A youth team visits RedTribe in Loita Hills, Kenya
THANK YOU TO OUR PHOTOGRAPHERS
Annelie Edsmyr
Mandy Glass
Peter Griffin
Rachel Gwole George
Mark Hewes
Tajs Jespersen
Bill Kilgore
King's Church Aberdeen
Aaron Kuglin, IMB
Light for the World Medair
Jacqueline Mwende
Annet Nabbanja
Matt Painter
Janne Rytkonen
Ben Samuelson
Lukas Schmid
Martin Zimmerman
MAF UK gratefully acknowledges permission granted to produce copyright material in this prayer diary. Every effort has been made to trace copyright holders and obtain their permission for use of copyright material.
MAF UK Castle House, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone, Kent CT20 2TQ
‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time’ — 1 Peter 1:3-5 (ESV)
Ihave heard that one of the toughest things about learning to fly at the beginning is trusting what your instruments are saying over what you think you are seeing and feeling.
Your body wants to tell you one thing, but the instruments are proclaiming something else.
It seems to me that this is an apt metaphor for an age-old spiritual problem — learning to trust God when we cannot see or feel the path beneath us.
I was chatting with a friend recently about how scary it would be to go through life’s hardships without God’s presence and without the hope of a Saviour, knowing that all you had to rely on were the resources available to you in this physical life.
Worldly hope relies on one’s personal circumstances and could be better described as ‘optimism’ or ‘positivity’, but biblical hope is completely different.
Biblical hope is not just the desire for something good in the future, it’s a firm confidence in God’s promises and His character. It declares that, because Jesus has risen from the dead — conquering the power of death once and for all — anything is possible because death and decay no longer have the final say.
‘Then through the darkness, Your loving kindness Tore through the shadows of my soul
The work is finished, the end is written Jesus Christ, my living hope’ — Phil Wickham, from the album Living Hope.
As we pray, we pray from a position of confident expectation that our God is good and has good plans for His people. We look to Jesus and His finished work on the cross, knowing that the end is already written.
Thank you for partnering with us in prayer.
Jess Soames Prayer Communications Leader
HOPE IN CHRIST
TUESDAY 1 Hope of education for all. Pray for all the educational organisations with which we partner. May every child and young person around the globe have access to a transformative education that can lift them and their communities out of poverty, enabling their dreams and aspirations to be fulfilled
WEDNESDAY 2 Hope for a worldwide access to healthcare that can reduce maternity mortality rates. Pray that women and babies will be kept safe in childbirth — not only surviving but thriving due to their access to everything they need to prosper physically. Give thanks, too, for the MAF flights and medevacs which help make this possible.
THURSDAY 3 Hope in the fight against preventable and curable diseases such as malaria. Pray that we can provide more people living in remote locations with the mosquito nets and vaccines that can protect them, along with the medicines needed to save families from potentially deadly diseases.
FRIDAY 4 Hope for those who currently need Christ. While some readily embrace the Good News, others appear to reject it. Today, let’s pray that the living hope of the Gospel will bring light to those living in darkness, and peace to those who are anxious or troubled.
SATURDAY 5 Thank the Lord that the sound of our planes signify hope to remote and isolated areas. Pray that our reach will increase enabling us to help and empower even more
MAIN Medair’s Health and Nutrition Manager Jonathan tests a woman for malaria in South Sudan TOP In Uganda, children are seizing their chance to have a bright future, thanks to a school supported by MAF
Pilot Jack Gandy with children from Nakias, Papua
MAF IN THE COMMUNITY (MIC)
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD — Psalm 31:24 (NIV)
SUNDAY 6 Praise God for the smooth transition from our once separate MiC England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland teams to one enhanced MiC UK team. May this unity bring increased energy, efficiency and focus to our mission.
MONDAY 7 Please pray for the growth of our UK volunteer team so we can spread interest and awareness of MAF’s work in many more churches and groups.
TUESDAY 8 We couldn’t do what we do without our volunteers and their families. As you pray a blessing upon them, may they find strength, encouragement and hope in Christ as they continue their selfless service to the Lord
WEDNESDAY 9 Pray for safe travel for all our staff and volunteers as they attend a variety of conferences, festivals, meetings and events throughout the UK.
THURSDAY 10 Keep praying for more doors to open to allow us to engage with new audiences and churches, sharing encouraging news of our work overseas, and bringing the hope of Christ to many. If you would like to book a free MAF speaker, visit www.maf-uk.org/talk
FRIDAY 11 MAF will be attending a variety of events throughout the summer, so do pray that the conversations we have will be fruitful. May they be filled with the hope and joy found in Christ and be a blessing both to our staff and to those attending these events.
SATURDAY 12 MAF Co-Pilot is a dynamic community of young adults with a vision to see positive global change and a desire to shape the future through aviation and technology. Please pray for the growth of MAF’s Co-Pilot team volunteer base, remembering also the speaking engagements being undertaken by our personnel in churches throughout the UK.
MAIN MAF Co-Pilot volunteers at Magnitude Festival
TOP MAF’s flight simulator is great fun!
ABOVE Andy Martin delivers an MAF talk at King’s Church, Aberdeen
JULY
May Your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in You
— Psalm 33:22 (NIV)
MAIN Looking for suitable docking on the shores of one of Lake Victoria's islands
TOP Mothers join midwives at a conference to learn about the importance of medical care in pregnancy
ABOVE Geoffrey, post-surgery
UGANDA
SUNDAY 13 Praise God that, thanks to surgeons flown by MAF, a ten-year-old boy called Geoffrey is now able to use both his hands. Give thanks too that MAF flights reduce travel time for medical professionals, enabling more people to receive healing.
MONDAY 14 Please pray for the ongoing construction of Yumbe airfield. Yumbe is the area which hosts Uganda’s Bidibidi refugee settlement – the largest of its kind in Africa. Once the construction is complete, MAF’s partners will be able to reach those who need help there much quicker.
TUESDAY 15 Pray too for the development of an airstrip at Mbale. This will eventually make the journey much smoother and speedier for families with very sick children travelling to the hospital there.
WEDNESDAY 16 Please pray for protection from illness for our team in Uganda. Ask too for the complete healing of anyone who is sick or recovering at this time.
THURSDAY 17 Give thanks for the opportunity MAF had to fly midwives into Soroti, eastern Uganda, to enable mums-to-be to appreciate the need for medical care when giving birth. Do pray that the high mortality rate for women giving birth in Soroti will decrease due to this vital outreach
FRIDAY 18 Please continue to pray for our floatplane project to provide the remote communities of the Ssese Islands on Lake Victoria with safe transport to mainland Uganda. Pray that we’ll find favour with the aviation authority and that everything that needs to be put in place will progress smoothly
SATURDAY 19 Ruth Jack leads a team of 81 staff in Uganda, comprising 64 national and 17 international team members. Pray for wisdom as we seek to expand our programme there to best meet the needs of our partners
ABOVE Kolomani IDP camp
BELOW Pilot Ben Samuelson (right) and Douglas Wright, a Wycliffe Translation Consultant BOTTOM One of the baptisms that took place during a trip to the Pygmy Oral Bible School
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC)
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God — Psalm 42:11 (NIV)
SUNDAY 20 Praise God that MAF flights enabled missionaries to teach at Pygmy Oral Bible School in Lotumbe. The 24 students then shared what they’d learnt with thousands of villagers. Over 6,000 people heard the message about Jesus and many gave their lives to Him. As you give thanks for this good news, pray that many more will come to know Jesus as their saviour.
MONDAY 21 Pray for our 100plus partners in the DRC. May their ministry be blessed so that even more isolated people will receive God’s love. Pray too that partners such as AIM, Wycliffe Bible Translators and Samaritan’s Purse receive all the prayer support and financial blessing they need.
TUESDAY 22 Remember the many thousands living in the DRC’s three internally displaced people camps in Bunia. Pray for peace and healing from all the trauma they’ve experienced, and that our work there will continue. We’ve been ministering to the camps since 2018 and long to see the refugees’ fear and sadness replaced with the living hope only Jesus can provide
WEDNESDAY 23 Uphold Bill Kilgore who oversees our programme in eastern DRC and operates three Cessna Grand
Caravans with eight staff. With violence and unrest having broken out in February, Bill’s job can be a challenging one. Pray that he receives all the wisdom he needs during this unsettled time.
THURSDAY 24 The DRC is facing one of the world’s largest hunger crises, with the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification estimating that 25.6 million people are experiencing emergency levels of food insecurity. Pray that a solution will be found for everyone affected by this staggering statistic. May we continue to help the hungry and be a force for good in this troubled nation.
FRIDAY 25 Uphold the 35 people recently baptised in Lotumbe. Pray too for the 70 others who also want to be baptised, having received the Gospel from students at Pygmy Oral Bible School. May their faith grow and their witness be effective.
SATURDAY 26 Pray for the safety of all MAF’s DRC pilots, some of whom were forced to relocate to Kampala due to insecurity earlier this year. May God continue to uphold and protect them so they can use their gifts to serve the Congolese people.
TOP Hon Dorcas Nema Dione at Nzérékoré Airport
ABOVE Rebuilding the church in Dorota
BOTTOM MAF Guinea
Operations Supervisor
Robert Koundouno
GUINEA
JULY / AUGUST
You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in Your Word — Psalm 119:114 (NIV)
SUNDAY 27 Praise God for the MAF flights that support clinics helping women from rural areas to survive childbirth in Guinea’s remotest areas. With maternal mortality rates sadly high, our medical emergency flights are able to save the lives of mothers and babies.
MONDAY 28 Uphold Operations Supervisor Robert Koundouno, who uses his vacation time to help young people improve their farming techniques. ‘Usually, we come to Kissidougou by road,’ he explains, ‘but it takes time, fatigues us, and sometimes entails risk.’ His flight there not only saved time but energy. Give thanks for our time-saving flights and pray that Robert’s visits to the farmers bear fruit
TUESDAY 29 The burning down of the church in Dorota during a time of political turmoil highlights the need for God’s protection and provision. Pray that He will enable the believers of the Evangelical Protestant Church of Dorota to stand firm on the solid foundation that is Christ, even as their church’s physical foundations are being rebuilt
WEDNESDAY 30 Uphold MAF passengers such as Dorcas Nema Dione, a member of Guinea’s National Assembly. She gives thanks, ‘because, for me, all things work together for the good of those who love God.’ The
politician feels that all Guineans should be able to reach remote communities with our flights. Pray for the success of her advocacy, and that our reach will expand
THURSDAY 31 Healthcare in Guinea is sadly lacking. Today, let’s pray for the clinics that rely on MAF flights to meet the needs of isolated communities, or which need to transfer patients to hospital in the capital Conakry. Pray too for our pilots as they continue transporting patients, staff, laboratory equipment and medicines to where they’re needed most.
FRIDAY 1 Praise the Lord for an MAF flight that brought pastors and engineers to a construction site in Dorota so a new church building that will house about 2,300 people can eventually replace the one which burnt down. Pray for God’s peace and enabling, and for all those involved in its construction.
SATURDAY 2 God, the giver of life, finisher of our faith and begetter of new beginnings, is continually on the move! As you consider the needs of Guinea’s more than 14 million people, why not ask Him to lay a particular prayer on your heart? If you feel God speaking to you, please feel free to share anything you’ve heard by emailing us at prayer@maf-uk.org
AUGUST
SOUTH SUDAN
I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in His Word I put my hope — Psalm 130:5 (NIV)
SUNDAY 3 – SATURDAY 9
PLEASE SPEND THIS WEEK LIFTING UP MAF'S NEW DEPUTY COUNTRY DIRECTOR FOR SOUTH SUDAN DAVID BEBB, HIS WIFE JUDE, AND THEIR CHILDREN SOPHIA, NATHANIEL AND NAOMI.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE MOVE TO SOUTH SUDAN?
'We’re really excited to be joining the MAF family and getting involved with the work MAF’s doing in South Sudan, but we know lots of change is coming. Moving house is always a bit stressful and has its challenges. Add to that a new country and three small children, and you’ve got a lot to think about!'’
HAVE YOU ALWAYS HAD A HEART FOR OVERSEAS MISSION?
‘We’re all called to join in God’s mission to restore and redeem, to be salt and light, to love and serve. It begins at home with those closest to us – our neighbours, our community and beyond.
‘There isn’t a specific calling that God gives to a few, but rather to all His followers. Sometimes this keeps us closer to home, sometimes it takes us further away. But our aim has been to ask God, “Where should we be for this next season of life?”
‘We’ve felt for a while that this would lead us further from home.’
HOW WERE YOU LED TO WORK WITH MAF?
‘We’ve known of MAF for many years and respected the work they do. We’ve had friends who’ve worked with MAF and speak highly of the organisation, so when we were seeking God for direction for our next season, we thought of MAF. We pushed a few doors and God opened them.’
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT MAF’S MISSION?
‘The story of MAF’s birth out of [the ashes of] World War II is inspiring. The world has changed so much since then, but the aim of delivering help, hope and healing remains as valuable today as ever. MAF has responded to many disasters and crises around the world, so it’s a real privilege to be part of this.’
WHAT ARE YOUR PRAYER NEEDS AS YOU PREPARE TO MOVE OVERSEAS?
‘Supporting three young children through the transition is a big focus for us. There will be sadness for the friends and family we won’t get to see as much. But we hope this’ll be a really positive experience for them as they learn to enjoy a different country, culture and perspective on life.
‘Prayers for this preparation stage would be great, for all the vaccinations they need, and other medical needs. Also, for us all as we manage the logistics of moving.’
SUNDAY 10 Praise God for answered prayer regarding our new South Sudan Deputy Country Director. We’re excited to welcome David and Jude Bebb and their children to the programme. Thank you, Lord!
MONDAY 11 Pray for the handful of ophthalmologists who work in South Sudan. MAF regularly flies a small team of eye doctors to carry out operations in the outreach post in Yuai, Jonglei State. Their work is tiring, but they are changing people’s lives in incredible ways by giving them back their sight. They performed 1,257 operations there in just one outreach!
TUESDAY 12 Pray for our partnership with Medair, with whom we’ve been serving for more than 30 years. The Christian NGO specialises in providing emergency relief to hard-to-reach areas, aided by MAF flights. Pray that God will multiply our joint efforts, and that lasting change will come to remote regions such as Tambura, Western Equatorial State
WEDNESDAY 13 Pray for the work of MAF partner Light for the World. They champion the needs of those living with disability in isolated communities, and help to remove any associated stigma through education and training. They’ve also shared their expertise to help us make modifications for flying passengers with disabilities. Pray that their work will grow, enabling everyone to receive help, hope and healing
THURSDAY 14 Conflict is one of the main causes of the ongoing crisis in South Sudan, with nine million people currently in need of humanitarian assistance. Pray for lasting peace, for families displaced by violence and unrest, and for those without basic resources. May we be able to do all we can to help these people.
FRIDAY 15 Pray for a miracle so that the north won’t be flooded during the wet season. According to the UN, more than
379,000 people had already been displaced by flooding by March this year. Seasonal flooding has long been part of the lifestyle of pastoral communities around the Sudd — the largest wetlands in Africa — but, since the 1960s, the swamp has kept growing, submerging villages, ruining farmland and killing livestock. Pray that the poorest, most vulnerable communities will be kept safe
SATURDAY 16 Our team in South Sudan is made up of several tribes and nationalities. Pray for unity and good communication among colleagues. May the team be an example of unanimity to the South Sudanese.
LEFT Jude and David Bebb
MIDDLE One of MAF’s Cessna Caravans delivers fresh food to remote missionaries in South Sudan TOP RIGHT Light for the World’s blind football team
BOTTOM RIGHT Carrying out restoring sight surgery in Yuai
AUGUST
LIBERIA
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint — Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
SUNDAY 17 Praise God that MAF flights ensure that JJ Dossen Hospital, a crucial medical facility in Harper, can perform life-saving operations each month by transporting staff, patients and essential supplies there. According to Dr Ekwem, who serves there, ‘A lot of those patients would not have made it if they had not gone by air.’
MONDAY 18 Give thanks for the latest team members who’ve joined our Liberia programme over the past year. They include pilots Amos Simiyu and Ed Burrows, aircraft maintenance engineers Gift Mposi and Mompati Shabane, and Deputy Country Director Nary Razafinimanana. Pray for them and their families as they settle into their new roles.
TUESDAY 19 Pray that God will bring more people with the necessary skills and expertise to fill the positions that are still needed in our programme
WEDNESDAY 20 Thank God for the work of the government in its fight against corruption, praying for continued peace and stability for the country. Pray too for MAF staff as they build relationships with those in power, working together to bring hope and healing to the nation
THURSDAY 21 Pray for a Country Director who can come and take over the leadership of MAF Liberia. We give thanks for interim directors Leon Prinsloo and Alan Sully who continue to bridge the gap while we search for someone to fill the role on a permanent basis
FRIDAY 22 Today, let’s pray for the vision and direction of our programme. As Alan Sully points out, ‘Having had the privilege of serving in numerous MAF programmes… because of the lack of transport infrastructure, medical facilities and physical support for churches working inland, there's so much more work to be done here to see isolated people changed by the love of Christ.’
SATURDAY 23 Praise God that we’ve been able to partner with the Trinity Dental Clinic team. With only seven dentists in a country of five million people, accessing dental care is a real problem. MAF flights have enabled the team to carry out much needed dental treatment to people living in the hard-to-access area of Maryland County in southeastern Liberia.
TOP Wonyen Gleeklay from Trinity Dental Clinic
MIDDLE Gift Mposi
ABOVE Performing an operation at JJ Dossen Hospital
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Saviour; my God will hear me — Micah 7:7 (NIV)
SUNDAY 24 Praise God for our staff in Tanzania, where MAF safari flights enable isolated communities to receive dental and medical treatment. Uphold Stewart Ayling, who leads the programme there, and Becki Dillingham (above), who flies teams around the country.
WEDNESDAY 27 Nevin Urey dreamt of joining the RAF. Sadly, he wasn’t accepted because of his eyesight. Fortunately, the RAF’s loss was MAF’s gain, and he currently heads our IT team in Arnhem Land. Please uphold Nevin, his wife Diane and their two children.
MONDAY 25 Today, let’s pray for Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Glenn Cousley. Based at MAF’s Mareeba hangar, Glenn helps keep our planes flying in Arnhem Land, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and other Asia-Pacific countries
THURSDAY 28 Andy Symmonds spends most of his time flying MAF planes around PNG, while his wife Helen takes part in hospital and prison ministry. She recently led a Trauma Healing course. Pray for them both as they continue using their gifts to bring Jesus to people.
TUESDAY 26 Husband and wife team Fraser and Tracy Norbury are pioneering a new programme in Bougainville, an autonomous region in PNG. Pray for them and their two children as they adapt to new surroundings, schools and people, having left Mount Hagen earlier this year.
FRIDAY 29 PNG Country Director Dom Sant leads an ever-expanding programme that still has many vacancies. Pray as he seeks to maximise our work with limited resources. Pray for people to take up positions in management, maintenance, teaching and finance. We also need pilots.
SATURDAY 30 Our staff can only serve the Lord because you support them. Without the money you so generously provide, isolated communities won’t be reached. Please pray that new people just like you will be inspired by MAF’s vision and will give joyfully towards the Lord’s work. If you'd like to find out more about how you can support our staff, please visit www.maf-uk.org/staff
PAPUA NEW GUINEA (PNG)
SUNDAY 31 Praise God that MAF staff were able to donate life-saving blood, helping Mount Hagen General Hospital replenish its supply for leukaemia patients in urgent need of transfusions
MONDAY 1 Education flights represent one of the top three requests for MAF in PNG. Please pray for our pilots as they meet these needs by transporting students and teachers, and delivering supplies, exam papers and building materials for new schools. May MAF’s help improve education rates in this lowincome country.
TUESDAY 2 Thank God for the MAF Technologies initiative to train pastors to share the Gospel effectively in remote communities. Audio and print Bibles have been developed to assist ministry training and help people understand God’s Word. As Pastor Roselyn Mairi says, ‘This training has paved a new beginning for me, and I appreciate the Lord Almighty for providing quality training programmes to us locals in such a remote location.’
WEDNESDAY 3 ‘As a rural health worker, I would say MAF is our only ambulance… our only hope,’ says Titus Yabua. Titus has been delivering health workshops to teach his local communities that illness isn’t caused by sorcery. Pray for MAF’s ability to enable access to treatment, and that those in remote communities will accept Titus’ message.
THURSDAY 4 Some 85% of PNG’s population lives in rural areas, with mountainous terrain cutting off many communities from essential needs. Please pray for the MAF pilots bringing vital aid to these hard-to-reach people.
FRIDAY 5 According to the Baptist Union of Papua New Guinea, ‘The Church is growing because MAF has been partnering with different denominations to preach the Good News to the people living in the big jungles.’ We give thanks for this encouraging progress but pray we can touch even more lives with God’s love.
SATURDAY 6 Three students from Mougulu Secondary School are the first to graduate and progress to Balimo College. Please pray for these young men as they extend their education. Pray too for the many other students from remote and inaccessible locations who will be heading into the big unknown, studying in cities and locations that may at first appear daunting
SUNDAY 7 According to community health worker Paul Isilawa, ‘MAF is the lifeline of life. If MAF wasn’t there, I think all
the people [in Mougulu clinic] would be dead.’ Praise God that MAF helps Paul and his team to save an average of 50 lives a day through aviation.
MONDAY 8 Give thanks that MAF Technologies was able to deliver HF radio and solar training to rural doctors in PNG. The training was designed to equip them with essential skills to maintain and operate communication systems and solar power solutions in remote areas, ensuring they can provide continuous healthcare and stay connected
TUESDAY 9 Yambaitok has practically no health services at all, though our partnership with Kompiam District Hospital allows health patrols to reach this isolated community. Give thanks that MAF enables access to medical treatment, saving many lives.
WEDNESDAY 10 Approximately 40% of PNG’s population live below the extreme poverty line, with 41% of children living in poverty. Please pray that our planes and partners will be used to lift people out of hardship and enable them to obtain a sustainable livelihood
THURSDAY 11 With MAF’s support, missionary Dan Shaw was able to bring the inspirational Word of God to the Samo people living in isolated communities. Please pray that God uses Dan’s ministry to make a tangible difference to their lives
FRIDAY 12 Accusations of sorcery and witchcraft are still prevalent in PNG, and punishment for it can be extreme. Please pray for God’s peace in communities where this remains an issue, and that His love and wisdom will show people a better way.
SATURDAY 13 ‘Before the floatplane came, patients would die. We could not get patients to the nearest health centre in time,’ says Peter Selemaki from Miwa village in Lake Murray. Give thanks that our amphibious aircraft is saving lives and bringing hope to remote villages there.
MAIN Yambaitok Airstrip, Enga Province
BOTTOM LEFT Rural health worker Titus Yabua
LEFT Dr Camy Thomas from Kompiam District Hospital at Yambaitok
RIGHT Students at Wanakipa Primary School
Your prayers are the most important gift you can give us, but if you feel you would like to give financially as you pray, you can do this simply by scanning the QR code.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit — Romans 15:13 (NIV)
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love
— 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)
SEPTEMBER
TANZANIA
SUNDAY 14 Praise God for the handing over of a brand new primary school this year to the community in Morogoro. We had the privilege of flying some of the leaders of ECLAT Development Foundation — which built the school — so they could attend the opening ceremony. Please pray for all the future students who will benefit from an education, and for the staff who’ll teach them.
MONDAY 15 It’s amazing to be able to share the hope we have in Jesus with those we serve. Please pray for our evangelistic flights to Lesirwai and the surrounding villages as we distribute Wi-Fi Bibles so people can read and listen to God’s Word in their own language
TUESDAY 16 Earlier this year, our team in Tanzania welcomed a new aircraft, a Cessna 208 Caravan. Its larger size opens up all sorts of possibilities, such as enabling us to carry three medical teams at a time on safari. Please pray for the new plane’s protection and that its greater cargo carrying capacity will be a blessing
WEDNESDAY 17 Give thanks for the team that extended the airstrip at Malambo to accommodate the needs of our Cessna Caravan. It’s the main airstrip in that region, and is where we load food, water and Bibles which we then fly to remote areas
THURSDAY 18 Pray for our faithful Tanzanian staff: Finance Officer Mary Lyimo, Operations Manager Emmanuel Mollel and Ground Operations Assistant Francis Mtaturu. Give thanks for the skills they bring to the team
FRIDAY 19 Please pray for our regular flights from Arusha to serve the semi-nomadic Maasai. We fly teams there to provide general medical treatment and to give children life-saving vaccinations. The Maasai move around with their cattle but eventually return to small villages called bomas
SATURDAY 20 Please uphold our three pilots in your prayers today: Becki Dillingham, Roshan Stephen and Peter Griffin. Pray for stamina, safe flying and good health.
MAIN A Maasai boma from the air TOP Mary Lyimo, Finance Officer and Document Controller for MAF in Tanzania
MIDDLE Pilot Roshan Stephen (left) with Pilot Peter Griffin (centre) and MAF Uganda Pilot Andrew Parker in front of the new aircraft
BOTTOM Gathered under a tree at Lesirwai
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see — Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
SUNDAY 21 Praise God for the families who’ve served so faithfully in our overseas programmes and are now adapting to life back in the UK. Pray they’ll adjust well and be aware of God’s guidance as to what to do next.
MONDAY 22 Please pray for our new Future Pilot Programme trainees as they embark on their exciting journey with MAF. Pray they’ll be inspired and energised as they start this new season in their lives and get used to studying new subjects
TUESDAY 23 There’s a huge shortage of engineers in the aviation sector. Pray that Christians with a heart for engineering and mission will discover MAF and feel God guiding them along this path. Pray too that those who are passionate about engineering but do not have all the qualifications they need will discover our Engineer Training Scheme. To find out more about engineer training, please visit our website www.maf-uk.org/maf-engineer-training-scheme
WEDNESDAY 24 As MAF continues to grow and develop, we also need to fill new roles in our UK offices. Pray that these positions will soon be filled, and grant wisdom to those involved in the recruitment process. To see the jobs we’re currently advertising, please visit www.maf-uk.org/jobs
THURSDAY 25 Our Recruitment team often hosts information events around the UK so people can find out more about what it’s like to serve with MAF overseas. Pray for wisdom about how our staff invest their time at these events and decide where best to hold them.
FRIDAY 26 We’re researching different pathways for people sensing God’s calling to be able to join MAF. Pray for creative ideas and discernment as we consider various options
SATURDAY 27 Working at MAF isn’t just a job, it’s a calling. Pray that Christians who want to serve God by using their skills and talents will clearly hear Him calling them to work for us.
SUNDAY 28 Praise God for two new families who are moving to our programmes. Pray they settle in well, build new friendships quickly, and adjust to their new roles. Goodbyes are difficult, so please pray that those they leave behind will feel excited for them as they help prepare and support our new families.
MONDAY 29 Pray for those who believe that God is calling them to serve with us, but who don’t get offered a role. May they be at peace with MAF’s decision, realising that the time might not yet be right for them.
TUESDAY 30 Please pray for all the key operational roles that need filling around the MAF world. Pray too for the MAF personnel having to cope with additional responsibilities until new staff are appointed.
On the second Friday of each month, a prayer devotional drops into the inbox of many MAF supporters.
We are so thankful to each and every person who prays for MAF. This resource is something we create to give back, in the hope that you will feel inspired and perhaps even challenged a little in your daily walk with the Lord. It’s less a request for prayer and more a thought to read and reflect on.
If you'd like to receive the prayer devotion each month, please scan the QR code or visit www.maf-uk.org/devotions
