News for Prayer Issue 499
1 May 2014
A taste of heaven
Children from the slums enjoy a heavenly picnic
A full day MAF Pilot Greg Vine flew from Kajjansi, Uganda, to Gulu with personnel from the Christian Counselling Fellowship, who were assessing a programme at a Christian girls’ school there. ‘When we reached Gulu,’ Greg writes, ‘my three passengers thanked me effusively, grateful that our planes allow them to spend more time doing ministry, rather than travelling on poor roads. ‘A few minutes later, we were on our way towards Kaabong. We landed safely, picked up another passenger and flew to Kotido, where my passenger disembarked. We then boarded nine others who were going to Kajjansi. ‘As we neared the MAF base, my thoughts turned to the weekend ahead. I had only one more landing and then I would “put the plane to bed” and head home to my family.’ But when Greg received a call from the office, he realised his day hadn’t finished. Two people had been injured in a car accident, and needed an emergency medevac from Bunia, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). He headed there straight away. Landing in Bunia, Greg taxied up to the parking area. The two patients soon arrived, their chest injuries making breathing painful. Having secured the passengers, Greg flew to Entebbe, where his patients received the medical help they desperately needed. ‘What a day!’ he concludes, ‘I was privileged to
When an MAF Denmark team flew to Bukasa Island, Uganda, MAF Information Officer Jill Vine asked Sam Tsapwe, a local evangelist who flies regularly with MAF, if she could help arrange a picnic for people living in a local slum. Sam said yes and the MAF team willingly agreed to help fund a catered picnic for 180 people. ‘After being flown in by MAF,’ Jill recalls, ‘we were taken to the slum. As we pulled up, hundreds of children ran towards us, screaming joyfully. They took turns to hold hands with us. ‘Led by Sam, the pastors and children began singing and praying as we walked up a hill to picnic in a farmer’s field. ‘After eating, we prayed together, played games and then climbed further up the hill to see the stunning view. Later, a game of football erupted with the new ball the Danish team had given the children. We shared in something that day which very much resembled heaven.’ Praise God that the trip blessed both children and visitors. A member of the Denmark team was so affected by his visit that he wants to return later this year to help build proper dormitories for the children. fly people from several different missions to several ‘Since returning from Telefomin,’ says Pastor remote locations, then provided a medical flight Moduwa, ‘we have baptised 109 young people, and from another country! Even though I was extremely many others also gave their lives to Jesus. ‘Our thanks,’ he concludes, ‘go to MAF for your tired, it was the satisfying tiredness of a day continuous support. Without your participation and well spent, and a job well done. ‘Days like this couldn’t happen without your service, what we have seen and experienced would prayers and financial support. We couldn’t serve east not have come about.’ Give thanks for Aikleen’s miraculous healing and Africa’s people without you.’ the recently baptised believers, and uphold the discipleship class Pastor Moduwa is holding for A new heart these precious new converts. Thanks to MAF, 33 excited schoolchildren and their pastor, Jeffrey Moduwa, flew from Tabubil Remote Ramingining Baptist Church to a Sunday School in Telefomin, MAF Pilot and Base Manager Scott Walmsley and his Papua New Guinea. family recently relocated from the mining town of While they were there, Aikleen, a 14-year-old girl Nhulunbuy to our reopened base at Ramingining, from Tabubil, collapsed. Her friends, who knew she Arnhem Land. had been born with a hole in her heart, immediately Although Scott and Anna knew life would be prayed for her. different, it wasn’t until they arrived that they realised Miraculously, Aikleen awoke praising God, how different it would be! Ramingining’s 800 saying she felt Jesus had walked into the room villagers have a shop, school, police station and and replaced her old heart with a new one, and health clinic – but that’s about it. had been healed! Fortunately, relationships started by other Pastor Moduwa recalls, ‘During the prayers, the MAF families have helped them to be accepted young people began crying, confessing their sins by the community, and their children are already and repenting.’ making friends. When the teenagers returned to Tabubil, Give thanks that local people are asking for Aikleen’s father took her to hospital for a check-up. Christian resources as well as requesting flights – a He was amazed when the doctor said Aikleen had a number of families are also inviting Scott and Anna ‘new’ heart! When she explained what had to establish a fellowship group. Pray for good happened, everyone started crying. Because of her relationships as the Walmsley family continue their work in remote Ramingining. testimony, Aikleen’s parents now go to church.
Prayer points • ARNHEM LAND Praise God for the outreach events which happened during Easter. Pray the Gospel message will change lives. • AUSTRALIA Pray for a smooth transition from our current facility at Coldstream to our new Flight Training Centre at Mareeba. • BRAZIL Uphold MAF affiliate Asas de Socorro as they use an amphibious aircraft to assist communities isolated by severe flooding on the Madeira River. • KENYA Pray that the manuals awaiting approval by the Civil Aviation Authority will be processed quickly. • LESOTHO Pray we will soon receive the letter needed to prove our tax-free status, which will make it easier to bring in Avgas and parts for our aircraft. • LIBERIA We are waiting for a crucial letter of support from the Minister of Commerce’s office. Please pray we receive this soon. • PAPUA Pray that the work needing to be done to open Danowage airstrip is completed quickly. • SOUTH AFRICA Our staff are planning the next eye doctor clinic which is
scheduled for 17 May. Pray that surgery on 20 prospective patients will be successful. • SOUTH SUDAN Aid agencies are scaling up their assistance to people affected as the country’s security situation deteriorates. Pray for the many flight requests we receive and for partners struggling to deliver resources to the neediest areas. • TANZANIA Uphold everyone facing transition as we go through a significant operational restructure to adjust to changing needs in the country (NfP 496). • TIMOR-LESTE Pray we receive the remaining permissions so a second aircraft can be used for God’s work in Timor-Leste. • UGANDA Uphold Steve Forsyth and his wife Philippa, who lead our busy team of 66 staff – 4 of whom serve eastern DRC. Pray that new staff members will feel at home as they settle in. • WORLDWIDE Pray for safety in the air and on the ground as we share God’s love with people in remote communities throughout the world.
MAF UK Castle Hill Avenue FOLKESTONE CT20 2TN T 0845 850 9505 E supporter.relations@maf-uk.org www.maf-uk.org/prayer
MAF UK
@flying4life
MAFUK
MAFUKFILM
Registered charity in England and Wales (1064598) and in Scotland (SC039107)