News for Prayer 13 June 2013
Issue 477
Stranded
Getting stuck in Arnhem Land is not uncommon during the wet season. Our pilots often face challenging decisions about whether to try and find a way through the bad weather, or to land somewhere safe until the storm passes. MAF Home-school Support Teacher Jenny Wichert was returning from Ramingining with her daughter when a massive wall of rain started to fall. Pilot Fabio Zuglian circled, hoping the weather would pass and allow them to reach Gove. But with the fuel level decreasing, he diverted to Garrthalala so they could stay the night there and leave in the morning when things had improved. Sarah, a friendly Laynhapuy worker, took care of the stranded passengers. ‘The evening was great,’ says Jenny, ‘as we shared stories, talked about MAF and had plenty of laughs as we created some interesting dishes from what was available.’ The next day, they reached their destination. Jenny reflects, ‘Not only did our pilot fly brilliantly, he also ensured we would be looked after for the night!’ Although MAF has a great flying record in Arnhem Land, pray that pilots undertaking these wet-season challenges will experience God’s protection.
Short-staffed Our team in Kalimantan, led by Steve Persenaire, consists of 18 local staff, 12 international families, 2 mission kid schoolteachers and a short-term mechanic. They operate seven aircraft out of Tarakan and Palangkaraya. Pray for our pilots striving to meet as many of our partners’ needs as possible, while balancing flying and family life. Pray too as we continue enabling ministry groups to bring the Gospel and basic, life-sustaining services to one of the world’s most isolated, remote and undeveloped areas.
Let there be light The small English Language Bible School in Guala, Papua New Guinea (PNG) teaches the Bible, disciples believers, and improves the educational level of its students. Unfortunately, the running costs of its 240-volt generator make electric lighting at night a rare luxury. When Les Loader, a former Christian Brethren Church missionary, wanted to deliver components for a solar light system to help the Bible school, he called MAF. Les, now living in Cairns, Australia, decided the best way for the solar panels, batteries, tools, switches, connectors, cables, control boards and light fittings to reach the school was for MAF to co-ordinate and transport the materials. Our staff collated, checked and consigned the items, and ‘because of the diligence of MAF
staff’, says Les, everything arrived safely. The new solar power supply provides the classroom and the visitors’ guesthouse with effective lighting, enabling guests, students and teachers to extend their study hours into the evenings. Laptops can be used and mobile phones charged. Les also installed a 12-volt water pump, so people in the guesthouse can enjoy a warm shower, too. Les, who regularly flies with MAF, travels to remote Bible schools in Sandaun Province every year to teach the Bible. He praises God for MAF’s work and says, ‘Without MAF’s help, I couldn’t do the work in PNG God has given me.’ Pray for those studying in Bible schools throughout PNG and for continued blessing from Les’ visits.
Helping in every way
Uphold MAF flights in South Sudan which enable Every Village to transmit evangelistic broadcasts, provide clean water to remote areas and train local leaders to plant churches and make disciples by flying in skilled personnel from overseas. Andrew was overseeing the construction of three houses at their base in Nasir. When he needed urgent medical attention, Simon Wunderli flew for ten hours to airlift him to hospital. It was the only alternative to a four-week trip up the Nile to Malakal, followed by a few days’ travel on the Sobat River. Kerry Henderson, Every Village’s Country
Director says, ‘The difference MAF makes to our work is huge. With MAF, we are able to get to the hard-to-reach places faster and quicker. MAF helps us get the Gospel to the people by transporting mission teams and assisting us with our radio ministry. MAF flies technicians in to help fix things and sometimes pilots jump in and give us a hand. ‘We also distribute solar-powered handheld radios so people can hear the Word of God. MAF flies them to the places we work so we can distribute them. MAF is a key part of the ministry God has called us to, and we would be hard pressed to do this work without them!’
50 years
MAF began flying in Tanzania 50 years ago when co-founder Stuart King visited the country in response to a request from Bishop Yohana Madinda, who wanted us to establish a base there to share the Good News. Later, in 1977, we established a permanent base in Dodoma. Today, we continue bringing the Gospel to unreached people by taking national and missionary staff to remote villages for several days at a time on medical and evangelistic ‘safaris’ (NfP 475). The regular safaris to remote communities around Haydom, Malambo, Mbeya, Mbesa and Kilimatinde enable isolated people to receive medical attention and hear the Gospel. Give thanks for another MAF milestone, and pray for continued blessing.
Prayer points • ARNHEM LAND Pray for wisdom and energy for our aircraft maintenance engineers as they keep our planes flying. Pray too for our pilots’ protection. • DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO Pray for the safety and witness of MAF staff in eastern DRC, who are reopening the base in Nyankunde 11 years after it was destroyed by tribal militias. • EAST TIMOR Give thanks that pilot Mike Bottrell’s belongings have arrived (NfP 476). Good progress is also being made on the repairs and improvements needed on Mike’s and Jenni’s house. • PAPUA Pray for a small baby we flew from Pogapa to Timika for medical care. The child’s leg had been badly burned. • A flight to Silimo was postponed three times due to bad weather. Pray for safety as we work around challenging weather conditions.
• PNG Praise God that repair work has started on Rumginae airstrip (NfP 463). Pray we will soon be able to land there again. • MAF’s Christian Radio Missionary Fellowship has successfully installed an uninterruptible power supply system for CBM. Pray it functions well and is a blessing to their ministry. • SOUTH AFRICA Pilot Mark Liprini flew to Venda to deliver clothing, Bibles and food supplements to clinics, crèches and the church. Uphold the work of the ophthalmologists he flew for a flying eye clinic. • SOUTH SUDAN Pray for James, a boy we flew from Torit to Kijabe Hospital, Kenya, whose leg had been blown off. • TANZANIA We have had to cancel three ‘safari’ flights because of the poor condition of village airstrips. Pray that better communication with villagers will lead to better maintained airstrips.
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