Occasionally we have a week or two when we have no scheduled maintenance – but don’t worry there is always plenty to do!!! Recently I have been working on a couple of projects. One is to build an Oxygen Cart. This will carry four oxygen cylinders and an oxygen booster that will enable us to keep the Cessna Caravan’s oxygen system filled more efficiently – but more about that in a later update!

The other project was to build a Generator Control Unit (GCU) Test Box. A GCU is a ‘box of tricks’ that controls the electrical charging system on the Cessna Caravan. The test box that I made enables us to fault find the entire system just by plugging in the box. As you can see there are a lot wires in there – thanks to my BAE System’s apprenticeship for teaching me to solder!!!

Many of you will have received MAF UK’s recent letter appealing for help with fuel costs due to rising aviation fuel prices. Rising prices have forced MAF Uganda to increase fares this year. Such increases can seriously affect the ability of some of our mission partners to afford to fly with MAF to the remote and difficult to reach areas where they serve.

Worldwide, MAF is having to make some difficult financial decisions, partly because of rising fuel costs but also because many of MAF’s donors have also reduced their contributions because of the present economic situation.

We wanted to take this opportunity to ask you to pray for wisdom for the leadership of MAF who are having to make important decisions at this time.

We also wanted to write and say a special thank you to each of you for supporting us through your prayers and finances at this time. We know that for some of you it is a real sacrifice but we pray that God will bless you for partnering with MAF in this way. We pray that God, our provider will raise up people who wish to support individuals, like us who are serving with MAF or give to MAF in other ways.

I guess we all have weeks where the stresses of life seem to be too much for us.  I had one of those weeks last week.

Nothing major, it has just been a busy period with visitors, work, family demands and dealing with fumigators to get rid of the bats in the roof !  Yes, bats - they look cute but they are noisy, smelly and attract the insect I hate most - cockraoches!

Satan is very good at attacking us in subtles ways though.  Last week, we also found out that a substantial amount of money had been stolen from our bank account by fraudulent means.  I just felt so drained and frustrated.

I am so grateful for the promises in his Word.  He never tests us beyond that which we can handle and He is always there for us. I have just started a new Bible study with the other MAF wives on the book of Philippians - I love Gods timing.  It is one of my favourite books of the Bible and in it Paul commands us to “Rejoice in the Lord always” yes always! “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”. There is always plenty to rejoice in.  As I started to focus on those things instead of the things of this world that so easily clutter my mind life became a whole lot brighter.

When you think of us right now please pray that the situation regarding the stolen money would be resolved.  Also pray that on a daily basis we would know Gods will - that we would do those tasks that God wants us to do and that we would not be easily distracted by the many things that can make us too busy.