News and updates from Paul and Cathy Middleton, serving in southern Africa.

28 November 2014

The Horn of Africa

Last week we were able to do our little bit towards combating the ever increasing rhino poaching situation here in Africa.

Animals are often shot but don't die immediately. Many make it to more open ground and are found by game rangers before the poachers can get to them. It is then the responsibility of each game lodge to recover the animal and in particular remove the horns. These were kept in a central location in the Kruger National Park but recently it was decided that a more secure location was needed.

The stakes are high and even driving the cargo in an armored vehicle was considered too risky, so we were asked to fly it out of the Park. I arrived at the pick-up point at the prescribed time to find that the airfield had already been 'secured'.
Knowing I was there waiting, the cargo was flown in by helicopter.
Some scanning, counting and signing of many documents took place...
...before we could load it into our aircraft.
In all there was about 80 Kg with a black market street value in excess of $8.5m.

Quarter of a million dollars right there.
And this one's over a million.
Good job we bought the big plane!

Thank you

Paul and Cathy

24 November 2014

ASAM Bridge dedication

Recently we completed another flight to ASAM in Mozambique. Again this was a multi purpose trip as we also took John and Helen, visiting from a church in the UK, as well as Paul, a videographer, who was making a film about the work of Mercy Air and ASAM.

The bonus in this trip was that we were also there for the dedication of the bridge that had been recently constructed to allow school kids to access the missions school without fear of being eaten by crocodiles (see previous posts).

Our visitors from the UK had some hidden talents in that there were a recently retired doctor and head teacher. So as well as visiting the mission to see what goes on, there was plenty of scope for them to get involved.

The dedication was set for the last full day so after a tour of the mission it was off to the first clinic.

After over 30 years as a GP John is now involved in teaching in a number of African countries and was able to share his skills with the local health workers.
Cathy was also there to lend a hand.
Later that day we visited the school where John and Helen were able to see the progress on the school library. It's completion was funded by a donation from their church in the UK. Now it is finished, another gift from Canada will see it equipped with books and furniture.
The kids were in the classrooms enjoying a week long VBS.
Cathy helped them make name tags
The kids love having their picture taken.
...and then shown to them.
Or better still, seeing themselves live on a cell phone.
Paul the videographer, in action...
Dr. Attenborough I presume?
...and posing himself for a change.
After that the kids enjoyed a meal that the school provides for them each day.
Then there was just time to put some finishing touches to the bridge. Side cable stays.

That evening we walked to the 'Rock' to see the sunset. In reality it just got dark as it was quite cloudy but it was still quite a restful place to be.
From the rock you can see the airfield.
OK perhaps I lie, but you can see the windsock half way down the strip. Gives you an idea of how remote and hidden things can be round there.

The next day we did some house/hut calls in the local villages.
This guy had been quite ill but was recovering well.
He lived in a hut a short bumpy drive and a short walk across the main road from the mission.
John gave him a check over.
A bit further on was another guy who had been hit by a car six months ago.
His wounds weren't doing so well.
John looked at his x-rays of the pins in his leg.
Before care was given.

The next day was set aside for the bridge dedication. People from miles around pitched up - and then the dignitaries arrived to dancing and singing from the school kids..
In typical African style, proceedings and speeches were conducted under a large shady tree...
...before the official ribbon cutting...
...and a few more speeches.
Then, doubling as a non-destructive load test, everybody danced and sang their way across the bridge to the other side...
...where they danced and sang a bit more before... dancing and singing all the way back again.
This continued for a while - until it was time to eat.

That went well - for a while, until some kids decided it would be interesting to see what happened if they threw some rocks at a bees nest. Unsurprisingly that somewhat bought proceedings to a rather abrupt end and we all met vary much later that evening to swap our escape and war stories.

The last day John gave a talk at morning devotions

...before we loaded up the trusty steed in the relative cool of the hangar...
...and headed home.
The obligatory flying home picture. Well tired after all the last few days activities.
Thank you.

Paul and Cathy



A few more pictures and John and Helen's perspective can be found at the Aldridge Parish Church website at:

http://aldridgeparishchurch.org/apcevents2014/HelenJohnGilbert/hj.htm