Dive into the heart of a mission in Souhoulé, where every hour saved on the trip turns into a precious moment of sharing with the community.
Story by Joël Conte
“I have travelled from Nzérékoré to Conakry by road before, and it was a tough journey,” says Miika Kopperoinen, Mission Work Director for the Laestadian Lutheran Church.
“Road conditions can be very harsh, the traffic is dangerous, and drivers get tired. Animals also pose a great danger in some places.”
While the journey between Nzérékoré and the nation’s capital, Conakry, is an exhausting two-day journey, the MAF flight offers missionaries the opportunity to arrive feeling relatively fresh, and ready to serve.
“The road took us about 36 hours in driving,” recalls Miika. But a flight with MAF takes just two hours and fifteen minutes, sidestepping the intense fatigue and dangers of the road.
In Souhoulé, a village located just 10 km up the road from Nzérékoré, missionaries from the Laestadian Lutheran Church in Finland are visiting to help build the local church.
The welcome given was in the image of the forest region: vibrant and sincere. Beyond the smiles, the captivated attention of the villagers left its mark on the visitors. Children, young people and elders gathered, their eyes riveted on the missionaries, testifying to a deep inner quest.
“To see the elderly and young people of this village take an interest and give their lives to Christ is a source of joy,” says Enoch Haba, a building decorator and interpreter for the mission. “It is a grace for these parents who did not have the chance to know this message in their youth.”
Laestadian Lutheran Church has activities in over 20 countries around the world, but each church is independent. Their denomination has been in Guinea now about nine years and aims to raise ministers from ‘grassroots’ to build a church of many believers.
Miika describes how the gospel is spreading across borders.
“People from the region found faith in The Gambia and shared the good news for their relatives and friends in Nzérékoré region,” he says. “And their local people have continued to speak about the message for people around them.
“With MAF flights, we can travel closer to rainy seasons, spend more days with believers there and also choose retired ministers to travel,” adds Miika.
Enoch knows very well the strain of road journeys in Guinea, having also done the two-day epic from Conakry to Nzérékoré.
“It’s a bit difficult for the missionaries to get used to these journeys,” he says. “This is why I appreciate the partnership of this mission with MAF, because it spares them from facing this difficulty related to the road.”
The heart of the mission is based on the message of forgiveness of sins. This echo resonates directly in the social life of the village. According to Miika, this forgiveness frees individuals, restores marriages and appeases neighbourhood conflicts.
Enoch Haba confirms this double dimension.
“In addition to preaching the Gospel, this mission really impacts the community by providing humanitarian and social assistance to local churches in the villages,” he says.
Thanks to MAF flights, Miika says, the missionaries in his team are able to worship with the faithful “on time and without exhaustion”, allowing their ministry to be effective before they catch their flight back towards their homes in Finland.
“The work done in Souhoulé illustrates MAF’s purpose,” Miika adds. “It reduces distances to maximise impact. Thank you so much for your time and for this partnership, which allows us to work together where the needs are greatest.”
