together - January 2015

the two main bases that Dean works
from and stored there in shipping
containers.
Alongside the humanitarian
work, Mercy Air partners with those
involved in church planting and
evangelism. Dean says, “After more
than a year transporting teams to
the Zambezi Delta village of Rampa
to teach the Firm foundations Bible
programme, these people have
finally heard the Gospel message
and 33 people made a decision to
be followers of Christ. Pray that they
will remain strong in their faith as
they have little support.”
The Yeomans previously worked
in Sudan, Cameroon, Kenya and
Ethiopia with Helimission (seconded
from SIM). Going out to fly famine
relief in Sudan in 1985 was a tough
start. When a colleague started
Mercy Air’s helicopter division
seven years ago to
do flood relief work
in Mozambique, he
invited them to
work there. Dean
did some short
term stints and
the couple have
been full time with
Mercy Air for one
and a half years. The
mission has been operating
small aeroplanes in Southern
Africa for nearly 25 years.
9
sim.org.nz
Kaylene, a teacher by profession
specialising in English as a Second
Language, teaches staff and pupils
at ‘the wee farm school down the
road’ when not on flying missions.
Otherwise she often works with
the education team; they’ve had
some encouraging results with a few
young mothers in one village who
are mastering basic reading skills.
New technology – chalk boards —
were introduced to progress from
reading to writing.
The Joy of a New Book
“Another time flying out to the Delta
we took a new book,” Kaylene says.
“These villages have access to only
three other books in their own language,
so a new book creates great
excitement. After seeing a big coloured
version, each village was left
with small copies at 10 cents each.
“My heart melted as I
watched one young
boy seize his new
book, drop onto
the grass mat in
a dilapidated
hut, oblivious to
all around, and
falteringly read
aloud to himself.
Others bought
books, not because
they can read but because
they are hopeful one day they will.”
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