Will not start, says the MAF is bad?

I do appreciate that it's 50 miles to the nearest auto parts place for me I live pretty rural this was my only vehicle that was running up until today I did get another vehicle running I don't know anyone where I live out here it's all acreage and everyone keeps to themselves. So everything I've had to do I've had to do from scratch fabricate or figure it out on my own I did find that my fuels running fine through the fuel rail and then I did also find that the throttle cable and the cruise control cable were not moving simultaneously when you hit the gas pedal so I'm thinking at this point I can get it to start the head gasket might be shot that's one issue also I'm sure the MAF is toast I don't have any sensors someone stole that when the van was broke down on the side of the road but that was the first indicator for me that something was up I had sprayed starting fluid on it by accident instead of spring starting fluid behind it and she's the next tube going into the throttle body so I'll see what happens with it I'm pretty sure it needs that maf changed for sure and the gas pedal issue I've resolved with a zip tie for the time being till I can figure out how to adjust it.

I was able to force it to start yesterday with a pair of vice grips on both of the throttle cables and when I jump it take out the starter relay I can jump it with a wire and get it to start but I can't get it to start via the ignition even though I have switched relays to test it for whatever reason I don't think from the ignition to the starter solenoid it's getting as much power as if I jump it at the fuse box.
Also, when I take the starter relay out, I can hear the fuel pump running whereas when it's in I can't hear the fuel pump so it's kind of a strange thing, but I appreciate your help.