Meeting a MAF pioneer

During my various travels around the world, I've come across many people who hold New Zealand in high regard. Whether it's a rugby-playing nation where people love the All Blacks; or the US, where they love our accents, Lord of the Rings and Flight of the Conchords; or Nepal, where Sir Ed Hillary not only climbed mountains but did a great deal of good for local communities, I feel a special connection with others who have gone before.

Many people know of the New Zealand connection in the founding of MAF. Murray Kendon was a Kiwi who was called up to serve in the RAF in WWII. While flying bombers in Europe, he was troubled at how aircraft were being used to spread death and destruction. What if they could be used to bring hope and healing instead?

Murray passed away in 2014, but he left a huge legacy. MAF is only one part of that. I've read a number of stories of the things that he and other MAF pioneers experienced, and while part of me is thrilled to soon be following in their footsteps, another part of me felt extremely unworthy to be doing so.

That is, until I met Minnie Kendon last weekend.

Minnie and Murray were married shortly before the end of the war, and moved to New Zealand in the early 1950s to travel around the country, working with Youth For Christ and raising support for MAF. Eventually they settled down in Auckland, then moved to the Hutt Valley, where Minnie still lives. A contact of one of my home support team members is a good friend of Minnie's and offered to arrange for me to meet her, which I gratefully accepted. I must admit though, as I was driving to her house, my mind was blank on what I should ask. Where does one start? How does one talk to someone who has inspired so many?

I needn't have worried - conversation flowed easily. We talked about how God leads and provides in the small things as well as the big things. We talked about how His timing is perfect. Minnie shared how Murray was a great organiser, and this was a point where something clicked for me. The feeling of being unworthy to follow in his steps lifted - because I don't have to follow his path. He was called by God to be an organiser in the founding of MAF, and God has called me to a different role (being a pilot). Murray's passion was for the 'mission' part of MAF; mine is leaning more towards the 'aviation'. But that passion I have for flying is going to be crucial for instilling the discipline I need to be a MAF pilot. If I didn't have a passion for flying, it would be a problem!

The other thing that struck me - and in saying this, I mean no offense - was how ordinary she was. She spoke of how they came to New Zealand in the 1950s and how they got on with life. My grandparents had done a similar thing around the same time. She was a little embarrassed every time it was mentioned that many people are inspired by her and Murray and all that they have done. I know the feeling... because I'm an ordinary person too. The thing that sets us apart, though, is that we serve an extraordinary God. If people are inspired by what she has done, or what I'm about to do, it's because they are inspired by what God is doing through us (whether they realise that or not).

So I thank Chris for introducing us, and I especially thank Minnie for having me visit.