News for Prayer 18 April 2013
Issue 473
Future flights Spring is coming, with sunny days and temperatures nearing freezing most afternoons in Mongolia. Pray for safety as we resume flying in May, with sole pilot Ryan Van Geest returning this month from home assignment. Our first flight will be for Reaching the Light, which enables mothers to bring their children for physiotherapy, and shows the Jesus film to the families they treat. Pray this will help parents learn how to care for their handicapped children and will reach people with the Gospel. Later in May, we will be flying a team of nurses to conduct life-saving CPR training for medics in eastern Mongolia and distribute Bibles to believers and seekers. Pray that paperwork for visa renewals, airstrips and the renewal of our Certificate of Airworthiness continues to go smoothly. Pray too for Country Director Tom Mason, who leads our operation, Chief Pilot Ryan Van Geest, Operations Manager Badaa Bayarbadrakh and Maintenance Assistant Batbayar Dugardorj. Uphold staff and family members who are currently unwell. Finally, remember our need for a new Country Director and a Chief Engineer (NfP 466).
Lighting the darkness Geoff Hillier, Head of Quality, Safety and Security for MAF International, recently joined a flight to Megau in Papua New Guinea (PNG). ‘The trip,’ he says, ‘reminded me that the work we do in maintaining our aircraft to the highest quality, and having skilled pilots, is essential in this most challenging of places to operate. We landed safely and a crowd of excited villagers shook our hands vigorously, excited to see the plane.’ Pray that runways like the one Geoff landed on at Megau will be maintained to a safe standard so we can reach people in isolated and remote areas. Many of the villagers, Geoff explains, live in spiritual darkness. ‘When a politician died of a heart attack, three men were thought to have cursed him, and were themselves attacked – two of them killed. It’s a cycle of violence that the love of God can and does break, and is so needed here.’ Geoff concludes, ‘I was in awe of the work God has given us to do, in praying for, supporting and working in MAF, and was struck again by what a privilege it is.’ Pray our pilots and passengers are kept safe, and that our team helps light PNG’s darkness and points people to Christ.
New role Our team in Arnhem Land, currently led by Doug and Yvonne Miles, consists of 32 staff families with 13 aircraft, as well as Technology Services and
Homelands Outreach Ministry. Pray for Craig Fulton, who takes up the role of Arnhem Land Country Director in September, and uphold his wife Rebecca and their children Johanna (11), Henry (8) and Sienna (6). Craig currently manages our Milingimbi base. Remember Craig and family as they prepare for this new role and make preparations for their transition from Milingimbi to Gove.
Direction and disruption Pray for health, strength and safety for Ron Wismer and his team of 10 international and 31 local staff in western Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), operating 2 turbine-engine and three pistonengine aircraft from Lubumbashi and Kinshasa. Pray too for the high volume of maintenance – scheduled and unscheduled – being carried out, and that our flying won’t be too disrupted. Pray also for God’s direction as we continue working with the local church.
Good news Our team in PNG carries out around 500 medevacs each year. The patients come from many remote and isolated airstrips to one of several hospitals scattered throughout the country. Halfway through his flight schedule, pilot Richie Axon was asked to pick up a patient at Buluwo, a poor community on the Sepik plains. ‘When I touched down,’ Richie recalls, ‘the strip
was empty. Nobody was there!’ Eventually, some villagers emerged from the bush and explained that the patient was coming from a distant village four hours’ walk away. After 30 minutes, Richie saw 4 men carrying a stretcher. The man lying on the thin mattress had been cutting down a tree when it fell on him, and he had serious injuries. After securing the patient, Richie left Buluwo, and touched down at Lumi 11 minutes later. The journey would have taken three days on foot. ‘Looking at his condition,’ says Richie, ‘I doubt he would have survived that long. But thanks to our Airvan, he was able to receive medical help that same day.’ ‘Although I was worried because he was in a bad way, I hadn’t been able to return to Buluwo to ask if he’d survived.’ But a few weeks ago, Richie’s flight plan included a stop there. ‘I landed at Buluwo and was talking about the patient I’d taken to Lumi. They told me he’d come out of hospital and was now home. This was great to hear. When I flew him, I wasn’t even sure if he’d live. It’s such a buzz to know you’ve helped save someone’s life!’ Pray everyone in need of an urgent medevac will receive timely assistance and, like the patient from Buluwo, will eventually recover and return home from hospital. Pray too for more skilled and experienced people to join our team, which is currently short-staffed.
Prayer points • ARNHEM LAND Pray for a solution to our ongoing housing shortage on Elcho Island (NfP 472). • Pray for Vanessa, wife of Yolŋu Christian leader Gerard (NfP 467), who wants to begin a youth group in Yirrkala. The need for a youth programme there is huge. • BANGLADESH Political parties are striking, causing turmoil, violence and weekly disruptions to life, work and the flight support we can provide. Pray for an end to the unrest (NfP 471).
increasing need and provide coverage during maintenance. • Give thanks to God that pilot/engineer Mike Bottrell and his wife Development Manager Jenni are settling into life in Dili (NfP 470). Pray they will find suitable accommodation. • MEXICO Please pray that permanent airstrip permits will be issued soon (NfP 462).
• CHAD Our small team has been short-staffed for several years. Pray for stamina, strength and more personnel. Pray also for relief pilot Bryan Pill who will be helping out with flying over the next few weeks.
• PNG Security is an ever-present concern. Pray God will continue to protect our bases, homes, aircraft and staff. • We have to renew about 30 work permits as well as visas for our 30 international staff members and their families – a huge exercise. Pray as the applications are prepared and then submitted to the authorities.
• EAST TIMOR We have the only fixed-wing aircraft based in the country (NfP 463). Pray we will be able to obtain a second plane to meet the
• WORLDWIDE Pray for healing for MAF staff experiencing illness or injury.
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