Here’s a picture that tells a story. A child in Tanzania is being given an inoculation. No surprises there. But it is taking place under the wing of an MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) aircraft – not at all a usual procedure.
MAF relief pilot Jarkko Korhonen flew a team on a medical safari from Haydom Lutheran hospital to remote villages to enable a mobile clinic to give protection to children against tetanus, hepatitis B and other diseases. In Yaida village the team did their job, packed up and were readying the aircraft to take off when a mother arrived late with her child. Undaunted, she rushed up to the plane on the airstrip, carrying her child. The nursing team agreed to give the vaccination in the shadow of the aircraft. It was the last vaccination of the day.
Stewart Ayling from the UK organises the MAF work in Tanzania and is currently negotiating with the Government for work permits etc so that MAF work of this kind can continue.
This incident has echoes of the equally importunate widow in Luke 18.1-8. She had to wring some respect out of a careless judge, not out of a compassionate clinical crew. You will remember that Jesus commended the woman for her persistence in knocking on a shut door. See also Luke 11.5-10.
GIVE A WELCOME
Give a huge welcome to the announcement that the Church of England, one of the biggest land-owners in the land, is to make land available for affordable housing. Why a huge welcome? Simply this. Amidst restrictions and heavy demands on resources in the UK here is a Christian community doing what it does best: caring for others. It is being true to itself. As Archbishop William Temple said: ‘The Church is the only society that exists for the benefit of those who are not its members.’
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