Haiti (MNN) — Yesterday, we shared the story of Mission Aviation Fellowship’s (MAF) first Haitian pilot/mechanic, Zacharie Francois, and his unlikely journey following God’s call to the mission field.
Zacharie’s story is significant, not just because it shows what can happen when we are faithful to follow God’s direction. His example today is a living testament to other Haitian kids and believers that they are not sidelined in God’s story. If they commit their lives to follow Jesus, God could use them on the mission field too — maybe even as a missionary pilot/mechanic!
In particular, one moment stands out to Zacharie that shows how God can use him to inspire others.
In a rural village, Zacharie explains airplane lift and physics to a group of school children who are on a special field trip. (Photo, caption courtesy of MAF)
When Zacharie was interning at MAF Haiti as a mechanic apprentice, he went on a ride-along medivac flight. The MAF plane landed in Fond-des-Blancs, a town nestled in the mountains which is normally a 3 to 5-hour drive from Port-au-Prince.
“We had landed there, dropped off the paramedic,…and we were gonna wait for the paramedic to come back so we could come back to Port-au-Prince, the capital, with them,” Zacharie explains.
“While we were waiting, the kids in the village came out to the plane. Typically, there’s only a foreigner there who doesn’t speak Creole well, so they’re kind of shy about it. But this time, there’s this Haitian guy wearing an MAF shirt, and they were like, ‘Oh, I want to talk to him!'”
Zacharie says the kids gathered around him and started asking him questions about the plane. It was a sweet interaction, but then he says one of the young Haitian boys spoke up.
“Basically, what he was saying was that he didn’t believe that a Haitian could fly or maintain an airplane, even with God’s help.”
Zacharie was not yet a pilot/mechanic with MAF at the time. He was still pursuing the education and training. Still, he couldn’t shake the child’s doubtful comments.
“I was not there yet. I was unable to provide him with an answer. And that was hard. On top of that, being a Haitian, I understand where he’s coming from. I understand the comment he’s making. I’ve heard it. And there’s time when I might be tempted to believe it.”
Zacharie Francois, MAF Haiti pilot/mechanic. (Photo courtesy of MAF)
Haiti is the poorest country in the Caribbean and Latin America. Its unemployment rate is around 15%, and only six in 10 Haitians above age 15 are literate.
Yet, even Jesus was dismissed by people because of where He was from. In John 1:46, Nathanael (who would eventually become Christ’s disciple) responded to Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth saying, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?”
Zacharie overcame many barriers as a young boy from Port-au-Prince to finally become a pilot/mechanic with MAF. He eventually completed his pilot and mechanic training as God opened doors through donors, encouragement, and countless prayers.
While his resume is impressive, Zacharie gives all glory to the Lord for his achievements and service on the Haitian mission field, supporting Gospel initiatives and inspiring others who didn’t think it could be done.
“People start seeing you slightly differently. And especially because it’s MAF, they’ve never seen a Haitian fly for MAF. I’ve already had comments on the airport! They’re like, ‘Wait, you’re the Haitian who is the MAF mechanic? How did that happen?’ Or, ‘Wait, you fly for MAF?’ It is a bit of a different shift!”
Zacharie says, “Every step, I could see God along the way. Every single step of it.”
Pray for more Haitians to follow Jesus and allow God to use them in big ways for His Kingdom! Thank the Lord for faithful believers like Zacharie following the Holy Spirit’s lead to the mission field.
Learn more about MAF Haiti’s ministry here.
Header photo of Zacharie François, left, on a flight with MAF Haiti pilot Eric Fagerland. Nestor Mercure, an MAF mechanic assistant, is in the back seat. (Photo, caption courtesy of MAF)
