Though labeled an Africa Region conference, there were also folks from the United States, Europe, Indonesia, and Central Asia who came to learn, collaborate, and commiserate. While there were discussions about the challenges that each location faces, there was also a sharing of ideas and solutions. There were experts leading sessions in complex subjects mixing with new IT specialists still struggling to understand the problems they need to solve. It was refreshing to hear about what other programs are doing and how they use technology to further God’s kingdom. While discussions about servers and networking would normally be boring to a non-IT person like myself, it was clear that the work of these specialists is imperative for the success of our organization. Without it, there are serious gaps in communication, security, resource sharing, and efficiency.

The theme of the conference was taken from the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10, where the question was asked “Who is my neighbor?” In this case, IT specialists from across the globe were neighbors, helping each other out. Likewise, as they return to the MAF programs where they serve, their colleagues are their neighbors.

Here in Mozambique, Dave is a pilot/mechanic, but countless times in a week he is interrupted with IT questions. “Why can’t I print?” “How come the Common Drive doesn’t show up?” “Why is this program giving me this error message?” His help allows the rest of us to be able to do the work we need to do. In turn, IT helps our MAF program be a good neighbor to the people living in Mozambique. God uses preachers, teachers, pilots, mechanics, and IT specialists to serve Him across the globe.

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The girl’s mom is young, and her second child is a nursing baby. Like many in Uganda, she lives day-to-day, without excess resources to deal with tragedies such as this. She certainly could not afford an ambulance trip by road all the long way to Kampala, let alone a medevac flight. But after some communications between our MAF Uganda office and key people at MAF International, it was decided that we (MAF) would medevac the young girl for free.

This girl was in a situation not too unlike that of the man in the parable of the good Samaritan in Luke 10. Jesus describes how several people, when confronted with the opportunity to help a dying and desperate man, instead went out of their way to avoid him, passing by on the opposite side of the road. Eventually the Samaritan came along and he not only went out of his way to help, he went the extra mile too—all at his own expense. Jesus then says, “Go and do likewise.”

It was a tough flight to do—knowing and seeing the suffering this young girl had endured. But it was also so encouraging to play a small part in the redemptive side of the story. In fact, this is exactly why we’re here, so we can indeed go and do likewise. Greg (the other MAF pilot assigned to the flight) and I had the opportunity to be the love of Jesus to this precious young girl and her mom that day, through the care and concern we showed them, through the time we took to pray with them, and through the flight itself. My wife Joy was later able to follow up with the family after they arrived in the city. This is what we do. This is what YOU help make possible.

So, on behalf of this young family, and the many others throughout the world who are helped and loved each and every day, in the name of Jesus, on the wings of MAF, THANK YOU! It’s making a difference!

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In eastern DRC, MAF operates three aircraft supporting the work of the church, missionaries, medical organizations, Bible translators, relief workers, and other NGOs. Four MAF pilot/mechanic families are currently serving in Bunia along with some 20 Congolese staff members, and four families are working from Kampala, Uganda. MAF also has staff and planes in the western and southern regions of the DRC. 

Please continue to pray for the Congolese people, the MAF team in eastern DRC, and all staff who work in such difficult areas.

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On Wednesday, Nov. 21, MAF families were evacuated from the town of Bunia, where MAF has a base, to Kampala in Uganda. MAF also carried two plane loads of staff from other agencies to safety in Uganda. Three MAF pilots remain in DRC with three aircraft.

This latest round of violence began earlier this week when the M23 rebel group attacked the eastern DRC town of Goma. It has since spread to other towns in the region.

MAF has ministered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for more than 50 years. The organization currently has nine planes serving from bases in Kinshasa, Bunia, and Lubumbashi.

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