Reflection prompts action!

After arriving back in the UK on Saturday, I have had time to pull together my thoughts on my 10 days in Africa. Instead of filling this post with words, I thought I might leave you with a pictorial reflection on my travels in Kenya and South Sudan.



That was just a snapshot of what I saw and what MAF is doing. Having returned home, the contrast of life in Kenya and Sudan to life here in the UK is overwhelming. But I’m not too discouraged by that, rather, I’m inspired to get on with raising awareness and support for MAF’s vital work across Africa and other areas in the developing world. Likewise, if you are motivated by anything that you have seen or heard about MAF, I encourage you to get on board, see what we’re doing and what you can do to help.

One idea- check out Above and Beyond: the youth and student initiative of MAF. I’m joining the team in June to take on the Great Glen Challenge and raise support… interested and want to get involved? Go to The Great Glen Challenge website
Blessings, Zach

Hard work in the heat

I arrived in South Sudan on Monday in the shuttle that runs from our Kenya base in Nairobi twice a week. As soon as you land on the airstrip in Juba, the heat and humidity have you instantly sweating. As it happened, the same time we were arriving, the President and Vice-President both arrived in a private plane. As we were being ushered to immigration, we saw them entering a 4x4 that was protected by a fleet of military armoured vehicles. They shut the roads down as the convoy left the airport at speed. It was an interesting first experience of South Sudan.

 After a short five minute drive, we arrived at the MAF compound and met the staff.  It was an early night as the next day was promising to be hard work. I was up and at the compound for 6.30am where we loaded the pick-up truck with cargo and headed over to the airstrip to prepare the plane and load the cargo and passengers. We were flying a Medair team (see picture) to different locations around the country. First, we landed at Pibor, an area that has seen recent inter-tribal clashes between the Lou Nuer and Murle claiming hundreds of lives and the theft of thousand of livestock (many people's only source of income). Flying into the Pibor airstrip, I could see the remains of burn settlements, a sad reminder left by the fighting. It was hard to grasp that the events I had been reading about in the news only a few weeks before had taken place right where I was standing. Thankfully, together with MAF's help, Medair are running nutrition, water and sanitation projects providing essential care to those who have lost everything.

 The next stop was Malakal where Medair have an administration and logistics office. After picking up staff, it was on to Renk, a county in the far north of South Sudan and the home to thousands of refugees who have been returning from the north since the secession last year. The people that surronded the plane, many children (see picture), were malnutrioned and tired. It was a tough experience but thanks to groups like Medair, the people are getting help. We got back that evening at 6pm and I was finished, it was 7 hours of flying time with 4 stops.

Straight back at it again, I met Ryan (the same pilot) at 6.30am the following morning. This time, we were flying 900kg of building materials for a health clinic in Mayendit a two hour flight away. On arrival, we were greeted by Reverend Daniel Atong and his team (see picture) who head up Assistant Mission in Africa. The new health clinic will be focussing on help and education for HIV/AIDS. Daniel Atong told me that it was a serious problem in the area and there were no clinics to educate or help the people. Thanks to MAF and the Assistant Mission in Africa team, the clinic will now provide support to an area that is home to over a 100,000 people. After returning from the flight at 2pm, Pilot Ryan loaded up the plane again but this time no room for me.

 Over the last two days of flying, I am blown away by what I had seen. Not only by the immense needs in South Sudan and the work of our partners, but also by the commitment and effort of the staff here at MAF South Sudan- the long days in the energy-sapping heat are hard work. So far, my time here has been insightful and inspiring. Will post again soon. Blessings, Zach.

Slums, scenery and security

So much has happened since my last post... where to start!

Let me begin with the flight I joined on Friday. It was the regular shuttle that leaves every week from MAF's Kenya base in Nairobi to Marsabit in the north. As soon as you take off from MAF's hangar at Wilson Airport, you are suspended above the Kibera slums which stretch on and on appearing like a city of their own (see picture). With an estimated population of 3 million, you are struck by the immense needs that lie right in the heart of the developing city of Nairobi. The two hour flight continues over amazing scenery- plush green land followed by the amazing Mount Kenya (the 2nd largest mountain in Africa) and then miles of arid desert. Eventually, you arrive at Marsabit, a dry and dusty outpost of civilisation with a population of just 121,478 spread out across an area the size of England.  

During the flight, I spoke to Alex (see photo) from Caritas, a regular partner of MAF that delivers humanitarian relief all across the developing world. In 2011, MAF flew 2,817 passengers over 122,892 miles carrying 6,442kg of freight for Caritas out of our Kenya base alone. This time, Alex was travelling with MAF to stay at Marsabit for 3 weeks providing specialist support in the development of Caritas' food distribution, agricultural, water and sanitation projects. Alex told me MAF was the only option of getting there- with the overland journey taking up to two days and the risk of bandits, Caritas only use MAF to reach the area... a clear reminder of the importance of MAF in reaching these remote parts of Kenya.

Since returning from the flight on Friday evening, the weekend has shot past. It was busy with meeting staff and attending a local Nairobi church- a truly colourful and lively experience. However, there was a terrorist attack 10 minutes down the road from the MAF compound on Saturday evening. The al-Shabab group threw 4 grenades into a busy bus station killing 6 and injuring many more. It was a scary insight into the insecurity of this area and how fragile life is. Pray for all those effected.

 Tomorrow, I am boarding another MAF plane to fly to our base in South Sudan where I will spend the week seeing the work and speaking to our partners. Will keep you posted on how it goes.

An Epic Day

I left my house at 2pm on Wednesday and arrived in Nairobi, Kenya at 3.30am yesterday morning... Kenya is three hours ahead so we actually met our taxi at 6.30am Nairobi time. With not knowing much of what to expect and having never been to Kenya or even Africa before, I was immediately immersed into a world so different to my own. Firstly, the traffic is very different- road signs, indicating and giving way is not how it works... Cars, buses and bikes just move forward into any available space, but it just seems to flow- everyone is moving quickly within one inch of the next car but they're relaxed.

On the 45 min drive across town, people were everywhere. At 6.30am, people were walking with a purpose, many in smart dress. You could feel the hustle and bustle of a city but one like none I had every been to before. All these people were weaving in and out of the fast moving traffic, young children (aged 5-7) walking to school in there smart uniforms at 6.30am. There seemed to be many vacant and derelict buildings littering the city, but the place still gave off a real energy... no tall sky scrapers, no flashy cars and much of the time no pavements- but there were a lot of people.

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 the pilots, the engineers, the office staff and the many nationals who work in a variety of positions. Each one was happy to talk and gave time running me through what an average day is like at MAF Kenya. The six aircraft were awesome and it was fun to see one taking off while engineers were taking apart an engine on another.

A great but epic day. Just got back and I'm exhausted... Its been 34 hours with only a 1.5 hour nap on the plane. I'm about to shut down but will be up bright an early to board my first MAF flight joining some of our partners on a weekly shuttle service to Marsabit. I'll let you know how it goes. Blessings, Zach. 

Our man in Sudan

For the next 10 days Zach Maasbach will be reporting for MAF from Kenya and Sudan. He will be  recording his thoughts and experiences in this blog whilst visiting various MAF partners, programmes and people. His written blog will be posted up here and we will be trying out exciting new technology in the form of an audio blog too which we will put on our Facebook page:

  http://www.facebook.com/aboveandbeyondmaf  

Watch this space or like us on Facebook for regular updates on Zach's journey visiting some of the worlds poorest and most isolated people.

Great beauty...great needs

Camping in the cyclone was a new experience - we moved our tents indoors and managed to keep dry. The wind and rain were pretty loud all of last monday night and the rain continued through Tuesday. It seems we were pretty sheltered in Sahakevo. The cyclone was stronger in Tana, knocking out power and internet connection - not such a problem in Sahakevo as it didn't exist in the first place.

Last Thursday I was due to leave Sahakevo and go to visit the work of SIL but the flight was cancelled as sadly the daughter of one of the SIL team members died in childbirth. Pray for this family.

Madagascar is truly a beautiful country. But look further than the usual tourist pictures and you will see such great needs. Many people who we met in Sahakevo have sickness caused mainly by malnutrition, dirty water and poor sanitation. That's why it's invaluable too that a community health worker joins the team to teach good hygiene practice and nutrition in the local schools and churches.

Camping in the Cyclone

Back online after 10 days away visiting work in other parts of Madagascar.

I spent last week camping in Sahakevo - a 45 minute flight from Tana (Antananarivo) but a 4 day journey - first one day in bush taxi until the road ends then a 3 day walk over hills and mountains. We had the added 'interest' of being there as a cyclone was approaching the island....

I spent the week on the Madagascar Medical Safari (MMS) with a team of 3 doctors and a community health worker. They treated over 300 patients, performed 18 operations and saw 120+ dental patients. Dr Fernand who was leading the team is an amazing man. He is incredibly funny and even made the patients laugh as he was pulling out their teeth.

The MMS is an MAF project, also working with HoverAid. It was amazing to join this team and see their work. There will be 15 MMS teams this year, going into isolated villages where is no or little healthcare to bring medical help as well as bringing along a pastor to preach, encourage and teach the local population.

I’m in Madagascar...and a cyclone approaches

I’m in Madagascar – a dream come true! Home to 4 MAF International families, lemurs, tropical flowers and also my future in-laws! It’s pretty great to be here and get to meet the Malagasy people and see all that MAF is doing.

Madagascar is like nowhere else I have ever been with MAF.

This island nation of about 20 million people is more like Indonesia than Africa. It’s hot but in a good way, there is lots of green and because it was the weekend when I arrived, the traffic was pretty good.

The main focus this weekend is the bad news that a big cyclone is on its way - due to hit this (Monday) evening so huge storms and rain are expected and potentially a great deal of damage, most of which will be in the north. MAF has been asked to be available for flights after the cyclone hits to the damaged areas.

Madagascar is prone to cyclones and unfortunately they usually hit the island in the same area each time, causing great damage and making life even harder for people who already have a hard existence. (Recently Madagascar was reported as being the 5th poorest country in the world.)

We’re praying it changes direction and loses its power… more to come…