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And the story continues….Part II of

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What Does a Country Director Do has taken an unexpected turn!

We came home to the US the first part of July.  Tired and in great need of rest and refreshment for our souls.  We love what we do in PNG – even though the hours are long, there never seems to be enough help to get everything done and conditions are sometimes less than desirable with local unrest and such.  Our time as CD has been incredible; we have seen significant positive change in the program with a true focus on the spiritual aspect of why we do what we do.  Working with such an amazing group of people from around the globe and a large group of wonderful national staff whom we have grown very close to. But as we were debriefing with the MAF US team, we realized all that we had laid aside in order to go to PNG and work for so many years, giving it everything we had.  We realized how much we are needed here in the US with aging parents, our only grandchild who is almost 9 now and with our children as well, the boys have disassociated themselves from all family ties while we have been overseas serving. Despite our best efforts to support and love them from afar.

We have spent countless hours in prayer and seeking wise counsel from various sources within the mission and outside Christian counselors as well and we have made the difficult decision to resign from our position as the Country Director of the PNG program and focus on caring for our family at this time.

We spent the months of July and August working through this decision and then in September we finalized plans and are currently – on our way – returning to PNG for a few weeks the beginning of November to pack a few belongings that we would like to keep and then selling/giving away the rest of our belongings we have collected over the 6 years in PNG and returning to Idaho to be near family.

We will be living in our home in Caldwell, Idaho along with Connie’s parents who have lived in the house since 2019.  Prayers appreciated for all of us as we adjust to living together.  Adjusting schedules and ways of doing things.  We are here to be a help and a blessing to our parents – both sets – and we are in the process of figuring out what that looks like for each one. 

So many of you have partnered with us in ministry for many years, following us from our first assignment in Yap, Micronesia (1992) where we went with our 17month old daughter Jessica, and where  Courtney was born and we adopted the twin boys.  To Africa then with Hands of Hope NW in the US and on to Philippines ending in PNG. 

Your love, care, cards, gifts and encouraging notes & emails along with many prayers over the years have deeply impacted us.  Many of you have given sacrificially and we have always tried to honor your gifts and sacrifice by being good stewards of the gifts and resources God has provided through you. 

We want you to know that there are other opportunities to continue giving through MAF or through many other wonderful organizations. 

We don’t know when or if God will have us continue in ministry abroad, but we do know that He has us here for this time and we are at peace with that.  We have seen His hand in so many ways confirming this to each of us. 

Please do keep in touch—you all have played a significant part in our ministry and lives and you are loved!

Current News, Day In The Life

What Does A Country Director Do?

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The Vital Role… Part I

Folks often understand the roles of Pilots, Engineers, Accountants, Mechanics…but what about Country Directors? We’re often asked, “What do you do?”

Since 2017, Connie and I have been serving as the Country Director for MAF in Papua New Guinea. Last year, MAF New Zealand wrote a great article on the Vital Role of a Country Director. Here are excerpts from that article….

Like the captain of a ship or the conductor of an orchestra, Country Directors often work in the background – yet they play a central role in each of MAF’s overseas programmes. MAF is a guest in each country we operate in, and our ability to stay there often relies on the Country Directors. They build and maintain strong relationships with national churches, NGOs, host-country officials, local leaders and government departments. They communicate a clear sense of vision and purpose to get these groups ‘on board’ with the vision and work of MAF. Finally, leading by example, they set the Christian tone in the MAF work environment and make sure the whole team is heading in the same direction.

Ian McBride, served in Arnhem Land from 2006-2010. He believes that the key focus of the role is, “setting the culture’ of a programme, with a strong focus on pastoral care of the team. He likens it to wearing many different hats – along with the ability to switch hats, depending on what is happening on any particular day.”

Doug Miles (along with wife Yvonne) who has most recently served as Programme Director in Arnhem Land says that, “…the role is about teamwork and ensuring the team functions to its full potential. A highlight is seeing the impact we are making on the people we serve.”

Bill Harding, who is currently Director for International development for MAF International and who previously served as a Country Director in Kenya from 1996-1999 says, “A few things about the role have changed, but it remains hugely challenging and rewarding. At a professional level you are running a small business using a ‘developed world’ technology in a developing country, which brings many challenges. You oversee the people and systems which ensure the operations are safe and compliant with local authorities. You lease, buy, or build housing and hangar space, manage budgets, ensure the import of aircraft parts and fuel is assured, not to mention pilots, engineers, and other staff. You manage a range of staff, some of whom are international, come are local, some are highly trained while others are learning and growing. Above all you are aiming for the team you lead to most effectively respond to the need of access to bring help, hope, and healing. “

“At a mission level you are leading a group of Christian missionaries called by God to ‘take the road less travelled.’ They are typically determined and resilient, with hearts of gold, but they come from different cultural, denominational, and personal backgrounds, so they may see the world and God at work in it very differently. “

“Along with management there is a pastoral care element because unlike a normal employer, the mission takes responsibility for spiritual wellbeing. the physical welfare of the team is a challenge too, if you are in a place where car jackings and break-ins are the norm. “

Connie doing blood pressures for the team members on Friday – a regular occurrence as we show Care to our team!

Bill continues. “At a personal level it means being flexible with people and adaptable to circumstances. The scope of the work that I undertook on any given day ranged from grand things like talking to the United Nations about access to South Sudan or deciding on a new hangar design, through to trying to find out who’s gone home with the keys to the MAF van, which is now urgently needed to pick up a visitor from the airport or sorting out the blocked toilet in a neighbouring MAF house because it’s late at night!”

Bill Harding in 1996, preparing to show the Jesus Film

In Part II of this blog on the vital role of Country Directors, we’ll focus a be more specifically on the role in the, “Land of the Bird of Paradise,” Papua New Guinea.