I had the opportunity to spend a few days with staff from HALO on a recent series of flights in collaboration with MAF Angola. This also allowed me the experience of taking our Pilatus PC12 from its normal home turf in western Democratic Republic of the Congo to the neighboring nation of Angola.

The team and delegation were to be picked up in Luanda and taken to the city of Huambo where HALO was having a big celebration and awareness campaign. It coincided with the anniversary of Princess Dianna’s trip to Huambo when she publicly walked through a mine site to bring global attention to the need for landmine removal. This rebel action of hers 20 years ago helped enormous fundraising efforts and personnel movement to do the delicate task of safely removing anti-people and anti-tank mines leftover from years of war all throughout the world.

The trip was amazing and mostly because, as the token pilots, we were part of the delegation who visited schools, demining training sites, and memorials. We even witnessed an explosion (fully contained and safe) of old mines so as to properly dispose of them.

It never ceases to amaze me that God allows MAF to be a part of so many diverse things. From a VIP delegate one week to a local church pastor the next—same seat, same airplane, and only I know of their connection. God unites through MAF’s vast network.

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It’s because it is in stark contrast to the message we’ve come here to share. The message which transformed our very own hearts and overflows, beckoning us to proclaim it as the best news for all who will hear and listen. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28-30). This is rest from sin, from striving, from guilt and broken relationship with God and others. It is shalom, whole and all-encompassing rest because Christ offers it; and He is the only one who can offer, having given up His life to pay for our debts and restore the broken relationships.

I never thought about why we call it unrest until reading those scriptures and Hebrews 4, which speaks of the promised rest and the lack of rest for those who are disobedient to God’s instructions. Don’t we really mean “trouble” or “danger” or “fighting” or “disorder”? And yet in all the security briefings I’m part of and all the updates I receive, the word I hear most is “unrest.” I think it’s because this links us to that longing in all human hearts to be at rest. A real rest that can be experienced here and now and yet also has an eternal aspect that we feel as well.

May God bring rest not only to this city and country, but to the hearts of its people.

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The long flight from Kinshasa to Lubumbashi was possible at this speed thanks to MAF’s Pilatus PC12. Normally it would take all day to make the journey in a Cessna airplane, let alone by other modes of transportation. For example, a couple of years ago friends of ours made the same trip by Land Cruiser and it took two weeks (and just imagine how much that would cost?)!

Congo never ceases to amaze, and many don’t even know where to find it on a map! I wonder if when God said “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it,” He remembered Congo was on the map as well? When we first moved into our house in the city of Kinshasa it took me a few weeks just to “subdue” our small, long-neglected yard! It truly is a whole new world here.

Often, while flying over the second largest rainforest in the world, I reflect on the phrase “If a tree falls in the forest does it make a sound?” Or I ponder the birds of the air and how “your heavenly Father feeds them.” Can God really know about all those trees and all those birds down there? Did He really clothe all the lilies and blades of grass in that never ending green soup of immense vegetation and life?

The Bible assures He can. And if anyone is a man of his word, then the Word of the God of the universe must be even more trustworthy.

Yes, Congo is mind-blowing and beautiful and scary, but it’s the unseen things that are the best part about this “new world.” When Christ “shows up” in my daily interactions—with a passenger, an airport worker, a street vendor, or my neighbor—the landscape pales in comparison. Having a part in what God is doing in Congo? Absolutely breathtaking.

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When MAF pilot/mechanic Kevin Spann’s parents visited Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, they had a special mission: to deliver Bibles to all the staff at the airport control tower at Kinshasa’s Ndjili Airport. A fundraiser at their local church, Highland View Church of Christ, had raised $1,200 for this purpose. Praise God!

Upon arrival, Kevin’s dad, Mark, went out with local staff members to purchase the Bibles. To each Bible they added a stamp with the MAF logo, and a sticker with John 3:16 explaining the Bibles were purchased with funds from Highland View Church.

The evening they were ready to deliver the first round of 25 Bibles, excitement was in the air. There also seemed to be another force in the air when an accident took place. Mark was walking and carrying Bibles when he fell into a deep trench for water drainage. He was badly hurt, especially on his ribs, knees and legs. They contemplated calling it a night and returning home or to the hospital.

That’s when Mark said, “No, I’m not letting a little thing like this stop us from delivering these Bibles.” And on they went to the control tower where they had to walk up several flights of stairs to deliver the precious cargo. Sore and in pain, Mark had a huge smile on his face as he helped hand out Bibles to the controllers and associated staff. They were extremely grateful and repeatedly thanked Mark, Kevin, Highland View Church, and MAF.

The next few days Mark took it easy and decided it was best to not help out in the hanger as he healed from his battle wounds. Weeks later and back in the U.S., Mark had a scan done because the pain persisted. Turns out he had fractured a part of his leg during the fall. The doctor recommended he limit his walking to essential walking only. Sharing the Gospel … essential indeed!

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Emergency recurrent training is part of life as a pilot, and we frequently test our skills and memories to make sure we’re ready for the unexpected. As MAF, it is actually our business to handle emergency situations, and people count on us being there when they are in need. That is why we are often the first call when a crisis happens.

The situation that day was major civil unrest in the city of Bangui. Security evacuation flights and logistics were needed near the Central African Republic (CAR) and DR Congo border. We sprang into action with countless phone calls and emails to help coordinate the efforts. We proved yet again that our greatest asset may not be our million dollar aircraft but our vast network of contacts which can bring people together without even turning a propeller.

Sadly, there were local deaths related to the violence, but we are very fortunate that all the people included in the evacuations were able to escape without physical harm. They were thankful for their lives and for MAF being able to play a part in saving them.

When we completed two flights for World Vision, getting a total of nine of their staff to safe locations, the country director messaged me, saying, “Thankful for MAF helping evacuate our CAR team!”

There truly is no reward better than that. Thank you for partnering with us in the vital ministry of Mission Aviation Fellowship.

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The singing began even before our Cessna Caravan shut down. A few hundred people had gathered in the middle of nowhere on a small dirt and grass strip to welcome my passengers. I’ve been to Ipope many times but this was the largest amount of villagers I had seen. It’s about a 45-minute walk to the airstrip, so people usually only come if they think a package or letter is waiting for them.

But this time was special. Almost 100 years ago, a missionary arrived in this region to share the love of Christ with those who had never heard His name, His values, or what He did for them. The missionary lived in the area for many years, and his children did as well. Even his grandchildren remained in Congo as missionaries; and they were my passengers. This brother and sister returned to the village where they had spent their childhood, and they got to show their kids, and some friends visiting from the States, this memorable place.

It was a great four-day trip jam-packed with events like a long jungle walk, Christian movies at night, soccer games, church services, and seminars. An old man who was one of the first believers discipled by the grandfather had travelled for five days to join in the weekend festivities.

One special night was when the people watched the “JESUS” film in their very own heart language, their mother tongue, for the first time. Another interesting evening was when we watched Courageous, in French, with a local pastor translating it into Lingala. Our prayer was that the men in the village would rise to the challenge of being Godly fathers, husbands, and community members.

It was wonderful to be a part of this, and I was humbled by how the missionaries cared for the isolated and least of these.

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It occurred to me today, as we transported this body in a casket, with many other items for the funeral to be had upon our arrival at the destination, that we always count “souls on board.” Maybe it’s just more bizarre aviation lingo that we get used to like “flying the ILS” (instrument landing system), or “visibility more than 10” (more than 10 statute miles visibility). At any rate, it reminded me that we don’t just transport passengers but living souls. These are souls whom God created and cares for. Even though they may all look different on the outside, each passenger is important in God’s eyes.

This represents well what MAF tries to do in caring for the spiritual and physical transformation of the people we serve. I’m really glad we do both. If all we did was care for the physical person, then we would easily lose track of the eternal implications. All the same, if all we did was care about the spiritual aspect, we would neglect people who need the basics of food, water and shelter just to survive. We want to see transformation in all aspects of life.

Funerals are very important in this culture and in many around the world. Here, it is essential that the body gets buried in one’s place of birth; hence, the reason we transport bodies. I guess this sort of completes the circle for the people as they see the body coming into and leaving the world in the same place.

So in transporting this body, we appeal to the physical aspect of the culture to allow the community to have spiritual closure during this circumstance.

Bridging worlds, connecting people, addressing the physical and the spiritual . . . this is what MAF does.

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The beauty of serving with MAF is the ability to go anywhere. You’re probably thinking, “Well, yes, that’s why you have small airplanes,” but that’s not exactly what I mean.

As pilots of MAF aircraft in a developing country we gain a certain respect and admiration from all types of people of various backgrounds. So, not only do we think of how we can use the physical airplane to break down barriers and overcome isolation, but we see it as a tool to open doors.

When I meet directors of NGOs, heads of government branches, and diplomatic leaders, they are usually impressed with the service we provide. We could just stop there and let our pride swell up and our egos explode with satisfaction. But that’s not why we’re here. Our real mission, of course, is sharing the love of Christ to see people authentically transformed—providing good service is just the beginning.

Once you have earned the respect of someone they start paying attention to the things you say. And when you explain that the real reason you moved across the world to be in this difficult place is because of God and His love, then heads really start to turn.

And so we go, be it carrying chickens or vaccinations, world leaders or a missionary and his guitar, getting people out of a hostile environment or taking skilled personnel to fight Ebola. And as we go, we look for open doors and for doors that will open—so that the light of Christ can shine … anywhere.

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They have all been in large aircraft before as most of their parents work for organizations here on a two- to three-year basis with trips back “home” every summer and Christmas. This trip to the airport was different for them because they got to actually sit in the cockpit of a small airplane and see all the instruments.

It was neat to see their excitement. I had expected them to be disinterested with tiny Cessna airplanes because of their frequent flyer miles racked up in heavy 300-seat jets, but they were eating up any and all tidbits I was able to pass on.

They really seemed to resonate with MAF and our vision for isolated people. It is so clear that with the size of Congo and lack of infrastructure that people “stuck” in villages have very little access to the outside world or even a large city where products can be bought. Our Cessna airplanes are suited perfectly to their task of landing in remote places to serve the communities in need.

Just before they got on the bus to head back to school one of the boy’s mustered up some courage and shook my hand, saying, “Thanks a lot for everything today. I really want to be a pilot now.”

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