I've decide to become a Missionary..

[1000 HP]

Hey there, any missionary types out there? I've decided to become a missionary. I like helping people, and I don't like paying taxes. So why not work overseas for free? Any leads, let me know. I've got a cousin who was with MAF for many years in Columbia, but I don't have his phone number.

[Just another canuck]

MAF guys have to be debt free, pilot and engineer, married and an active member of your church for at least the last two years. You must be able to prove that. And before you go to work, you must raise your own salary from the church/churches in your area. This is my understanding from the Papua guys and gals.

There were also other companies though. AMA was a good one because it was more of a half missionary/half looking for profit company. They are in Papua as well and have Caravans and Porters. You don't have to be pilot/engineer and they actually pay you like 1000 or 1500 dollars a month.

Jujassi, not sure if that's right... it's pronounched Yujassi. Anyway, they have Caravans, some small pistons and one or two PC-12's. But they are very hard core missionary. I believe their website says no drinking in the last two years, no porn in the last two years and no drugs in the last two years, then it says "If you've been divorced, let's talk about it."

I met a guy in Papua who just showed up there and started working for the Chopper Missionary outfit and another who got a job with AMA.

I think MAF is a little trickier to get into... and I hope you like the 206, cause you'll be flying it for awhile. None of these guys leave... they're missionaries. Some of those dudes in Papua have been there for a really long time.

[GreenStar]

I went to a town in the mountains of Tennessee several years ago to get some further tailwheel training in my 185. The fellow I went to train with had been a long time MAF instructor and had worked with the Moody Bible Institute until they closed that facility. As I remember, they ran a two year program. Upon graduation, not only were the students qualified to fly in and out of small jungle strips and float operations, but also came out with a mechanics certificate. From what I understand, the two year program was intense. There was a multiple year commitment to do missionary work after graduation.

I talked to a few of the ex Moody people when when I was down there and they seemed committed to helping others, but not in a fanatical way (lots of exciting stories). One of the days I was there was a Sunday and did go to church with the instructor. Surprisingly to me, it was not the strict religous forum that I expected. Very loose knit and I enjoyed it.

I guess to wrap up, I don't know what the requirements are to become a missionary pilot, but here is the phone number of Ron the instructor. # 423-542-6103 I'm sure he would be happy to visit with you. Good luck, it sounds like a noble undertaking. Let us know what you find out.

[1000 HP]

Well, It will be a while before I'm debt free. But it would be nice to fly in a foreign (and hopefully warmer) country in the winter. I've got the MAF video, but will probably try a different outfit, mostly because I'm not an AME, and have no interest in pursuing that licence. I'd like to find an outfit where I'm more like the missionary's limo driver

[Just another canuck]

not only were the students qualified to fly in and out of small jungle strips

Still, I know when you first start with MAF, you spend a lot... and I mean A LOT of time training. You sit right seat in the 206 for just a little while. Then left seat with another pilot beside you for months. Of course, this was Papua. Some of the less challenging places, you may get cut loose sooner. But anyway, you spend at least 2 years on the 206 before getting the Van. And that's only if there's an opening, which is unlikely due to the fact that these guys are staying 'til they die.

Anyway, you won't get seasonal employment either with MAF if I had to guess. Sounds like MAF isn't in the cards for you anyway.

There's a ton of missionary operations out there though. Just a matter of finding out which ones you are qualified to work at, which might be tricky.

Good luck.

JAC

[iflyforpie]

MAF is a four year tour wherever you are going (two years in, a two week paid holiday with airfare, two in and a six month sabbatical). I was under the impression that you are still just a limo driver, but the active church membership, bible study, fund raising etc is still required. They are standardizing on the 206 and Caravan, but there is an occasional 185 and Twotter in there.

An easier company might by AirServe.

http://www.airserv.org/

[Cat Driver]

but the active church membership, bible study,

Would a in depth experience in trying to find answers in the CAR's give you points towards trying to find answers in the bible with MAF?

[just curious]

I don't think I am cut out for missionary work, but I am interested in the position.

[Just another canuck]

Personally, I found it a little disturbing to watch how MAF operated. They had some really good guys, but then some wouldn't even say "Hi" because you weren't a missionary. They would shut down strips if the locals weren't "behaving", which basically meant they starved them into conforming. The indigenous people actually thought the flying machine was from God. Many people are losing their ability to survive on their own and must now rely on the missionary work. Anyway, not for me.

I didn't find the others were like this, such as AMA and Adventist Aviation.

[iflyforpie]

but the active church membership, bible study,

Would a in depth experience in trying to find answers in the CAR's give you points towards trying to find answers in the bible with MAF?

Only if you are reading the Bible in the original Hebrew and Greek with no prior knowledge of either language.

[1000 HP]

There are a lot of organizations out there. MAF is just one of them. My cousin flew for MAF in south america for several years. But he had no trouble coming up with financing. His father was well to do. I was offered an interview with one out of the states and they pay about $2500 per month, but at the time, my finances were even more of a wreck than they are now and it just would not have worked out.

[Cat Driver]

Only if you are reading the Bible in the original Hebrew and Greek with no prior knowledge of either language.

Actually there is a real interesting comparison that can be made between the Bible and the CAR's.

When looking for advice on what the meaning of each is you will get as many opinions from TC about the meaning of the CAR's as you will get from the church leaders on the meaning of what is in the bible.

[shower of sparks]

I don't think I am cut out for missionary work, but I am interested in the position.

good one.

sos

[Jeremy]

I am going to Bangkok to assume a missionary position.

[Siddley Hawker]

Save me a redhead, will ya?

[jamesbay]

That's brilliant, hahhaahahahaa, a guy taking on a pornstar icon's name and becoming a missionary! That's awesome there Jeremy, I almost wasted a mouth full of beer reading that one...ahhhh classic.

[wrenches and radios]

MAF is not that difficult to get on with. They call me once a year asking if I'm ready to Join yet. I've been offered one month paid contracts.

[sky's the limit]

The entire concept of "Missionary" work is culturally arrogant, and comes with a host of issues that are most certainly not beneficial to those the Missionaries purport to be helping. This concept is responsible for immeasurable damage over the centuries, has been, and continues to be an instrument of political and corporate policy, and having seen it in action many times, I'm disgusted by it..

Think about what you want to be involved in, it's just not flying airplanes in an exotic place...

stl

[chu me]

Come on up to North Bay you can work for free at VAL........ oh no....wait a minute....you have to pay to work at VAL, never mind.

[Meatservo]

I'm with STL on this one. There are lots of overseas jobs that don't involve peddling unwanted ideology to people who have better and more immediate things to worry about.

[North Shore]

Come, come, now Meat. Surely, those poor indigenes will want to know that they are going to heaven once they die of starvation.

[P 50]

A full load of bibles with 2 cans of spam!

[1000 HP]

I was thinking more like a load of drugs (medicinal), 2 cans of "spork" (cook it up if you can still buy it, a one pounder cooks down to the size of a golf ball), and possibly a bible. But I never did get past the first half of genesis I like to help people. Taking picture of them shooting each other isn't my thing (STL)

[Meatservo]

Uh,oh...STL, I think 1000hp is making reference to St Paul's letter to the hermaphrodites.

[sky's the limit]

Who's letter to the whats?

1000hp obviously doesn't pay much attention to the threads on my time in Afghanistan, oh well, what can you do? There's "helping people," then there's "helping people" with strings attached, indoctrination, exploitation, and subjugation.


stl