The MAF Blog: Worldwide Pulse

Archive for the ‘General’ Category

Installing VSAT Systems in Africa

Posted on: May 1st, 2013 by Owen Fuller  |  Leave a comment

You probably know that Mission Aviation Fellowship flies missionaries, doctors, pastors, and relief workers to many of the most remote parts of the world. While you won’t find reference to it in our name, MAF also has quite an extensive IT ministry. In many of the remote places we fly there is also a lack of communications infrastructure, and so we integrate technologies that make communicating in these places possible. In the Democratic Republic of Congo alone we have installed over 20 VSAT satellite Internet systems. Some of the users of our systems include Bible translation teams, pastors and churches, universities, relief organizations, and NGOs who rely on Internet access for research, training, collaboration, logistics, and staying in contact with their supporters.

Last week in Bunia we changed over from our old satellite provider to our new MAF service. In addition to improving our Internet connectivity, it was a chance to share some knowledge with a couple of Congolese technicians. Sabato is an intern I recently hired to help out with the day-to-day IT work. He studied IT at UCBC (the bilingual Christian university in Beni), and has had some experience working for NGOs in town. The other guy who helped out that day was Eddy, who just finished up an IT program at Uganda Christian University. These guys both have some good IT knowledge, but had never worked with a VSAT system before. We had a few problems with the transition, so they really got a chance to learn through troubleshooting. It was great to have their help, because much of the work required more than one person; even that which didn’t went faster––many hands makes light work, as they say.

With more VSATs to change over to our new service in the coming weeks, new installations on the horizon, and other IT projects pending, it will continue to be important to have good help with the IT ministry! What better way to do it than by training Congolese technicians?

Hungry for the Word

Posted on: March 8th, 2013 by Gerd LePoidevin  | 

Literacy class to teach the Mwinika to read and write their own language. Photo from http://blogs.ntm.org/francois-hattingh

Literacy class to teach the Mwinika to read and write their own language. Photo from http://blogs.ntm.org/francois-hattingh

In the African country of Mozambique, MAF supports a number of missionaries working on literacy and translation projects. One such couple with New Tribes Mission, Francois and Nadia Hattingh, is working among the Mwinika people. Some of the people that Francois has been meeting with and discipling are really moving forward quickly. They are hungry for the Word and anxious to learn more. Francois and Nadia have their hands full as they are starting their next literacy class and preparing for an outreach in their village. Nadia has some health issues that require a diet that is not available in the village where they live. In the fall MAF was privileged to make a supply flight for them that included dietary items for Nadia.

Francois says, “Once again, I want to thank you for bailing us out here. We were out of supplies and would have had to go to Nampula or Quelimane soon.” [A whole day’s drive each direction] Through your ministry we can stick out the rest of our year and see the discipling of Bible teachers, the teaching of new believers and the current literacy classes through to the end of Phase 2″.

Without these supplies, the family could not live and work among the Mwinika people, where the Gospel is starting to take root and produce amazing growth. Thank you for enabling MAF to be there for these faithful servants, who are working diligently to train up the next generation of Christian believers and make the Word of God come alive to those who have never heard. Click on the graphic below to watch the video and read the 2012 Impact Report.

Who’s Watching You?

Posted on: February 6th, 2013 by Kimberly Baker  | 

Kimberly (center) with some of the MAF Lesotho staff, in a traditional Basotho dress she had made for a special occasion.

Kimberly (center) with some of the MAF Lesotho staff, in a traditional Basotho dress she had made for a special occasion.

Recently I had the opportunity to sit down with Rethabile and Sefiri, two of our MAF Basotho staff, over lunch. We ate our food and talked about ministry and what God had been teaching us through the reading of His Word. I had just finished a women’s Bible study on Jesus’ last prayer before His crucifixion (John 17) and shared with them a favorite passage from the last verse of John 16 (just before the prayer):

In this world you will have trouble, but take heart… for I have overcome the world.” ––John 16:33

This prompted Rethabile, still a new and growing Christian, to share about how he is being observed by former co-workers and others that he’s worked with at the airport. These are people who knew him before he gave his heart to Jesus and they have seen the change–– hallelujah! While Rethabile isn’t always comfortable with their scrutiny of his new joy, vocabulary and lifestyle, he accepts it as an opportunity to show them how radically Jesus has changed his life. He shared what one of the men recently said to him:

“I have watched you because I knew this change wouldn’t last, but to my surprise it has for over a year. There must be something to this new faith you claim, because you are a different man than you used to be. I am not ready to embrace Jesus and leave the ancestors behind, but there is truth in your new life.”

While I easily stick out in Lesotho if for no other reason than skin tone––admittedly I’m pretty pale compared to my neighbors––I pray that I stick out in a way that leads people to make the same accusation made of Rethabile, “There must be something to this faith you claim, because you are different.”

Rethabile confided, “Mme Kimberly, they watch you too and they see how you love the Basotho. They watch all of us at MAF because they know we follow Christ alone. They see that we are different from the other Basotho that claim they know Jesus but still worship their ancestors.”

When was the last time someone called you out for not “fitting in” or “behaving like everyone else” and they attributed it to your relationship with Jesus?

The Top 10 Blog Posts of 2012

Posted on: January 2nd, 2013 by MAF  | 

We hope you’ve enjoyed our great team of blog contributors this year. They are a great source of news from the field, provide perspective on the missionary life, encourage us, and sometimes make us laugh or cry.

Just for fun, we compiled a list of the most widely read posts (based on page views) throughout the past year. We’re including them here in case you missed any of them, or if you’re new to the blog.

Take a look back with us at the top 10 most popular blog posts of 2012:

#10. The Blessing of Family—Family “senders” play a key support role, and what a blessing it is when they can visit.

#9. Flying MAF’s King Air Across the Atlantic—It’s a long way home to MAF headquarters for this special plane that needs a double engine replacement.

#8. Losing Power—When the electricity goes out in a hot and humid climate, this MAF wife learns to rely on the real Power Source.

#7. A Welcome Sight—Two new KODIAK planes arrive at the Sentani base (Papua, Indonesia) and cause quite a stir due to some enhancements.

#6. Here to Help—This MAF wife was reminded that new situations can be hard, but God will be there for us.

#5. Airplane in a Box—An unusual way to get a plane from the MAF headquarters hangar to Madagascar, and a faithful worker who takes it all apart and puts it back together again.

#4. What My Children Don’t Know—These MAF missionary kids (MKs) may not know what a toaster is, but what they do know is a treasure. [Second most shared post on Facebook]

#3. Undone in Walmart—When an MAF wife returned to the U.S., she expected some reverse culture shock … but not when it came to choosing a brand of toilet paper! [Third most shared post on Facebook]

#2. When Your Engine Comes Apart—What do you do when your engine starts smoking mid-flight at 9,000 feet? MAF pilot John Miller retells this story from the past in his tongue-in-cheek fashion. [The most commented upon blog post of the year]

And our most viewed post for 2012 is….

Zavinga and Suzanne, MAF Missionary

Zavinga and Suzanne

#1. Why I Need House Help—In eastern Congo, an MAF wife explains why house help is necessary, and the added blessing that comes with that help. [Also the most shared post on Facebook]

To all of our blog writers: Thank You for telling your stories! And thanks to all of our readers for joining us on this “bloggy” journey, and for commenting and sharing this blog with friends and family. Blessings to you all in 2013!

Our blog writers in Africa:

Kimberly Baker, Nancy Burton, Nick & Jocelyn Frey, Stephanie & Owen Fuller, Justin Honaker, Gerd LePoidevin & Suzanne Lincoln

Our blog writers in Haiti: Karen Broyles, Christine Harms & Liz Schandorff

Our blog writers in Indonesia: Becky Fagerlie, Tripp Flythe, Rebecca & Sean Cannon, Natalie Holsten, Rebecca Hopkins, Linda Ringenberg & Jonathan Smith

Our blog writers in other areas: Jim Manley (MAF-LT/headquarters), “Between the Verses” & “Lady M” (restricted-access countries)