|
The
following account of MAF IT specialist David Hoffman is courtesy MAF-US.
Hi! My
name is David Hoffman and I'm an IT technician with Mission Aviation
Fellowship.
When my wife and I joined MAF in 2000 we
came to Shell, Ecuador along with our two boys, Dustin and Taylor. I served that first year as a teacher at the
Nate Saint Memorial School.
During my
year of teaching, I realized there was another need across the street at
the MAF hangar. There was no full time IT technician for the MAF program
in Ecuador, and the job was being filled by an avionics technician and an
aircraft mechanic.
I don't
have any formal computer training, but from years of using computers in
education, I realized I could fill the job.
"What is
a typical day for me?" There aren't very many days where I could tell you
exactly what my day will be like.
Although
I start off with a plan, it's always subject to change. If you've
worked with computers and networks at all, then you have an idea what I
mean.
I start
off most days taking a look at the logs on the Linux server. We use this
box for our e-mail server, dial-up access, HF e-mail, content filter, and
firewall. I check the logs to see that we are requesting mail from MAF in Redlands, California, take a look at the mail queue, and
check on the status of our internet connection. We access the internet
with
a 24/7 dial-up connection to the HCJB World Radio hospital in Shell.
Usually
there is a question or two from someone who has a problem with their
e-mail account or computer. It may be that someone can't connect to the
network to access their e-mail. Or maybe they are having trouble printing
a document. It could be a concern about a possible virus.
These
questions aren't asked only about computers in the hangar, but about
people's personal computers. I usually am able to take care of the
problem right away.
Sometimes
it requires some troubleshooting and research.
Then I
begin working on whatever project I'm currently working on. One day that
might mean spending a couple hours installing a new hard drive and a USB
expansion card for an e-mail client. Or installing software on a new computer for the MAF base in Sucua.
At 11:30
each morning I head across the street to the old Nate Saint house. For 30
minutes I have a Spanish lesson. It's not really enough, but I am able to
learn a little this way. This is important, and helps me to communicate a
little with the Ecuadorian staff in the hangar.
Most days
I also spend some time communicating with other MAF staff around the
world. When I have trouble with the Linux server, I find it very valuable
to instant message with another IT guy in Mali, Africa. If I'm planning
and evaluating our networks here in Ecuador, I'll run ideas past the
IT field coordinator in Quito.
Each
month I also send a report to (MAF-US) headquarters in Redlands.
This gives them details on our e-mail service here.
I also
spend quite a bit of time keeping two other e-mail servers functioning.
One is at the Gospel Missionary Union station in the jungle village of Makuma. That system serves two users and connects to the server in Shell
via HF radio. The other server is at the MAF office in Quito. Supporting
the server and small network there requires a trip to Quito every four to
six weeks.
It's
probably safe to say that the most important thing I do is to keep the
e-mail server running. If our e-mail isn't working, you can be sure I'll
hear about it. Keeping in touch with (MAF-US) headquarters in Redlands is essential to keeping six Cessna 206 aircraft flying here in Ecuador.
Keeping in touch with supporters and family is essential to pilots,
mechanics, and
teachers who are serving here in Shell.
Just a
couple years ago I was working in California as an instructional
specialist at a county office of education. Now I'm the IT technician in
Shell. It wasn't my plans, but God's, that brought me and my family here.
Remember,
I don't have any formal training in computers, just a willingness to learn
and to serve.
A verse
that is often brought to my mind is Joshua 24:15b. "As for me and my
household, we will serve the Lord."
But I'll
only be here a couple more years, and then who knows where the Lord will
ask us to serve next. When it's time to leave, I'm praying that there will
be another to take my place. Maybe it's you that He wants to send to this
corner of the world.
|
a day in the life of... an MAF Information Technology specialist
