For the past two months the MFI turbine DC-3 has been in the Dominican Republic receiving new paint.  Painting an aircraft is very labor intensive and time consuming.  Every ounce of paint must be removed and the skin treated for corrosion.  Once that process is complete, the aircraft is given a good coat of primer, and then the paint is applied.  Painting an aircraft not only makes it pretty, but it protects the aircraft from any further corrosion, which means less maintenance.  MFI plans to fly DC-3’s for missions for many more years and we want to take good care of them.  The photos below show the process of painting N200MF from start to beautiful finish.

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The level of violence and protesting has subsided in Haiti over the past 10 days, but the need for food is still severe.  Haiti's prime minister, who was responsible for oversight of food distribution in the country, resigned a week ago.  The Haitian government also lowered the price for bags of rice, a staple food.  Most Haitians, though, still can't afford to buy enough food for themselves.  MFI is now accepting donations for purchasing critically needed "Food For Haiti" through our "On Line" giving.  The MFI partnering relief organizations will be helping to distribute the food when it arrives in Haiti.

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Violence has struck the nation of Haiti.  The people are protesting the extremely high cost of food, fuel, and the lack of provision for basic human needs.  This normally desperate country is suffering even more right now.  MFI is cautiously continuing our flights, but we are in constant contact with the mission community in Haiti for updates and advice.  A work team that was planning to go next Tuesday has canceled, but we have several teams in Haiti right now.  There is no jet fuel available at the airports, because the truck drivers are afraid to go pick up the fuel at the dock where they could be attacked.  The population has asked for the current prime minister to resign this weekend, but there has been no indication he will step down.  The crowds are warning that there could be some major demonstrations next week.  Even this past week, we have seen road blocks, tire burnings in the streets, and badly damaged store fronts caused by the rioters.  Please pray for Haiti and the affiliated missionaries that we serve.  Also, please pray for MFI.  We need wisdom concerning flight decisions.  As always, when Haiti has problems, the MFI airplanes and flight crews are on stand-by to evacuate our missionary co-workers if necessary.  Your prayers are important and any giving will help MFI purchase the necessary fuel for any evacuation flights.  Click here for "On Line" giving.  Thank you.

The pictures below show some of what is happening currently in Haiti.  From looting and vandalizing of businesses, to the burning of tires in the streets, the U.N. peace-keeping forces are facing a difficult situation trying to restore order.

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On Saturday, April 5, 2008, Missionary Flights International hosted a youth rally at our hangar.  The rally was sponsored by the Faith Baptist Church in Fort Pierce, and over 380 young people from the entire state of Florida attended.  The three day event climaxed at the MFI hangar.  Food was served, a Bible quiz was conducted, and games were played.  The highlight of the day was a 15 minute DC-3 airplane ride.  Before the day was over, we had given rides to every teenager and their sponsors.  Throughout the three day event, 13 young people were led to the Lord and over 30 committed to full time Christian service.  It was a blessing for the MFI staff to be involved in this exciting event.  The future of missions is with our youth.  Please pray for them.

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On Saturday, March 1, Missionary Flights International sponsored an Open House at our hangar facility at the Fort Pierce Airport.  We served over 800 hot dogs and gave more than 300 DC-3 airplane rides.  MFI staff, giving guided tours of the facility, explained the MFI aviation ministry to our guests.  Some of our staff wives did a great job entertaining the children, by teaching them how to make and fly paper airplanes.  Prizes were given for the planes that flew the farthest.  The pony rides were also a great attraction for the children.  In addition, the local sheriff and fire departments were represented.  The day was designed to present the ministry of MFI to our local community.  We met many new friends that now have a better understanding of MFI and how we serve the mission community in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.  We couldn't have done it without the help from the many volunteers from our local churches.   You may support MFI by clicking on our "On Line" giving icon.

The photos below tell more about MFI's 2nd Annual Open House.  Click on any of the thumbnail photos to see them full-size.

This way to the open house!	Visitors learned about the mission and history of Missionary Flights during tours of the hangar, warehouse, and offices.	Everyone enjoyed seeing the inside of MFI's three historic DC-3 airplanes.	The local Civil Air Patrol group was on hand to help.	Visitors also had an opportunity to see a local sheriff's department helicopter and 2 fire department trucks.
Over 800 hot dogs were cooked and served by MFI staff and volunteers.	What's for lunch?	Visitors enjoyed sitting down to a meal in the middle of the hangar, surrounded by MFI airplanes.	MFI pilots took more than 300 people for an airplane ride.	A grandmother and her grandchild admire one of the radial DC-3's as the Turbine DC-3 taxis out for a flight.
Mom and daughter see the sights from the air.	The crowd this year was even larger than last year.	Pony rides for the children!	MFI staff wives put together fun activities for the children, including a paper airplane flying contest.	Taking to the air!

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Missionary Flights International is pleased to announce their 2nd Annual Open House at the "Don and Jo Beldin Missions Aviation Complex" in Fort Pierce.  This event will take place on Saturday, March 1st, from 11:00 am-4:00 pm.  Please come and join us as we share the ministry of MFI.  For further details and directions, just click on the link below.

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In September, MFI sent a shipping container to Haiti.  It contained mostly food that will be distributed to many poor families.  The food was donated to MFI by a ministry called "Feed My Starving Children".  There were also 1,500 Christmas Bags on the container, for the children of Haiti.  When the container arrived this past week, older children from a nearby orphanage helped unload the container into the storage units at Don and Karen Davis' mission.  A few days ago MFI loaded and sent container number 2 to Haiti.  We are praying this second shipment, which contains several more tons of food and another 7,500 Christmas Bags, will arrive in Haiti before Christmas.  Now, we are loading container number 3 filled with more food, Bibles, and the last of the Christmas bags for the children.  As you can see, MFI is more than an aviation ministry.  We are also involved in sending heavy items via shipping containers.  If you would like to be involved in helping MFI during the busy Christmas season, please click on our "On Line" giving and share a gift with us.  MFI and the children in Haiti will appreciate it and you will receive a blessing.

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On Thursday morning, August 23, MFI took off for Jamaica with hurricane relief supplies provided by Samaritan's Purse.  At the same time, our regular Haiti flight took off for Cap Haitien and Port-au-Prince.  The Jamaica flight landed in the Bahamas for fuel, then headed across Cuba, destined for Kingston, Jamaica.  The four hour flight went flawlessly, and soon the MFI DC-3 was unloading tarps on the ramp in Kingston.  Jamaica received a lot of damage from Dean, mostly along the shoreline.  Currently MFI is standing by to accomplish more flights to the hurricane damaged areas.  There are damage assessment teams on the ground in Mexico and Jamaica that will advise MFI concerning our next flights.  Will it be Mexico, Belize, or Jamaica?  Please check in often to see where the next destination will be for the MFI DC-3's.  Thank you all for praying for us.  If you would like to help MFI financially with our relief efforts, please click on our "On Line" giving.

The photos below tell more about MFI's relief flight to Jamaica.  Click on any of the thumbnail photos to see them full-size.

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Since the roads around the airport in Kingston, Jamaica caused a delay in the opening of the airport, MFI chased Hurricane Dean into Mexico.  As the last of the winds and rain squalls were exiting the Yucatan Peninsula, MFI was on the approach to Merida, the capital of the Yucatan.  We landed at 8 PM, just before dark, with a full load of tarps, generators, and a chain saw.  We were met by a pastor with a truck on the tarmac at Merida.  We soon unloaded the supplies and the truck headed south on a five hour drive to the hurricane stricken area.  The MFI DC-3 returned to Ft. Pierce the following day and the airplane was quickly reconfigured to transport a missionary work team to Haiti.  Now...good news!!  The airport in Kingston is open and MFI is headed to Jamaica with a fully loaded DC-3 on Thursday.  The blue tarps will cover a sea of damaged roofs over hundreds of homes in Jamaica.  Please pray for the busy MFI flight schedule.  Even though we are very busy with hurricane relief, MFI must continue to keep our affiliated missions supplied in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.  If you would like to help MFI with our hurricane relief efforts, please click on our "On Line" giving.

The four photos below show the first relief flight to the Yucatan capital of Merida.

N400MF is loaded with roof tarps bound for Jamaica in the first two photos below.  The two bottom photos show the Turbine DC-3, just back from a relief flight to Mexico, being quickly reset for passengers and cargo going to Haiti on Thursday.

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Even though Hurricane Dean is just now arriving in Jamaica, MFI is preparing to respond to the needs of the people there.  Samaritan's Purse delivered over 500 large rolls of tarps (top left and center photos below) and two complete water purification systems (3 photos below) to our hangar on Sunday morning.  If all goes as planned, MFI planes will be flying to Jamaica as early as Tuesday delivering the supplies.  Flights to the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, where Hurricane Dean is likely to make landfall, are also in the planning stages.  Please pray that the airports in Jamaica and Mexico will be open and ready for our DC-3's.  Also, pray that MFI will receive the necessary permission to cross Cuba enroute to Jamaica.  If you would like to help with this hurricane relief effort, please click on our "On Line" giving.  Please continue to watch the MFI website.  As soon as the airplanes begin to fly, we will provide continuous updates concerning our relief efforts.

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Rev. Don Beldin, Founder of Missionary Flights International, recently completed a book about his life.  The book, entitled "YOURS FOR A MEETING IN THE AIR", was written from over 60 years of flying experience.  Don learned to fly when "cow pasture flying" was an acceptable form of flight training.  In honor of his new book, the Barnes and Noble book store in Ocala, Florida hosted a book signing for Don.  Many old friends and a few new friends stopped by to meet Don and receive a copy of his new book.  If you would like your own copy of the book, you may send a donation of $25 to MFI, or click on our "On Line" giving and select "Don Beldin's Book".  MFI will ship the book to you free.

Recently MFI President Dick Snook delivered Felipe’s wheelchair to his father in Miami.  Felipe’s father had a business trip to the US, and the airlines allowed him to take the wheel chair to Argentina as checked baggage.  The wheelchair arrived safely and customs did not charge any duty on the chair.  Felipe’s doctor quickly completed the process of adapting the wheelchair to Felipe’s measurements.

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As much as MFI would enjoy the opportunity to fly to Argentina to deliver this wheel chair, the flight is just too long for our DC-3's.  One of the MFI Board Members is a UPS Captain and flies the South American routes.  We have requested that UPS help MFI by providing free shipping from Miami to Argentina.  Our friend Felipe desperately needs this electric wheel chair.  Please pray that UPS will help us with the transportation.  Also, please read the story of Felipe's life and how MFI has been involved with Felipe and his family for several years.  MFI has already paid the shipping cost of bringing the wheel chair from Hope Haven Ministries in Iowa to our hangar in Ft. Pierce.  If UPS does not help, MFI will have to provide the shipping cost from here to Argentina.  If you want to help with this critical project, please click on our "On Line" giving and select "Where Needed Most/Wheelchair" for your donation.  Thank you for helping MFI be a blessing to Felipe and his family once again.

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Archived "Up to the Minute" Pages:

July - December, 2006 / January - June, 2006

July - December, 2005 / January - June, 2005

July - December, 2004 / January - June, 2004