News for Prayer 10 July 2014
Issue 504
Moving on Continue to uphold our Tanzania team as the programme is restructured, praying especially for 62 staff who need to find work. Although our bases in Dar es Salaam and Dodoma will close, we will continue supporting partners from our base in Arusha and through our work in Mbeya. Despite the challenges, our faithful staff praise God for being able to celebrate over 50 years of MAF ministry. Programme Manager Jez Simpson says that as he walked to the hangar for the farewell party, he felt he should speak about how God had provided for him and his wife Carina. ‘We have worked in missions for 12 years, and I shared how our Father had provided for us in different situations. What happened next was thrilling – with many people giving their testimonies.’ One, who has worked with MAF for 16 years, said he understood the reasons for the changes and praised God that we’re continuing to serve remote parts of Tanzania. Others thanked MAF for providing them with new skills. ‘It was great,’ concludes Jez, ‘to hear that MAF has made a difference in this country, and to see staff trusting God with their lives.’
Celebrating over 50 years of MAF ministry in Tanzania
Spreading the Word For the last seven years, MAF has flown Patricia Caroom four times a year with a team from e3 Partners to Kapoeta, South Sudan, so they can tell the Toposa tribe about Jesus. Joram, Patricia’s devoted friend and helper, studies at Kapoeta Secondary School and shares the Gospel with children through Good News Bible clubs. He also translates for missionaries from e3 Partners in remote Toposa villages. The tribe cannot read or write, so Patricia introduced them to solar recording devices. Bible stories are recorded in their own language so they can listen to them long after the missionaries have left the village. Patricia has fond memories of one lady who was known as the town drunk. ‘We were telling the story of the demon possessed man. I said, “Do you think that demon possessed man could ever change?” By the time we left the village, the lady had stopped drinking and had become a believer. ‘We always travel with MAF,’ concludes Patricia, ‘except once when they weren’t flying. We suffered a terrible four-hour drive to Kapoeta! MAF is a real blessing.’ Pray for Joram, who lost his leg during the Sudanese war, and travels around spreading God’s
Word using a pair of crutches. Pray also for e3 Partners as they encourage believers, spread the Gospel, and help Joram with his ministry to children.
Seven flights seven medevacs In Papua New Guinea (PNG), MAF Pilot Luke Newell gives thanks for the latest addition to our fleet – another GA8 Airvan. Luke is happy to report that, in his first week flying this new aircraft, he ended up making seven medical emergency flights. Luke says a lot of the services MAF delivers from its Rumginae base supports Rumginae Hospital – particularly now that measles and whooping cough have broken out in PNG’s Western Province. ‘We use the plane,’ he reports, ‘to fly medical teams and vaccinations to communities to help prevent and control the spread of these diseases. With many communities scattered over miles and miles of endless swamps and jungle, it’s impossible for people to get medical assistance without an MAF plane.’ One afternoon, Luke finished flying early and was at home when he received a call requesting an urgent medevac. It was for a girl with a broken arm and a mother facing complications with her pregnancy. Both needed to reach hospital quickly.
Although it was wet and cloudy, the flight took less than an hour. By motorboat – the only other way to reach Obo – the journey would have taken two days. Luke recalls, ‘When we arrived at Obo, the lady was ready to board the plane and the little girl was crying and in a lot of pain. Once safely seated with their guardians and a nurse, we left for Rumginae just before a thunderstorm rolled in.’ By 5.15pm, the plane landed at Rumginae and the nurses could take care of the patients. Doctors operated on both patients and the baby was delivered successfully. Although the young girl’s arm is healing well, the doctors agree that, if she’d remained in Obo for another day, she’d have had serious problems. Praise God that, thanks to our new plane and the people who pray and give to keep our aircraft in the air, isolated people receive medical treatment. Luke is also grateful that, thanks to the Bibles he distributes, people are being spiritually transformed. When he took a box of Scriptures to Obo, he says, they sold out within minutes. ‘And this,’ he points out, ‘is an area that was known for violent headhunters just 40 years ago.’ Fortunately, MAF flights enabled missionaries to share the Gospel with these villagers – resulting in changed hearts and lives.
Prayer points • ARNHEM LAND Our programme is currently short-staffed, with quite a few families on home assignment. Pray for strength, health and endurance for those keeping our planes flying. • DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO Our team is helping with the Nyankunde Youth Camp, which finishes on 28 July. The aim is to reach young people through sports evangelism and Bible study. Pray that God’s Spirit will work in the 80 youngsters’ hearts. • KENYA Uphold our staff in Kenya. Another terrorist attack has claimed the lives of over 20 Kenyans on the coast – the total death toll in the last month is now over 80. Pray that we continue to make wise decisions regarding security arrangements. • LESOTHO Pray for new people to join our team to alleviate the current staff shortage, and that our personnel will be kept safe on the ground and in the air. Pray too that the team has opportunities to share the Gospel
in villages where we work to maintain airstrips. • LIBERIA Pray the permissions we need to start operating will be issued soon. We are still waiting for several authorisations. • MOZAMBIQUE Give thanks that our team provided New Tribes Mission (NTM) with malaria medication, essential supplies and a new car battery. The son of one of the NTM missionaries was suffering from malaria and, with no medication available, the need for supplies was critical. • PNG Screenings of the Jesus film have been taking place most weekends. Pray that those who see the film will realise their need for Jesus. • Pray that, despite recent calls for demonstrations and protests against PNG’s government, our staff remain safe and the authorities act wisely and with sensitivity. • WORLDWIDE Give thanks for our engineering teams as they work to keep our aircraft serviceable and airworthy. Their role is vital in maintaining the safety of our pilots, planes and passengers.
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