Both Stuart and Ruth were both brought up in Christian families and each made a commitment to Christ as a young child. They met as leaders at a Kids’ Camp run by WEC International and were married in 1998 and moved to Newark. For several years, they felt led to work with MAF, believing the Lord has called them to make the most of the skills He had given them.
They moved to Kenya with MAF as a family in 2003 where Stuart flew the Cessna Caravan, predominantly into Southern Sudan, supporting NGO's and Christian organisations working in isolated, difficult conditions. He was also regularly involved in medical emergency relief flights to the Red Cross Hospital on the Kenyan border with Sudan. Other flying around Kenya and into neighbouring countries included transporting teams of eye surgeons and supporting the local Churches.
Stuart has always been interested in flying. Growing up in Norfolk, he joined the RAF as a pilot directly after leaving school. He mostly flew multi-engined aircraft, spent three years working as a flying instructor and during his last tour, captained the E-3D (AWACS).
Ruth was born in Malawi, where her parents worked for Scripture Union. She studied medicine at Birmingham and then worked as a GP. Whilst in Kenya, Ruth did some part-time voluntary work at a clinic in the Kibera slum in Nairobi.
Daniel, born in November 2001, loves living in Africa with its warm ‘shorts and T-shirt’ climate. Anna Grace arrived in May 2004; she is delightful and full of energy like her brother.
Stuart and Ruth Fitch were previously based in South Africa, but have since moved to work at MAF International's office in Ashford, Kent, UK.