photo used courtesy of LuAnne Cadd.

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hen David and Gerd LePoidevin arrived in

Nampula, Mozambique, to open a base there in 1999, they had three young kids and an arduous task of building something from the ground up. Thirteen years later, the “young kids” are away at school, and there’s the pitter-patter of little feet from a fourth. While their family has grown, so has the program—from one pilot/mechanic family to four, plus one schoolteacher. David says, “We feel privileged to have been

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Missionary Spotlight: David and Gerd LePoidevin

able to plant and manage the MAF Mozambique program, which now serves many dedicated missionaries and development organizations in northern Mozambique.”

From the beginning, the couple had a passion for starting a flying doctor service. So for nearly a decade, David says, “We kept trying to get the doctor program to go, and kept praying, ‘Lord, we need somebody to help with this if this is going to work.’“ Then God started to

open some doors. The government suddenly decided it wanted help with this very thing, and a Dutch physician, Dr. Pim de Lijster, showed some interest. Everything started to fall into place, and the MozMed program became a reality.

Besides medical flights, David also supports SIL and New Tribes Mission missionaries in the area. Both David and Gerd count it a “real blessing to be involved in the missionaries’ lives.” That involvement goes beyond flying, from helping families get settled when they first arrive to helping them find cars for the bush (and fixing those cars), and even housing a missionary couple for two months.

“It’s a nice mission community that we have,” says David. “It’s kind of a small town, where everybody knows everyone, and we all help each other out.”

David and Gerd are excited about how God is working in Mozambique. They recently had an answer to prayer—for Mozambicans to transform their culture. They heard from an SIL worker who reported that in one area new Christians are taking the Bible seriously—getting baptized, getting and staying married, attending church—and nonbelievers are beginning to notice the changes.

Photo courtesy of the LePoidevins

Dr. Pim de Lijster visits with a nurse at a clinic where the MozMed team may begin serving.

Have you ever wondered … - What missionaries in Africa eat?

- How many crocodiles fit into one plane?

- What a person has to do to become an MAF pilot?

Send your question to ask@maf.org, and it may be featured in our next issue.

Ask MAF!To learn more about the LePoidevins and to support their ministry in Mozambique, visit www.maf.org/lepoidevin.

had already spared his family from a deadly attack on their mission hospital, Lemera, where Alain’s father was a physician. A few days later they boarded the last MAF plane out of Bukavu. The situation was tense. The airport commander told the MAF pilot to leave immediately, as a rebel army was spotted heading toward the airport. The pilot left all the luggage in order to fit as many

people as he could in the plane, and took off just minutes before the airport fell under rebel control.

Alain reflects on that last flight and says, “We were grateful because our family could have been slaughtered. MAF really did a great thing for us.”

Now a research fellow at the Mayo Clinic in the U.S., Alain plans to return to DRC to work with his

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ver the past 50 years, MAF’s ability to evacuate

missionaries and humanitarian workers quickly in the event of an uprising has been critical to the survival of the Congolese Church and the country’s recovery. And as the Church continues to grow and the country tries to heal, MAF is committed to being there.

MAF began service in the country now known as Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 1961, shortly after the African nation received its independence from Belgium. During the Congo Crisis in 1964, it was mainly western missionaries who needed MAF’s services to evacuate to safety. But in later years during the First and Second Congo Wars (1996 – 2003), many Congolese and NGO (nongovernmental organization) workers required lifesaving MAF flights.

While the more recent uprisings have led to fewer western missionaries returning, many Congolese who were saved on a “last flight out” have come back. They’re part of a growing number who are committed to God’s call to help DRC heal, both spiritually and physically.

When Dr. Alain Mukwege was 16 years old, in 1996, he and his family were evacuated by MAF. God

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Families waiting to board an MAF flight to evacuate out of Bunia in 2003. Photo by Dave Jacobsson

Committed to the CallCongolese people rescued by MAF return to help their country heal

To watch a video of how MAF is committed to the call in Africa, scan code, or visit www.maf.org/africa12

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“ We were grateful because our family could have been

slaughtered. MAF really did a great thing for us.” Photo courtesy of Jon Cadd

father, who started Panzi Hospital in Bukavu in 1999, in conjunction with a protestant church organization. The hospital is instrumental in treating female survivors of sexual violence and reproductive trauma, and aims to provide a holistic approach to healing.

Nyankunde, where MAF had a base, came under attack in 2002. As an accountant at the local hospital, Daniel Kasereka was targeted and needed to escape. He left on one of the last two MAF flights out of Nyankunde.

“David Jacobsson saved me when they were just about to kill me. I owe my life to him,” says Kasereka, who, after the war, started a reconciliation ministry, OEIL (Organisation, Evangélisation, Intercession et Libération), to bring different tribes

together to heal from the hatred and pain caused by years of conflict. In late 2011, Kasereka and his team conducted an OEIL workshop in Nyankunde with the ex-militia who had ransacked the city—the same people who sought to kill him. These men publicly asked for forgiveness and have since become Christians. “The Lord has used Daniel to bring many, many people to the Lord, and healing to the region. Only He knows how many,” says MAF pilot David Jacobsson. About his role that day he adds, “It’s an incredible privilege ... We just did what God put before us to do.”

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the attack on Nyankunde, where close to 2,000 were killed in 10 days and everything was destroyed, including the MAF hangar and staff homes. Today the population is back up to 10,000. The mission hospital, Centre Médical Evangélique, is operating again and is filled with doctors who feel called to be there. MAF Congolese staff maintain the airstrip and keep an eye on the MAF homes and facilities that have

been gradually rebuilt over the past decade. MAF hopes to someday return its operations to Nyankunde, when the security situation allows.

In the meantime, MAF operates from the eastern DRC city of Bunia, where the Shalom University of Bunia (USB)has been training Christian leaders for 50 years. Professor Kabuchungu is the director of the school’s Bible translation department. He and his family made it onto the last MAF flight out of Bunia in 2003 when conflict was at its peak. “It was like flying into heaven,” he said. Kabuchungu returned after the war to continue teaching at the university, where he says, “MAF is the only safe way students can come to study the Bible. Over land, it is too dangerous.” Translation projects slowed by the war are now moving forward, and Kabuchungu’s students will be instrumental in bringing the Scriptures to new audiences.

As MAF stays committed to serving a country still reeling from the effects of war, the resolve of DRC Christians to rebuild their country remains stronger than ever.

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“ I kept my word that after my training, I would return to my home country to serve the

Lord.”

fter landing deep in an isolated area of the Bas-Congo region

in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Salazaku Milukiele exits an MAF airplane and transitions to another mode of transportation: a motorcycle. The vehicle is only temporary though, as it will eventually give way to a canoe, a much more navigable way to travel in the heart of the jungle.

While Milukiele – or “Pastor Sala” as he is more affectionately known – may not be blazing new trails into DRC’s dense jungle, he represents a marked shift in the way MAF is helping reach DRC with the Gospel. Instead of flying mostly western missionaries, MAF is now flying more national church leaders into the interior, helping the new

A generation of Congolese Christian leaders reach their own.

While national church leaders often express frustration with the number of seminary students who study

abroad yet never return home, Pastor Sala is among the growing contingent of Congolese who feel called to serve in DRC.

Pastor Sala began working with MAF in 1985 in Kinshasa, when the MAF base was open between

intermittent evacuations due to civil and political unrest. In 1997, Pastor Sala began earning his undergraduate and then master’s degrees in theology and Christian leadership in Kenya. Then, he and his wife Suzanne (who earned a degree in

biblical counseling) returned to DRC in 2004 to work with their people. “I kept my word that after my training, I would return to my home country to serve the Lord, despite the pressure from friends to stay in Kenya or go to other western countries because of how I would suffer in DRC,” said Pastor Sala. “Serving the Lord is not always easy—I know.”

Pastor Sala’s pain is real. When he was 11, his pregnant mother died while being transported to a large hospital. His parents were serving deep in the interior of the country as missionaries, and adequate medical care was not available.

However, Pastor Sala remains steadfast in his calling, as he continues his own mission work with the help of MAF by traveling deep into DRC’s remote regions to share the Gospel.

“We were about to teach and preach … and people came from surrounding villages,” Pastor Sala reported back about his venture. “As a result, we baptized new converts. We also did counseling and prayed for the sick and those who had problems.”

There is little doubt that the church leaders in DRC are committed to reach their own people for Christ. It is a blessing for MAF to partner with pastors and help them turn that vision into reality.

Reaching Their OwnHow MAF is helping one Congolese church leader spread the Gospel

Photo courtesy of Layton Thompson

Photo courtesy of Salazaku Milukiele

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ith 58 whirring compressor turbine blades less than an inch long, all it takes is one broken blade to shut down an

airplane’s engine. That’s why inspecting engines for cracks and weak areas is of the utmost importance. It can also be very time-consuming to split the engine apart for such inspections—but that can be avoided if you have a videoscope.

MAF maintenance specialist and turbine engine expert Craig Goodman explained just how vital a videoscope is to maintaining safety on MAF’s turbine-powered aircraft: “When you are looking into an engine’s ‘hot section,’ you need to be able to inspect the effects of excessive heating and cooling processes in tight spaces. A videoscope allows us to get an accurate picture of the engine’s health and helps us determine if we need to split the engine apart and make repairs.”

When Goodman refers to the hot section of an engine, he means melt-your-finger-off-if-you-touch-it hot. Combustion gases at up to 1,713 degrees Fahrenheit spin the compressor turbine wheel at 37,000 revolutions per minute.

MAF previously used a fiber optic scope, but recently transitioned to the videoscope to obtain a higher resolution for inspections and taking pictures.

“The videoscope allows us to create a visual history of an engine,” Goodman said. “We can keep a record of how an engine looks at each inspection, enabling us to track the wear and tear on an engine and determine how best to make repairs.”

Most of MAF’s major maintenance bases scattered across the globe now have videoscopes to aid with inspections on the field. If a question arises, the new videoscope technology allows the maintenance team to email pictures back to headquarters, where Goodman can assist in determining if and what repairs are necessary.

“You can do a thorough inspection with a videoscope in about an hour, while splitting the engine and doing a manual inspection can take a day or two,” Goodman said. “These videoscopes help us be more efficient as we maintain aircraft safety.”

W Videoscopes Increase Efficiency, Safety

“ The videoscope allows us to create a visual history of an engine.”

Videoscope image—compressor turbine guide vane crack.

Baker, KimberlyBirkemo, Nate & TerraBlomberg, JonathanBorror, Kevin & MelisaBryant, Luke & JoyBurton, David & NancyCadd, Jon & CherCarlson, Dan & KarenClark, Roger & BarbaraDerocher, Fran & LoriDurkee, Ben & BeckyEygabroad, Bryan & MariFrancis, David & SandyFuller, Owen & StephanieHarkonen, Timo & LauraHarrell, Richard & MeganHertzler, Conrad & HeidiHochstetler, Rod & ValerieHolmes, Dave & JillHonaker, Justin & AmandaHulls, Daniel & LeslieJacobsson, David & DonnaLePoidevin, David & GerdLincoln, Joey & SuzanneLincoln, Stan & PamLind, Matthew & LisaManning, Phil & MariMartin, Joey & KathleenMonson, Matthew & CarolynPederson, Garth & JodyRamos, Erica (Snyder) Rogers, David & AmyShutts, Mike & SharolSpann, Kevin & TashaStrietzel, Lary & SherylVeal, Warren & JulieVennell, Tim & TonyaWestom, Brad & KristianWills, Sam & DawnWismer, Ron & Roz

Simulator Project Complete in Southeast AsiaA team just completed a project in Southeast Asia to construct a flight simulator for a new national pilot training facility MAF has started. With two instrument panel monitors and five scenery projections, the simulator gives students a 225-degree field of vision. The simulator will allow pilots to experience maneuvers and situations that would be impossible to reproduce safely in actual flight. There’s also a significant cost savings, compared with actual flight time.

Expanding Our Reach in MozambiqueWe are pleased to report that Dr. Hanneke Dekker has joined the MozMed flying doctor service. Since moving to Nampula in January, she has accompanied Dr. Pim to the clinics near Moma, where she’s learned about the health system and the culture of Mozambique, as well as the Portuguese language. In May, with a second doctor on board, the program expanded to Gurue, where a Dutch group runs a tree farm (evangelism and community development/health care are part of their business plan). “It’s a good fit for us,” says program manager Warren Veal. “We’re excited about moving into their area and starting clinics.” Now MAF can bring healthcare to twice the number of sick and hurting in Mozambique, all in the name of Jesus.

MAF Named a FinalistMission Aviation Fellowship is one of 20 nonprofit organizations named as finalists for a 2012 grant from Lightspeed Aviation Foundation. The final grant recipients will be selected by aviation enthusiasts who vote online at www.lightspeedaviationfoundation.org. The top five charities will each receive a grant for $10,000. Please visit the site by November 2, and vote for MAF. Winners will be announced in November.

Prayer Points “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” —Colossians 4:2

Pray that ...• Permissions for a new hangar will be granted in Lesotho so the project can

move forward.

• There will be fruit from the Alas de Socorro del Ecuador/MAF team’s year-long biblical teaching in two villages in Ecuador.

• The MAF teams working together in Juba, South Sudan, will have the capacity to meet the needs in this new country.

• MAF families will be resistant to tropical diseases carried by mosquitos (mainly, malaria and dengue).

Please prayfor our staff serving in Africa:

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