Volume 12 - Issue Issue - 12 Volume

E May 2016 ORNEY Dave: www.theforneyflyer.blogspot.com Joy: www.joyforney.org FIELD REPORT: TH LYER 2 Dave,F Joy, Britt, Hannah, Hudson, Tanner, Tyler, and Gift Flying in Chad MAF flies to thousands of locations in dozens of countries throughout the world. In fact, about every three minutes an MAF aircraft is taking off or landing somewhere at the ‘ends of the earth,’ bringing help and hope to people in some of the hardest-to-reach places. Chad is one such 1 2 place—a vast country with some of the most desolate and 4 3 inhospitable terrain on the planet. The needs in Chad are as immense and dynamic as the ever-changing, sun-scorched Saharan sands, which cover much of the country. Recently, the MAF Chad Program sent their Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft down here to for a major avionics (radio instruments) upgrade—a huge job that will take several months to complete. So in the meantime the MAF Uganda Program agreed to send one of our Caravans up to Chad, to help ‘fill the gap’ until theirs returns. Problem solved, right? Wrong. In order to legally fly a Ugandan-registered aircraft, a pilot must have a Ugandan license. That’s where I came in. I was asked to spend three weeks as a ‘relief pilot’ in Chad, where I got to do some very strategic and exciting flights to some very remote locations. I’ve been to many countries in the world, but this was certainly some of the most awe- inspiring, uninhabitable terrain that I’ve ever seen or flown over, anywhere. Yet, those who serve and minister in isolated villages throughout Chad face so many challenges beyond just the obvious harsh environment. Fortunately, the one thing they don’t have to worry about is transport, as MAF whisks them safely and efficiently over seemingly endless miles of barren 5 desert sand and rock, to the far-flung places they call home. What an encouragement for me to see first-hand the impact these dedicated servants are having in their communities, both now, and for eternity. And what a blessing to see how MAF is directly facilitating their strategic work! More at: www.theforneyflyer.blogspot.com.

1: MAF provided highly subsidized flights to well-known leaders of the Christian and Muslim faiths in Chad, who travelled together to the remote desert town of Faya, to promote non-violence and reconciliation. 2: The endless sands of the Sahara, where temperatures soar well above 115°F in the shade. 3: Pastor Victor addresses a crowd of Muslim chiefs and villagers in Faya. 4: A typical market scene in a desert town. 5: A few of my new friends in Fada. 6: Mark, who together with his wife, Sheryl, have lived/ministered faithfully for many years in a remote village near the Libyan border, speaks with the governor on behalf of some folks (7) interested in possibly starting a new, much-needed medical ministry there. 8.Tibesti women and children in Northern Chad. 9: My new friends in Bardai—these guys were great!! 10: Taking off from a desert strip in the Tibesti Mountains of Northern Chad, not far from Libya.

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10 Every Village is one of MAF’s partner organizations Other Stuff here in East Africa. We love Besides homeschooling who they are and what they our younger kids, taking do, and we love flying them! care of our special needs In March I had the privilege foster son, and keeping of spending nearly a week, our home going, Joy has way up in northern and many opportunities to central , flying share Christ’s love with and hanging out with an others—for example, she awesome ministry team from and her good friend Chaundra recently visited Every Village. a young girl in the local hospital who was This is a Mission whose suffering from Tuberculosis. The girl, with no goal is to bring hope to every family in town, was very blessed by the village in South Sudan. They provisions they brought and their prayer. do this through a four-step During the kids’ spring process of ministry involving: break from school, we 1. Short-term teams that do decided to go tent surveys and help build camping in Kidepo c r e d i b i l i t y. 2 . Wa t e r —

in South Sudan National Park—the most

providing water wells meets remote, and therefore one of the most critical one of the least visited— physical needs of the people parks in Uganda. To get and builds trust. 3. Long- there, rather than enjoy term missionaries then move the rugged, Karamoja into the villages to be the mountain scenery from hands and feet of Christ, the comfort of an MAF serving the people and plane, we opted to try a engaging in church planting more adventurous (and and discipleship. 4. Radio— arduous) road-trip. So b y b ro a d c a s t i n g r a d i o instead of an easy 1.5 messages in their own heart hour flight each way, our languages, and distributing journey there and back hand-held, solar-powered took four days. Along the radios, hundreds of thousands way we enjoyed lots of of people get to hear the epic scenery, and made Every Village Gospel message! many new friends! But 1,700 (mostly dirt and Our tentative speaking schedule… gravel) kilometers later, our 18-year-old van was Date Church Location really hurting. Among June 5 Wharton Furnace Union Church Farmington, PA other ‘issues’ we had three flat tires (two totally June 12 Zion United Methodist Church of Iona Lebanon, PA ruined), snapped two shocks in half, shattered June 19 Lebanon Valley Bible Church Lebanon, PA the rear window and June 26 Otterbein United Brethren Church Greencastle, PA cracked the front, broke the tachometer, and had July 3 Greencastle Presbyterian Church Greencastle, PA numerous other vehicle July 10 Pulaski Mennonite Church Pulaski, IA problems. And that was during dry season, when We’re planning a brief visit to the U.S. this summer. Our schedule is still the roads are ‘good!’ taking shape. Other dates will likely be added. Please check my blog, or Gratefully, email us for further details. We look forward to seeing many of you! Dave & Joy

GET IN TOUCH SUPPORT ADDRESS A NOTE ON GIVING c/o MAF, PO Box 1 Mission Aviation Fellowship Ministry support gifts are tax-deductible. Personal gifts are , UGANDA P.O. Box 47 not. For personal gifts, please attach a note that says, Dave: [email protected] Nampa, ID 83653 “Personal Gift.” Please e-mail us if you have questions 1-800-FLYS-MAF Joy: [email protected] www.maf.org about any of this. We’re happy to help explain. Thanks!