Care packs

‘Care’ and ‘Witness’ are two of MAF’s core values. This is from our staff induction:

We value Christ-like behaviour in the way we work and relate to one another and to those we serve. We have respect and care for all people and have compassion for those in need. We are sensitive to cultural differences and have a servant attitude.

In Timor-Leste, MAF is contracted to the Ministry of Health to provide air transport for the national ambulance service. This means that medevac flying makes up a large proportion of our operations.

For patients and their families, a medevac flight can be extremely stressful. Sometimes it is arranged at short notice, which means that people arrive in Dili with little or no personal supplies. It takes several hours by road (or in some cases, boat) for them to travel home.

In the early years of the MAF programme here, the idea arose to give a care pack to each patient, with some basic personal supplies and Christian literature. It is an easy and practical way to show that we care, especially since we don’t have much time to talk with them as they are transferred from the aeroplane to the ambulance on arrival in Dili.

Here are some pictures of our care packs:

The contents of a care pack for a mother who is pregnant or who has a newborn baby: towel, wash cloth, set of baby clothes, booties, hat and mittens; nappies, women’s underwear, soap, baby lotion, toothbrush and toothpaste, tissues, deodorant, soft toys (handmade by supporters in Australia), baby wrap, biscuits, juice, water, phone credit voucher, book about Jesus.

Each care pack has a small card that invites people to contact us if they would like us to pray for them.

Translation: ‘We fly aircraft and use technology to share the love of Jesus Christ to people who live in isolated places, so that they may find health and life from God.
We serve together with the Ambulance Service since 2007. Throughout this time we have flown one thousand patients from the districts to Dili.’

 

Imelda is our local admin staff member who assembles the care packs and restocks the supplies.

Four types of care packs, within easy access in our office for when a medevac flight arrives: child, woman, man, pregnant woman/newborn.