The MAF Blog: Worldwide Pulse

Posts Tagged ‘missionary pilots’

The Top 11 Blog Posts of the Year

Posted on: December 16th, 2011 by MAF |

After a successful launch of our blog in March of 2011, we’ve been able to share more our ministry with you. Here’s a look back at our most popular blog posts of the year.

1. The blog post with the most views and shares contains a humorous collection of tips from our pilots who often carry some unusual cargo.: Top 10 Aviation Tips
2. Sometimes the man on a horse who’s blocking the runway is there for a good reason.: The Horse that Wouldn’t Move
3. Staff writer Jason Chatraw gets to experience worst-case scenario flying on a training flight.: White Knuckle Flying
4. Here’s what happens when some of that unusual cargo gets loose mid-flight.: Croc in the Cockpit
5. When a crisis in another country means a quick departure for the Disaster Response manager, he’s all set to go.: What’s in a Disaster Response Go-Bag
6. When you have to adapt to another country, it can really seem like another world.: Opposite World
7. Here’s a trendy tie-in that relates to bringing the Good News to people in remote areas.: Winning as a Christian = Obedience
8. When famine is the cause of too much rain, MAF can help with that.: Food Flights
9. God’s timing is perfect, even when it comes to stopping the rain.: Hand of Providence
10. Often our missionaries have the hard task of saying final goodbyes when moving to another program.: Testimony of Tears
11. Here’s a shout-out to the guys who keep our planes in tip-top shape.: Unsung Heroes

Most likely to make you cry: Natalie Holsten & Rebecca Hopkins
Most likely to respond to your comment: Jim Manley & Rebecca Cannon
Most likely to submit a cool photo: Sean Cannon & Tripp Flythe

2011 In Pictures – Mission Aviation Fellowship Delivers …

Posted on: December 5th, 2011 by MAF | 3 Comments

Medevac flight for stroke patient, Kalimantan. Photo by Tripp Flythe.

Food delivery with the Kodiak, Kalimantan. Photo by Dave Forney.

Pilot Nathan Fagerlie delivers supplies and teachers for first-ever school in Pogamba village, Papua. Photo by Steve Richards.

Soccer teams lined up during Indonesia’s Independence Day celebration as MAF Caravan departs Pa’Upan, Kalimantan. Photo by Dave Forney.

Celebrating the Lani language Bible delivery in Papua. Photo by Nathan Fagerlie.

MAF Medevac Flight in Ecuador. Photo by Chad Irwin.

Fighting measles – vaccine deliveries in WDRC. Photo by Tim Chase.

MAF pilot Jon Cadd assists John Ngayo of OEIL upon arrival in Lubutu, DRC. Photo by LuAnne Cadd.

Fighting cholera in Bilobo, WDRC. Photo by Nate Birkemo.

Medevac of an 18-year-old girl with heart troubles in Kalimantan. Photo courtesy of Sean Cannon.

Chicks in flight with MAF pilot David Harms, Haiti. Photo by Will White.

Celebrating the arrival of the first Majang New Testament Talking Bible in February 2011 with the Hoekstra family, Ethiopia. Photo courtesy of Denny Hoekstra.

To learn more about the impact that the Hoekstra missionary family has had in Ethiopia, read the 2011 Spring addition of FlightWatch, page 3.

Mission Success Starts Behind the Scenes

Posted on: November 9th, 2011 by Sean Cannon |

“ Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” Romans 12:4-6a

In an American football context, it is often the quarterback, running back, or wide receiver that receives more of the spotlight, especially when a team is successful and winning. But any good quarterback, running back, or wide receiver knows that the success of their team does not and cannot rely on only one person. It is a team effort. Without their linemen, the quarterback, running back, and wide receiver would struggle to help their team win. They need protection, assistance, and cooperation from the whole team in order to be a success.

The same analogy can be said of missions, especially mission aviation. As pilots, we receive large amounts of glory regarding how great our jobs are, all the people we help, all the medicine we carry, and all the other ministries we support. What many people forget is that this “success” starts at home base, with the crew of national workers who are vital to our work. They help with aircraft and base maintenance, passengers, cargo, visas and other legal documentation; they continue to help us, the foreigners, understand their culture, language, and lifestyle more fully. Without wholehearted help from our national workers, we, as guests living in their country, would be rendered ineffective and our ministries would suffer.

“Thank you, Lord, for all the different members of Your body, the gifts You have given them, and the places you allow them to serve.”

A Slice of Americana from the Jungle, Part 3 of 3

Posted on: October 28th, 2011 by Jason Chatraw |

Over the past few weeks, we’ve connected with some MAF missionaries to find out how they follow their football teams from the field as part of a three-part series on the subject. Last week, we shared the answers from some college football fans. This week, we’re sharing the answers from NFL fans – Dan Whitehead (Vikings), Fran Durocher (Packers), Dave Holsten (Broncos), and Brad Hopkins (Colts).

Q: There’s the idea when it comes to missions that missionaries have to give up many of the things they love. How hard was it to know that it wouldn’t be so easy to follow your favorite football team each week?

Fran: It was more difficult to know that no one really played the game of American football – so that was actually more difficult than not seeing the games for me. I loved just playing – either organized or just pick up.

Brad: Football was something that I looked forward to each week, but I’ve learned that, like so many other things in life, once I adjusted it was fine. You end up finding things that you like to do here, like more family time, walks in the neighborhood, etc.

Dave: Honestly, of the things I “gave up”, football was probably one of the more inconsequential ones. When we first left I didn’t really think a whole lot about missing out on football. Once I was overseas, the thing that I’ve come to miss is more the ambiance that surrounds watching a big game with fellow fans.

Q: What are some creative ways that you follow your team from the field?

Dan: In the past, friends sent me VHS tapes of big games. In recent years, it has become possible to watch games on satellite TV. And as the speed of the Internet has increased, that is another source of following sports. But the NFL and Major League Baseball are not that popular where we live, so TV providers don’t put those games on much.

Fran: Some special friends have satellite TV, and on the “big” games, like the Super Bowl, we either have them taped or watch them live at 3 or 4 a.m.!

Dave: Internet is for sure the biggest game changer in staying up on interests back in the States. Streaming video and audio are usually pretty sketchy, so I end up reading articles more than anything. I will occasionally download podcast from ESPN to keep on top of the latest stuff. One of our fellow missionaries had a VCR that could record a PAL signal, so they would record the game and then reshow it at their house on Monday night. When it came to the Super Bowl, though, I tried to work my schedule so that I could be at the house to watch it live on Monday morning.

Brad: Since we have a 12-hour time zone difference, it’s hard to watch anything live. But one thing we’ve done is have someone with a TV subscription that showed Monday night football (on Tuesday morning) to tape it for us. We wouldn’t look at the score that day, and then at night we would go over to their house for Tuesday night football. They would make popcorn and brownies and we would have a great time … and we could fast-forward through the commercials!

Q: What is one of your most memorable moments following your team from the field?

Brad: My most memorable moment came when the Colts were playing in Super Bowl 41 against the Bears (2006). It was a very close game early in the third quarter. But it just happened that my mother was coming to visit us and had just flown half way around the world. Her plane was scheduled to land in the middle of the third quarter, so I had to leave the TV to go pick her up. The plane was late and I never saw the rest of the game. But I was really happy to see my mom. I hadn’t seen her in two years, so that was definitely more important!

Dan: It usually doesn’t involve my favorite team, but there have been several memorable Super Bowl parties, sometimes watching a taped game later and trying hard not to hear what the final score was before we got a chance to watch it.

Fran: Watching the Packers in 2010 on a taped game … but had to avoid all Internet and news until I could see the taped game – and they won of course.

Dave: We had other people on our team over to our house on Monday morning for a Super Bowl breakfast, and then watched the game. I’ve gotten up at all sorts of unreasonable hours to watch pro golf or World Cup coverage.

Q: What game are you most looking forward to this year with your team and how do you plan to follow that particular one?

Dan: After seeing the Viking’s first game this year, I’m not sure there is much to look forward to.

Fran: The Super Bowl in January – either live or taped. You do promise Green Bay will be there right?

Brad: I don’t know. I usually just read about it afterwards now. TV here doesn’t carry much American football (recently it’s been less than before) so I haven’t seen an entire football game in years. I still enjoy it when I get to, but it’s just one of those things I have had to give up to be here. Somebody usually has a Super Bowl party so that’s always fun. The problem is it’s on Monday morning here, so we do it up right with a fancy breakfast. You just have to think outside the box, and anything can be fun.

Dave: I’m on furlough at the moment, so I went out to a sports restaurant with my brother and our two boys to watch the Broncos first game (they lost), but we had a great time together.

Daily Decisions

Posted on: September 19th, 2011 by Jim Manley | 4 Comments

Jungle flying demands a myriad of decisions. Difficult weather, unexpected detours, and unpredictable people combine to make … another day in the life of an MAF pilot.

5:15am: Amazon rain wakes me. Light, steady drumming predicts a day-long battle. Hard rain passes quickly.

6:35am: Arrive at the airport in time for morning prayer with the team.

7:00am: Morning radio contact with jungle villages starts. Mixed weather, but no emergencies. We preflight our planes.

8:20am: Takeoff from Shell for Copataza. Operable weather is reported, but clumps of dark clouds obscure vision in many directions.

8:55am: Unload passengers and baggage. I have room for two passengers requested for Molino, but three want to go. I wait while they decide who stays.

9:55am: Takeoff from Copataza for Molino.

10:05am: Low clouds close Molino. I change course for Charapacocha. There I also unload the passengers and cargo for Molino because I can’t takeoff from my next stop, Bufeo, with them onboard. I promise to return once the weather clears.

11:00am: Takeoff from Charapacocha for Bufeo

11:45am: Takeoff from Bufeo for Copataza to fulfill promise. Also have two passengers from Bufeo for Shell.

11:55am: Radio call for emergency in Alto Corrientes – a snake bite.

12:10pm: In Alto Corrientes I load the bitten child and her dad. But this one-way strip is muddy. Can I take off with all this weight? Despite the rush, I do the math. The numbers say yes. I decide to believe them and head for Shell.

1:15pm: Low clouds and rain in Shell. I use the instrument procedure to land.

1:45pm: At Shell now, I wait for flyable weather and fix the radio for an airplane we need tomorrow.

2:45pm: Takeoff from Shell for Copataza to move the stranded passengers to Molino. Then I continue to Makuma to fly Bible translators to Cusuimi.

4:45pm: Takeoff from Cusuimi for Numbaimi to pick up missionaries.

4:50pm: Radio call for emergency in Atshuar – a woman with delivery complications. Regulations require I land in Shell by sunset – 6:07pm today. Numbaimi weather is questionable. Can I get everyone and land in time? Doubtful, so I change course for Atshuar. I’ll have to get the missionaries tomorrow.

5:15pm: Land in Atshuar. Wait 20 minutes for woman and husband to get to airplane.

6:05pm: Land in Shell.

6:45pm: Leave the hangar.

7:15pm: Arrive home.