News for Prayer 21 January 2016
Issue 542
Supplying Scripture to South Sudan Fighting in neighbouring Sudan has caused thousands of refugees to pour across the border and seek shelter in the relative safety of embattled South Sudan. A mixture of tribes, languages, cultures and religions now makes Doro and the surrounding area the most diverse part of the state. MAF partner SIM has been working to reach out to these refugees by sharing the Gospel and translating Scripture. One of the tribes, the Ingessana, had been extremely hostile to the Gospel while they were in their own homeland – even persecuting the small number of believers that lived among them. Now the Ingessana have become refugees, SIM is telling them the Good News – with many of the tribe asking local churches and missionaries to teach them about Jesus. Several Bible study groups have now started, with Ingessana men and women learning about God’s Word and sharing it with those around them. Give thanks for this amazing Gospel opportunity and praise God for our ability to fly in Bibles and Christian resources that people can listen to, study and read. Because SIM was the mission MAF originally came to Sudan to support in the 1950s, MAF Pilot Ryan Unger says, ‘It’s humbling to think of all those who’ve invested their lives in this far corner of South Sudan over the last 65 years. We praise God that SIM is still there and seeing new fruit from their ministry.’ Please pray that SIM’s fruitful ministry in Doro continues to be a blessing.
An Ingessana Bible study group
Maud returns to Mulita On 4 December 2015, MAF had the honour of flying veteran WEC International missionary Maud Kells back to the village of Mulita, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The 76-year-old woman, who has served in the DRC since 1968 and helped build a primary school and hospital, trained staff, and taught at the Bible school in Mulita, was shot in a bandit attack on 4 January 2015 (NfP 516). Less than a year after the MAF medevac to Nyankunde that saved her life, Maud returned to a joyful celebration – having spent most of 2015 recovering in Northern Ireland. ‘The whole community was there,’ recalls MAF Pilot Dave Jacobsson. ‘I think we got a taste of the appreciation, love and concern the people have for her, and the joy of having her back again.’ Maud, who stepped off the plane to the sound of a brass band and cheering, was equally touched. ‘It was really nice to see them again… they’re always very welcoming,’ she added. After exchanging greetings with village and church leaders, Maud’s celebratory procession ended at a makeshift amphitheatre, where singing, dancing and preaching was held in her honour. Later, Maud returned to the airstrip to help Dave
unload medical supplies, clothes and gifts from our aircraft. ‘I could never have continued the work at Mulita without MAF,’ smiles Maud, adding, ‘So much of the healing process was really MAF caring for me, loving me, and being so kind and hospitable. I probably wouldn’t have survived if it hadn’t been for MAF’s staff.’ Pray for strength and protection for Maud, who is now hoping to finish work on the nursery she started building before the attack, and pray that the bandits who leapt out at her brandishing a gun will be brought to justice.
Bepi becomes a believer Bepi Ignaz, a father of four and cousin to MAF Cargo Officer John Yark, was feeling fine until he fell out of a tree in Biak village, Papua New Guinea (PNG). At first, Bepi seemed okay. But a few days later he developed toothache and sores in his mouth, couldn’t eat or sleep, and eventually became so ill he needed to be carried to the airstrip so an MAF plane could take him to hospital. By the time our aircraft landed at Mount Hagen, Bepi could hardly talk. His symptoms were so unusual that rumours soon spread that
• ARNHEM LAND Praise God for MAF Pilot Fabio Zuglian’s productive visit to the GanGan homeland. Pray for our staff to have many more opportunities to encourage the Yolŋu people. • HAITI Uphold our team in Port au Prince. They operate 3 aircraft which fly to 14 airstrips across the country. Pray the short-term mission teams flown by our planes will play a vital role in transforming lives and supporting local Christians. • LIBERIA Pray for progress in discussions with the Liberian Civil Aviation Authority about building a hangar in Monrovia (NfP 541). • MYANMAR Pray for good relationships with Government officials as we continue to establish our Myanmar lifeline (NfP 540). • NEPAL Pray for our team who are producing a detailed project proposal for 2016 which includes supporting likeminded NGOs (NfP 540). • PNG Programme Manager Godfrey Sim will be moving into a new role
in April (NfP 537) and Human Resources Manager Doug Wakeling will be finishing in March. Please pray for the right people to take up these important roles. • UGANDA Give thanks for all the flights carried out in 2015 and pray that this year will see us making an increasing number of flights to the unreached areas of the Sesse Islands and the west, where many refugees continue to arrive. • Give thanks for the reopening of the Adjumani airstrip in Uganda. We recently flew personnel from Lutheran World Mission to the refugee camp there (NfP 526). • Pray for our ongoing need for experienced avionics engineers, pilots, managers and aircraft maintenance engineers to serve MAF lifelines throughout the developing world..
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someone had poisoned him. As head of his clan, he had helped reconcile two tribes that had originally been fighting. Bepi was treated at Kudjip Nazarene Hospital, released the next day, and taken to relatives in Mount Hagen to recuperate. It was there that John Yark, a committed Christian, told his cousin about God’s healing power and love. Although he accepted the Good News, Bepi’s condition continued to deteriorate, and he was taken to hospital in Mount Hagen. By now, Bepi’s teeth had become loose, his body had swollen and his skin had turned yellow. The poor man was clearly dying. When Bepi passed away some time later in a relative’s house, MAF Pilot Mathias Glass flew him back to his village for burial. John says Bepi was at peace with God when he died. He’d explained how someone from a rival clan had probably given him some poisoned betel nut, but had told his family not to retaliate. Because many people in PNG still believe in revenge killing, Bepi’s request for his relatives to turn the other cheek was deeply significant. Give thanks for John’s vibrant witness and for Bepi’s eventual salvation, and pray for peace and reconciliation between PNG’s warring tribes.
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