First time in Australia - thoughts from Gary Colvin Head of HR.

I am currently visiting the MAF Arnhem Land programme of the Asia Pacific Region. Arnhem land is in the Northern Territories and is in a remote location. It can only be reached by 500 miles of dirt road which is cut off during the rainy season or by plane or sea. All supplies for staff and the programme are delivered by sea barge that takes several days to arrive – definitely not next day delivery! The MAF programme is providing flights for many different organisations who are seeking to develop the indigenous Aborigine population. The land mass is huge – about the size of the UK yet the population of the area is numbered in only tens of thousands. The need is tremendous both physical and spiritual. The Aborigine people are animists by tradition and follow a lot of occult practices. It is hard to get to know them as you have to be ’invited to their family first’. Aborigines live in small communities and a few MAF pilots are based with a plane in these communities seeking to be a witness. Some have Aborigines have come to Christ but sadly many place an emphasis on their traditional animist beliefs first when difficulties in life arise. I have been privileged to fly with a number of MAF pilots to deliver vital supplies to outlying districts and to transport teachers to schools. There are huge educational needs in this area. Pray for the 40 plus MAF staff here to know God’s protection in a spiritually oppressive place; To know encouragement in the day to day ministry of flying, servicing the planes and being part of the local churches and various outreach projects; For Doug Miles the Programme Manager who took up the role in April.

-Gary