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I know it has been a minute! A month or two, maybe even three since my last newsletter update. And that it still looks and feel more like like last year here. It can only be right to start by saying Happy blessed New year and welcome to a new month.

It fills my heart with warm memories mentioning that i drafted and carried pieces of this newsletter update in almost all the places i call home; MAF in South Africa, in the comfort of my mother’s house and love, in the care and moments filled with laughter with my friends, in fellowship with my local church and in my home country

I know we all carry different definitions of what home is, what it should look like and how it is meant to feel. Strangely enough, the above image is my honest, sober picture of being home to me; everything laid out, bags still open, no need for closets, with no need to hide or pressure to put certain parts of myself away. Being fully seen for who i am and for all that i carry and knowing without question that i am still loved .

**arrived home on time for the mango and watermelon season**

**to all the heartfelt and refreshing moments i had with my family and friends**

**caught up with the sunday after church icecream-dates we always do when i am back Home with my Friends**: **Mint tart Sunday is my persona fave**

**I dont always get to be home to lay my loved ones to rest**

**moments of fellowship at Bible Life Ministries Maun, Under the ministration of Rev. Phineas Botumile**

I am back in Monrovia Liberia, another place i am learning to call home. And yet, even in being here, today’s reflection feels weightier, as it marks a full year of me serving with MAF in Liberia as a Licensed Aircraft Engineer. Despite being home in place and purpose, I find my self wrestling with another thought, a more quieter persistent invitation to be home still, but home in this earthen vessel we call the body.An invitation to come into the fullness of being, to being found. To allow divinity to fully find expression through me and by me , here in the land of the living. To come to the knowledge of Him who formed my inward parts in my mother’s womb, to whom my frame was never hidden, even when I was made in secret. An invitation to come to the salvation of my soul and to truly grasp what it means to be fearfully and wonderfully made. To come into the sum of His precious thoughts and plans toward me, and by His mercies, to learn how to present myself as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable which is my reasonable service unto Him.

Just like that, the holiday is finished and we are back

**Passed by Togo on my way to Liberia, my french was still nowhere to be found**

**apparently it is a crime for an A&P mechanic to pay for the gym**

**updated my mini library for the new season**

The same inner wrestlings of the prodigal son when he was in a far off country; for him to come to himself, his desire to be found by someone, his longings for something better and his desire to be home. Which appear in the telling of the story to seem to originate from within himself. Yet in truth, it was born from the unwavering love of a faithful Father who was always watching, always waiting, and looking out toward the horizon for His lost son to come to life. Which i believe is the very same invitation our loving and faithful Father is extending to all of us in Jesus Christ, even in this new season; to come to life, to the salvation of our souls , to be home, and to be found.

**continue remembering me in your prayers**

**an empty hanger, continue to remember the West Africa operations and maintenace teams in your prayers**

Praises and Prayer requests

Praise be to God that today marks my full year of serving with MAF in Liberia.
Praise be to God that I have managed to renew my ICAO Aircraft engineer’s license with Cessna 208 series and Beechcraft King Air 200 Series ratings.
I will be travelling to Guinea, Conakry at the end of February to do a 200hrs inspection on N2114G, which is the aircraft used by MAF in Guinea. Remember me and my French in your prayers
We are going to have a busy start of the year in maintenance, N2114G will be in for 200hrs inspection at the End of February, N110PE will be In for 200hrs and Annual inspection in March , N552HF will be in for 200hrs and annual Inspection in April. Kindly remember us in prayers for the maintenance to go according to plan
We are expecting two engineers from MAF in Kenya to come and assist with our scheduled maintenance
Continue remembering the Venter and Rietoff families who continue to be a blessing financially to my ministry

IN ALL THINGS- THE MANIFOLD WISDOM OF GOD

A lot has happened since my last newsletter update. I have had the joy of seeing the hangar completely empty, with all the aircraft I am privileged to be maintaining out in the field serving with our partners to bring hope, help, healing, and the love of Christ to isolated communities in Liberia and Guinea. I have also seen the hangar filled to capacity, with all three aircraft on the ground (including N2114G, which is currently serving our partners in Guinea). At one point, I even found myself solely responsible for maintenance while Gift was away on his out-of-country break. Another highlight was reuniting with my brothers from MMS Aviation, who came to Liberia on their global response trip to assist Samaritan’s Purse with maintenance on their Cessna Caravan.

**first 100hrs inspection I was fully in-charge of**

**N110PE hot section inspection picture**

**I have assumed responsibility for all the paint jobs**

**N2114G main gear springs due for 4 years inspection**

As I struggled to find both the time and space to gather my thoughts for this update, I found myself drawing comfort on my birthday and still drawing comfort from Romans 8:28. It reminded me of how God in His nature and perfect wisdom is not wasteful, especially with our life experiences and how He allows all things to work together for good: “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” What a comforting assurance! That nothing in our life journey is ever wasted when we love the Lord and our lives are fully surrendered to Him. How in all things, God is present! shaping us, refining us, and guiding us toward the destiny He has already prepared for us in Christ.

**Clay Walter from MAF US taking us through Hot Section inpection**

**Peter Mburu from MAF in Kenya came to assist with the 400+HSI Inspection on N11PE**

**Christiaan Koetsier from the Nerdelands came to assist with the annual inspection on N2114G**

**Bjornar from MAF in Uganda came to assist with the sheet metal work on N110PE**

**working with Brad Ballin on the rudder trim troubleshooting**

Re-united with my brothers from MMS Aviation on their Global response trip to assist Samaritan’s Purse with maintanance on their Cessna Caranan.

**Ilonka Barendse conducting first aid training on her recent HR visit**

**David Moiti from MAf In Uganda assisting with the propeller painting and balancing jobs**

As I celebrated my birthday last week, I found myself reflecting on the faithfulness of God and on how every thread of my story is being gently woven together for good. My aviation training and studies in a Mission school, my commercial aviation experience especially on the Cessna Caravans, growing up as the last born child who was hardly ever home, being single (as random as it may sound) , the doors that didn’t open,and the incredible people I have met and continue to meet through serving with MAF in Liberia. All these pieces seem to fit together in a way I could not have planned . The reflection also drew my heart to the life of Christ; raised by a carpenter, surrounded daily by the very wood and nails that would one day fulfil His ultimate purpose on the cross.

**I love carrot cake. Glad we managed to find one for my birthday treat**

**some of the amazing people/families i only got to know through serving with MAF in Liberia**

**meals I cook when i miss my home country**

**Decided to join gym for mens mental Health month**

**almost everyone coming from MAF in Kenya has an empty suitcase with my name on it for the food items i am still struggling to find around Monrovia**

My Current struggles

Like I shared in my last newsletter , I am still struglling, still in a funny way!!

My Koloqua( Liberian English) is still the same, but atleast now I can navigate my way around with a lot more ease than when i first arrived in Liberia
I have made peace with driving on the right side of the road. What i have not made peace with is why we are stil driving manual cars. I do drive manual cars , just not unprovoked!!!
The supermarket prices??? Yeah….I dont think i will get used to them anytime soon.
I have been struggling to find a nearby gym. The one I have been going to moved over night (my friends still dont believe me). Anyways i sorted now, officially part of the last-minute hustle for that December body
like the Liberian President His Excellency Joseph Boakai I speak Good english, OH trust me i do ! But speaking it 24/7 ? fulltime? everyday? everywhere?
I honestly dont know what to say or feel about the everyday rain situation as we are currently in the wet season.

Praises and Prayer request

I am settling well in Liberia both in the MAF Compound, Hagar and day to day personal life outside work. Doing my 7^th month in Monrovia
My resident permit and work permit have been issued
Celebrated my 2^nd birthday away from home on 30^th of September
I am found home , friendship and a lot more at Monrovia Christian Fellowship
I will be travelling to Botswana this coming December for my out-of-country break
Thank God that The 200hrs and annual inspection on N552HF, 200hrs and Annual inspection on N2114G and the 400hrs and Hot section inspection on N110PE went well as scheduled and planned .
N110PE is currently grounded due to an Avionics snag (GDU 620). Praying for spares to arrive on time before N55HF come in for its scheduled minor (100hrs) inspection
Pray for the Venter and Rietoff Family who continue to be a blessing financially to ministry here in Liberia

**The first time we landed in Sanniquellie, Nimba county**

**we helped in flying in a tiny shy Pangolin to its new and safe home in Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary**

**THE SHY LITTLE PANGOLIN AT ITS NEW HOME**

**ONE OF THE INSPECTION MOMENTS WHICH I REALLY ENJOYED; HSI INSPECTION ON N110PE**

EBENEZER

We have come to the first quarter of the year, and I am way overdue for my first update newsletter.

As I look back and reflect on the love, goodness, and mercy of God during this reflective week of Easter and try to sum up my journey, all that comes to my mind is the faithfulness of God and how He has helped and is still helping me this far. It is only befitting that my first newsletter update be a memorial of how far God has helped me (Ebenezer), as the title suggests.

**where it all started ,my younger self graduating from and Aircraft Engineering training school nine (9) years ago**

**Being handed certificate of completion of my training with MMS aviation by the Director of training Bob Schwartz**

Before I could assume my role as a Licensed Aircraft Engineer with Mission Aviation Fellowship International, I had to make two stops which were equally important for me to be fully accepted into serving with Mission Aviation Fellowship International.

My first stop was in Nairobi, Kenya, where I spent 2 months with a wonderful team in the MAF programme in Kenya for my Cessna 208 Caravan technical standardisation and field orientation. Not only did I manage to complete all the elements of the standardisation training, God also blessed me with an amazing technical support system, family, and prayer partners who are interested in seeing me succeed in my new role as a person and as an engineer.

**My last day of the standardisation training with MAF Kenya**

Peter Mburu (Head of base Maintenance MAF Kenya) making sure I have enough supply of chapatis on His recent visit to Liberia where he came to help with maintenance and to see that I settle well in my new role with MAF Liberia

**Ian Karanja(Engineer from MAF Kenya ) came to assist me and Gift on the on going 200hrs and Annual inspection on N552HF**

In order for me to fully perform my new role and return to service the MAF Liberia C208 fleet, which is American registered, I needed to have an FAA Airframe & Powerplant certification. This opened the door for my second stop, which was with MMS Aviation in USA, Ohio, from August 2024 to 18th December 2024 (I know, I almost had my first white Christmas). The main purpose of training with MMS was so that I could attain an FAA Airframe & Powerplant License based on my aviation experience, as I already had an ICAO aircraft maintenance license. Honestly speaking, words would fail me if I tried to narrate my stay and experience with the wonderful MMS Family. It was an amazing time of learning, re-learning, and getting to experience the day-to-day life of being a missionary aircraft mechanic. At the end of it all, by God’s grace and renewal of mercy, I did manage to pass my written, oral, and practical exams and received an FAA A&P certificate. By God’s grace, I also got to know, relate to, and make lifelong friendships and family with different amazing families I got to serve and train with at MMS Aviation.

**I was privileged to have participated in the Church leadership cookout which was hosted in the MMS Hangar. Presenting on Magnetos with My brother for Uganda Peter Okia**

**my first engine overhaul experience in the MMS aviation hangar / engine workshop**

**some of my basic sheet metal training projects**

**Bob Schwartz decided that we are flying to Zanesville for my last written Exam. This was Him watching our ride while he waited for me to finish my powerplant written exam**

**oh sweet Lisa Schwartz , My American Mum. There are so many stories I can tell of your care , love , international meals and baked beans**

**my first Christmas Tree hunt with the Harpers**

**working on the Christmas lights and decorations on Bob Schwartz’s house**

**does it show that this was my first snow experience??**

**Bob Schwartz out flying with His boys!**

Can you guess where I am now? Yes, Liberia, home away from home. I have now assumed my roles with MAF Liberia as a Licensed Aircraft Engineer and am doing my third month now in Monrovia. I arrived straight into a 200-hour and annual inspection on one of the two Cessna 208B Caravans (N110PE) currently operated by MAF Liberia to bring help, hope, and healing to some of the most isolated parts and communities in Liberia.

**My Pastor from my local church in Botswana , Rev Phineas Botumile praying over my life as he was releasing me to come serve with MAF Liberia**

**Me and Gift installing a new oxygen bottle which was part of the 200 and annual inspection on N110PE**

**MAF Liberia welcome and Appreciation Facebook post**

Through our dedicated efforts, assistance for Peter Mburu from MAF Kenya, Warren Veal from MAF US, and by God’s grace, we managed to successfully conclude the inspection on N110PE. It warms my heart and gives me a lot of “selah moments” every time I hear heartwarming stories of the flights covered by N110PE, besides our day-to-day flights with our partners, and the difference it makes to have N110PE serviceable/out of maintenance. Since coming out of maintenance, N110PE has so far done three emergency medical flights which involved young babies: one 7 days old, the other 10 days old, and another 6 months old who needed to be flown in for emergency medical attention at JFK hospital. Again, it warmed my heart to see a dialysis machine being flown to the local hospital in Harper.

**One of N110PE medical emergency flights**

**7 days old baby flown in for emergency medical surgery**

**assisting in loading a dialysis machine which was flown to a local hospital in Harper**

My current day to day struggles

You will not believe it; I am currently struggling in a funny way! I no longer know which is the right or the wrong side to drive on the road. I have kept left my entire driving experience, and I am still trying to make sense of the whole idea of keeping/driving on the right side. I am also struggling with keeping up with Liberian English(Koloqua). My last funny struggle is not having to do anything to sweat! my skin still adjusting to the high humidity in Monrovia; it still feels funny to the skin. Besides all my funny struggles, Liberia is a beautiful country with amazing, welcoming, and friendly people.

**random picture on my evening walk along the coast**

Praises

I am settling well in Liberia both in the MAF compound , hangar , and day to day life outside work.
My FAA Airframe and Powerplant License is finally out
We have started working on 200 hrs and annual inspection on our other Cessna 208B Caravan N552HF . Ian Karanja from MAF Kenya has arrived in Monrovia to assist with the inspections on N552HF

Prayer requests

Pray for the on going Maintenance on N552HF , for us to finish working on it on the suggested time frame and arrival of some of the spares which are on order .
Pray for the Rietoff family and Venter family who have been a blessing financially to my ministry
Pray for Michael from MAF US and Moiti from Uganda’s travels as we expect them to join us next week as part of maintenance support for N552HF 200 and annual inspection

” Then Samuel took a stone , placed it between Mizpah and Shen and named it Ebenezer. He said , The Lord Has Helped Us this far.” This here is my EBENEZER, the Lord Has helped me this far.

I am looking forward to sharing more of the stories of what God is doing in me and through my ministry as I continue to serve with my life and engineering skills with MAF Liberia. By God’s grace, I will be using this platform to share my life journey with newsletters at the end of every three months. If you would like to receive an email notification of my next newsletter, you can subscribe to my website or leave your email in the comment section. Thank you for being part of my life journey as I discover and continue to surrender to God’s purpose for my life.