MAF Blog » Christine Harms

High Maintenance

Christine Harms — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:09:23 +0000

When my husband David puts on his old glasses, I know what that means: aircraft maintenance. In a moment, he’s transformed: off goes the pressed, white pilot shirt with captain’s bars on the shoulders, on goes the plain, blue work shirt with a few holes and the rubbery red RTV stain I can’t get out. When he comes back into the office, there will be grease and oil and, most likely, he’ll smell like gasoline. In a commercial airline scenario, you’d never catch a pilot dirtying his hands like this, but most of our guys on the Haiti program serve as both mechanics and pilots. In fact, that’s true of all our programs.

David Harms doing routine maintenance on a Cessna Caravan.

I never had a true appreciation for the intricacies of maintenance until my new role as flight scheduler required me to schedule inspections. To comply with our Aircraft Operations Manual (the “other” MAF bible), we have to make sure we don’t fly more than the prescribed fifty flight hours between inspections. Since I have the most contact with the schedule, that job naturally falls to me. But it’s not quite as easy as it looks.

“How many days does it take?” I’d ask. “Which inspection is it?” David would reply. He and our maintenance specialist, Todd, have served as my guides as I learn. “What do you mean, which inspection? There’s more than one kind?” It turns out there’s actually twenty different kinds, depending on which combination of elements are being inspected and how long it’s been since the last time it was inspected. Most take three days, but Inspections 6 and 13 take a week—as long as we have a full staff, longer if we don’t. And just for fun, Inspection 19 takes two weeks…try scheduling that two months in advance!

It’s all worth it, though: our maintenance habits are one of the greatest gifts we can give our passengers. Even in my own mind, I feel a lot better strapping my loved ones into a plane that’s been regularly cared for…after all, it’s not like our pilots can just “pull over” if it starts to smoke. Whether it’s changing an oil filter, a tire, or an engine, their training and attention to detail keep us flying safely to God’s glory. Now that’s “high” maintenance!

Many Are The Plans

Christine Harms — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:30:24 +0000

While David was doing his Technical Evaluation for MAF, I was asked to help out at headquarters. As I was nervous for David and our possible future with MAF, I was more than happy to help with the task of transcribing some taped interviews.

Putting on the headphones, I couldn’t believe my ears. The beginnings of MAF had been described to me simply: “In 1943, three World War II pilots begin meeting for prayer, Bible study and discussion of missionary aviation. In 1944, one of those pilots is moved to establish an organization as soon as possible so that missionary aviation can begin when the war ends.”

But according to the transcripts, the story was much more complex. Among the group, there was division. Some of the pilots wanted to fly domestically, serving needy people within the U.S. The other group wanted to fly internationally. They took a retreat to try to sort out the tension, but it kept ending in arguments. Then one man suggested that they stop and pray.

That changed everything. As Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” As it happened, the international idea moved forward. Their first pilot, Betty Greene, flew to Mexico in 1946, and now, 66 years later, we have a worldwide organization dedicated to removing barriers to the Gospel through aviation.

In Haiti last week, we just celebrated 25 years. We got off to a bumpy start; there didn’t seem to be enough interest to justify starting a base. Then in 1985, we sent one pilot, Barry Borror, and the doors began to open. Today, our program has six pilots, a maintenance specialist, and sixteen Haitian staff members scattered across the country.

May the Lord’s purpose prevail here and worldwide for many years more…in spite of our plans, if necessary.

Blessings for Free

Christine Harms — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:26:23 +0000

Sometimes, the cost of living overseas is hard to quantify––and then there’s this. A bologna loaf cost me 99 cents in the U.S. In Haiti, it’s 90 goud, which is about $2.25. That’s about representative of the kind of prices we pay around here, depending on the item.

We have it pretty good as MAF missionaries, financially. Our pool system of support raising keeps the IRS happy and keeps the missionaries happy, because it allows the organization to adjust our pay depending on the cost of living in each country where we serve. It’s not a perfect system, but it’s the best one I’ve heard of so far.

But some things are still out of my reach. I look with longing at the artichoke hearts. I sigh as I pass the soy milk. I groan at the price of granola. And yet, I’ve been munching on fresh pineapple all week, and Haitian avocados are just coming back into season. Fresh limes are coming down from the villages too, and I had so many mangoes falling from my trees last month that I finally started giving them away.

The cost of living overseas impacts us in all areas of life, but God always gives us reasons to be grateful … and the best of His blessings are still free!

God knows

Christine Harms — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 07:15:16 +0000

Do not keep talking so proudly
or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the LORD is a God who knows,
and by him deeds are weighed.
I Samuel 2:3 NIV

In English, “God knows” is often meant to mean that no one knows. But in Haitian Creole, “God knows” is an expression of confidence, much more like Hannah used it. I first heard it in language school here in Haiti, when we would meet new people. After the usual pleasantries that are used in any language, the conversation would go something like this:

Do you have a boyfriend?
This was confusing for two reasons: 1) I wear a wedding ring; and 2) I was standing with my husband, David.

No, I’m married.
Now they looked confused.

If you’re married, where are your children?

I don’t have any children.

Oh. I’ll pray for you. God knows.

It was always interesting to me that they would use the exact same expression Hannah used, especially in matters regarding children. And yet, we’ve found it to be true in so many more instances…

We were supposed to leave for Haiti in November 2009. At least, that’s what I kept telling the Lord. I wanted to be in Haiti by my birthday, December 2nd. I prayed and prayed and prayed about it until I’m sure God was tempted to say, “Yeah, yeah, I heard you.” I don’t think it’s dramatic to say that it was my heart’s desire.

But it didn’t happen. I couldn’t understand it. All I wanted was to serve God in Haiti, but our support wasn’t coming in fast enough. There was no good reason that I could see for God to “delay” us … and then on January 12th, 2010, a massive earthquake happened in Haiti. I don’t pretend to know where I would have been or what would have happened to me, but …

God knows.

Last Christmas was our first in Haiti. I wasn’t looking forward to it. Making cookies in 80 degree weather just necessitated use of the ceiling fans; it was not a cozy atmosphere. Music about falling snow taunted me rather than adding to a mood of good cheer. We had no Christmas tree and could only run our Christmas lights when we had city power. To top it all off, the families sent presents, but it looked like they might not get to us by Christmas.

But the day before Christmas Eve, a fellow MAFer drove down to the airport to get them for us, so they would make it in time. It was just what I needed.

God knows.

And in His knowing, we find out how much He cares … a lot!

What is something that has happened in your life where you now look back and realize that “God knew?”