JUNE 13th

The housing facilities at the MAF compound in Juba have recently been upgraded and I’m grateful that there is a little time in the morning to take a tour. Things are so new, that I’m actually being shown round a building site that has signs of work-in-progress everywhere. I’m also introduced to many of the local staff who fill vital support roles in MAF’s operations. With a chance in the next 48 hours to visit two destinations where MAF is supporting missionary activities, Judith reminds me that I have an opportunity to directly experience a side of the work that most of this team will never witness. A sense of humility and ‘standing-upon-the shoulders-of-giants’ descends upon me.

Less than 24 hours after arriving at Juba’s airport, I’m soon back there for a flight with MAF to Malualkon, a remote destination in the country’s north. We’re bringing in the Ward family who serve with Cush for Christ and pilot Adrian Rose prays for a safe journey.

Before departing, Adrian also invites me to sit with him up at the front of the plane. In MAF terms, a seat in the cockpit is considered on par with an upgrade to first class. Strapping myself in, I can’t help but notice the dazzling array of buttons and dials just in front of me. The temptation to start pushing random ones is overwhelming, but I discipline myself. The noise factor of flying with MAF remains though and Adrian passes me a chunky headphone set. Putting it in place, once again I find myself staring at the control panel, wondering if one of them will tune me into Classic FM.

Having not been able to hear anyone else during the earlier MAF flight, suddenly I can hear Adrian, Juba control tower and anyone else who cares to use the local aviation airwaves. The amount of chatter going back and forward between the planes that are coming and going is overwhelming. Fortunately things get quieter as we get airborne.

A short while later, Adrian informs me that we are likely to encounter some “weather” during the two-hour journey. It’s a somewhat strange statement, since his comment also leaves open the possibility that we may not experience any weather. What does a weather-less day involve I wonder? As the plane starts vibrating and shuddering, I soon come to understand that ‘weather’ is pilot-speak for rain and storm clouds. ‘Weather’ at 10,000 feet also has a particularly unpleasant smell about it, until Adrian explains that this has been caused by one of the Ward children vomiting into the black bag that is provided.

The arrival in Malualkon is a welcome one, both for those on board and the community that has come out en masse to greet us. We unload the Wards’ packages and depart the airstrip for Cush for Christ’s base. The half-dozen international staff are involved in a radio ministry there as well as offering discipleship courses for church leaders. They are also living a traditional missionary lifestyle, in shelters they have built themselves using local material (and a few resources flown in by MAF). Night descends as we eat together, and I talk with the team about how God is using their ministry. The tales are inspiring in many ways, but we have to return to Juba at first light, so we call it a night and I fall asleep staring at the incredible amount of stars that God has created.

JUNE 12th

Knowing that the roads will be chaotic, I wolf down far more chips than I should so we can take an early taxi to the MAF hangar. It’s the same driver who met me two days ago when I first arrived in the country. We probably would have made faster progress through the traffic by borrowing his mountain bike.

Today is a day of two halves. In the morning I train Katie, one of the MAF Kenya team who is helping us gather the reports, stories and photos that MAF UK needs to publicise the ministry. In the afternoon, I’m scheduled to board my fifth flight in three days, heading to Juba in South Sudan where MAF has an extensive operation.

Although MAF does operate shuttle flights between Nairobi and Juba, I’m flying direct with another airline. At least, I am hoping to fly... Upon check-in, I’m told that the flight has been delayed by a couple of hours. Needing to let people know I’ll be arriving later, I scan the walls, the car park and the terminal building for a payphone, to no avail. Eventually I ask a bystander if I can make a call from his mobile and he willingly agrees.

I have been reassured that Juba’s roads don’t yet have enough vehicles on them to do traffic jams and upon arrival that certainly seems to be the case. Driving around the capital of the world’s newest country, I’m also making a mental checklist of what else Juba doesn’t ‘do’ – buildings more than four storeys’ tall for a start.

My main contact on the Juba team is Judith, an extroverted Newfoundlander who I’ve met before at a training conference for MAF staff working in information-gathering roles. She has a Bible study that night at her place and we head straight there. Somehow she’s found out that today is my birthday and a plate of brownies, one including a candle, is produced. A group of mostly South Sudanese friends from the local church she attends perform a wonderful rendition of happy birthday, and the ice is broken for a study on Jeremiah. This is my first visit to South Sudan and within an hour, I am studying God’s Word with my brothers and sisters in Christ. What a privilege to belong to the largest and greatest family on earth!

JUNE 11th

The Methodist Guest House in Nairobi where I’m staying at serves chips for breakfast. My home for the next couple of days is making it possible for me to start the day with chips. I don’t have long to savour them though - I’m off to the MAF hangar at the city’s Wilson Airport, where I’ll be briefed about the organisation’s work in Kenya and South Sudan and then jump on my very first flight!

Along with a group of MAF UK’s trustees, we head off to Marsabit in the country’s north. All of us are flying MAF for the first time and we’re giddy with the excitement of schoolchildren. Our chatter comes to an abrupt halt as soon as the engine starts though – sitting on board a non-pressurised small aircraft has to be one of the best conversation killers going. Brad, our pilot, passes us all some much needed air plugs.

As with yesterday’s taxi, my views from the window are obscured – this time by clouds. With nothing but white fluffy stuff to see and no-one I can hear to talk to, I settle down for some of the sleep I lost en route to Kenya.

We’ve been advised by Brad to save our photos until arriving in Marsabit, because it apparently “looks much more like Africa”. As the plane lands on a remote airstrip, his description proves itself correct; reddish mud tracks snake through small basic units of accommodation, while the lush greenery thrives under the relentless sun.

We’re in Marsabit to see an orphanage that MAF has helped support. We meet Pastor John Arero who oversees the home and we head to his house first for lunch. The walls of his homely abode feature several certificates and photos; the pastor graduating from Bible college; and being presented a certificate by one of Kenya’s former presidents for his work amongst Marsabit’s least fortunate.

The orphanage is surprisingly empty, with most of the 35 children still in classes at the local schools they attend. We do however explore a sturdy chicken coop that MAF donors have provided the funding for. Ultimately this will be home to a hundred chickens and provide the orphanage with some much needed income. With there being no chickens in Marsabit, the animals will be flown in by MAF too. I’m left wondering if Brad also has a stash of chicken-sized earplugs?

Walking back to the airstrip I speak with Gabriel, a former resident at the home who is now a young man. His passion for Christ is overflowing and I’m delighted to hear that MAF is subsiding flights for him to complete a community development course in Nairobi, in order for him to assist the orphans and others in the town.

More clouds and more nod on the way back to Wilson. The four of us from MAF UK are being hosted by Brad and his wife for a meal that evening, but any road between the hangar and his accommodation has seemingly been shut for construction work. We complete the eight kilometre journey in slightly over two hours. Thankfully the trip back to the guesthouse takes a matter of minutes and I’m soon in bed, dreaming of fried potato.

JUNE 10th

My taxi driver tells me he likes mountain biking. Nothing so unusual about that, except I’m in Kenya, and I wasn’t expecting the capital Nairobi to be a global hotspot for those who like to trek on two wheels. Maybe it is? I’m not actually spotting many mountains, but with night having fallen I’m not seeing too much out of the car windows… except the number plate of the car in front. We’re stuck in a traffic jam and after taking two flights with a stopover in the middle of the night, I’m not actually relishing the moment.

I’m not here for the thrills and an African adventure though. As a communications officer serving with Mission Aviation Fellowship, I’m here to experience what God is doing through the teams in Kenya and neighbouring South Sudan. I’m hoping this insight will enable me to better tell others, that they may be inspired to partner with us through prayer and support.





















 

We're in Kenya!

I left my house at 4.00pm on Tuesday met up with my colleague Richard. We both travelled by train arrived onwards to Heathrow. We both waited for our plane headed straight off to Dubai Nairobi, Kenya. We both arrived at 3.00pm Wednesday afternoon.

My first experience was trying to fill out 5 different forms for a visa, the experience for me was tough. As a Dyslexic this was my worst nightmare! Once working out what other people were doing around me I just copied what they were doing it was fine.

Kenya is three hours ahead so we actually met our taxi at 3.30pm Nairobi time. With not knowing much of what to expect and having never been to Kenya or even Africa before! Exciting times!

I didn’t know what to expect before the airport opened, once I walked out of the airport, I was totally immersed in a new world.

I was immediately overwhelmed firstly by the noise; the traffic is lots of road signs, advertising billboards indicating and the noise. Cars, bikes and buses just moving forward into any available space that was available, at first it was gridlock once everyone worked out where to go – everything feel into place the traffic was moving quickly. A bit too quickly at times

On the drive across the city, there were many people walking along the side of the roads, many were in suits  and colourful rich clothes heading home from work and school. You could feel the hustle and bustle of a city but one like none I had ever experienced before.

All the people in the city were walking in and out of the fast moving traffic not looking where they were going. No one seemed to notice this chaos. Once I settled into the journey I could see there were many vacant and derelict buildings littering the landscape many unfinished. The buildings had many Chinese billboards and advertising; I was told later on the MAF staff that many nationalised Chinese companies are investing heavily into the Kenyan economy which marked changing times in the new globalised economy. This seems to give the Kenyan capital energy which you felt all around you.

Fighting through the traffic and people-watching made the time fly and the taxi arrived at MAF's hangar at Wilson Airport. I spent the day meeting with all the staff who works in a variety of positions. The aircraft in Hangar looked amazing! Much bigger in size than I have expected!  I will be uploading photos to the MAF website and Facebook when I have arrived back from the UK. Amazing stuff!

I spent a couple hours with the MAF engineers taking apart a whole aircraft. Incredible seeing the engineers taking aprt each piece of the engine putting it back together shortly afterwards!

Wow what a epic day. We landed at the Hotel totally exhausted... Its many hours on the plane with no sleep, GREAT! We will be heading back to the MAF hangar at Wilson Airport in the morning to find out more about the Kenyan programme. I’m really excited to finally see MAF’s work in the field seeing difference that the planes and MAF staff make in Kenya. I will be keeping you posted with future updates when we have internet! Take care.  Marcus J