David and Donna Jacobson and family.
MAF's program manager for eastern DRC is David Jacobson. "We did have a large base, actually the largest base in Africa, in northeastern Congo there. That was the base that was attacked, and that is where we had a large program a few years ago."
Jacobson says there's enough stability in the region, prompting MAF to consider moving back. "At this time we actually have our first family that has moved in, but they have moved in to one of the larger cities on the northeastern part, very close to the Uganda border. We're hoping to base a second family there within a few months. And through that we hope to be able to start rebuilding our base which was destroyed."
MAF has been flying into eastern Congo from Uganda since the base was destroyed, so the work has continued though from afar.
According to Jacobson, missionary aviation is desperately needed in Congo as the roads are almost impassable. "As an example, I talked to a missionary that drove a route that takes us 1 hour and 5 minutes to fly, and he said it took him 10 days to drive with a big truck."
With so many weapons in the hands of mobs and gangs, traveling on the roads can be dangerous, so air transportation is safer.
The base rebuilding effort will be an incredible task, says Jacobson. "We had at one point nine houses and two hangars. Every single house has been completely stripped to bare walls. The only thing left is the floor and the bare walls. Strictly from a financial standpoint ,it's pretty daunting, really."
Jacobson believes MAF will help local believers reach out with the Gospel. "It's really quite exciting to see how the Lord is raising up Christians that have a burden to reach their own people and other tribes." Air transportation can help those efforts.
If you'd like to help MAF rebuild their base in northeastern Congo, click here.
