Mexico

In 1946 MAF officially began operations into Latin America, with Betty Greene piloting the inaugural flight to Mexico.

There is one base in the mountainous state of Oaxaca. These mountains have separated the various people groups of the state and made it one of the most concentrated areas for different language groups found anywhere in the world. We have been supporting the efforts of the Wycliffe Bible Translators since the late 1940s.

In 1958, MAF purchased property and built a house and hangar next to the Wycliffe Bible Translation Center in Mitla, Oaxaca. Today all but emergency maintenance is performed here. Normal flight operations are accomplished from the airport in the city of Oaxaca, due to government restrictions and passenger needs.

In 1998 the Mexico Operation transitioned from being run by MAF to being managed by a Mexican legal entity - Alas de Socorro de Mexico (ADSM), now a MAF affiliate. The Operation today is run by ADSM, with an agreement of co-operation between ADSM and MAF. Under this agreement we place staff in Mexico when requested to do so by ADSM.

ADSM works mostly in the mountains surrounding the town of Oaxaca. Flights are dedicated to community service, national church support and evangelism. As required, aircraft have been involved in the provision of hurricane and famine relief.

The needs in the mountains of Oaxaca have not changed significantly. The mostly Indian population remains very poor and isolated. Even in the 21st century, 25% of all homes in the state of Oaxaca do not have electricity, 70% have no sewer system and a full 50% still have dirt floors. Approximately one-half of the population is under the age of 18. The next years will be critical to the growth of the church and to the future of the people of the state of Oaxaca.

Over the past six years ADSM has taken advantage of the years of history flying into the mountain communities to come up with a unique strategy. Instead of basing their flight service on the needs of missionaries, they became the missionaries to an area of the mountains Southwest of Oaxaca. In these villages, which were resistant to outsiders and to the Gospel, ADSM began regular flight service to help the village. As a result they built the trust and respect of the village people and were subsequently able to bring in a pastor who began teaching and preaching. Consequently, there is now a small group of believers in almost every village they are servicing. ADSM is uniquely positioned to make a significant difference in the state of Oaxaca.