Young Christians gathered from around Guinea for a powerful Bible camp. But the 300km trip from the capital would have been a test of endurance without MAF.
David Kamano is excited about what the 9th edition of the Biblical youth camp of the Evangelical Protestant Church of Guinea means for young Christians in Guinea.
“The Biblical camp first of all is to equip Christian youth. Because there are several themes, but the main theme, the important one, is Christ,” he says.
“We talk about leadership and other financial responsibilities, but also responsibility in several areas.
“I believe that bringing young people together, instilling Christian culture in them, is really a huge impact because it will help other young people to develop with the spirit of Christ, in our workplaces, but also in our communities.”
David, who works as an administrator at the Sacred Heart paediatric health centre, has travelled by road enough to know the difference that an MAF flight can make.
About 600 people travelled to Boké, a sub-prefecture of Guinea located 300km from the capital Conakry, but David was one of eight young Christians who flew in an MAF Cessna Caravan piloted by Brad Ballin. It saved them a tiring five- or six-hour journey over land.
“We must say thank you to God for all that is happening and pray for the MAF team so other opportunities can be offered to serve the people of Guinea well,” he says.
“When you take our roads, they are not even roads, they are craters. So when you take the roads here, they're not really as we think they are.
“I think the experience I have with these trips, because there are other trips where we went to the bush, the roads are really catastrophic.”
Isaac Keita, who works as a civil administrator, says he is pleased to participate in this Bible camp. He emphasises the value of making this trip in a 40-minute flight.
“Well, before I talk about my experience, I would like to thank MAF, it facilitates the interconnection between the different cities,” he says.
“And imagine that from Conakry to Boké, we just took a maximum of 40 minutes. And there is a comfort and that's to be congratulated. I didn't feel anything on the way back. By the way, this was my first experience with MAF.
“Our roads are really degraded and then you must know that when the rainy season comes, it’s really worse. I see that there is real suffering on the road.”
Pilot Brad says the flight was significant because it was the first time MAF had used the privately-owned airstrip in Boké, which is in good condition.
“As the first operational passenger flight for MAF into Boké I am hoping that this flight will open the door and make it easier for further operations into Boké in the future,” he says.
“The flight we did was important in that it demonstrated MAF's commitment to seeing the growing church supported by providing affordable, safe, and efficient access to regions of the country that would otherwise be difficult to access.
“I was encouraged to see the photos of the great number of youths attending this event and knowing that the future of the church in this country is very much in their hands.
“To see the joy on their faces was very exciting and encouraging and as an MAF pilot, it is these sorts of things that make us realise the value of what we do.”
Isaac also took great encouragement from being involved in the event.
“At the Biblical camp, we felt the enthusiasm and commitment of the young Christians and their dedication,” he adds.
“We have felt this love they have for Christ.”