Update 29th March 15 Rampa Baptism

We are back up in the Zambezi – great to be here. The new helicopter is going great and such a bonus to have the extra seat (pilot plus sixpassengers) and extra power. Even in these hot conditions, it hauls out seven people and a good load without a gasp.

 

It’s been good to get back out into some of the villages on the delta with medical clinics – the first time for months with the interruption of flood relief in Jan/Feb. The effects of the rains are evident in many places, even to the extent of some crops not being harvested due to too much rain having ruined them.

Today was a very special day at the village of Rampa. I mentioned in earlier news about the very successful church planting work there. Today 26 people were baptized. Baptism here is a special show of your faith . . .  as the place they were baptized is crocodile country! They all came out smiling.

Those wanting to be baptised are encouraged to burn their emulates - witch doctor charms tied to them as a baby.

A 30 minute walk to where there is water deep enough to baptise . . .

...past mechoerwa grain left rotting in the fields due to too much rain...

.  . . to the tidal inlet where the Zambezi meets the Indian Ocean. Water the colour of coffee and full of lurking crocs!

OK – who will be first?

The group who were baptised today and some of the YWAM team who taught them about God over the past two years.

First communion.

Thank you.

Dean and Kaylene for the Mercy Air team.

Update 17th March 15

Eleven days (including one each way positioning), 32 flight hours, 97 flights, 21 villages visited, approx 1,900 people were provided help in the form of medical consultation, pre-natal care, family planning, vaccinations (women, kids & babies) wound care & dressing, de-worming, one medevac (probable AIDS patient). We were instrumental in 26 baptisms and facilitated a further 7 days bible teaching in the village of Rampa. I spent one day transporting government officials to visit and evaluate 2 new villages which have been established to re-locate people affected by flooding in the area. I transported 3 teachers plus food supplies out to remote government schools unreachable due to flooding. Kaylene and the education team continued their literacy program in 2 villages. We facilitated bringing together 2 mission groups to strategise future joint ministry in the delta. We facilitated starting a project to introduce small, portable treadle irrigation pumps to the area. Without the helicopter – none of this would have happened. It is worth it. Thanks for praying for us

Each household in the new villages of Sacasse and Chilolo were issued with 12 metres of plastic for waterproofing and 2 mosquito nets.

The first medical clinic in the new village of Sacasse.

Medevac of 25 year old Minoria.

Andy explaining the working of the irrigation pump. Here it is lifting water a vertical 6 metres from the river, then distributing it a further 27 metres.

Hey – it works! The potential for increasing crop production is huge.

Kaylene and education team teaching mums to teach their kids using resources they have around them.

Thank you

Dean and Kaylene for the Merfy Air team.

Mercy Air Picnic

In an attempt to better represent ourselves in the local community and raise the awareness of what Mercy Air actually does, we organised a 'picnic' at a local centre just outside White River. People were invited to come and view the aircraft and meet the staff. Local resturants sold food and there were a number of supporting events and competitions as well as live music.

The Kodiak was made for tight awkward strips like this.

The old road is now the airstrip.

Dean positions the new helicopter.

Quest Kodiak.

Two helis and a fixed wing.

People looking rounf the aircraft.

People took the oportunity to get on the aircraft and have their pictures taken.

Finding out about the Kodiak.

Matthias explains some aspects of the helicopter.

There was a paper aeroplane competition for the farthest distance as well as for the longest endurance.

Briefing before the winners have a flip in the helicopter.

Thank you

The Mercy Air team

Mercy Air Fleet Photoshoot

To celebrate the arrival of our new helicopter we recently organised a photo shoot with all our aircraft in the air and on the ground.

 

 

Thank you.

The Mercy Air team