Nate Saint House Project

Many of you know that we serve in a "historical" mission town.  The town of Shell is famous, especially among evangelicals because of the 5 missionaries that were martyred in 1956.  Nate Saint was an MAF pilot, based here in Shell, and also one of those who lost his life.  His family's home is still standing and for many years hasn't been inhabitable due to termite damage.   About a year ago MAF was contacted by a group called Fuel the Mission, who was interested in rebuilding the home.   We were all fairly skeptical about the whole idea, but have been pleasantly surprised.   Chris and Janet Nevins along with their son Elijah moved here to head-up the project and are such a blessing.  They began construction after I left to go to the US in June and when I arrived back in July it was AMAZING to see how much they had done.  They are salvaging all that they can, but obviously some things aren't salvageable due to the termites.   The new structure will include a kitchen, meeting room and bathrooms on the first floor.   Also on the first floor will be a museum area that will include the original radio room and kitchen.  On the second floor there will be an apartment on one end and office space for MAF on the other.  It will be so wonderful to have a space that we can use for more than just storage.   If you want to see more on the project go to www.fuelthemission.org.   THANKS Nevins family for your hard work and willingness to serve!

Before pictures

In Process

A workteam from Arizona that helped with the electrical and plumbing.  Chris, Janet and Elijah are on the left.

Neat Opportunity....Please Pray

Tomorrow afternoon Chad will be flying into a community (Jandiayacu) as part of a team to share the Gospel. This community is currently benefiting from a foundation that is doing a clean water project in their community. Since this project started, the community sent a letter to MAF to request that someone come in to share with them about Jesus! Can you believe that?!! What an awesome opportunity. So, a team of 4 from MAF are going in and spending the night. There will be preaching/teaching, singing, a program for the kids, testimonies, etc. Pray that their hearts will be open and that the team will feel comfortable sharing and that the words would come easily. I'm sure Chad will have some great pictures when he gets home. I'll keep you posted.

In the mean time, enjoy these pictures that he took yesterday, while waiting for our radio technicians to fix some radios in several communities. He was able to fly the "new" plane that is a 182 that runs on car fuel. That's about as technical as I get!!

MAF in Haiti

Here is what MAF is doing in Haiti....

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – The MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) hangar at Port-au-Prince’s small international airport is playing a vital role in facilitating dozens of relief flights into devastated Haiti that otherwise would be turned away.

As the airport was having difficulty accommodating all the aircraft trying to enter Haiti, MAF workers approached Air Force controllers to offer logistics support as well as space at MAF’s hangar, said John Woodberry, MAF manager of disaster response and security. As a result, the many more relief flights are now arriving at Port-au-Prince’s otherwise maxed-out airport.

The MAF hangar has become crucially important to the work of major international relief ministries. It is serving as a cargo warehouse for Operation Blessing, Baptist Haiti Mission, Samaritan’s Purse and others. It also has become a key logistics support base for Operation Blessing and Samaritan's Purse, both of which have staff sleeping at the MAF hangar to support and manage their relief operations and coordinate trucks that pick up relief for distribution.

• Saturday alone MAF facilitated 69 passengers and 20,000 pounds of relief supplies, beginning the arrival of a flight carrying 23 relief workers from World Vision, the Mennonite Central Committee, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee and others. Relief supplies handled included food, tarps, blankets, hygiene kits, water treatment systems, and medical equipment and supplies. These planes then departed Haiti with 43 evacuated children and short-term missionaries that had arrived before the earthquake struck.

• Also Saturday, MAF aircraft began relief flights within Haiti, evacuating a U.S. work team that was stranded in the town on Hinche, 60 miles north of Port-au-Prince. This group from Richmond, Virginia, had arrived in Haiti on January 7. MAF pilots Mark Williams and Will White flew the group to Cap Haitian and helped them find a place to stay before the team departed for the U.S.

• Sunday morning flights into Port-au-Prince from the U.S. brought medical and surgical teams and medical supplies to the MAF facility.

• Much emergency relief cargo arrives in Haiti not designated for delivery to a certain group. MAF has been asked to coordinate getting it to the most worthy organizations.

• MAF pilots and planes will continue relief flights within Haiti, transporting relief supplies, relief workers, and medical teams to remote areas.

To respond, MAF has set up the Haiti Disaster and Recovery Fund. To make your gift, click http://www.maf.org/donatecart?goMotiv=VVJ0-U100&desig_4932=10.

Please pray for our MAF friends who are serving in Haiti. All of the wives and children were evacuated, which means their husbands are still there serving. Please pray for stamina, wisdom, and safety for these men.