MAF flew long-time missionary partner Erwin from N’Djamena to Maroua, enabling him to continue ministry work across Cameroon and Chad.
“Right now, the road is not really a road because of the rainy season and all the mud,” said Erwin, about to fly with MAF from N’Djamena in Chad to Maroua in Cameroon.
Travel by road was not an option. The rainy season had made the roads nearly impassable, and for Erwin, who had experienced heart problems since March, long road travel was no longer feasible.
Erwin has travelled with MAF a number of times over the years. He remembered one time MAF could not fly because of a grounded aircraft waiting for a part stuck in Ethiopia.
“Then, I had to travel the road between N’Djamena and Maroua,” he said. “I prayed a lot during that journey, because the road goes straight through the heart of armed group Boko Haram territory.
“Even last week, multiple people were kidnapped on that road. It is very unsafe. Also, there is a lot of robbery, because the road is very close to the border with Nigeria. Robbers come in, attack, and then disappear again over the border, where the Cameroonian army cannot follow them.”
Erwin had been unsure if the trip could go ahead at all. Then, on the day of departure, heavy rains once again threatened the flight. The weather report just half an hour before take-off was not good.
Denis Kouladoumbaye from the Operations team checked with contacts on the ground for a real-time update. One of Erwin’s local partners provided information directly. After about thirty minutes of waiting, conditions improved enough to allow the flight to proceed.
From the air, the landscape was lush and green from the recent rains. Erwin noted the difference.
“You see how green it is now. However, in hot season, everything is very dry, like a desert,” he said.
There is a lot of robbery, because the road is very close to the border with Nigeria.
Ownership by local believers remains at the core of his approach.
“When people say that a preacher is needed, or an evangelical outreach in the area, I always say: ‘Good! I will pray for it.’ That is of course not what they expect, but it is important the ministry does not depend on me,” said Erwin.
Erwin and his family lived in Cameroon for over seven years, beginning in 2001. During that time, they helped establish evangelistic outreach centres that also serve as Christian libraries. Back then, there were only three centres. Today, there are 17 in Cameroon and two in Chad.
Though now based in the Netherlands, Erwin continues to return regularly. He is responsible for maintaining connections between the project and partners in Europe, and for the distribution of Bibles and resources for the centres. This trip would take him to Maroua for ten days, followed by ten more in Chad.
“In Maroua, I will be doing Bible studies with people. For me, it is important to stay in connection with the people and the project,” added Erwin.
“When we still lived in Cameroon, there was a negative view on missionaries as they came, went away, and never came back. As a spiritual father, it is important to show that we still care, that we still are involved.”
“It was a blessing to be able to fly Erwin to Cameroon,” said Esmara, MAF’s Country Director in Chad. “As we are both Dutch, it was nice to hear in my mother tongue about his ministry, and about the difference our MAF flights make for him.”