News for Prayer 11 July 2013
Issue 479
Highlands rescue When Tailima’s father successfully cut down a tree, the timber fell on her. With severe concussion and her forearm broken in two places, the little girl needed urgent medical assistance. Because the accident occurred in the rugged Highlands of Papua New Guinea (PNG), there was no ambulance to come to her aid. Fortunately, an MAF aircraft landed in Eliptamin, collected Tailima and her aunt and took them to Telefomin Hospital. Medical staff put Tailima’s arm in plaster, but felt she needed further treatment at a better equipped medical centre. So the next day, pilot Mathias Glass flew Tailima and her aunt to Wewak. When the local ambulance failed to arrive, Mathias drove them to the hospital – the potholed road providing a bumpier journey than travelling by air! Tailima spent two weeks recovering in hospital. During that time, Mathias’ wife Mandy visited her several times, bringing food, colouring books and pens to make her stay easier. Give thanks that Tailima is now her usual happy and beaming self again, and pray for similarly successful outcomes to the many medevacs MAF undertakes throughout the year.
Seeing for themselves Aircraft maintenance engineer Gertjan Kamphorst was delighted that his wife Glenda’s mother and sister came to stay with them in Papua. It was a chance to catch up with them both and to introduce them to our work. As the two women flew over mountain peaks, rivers and relentless jungle, they were stunned that people in the remote settlement of Kiwirok could be so isolated. They were also moved by the welcome they received from the local community, who were grateful for the supplies flown in by MAF and thrilled to welcome two sisters in Christ. As they spent time with the villagers, the visitors were encouraged by the people’s gratitude at having received the Gospel. They also praised God for the contribution that Gertjan, Glenda and MAF are making to help sustain this remote community.
Recovering When Nyandeang entered her fourth day of obstructed labour, it was clear the 16-year-old needed to reach South Sudan’s Juba Hospital as soon as possible. So an MAF flight was diverted so Nyandeang could fly there. Medair staff sprang into action as soon as the plane landed, lifting Nyandeang into an improvised ambulance. Dodging traffic and potholes, the vehicle brought her to Juba Hospital. ‘By this time,’ says Medair worker Stella, ‘she was raging with
fever and starting to show a lot of distress. ‘All I could do was to place my hand on her shoulder and speak soothingly to her. And pray – a lot!’ Nyandeang was taken into the delivery room. Sadly, the baby had already died, but the small body was delivered successfully. ‘If MAF hadn’t transported Nyandeang to Juba she would have died too,’ concludes Stella. Nyandeang is now back in her village, making a slow recovery. Give thanks she survived and pray for God’s comfort as she grieves.
New airstrips Pilot Kirstein Combrink, medical staff and an evangelist were greeted by singing and prayers from the Maasai communities at Kitwai B and Lerumo – two new rural airstrips in Tanzania. After various messages acknowledging God’s role in the opening of the airstrips and the opportunities they will provide, the local people were told about the clinics scheduled to begin in the area – the medical ‘safaris’ having been made possible by the new airstrips. Kirstein says he ‘handed over some tools to help the people keep the runways clean and ready each month’ and ‘sorted out the teams, meetings, communication, fuel management, security for the plane, accommodation and the general pattern the outreaches would follow.’ Apart from paving the way for extended medical and evangelistic safaris, the opening of Kitwai B
and Lerumo also enabled us to transport 2 doctors and 150kg of medical supplies to Orkesumet Hospital after the bridge on the road from Arusha to Orkesumet was washed away by storms.
Lives saved ‘It’s 11.15am,’ recalls Mandy Glass, wife of pilot Mathias in PNG. ‘I get a text message, “Medevac wanted at Sangera. Want to join me?” ‘Twenty minutes later, I’m at the airport and we’re ready for the 20-minute flight to Sangera. We’ve been asked to pick up a pregnant woman, Essi, who has been in a lot of pain since the first contractions on Tuesday night. Sangera has no health centre, and the baby is lying crosswise in the abdomen. ‘With a lot of help, Essi gets into the plane. She is in terrible pain. We take off for Wewak. While taxiing the plane to the MAF hangar, we see the MAF bus. ‘The drive to the hospital is exhausting; the road full of potholes. The bridge is unsafe, so I send up a fervent prayer while crossing. At last, we reach the emergency room. ‘With everyone’s help, Essi climbs out of the bus and on to a stretcher. We hope, pray and trust she gets the help she needs to deliver her first child. ‘Four days later, I visit the young mother in Wewak Hospital. She smiles as she sees me and thanks MAF for bringing her to Wewak by plane. Without MAF, neither Essi nor her baby would have survived.’
Prayer points • CHAD Praise God for spiritual openness in many regions. Pray for opportunities to share about Jesus, wisdom as we help reach remote areas, and continued peace (NfP 464). • EAST TIMOR Pray for the 12,000 people affected by flooding in the south, some of whom have lost everything. Give thanks we were able to fly monitoring teams and food supplies to the area. • MEXICO Pray that airstrip permits will soon be granted. The temporary permits have expired and we are still flying under daily authorisations from local civil aviation authorities (NfP 473). • MADAGASCAR A number of our team are unwell. Pray for healing. • MONGOLIA Praise God that Mongolian Health Development Centre has signed an agreement with us so inflight patient care training for local doctors can take place.
• MOZAMBIQUE We fly two doctors and two dentists regularly to treat sick people and teach about health in several communities. Pray for open hearts and minds, and that people will see Jesus through the care provided. • PAPUA Pray that MAF personnel who are unwell will be fully healed. • PNG Our Technology Services team has outgrown its current office space. Pray for wisdom as they plan for expansion. • UGANDA Pray for our engineering team as they work towards a Certificate of Airworthiness and Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO) renewals. Pray also for those working to develop a better fuel monitoring system for our operation. • WORLDWIDE Pray for the physical and spiritual protection of MAF families throughout the world.
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