Flying for life
in association with


present

MAF Flying Day

Special Event to focus on
VISION FOR MISSION

Saturday 15th August 1998 - 11:00am to 4:00 pm
Shempston Farm Airstrip, Duffus (near Elgin)
An opportunity for some to fly with MAF

Thank you to:- Mr. R Falconer
We very much appreciate the encouragement we have received from Mr. R Falconer of Shempston Farm without whose generous support every year this day would be impossible.

Sponsors:- Thanks to the following for their donations:-

Thanks to the Royal Air Force
All flying activities are weather dependent and also dependent on the traffic using RAF Lossiemouth Air Base. We thank their traffic controllers and Communities Relations Officer for their help and co-operation. We would also thank RAF Kinloss for allowing us to use their refuelling facilities. Finally a thank you to the RAF Chaplains Branch for their financial support

Thanks to all helpers, seen and unseen!

Activities Summary

Welcome and Introduction from the organising committee.

We hope to welcome you to Shempston Farm Airstrip and to what has become an annual MAF / Tearfund Flying Day for Mission. We will be delighted if you join us and trust that you will enjoy your visit and take part in the activities on offer.

If you are unable to be with us then we would ask you to pray for the day - especially for safety.

A special welcome if this is your first visit to this event. Those of you who have been at this event for the last two years will be pleased to see that The National Bible Society of Scotland, Blythswood Care and OMS International have joined us, have displays, and are giving talks in the mission tent.

This programme sets out the information about the day, including what activities are happening when and where. If you still have questions, however, please ask at the mission displays.

We hope that the event itself, the information from the programme, and the information gleaned from the various stalls will initiate earnest prayer for the work of mission in some of the neediest countries in the world.

It is also hoped that some money to support the work of mission can be raised and donations on the day or direct to MAF or Tearfund will be much appreciated.

Please e-mail us, as we would hope to be able to keep you informed about other special events and give you news of MAF and Tearfund. We would be delighted to have your comments and ideas for ways in which a similar event might be run in the future.

We would like you all to have an enjoyable and safe day. Please follow any instructions given by those responsible for parking and the control of crowds. It is in everyone's interest and for everyone's safety, that we ask you to do so.

** Warning ** Taxiing Aircraft have limited visibility. Keep away from the front of aircraft to avoid articles being sucked into the propeller. Keep away from the back of aircraft as dirt and grit can be ejected by the propeller wash.

Mission Tent

The Following Activities Are Due to Take Place in This Tent

There will be exhibitions continuously manned showing the work of:-

Please feel free to come and go as you please. Ask as many questions as you wish!

Music Trio 'Strathcona'

Strathcona play traditional Scottish music. The group consists of:-

All three girls are senior pupils at Forres Academy. Jenette is a Scottish Accordion champion. Both Ashleigh and Elaine have received 'Excellence in Music' awards from Forres Academy. The group have been playing together from the beginning of last year. In that time, between studying for exams, they have won a trio's competition in Inverness and twice been placed second at a competition at Forres Fiddle and Accordion club.

Come and listen to them while enjoying a cup of Tea or Coffee in the Food Tent. You will not be disappointed!

MAF Facts

Mission Aviation Fellowship Worldwide
183 Aircraft, 31 Countries, 2,000 Airstrips, 360 Flights Daily
Every Four Minutes a MAF plane takes off on a mission of mercy
Mission Aviation Fellowship Europe are flying in:-

MAF's Operations in Kenya

Welcome Home. 'At last MAF's staff in Nairobi are back together under one roof - a super sleek white covering that houses the Operations Centre.

On 14 March of this year MAF's new Operations Centre was officially opened at Wilson Airport - a milestone in the growing importance of MAF's contribution to mission work in East Africa.

Although a utility building on a restricted budget, the sweeping lines of the new three-storey structure are in stark contrast to the dingy concrete which surrounds the structure.

The clean white curves of the arched roof are evident from the air - a tribute to the architects. They designed not just a hangar, but a building suitable for an organisation which has been saving lives, helping the sick and needy, and encouraging churches, since its work in Kenya began nearly 40 years ago.

The multipurpose centre includes an office block for the administration, marketing and crisis relief teams, a bookings office, the information services centre with its email hub, and a hangar large enough for the whole of MAF's fleet in Kenya - two Cessna Caravans, the Beech 200 and three single-engine aircraft.

The centre gives MAF's fifty four strong team in Nairobi space to be more efficient. Engineers in particular are able to enjoy more elbow room as they work on vital repairs and maintenance. This new facility was very welcome at a busy time when the country faced severe floods in its northeast and eastern flanks, and a cholera outbreak in the west.

Already the ever-growing stream of missions and agencies using MAF's services is finding it more convenient - a one-stop shop with all departments under the same sleek roof.

'The Programme Manager can oversee the whole operation without having to travel between two hangars. And it allows for expansion in aircraft and staff. We have an elegant and functional building.

It is the Lord's timing', concludes John Preece, MAF's Flight Operations Manager.

Tearfund in Kenya

Kenya has some very remote areas where Massai and Kalenjin people continue to attempt to change from cattle herding to growing crops on settled land. There has been a history in the Transmara District of inter-clan conflicts over landownership and cattle raiding from the Kuria tribe. Things have settled down, but there is still tension between the different tribal groups. It can be a dangerous place to live.

A training programme has been initiated in animal and crop husbandry, so that food production can be increased and self-sufficiency achieved.

Other problems being addressed include land- ownership, water shortage, poor health and children's education via community training in hygiene, nutrition, water and sanitation, crop and livestock improvement, evangelism and church leadership. A lot of work!

It is a big programme run by the Diocese of Nakuru. Tearfund has been involved with this church for many years and is pleased with the continuing commitment of these people and their leaders.

Please pray for these people

Weather Problems in Kenya

Damage caused in Africa by El Nino rains earlier this year has added to Kenya's current economic difficulties. Flooding has devastated parts of the country. Coffee crops have been destroyed and farmland ruined. As ever, the poorest members of the community have been hit hardest. El Nino is yet another burden on top of poverty, sickness and unemployment. All of this in turn creates further tension in what is a fragile political situation. The last major El Nino of 1982-83 caused global damage estimated at over £8000million. This time the cost of the damage is likely to be even greater.

People Like Us - Tearfund's Changemaker Programme in Action

Imagine a world where young children don't die needlessly. Where people fleeing war and terror receive comfort and shelter. Where people have the education and training that allows them to build a better future.

Sounds like a dream? For some of the people whose stories are given below, it has become more of a reality. Through ChangeMakers, people in many countries in the world are seeing their lives and those of their families changed for the better.

Tearfund's ChangeMakers programme targets five key areas for transformation:-

For example in Peru, Jehenny Arguto, who in the past lost two of her children to preventable diseases, now says of her community, 'Before, children died of dehydration and pneumonia. Now it is very rare.' Jehenny joined up for training in health care with a local church group, the Luke Society, Tearfund's partners in Moyobamba in Peru. Now she is a part of an enthusiastic army of volunteers, each caring for around thirty children: weighing them regularly, teaching hygiene and visiting homes. As with all development work, it's along process. 'It takes a long time for new ideas to sink in,' says Jehenny.

Transformed Cities In Delhi, India, Kanak Durga and her family came to the city looking for work. They thought of it as a place where dreams are fulfilled. Instead they found squalid shacks, open sewers and polluted water. Through the work of Dr. Kiran Martin who was aware of the call of God in her life, ASHA (Hope) was founded with one helper. Now ASHA works in twenty one slum areas. As well as training health workers, including Kanak, they have helped the people to develop model communities, with brick houses rather than fragile shelters.Thestreets are clean and well-swept and the children are healthy.

Fair Societies Tearfund's Disaster Response Team has been working in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, mobilising hundreds of people to rebuild drains and toilets destroyed as a result of civil war. This has transformed streets once polluted by raw sewage. The team was among the few allowed to work with women in this strict Islamic country. For a lot of women the main benefit is not just economic, but also the chance to learn and interact with others.

God's Earth Water collection demands frequent journeys with heavy loads over long distances for the 3,500 people of Tenta town in Ethiopia. Many of these journeys are made by children, who begin this work as soon as they are old enough to walk and carry a water container. Tearfund partner, Mogus Mehariwho co-ordinates the Kale Heywet (Word of Life) Church project to bring freshwater supplies to the community says, 'Fresh water is more than just a convenience - it is a matter of life and death for animals, crops and people.'

Brighter futures At weekends eleven year old, Juanita Huanca sold toilet rolls from morning to night in order to buy food. Many Bolivian working girls are drawn into prostitution and drugs. But Juanita's life has taken a different course. Now she goes to school and in the evenings to Mosoj Yan (New life) Centre - a Tearfund partner. There she gets help with her homework and plays with other girls. She can now look forward to a more positive future because of the support which she has received.

If you would like to become a ChangeMaker please contact one of the following for more details. You can help to create a brighter future for others.

Tearfund Nationally Tel:- 0845 355 8355 (local call rates in UK) or Gordon McPherson

MAF Pilots

MAF Europe's Safety Pilot
David Staveley
David is now in his 30th year in MAF, after flying with Loganair out of Glasgow airport in the late '60's. He is Head of the Flight Safety Department of MAF Europe, and as such visits all of MAF's Programmes in Africa regularly. David and his wife Gwen formerly worked with MAF in Ethiopia, and they have had short terms in Sudan and Tanzania. David will be flying MAF's training aircraft, N736GX, weather permitting

Trainee Pilots who have previously visited us
Phil Jennings. (1996)
Phil is now flying on a regular basis with MAF in South Africa, and things appear to have started off well.

Andy Blake (1997)
Andy is now fully operational in Tanzania, and has been flying well in that Programme, which is extremely short-staffed at the moment. To help out he has been moved to the very isolated base of Kasulu, in the extreme west of Tanzania. He is settling down well to the flying there. He is, like all the other pilots, very busy at the moment, and we heard recently that he was called upon to evacuate two people from Nyamabuye to nearby Kabanga Hospital.

Andy Fothergill (1997).
Andy and Mary-Anne and the family left for Tanzania in June after the Lord wonderfully provided a tenant for their croft at Gairloch. They are now engrossed in language study before moving on to the Dodoma base for flying orientation.

New MAF Pilot
Michael Woods
This year we look forward to meeting Michael Woods, another MAF candidate. Mike has a background as an architect and lives in Essex with his family. He will tell you his own story.

General
All pilots come to MAF fully trained, with at least 500 hours flying time. They are financed by churches, sponsors and individual donations, but they need a much wider team behind them as they serve overseas. People who will pray, or give, or both. Will you help? If you feel you can support any of the pilots, you can contact Matthew McKinnon, Mission Aviation Fellowship, Challenge House, 29, Canal St. Glasgow G4 0AD.

The National Bible Society of Scotland

The Bible is a book for today and through it, God speaks to people of all ages, races, cultures and creeds, whatever their situation and needs. That is why the National Bible Society of Scotland works to make it possible for men, women, boys and girls throughout the world to be able to have God's Word in:

There are over 6,000 languages and dialects in the world but only 2,200 of them actually have at least some part of the Bible translated into them -maybe just a Gospel or some other Hearing is Believing book. Of these only 363 have the complete Bible and 905 the New Testament. Still a long way to go before all nations can hear God speak to them in their own language!

But not everyone can read - in fact over 50% of the worlds population is illiterate - and it is important that these people are reached, too, with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

In Africa, as well as in other third world countries, the Faith Comes By Hearing programme (FCBH) is helping with this. Whole villages come together to listen to the New Testament on audio cassette tape. Listening to the Word of God is having a real impact as many people hear the Gospel message for the first time and turn to Christ.

The National Bible Societys free loan video Hearing is Believing brings this to life as it visits the northern areas of Ghana where literacy can be as low as 5%.

There will be an opportunity in the Mission Tent to see this video during one of the National Bible Societys presentations.

For more information on any of the above, please contact:- Pauline Hurst, The National Bible Society of Scotland, 7 Hampton Terrace, Edinburgh, EH12 5XU.

Blythswood Care

Blythswood Care is involved in 4 main areas of work:

Caring for people with spiritual and physical needs. Since 1990, Blythswood has sent over 400 loads of aid to countries such as:- Romania, Ukraine, Georgia, Bulgaria, Albania, Moldova, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia, Hungary, Poland, Belarus, and Russia. This is done in their own fleet of articulated lorries and smaller vehicles. Blythswood is a registered charity in Romania. In all countries they work through indigenous organisations, encouraging them to meet the needs of their neighbours.

Supplying free Bibles and Christian literature to individuals. This work has been in progress since 1966. Individuals apply directly to Blythswood for a Bible, or are passed on by other organisations. The applicant is sent the books of Mark and Acts from the Bible, and a study course. On completion of the course the applicant's submission is marked and a certificate, an individual comment sheet, and a free Bible is sent to the applicant. Other basic Christian literature is also sent out.

Selling Christian books through Charity Shops and by mail order. Blythswood has 19 shops which have a Bargain Book section, as well as three Christian bookshops. Both new and second-hand books are sold. Christian literature is also sold through mail order.

Publishing of Christian tracts. The distribution of literature began in 1966 when Blythswood (originally the Blythswood Tract Society) was first formed. The list includes tracts by the famous D. J. C. Ryle and by contemporary writers.

For more information on any of the above, please contact:- Martin Cameron, Blythswood, Deephaven, Evanton, IV16 9XJ

OMS International

OMS exists to reach the nations for Christ. We are an international, evangelical, non- denominational mission, working in cooperation with national churches in 17 countries across the world.

Streams in the Desert... the growth of OMS International. In 1901 Charles and Lettie Cowman left their native America in response to the invitation of a Japanese evangelist longing for his country to hear of Christ. The Oriental Missionary Society was born.

From the outset the emphasis of the society was to take Christ to places that had never heard the Gospel. Working in partnership with national Christians the aim was to establish churches of believers that would in turn reach out to those around them.

OMS International became the societys new name as the work reached beyond the Orient and OMS missionaries reached out around the world, seeking to bring people to the fullness of life in Jesus Christ.

OMS 1998 OMS's objectives have remained the same. Today the focus of our work is still evangelism, planting churches, training national believers for leadership in their own churches and working in partnership with these national churches, to go on reaching the nations for Christ.

All Around the World OMS now serves in 17 countries around the globe:

In each country OMS workers aim to meet the spiritual and physical needs of the people. The spectrum of workers includes evangelists, radio technicians, lecturers, nurses, broadcasters, maintenance workers, Bible tutors, accountants, teachers, youth workers, dentists, librarians... ministering to Gods world by seeking, supporting and training believers.

Find Yourself in Missions There are constant requests from around the world for new workers. We need an enormous range of people, from those who want to spend a month supporting established work to those whom God is asking to pioneer a new project over several years.

If you are willing to find yourself in missions, there is a place for you:-

EXPERIENCE MISSION by spending your holiday supporting established workers on summer projects... You could teach English on summer camps to students in Korea, cater at a Christian camp in Spain, join an outreach team in the Republic of Ireland... or get involved in numerous other projects. Ask for a Summer Opportunities Leaflet.

BECOME AN INTERNATIONAL LINK WORKER for anything from a month to a year. Masses of opportunities include maintaining residential camps in Brazil, helping with evangelistic concerts in Japan and organising health promotion in Haiti. Ask for an International Link Pack.

COMMIT YOURSELF TO OVERSEAS SERVICE for two years or more, helping to meet the urgent need around the world. Vacancies exist for an enormous variety of workers, from radio engineers in Ecuador to Bible tutors in Indonesia, teachers in Taiwan to church-planters in Russia. Ask for a Preliminary Information Pack and discover how you could be found in missions.

BACK HERE IN THE UK You don't have to go overseas to get involved. OMS relies heavily on its homeland team of administrators, regional representatives, prayers, volunteer helpers and financial supporters to keep the work going. Ask to receive our prayer letters or magazine.

For further help or information contact our UK headquarters: OMS International, 1 Sandileigh Avenue, Manchester M20 3LN

A VIEW FROM HERE

Press and Journal - Saturday, 13 June, 1998 by Colin Wilson

Last Thursday morning, as I viewed it through my bleary peepers, held out great promise of being a really "bad hair" day. I had finally gone to bed, a few hours earlier; just as the sun was coming up; and a brief kip had done nothing for my general disposition. As I opened my mail, one of the letters had the potential to put the final touches to my despondency and gloom.

The cause of my melancholy was my P.C. (nothing to do with policemen but everything to do with computers). The faithful workhorse had been ailing for some time; and there was finally no other option - it had to go under the knife. As I write, its innards are still very raw. Though the surgeon is one of the best around, the sight of its BIOS settings, ribbon cables and microchips undergoing life-threatening trauma left me shaky and in need of sedation.

But on now to a different part of the story.

Since ever I can remember I have been interested in aviation. I could tell you the names of nearly all the aircraft that were flown during the last war. Who flew them and who made them. I would be happy to advise you - if ever you need to know - on the settings required for the throttles, wing flaps and propeller pitch during take off in a Lancaster bomber.

Over the years, I have had the opportunities of flying in a Shackelton on operational flights; and by helicopter through a blinding snow storm with only a railway line, just below, for guidance. I have seen a runway going past at several hundred miles per hour just a few feet above my head; knowing that the ejector seat into which I was firmly strapped could only, in any "event", fire me straight into the tarmac.

However, and in spite of all of that, my path through life has never taken me, in any professional way, into the pilot's seat. So; staggering back to my Thursday morning labours whilst scanning the post, the second item could well have, in other circumstances, finally just made my day; and before it had even properly begun. The envelope contained a letter and a photograph. It came from a family - husband, wife and three young children- who were shortly to leave for Tanzania.

Andy is a former colleague and, in our early spiritual experiences, followed very similar paths; albeit years apart. But with Andy, not long after he became a Christian, God led him to give up his job and train as a pilot. It was not easy for him, nor the family; but God was faithful to His calling and provided all that was needed along the way.

And, a couple of Sundays ago, I attended a morning service in their local village church; to be part of the "send off" that the family were given. Husband and wife interviewed each other from the pulpit and spoke candidly of all that God had been doing in their lives. And how Andy - now a fully trained bush pilot - was soon to leave, with the family, to fly missionaries, African villagers and supplies into and out of inaccessible villages in the rugged east African terrain with Mission Aviation Fellowship.

In a different life I would have been green with envy; and even now, recognising that God knows best, there might have been the temptation to question Him. "Why Andy and not me?" But when I opened the letter I rejoiced. Rejoiced in the fact that God can and still does speak today; leading and guiding. Calling men and women and young people to the task of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether in Tanzania or Tomatin; from Gairloch to Guatemala; in the bush and in the city.

And so, as I settled down to the long slog (I'm still at it) of getting my trusty computer back to form, what could have been a most dispirited day was transformed. Perhaps it became what I might call - a "good air" day.

Copyright - Press & Journal, Aberdeen 1998 All rights reserved

Marie Christine Lux

Marie Christine Lux who will be at the event has worked with Tearfund in a number of countries over the last few years. In Central African Republic (CAR) and more recently in Peru, she has been involved in developing and delivering training programmes in health care for local people. Marie-Christine has been very aware of the need to understand those with whom she is working learning from them as well as teaching and delivering health care. She became a Christian in Australia then came to Scotland to complete her nurse's training in midwifery. In addition to training local people, she travelled widely to give seminars on Health Education. She has also worked in India and Somalia. Since last Autumn, Marie Christine has been back in Scotland, undertaking studies in International Health at Queen Margaret College in Edinburgh. She has a wide and varied experience of key issues in development work in general and health-care teaching and practice in particular.

Please take the opportunity to meet with her as you visit today to improve your understanding of the some of the issues involved. Regular prayer and other forms of support are still required as others seek to continue the work of training to make health care available to people who live in areas which are remote from medical services.

A MAF Supporters Article - by Kevin Gruer

After 20 years of supporting the work of MAF, I had the thrill of my first flight in an MAF plane at the Plane Fair here at Shempston last year. Little did I know then that seven months later, I would be flying with MAF for real in the skies over Africa!

The opportunity which came my way was to join a party of MAF volunteers from all over Scotland on a study tour to see, at first hand, the work of MAF in Kenya and Tanzania. We saw everything from the sophistication of the new MAF hangar in Nairobi, ensuring the planes are maintained to the highest standards, to flying deep into the Tanzanian bush to spend a day with a Masai tribe. And what struck me was that MAF is not just made up of pilots, but is a team of Christians dedicated to using their skills to Gods glory avionics engineers, mechanics, booking clerks, administrators, and radio operators to name just a few.

Through MAF News and Prayer Letters, I knew MAF made a difference. Now I appreciate just how much of a difference they really do make!

If you have the opportunity to fly in the MAF plane today, let your imagination take you to Africa. Appreciate the skill of the pilot, his ability to navigate in difficult terrain, his ability to land on a grass airstrip in some very tricky locations.

As you look down on the spectators, think of the African villagers, missionaries and aid workers to whom the sight of the MAF plane means contact with the outside world.

Praise God for aeroplanes, and how, through the work of MAF, they save arduous journeys overland, rush the sick and injured to hospital, and speed the Gospel to the ends of the Earth.

Kevin Gruer is the photographer on the field.
He is available to take souvenir photographs of the people who fly on the MAF aircraft, and who wish a photo of them by the aircraft to record this occasion. There will be a set charge for the photograph, which includes a contribution to the funds raised on the day.

ALPHA

An Opportunity to Explore the Meaning of Life One of the biggest national campaigns ever conducted by Christian churches in the British Isles is to take place in September when thousands of churches of all denominations take part in a National Alpha Initiative.

There will be adverts for Alpha in every newspaper, adverts on billboards and it is hoped that every person in the country will receive a personal invitation to come to an Alpha course beginning the last week in September.

For the uninitiated Alpha is a 10 week course designed primarily for people with no knowledge of the gospel. The evening lasts about two and a half hours and begins with a light meal where all members of the group can sit around the table and relax and get to know the other course members. It continues with a short time of praise and short time of teaching either from a video or by a leader.

For the second half of the evening groups are formed into groups to discuss the teaching topic in a very informal and low key way. At Alpha the emphasis is on not putting pressure on people to talk or contribute if they find that difficult.

Most people who have come to an Alpha evening find they have the opposite problem - they find it impossible not to speak as the topics for discussion are so relevant and raise so many questions in peoples minds.

They include Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Bible, prayer, healing, evil and many other things that people think about but never get a chance to discuss in a friendly and non-threatening atmosphere.

Although the course has been developed to reach people with no Christian background, it has also worked wonderfully in the lives of life-long Christians who have attended. They have found that not only do they have the chance to share their faith and experiences with others but they have learned new things too and their faith has deepened.

Alpha is for everyone. Look out for An Opportunity to Explore the Meaning of Life coming to a church near you soon - don't miss it.

MAF Europe Aircraft - See Official Programme!

Local Voluntary Representatives:- The following area representatives are willing to come and talk to your Church, Guild, Youth Fellowship about the following missions:-

E-mail us for contact telephone numbers.

Prize Quiz

If you e-mail us with the correct solutions to the quiz below, then you can collect your prize on the day!

1. 1998 is the ? Annual Flying Day at Shempston. 2nd, 3rd or 4th?
2. How many new Mission Societies will be there on the day? 5, 4 or 3?
3. What country features in the Bible Society's video "Hearing is Believing"? Ghana, Kenya or Ethiopia?
4. How many Aircraft have MAF in Kenya? 6, 8 or 3?
5. How many Eastern European countries has Blythswood taken aid to? 13, 14 or 15?
6. When was Blythswood formed? 1966, 1980 or 1994?
7. How Strong is MAF's Team in Nairobi? 27, 18 or 54?
8. In Kenya, El Nino has caused? Drought, Flooding or Frost?
9. ASHA works in how many slum areas? 7, 33 or 21?
10. OMS was formed in? 1901, 1966 or 1994>
11. An Alpha course runs for ? weeks. 3, 10 or 26?
12. How many languages have the Complete Bible? 194, 363 or 905?
13. OMS Serves in? Irish Republic, Ethiopia or Uganda?
14. The village of Tenta is in? Ghana, Chad or Ethiopia
15. MAF's training aircraft on visit to the Flying Day is? Cessna C-172, Cessna C-152 or Cessna C-206?
16. What does FCBH stand for?

Dates for Your Diary:- In conjunction with this event, the following events are taking place:-

Mission Aviation Fellowship, Challenge House, 29 Canal Street, Glasgow G4 0AD
Registered Charity Number 234878.
Tear Fund is a registered charity.

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Further information from George McLeod