News for Prayer Issue 494
20 February 2014
Broken relationship The call recently came to pick up a critically injured patient from Pyarulama, Papua New Guinea (PNG), and fly her to a Baptist mission hospital at nearby Kompiam. Although the flight only takes eight minutes, overland travel involves a hazardous walk along a narrow and unstable track and across multiple rivers. As soon as MAF Pilot Martin Koehler arrived in Pyarulama, the patient, a young woman called Janeka, was carried onto the aircraft. The teenager had been badly injured in a violent machete attack carried out by the young man she had refused to marry. Both her arms had been broken and the tendons between her elbow and wrist severed by the bush knife. Martin, assisted by Janeka’s uncle, helped the patient into the aircraft, then flew her to Kompiam. When they arrived, Baptist missionary Dr David Mills sped Janeka to the hospital, where his surgical skills restored movement to her fingers and wrists. Give thanks that we were able to fly Janeka to Kompiam, and pray for her complete recovery. Although she can move her fingers and wrists, total feeling in her hands has not yet been restored.
Janeka and her uncle
Flying the Archbishop Archbishop Justin Welby is becoming an MAF frequent flyer! In 2013, he flew with MAF to attend the ordination of the Archbishop of Tanzania (NfP 476), and in early 2014 he flew with us to South Sudan. Tragically, this second trip was a more sombre occasion. Originally planned months beforehand, the Archbishop was heading to a country that had since been shattered by weeks of ethnic conflict. On board the flight to Bor were the Archbishop, his wife Caroline, and MAF South Sudan Ground Operations Co-ordinator Stephen Kempsell. They were met by a fleet of pick-up trucks and escorted through a town that had been torn apart in the fighting. Houses were burnt, former businesses lay in twisted piles of wood and corrugated iron, overturned vehicles lined the road and several dead bodies still lay in the streets. The situation was similar around St Andrew’s Cathedral in the centre of Bor. One building had partially collapsed because of fire damage, and Archbishop Welby was shown round the residential area where many people had been killed. He joined the community in its grief and led prayers at the mass grave prepared for the bodies of 5 ministers and 20 lay readers. ‘This is the second time I have flown with MAF,’ the Archbishop explained. ‘This was a town in a condition of devastation and absolute horror, and I
think it is a reminder that MAF just keeps on taking the presence of Christ in practical ways into some of the most difficult places on earth.’ That evening, the Archbishop was back in Juba to attend a dinner organised by the Episcopal Church. Reflecting on the opportunity to assist Archbishop Welby and make his visit possible, Stephen says, ‘We are humbled to take part in work such as this. We may not ourselves be great preachers, but we can fly those who are, and we exist to bring Christ’s love to isolated people.’ Uphold our partners, personnel and South Sudan’s people – praying that this war-torn country will know God’s peace and protection at this difficult time.
Family centred Myra Leaw, a Singaporean missionary with Victory Family Centre (VFC) International recently moved to Bobometo village in Oecusse, Timor-Leste, where she and other members of the VFC team preach the Gospel and teach children English. They also reach out to young people by showing Christian films. Myra says, ‘We’ve been here for 5 months and have seen about 40 people invite Jesus into their hearts. We have also seen God’s power and healing in the lives of many.’ To get from Dili, the nation’s capital, to this remote and desolate region of Timor-Leste, most
people use the Nakroma ferry, which takes about 12 hours – when it’s running! An MAF flight takes just 45 minutes. So, to save valuable time and energy, VFC uses MAF. ‘We thank God,’ Myra explains, ‘that MAF was available to help start our ministry.’ She describes a recent visit to a local family. The youngest son, a one-year-old, wouldn’t sleep at night and was always crying. Myra says he wasn’t able to walk and wouldn’t let anyone carry him except his parents. His mother, she explains, was physically and emotionally exhausted. ‘We prayed with the family and, a week later, the boy was sleeping better at night, but unfortunately he still couldn’t walk. ‘We shared the Good News with the parents and they accepted Jesus. Then we prayed for their son, and asked his mother to let go of his hand and allow him to try to walk. He took a few steps, enjoyed it, and was laughing the whole time!’ Programme Manager and Pilot Jonathan Lowe and wife Angela say they love being part of VFC’s work in Timor- Leste. ‘We are excited to be a part of a church that is active in spreading the Gospel to many of the remote villages. We love being able to help them get safely and quickly to their districts, and save them having to take the ferry. ‘MAF also gives the VFC team peace of mind that, if they need to get to Dili in an emergency, we are only a phone call away.’
Prayer points • ARNHEM LAND Scott and Anna Walmsley are relocating to Ramingining, a remote MAF base in Australia’s outback, with their children. Pray the move goes well and they build good relationships in their new home. • CHAD Pray that the part needed to fix our Cessna 182 aircraft arrives quickly so the plane can resume its vital ministry. • Give thanks that Pilot David Pearce has received his Chadian Pilots Licence and is now able to fly both aircraft. Pray for protection as he flies and that his wife Lisa and their children will soon make friends and get used to life in Chad (NfP 489). • KALIMANTAN Praise God that we recently delivered 4,750kg of Bibles to Long Bawan village. Pray that the distribution will be effective and God’s
Word will bless many living in this remote village. • MOZAMBIQUE Continue to pray for a doctor and a dentist to join MozMed’s flying doctor programme (NfP 490). The organisation enables remote communities to obtain better access to medical care and the Gospel. • PNG Give thanks for MAF’s Christian Radio Missionary Fellowship, which recently helped install a satellite dish so the Christian radio station in Mount Hagen, can transmit its message of hope to more parts of the country. • SOUTH SUDAN Praise God for the ceasefire agreement signed by the government and opposition rebels, and pray for peace and reconciliation in this fragile nation. Our staff are all safe and almost everyone is back in Juba, ready to resume work (NfP 493).
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