News for Prayer Issue 487
31 October 2013
Question time
Glenn Cousley (right)
Glenn Cousley, MAF’s Dangerous Goods Trainer, Security Officer and Health and Safety Officer in Uganda recently travelled to Geneva to upgrade his qualifications. Keeping up with the skills necessary to fill his various positions is a significant undertaking, but Glenn says it hasn’t taken him away from his most important role as an ambassador of Christ. ‘After a fairly intense week’s course,’ Glen reports, ‘I managed to gain a distinction. All the other attendees represented larger air operators and training schools from Greece, Turkey, Romania and Ukraine. The trainer was from Singapore. ‘I am not a preacher, but the one aspect I enjoyed about the course was the interaction. We were given time to talk about ourselves and the organisations we work for. So I shared about MAF’s work, the types of aircraft we operate, and the type of flying we do. ‘During the week, I was asked many questions about my faith and MAF. If you are reading this and aren’t sure how to reach out to people, you can witness by just chatting about yourself and what you stand for. You could plant a mustard seed and be a light!’
Busy bees Pilot Christiaan Haak recently helped a World Vision project by flying a 1-ton cargo of 83 beehives from Kenya to a drought-stricken area of Somaliland. World Vision has been working in Somaliland since 1993, and the beekeeping project forms part of the organisation’s commitment to build community resilience in this once densely forested area through relief, rehabilitation and development. The hives will benefit five beekeeping associations in the Adwal region in the north-western corner of Somaliland. The beekeepers will also receive honey-harvesting and processing equipment such as de-capping trays, centrifugal machines, honeybee wax melters, smokers and harvesting jackets. The beekeeping associations can then harvest, process, refine and sell the honey, which is highly valued in Somaliland, along with related products. Apart from providing an alternative source of income, it will give a greater incentive for the villagers to conserve trees rather than felling them to produce charcoal. Felling trees in this once fertile area has caused desertification and reduced the food available to people’s livestock. Now in its second year, the project will aid local pastoralists who suffer when there’s drought, increase people’s resilience to future crises, and
help improve their food security and economic wellbeing. When asked if MAF also transported the bees to populate the hives, Christiaan replied, ‘The bees have got their own wings, so they had to fly themselves.’
‘Warmest greetings from myself, my husband, our little one, and all the congregation in Binuang. Shalom and thank you for sharing this service of love in Kalimantan. I and my family thank you for patiently taking us to Tarakan. Thank you, MAF.’
Thank you!
Significant milestone
Pastor Yesika from southern Kalimantan, Indonesia, says she owes her life and that of her baby boy to an MAF medevac. When the church leader needed an emergency Caesarean, pilot Craig Hollander immediately flew her to Tarakan Hospital. Pastor Yesika writes, ‘I am a pastor at the Gereja Kristen Protestan Indonesia (GKPI) church in Binuang. I am very impressed by the “Vision and Mission” of MAF in its service to the Lord. Without MAF, my baby and I probably would not have survived. ‘At 1pm, MAF arrived to take us to Tarakan. When we landed, there was an ambulance waiting to take us to the hospital. At 9pm on the dot, I delivered a baby boy, the first fruit of our hearts. We gave him the name Vemark Bie Fide, which means “safe by the grace of the Lord Jesus”. ‘Blessed be the Lord Jesus! MAF, the service that you give is extraordinary. Many souls in remote corners of the interior need you all. With continued joy in our service, all the congregation in Binuang and I will always support with prayer every service that is done by MAF.
Pilot Steve Machell received a special welcome as he returned to MAF’s hangar after his regular flight to Marsabit in northern Kenya – congratulations from Country Director Ian Sinkinson on achieving 1,000 flying hours with MAF. Although this may not seem much compared to other MAF pilots, for Steve it represents a significant milestone on a journey that began nearly 30 years ago. Having received his wings through the Air Cadets as a teenager, Steve pursued his desire to serve God through flying after leaving university, but no opportunities arose. Putting his private pilot’s licence to one side, he followed a different career path and worked in Africa as an administrator and financial controller. Although Steve loved the work, he never forgot the call he had always felt to mission aviation. Doors began to open seven years ago, enabling his dream to become a reality. Now Steve says it’s a privilege to fly for MAF in Kenya, and to share about God’s goodness and faithfulness in his life.
Prayer points • ARNHEM LAND Pray for the health and safety of our team during the challenging conditions caused by the wet season. • Give thanks for successful outreach trips to Bremer Island and Dhalinbuy. Pray that MAF staff and Yolŋu believers will have increasing opportunities to evangelise homeland communities. • BRAZIL Praise God that funds have become available for Asas de Socorro, one of MAF’s affiliates, to buy a floatplane. • DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC) The western DRC team is facing a fuel shortage. Pray they will be able to obtain Avgas. • HAITI Give thanks that work on relocating our hangar is almost complete (NfP 482). Pray for the successful installation of electricity and a concrete ramp. • KALIMANTAN Paul College and Tripp Flythe are able to fly again, now their visas and work permits have arrived (NfP 486). Pray that Paul, Tripp and fellow pilot Pete Neal will receive flight security clearances. • LESOTHO The government has agreed to loan MAF land on which to
build a hangar, which we can use rent-free for the next 50 years. Praise God for this encouraging news. • MADAGASCAR Praise God for our partnership with HoverAid. Pray the regular medical safaris continue to provide healthcare and result in many villagers following Christ. • PAPUA Give thanks for opportunities to support missionaries serving new regions. Pray for safety as our pilots fly in and out of new airstrips such as Danokit/Tokuni and Ottodemo. • PAPUA NEW GUINEA Uphold Christian Radio Missionary Fellowship staff monitoring calls for help. Pray we can respond swiftly, and uphold those treating unwell and injured people. • Pray for high quality people to fill a number of vacancies. Pray too for our pilots who fly in challenging conditions over difficult terrain. • WORLDWIDE Pray for missionaries living in isolated places who rely on us for contact with the outside world. • Pray for MAF staff with unwell or elderly family members back home.
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