MAF pilot Justin Honaker serves in Lesotho, Africa. He was born in Loma Linda California, where he lived until he joined the Marine Corps in 1997. Justin holds Private and Commercial Pilot's licenses, as well as, Flight Instructor Certification. He is a certified Airframe and Powerplant mechanic and has experience as a helicopter mechanic. He and his wife, Amanda, met at MAF Headquarters in Nampa, Idaho, when Justin was in flight training and Amanda was working in the mailroom.
Ready for takeoff and a different view of the airstrip and valley.
This simple principle is life saving for bush pilots. I love how easily this translates into a spiritual application as well. One that says, in order to produce fruit in our lives, marriages, families, and communities, we must follow a strict code. […]
The patient doesn’t make a sound as a nurse and I position her on the floor of a Cessna 206. I am amazed at her resolve not to demonstrate any pain—not even the slightest wince.
Her name is Maleboheng; she is 81 years of age and has a broken femur. Earlier in the day she was […]
Just when I’m getting the hang of my role as MAF Lesotho’s interim country program manager (PM), I get a curve ball that’s got me reeling. The life of a PM is a big change for a pilot/mechanic who is used to not being tied to the hangar. Now I’ve got an office, a desk, […]
Circling the remote mountain airstrip I see both windsocks standing straight out, indicating lots of wind. My onboard GPS is talking to me and I don’t like what it says. Around 20 knots crosswind, I calculate. My heart is thumping and my palms are sweating. My hopes for landing are not high.
The day’s scheduled flights […]
There is an air of excited anticipation so tangible you can almost see it as Matt Monson, our newest pilot, taxis off the runway and into the MAF area. Our entire staff is poised to give Matt a soaking he’ll likely not forget. Matt is none the wiser. Our buckets are filled and carefully positioned […]
Sweat drips from my forehead and seeps into Mrs. Mofolo’s T-shirt as I count the chest compressions. I hadn’t realized I was sweating. It’s already been almost five minutes of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) with no response. I’m not giving up yet though.
Mrs. Mofolo was in labor several hours before I even arrived with the airplane. […]