MAF pilot flies South Sudanese babies to life-changing care in Uganda

MAF Missionary pilot Matthew Marples in South Sudan (Photo: Supplied)

Some of the moms from South Sudan holding their babies with hydrocephalus (Photo: Supplied by Matthew Marples)

Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) sends their missionary pilots into remote locations to help those who are most in need. This includes babies in South Sudan who are affected by hydrocephalus. 

"I have served overseas in Africa for almost four years now," says Matthew Marples, a missionary pilot with MAF. "It's been transformative."

Marples lives four years on in South Sudan with his wife and their two children, followed by a six-month furlough back in Alberta, which they are currently on. 

"There was some adjustment to the new culture. I had the benefit of growing up overseas. My parents were MAF pilots. I grew up in Papua New Guinea. So I at least had the tools in the toolbag to go about the transition."

Marples says the South Sudanese people are very relational. 

"You need to spend a lot of time building relationships if you want to be effective in the communities. That means we're operating at a different pace."

Helping hydrocephalus babies

Sept. 20 is World Hydrocephalus Day. Marples has done about five flights now that were packed with mothers holding their babies who have the condition. Marples flew them from South Sudan to a CURE hospital in Uganda, as there is no treatment available to them in their home country. 

"These kids that are suffering from this condition, they're stuck. But because of this partnership, we're able to provide transformative flights and surgeries for these kids."

When they take the flight, many of the moms don't speak English and have never been on an airplane before. 

"The airplanes are very full. You can see that there is a degree of trepidation as they approach the airplane for the first time. We spend quite a lot of time when we first get them to the airplane, so they know what's coming. There's a huge change by the time we get to Uganda. The change in face is from a taut, worried look to, you can see the relief that's come over them, knowing that they are very close to getting life-changing care for their baby."

Helping change lives in Jesus name

MAF pilots commit their lives to caring for people in some of the most remote areas of the world. The flights often carry people, but also medical supplies, pastors, Christian literature, and other ways to bless the people in need. 

"We work overseas because we have a heart for the South Sudanese people and we want to see their lives changed," says Marples. 

While Marples parents are proud of their son, they now understand how their parents felt living overseas. 

"It is a challenging environment to operate in. It's changing and a shade unpredictable. So prayers for safety are always greatly appreciated."

Source: https://chvnradio.com/articles/maf-pilot-flies-south-sudanese-babies-to-life-changing-care-in-uganda