Mozambique

MAF has been enabling and maximizing ministry in Mozambique since 1999. From its base in Nampula, MAF serves those who work with the Makua, Makonde, Lomwe, Chuabo, Yao and other people groups of northern Mozambique.

With the help of MAF, missionaries are able to reach more people with the Good News of the Gospel. A journey that formerly required three grueling days of travel by truck, and much longer on foot, now takes only hours or even minutes by MAF aircraft.

Many of the MAF flights in Mozambique support community development projects. Using MAF services, humanitarian groups can more effectively provide agricultural assistance, environmental protection, literary programs, and rural development assistance.

Assisted by MAF, Christian missions serving in northern Mozambique significantly increase their capacity for evangelism, Bible translation, and leadership development for struggling, indigenous churches. In addition to aviation services, MAF provides technical assistance with computers and facilitates the purchase, storage and forwarding of cargo and supplies.

Over the past year, MAF has continued its efforts to establish a flying doctor service in Mozambique. Relationships have been established with the directors of the Ministry of Health, the rector of a medical school, and the governor of Nampula province. They support the venture but cannot provide funding. A Dutch Christian doctor is expected to arrive by the end of 2008 to work full-time on this project. Once established, the flying doctor service will provide medical care to thousands of Mozambican villagers who live and die under the care of feared witch doctors.

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

• Saved Christian and humanitarian workers 1,258 days of travel time redeemed for productive Kingdom work!
• Transported 703 passengers, and delivered 25,474 pounds of cargo in order to provide access to the Gospel and to basic services such as health clinics, medical emergency evacuations, and education—services otherwise unavailable in remote locations.
• Served Christian agencies and humanitarian organizations including SIL International, the Southern Baptist Convention, New Tribes Mission, World Vision, Orphans Unlimited Inc., Serving in Mission (SIM International), and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
• Provided ongoing support for nine SIL International Bible translation and literacy projects. Along with flight and logistics services for their staff, MAF transports SIL management on one- or two-week trips from one project to another.
• Supported the work of New Tribes Mission in the remote areas of northern Mozambique. Provided 17 families with flight and logistical assistance for staff visits, health concerns, and other needs.
• Partnered with Aero Visão, a nonprofit Mozambique Christian flight operator, to develop the organization’s aviation capacity. As available, Aero Visão will lease two planes from MAF. MAF is funding the training of one Mozambican pilot and provides experience on MAF flights.
• Welcomed a second MAF pilot/mechanic missionary family to the program in August 2008.

1. Continue to support mission agencies in their efforts to evangelize unreached people groups living in northern Mozambique and southern Africa. As needed, provide logistics support in addition to flight services.
2. Continue to assist Aero Visão in establishing operations in Nampula. Provide counsel on managing a flight program. Assist with training.
3. Continue efforts to establish a flying doctor service in northern Mozambique.
4. Continue flight support to New Tribes Mission as four additional missionary families are expected to arrive in 2009.
5. Build a fuel storage room at the Nampula base.
6. Obtain all necessary licenses and permits to ensure permanent operations in Mozambique. This includes Mozambique plane registrations, pilot and maintenance licenses, operators license, maintenance authorization, and non-temporary NGO authorization.
7. Deepen relationships with the Ministers of Health, the rector of a medical school, and the governor of Nampula province.

This year, it will require $522,297 to operate ongoing programs and launch new initiatives in Mozambique. Total funding from support raised by MAF missionary staff and from field revenue amounts to $437,224 or 84 percent of total operating costs.

We seek the remaining 16 percent—or $85,073—from caring partners: individuals, churches, and foundations.