August 2021, the month of lasts

 

Dear Supporters,   I know everyone says time flies, but this past month has really flown by fast. Perhaps also because it was the month in which I did all my last operational flights for MAF Tanzania. After Eivind's visit (former MAF Tz, South Sudan, Uganda pilot), who came to renew his Tanzanian license and help with some relief flying, I had one final rotation to each of our monthly outreach locations. Despite the many challenges over the years, each of these villages, the airstrips, the people and the teams I've flown, holds a unique place in my heart. Even though I wouldn't recognize them, many of the babies that were brought to the clinics when I just started, are now 9+ years old and are now sitting under the wing for Sunday school. Before I went on my last Haydom outreach, I did a quick count through my logbook and found that I have landed roughly 800 times at the Haydom Hospital airstrip alone! During a normal Haydom outreach we do up to 27 landings over the 4 days! I have known many of the nurses since I started flying there in 2012 and they've known me from when I was single, when I got married and when I became a father. We've shopped together for sweet bananas in Buger, for them to take back to Haydom and me for the family back in Arusha (because the boys WILL ask for their little bananas from Haydom). We've been stuck in villages together due to punctures or technical problems (we actually had 2 punctures on this last trip!). Which meant we had to wait for hours for a car from the hospital and then hours shaken around in the Land Cruiser to get to the hospital by midnight if we're lucky. These nurses have been great friends and colleagues, they don't always enjoy the flights, it could be turbulent or rainy, but they want to go out and serve those in remote communities. It has been an honor to work with them over these years. Now we are in the final weeks of our time here in Tanzania, many things have been sold, some things have been packed, some things have even been taken to the UK already. Our big 5-Phase Re-certification of our Air Operators Certificate, started today after being postponed for nearly 4 years, we are thankful that it is happening before I leave and pray that it will be completed during the next 2 weeks. Once that is finished, we will have a week to gather our thoughts and possessions before we head to Kenya around 10 September. We would also like to give thanks for answered prayers for:  - UK Spouse visa for Kirstein - Quick sale of most big household items and car - Good last operational flights for Kirstein. - Amazing last (first for Louis) visit to Tarangire National Park The Combrinks

My last Haydom Hospital outreach

Prayer points: - Finalizing everything and saying goodbye to people and places in Tanzania. Especially for the boys who may not be grasping what it means that we are moving permanently. - Travel plans (via Kenya or Ukraine), that Kenya would go onto the UK amber list. - 5-Phase re-certification of the MAF Tz Operators Certificate - Good transition into the UK - Good remote working setup between Kirstein and MAF Tz operations. - Permanent staff solutions for MAF Tz

Please continue to pray for us as we seek God's will for the MAF Tanzania programme, and our next steps this year as a family.