Our missionary partners
St Andrew’s supports three missionary partners in prayer and through regular financial support through the Mission Fund. Please remember then in your own prayers, and if you would like to contribute to supporting their work, the Treasurer will be happy to hear from you.
Our current partners are:
- Bibi Nédellec with Wycliffe Bible Translators
- The Cools family with Mission Aviation Fellowship
- Sutton Schoolswork
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Bibi asks that you do not circulate this information without her permission,
which she has kindly given for publication on this website.
Mission Aviation Fellowship - July 2018
Hans and Melissa Cools
Serving in Australia
Hey Everyone,
Another term in the Flight Training Centre (FTC) has finished, the dry season is well on it's way (although its been raining for a week now) bringing colder temperatures to the area. I didn't realise that so close to the tropics the temperatures would go into single digits overnight, I learned something new. We have had a good and blessed few months. Here is what has been happening in Mareeba.
Flight Training Centre.
The three students have been doing really well. All three have had first time passes on all their exams and flying tests. It's been
a really good experience training them. One of the three students is not a Christian and is doing flight training with MAF because he likes
what MAF do around the world. Over the last six months that I have been working with him we have had numerous conversations about God, and
Christianity and I have been able to pray with him before every flight. It is really interesting to see how God works through the training
centre. I am seeing first-hand the importance of training the next generation of missionary pilots and also having the opportunity to be
able to speak into people's lives that are not yet in a relationship with God, it is such a privilege.
The instructors and students at the Flight Training Centre in Mareeba
At home, Melissa has been busy studying for her degree in Community Development and minding our beautiful children full-time. Ameiah and Olivia have acclimatised so much that they now say it is cold when the temperature drops below 20 degrees outside - a stark contrast to how they were in Scotland sometimes not wanting to wear their jackets as they were 'too hot'. They have been busy during the week with different women's groups and a music class.
A few weeks ago some of the MAF ladies here came together to make some special presents to encourage the women in the Asia-Pacific programs of MAF. MAF Mareeba is really set up as a support base, and it is nice that this is not limited to the engineers or pilots going to the programs to help out.
The different programs they made these gifts for are: Arnhem Land (AUS), Papua New Guinea, Bangladesh, East Timor, Myanmar, Mongolia and then both Tree Tops Lodge (a joint accommodation venture between MAF and Wycliffe for missionaries to stay at) and the office in Cairns.
Some new developments:
We have always worked towards moving to Arnhem Land by the end of the year. There have been some changes in the Arnhem Land program, including having an excess of pilots to be trained and checked off, which was the reason we were here temporarily.
About a month ago Hans had a conversation with the Aviation Director for MAF, through which he explained that MAF have a real need for pilots who are trained instructors, who can then become check and training pilots. Over the last couple of months we have been praying and seeking advice as to what would be the best way to serve MAF with the qualifications we possess.
Throughout this time we felt to lay down the desire to be in Arnhem Land and we realise that God has us in Mareeba for a reason for this season. We have agreed to stay on in Mareeba for a longer period - around 2 years, with the idea of Hans being trained to be a check and training pilot, and getting the much needed experience of being an instructor. This would enable Hans to plug into any program in the future with the valuable experience he is gaining here over the next couple of years. We don't fully know what the future holds after that, but we are trusting God sees the bigger picture. There are also exciting things to be a part of here, which we will write more about as they come up.
What is next for us then:
Over then next week Hans will be doing an internal course to get him the check and training qualifications. He will be in a condensed course together with 2 of the other instructors - this course is both theory and practical flying experience. In addition to instructing and training future MAF pilots here in Mareeba, there are other outreaches we will be a part of in our time here. For example, at the end of July Hans will be flying some ladies around the Northern most part of Australia for a week to allow them to minister and encourage ladies in churches in isolated places. He will most likely also have the opportunity to speak at some men's gathering along the way.
Additionally we have both been asked to help facilitate a little mission trip that the Flight Training Centre will be doing in the middle of August, drawing on our previous YWAM experience. We are planning on driving and flying out to a remote town called Georgetown (240 inhabitants) in the middle of the Northern peninsula (about a 4 hours drive or a 1.5 hour flight from where we are). Our main reason for going is to go and bless the local but very small church, and to support them in any way possible. We are excited at this opportunity and also future opportunities that might arise to visit other small towns and build lasting relationships between small outback towns and the FTC. It is all of our desires at the FTC to see the training become more holistic, incorporating other aspects like this, in addition to the flight training.
Prayer Requests:
- That Melissa will keep finding the time to do her studies without getting over worked.
- For the upcoming trips (North Australia and Georgetown), that God will help encouraging the small local churches and communities.
- In August 2 new students will start training, Hans will be in charge of this school. Pray that Hans will be able to pass on all the knowledge that is needed
- We will be moving into our own house, pray that we will find a suitable place to stay and that we are able to get all the furnishings we will need for the family.
- Pray for our transitioning into Mareeba, even though it is not a physical move, we do realise that it is a change of plans and that we are in a time of transitioning.
MAF UK is a registered Charity in England & Wales (1064598) and in Scotland (SC039107)
Copyright © 2018 MAF UK, All rights reserved.
Sutton Schoolswork
Sarah
Sutton Schoolswork (SSW) is a Christian charity that is passionate about supporting students in Sutton to understand and explore Christianity and to develop spiritually, morally and socially.
Within the London Borough of Sutton there are 45 primary schools and 15 secondary schools and SSW aims to support all those schools in a variety of ways.
SSW normally has two full-time schools workers—Sarah Skinner who works with primary schools and another who covers secondaries. The post for a secondary worker is currently vacant but is hoped that a new person will be in place by January 2019. The schools workers work with the support of volunteers and of Children’s, Youth and Family Workers from the many churches which support SSW.
SSW has recently recruited a new Director, Simon Ellingham, who will be starting in August 2018. He has previously acted in the Easter Experience at North Cheam Baptist Church where he played Jesus.
SSW workers reach 27,000 children and include leading school assemblies, teaching in RE and PSHE classes, running Christian Unions in schools and organising parent prayer groups. SSW also puts on two dramatised presentations: Discover Christmas and Easter Experience which are seen by hundreds of children every year.
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