For the past ten years, civil engineer Terry Fahey has helped MAF International open airstrips and water landing sites in some of the most inaccessible areas of the world. For him, it’s not just about reaching isolated communities, but about connecting with people and sharing his skills and faith with them.
Story by Kathy Burrows
“I enjoy working alongside normal people,” Terry said. “Being able to share skills and show them that they can be a Jesus follower and do lots of things for Him in everyday life.”
Originally from Michigan in the United States, Terry Fahey has used his engineering expertise to serve people around the world who live in hard-to-reach places.
“I enjoy working with people who like working hard for their own communities,” he said.
Terry’s career began in the US Navy working on nuclear propulsion systems of aircraft carriers. He then left to study civil engineering, joined the Army Corps of Engineers and eventually went on to complete a master’s degree.
It was whilst working with Engineering Ministries International (EMI) that he first became connected to MAF.
In Terry’s words, EMI is very much like MAF, “but engineers and architects instead of pilots and technology people.”
After working on airstrip construction with MAF in Myanmar, Terry was approached to help the Papua New Guinea team establish new airstrips in the Western Province, in close partnership with PNG Sustainable Development Program (SDP) and the Rural Airstrip Agency.
“They were focused on getting more airstrips open,” said Terry. “Around that time, there were probably 15 airstrips open. I would say they’re close to 80 at the moment in the Western Province.”
Having travelled to more than 100 communities across the area, many only reachable by boat or canoe, Terry has seen a ‘noticeable difference’ when access is improved – particularly through the Aerial Health Patrol run by SDP with MAF support.
“I think a lot of it was a morale thing – being connected, not being forgotten, and knowing that there was somebody providing services to their community,” he added.
Despite his education and professional experience, getting where he is today wasn’t easy. In school he struggled with reading and acknowledges the extra support he received was a privilege. Now he is now keen to encourage others who face similar challenges.
“I was blessed by being raised in the US and having a good school system that didn’t give up on me,” he said.
“It’s a real pleasure to work alongside guys and encourage them – letting them know that I’m no better than them, and they’re no better than me, but we’re working hard and sweating together for the benefit of their communities.”
From PNG to Africa and South America, as well as Southeast Asia, Terry’s work has taken him across the globe. His travels in a dozen nations have also introduced him to a variety of local foods – some more memorable than others.
“I really enjoy eating porcupine. That was one of my favourite foods in Myanmar,” he said. “Rat was okay, but the bones were a bit rough!”
However, for Terry it is the interactions with people he’s met along the way that have made his work most meaningful.
You don’t have to be a pastor or an evangelist. We can just be neighbours and disciple makers – that’s what I value.