Vol. 34, No. 3 Summer 2020 Disaster Relief Saying in a Time of Goodbye 10 COVID-19 18 to a Friend COVID-safe events this summer Subject to local Provincial guidelines and following the best practices in COVID-19 prevention and mitigation, we’re planning a couple of in-person and virtual (online) events this summer. CEO CORNER t’s pretty surreal to reflect on all the encounter dangers more serious than changes that have occurred since the threat COVID places on them One of these planned in-person events Ithe release of our last edition of personally, we celebrate their courage may be happening near you. Flying for Life. In March, we were at and commitment. One such MAF Whatever the the beginning of such unprecedented missionary, Joyce Lin, was killed in a To learn more, see page 7 of this issue of uncertainty. Now, we know just how tragic accident on May 12 while in the Flying for Life, or visit mafc.org/events for future holds, quickly and drastically life can change. service of MAF in Indonesia. Joyce was additional details and planned locations. And yet, in the midst of all that has the embodiment of Kingdom values, we remain happened and is still happening, we and while we mourn her loss deeply, also want to reflect on those absolute we know that Joyce died passionately committed to truths that have remained unchanged. pursuing her dream of supporting We know with confidence that God is isolated communities. going where in control. He is our rock, our fortress, Of course, dedication to our mission and our deliverer (Ps 18:2). We have doesn’t mean that we don’t have to most needed been blown away by His faithfulness adjust and pivot. Many of our overseas and provision for us during this time. missionaries are contributing to the to offer help to That’s not to say we haven’t seen a battle against COVID in non-flight financial or operational impact – we capacities; envisioning and creating those who need have – and yet God keeps opening mission technology that will assist our doors and hearts where needed. and others’ operations. Technological it most. The calling of MAF remains the innovation is part of MAF’s DNA, and same and very needed during this while COVID may temporarily shift our time; you will see that in the following focus, our calling remains the same. To pages. While our operations have learn more about what they’re doing, been reduced due to governmental visit mafc.org/covid-19-updates. restrictions, our fleet is still flying We don’t know what is coming next. and saving lives. In cases where it is This may be just the beginning of a Leave a legacy of hope! safe and/or necessary to do so, we difficult journey in countries that do are working with local partners to not have the infrastructure to fight a Whether you’re sending a simple gift, or a more complex gift such as stocks, bonds, affect change, reaching out to provide pandemic. Whatever the future holds, mutual funds, gifts of insurance, gifts in a will, or setting up a family foundation, tangible, life-saving support. we remain committed to going where Our commitment to those we serve most needed to offer help to those who Abundance Canada can assist you and advise on the right gifting solution. We can remains unwavering. The vast majority need it most. also facilitate anonymous donations. of our missionaries chose to stay Please keep our operations and our Personal consultations are free, confidential and with no obligation. Connect with within their countries of service to help staff in your prayers, as we keep you in the people and places that they love, ours. Abundance Canada today! Brad Bell even while many of their friends and President & CEO colleagues from partner organizations Learn more at abundance.ca/mafcanada or call 1.800.772.3257 MAF Canada left. Risk is not new to those God calls, and while our missionaries often Abundance Canada is a faith-based, public foundation assisting Canadians with their charitable giving for Generosity changes everything more than 40 years. Charitable Registration No. 12925-3308-RR0001 Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) is a Christian organization whose mission is to fly light aircraft and use other technologies in isolated parts of the world to bring help and hope to people in need. Since 1946, MAF has been spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ in places of deepest human need – where flying is not a luxury, but a lifeline. Worldwide, MAF provides over 200 flights a day. Mission Aviation Fellowship of Canada is a Canadian registered charity (Registration # 12994 2561 RR0001) and is able to issue receipts for income tax PAGE 08 purposes. Financial statements are available on request. Every gift helps! Please mail your gift, visit us at mafc.org, or call us toll-free at 1.877.351.9344. Gifts allocated toward an approved project will be used as allocated with the understanding that once project needs are met, gifts will be used where needed most. Doctors in Queensland, Mission Aviation Fellowship of Canada is a charter Mailing Address 102-195 Hanlon Creek Blvd., Guelph, ON N1C 0A1 Australia give MAF member of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities. Toll-Free 1.877.351.9344 E-mail [email protected] Website mafc.org engineers the kind of rare Flying for Life is published by Mission Aviation Fellowship of Canada and printed in Canada. Editor/Layout Mark Field. Country statistics cited are taken from the World Factbook and World Health Organization. Share your comments [email protected]. challenge they relish. Cover Pilot Dave Forney unloads relief supplies in the flood-hit district of Kasese, Uganda. Photo Dave Forney Flying For Life Summer 2020 03 We’re all in this together Every MAF staff member is living with the threat of coronavirus. From South Sudan, Communications Officer Jenny Davies Opposite Top The plane gets a thorough describes the slow, cleaning steady arrival of the Opposite Bottom Staff wearing PPE disease in Africa. Above Left Scrubbing the cargo bay Above Right Jenny STORY & PHOTOS JENNY DAVIES Davies in Chad (credit: LouAnne Cadd) s the coronavirus outbreak spreads hear her voice. In March, when coronavirus arrives why he asks. In every crisis, foreign conditions and remote communities, Aacross the world, I find myself ‘Social distancing’ hasn’t yet entered in nearby Kenya and Uganda, our workers are the first ones to go. But this filthy water and malnutrition have long scrolling through newsfeeds like common parlance, though MAF staff conversations suddenly change. situation is different. been the norm. l everyone else. While it’s not particularly have stopped shaking hands. We Government posters telling healthy to feed my anxiety, it seems wonder how the country will react passengers to wash their hands and Counting the days wise to stay informed. when government advice is issued. have their temperature taken replace South Sudan relies on humanitarian On Sunday 5 April, the first case of From the big window in MAF’s office Most people in South Sudan don’t our home-made versions. The logistics organizations to provide basic services coronavirus is confirmed. at Juba International Airport, life goes have the luxury of stockpiling food in team obtains vital hand sanitizer, albeit like healthcare. on as normal. Traffic flows across the comfortable homes. at a hugely inflated price. Many of these organizations rely on busy junction opposite. Coronavirus Colleagues ask after my family as At the airport, MAF staff now wear us to help them keep people alive. If MAF planes are on standby for seems a world away. the situation back home in the UK masks and gloves. we can’t fly, the consequences will be thousands of men, women and I arrived in South Sudan in February becomes more serious. I think of my dreadful. children who lived in isolation long and was soon introduced to MAF’s parents, who are approaching 70, and of The edge of a precipice We keep a mental tally of people’s before the coronavirus outbreak. Programme Security and Contingency vulnerable friends from church. We offer the South Sudanese behaviour – whether habits are Plan. Page after page of scenarios, risk In the office, we reflect on the government flights to transport test kits, changing; if rules are being enforced. But we can only stay on active assessments and checklists covering sobering inadequacies of the healthcare samples and response teams. Meanwhile, restaurants close and the duty – ready to react to the next every eventuality. Except a global system. The rest of the world is The next day, MAF gets a mention in cost of food in the markets rise. urgent flight request – if you keep pandemic. counting their ventilators – an easy task an announcement by the government’s supporting us. There are no cases in Juba. People in South Sudan. Here, you can count special task force, which confirms the Palm Sunday come to work, share food at lunchtime, them on one hand. closure of borders to all international The calendar turns over into April We need you, because they and our flights take off and land. All the flights. and there are still no cases here. need us! while, newsfeeds continue to churn out The virus creeps closer MAF has already reduced flying - On a map of Africa, South Sudan is global updates. We discuss medevac flights – those though urgent charters and emergency now the continent’s largest patch of Your prayers and gifts will bless this we could fly for our partners in remote flights continue.