Returning this month!

Posted on by Publications team

Simon and Annika Flanagan and family will be returning to Papua New Guinea later this month. Please pray for safety in travel, and that they can make their connection in Port Moresby. There have been fuel shortages in PNG of late and this means around 50% of flights are bumped daily. Pray that if they do get bumped, that they find a place to stay, and all their luggage is safely transported.

Please be praying for yet another transition. The kids have made friends and learned to love many things about the USA, and it will make it difficult to leave. They will miss their family so much! Pray also for the preparations in getting ready to go to PNG and for the three days of travel.

Praise points:

  1. Praise God that Bible teachers helped a young church run another round of Gospel teaching and nine people have believed in Jesus. Simon and Annika look forward to meeting them.
  2. Friends have generously provided them accommodation at their home before departing for PNG. Another friend has allowed them to borrow a car for that time. They are very grateful to have this provision during this unexpected extra time in the USA.
  3. That they were able to purchase tickets, and they are thankful for those God prompted to provide through special gifts.

Prayer points:

  1. Pray for the Mengen church, and Bible teachers who are currently splitting their time to temporarily help with the Gospel outreach. Pray for energy for them; it’s a long hike between the two places.
  2. Pray for continued healing for Noah’s ear after his surgery and for improved hearing. They see a consultant on the 23rd of July. Pray for swelling to go down and scar tissue to heal up.
  3. Pray for continuing preparations and travel: all the packing, buying and for extra baggage that has yet to be arranged.
  4. Pray for the fuel shortage in PNG, and flights within PNG.
  5. Pray that they will plan their time well and balance ministry and family.  They will be working remotely for six months from the school where Nya and Noah will be attending. They hope to make regular trips to the Mengen church and to help with some consultancy work for other missionaries. Whilst at the school Simon and Annika will be working on 1 Corinthians teaching material, a new literacy programme, and translation revision of the Mengen New Testament. Some Mengen helpers will visit them and then take materials back to the church.
  6. Pray for Nya and Noah to settle well in the school and for Simon and Annika to find a host family for them after six months. Pray for all the kids to enjoy stepping out of home schooling and going to school for the first time in a long while.

Recently the six largest villages in the mountains to the south were surveyed.

The Mengen airstrip is a lifeline for Simon and Annika to travel in and out of their remote village. It is possible to give to the Mengen airstrip project to help them service and replace machines that they use to cut and maintain the 600m long grass strip.

Thank you for your prayers and support for Simon, Annika and family.