MAF's Work in Haiti

Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) is privileged to have a part in building the Kingdom of God in Haiti.  MAF provides vital aviation, radio communications and distance education services to national churches, Christian missions, and non-government organizations (NGOs) ministering in Haiti.

THE NEED
With the lowest standard of living in the Western Hemisphere, 80 percent of Haiti’s eight million people languish in poverty and hopelessness. Half are unemployed, and the average income for those who do have jobs is a mere $610 per year. Haitians suffer from chronic malnutrition, poor health, and untreated medical conditions. The infant mortality rate exceeds nine percent, and life expectancy is a mere 53.2 years.

In 1791, while the country was in a revolutionary war with France, Haiti’s slaves revolted and the practice of voodoo exploded. The entire country was formally “dedicated” to this blend of West African spiritism and witchcraft, and was again rededicated to voodoo during the bicentennial celebrations of 1991. Plagued by political violence for most of its history, the ruling Haitian elite have fostered a spirit of evil that permeates every level of society, using voodoo as a cruel means of control. Nearly overcome by despair, many Haitians attempt escape through drugs, suicide, or by sailing leaky boats to other lands. Religious agencies say the suicide rate of the Haitian Guarani youth is among the highest in the world.

Nearly 35 percent of Haitian children do not attend even elementary school. More than 85 percent will not complete high school. The resulting illiteracy severely limits the number of qualified indigenous church leaders and prevents evangelical Haitians from positively impacting the structure of society. Political unrest, threats, and violence have forced many missionaries to leave the island.

Trapped by rough, mountainous terrain and frequent floods that deteriorate or destroy roads, it is nearly impossible to travel inland. Bandits further increase the danger of land travel.

Political unrest, threats, and violence have forced many missionaries to leave the island, further exacerbating the already difficult situation. 

THE SOLUTION
MAF has served the missions community and the people of Haiti since 1986. Presently six MAF families and three aircraft serve 16 airstrips from a base of operations in Port-au-Prince

To enable the work and maximize the effectiveness of Christian workers and agencies, MAF provides missionaries and community development workers the means of ministering to the people of Haiti through light air transportation services, communications networks, electronic connectivity to Christian workers and agencies, and distance education.

Evangelism and Church Nurture
In northwestern Haiti, MAF provides transportation to church leaders attending intensive three-week training seminars. In the central plateau, MAF transports missionaries and their supplies to villages for evangelism. Throughout Haiti, MAF provides secure email connections for more than 40 mission and national church workers.

MAF-Learning Technologies (MAF-LT) has formed a partnership with CrossWorld to provide distance education and leadership training to Haitian church pastors and lay leaders.

In 2005, a Haitian national was recruited and sent to MAF headquarters in the U.S. for training as an MAF-LT specialist. He has since returned to Haiti and is currently working on a project to format 24 seminary-level courses into the versatile XML computer language and the DEViewer, developed by MAF for use in Haiti and the French-speaking world. Eight courses in French and eight in Creole have been completed, providing learning opportunities for new pastors and church leaders. 

Medical Assistance
MAF provides the only air ambulance service and transportation for dental and medical teams traveling to the central plateau, serving more than 250,000 people. As needed—usually several times a week—MAF flies doctors and patients to and from the island of La Gonave, where one hospital serves more than 100,000 people. These flights also support World Vision and other agencies. Without MAF, these travelers would be exposed to the dangers and delays of frequently rough seas. 

IMPACT 2007 HIGHLIGHTS
In the past 12 months, the MAF program in Haiti ...

• Saved Christian and humanitarian workers 3,808 days of travel time—or 15.7 work years redeemed for productive Kingdom work!
• Executed 2,993 flights, transported 8,656 passengers, and delivered 852,119 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.
• Purchased and retrofitted a Cessna 207, scheduled to arrive in October 2007.
• Welcomed a fifth pilot/mechanic to the MAF team ministering in Haiti.
• Constructed an airstrip in Fond des Blancs.
• Acquired a car for program use.
• Completed eight distance education courses in French and eight in Creole. Completed phase one of course usability testing.
• Provided transportation for ministry teams from Hosean International Ministries (HIM), allowing them to conduct vacation Bible schools, evangelistic outreaches, and conferences.
• Provided ongoing flight services for Christian Aide Ministries (CAM), enabling agricultural development, healthcare, and evangelistic outreach as well as feeding programs for 1,600 households monthly.
• Supported the work of Institution Univers (IU) in the town of Ouanaminthe. Transported IU medical and dental teams, provided emergency medical flight services, and transported students from IU schools to Port-au-Prince to access international flights.
• Completed 21 years of accident-free flying.