Category Archives: West

Mining for Mines

Landmines are usually something one would try to avoid. But recently I met people who look for them on purpose! They are often on their hands and knees with small shovels and wearing protective plating and helmets. These are the brave and courageous staff of the demining organization, HALO.

I had the opportunity to spend a […]

Rest / Unrest

The security situation where we live degraded last week, here in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It’s all “part of doing business” for overseas missionaries, but still there is something inside our human hearts which reminds us that this unrest isn’t normal. It’s also a good reaffirmation of one of the reasons why we are […]

Congo: A Whole New World

It took me almost four hours flying over 300 mph just to get across one corner of the country—Democratic Republic of Congo. Talk about vast!

The long flight from Kinshasa to Lubumbashi was possible at this speed thanks to MAF’s Pilatus PC12. Normally it would take all day to make the journey in a Cessna airplane, let […]

Break a Leg to Share the Gospel

Mark Spann (left) hands out Bibles to airport control tower staff. Story photos by Kevin Spann.

When MAF pilot/mechanic Kevin Spann’s parents visited Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, they had a special mission: to deliver Bibles to all the staff at the airport control tower at Kinshasa’s Ndjili Airport. A fundraiser at their local church, […]

Seeing Through Fresh Eyes

Field Resource Coordinator Kelly does research on a crazy-looking grasshopper in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Story photos by Mark and Kelly Hewes.

The first few days after arriving in a new place are always the most magical. In the far-flung places where MAF serves, surprising smells and exotic sights are around every […]

Crisis Averted

The phones started ringing earlier than usual one morning as we were commuting to the office in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). “We have 50 people we need to get out,” said a humanitarian aid worker. “We’re looking at approximately 110 people that may need to be evacuated,” said another caller, an embassy […]