My wife Stephanie and I felt called to missions, but we didn’t know how we would be able to serve. Neither of us was trained or experienced as a teacher, pastor, church planter, or other “typical” missionary occupation. My schooling, military training, and work experience involved working with computers, networks, and radios. Stephanie was enjoying being a mom. How could we serve? A little searching on Google led us to MAF’s website.

MAF flies doctors, missionaries, humanitarian workers, and teachers to parts of the world they might otherwise never reach. Have you ever stopped to think about the needs these workers have once they get there? Doctors need to research diseases and treatments. Bible translators need to submit their translation work for review. Humanitarian workers need to submit supply requests. Teachers need access to teaching material. These workers get lonely, and miss talking to friends and family back home. Often the resources we take for granted every day are not available on the mission field.

This is where MAF steps in with IT as a ministry. We provide tools like satellite Internet access, consulting, and technical support, which allow all these ministries to carry out their work more effectively. With communications technology in place, these workers can order supplies, conduct research, collaborate on projects, access online learning resources, and stay in contact with loved ones more easily than ever before. As with the airplane, the technology MAF uses is overcoming barriers and bringing new ways to teach, serve, and communicate to the ends of the earth.

The cost of attending the school was very expensive for Alex and his family, and it appeared that he would not be able to complete his program. Through one of the MAF wives, the man in charge of MAF’s IT programs in Africa learned of Alex’s predicament and contacted him with a proposition:  MAF would pay for his second year of schooling if he would agree to work for MAF’s East DRC program when he graduated.

Alex finishes his first solo VSAT Internet installation at Garamba National Park, DRC in January.

For the last year and a half Alex has been working for MAF in Bunia as an IT Technician. His day to day tasks include troubleshooting network and computer problems, keeping our partners connected to our network, doing system maintenance, and installing anti-virus software. He has assisted with the installation of four VSAT satellite Internet systems in eastern DRC, and recently performed his first solo installation. He is a great asset to MAF’s ministry in Congo, and has a passion for the work we are doing.

“We are glad to serve, and we are glad to bring tools like VSAT Internet that give people access to the outside world,” he recently told me. “Being part of MAF technology…I wake up every morning and say, ‘No matter how hard it is, I’m going to do it!’”

One of the ways MAF seeks to minister is through training and development of the nationals where we serve. It’s clear to me that Alex is one of the success stories! I look forward to working with him once again in a few months, and teaching him what I know about IT. I also look forward to what he will teach me . . . about the culture, languages, and serving God in Congo.