News for Prayer Issue 489
28 November 2013
Typhoon Haiyan Uphold the 11 million people affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, especially remembering everyone who has lost loved ones. Pray that people without homes will have access to shelter, clean water and food. MAF’s Manager of Disaster Response and Security John Woodberry and pilot Dave Forney are currently in the Philippines assisting New Tribes Mission (NTM), who are uniquely positioned to help with a helicopter and two small aircraft. John is working on Palawan Island, and Dave is on the island of Cuyo. NTM are carrying aid from Palawan to Cuyo where it is transferred to the helicopter and distributed to people in the more isolated and devastated islands. In partnership with local churches and municipal leaders, the team has transported food and tarpaulins to the remote island of Conception. They recently delivered 2.6 tons of ‘family packs’ put together by a church in Cuyo containing rice and tinned protein, along with hygiene kits and food provided by the Philippine Red Cross. Give thanks for the help MAF has provided to date, and pray for the organisations working to alleviate the suffering in this devastated part of the world.
Homeland In Arnhem Land, Australia, we service over 80 airstrips and reach many small groups of people scattered in isolated areas known as homelands. One of them, Balma, is home to 40 Yolŋu people. MAF staff have developed good relationships with the Yolŋu in Balma, so pilot Matt Roediger decided to take a small team there for an outreach. Arriving Saturday afternoon, the team were greeted warmly, shown where to set up for the night, then fellowshipped with the locals. As soon as it was dark, the team produced some Christian resources and set up the projector to show Manymak Dhäwu – a Gospel story produced by MAF’s Arnhem Land Technology Services that tells the story of Genesis to Revelation in Gumatj, one of the local languages. Matt was encouraged by the spiritual hunger shown by the villagers, who mentioned their need to live like ‘Christ Christians’ and not just to call themselves Christians. The next day, Matt was surprised to learn he would be preacher for the day! Helped by the Holy Spirit, he shared from Ephesians about the armour of God, and was relieved by the positive response. When it was time to leave, the team were encouraged to return again soon so they could run another Sunday service and bring more Christian resources. Matt says he ‘had a ball and cannot wait
to go back’. Pray for continuing opportunities for ministry with the Yolŋu people.
School dinners We recently flew senior policy makers such as the Honourable Minister of Primary and Mass Education Dr Afsarul Ameen from the Government of Bangladesh, along with decision makers from a number of international aid agencies and diplomatic missions. Our aircraft flew them to two key events supported by the UN World Food Programme, which are aimed at fighting poverty in rural Bangladesh. Both events launched a ‘cooked school meals initiative’ designed to reach 14,000 children in Barguna District, northern Bangladesh, and 6,000 children in Islampur, in the south. Instead of the micronutrient-fortified biscuits usually provided in schools, children in 63 of Bangladesh’s schools will receive a freshly prepared nutritious kichuri every day at lunchtime. Kichuri is made from locally produced rice, pulses and homegrown vegetables. The rice is also fortified with six essential vitamins and minerals. By providing essential nutrients which might otherwise be missing from their diet, the distribution of this healthy food will help alleviate short-term hunger, improve attendance rates, and enable the children to better concentrate on their studies.
The community will also benefit – with local women being employed to cook the meals, as well as being able to earn income by supplying vegetables to their local school. A further 3,000 women will be trained to supply vegetables for this project.
New Bible ‘My Bible was stolen during a car accident a month ago,’ explains Mrs Ernas from Usino Bundi, in Papua New Guinea (PNG). ‘Since then I have been teaching my Sunday School class without one. I am crying as I receive this Bible because only the Lord knows my heart and what it means to me to have one.’ Despite many setbacks, Mrs Ernas’ zeal remains undiminished. Even when her church was burnt down, she wasn’t deterred, and she now runs the Sunday School from under a house. Linus Edwards, who serves with our Christian Radio Missionary Fellowship, says he had the privilege of giving Mrs Ernas a new Bible, in appreciation of her ministry to local children. Pray copies of God’s Word reach those who can’t easily obtain one. Pray too that the growing need for Bibles is met as MAF seeks to provide PNG’s many remote places with copies of this precious book. The airstrip will also be used by Samaritan’s Purse, the World Food Programme and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Please continue to pray for this vital work.
Prayer points • ARNHEM LAND Uphold Country Director Craig Fulton as he leads his team of 32 MAF families, Technology Services and Homelands Outreach Ministry. Pray too for Ministry Co-ordinator Brett Nel as he plans this year’s Christmas homeland outreach. • BANGLADESH Pray that Chad Tilley and Emil and Margrit Kündig will receive work permit extensions for 2014. Pray too for peace and stability following recent strikes and disruptions in the country. • CHAD Remember David and Lisa Pearce and Alan and Davina Sully as they prepare to join our Chad operation in December. • Incidences of malaria have increased significantly. Pray for those who are ill and that the medical workers we fly will be able to stop the disease from spreading. • PAPUA Uphold MAF leaders in Papua and around the world as they seek to recruit national employees. Pray that we learn from each other
as we serve and work together. • PNG Lukas and Mahela Schadegg recently joined MAF’s Christian Radio Missionary Fellowship in Goroka. Pray they settle in well and that Jael and Timon, their two young children, make friends. • SOUTH AFRICA Give thanks for our recent flights to Thohoyandou, which saw 20 cataract operations successfully carried out. • TANZANIA Praise God that the airstrips at Lesirwai and Katahe have been certified, and pray that the first landings there will go well. • UGANDA Pray for our Ground Operations team at Kajjansi airfield as they carry out work on the runway. Pray too for good weather so that major repairs can get underway. • WORLDWIDE Pray for the swift approval of work permits and visas for those who need them.
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