Flying for Life
Mission Aviation Fellowship
Since moving to Anglesey I have become the Area representative for North West Wales. It was a friend, who was an experienced area rep, who asked me to consider doing the job. There was no one covering North Wales and he was covering the area when requests came in asking for a presentation. I looked at the material he gave me and at some I got direct from MAF through the website. What I saw challenged me. I accepted the challenge and now I have three presentations under my belt.
MAF is the best kept charity secret today. It is a world wide orginisation with a fleet of over 150 light aircraft flying people and aid into inaccessible parts of the world. I represent MAF UK which covers one part of the world. We fly into areas such as Chad and Southern Sudan. A great deal of the work involves flying people from other aid charities into the most difficult areas from the point of view of access.
The following is a recent story from Southern Sudan where Pilot Chad Tilley flew a Christian Blind Mission to run eye clinics in Marial Bai. In Dinka its named the house of the black & white bull. Marial Bai has been ravaged by years of civil war. Dr Nyholm describes their location: "The dirty concrete floor has deep holes filled with dry leaves and litter. Through the large window, a hot wind blowing in fills the house with sand and dust. The tile walls are penetrated with holes from bullets. Here people have been held captive and shot. Every breath of wind causes the iron sheet roof to rattle. Our mission is to restore sight. It is truly a challenge under these conditions, but it is possible, with the help of God."
Blind people began to pour into the dusty rooms. Many arrived on foot after walking for several days, others came on donkeys. On average, the team performed 32 cataract operations a day. In total they examined 746 patients. As patients regained sight, they cheered and shouted for joy. Old women stood up and danced in front of the team, tall Dinka men hardly able to walk reached out their hands, eager to express their grateful thanks.
Four-year-old Achol was brought by her grandmother who looks after her as both her parents died in the war. Diagnosed with acute cataracts, with repetitive involuntary eye movements and with the risks of anaesthetising children in poor conditions, the team wasn’t hopeful of Achol regaining sight, but surgery was successful. Dr Nyholm rejoices, "Our stay in the house of the black and white bull has been strenuous and exhausting, but what does it matter since little Achol can approach the future with two seeing eyes?"
I feel incredibly fortunate to be an area rep for MAF. It gives me the privilege of telling wonderful stories about what God is doing in places like Sudan. I get the chance to share my own wonder and thrill at what can be achieved in present times in God’s name. It all tells me that the power of prayer is immense. MAF sets out to get as many people praying for its work as possible.
If you would like to receive up to date information on what MAF is doing (free of charge) hit this website address: http://www.maf-uk.org
Praise God that He calls men and women to work amongst the most disadvantaged of the world. Pray for the continued success of MAF in reaching the parts others cannot reach.
Since moving to Anglesey I have become the Area representative for North West Wales. It was a friend, who was an experienced area rep, who asked me to consider doing the job. There was no one covering North Wales and he was covering the area when requests came in asking for a presentation. I looked at the material he gave me and at some I got direct from MAF through the website. What I saw challenged me. I accepted the challenge and now I have three presentations under my belt.
MAF is the best kept charity secret today. It is a world wide orginisation with a fleet of over 150 light aircraft flying people and aid into inaccessible parts of the world. I represent MAF UK which covers one part of the world. We fly into areas such as Chad and Southern Sudan. A great deal of the work involves flying people from other aid charities into the most difficult areas from the point of view of access.
The following is a recent story from Southern Sudan where Pilot Chad Tilley flew a Christian Blind Mission to run eye clinics in Marial Bai. In Dinka its named the house of the black & white bull. Marial Bai has been ravaged by years of civil war. Dr Nyholm describes their location: "The dirty concrete floor has deep holes filled with dry leaves and litter. Through the large window, a hot wind blowing in fills the house with sand and dust. The tile walls are penetrated with holes from bullets. Here people have been held captive and shot. Every breath of wind causes the iron sheet roof to rattle. Our mission is to restore sight. It is truly a challenge under these conditions, but it is possible, with the help of God."
Blind people began to pour into the dusty rooms. Many arrived on foot after walking for several days, others came on donkeys. On average, the team performed 32 cataract operations a day. In total they examined 746 patients. As patients regained sight, they cheered and shouted for joy. Old women stood up and danced in front of the team, tall Dinka men hardly able to walk reached out their hands, eager to express their grateful thanks.
Four-year-old Achol was brought by her grandmother who looks after her as both her parents died in the war. Diagnosed with acute cataracts, with repetitive involuntary eye movements and with the risks of anaesthetising children in poor conditions, the team wasn’t hopeful of Achol regaining sight, but surgery was successful. Dr Nyholm rejoices, "Our stay in the house of the black and white bull has been strenuous and exhausting, but what does it matter since little Achol can approach the future with two seeing eyes?"
I feel incredibly fortunate to be an area rep for MAF. It gives me the privilege of telling wonderful stories about what God is doing in places like Sudan. I get the chance to share my own wonder and thrill at what can be achieved in present times in God’s name. It all tells me that the power of prayer is immense. MAF sets out to get as many people praying for its work as possible.
If you would like to receive up to date information on what MAF is doing (free of charge) hit this website address: http://www.maf-uk.org
Praise God that He calls men and women to work amongst the most disadvantaged of the world. Pray for the continued success of MAF in reaching the parts others cannot reach.
posted by Keith Alexander at Sunday, January 08, 2006
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