PCM News: All big and growed up

24 March 2008

All big and growed up

For someone who usually gets to fly from place to place I was reminded of just how big even our little corner of Africa was, when we spent two full days driving to Grahamstown for Matthew's graduation - and then two full days back again. Fortunately half way was where we used to live in Lesotho so we had somewhere to stay and friends to catch up with there.

The two days in Grahamstown were a hive of activity with the highlight being the graduation itself. A typically posh and lengthy affair but no harm in a bit of pomp and ceremony in recognition for all that has been achieved over the last four years. The following day was the garden party for mass congratulations and photo opportunities.

As an aside, a funny thing happened on the way to the graduation - as they say.
We stopped by at an airfield that Paul used to fly from to see what was going on there. They are now breeding lions and when we arrived a vet was just about to dart one cos it had had its tail bitten by another lion. Turns out it was too badly damaged to save and had to be amputated. Even in Africa, not the kind of thing you see every day.

Thanks for praying for travel safety (2600km is like driving the length of Britain and back), and your prayers for Matthew over the last four years.

P n' C

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A short history of us

Not long after we were married we felt that God had some full time work for us overseas. This initially began with a move to Sheffield in 1992 to work for a Christian management training company. Three years later we felt the Lord's prompting that another change was imminent and this led to a move to Africa where we helped set up a youth program with the Lesotho-Durham link in the capital Maseru. An initial three year commitment turned into four after which the youth work was handed over to the nationals.

Then, after feeling God was moving us into mission flying Paul enrolled at a flying school and completed his South African commercial license with an instrument rating in December 1999.

We moved from Lesotho to White River in South Africa in June of 2003 where we now work with Mercy Air. Mercy Air was borne out of Youth with a Mission (YWAM) and is a sister, although smaller organisation to the more well known Mercy Ships. We are situated near Nelspruit and provide a service to missions and the development/aid community in the southern African region but mainly serve Mozambique.

We operate four aircraft at present - a Quest Kodiak, a Cessna 310 and two Airbus 350 helicopters which are often used for the relief flights.

When not flying Paul is responsible for flight operations and is Mercy Air's Safety Officer.

Cathy, who is a registered Nurse and Midwife works part time at Africa School of Missions which is a bible college preparing missionaries for overseas service. She teaches in their School of Health and is part of a team which visits a number of rural clinics during the week. She is also helps with the hospitality ministry that Mercy Air runs.

Matthew spent four years at Rhodes University in Grahamstown where he studied photo journalism. He has now flown the nest and is living with his wife in Durban. They have a young daughter named Isabella.