The Adventure Begins

The Adventure begins. 3/9/2011

  It has been a long time (nearly 6 years) since my last overseas  trip.  I excitedly packed my belongings for the two week trip to visit MAF's flight training program in Sentani, Indonesia.  MAF has been flying in this part of the world since 1952.  Back then the Baliem Valley was a vast inland interior of yet unreached people groups.  Much has happened in the last 50+ years.  Just how much, I am about to find out.  The purpose of my trip is to observe the flight operations on the field, take a look specifically at training, and look at how we can modify training to better meet the needs of the missionaries on the field.   As a highlight, it is going to be wonderful to see how the Lord is using MAF to reach this part of the world for Christ.

From our MAF website I read that:

MAF, which has served Papua since 1952, reaches more than 250 ethnic groups by supporting churches and mission efforts, and providing medical assistance, community development, education, crisis relief, and the training and leadership development of Papuans. Thirty-eight MAF missionary families, two short-term staff, and more than 80 Indonesian staff fly and maintain 13 MAF aircraft from six bases in Papua. More than 60 mission and humanitarian agencies increase their efficiency and effectiveness through using MAF’s three email hubs and communication networks.

In the past 12 months, the MAF program in Papua ...

• Saved Christian and humanitarian workers 17,826 days of travel time
• Executed 10,028 flights
• Transported 36,882 passengers
• Delivered 4.6 million pounds of cargo

At the moment, I am in San Francisco awaiting my airplane to Jakarta, via Hong Kong and Singapore.  Needless to say, I will get to know my seat (thankfully a window seat) all too well over the next 19 hours.  From Jakarta, I will take another overnight flight to Sentani, Indonesia.  A long two days to get half way around the world, but amazingly, it can be done.  Please be praying as I travel on this journey.  I will post my next blog from Sentani, after some sleep and a shower.

Jeff