The MAF Blog: Worldwide Pulse

Posts Tagged ‘africa’

Bought For A Price

Posted on: May 8th, 2013 by Jim Manley  |  Leave a comment

Gravity charges a high price for defiance. All aircraft, whether space shuttle, jet airliner or jungle Cessna cost a lot to operate. They need energy to get off the ground, then demand more to stay aloft until they reach their destination, be it International Space Station, Chicago, or the next jungle strip.

NASA spends $450 million per shuttle launch. Airlines pay an average of $9,000 per Boeing 737 flight-hour. Our MAF Cessna 206’s average nearly $300 per flight-hour to operate – not counting insurance. But it’s not just expensive fuel. Mechanical things wear out (see “Fighting Entropy”), especially when we try to fly safely again, and again, and again. Steel drums dent floors, dirty feet deposit grit, fluids seep, puddle and corrode. After hard use, airplanes need attention.

For example, a 1980 Cessna TU206, named HC-BMO, served 20 years in Ecuador bouncing between Amazon jungle strips and Andes mountain passes. After accumulating almost 10,000 flight hours (about 1.4 million miles) we reassigned it to Africa. But first, we routed it through Nampa for a new engine and a major airframe overhaul.

We took out the interior, radios, windows and floor. Then we removed the engine, landing gears, wings, and tail. Next we split the fuselage and opened large sections of each half. At the same time we disassembled the wings and tail sections into their smaller components.

We drilled out and replaced over 11,000 rivets to expose and check every square inch of every surface. We inspected each rubber grommet, control mechanism, pulley, bearing and hose. We checked hundreds of feet of electrical cables and radio wiring. We cleaned, repaired or replaced as necessary. After completing that, we treated the aluminum with corrosion protection, then primed and painted the entire airplane.

After investing nearly 2,000 man-hours (worth $130,000 not counting parts), we sent it out with a new name, N5142C, to serve the mountain folks of Lesotho. If we cared for cars like we do airplanes, we couldn’t afford to drive. But we bear flying’s cost because Jesus paid an even higher price, forever granting infinite value to each person we carry.

What’s in a Name?

Posted on: April 17th, 2013 by Kimberly Baker  |  1 Comment

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Juliet Capulet

Baby Litsitso … a blessing, indeed.

Baby Litsitso … a blessing, indeed.

In Lesotho names mean a great deal; they identify clan, character, and can offer hope or be associated with devastation. Seven weeks ago a beautiful baby girl, Litsitso (deet-SEET-so) Elizabeth, was born to proud parents Rethabile and ‘Maseithathi Sello.

This may seem an ordinary birth announcement until you have a closer look into the Basotho world view. What’s so remarkable about the birth of a daughter?

“Auntie” Kim holding Litsitso, with parents 'Maseithathi (left) and Rethabile (right).

“Auntie” Kim holding Litsitso, with parents ‘Maseithathi (left) and Rethabile (right).

The name Litsitso means “a blessing,” and indeed she is! However, in naming Litsitso, her parents made a bold statement and strayed away from what culture would dictate. The Sellos have another daughter, their first born child, who died two days after her birth and she hadn’t even yet been given a name. Basotho culture dictates that their next child would be given a name like Puseletso (pu-seh-LET-so), meaning, “the one who comes after.” This is a very common name. Can you imagine your name being a constant reminder of your parents’ greatest pain, the loss of their first born child? What a difficult burden to bear!

‘Maseithati, though not yet a believer, expressed their name choice this way:

We know what is expected of us, to name our daughter after an ancestor or to give her the name which indicates she was to replace our first daughter.  We don’t want that. Our daughter is a blessing and so her name means blessing.”

Oh, how close she is to understanding the love of the Father toward her! If she could only grasp how her love and concern for her daughter is but a fraction of her Heavenly Father’s love for her! I pray that she will be able to receive the ultimate blessing of eternal life and that she will see God’s incredible, unfathomable, inexhaustible love for her and for Litsitso.

Better Than Bitter

Posted on: April 3rd, 2013 by Nancy Burton  |  4 Comments

A friend recently wrote to us commenting about the high level of corruption here and the things that have happened to our family and friends. She keeps up with our blog and knows about the challenges we deal with on a daily basis. She wanted to know if I ever find myself becoming bitter and how I combat bitterness.

Kinshasa traffic in the West Democratic Republic of the Congo

Kinshasa traffic in the West Democratic Republic of the Congo. Photo by Myndee Clancy.

My first reaction was sorrow that my attitude and words may have already conveyed a bitter spirit. Obviously, one way to combat bitterness is to have friends who can hold us accountable if they see it creeping in.

Preventing bitterness and anger from creeping in is also easier when I remember that the sins of those who mistreat me or others around me are no less responsible for sending Christ to the cross than my own sins. We all need forgiveness.

Street vendors in Kinshasa

Street vendors in Kinshasa. Photo by Myndee Clancy.

It is also hard to stay angry about my own circumstances when I focus on the people we came here to serve and those we work with, rather than on myself. Yes, there is a lot of evil and corruption here. That’s why MAF’s presence is still so vital here. Whether in the airplane, the hangar, or the community, we can be lights in the darkness.

The problems and needs here are so great that sometimes we feel as though we are throwing cups of water at a forest fire. We feel helpless, even angry at times. But when we are spent and empty, God is there to fill us with his love, mercy and grace if we just turn to Him instead of relying on our own strength. It is not human nature to love someone who oppresses or exploits others, but God enables us if we but let Him. If we are continually letting Him fill us, we can choose to become better instead of bitter.

How To Make A Kubota (Ready To) Sail

Posted on: February 28th, 2013 by Jason Chatraw  |  1 Comment

Kubota tractors are the little engines that can––and ones that MAF utilizes at its airstrips around the world.

Recently, one of the MAF programs located in Chad requested a Kubota to help tow their planes. Raising the money to purchase one is the easy part. Getting it prepped to ship? That’s why MAF needs people like Paul Pfluger.

Pfluger, who also serves as an MAF Advocate, took on this project that may seem simple yet is anything but that.

KubotaAfter the Kubota dealer generously donated the specialized pallet required to ship the small tractor, it was up to Pfluger to ensure the vehicle’s safety on the long boat ride to Africa.

“You don’t want a 1,400-pound machine knocking around in a box at a shipyard,” Pfluger said. “If you’ve ever been around one of those places, they don’t exactly handle the cargo like it’s delicate. So, it has to be tight and secure so it can withstand anything.”

Pfluger’s project included creating customized tie-down slots and blocks to hold the wheels in place. Then there’s also the fitted crate he built to make sure there’s no room for it to even roll within the box itself should it hit a large bump or the ship go over a sizable swell at sea.

Last but not least, Pfluger needed to make sure the crate was airtight to prevent any unwanted hitchhikers, like wharf rats, gnawing their way through the wood and making the Kubota their new home.

“I love making things like this,” Pfluger said. “And thinking about how this tractor is going to help MAF continue its mission around the world is even more exciting.”

Like a Child

Posted on: February 18th, 2013 by Megan Harrell  |  1 Comment

Mpho* is among the throng of kids who come to our house to play. She is a beautiful 9-year-old girl, and I have made it my mission to befriend her.

A few months ago Mpho was excited about coming with us to our soccer outreach. When the time came to leave she was at our gate early with her baby brother. I did not have an infant car seat, nor did I want to be responsible for him while coaching soccer. We were running late, so I simply told Mpho the baby couldn’t come. She disappeared then reappeared moments later without the toddler.

Neighborhood children playing with the Harrell boys in their backyard. Photo by Megan Harrell.

Neighborhood children playing with the Harrell boys in their backyard. Photo by Megan Harrell.

During soccer Mpho was distant, and I sensed something was very wrong. After we dropped her off I did not see her again for several weeks. I inquired about her to the neighborhood kids. They said she’d been sent away.

Just the other day I saw her and I asked if she had gotten in trouble because of me. She nodded her head in affirmation. She wouldn’t look at me. With her head still down she said, “My parents shouted. They beat me.”

You see, Mpho, in her childlike excitement to be included in soccer hadn’t taken her brother home that day, but had left him with a friend. I felt a profound sense of regret and all I could do was apologize.

Mpho finally lifted her head and stared straight into my eyes. She said wholeheartedly, “I forgive you,” and ran away. I don’t recall ever feeling so completely forgiven.

The plight of the Basotho is well documented. However, I believe they are sitting at a vantage point to comprehend the essence of forgiveness. Mpho seems to understand mercy better than most adults. I believe it is because she has had to forgive so much already in life. It is my heart’s desire to see many in this nation grasp the eternal forgiveness of Christ, with faith like that of a child.

*Name changed for privacy’s sake.