By Kimberly van Veen | Photos courtesy of Lokisa Water Project, unless otherwise noted

Whenever MAF chaplain Sefiri Seepheephe visited the chief’s home, he knew what he would say.

The village headman for the mountain community of Kuebunyane, Lesotho, would bring up the lack of water for the approximately 1,500 Basotho people who lived in the valley. Even the medical clinic did not have water.

“I visited the chief almost every day, but there is no week that would pass by without him talking about the need for water for his people,” Sefiri said.

For washing and cooking, people hiked to the nearest well with a bucket and hauled it back up. During drought, this process took two hours, because people had to go down to the river. In these barren mountains, the only options for using the bathroom were an open field or to hike down to the river. And using the river as a bathroom led to unsanitary conditions. People in Kuebunyane were constantly sick with dysentery and other diseases.

Back in Maseru, Lesotho’s capital city, Sefiri mentioned the problem to pilot Joe Adams. He felt that addressing this basic need might soften hearts toward the gospel. MAF had been flying to Kuebunyane for years, bringing in evangelists and medical services. Kuebunyane is a seven-hour drive over rough dirt roads, then a hike with a 1,200-foot descent, a river crossing, and a 1,200-foot climb up the side of a mountain.

Joe contacted several organizations, but none worked in Lesotho. Then, by chance, he saw the Lokisa Water Project on Facebook.

Lokisa Water Project

Lokisa is a small ministry run by Tom and Lauren Jacobs, two Australian believers who live in Lesotho. Tom is an engineer, and Lauren is a nurse. They both saw how access to safe, clean water is life-changing in Lesotho, where almost half the population lives in poverty.

During the pandemic, the Jacobs returned to Australia and worked remotely, but they knew from friends in Lesotho how bad it was for the people there. They were convicted by James 2:15-17 to live out their faith practically.

“One small thing we could do was assist by getting water to these people who were in need,” Tom said. “So that’s kind of how Lokisa got born.”

In the Sesotho language, “Lokisa” means to repair, correct, or fix. The Jacobs started out small, repairing older systems or installing taps in communities. They’ve never had to look for a project; the projects come to them, usually through a friend of a friend who knows of a need.

They especially like to work with schools, because small conveniences like a water tap and a working toilet make a big difference in the lives of the kids, including improved school attendance.

The Largest Project Ever

When Tom got the email from Joe, he laughed, because they actually knew each other through the expat community in Lesotho. Joe hadn’t realized that Tom and Lauren ran the Lokisa water project.

Kuebunyane was so far off the beaten path, Tom had never heard of it before. And it would typically be much too far to reach without MAF’s help. “Without a plane, that place is like the ends of the earth,” Tom said.

But since MAF routinely visited Kuebunyane, “It gave us the courage to actually go to an insanely remote place,” Tom said.

MAF flew Lokisa staff to the community for a survey. Through careful planning, they identified the placement of water taps and toilets. They figured out how to pipe water down from the mountains using gravity or pumps and hired community members to dig the trenches, lay pipes, and pour concrete.

MAF transported crew and smaller materials for the project, but larger items had to go by road. Lokisa constructed the simple bathroom structures of corrugated metal in the capital city and then transported them to the location. That meant each structure, which is similar to an outhouse, was carried by truck and then by donkey up and down the steep valleys into the village.

Kuebunyane was Lokisa’s biggest project ever. It took eight months. They fitted 19 water taps, nearly a mile of pipework, fixed five springs/tanks, and installed 14 bathrooms. At the nearest primary school (which is a two-hour walk away), Lokisa installed two taps, a rainwater tank, a hand washing station, and eight toilets. Before, the 156 children at the school had no water or bathrooms.

Lokisa purposefully trains community members to make repairs, and they leave behind tools and spare parts. They also work with the village chief to set up a water council responsible for maintenance.

This forethought has already been useful in Kuebunyane. In January, one of the pipes was leaking, but the water committee soon fixed the pipe and had the tap working again soon. 

Thank You for the Water

The village of Kuebunyane has now had water for several months, and it has dramatically improved their lives. People are no longer constantly sick. The health clinic has water. Everyone is saving hours each week by not hauling water. People have privacy and feel safer when using the bathroom.

MAF staff are aware that bringing water to Kuebunyane is only one part of the mission there. “Bringing in water projects and helping out schools and bringing in health, it only does so much,” Joe said. “When we bring Jesus, there’s hope. Without it, without that, there’s no lasting change.”

Now, when Sefiri visits Kuebunyane, he no longer worries. The chief’s requests have changed to profuse thanks. “He says thank you so often, it’s become like a greeting,” said Sefiri.

Story appeared in FlightWatch vol. 3, 2024. Read the entire issue here:

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Working with manuals and data might not seem like most people’s idea of a good time. But Joey Martin, International Director of Quality, said, “Everyone can get behind a system that will improve our overall safety.”

Joey began his MAF career as a pilot/mechanic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where he and his wife, Kathleen, served for eight years. There is a lot of need in the DRC, but they consistently saw Christ-followers meeting those needs in creative ways.

“There were Bible translation projects we were supporting, humanitarian responses to various crises—like malaria, typhoid, Ebola, sleeping sickness—evangelism and discipleship efforts, transporting literally tons of medicine for hospitals, flying sick or injured patients to places where they could receive care, and bringing short-term teams for specific projects,” he said.

Joey especially enjoyed flying Bible translators. “A single flight for that missionary usually will not make or break the entire project,” Joey said. “But the faithfulness of MAF over many years will make it possible for the translator to accomplish their work.”

Then the Martins moved to Lesotho, where they appreciated the interpersonal relationships with the team. “Most of the flying in Lesotho is in support of medical work in remote mountain clinics. It was a joy to be part of meeting the very tangible needs of the Basotho people,” said Joey.

After three years in Lesotho, the Martins returned to MAF headquarters as Joey’s job changed.

“My experience as a pilot/mechanic, and in safety and quality, provided the background necessary to perform our internal audits and to understand how the various pieces of the aviation puzzle fit together,” Joey said. “Looking back, I can see how God was preparing me.”

These days, Joey spends his time on manuals, revisions, audits, data, and spreadsheets. “My job sounds quite boring to most people, but I love it!” he said.

And it all contributes to greater and greater operational safety for all MAF staff serving around the globe.

With seventeen years spent as part of MAF, the Martins have a more mature perspective than they did as freshly minted missionaries. “The daily troubles, the struggles to get electricity and clean drinking water, the loneliness, the interpersonal conflicts, and the losses—these things can bring discouragement in the moment,” Kathleen said. “But the Lord uses all of it. We only have to be faithful to do what he gives us to do each day, and then trust that he has a bigger plan than what we can see.”

The Martins are looking for new ministry partners to pray for their ministry and provide financial support. To join their team, visit www.maf.org/jmartin.

Story ran in the Vol. 2 2024 edition of FlightWatch. Read the entire issue here:

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At first, they experienced the tangible parts of the ministry—the medical evacuations, flights for pastors, and cargo deliveries to remote communities.

“It was so clear to see the ways God was using the airplane in North Kalimantan,” Jodie said.

Today, the Toews (pronounced “Taves”) see the broader scope of the ministry. With a better grasp of language and more time there, they have developed relationships with MAF’s frequent fliers and residents in interior communities. They are also immersed in some of the less tangible aspects of the ministry.

As program director, Jeremy works with government officials. And Jodie takes their four children to visit MAF’s hospital house every Thursday. They meet with patients from the interior of the country who stay there while they receive treatment.

“The weight of work is much heavier,” Jodie said, “But it is so rich and so fulfilling to see how God is working. It grows richer every year.”

The Toews are in an especially busy season, as Jeremy leads the program and serves as one of two pilots, and Jodie homeschools their children, manages logistics for MAF housing, and ministers to those around her. “The Lord gives strength for each day,” Jeremy said. “In the midst of everything going on, He gives us rest, peace, joy, and hope that is not contingent on our circumstances. That’s what is keeping us here and allowing us to thrive and truly enjoy this work in the midst of a lot of chaos.”

Encouragement from supporters also keeps them going. They have a handful of supporters who check in regularly with a simple text or email. “It may seem like a small thing, but it is incredibly meaningful for us,” Jodie said. “Even when we are surrounded by people and busy with MAF work, we can feel lonely. To hear from someone who says, ‘We care about you; we are praying for you,’ that has meant a lot. It’s so simple but has really blessed us.”

To partner with the Toews and share in what God is doing in North Kalimantan, visit www.maf.org/toews.

This story appeared in the January (Vol. 1) 2024 issue of FlightWatch. Read the entire issue here:

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From a deputation stop in Colorado, Alfred Ottosson described his journey to missions. “The goal was always MAF,” he said.

The son of medical missionaries to Nepal, Alfred was certain he would not be a missionary. But a high school research project on child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) piqued his interest in the “dark continent.” Then, a Bible school professor in his native Sweden directed him toward a career in mission aviation, beginning with Moody Aviation in Spokane, where he trained to be a pilot/mechanic.

There, Alfred met Jewel, who had a degree in English as a second language (ESL) education and had spent two years teaching English in Japan. Jewel’s motivation to pursue missions came after she heard a former missionary to the DRC speak during college.

Alfred and Jewel bonded over similar experiences in Asia and wondered if God was calling them to work in mission aviation in Asia.

During candidacy at MAF headquarters, Alfred and Jewel heard MAF’s Africa regional director talk about the DRC. “We both looked at each other and said, ‘Yes!’” Jewel said.

Today, Alfred and Jewel have two sons, ages three and two, and a new baby daughter born in May. They plan to travel to France in January for a year of language study before moving to Bunia, DRC.

The process of fundraising is humbling. “Often it seems that we put all our work efforts in one direction and then support comes from somewhere else,” Jewel said. “It feels like a small miracle.”

“Sometimes you can struggle with a lot of self-doubt,” Alfred said. “But then people come alongside and invest and stay involved and that’s incredibly encouraging. The whole partnership thing is so important in letting us know that other people are on board with our calling.”

The Ottossons are looking for more partners to join their support team. To partner with them, visit www.maf.org/ottosson.

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William and Jenelle Wolf have been preparing for service with MAF for years. You could even argue it’s been decades.

After viewing the documentary Through Gates of Splendor as a child, William decided he was going to be a missionary pilot.

Also as a young girl, Jenelle heard a missionary to Africa speak at a summer camp and determined God was calling her to serve in Africa.

After he learned most missionary pilots should also be mechanics, William studied Aviation Maintenance Technology at University of Alaska-Fairbanks.

Meanwhile, Jenelle earned a Biblical Studies degree at New Tribes Bible Institute, but she didn’t feel that God was leading her to join the Ethnos360 (formerly New Tribes) mission.

When William and Jenelle met, it became clear that their missionary service would be together through mission aviation. They began preparing to join MAF, with a diversion of a few years while William worked as a mechanic in Fairbanks, servicing planes that flew into the Alaskan wilderness.

Though at the time the years in Alaska seemed like a detour, William and Jenelle now see how valuable that experience was in preparing William for his role as an MAF mechanic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

They also learned to trust the Lord to provide for their every need. After a landlord told them they would need to leave their rented rustic cabin shortly before Jenelle was due to give birth to their first child, within hours, someone knocked on their door and offered another place to live. And the new cabin had running water!

The route to become MAF missionaries took longer than they expected, but the Wolfs see God’s hand in it.  

“God has been leading in the direction of MAF for a very long time,” Jenelle said. “And it’s definitely been his timing in all of it.”

Rather than training to become a pilot, William learned he is well-suited to be a mechanic, and his role in the DRC will be caring for the mission aircraft, an extremely important service role that allows MAF to operate safely. “I’m not the one to be up on stage,” he said. “I really relish being able to take and make everything work for everyone else.”

As they prepare for service in DRC, William and Jenelle are raising financial support. “We’re going out and following God’s will. But we can’t do that without the help, the support, and the partnership of those behind us supporting us in prayer and in the finances,” Jenelle said.

It’s a process that moves one step of faith at a time. “Every time we get a new gift, whether it’s a recurring gift or a one-time gift, I start crying,” she said. “I am overwhelmed by the immense amount of love and trust people have in us and in God.”

To learn more about the Wolfs or to join their support team, visit maf.org/wolf.

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