News for Prayer Issue 493
6 February 2014
Praying for South Sudan South Sudan Programme Manager Bastiaan de Waal writes, ‘Many of our South Sudanese team members have lost relatives in the latest fighting, and stories were shared about the death of brothers and sisters. ‘One staff member found refuge in a UN compound and is still too afraid to move back to his own home. Another fled to his village and remains there, waiting for peace. We have provided temporary shared accommodation to some staff members. ‘Some are from different tribes, but they are educated people who reject any tribal issues and happily live together with their MAF colleagues. ‘God has given us so many resources over the last year. We have new staff members in the pipeline and plans to designate more aircraft to South Sudan, so I would like to encourage your ongoing prayer support, especially now.’ Pray that MAF partners will bring restoration and reconciliation, and that the recent signing of a cessation of hostilities agreement between the Government of South Sudan and the opposition forces will bring tribal and political conflict to an end.
Net gain
Uphold MAF Kenya team members KeA and Birgitta Arnlund, who are based in Lokichoggio in the northern Turkana region – an area which has a high incidence of malaria. Some years ago, during a malaria outbreak, KeA and Birgitta arranged for us to fly 700 mosquito nets to villagers in Lokichoggio and the surrounding area – a simple, effective way to save lives. Later, when MAF Sweden heard about this, the team there decided to buy, transport and distribute nets to other families in the area – resulting in a further 2,000 nets being distributed. Some were given to families with children at the Hannah-Emuriakin preschool and primary schools which KeA and Birgitta help to run. Others went to boarding schools and families in the surrounding villages. Birgitta, who recently visited some of the villages around Lokichoggio, is delighted that they are being used, and praises God that, by using nets treated with insect repellent, the number of cases of malaria has now significantly reduced. Give thanks that this initiative is bringing health and hope to thousands, and pray that children and vulnerable people will remain safe from future outbreaks. According to The Kenya Medical Research Institute, 25 million out of a population of 34 million Kenyans are at risk of malaria – with an estimated 170 million working days lost to the disease every year. They estimate that malaria is responsible for 20% of all deaths in children under 5 years old.
Praise God that, thanks to the HannahEmuriakin schools, children now face a brighter academic future, and pray that, as they seek to make a difference to their country’s future, they will do so as followers of Jesus.
‘Thank you, MAF’ Wycliffe Bible Translators has ten teams operating in remote locations throughout Madagascar. Because of the island’s limited infrastructure, MAF is a valued partner in enabling the translation work to move forward. Dr Leoni Bouwer, who co-ordinates several teams, writes, ‘Thank you for flying Bible translation teams for us and helping transport some very sick people. ‘All the translators appreciate the help MAF gives them to shorten their travel time. Several times in 2013, you flew the translation teams in Betsimisaraka. The teams from Mananara and Marolambo have a particularly tiring and timeconsuming journey if they do it by road and on foot. It’s even dangerous at certain periods of the year.’ According to Dr Bouwer, eight of the ten Jesus film translations have now been recorded – with a further two planned for this year. A number of teams are visiting new areas to research the possibility of additional translations. ‘The distances covered,’ she continues, ‘are enormous, so a huge heartfelt thanks on behalf of all 50-plus team members doing Bible translation work in Madagascar.’ She also gives thanks that we ‘helped evacuate
Henriette, a very sick lady and retired co-worker, from Tulear to Antananarivo, and definitely saved her life. She was totally dependent on oxygen when you flew her to the capital, but is now breathing independently.’ Pray for Henriette’s complete recovery, and uphold everyone involved in translating and recording the Jesus film.
Fully recovered Pilots Michael Duncalfe and Irwin Hodder were recently asked if they could squeeze an extra landing into their busy schedule, so they flew to Busilmin, Papua New Guinea (PNG). A woman there had given birth but the baby had sadly died, leaving her in urgent need of medical help. But when Michael and Irwin landed, there was no patient to be seen. Sepien appeared 30 minutes later, carried by her husband Joel and some relatives. Sepien’s older daughter Sibila joined her on the flight, along with Nakaweng, an elderly man who was poorly. The plane left for Telefomin, where the MAF team handed Sepien over to a skilled health officer. ‘A few days afterwards,’ Michael reports, ‘we learnt that Sepien was doing well and was able to walk again. Her husband was very happy and delighted with the help MAF had given them. ‘Two weeks later, I had the joy of flying Sepien home to Busilmin, together with her husband and daughter. She is now fully recovered. There were big smiles when they saw me as they walked towards the aircraft.’
Prayer points • ANGOLA MAF personnel are still waiting for their visas. Please pray that
• Give thanks that Madagascar has a new official president – President Hery
they arrive soon.
Rajaonarimampianina having won the first elections since the 2009 coup. Pray that peace prevails. • PNG MAF’s Learning Technologies team is teaching Basic Computer training courses and Oral Strategy workshops across PNG. Pray these courses run smoothly and that local pastors and church workers who attend will find them useful. • TIMOR-LESTE Praise God for those working to develop airstrips at Atauro and Viqueque (NfP 491). Pray the work will be completed soon so we can share God’s love with these remote communities. • UGANDA Our Cessna 182 aircraft arrived safely at Entebbe Airport (NfP 478). Pray that the new plane will soon be registered so it can be used to God’s glory.
• ARNHEM LAND Because of the wet season, our pilots are finding the weather challenging (NfP 487). Pray for wisdom, safety, energy and endurance. • DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC) Pray for health and safety for the team repairing two houses for missionary staff to move into at our Nyankunde base, eastern DRC. • HAITI There is still no taxiway to our relocated hangar and no electrical connection to the airport’s power supply (NfP 487). Pray these issues will be resolved soon. • MADAGASCAR Pray that our partners, the people we serve and our personnel will be kept safe from cyclones, and that the heavy rains won’t hamper our programme.
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