It is quite awesome to see MAF use aviation in remote areas for isolated people to be physically and spiritually  transformed in Christ. With this comes up the great need of good training as the church grows and faces opposition. After my short time in PNG, I have really seen the need and believe so much in the importance of training up the church leaders in PNG. That is the second thing that is awesome about MAF, for some years now, we are not just using aviation but technology too. Like IT, communications networks and the like, an example the V-Sat communication system setup for the Haiti relief effort which is on going. So I would like to introduce to you MAF Learning Technologies, especially as MAF AUS looks at developing more in this much needed ministry  in the countries we serve throughout the Asia Pacific region.

MAF-Learning Technologies (MAF-LT) basically looks to support the education of isolated church leaders and pastors. This could be in helping to distribute digital learning resources, helping churches/missions or training organisations deliver their pastor training via distance education, or assisting with other learning projects involving technology.

Please find a story from Campbell Smythe’s blog below. For more info check out the MAF US learning technology website.

“Out in the bush it can be difficult to scoot up to the local shop and pick up some batteries – and while solar-rechargers are available to rejuice those rechargable batteries, how good could this product be…..

1. Landport solar speakers

Coming out around March 2010 from Landport are a set of solar powered speakers. The speakers weigh 290grams, and contains two 2w speakers – maybe not quite enough to rock the village but enough to share an audio lesson with a few others. The internal rechargable battery is lithium ion, which powers the speakers for 6-8 hours once fully charged. The speakers can also be charged by attaching via USB cable to a computer or other USB type charge – eg. car charger, power point.”

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Bible Faith (Orphanage) Outreach Ministry Dec 2009 News

By Aunty Rosa

December was an exciting month as we were approaching the ‘festival season’! There was only one major problem with the second hand clothes we had given the children. Due to the poor housing they live in (grass huts built on dirt and muddy when wet) it makes their clothes muddy and dirty. It takes more water and soap to clean them. The challenge comes when Sunday approaches. It breaks my heart as I see them, so lost in their own lifestyle! Then, I have silent tears, when will a better day come, when they should live in a good house. Where they will be clothed in new clothes and shoes in proper housing and access to water!

1. The older boys with their new shoes

We wanted to decorate the care centre with bush ferns, leaves and orhids for Christmas together with  a presentation of gifts for the children. We really wanted a mumu (traditional roasting lamb or beef in a pit oven) at our care centre. God can do what we ask for and far beyond our plans and knowledge too. Praise His name.

Praise Points

1. 2/12 I met Serah James, whom I knew as a child thirty years ago while attending a mission high school. The Spirit of the Lord prompted me to mention to her about sewing clothes for the orphans. Without hesitation, she responded with excitement that she would help out with the task. She brought another friend whom she works alongside with. Serah is also a community worker, she helps teach village women to sew and agricultural work. She has the same interest to work with BFO to teach life skills which is one of our objectives. Both ladies have commenced sewing women and girls skirts, blouses and dresses. Now they are starting on boy’s shirts which are a bit of a struggle as they are not easy for them to make.

At about the same hour, four gentlemen Jonathan Brown (Ex-MAF Engineer) Sam, Nathan and Les from Australia become friends with me. As we chatted, they became interested in visiting the orphanage on the weekend.

2. 5/12 Jonathan, Les, Nathan and Sam came to the care centre. These men were seen like “ministering angels” to unprivileged, rejected, abandoned and orphaned children. The children were so excited, as they have never seen white men sing with loud voices or with a lot of excitement before. They laughed, played and had fun together. There was joy in the air and we were all blessed in really seeing God’s love demonstrated.

2. Aunty Rosa sharing the Christmas story

3. 12/12 During the children’s feeding time. I knelt and prayed for the food and I told them that I only had 16 kina in my personal account. We had planned a few weeks earlier that on the 19th of December would be our presentation and party day to celebrate the birth of Jesus! The children had never seen of it’s celebration before in their lives. Just being able to listen to the announcement, you could see their faces lighten up with excitement! Who knows what God has in place for those who trust in Him fully!

Before the day arrived, the Lord just miraculously again provided money. David Scheier (a visiting photographer from the USA in Aug) had already raised $500US when he returned. In the same week, Jonathan Brown with the three friends contacted their home church in Australia while still in Mt Hagen. In very little time, their church raise K1,800. Another K500 was received from a MAF family. Then some other donations were received from other MAF staff and also  bags of presents were donated.

We purchased food in cartons. Tins of fish, bags of rice, noodles, a first aid kit, shoes, sandals. For all the boys we brought shirts, long pants, socks and under wear. Also for the girls socks and underwear. All of this was purchased. We brought loads of firewood transported by hired vehicle for cooking on an open fire as usual.

4. 19/12 Praise God! The ‘big day’ was here. All the purchased items were displayed. The Orphanage was colourfully decorated with balloons, ribbons, bush fens and leaves. When all the children were seated, we extended our invitation to the HIV victims’ children and mothers, deserted wife’s and widows. We displayed a little ’stable’ made of grass hut with a baby Jesus inside and had three wise men/shepherds with gifts. The Christmas story was told and the children received the meaning of Christmas! Aloft of joy and happiness expressed as Jonathan Brown jumped to the scene dressed up as Father Christmas. He started giving out the presents as labeled. My husband and I assisted with Jo and Talitha ‘Bubba’ Thomson as well!

3. Giving out donated presents to each child

We also presented gifts to the six helpers of the ministry. Mostly mothers and two sewing ladies and one young girl (Faith). We purchased three mobile phones and PNG made traditional meri blouses for the elderly women who look after the orphans and underprivileged children.

Also at the celebration were the familiar Journalists from the Post Courier (David Muri) and National (Yvonne Haip) newspapers. All the news, stories and features appeared on Dec 22 and 23, and again in the Post Courier weekend edition.

We were blessed to have MAF missionaries and BFO supporters there. Matt Preece (Engineer) volunteered to take photo’s, Geoff and Leanne Calder (Operations manager) and Matt and Jo Thomson (Engineer) and their daughter Talitha.

5. 25/12 From the 25th-27th (Fri-Sun) till now girls wear their newly made dresses, skirts and blouses with sandels, while boys wear long pants with collar shirts together with shoes.

6. 31/12 Had a gathering to farewell the year 2009 and welcome the New Year 2010! Each one of the  children present re-committed their lives to Christ and would like to live their lives the best they can for Jesus.

Thankyou everyone being partners in Spirit by your support in prayer, finance support, gifts or kind this last year. May God continue to bless you to bless others for His purposes to be fulfilled.

Blessing

Aunty Rosa & Uncle Jiwa Kepo

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I arrived back in Sydney over a week ago now. Leaving Mt Hagen Friday morning and arriving into Sydney Saturday afternoon. I had some sort of virus infection a few days before leaving, so flying was quite painful at times. I was sort of out of it for the first two days being back, especially with headaches. On leaving Mt Hagen I was looking forward to returning to PNG.

1. Arriving in SYD

On arriving back into Australia and mainly Sydney I had expected to have some culture shock or reverse culture shock. But there really hasn’t been any at all. The main difficulty has been coming back to so much change. Coming back I knew I had changed with my time in PNG and I was a different person. But seeing so many changes, people have changed, new babies and many others things have happened. But especially as more change was unveiled during the first week, has been hard to process and even discouraging at times. I guess the best way to describe it at times, has been like being winded.

2. Hanging out with Zach for the first time

On a more positive note, I feel like I haven’t done too much since being back, but I have kept busy.  On arrival that Saturday night had a BBQ at my pastor’s house with family and close friends. My first visit back to my home church at Western Sydney was a baby dedication, where Bay and Beck dedicated big Zach to the Lord.  Sunday night celebrated my Mum’s birthday which was earlier in the week. Have been doing shopping or errands during the day and catching up with people in the evening. I was able to attend JJ and Soona’s wedding on Saturday, which was a really Christ centred wedding and was a really encouraging time. I can’t believe I could of missed it.

3. JJ & Soona’s wedding (my highlight so far)

I am really grateful for the way God has brought about my furlough and that I can be back in Australia for a bit. The way so many things have fallen into place to be here and events to be able to attend, plus more arising since I have been here, like my home church’s family camp next month. But I struggle to have a holiday being in Sydney unless others are on holiday too, so I will have to try and get away somewhere. I don’t think I can call Sydney home anymore.

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New newsletter is here covering November 2009 to February 2010. You can get it here.

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The Saturday before Christmas BFO had it’s Christmas celebration. The first time for the ministry and for most of these children to celebrate Christmas, to hear the Christmas story and to receive a present. It was a very special day and the kid’s smiles were priceless.

The morning started off with feeding the children after a prayer and a song. Followed by Aunty Rosa sharing the Christmas story with the children. Then Jono who was visiting made an appearance dressed up as Father Christmas (which I was first hesitant about, but is not portrayed as it is in Aus so it was good) to help hand out gifts for all the children, which had been donated. The kids went crazy at this and at times it was hard to keep the kids under control. Besides presents for the children, there were shoes for some of the older boys and other goods donated to be given out.

There were several other presentations and talks following during the morning. For me it was the first time visiting the orphanage and after hearing so much from Aunty Rosa sharing, it was pretty heart breaking  and hard hitting seeing these children. It was an encouragement though to see how God has continued to move in this ministry so far, in their lives and will continue to do so.

Bibe Faith Orphanage Christmas

Photo's from BFO's Christmas Saturday on the 19/12/09.

75 Photos

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