How one flight helps change lives thousands of miles away
Scott Atteberry was wheeled into the chapel at MAF headquarters by his wife, Deana, as friends and family waited. Blue skies stretched above the high deserts of Idaho and a light breeze brushed across this chilly February morning … perfect weather for flying.
Minutes before he arrived, Jamie Slippy, one of Scott’s longtime friends, shared some information about the Quest KODIAK. Jamie moved from Boise, Idaho, to Sandpoint, a town in the northern part of the state, to help design the KODIAK—an airplane that would better serve missions organizations. Jamie joined Quest in 2002 to help make this airplane a reality.
Scott and Jamie met at a Bible study through their church and remained in touch after Jamie moved to northern Idaho with Quest. Even before his cancer diagnosis, Scott had a strong interest in taking a flight in a KODIAK. However, due to his health, it looked as though that was a fleeting possibility. Well, that is, until Mark Olsen, came into the picture.
Mark is a member of Thrivent Financial, a Christian financial group, who found out about Scott and Jamie, and, with the help of generous donors, organized and funded a flight for the two friends.
Once the flight was funded, Thrivent continued to raise money, donating it to MAF to help fund medical flights all around the world. Because of this, an impact was not only made locally with Scott and his family and friends, but also in lives around the world. Through this one flight, through this one wish being granted, hope was delivered in Nampa, ID, and in isolated locations thousands of miles away.
“Today was so special because we were able to provide a meaningful experience to a family that is getting ready to say goodbye to a loved one,” said Holly Syreen, MAF’s Giving Programs Coordinator, “While also raising funds for critical medical flights in remote communities around the world.”
The impact of that day will long outlast the hour flight that was provided.
It will continue on in the lives of the many isolated people around the world who will be saved by the money raised.
Your partnership with MAF means that you can help change lives all around the world through medical flights. These flights save lives and deliver hope to isolated people all around the world.