Nick Frey, Author at Mission Aviation Fellowship

So many people, so little impact?

Nick Frey — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Never have I seen so many people at one place in my life, I thought, as I set the plane down and came to a stop on the dirt airstrip. Literally thousands of people encircled the runway and airplane, all trying to get a glimpse of what and who was arriving and departing. This was just one of the flights we’ve completed recently where an entire village has come out to the airstrip to see the action.

Above photo and this one: Delivering the body of a tribal chief for a funeral in Kasonga Lunda in western Democratic Republic of the Congo. All photos by Nick Frey.

This has partly been because of the VIPs on board. Sometimes it’s top government officials or country-wide church leaders or tribal chiefs. Even just to say that you saw “so and so” get off the airplane will help your status in the small village context.
These have been very important flights that play a vital role in the physical and spiritual development of the Congolese people.

Yet, as I sat in the airplane waiting for the myriad of people to vacate the runway so I could takeoff, I couldn’t help but think of how much need was here and how little I could do. What difference did this small flight make in the grand scheme of things?

At the remote village of Bosobe, people anxiously await goods coming from the city.

Jesus said, upon looking at the crowds, that he saw them as sheep without a shepherd and as a grand harvest that needed workers. His words are so true. Recently they have become all the more real for me.
May the work that I do point others to the great Shepherd, because Jesus is the most important VIP; knowing Him can change one’s status with God and with man forever. And may the Lord send more workers to join in the harvest.

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Far From Home

Nick Frey — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 00:00:00 +0000

My first day in Jakarta, jet-lagged and culture shocked, with Ethan (3 ½) and Ellie (4 months).

In January, on our two year anniversary of living and serving here, a deep homesickness hit me—HARD. This was a different kind of homesickness than what I had periodically experienced since leaving the US. There was no frustration at the way things work here, like having to go to five stores before finding salt or flour, or how pickin’ hot it is, etc. No, this was much deeper than that. It was a deep ache, a grief that took me completely by surprise, for missing our family and friends. Those relationships that rooted us, people who had long history with us … and still loved us! Grief for what we had missed in their lives and what they had missed in ours, for relationships that had been stretched thin with time and distance, accompanied with a longing to have those relationships strengthened and renewed face-to-face again.

Today, with Ethan (5 ½) and Ellie (2 ½).

As the wave of sadness washed over me, the only thing I could do was cry out to the Lord, “Oh God, it’s so long and so far. It’s so long and so far… How can You possibly understand this, Lord?” Immediately He checked my spirit, Oh child, I understand. You think two years is long? Try thirty-three years. And 10,000 miles? Try moving from heaven to earth. Yes, Child, I understand more deeply than you can possibly know. His response quickly corrected my perspective, but also brought peace that He knew and understood my grief. How completely breathtaking that we serve a God who personally understands our struggles and walks with us through them with both compassion and holiness. Hallelujah!

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Eye-Opening Moments

Nick Frey — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +0000

This week has been a parenting eye-opener in more ways than one. Our oldest was 3 ½ years old when we moved to Indonesia two years ago, but this week he lost his first tooth! Both Jon and I were reeling a bit, “He can’t be THAT old already!?! What happened to our little 3-year-old?” It was a poignant reminder that this time with our kids will fly by—it already is!

Yet that doesn’t mean it’s all sunshine and roses. A few days later, we had the opportunity to host two kids from interior villages here in Papua. We went to a larger town about half an hour away for lunch, spent time at the arcade (I know, crazy there’s an arcade here, right?!) and then home again. During those few hours with our new Papuan friends, who were delightful, polite and courteous, my children morphed into spastic, whiny, entitled animals. It was a “moment” and not the good kind, the kind that makes you step back and reevaluate how you are parenting.

Sunday morning I was telling a friend with college and high school aged kids the saga of our experience the day before. She laughed and offered wisdom and encouragement, “You have great kids! This is just a phase, BUT if you don’t do anything about it, it will be a very long phase. So what are you going to change?” *Gulp.* It’s humbling to take a hard look at the bad habits that have started and can seem impossible to change. By God’s grace, I am not resigned to parenting wild animals, even though it feels like it some days. We will take this time to do all that we can for our precious kids, always looking to HIM for guidance and help, so that our kids may be passionate followers of Jesus with character that points others to Him … no matter where we call home.

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The Fruity Taste Of Home

Nick Frey — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 00:00:00 +0000

A funny thing happened the other day. At 3:30 in the afternoon Ethan, my five-year-old, asked to go play with his friend. So, after slathering him in bug lotion (it was “malaria time” after all) I sent him out the door. Fifteen minutes later he came sprinting back to our front door, “Mom! Guess what? They have Fruit Loops at the store!” Whoa, that WAS newsworthy! Pretty soon I popped over to our friend’s house too, followed ten minutes later by another MAFer who exclaimed on seeing the rainbow colored box on their table, “It’s true. They do have Fruit Loops at the store! I’m going right now!” My two-year-old started fussing so I headed back home, and in the busyness of snack time and dinner prep the colorful cereal was forgotten.

Then suddenly, as I stood over the stove making dinner, I remembered the Fruit Loops and rushed to tell Jon. He was out the door and on our scooter in record time. I finished making dinner, mentally holding my breath that they weren’t already sold out. Then my conquering hero returned victorious! And the pure delight on our kids’ faces was priceless, especially when we declared, “Fruit Loops for dinner!”

Ahhh. The simple unexpected tastes (literally!) of home—a silly, small blessing that helps the world feel a little more familiar.

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Being Still not ‘All-Star’

Nick Frey — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 00:00:00 +0000

After a year and a half of officially living overseas, I should have a handle on this, right? That’s the question that’s been burning in my mind off and on for the last 6 weeks or so.

I should be able to effectively and efficiently run my household, wrangle my almost two-year-old and my almost five-year-old with grace and dignity, encourage my husband when he comes home from a long, hot day in the MAF hangar and have an awe-inspiring ministry outside of our home … all while wearing a smile looking like I’ve just stepped out of a magazine. That’s what a REAL missionary does. Then there’s the reality check: I’m still trying to figure out where to buy half of my grocery list, my kids are covered in dirt more often than not, and by the time Jon gets home I usually look like I am melting as I make dinner in the tropical heat. Maybe one day I’ll be more all-star missionary, but that day may never come.

Ethan after his covert mission to get pretty with Mommy’s makeup.

As the pressure builds internally to have it all together, God quietly, graciously leads me to, “Be still and know that I AM God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Ps. 46:10) And I need the second half of that verse, because even though I know I am not “all-star,” my pride still gets in the way, thinking that I have the answer or am the only one who can meet a need. Then He reminds me, “No, child, I WILL be exalted among the nations, whether or not you are pulling your hair out to do what you think is expected. Instead, your true calling is to be still, know Me and obey Me.”

Slowly but surely I am learning the discipline of being still in the midst of the constant flow of life here. Who knows? Maybe one day I’ll even be an “all-star,” but for now I’ll settle for finding the rest of the groceries on my list and being still, watching for how He is lifting His name up on this side of the planet.

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