What's happening at MAF?

21-year-old James Gullett – MAF UK’s youngest pilot – has just graduated from MAF’s Future Pilot Programme – a new scheme, which supports upcoming British mission pilots with the cost of their training. James and Marco Koffeman – Director of the Mission Aviation Training Centre where James completed his training – share their highs and lows of learning to fly.

21-year-old James Gullett – MAF UK’s youngest pilot and the first to graduate from MAF’s Future Pilot Programme – has announced he’ll serve with MAF Arnhem Land in Australia’s Northern Territory in October. In MAF’s latest episode of the ‘Flying for Life’ podcast, James shares his incredible journey so far (more…)

On Monday 5 February, 102-year-old Jack Hemmings AFC, took to the skies in a Spitfire for the first time raising over £5,000 for the charity he co-founded nearly 80 years ago. This latest feat from RAF Biggin Hill in South London follows a number of high-flying challenges performed by the much-loved RAF veteran in recent years (more…)

Campaigners Peaches Cummeh from the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and Comfort Davies – a former illegal bushmeat trader – have joined forces with MAF to protect Liberia’s wildlife. Thanks to MAF flights, they’re accessing and educating remote communities to help prevent the slaughter of wild animals for meat. MAF’s Rachel Gwole reports (more…)

Sikoi Airstrip in Jiwaka Province is the latest airstrip to open in rural Papua New Guinea. It follows the opening of Rum Airstrip in November, Yakona and Dimanbil in October and Aiyu in September. Most of PNG’s population live in remote areas without decent roads. For many, airstrip access is a matter of life or death, but how do you open an airstrip in the middle of nowhere? (more…)

In the run up to the presidential elections in December, hundreds of thousands of people fled conflict within the DRC – a country which already hosts the largest number of internally displaced people (IDPs) in Africa. Since 2017, MAF’s been supporting IDP camps in eastern DRC by enabling trauma counselling, peace and reconciliation workshops and dressmaking and literacy classes. The latest cohort graduated on 9 January (more…)

Former airline captain Joost de Wit and his co-pilot wife Ruth have clocked up nearly 40 years at KLM between them, but this month they’re flying off to Kenya for MAF. Following two years of training and preparation, MAF’s newest pilot couple have swapped their comfortable careers for flying in the bush. (more…)

Event date: 25 July - 30 July 2024 Come and meet the MAF recruitment team in the Exhibition Area and find out more about working for us overseas. We are seeking committed Christians to serve as aircraft engineers, experienced pilots, aviation operations managers, as well as teachers, accountants, HR managers, IT technicians and other roles. Whether you have just started thinking about service overseas or you’ve had mission on your mind for a while we would love to meet you in person! If you are going to New Wine – then come and find us, we'd love to meet you! You can let us know you are coming by registering below or by dropping us an email at hr@maf-uk.org and we'll get in touch with you with some more information. We would love for you to pass this on to anyone you know who could be interested!

When baby Rose was born, she had a hole in her tummy and her bowel had formed outside of her body. The condition ‘gastroschisis’ is treatable in the UK and most children grow up to live normal lives, but what hope is there in rural Tanzania when healthcare is so hard to come by?

For half a century, MAF’s been serving the Yolngu people who live in the vast, isolated wilderness of Australia’s Arnhem Land. We hear from MAF Arnhem Land’s country director Matt Henderson and MAF partner Natalie Morreau who manages Miyalk Domestic & Family Violence Shelter, which has been empowering women for decades.

As campaigners behind this year’s ‘Universal Health Coverage Day’ renew their efforts to hold world leaders to account for making global health coverage a reality by 2030, MAF continues to bridge the healthcare gap in Liberia. MAF’s Paula Alderblad lifts the lid on ‘Partners in Health’ who would not be able to operate in remotest Liberia without MAF (more…)

More than 1,200 people from the DRC fled to Uganda on 13 November to escape fresh attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). Uganda hosts the most refugees in Africa, but when do they return home? MAF’s Damalie Hirwa asks Paul – a second generation refugee, and MAF partner Flame International, who support survivors of war (more…)

On 6 November, the 102-year-old RAF veteran and MAF co-founder Jack Hemmings AFC was reunited with one of his favourite aircraft at London’s RAF Museum - a Lockheed Hudson, which he flew during World War II (more…)

It’s with great sadness that we must announce the peaceful passing of missionary and MAF’s friend Maud Kells OBE who died yesterday at the age of 84, following a short illness. A dedicated servant of God, Maud gave 54 years of her life to improving health and education in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We thank God for her incredible life (more…)

Only 63.4% of Papua New Guinea’s population can read and write, according to PNG’s ‘The National’, with illiteracy rates even higher in remote, rural areas. In a bid to make the Bible more accessible, MAF’s been supplying and transporting hundreds of solar-powered audio Bibles to isolated communities in northern PNG, so that villagers can listen to God’s word in their own language at the press of a button (more…)

This autumn, MAF delivered 7,570kg of the polio vaccine and information packs on 10 flights to 23 remote locations across Madagascar as part of a UNICEF backed vaccination drive to eradicate the disease. MAF’s Irina Randriamandrato speaks to the people behind the campaign (more…)

Thanks to MAF, Ojiya from Juba in South Sudan has just undergone another lifesaving operation in Nairobi, Kenya, avoiding a gruelling four-day road trip to hospital. Born with gastroschisis – a hole in her tummy – Ojiya’s bowel formed outside of her body in her mother’s womb. MAF’s Jenny Davies brings us the latest (more…)

Last week, a judge lifted travel restrictions and authorised passports to be returned to pilot Ryan Koher and orphanage volunteers Willem du Plessis and Eric Dry, allowing them to finally leave Mozambique (more…)

50 years ago, MAF inherited Arnhem Land’s first ever Christian aviation operation founded by pilot Rev Harold Shepherdson in the 1930s. ‘Sheppy’ began reaching the isolated Yolngu tribe in Australia’s Northern Territory with his single seater Health Parasol aircraft - self-built from a kit. Today, MAF Arnhem Land boasts 2 Cessna 208 Caravans and 6 GA8 Airvans, flying to over 50 destinations, serving hundreds of people every week (more…)

In the first ever African Climate Summit held in Nairobi, leaders across the continent are tackling the fallout from increasingly extreme weather. After months of drought followed by a deluge, Kenya alone has lost millions of livestock, which are the lifeblood of isolated farming communities. MAF’s Jacqueline Mwende reports on how MAF has been flying in vets to care for ailing animals (more…)

Dr Janice Cotrone, Dean of the Wesleyan University’s Haiti School of Nursing, was forced to leave Haiti a year ago when gang violence made life in Haiti too dangerous. In MAF UK’s latest podcast episode, the MAF frequent flyer tells Josh Carter how she survived armed robbery and why she depended on MAF for over 30 years (more…)

With gang violence on the rise, we hear from pilot Eric Fagerland who’s overseeing MAF operations in Port-Au-Prince, and frequent flyer Dr Janice Cotrone who survived armed robbery.

Since Sudan’s conflict erupted four months ago, MAF has undertaken more than 33 flights carrying nearly 200 passengers and over 26 tonnes of cargo in aid of relief efforts. MAF’s been supporting Renk’s transit camps in neighbouring South Sudan, which are overwhelmed by the influx of refugees. MAF’s Jenny Davies brings us the latest (more…)

As thousands of people continue to pour into neighbouring South Sudan to escape Sudan’s conflict, MAF is stepping up its response to support them. Since 19 June, MAF has been relocating the most vulnerable refugees from Renk’s transit camps and delivering much needed medical supplies and food aid. MAF’s Jenny Davies reports (more…)

For most Western women, periods are just a monthly endurance managed with a range of hygiene products – a normal part of life. But for girls living in remote PNG, affordable sanitary protection is rare, and menstruation often leads to ostracism and a risk of infection. MAF’s Mandy Glass reveals how MAF is changing lives one pad at a time (more…)

Ruth was innocently playing with her friends outside in the remote village of Yenkisa in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands, when a member of a rival tribe randomly shot her through the perimeter fence and nearly killed her. Thanks to MAF’s medevac to hospital where she received lifesaving surgery, Ruth is alive to share her story (more…)

As MAF celebrates 60 years of service in Tanzania this month, we revisit MAF’s remote medical outreaches. Since 1985, MAF has been partnering with hospitals and flying medical professionals to isolated communities who have little access to basic healthcare. For nearly 40 years, MAF has enabled medics to treat thousands of women and children, saving untold lives (more…)

On 30 May, MAF flew head of ‘Concern South Sudan’ Dr Paul Gal Atem and partners to Renk - South Sudan’s northern border town - to assess the needs of thousands of refugees fleeing from neighbouring Sudan. Paul shares the latest with MAF’s Jenny Davies (more…)

This year’s ‘World Tree Kangaroo Day’ saw leaders of PNG’s remote rainforest villages sign the latest moratorium against hunting tree kangaroos for meat. Campaign leader ‘Tenkile Conservation Alliance’ says ‘it would be hard to operate without MAF’ who has been delivering essential supplies, alternative food sources and services to these communities for over 20 years. MAF’s Mandy Glass reports (more…)

My MAF Community is a unique chance to support an isolated people group in the remotest corners of the world. Find out more and support a community today!

Susan Kigen-Kolum - MAF Kenya’s new country director and former aircraft engineer - has been in post for six months. Susan chats to MAF’s Claire Gilderson about how MAF Kenya is navigating one of the worst natural disasters the country has seen in decades (more…)

From football field to airfield, MAF Uganda’s Airfield Manager Michael Mukasa has never really been off the pitch! Michael chats to MAF’s Damalie Hirwa about his unusual transfer from football to aviation and his 25 years of service (more…)

Since MAF undertook its very first flight in Guinea, West Africa, a year ago, the programme has made progress under new MAF Guinea Country Director Lisa Blomberg who arrived in-country with her husband - MAF pilot Jonathan Blomberg - last August. The dynamic duo chat to MAF’s Claire Gilderson about their new life in Guinea with their five children in tow (more…)

Come and meet the MIC team at Longbridge Baptist Church, 278 Turves Green B31 4BW - An event for the whole family to enjoy.  You can sit in the pilot’s seat of a real Cessna 150 aircraft and try your hand at landing an MAF plane on our flight simulator. You can also enjoy refreshments served throughout the whole day and get the chance to speak to team members about the vital work that MAF are doing around the world.  We would love to meet and speak to as many of you as we can, so come along and join us! 

We hear from Maud Kells who wouldn’t be here without a MAF medevac, Pilot Ping Domtta who’s clocked up over 150 of them and Dr Zwijnenburg who shares her most memorable medevac from PNG…

On 15 March, MAF launched Timor-Leste’s first domestic airline service, connecting seven key transport hubs all over the country. Instead of travelling up to seven hours by road or boat, passengers now only spend between 15 and 50 minutes by air to reach their destination. MAF’s Lobitos de Jesus Alves reports (more…)

Kenya’s ‘National Council for Persons with Disabilities’ has launched its first ever ‘Disability Mainstreaming Status Report’ which highlights where services and opportunities fall short for disabled people. MAF and CURE International are closing the inequality gap by making life-transforming surgery accessible to isolated disabled children (more…)

Dollar Onwusiribe – a social services manager and qualified pilot - has now completed 10 out of 120 landings in the first phase of his UK-wide fundraising challenge for MAF. Having taken off from Northants on 20 February, Dollar hopes to make his final landing on 17 December – the same date 120 years ago when the Wright brothers flew the world’s first ever motorised plane (more…)

In January, during the ‘PNG-Australia Annual Leaders’ Dialogue’ in Port Moresby, PNG Prime Minister James Marape called combatting gender-based violence (GBV) a ‘priority’. Besides frequently medevacking severely abused rural women and girls to hospital, MAF also helps prevent GBV by enabling the ‘PNG Tribal Foundation’ and ‘Bread for the World’ to deliver their 'Change Your Ways' campaign (more…)

  Due to consistently high levels of gang violence in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince, MAF has no choice but to suspend its operations in the country from 1 April to 1 January 2024. Current operations are neither safe nor sustainable. We get the latest from MAF Haiti’s Crisis Management Team (more…)

Since 2016, MAF pilot Lungpinglak Domtta - aka ‘Ping’ – has been serving remote communities all over the world. Today, he clocked up 2,000 flight hours in Timor-Leste where MAF operates the only air ambulance service in the country. Medevacs are all in a day’s work for Ping, but for the people of Timor-Leste – one of Asia’s least developed countries - it’s a matter of life and death (more…)

Lungpinglak Domtta - aka Ping - is the youngest of four siblings from Nagaland in north India. Ping shares his incredible journey of faith, despite failure (more…)

Ping grew up in the heavily populated, mountainous region of Nagaland, northeast India. Ping misses his homeland and culture, but knows that he is where God wants him to be. Ping didn’t know anyone from an aviation background but when he was 10 years old he had a dream of becoming a pilot. As he grew older he dreamt of joining the Indian Air Force. In 2007, when he was in year 12, a Career Councillor at school introduced him to the idea of work in civil aviation. 'It was through my failure that God’s plan was realised. God had a plan and He opened up the way for me!' Ping Domtta, MAF Pilot In 12th grade, he failed his final maths exams, which was a shock for Ping since he had excelled at maths since 10th grade. Unfortunately, passing maths is vital to getting into aviation in India, so Ping’s dream of becoming a pilot seemed out of reach. Ping decided to return to college, re-sit his exams and pursue other career options. He often questioned God, asking why he had failed his maths exams after doing so well two years before. Ping couldn’t understand it. After a further year of study, Ping passed his exams and was selected for a civil engineering course. Learning to fly One day on the way home, Ping dropped into his brother’s shop and did something he’d never done before. He asked his brother for a newspaper. He took it home and saw that the government were sponsoring people to obtain commercial pilot’s licences. He was confused as to what to do as his path now seemed set on civil engineering, but he decided to apply. He went to the interviews, sat the exams and was selected. Ping received a government scholarship covering 75% of the fees to obtain a Commercial Pilot’s Licence. During this CPL training, he realised that if he had passed maths in the first year he would have been studying engineering somewhere in India; something that he really didn’t want to do. 'It was through my failure that God’s plan was realised,' Ping asserts. 'God had a plan and He opened up the way for me!' After becoming a commercial pilot, Ping was employed by a charter company, but needed to find around AUD 16,000 (£8-9,000) to complete their ground school. Again, the Government stepped in and granted him a full scholarship. Dedicating his career to God Ping has gained valuable experience with this charter company in Dornier 228s, as a co-pilot flying medical evacuations. Later on, he was promoted to look after the company’s operations. Whenever they flew to the north-eastern part of India they had to fly over Bangladesh, so they needed permission to overfly Bangladeshi flight space. Ping dealt with a Muslim man named Imtiaz Ahmed Mithun in Dhaka, and over time developed a friendship with him. One evening, they were talking and Imtiaz asked Ping whether he was a Christian. Ping replied that he was. Imtiaz had seen MAF operations at Dhaka airport and told Ping about this Christian flying mission in Bangladesh. He encouraged Ping to look into this organisation. When Ping looked up MAF on the internet, he noted that he didn’t have quite enough experience and that there was no MAF office in India, but he decided to write his testimony and send it to the MAF office in Cairns anyway. Ping was convinced that he could use his flying career to serve God: 'At one point, I couldn’t see any way that I would ever fly. I had failed, yet God had used that failure for something better for me. Only God could have made this happen. So I resolved to dedicate my aviation career to God in return.' Working with MAF Ping met with International Development Director Bill Harding in Bangalore, came to Cairns for an interview and the rest, as they say, is history. Ping applied to MAF and was accepted. He completed his Australian commercial pilot’s licence conversion in August 2015 and the MAF standardisation in March 2016. God has turned Ping from a little boy in Nagaland with dream to become a pilot into a MAF pilot in Timor-Leste. God used a Muslim man in Bangladesh to make the connection and used the government and its generous scholarships, as well as a local commercial company, to pave his way. And He used Ping’s failure and his willingness to believe that God had a better plan for him, to fulfil a God-given dream.

As part of its preparations to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO) this year, Timor-Leste has just participated in the ‘Assoc. of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) meeting in Jakarta for the very first time. Eventual full membership of both ASEAN and the WTO will strengthen the country’s fledgling tourist industry, which MAF has been supporting since April 2022 (more…)

Two years ago, Nomad Mougulu High School in remote Western Province, opened its doors to its first cohort of students. Last month, over 50 of them graduated with flying colours. The school - which was built with MAF's support and can only be reached by foot or by plane - has gone from strength to strength (more…)

In the second episode of MAF’s new Flying for Life podcast ‘No poverty’, we hear from the Rev Bernard Suwa – pastor of Grace Community Church in Juba and former CEO of development charity ACROSS. Bernard chats to Josh Carter about how MAF transformed his life and how aviation is still critical in South Sudan today (more…)

Grace* was 7 when she was brutally raped on the outskirts of Juba 16 months ago, which left her with severe internal injuries and in desperate need of surgery. Thanks to MAF, Grace was able to access vital restorative surgery in neighbouring DRC under Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr Denis Mukwege (more…)

John Feil – Operations Manager for MAF South Sudan, Peter Claver – Head of Programmes at health charity AMREF and the Rev Bernard Suwa of Grace Community Church in Juba, share how they’re tackling poverty in South Sudan – MAF’s oldest African programme.

MAF UK has launched its first-ever podcast ‘Flying for Life’ hosted by Josh Carter from Premier Christian Radio. Josh and friends explore the issues at the heart of MAF’s ministry and the role MAF plays in delivering help, hope and healing to the remotest people on earth. Join Sally Lloyd from Strickland Bosavi Foundation, science teacher Maika Yabua from Nomad Mougulu High School and MAF’s deputy chief pilot Steven Biggs from The Biggs go African MAF Liberia as they discuss access to education in Papua New Guinea and Liberia. Listen and subscribe here.

Nomad Mougulu High School - one of the remotest schools on earth – features in MAF UK's first ever podcast 'Flying for Life'. Set in the heart of the jungle in PNG’s Western Province with no road or river access, its founder Sally Lloyd tells presenter Josh Carter how they rely on MAF to survive (more…)

When wild polio made a comeback this year after 30 years in neighbouring Malawi, the WHO, UNICEF and others joined forces in a critical campaign to vaccinate the region. In Tanzania, MAF transported health workers and the lifesaving polio vaccine in a bid to protect isolated children against this deadly disease (more…)

Thanks to MAF, Ruan Swart is able to provide physiotherapy every week to some of the remotest people on earth. Ruan chats to MAF’s Stephanie Gidney about his work and how MAF’s daily shuttle service to Australia’s Elcho Island makes a world of difference (more…)

As part of her four-day tour in Uganda in support of several charities, MAF flights enable HRH The Princess Royal to access two refugee camps. She visits Nakivale – the oldest refugee camp in Africa – near the Tanzania border, and Kyangwali Refugee Camp in the west of the country (more…)

It’s a miracle Nepao is alive. Whilst working under his house on 19th August in the remote PNG village of Pyarulama, the stilts holding up his home suddenly gave way on top of him. The weight of the building nearly killed him, but a swift MAF medevac to Kompiam Hospital saved his life. Dr Diana Zwijnenburg has been overseeing Nepao’s recovery… Houses in rural Papua New Guinea are traditionally built on two-metre stilts to avoid flooding, improve ventilation and to keep out vermin. The area underneath the house also offers much needed respite from the sun – a place in the shade to work on various projects. Unfortunately, Nepao – a married father of two in his late forties – was cutting wood underneath his house when it suddenly collapsed on top of him. Large fireplace stones from the floor above fell onto his chest and a wooden beam has crushed his leg. Screaming in pain, he’s pulled from the debris. Mathew Panglas, the local health worker, gives him some morphine and calls for a MAF medevac. Pilot Mathias Glass medevacks Nepao from Pyarulama to Kompiam Hospital. This mere twelve-minute flight saves his friends from carrying him in a makeshift stretcher over rugged terrain for two days. Nepao recalls that fateful day: When the house fell on me, I was covered so people brought axes and knives and cut off the roof. They pulled me out. MAF brought me to hospital and God saved me. My life was given back by God. Nepao, MAF medevac patient A&E in the middle of nowhere Nepao is admitted to Kompiam Hospital just before 5pm. Dr Diana Zwijnenburg, a volunteer doctor from Holland, gets to work on him straight away: ‘He’s badly injured and not very responsive. Although barely conscious, he’s breathing ok. I’m concerned about a possible skull fracture because there’s blood coming from his ear. His right upper leg is broken and there’s a nasty graze and bruising across his chest.’ Unfortunately, the x-ray machine is broken and they’re still waiting for replacement parts: ‘We have an ultrasound machine instead - a real blessing in this situation. Fortunately, there are no collapsed lungs or blood in his abdomen or pelvis, so I’m reasonably confident that there’s no major pelvic fracture.’ In the West, it’s standard practice to protect the neck in all trauma cases, but for doctors like Diana in the middle of the bush with limited resources, there isn’t that luxury: ‘His head has been wobbling around unprotected from the time of the accident. Should I put him in an ill-fitting collar, which might increase the pressure in his head and make a potential skull fracture worse? I decide that is probably worse, so I leave the neck, assuming it’s uninjured.’ Then there’s the other matter of his leg: ‘Under a lot of local anaesthetic, I insert a traction pin into his lower leg and hang some weights on it. This instantly makes his broken leg look a lot straighter.’ Nepao takes a turn for the worse Although Nepao looks better the next day and is fully conscious, bruising on his lungs from the falling stones start to cause breathing problems. Diana is worried: ‘Stones falling from a height of two metres are bound to cause significant damage. I examine him again but can’t find any broken ribs. His condition worsens - by morning he needs nasal prongs to give him oxygen and over the next 24 hours he deteriorates further. By Monday he’s on dual oxygen.’ Nepao urgently needs a ventilator to survive: ‘We need to intubate him (a breathing tube inserted into the airway) and put him on a ventilator until his lungs have healed enough for him to breathe again on his own.' This would be an easy decision in the West, but here in the middle of nowhere with few resources, staff have never seen, let alone looked after an intubated patient. Dr Diana Zwijnenburg, Kompiam Hospital His family consent to him being put onto a ventilator. Diana has to work fast: ‘I get some stuff together - a simple oxygen powered ventilator, intubation equipment, the suction machine from the labour ward, and various drugs.   ‘Two very competent junior doctors and a health care worker are willing to help even though they’re completely outside of their comfort zone. By now, Nepao is on his last few breaths, bathed in sweat from his effort to breathe.’ Divine intervention required! Diana and the team pray for a miracle: ‘We pray for the God of heaven and earth, the creator and sustainer of life to help. We pray for peace for the family and for a smooth intubation. We pray for this man to live - for God to give him a second chance, so that he can glorify God’s holy name.’ After doing all they can, they leave the rest to God. Nepao stabilises, but needs 24-hour care – an unfamiliar concept to the nurses of rural Papua New Guinea says Diana: ‘I discuss the importance of one nurse being with Nepao at all times. Regardless of lunchtime, breaks or other jobs, he needs to be watched. I realise that most of them don't know what to watch out for or what to do in case of a problem. ‘Every hour his tube needs to be "suctioned". More blank faces! Then there’s the matter of regularly turning him, feeding tubes, alarms, the pump and when to get a doctor. The staff have never experienced this before, yet in normal Melanesian fashion, they all nod and say “yes”, indicating their willingness, but I know I will have to show them first.’ With every changeover of staff, Diana patiently explains how to care for Nepao over and over again. Everything is harder in the bush As if broken equipment and inexperienced medical staff weren’t enough to contend with, there’s also the matter of out-of-date drugs, scarce medical supplies and blocked roads caused by election violence says Diana: ‘In a western Intensive Care Unit (ICU), drugs are administered through different syringes and pumps, which are adjusted to the patient’s needs. Here, we have one pump, so it all goes into one syringe. ‘Next, we realise that we’re going to run out of oxygen bottles before the weekend. Normally we get new supplies, but the road to the provincial capital is blocked due to election violence. Kompiam drivers are not keen to risk it.  ‘We’re also running out of bandages, gauzes, and other medications. Two drivers finally pick up some supplies. When they return safely, everyone is so relieved.’ In the meantime, Diana is having issues with the contents of Nepaos syringe and the quality of ICU care: ‘I need to change the contents of his syringe constantly due to some drugs not working properly. Most of our drugs are either 5 to10 years out of date or out of stock altogether. ‘This and the continuous supervision of his care has also become very tiring. One night I found both night nurses fast asleep with nobody watching Nepao. This was quickly rectified and it didn’t happen again. ‘He has also developed some pressure sores because he hasn’t been turned every two hours. We dress all his wounds and turn him to prevent deterioration.’ All this time, Nepao's family are keeping their distance. Diana learns why: ‘They are terrified. They’re convinced that a bad spirit is to blame - the spirit of Nepao's wife’s first husband. They blame this spirit for the house collapse and are afraid of more trouble. They also don’t know what’s happened to Nepao's spirit. ‘The amount of fear is heart-breaking. Our local pastor visits and speaks to them in their own language. Then we pray - God is so much bigger than all these spirits and fears.’ Slow road to recovery On day five, it appears that Nepao may be able to breathe by himself without a ventilator. Diana is pleased with his progress: ‘His airway pressure has been quite reasonable, and his numbers are looking good. There’s also a lot less debris when suctioning.  We get all our equipment ready and stop the sedation. We wait for about three hours but not much happens. Nepao starts to breathe again, but not enough to support himself. ‘The unpredictable effects of the drugs are not helpful. On top of this, the people in PNG seem more sensitive to some of the drugs. I admit defeat and put him back on the ventilator with a different sedative.’ A simple ventilator out in the bush is a lot less sophisticated than ventilators in the West. When it comes to weaning the patient off one, a good ventilator automatically synchronises with the patient’s breathing pattern as the sedative is gradually reduced, but this bush ventilator is unable to do that. Diana has no choice but to sedate Nepao into a much deeper state of sleep so he can tolerate the ventilator until his lungs are strong enough to breathe on their own. The disadvantage of this latest sedative is that it runs out much quicker than the previous one explains Diana: ‘Every four hours - day or night - his syringe needs to be changed. After two days, we try again to wean him off the ventilator. We pray again, leaving it all in God’s hands. ‘We stop the syringe and I suction all the debris that he coughs up. Nepao starts to breathe. We stop the ventilator and connect oxygen to the end of his breathing tube.' Nepao's breathing is shaky at first, but gradually it improves: ‘Eventually, I take the breathing tube out – he’s on his own. We give him double oxygen and make sure he sits up as much as he can tolerate. We wait - the next hour is crucial. ‘Will he have the energy to sustain his breathing? His lungs are still very stiff and will take effort to overcome the trauma. ‘Two hours later Nepao opens his eyes after a family member calls his name. He improves quickly. Initially confused, Nepao tries to stand on his good leg wondering why his other leg is tied to the bed. He’s reminded that his leg is broken and in traction and is coaxed back to bed.   ‘We remove his feeding tube and he’s able to eat and drink. Success! God has done it!’ On 25th October, Nepao was discharged from Kompiam Hospital and flown back to Pyarulama by MAF. It was a very emotional experience he says: ‘I cried a lot - I should have died. People shook my hand and cried with me. After sleeping, I killed a pig and gave it to the white people (doctors). I invited them to my house and gave them food. They cared for me and looked after me in hospital. It was a gesture of appreciation. They were there. The plane was there.’ Without the plane, Nepao says he wouldn’t have survived: I would have died. How could I get to the hospital? It’s not close - it’s far away. Thanks to MAF airlifting me and the work of hospital staff, I am finally leaving this place. May God bless their hands. Nepao, MAF medevac patient Without MAF’s medevac, the ending to this story could have been very different. Join Diana on MAF UK’s ‘Flying for Life’ podcast with Josh Carter. This latest episode explores medevacs and access to healthcare in Timor-Leste, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Papua New Guinea. Diana is joined by MAF pilot Ping Domtta and Maud Kells OBE.  The Flying for Life podcast is a free resource and part of MAF’s ‘He Saw It Was Good’ Bible Study Series, which explores how Christians can support sustainable development.

MAF’s been partnering with Malambo Bible College – founded by Elisha Moita in northern Tanzania - for over 35 years. Every year, new evangelists graduate and every month MAF fly them to remote communities to spread the Gospel. Only 63 Christians used to live amongst Tanzania’s Maasai, but today as Elisha retires, there are nearly 10,000 converts. MAF Tanzania’s Country Director Stuart Ayling attends Elisha’s retirement celebration… MAF Pilot Jarkko Korhonen flies some special guests to attend Evangelist Elisha Moita's retirement service. The 45-minute flight from Arusha to Malambo has saved them nine hours of overland travel. On board the plane, MAF Tanzania’s Country Director Stuart Ayling is accompanied by Bishop Solomon who will be participating in the ceremony. The service is packed with representatives from a range of Maasai churches, testament to Elisha’s ministry says Stuart: ‘It’s a joy to witness Elisha’s many years of faithful service being recognised and celebrated.’ Four new evangelists from different Maasai villages are commissioned by Bishop Solomon to continue Elisha’s ministry. Although Elisha has retired from his senior position at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, he will continue to oversee the work of Malambo Bible College. Christianity is flourishing amongst Tanzania’s Maasai One year ago, a new cohort of Maasai evangelists graduated from Malambo Bible College following four months of intense study. For over 35 years, MAF has been flying trained evangelists every month from Malambo Bible College to isolated Maasai villages in a bid to share the Gospel with their own people. A series of short flights over a few days or ‘evangelism safaris’ enable the evangelists to visit various remote communities in a short space of time, which would otherwise take many hours to reach by road or days on foot. Lead evangelist and founder of Malambo Bible College, Elisha Moita, remembers the time when he evangelised barefoot: I got sunstroke and couldn’t walk because of the pain. I stopped under a tree and cried. MAF was the answer to my cries. Some villages are so remote but with MAF, our evangelists reach people more easily without too much energy and preach the Gospel. Before, walking so many hours was difficult. Now we have the strength to sit and talk to people because we’re not tired. Through MAF, we’re really seeing the hand of God - we are harvesting much fruit. Flying helps our ministry work faster. Lead evangelist and founder of Malambo Bible College, Elisha Moita Nowadays, Elisha and his ever-growing team of evangelists can cover over 100 kilometres of Maasai territory by MAF plane - a distance not feasible on foot. Women are taught to read For 16 studious weeks, the 15 graduates have been staying at the college learning the tools of their trade. As part of their course, they undertake the ‘Maasai Link Initiative’. They travel to a different part of the region to apply what they’ve learnt to real life situations and practice outreach amongst the Maasai. At the customary annual graduation ceremony, the newly trained evangelists are excitedly joined by friends, family and church colleagues. Following a feast of roast goat, chapattis and milky tea, speeches and worship songs ensue. A short sketch based on the Good Samaritan - adapted for a Maasai audience – is thrown into the mix. Bible readings by seven of the graduates are greeted with applause. Before the course, they couldn’t read. Now they are able to share the Bible with their own communities. MAF Tanzania’s country director Stuart Ayling is particularly moved by proceedings: ‘It really strikes me how the love of Jesus is transforming Maasai communities. In a patriarchal culture, where many girls aren’t sent to school, young Maasai women are being taught how to read so that they can explain the Bible alongside their male counterparts. ‘These women will be sent out to isolated villages to share the Good News with whole communities. It’s easy to see why this is such a celebration - many obstacles have been overcome. It’s exciting to see what God might accomplish through these graduates.’ Ordinary people doing extraordinary things MAF pilot Andrew Parker - who regularly flies Maasai evangelists from Malambo to mountainous or remote areas such as Loliondo, Piaya and Loolbilin - says MAF’s work in these areas is positively palpable: ‘I love to see the impact of what we do in Tanzania. Malambo Bible College trains very ordinary people - some can’t read and write or haven’t been to school, yet they teach them to read the Bible in Kimaasai before MAF returns them to their community to spread the Gospel.’  These evangelists are not community elders or educated pastors – they’re just ordinary people doing extraordinary things as Andrew testifies: ‘What struck me about one particular flight was that the lady who I picked up from Loolbilin had her baby with her. We’ve seen quite a number of evangelists flying with their babies back to their home villages. ‘These young ladies fly to Malambo Bible College and fly out again to do the work with their babies. They are going out to their own people who can relate to them - that’s really effective. It’s exciting to be a part of that.’ 'The plane makes our ministry more attractive' So once they graduate from college, what does the typical work of a Maasai evangelist look like? In one week, MAF could fly five pairs of evangelists and a generator from Malambo to ten remote villages where they visit people, pray, run Bible studies, share communion and encourage those who are struggling with their faith. The evangelists also help to settle disputes and support the village churches who are already working to reach their communities. The generator is used to power a projector to show ‘Jesus’ – a powerful evangelistic film, which has been watched by millions of people all over the world in their own language since 1979. ‘Jesus’ is watched outside every night on a big screen in every Maasai village scheduled for the trip. Hundreds of people receive the Gospel for the first time. People are healed and demons are cast out. Baptisms are performed and a witch doctor surrenders to Christ. Even the MAF plane is an evangelistic tool in itself. It’s a sign of encouragement for the Maasai Christians and grabs the attention of non-believers as Elisha explains: ‘When the plane lands in the village, people come closer. Some come just to see the plane, but they end up staying, so we have time to talk to them. The plane makes our ministry more attractive.’ Serving a living God Elisha continues: ‘We thank God - who gives us courage and wisdom - for our new students. The remote villages where they will serve are challenged by many things - extreme poverty, harassment and oppression of women, and children not attending school. ‘Many people follow traditional beliefs, but they need Christ to save them. God is delivering them - instead of worshipping idols and creatures, they’re believing in and worshiping the real God.’ It’s MAF’s privilege to support the work of Malambo’s evangelists and to see the fruit of their faithful labour over so many years.

In the wake of an earthquake, which struck Markham Valley in eastern Papua New Guinea on Sunday 11 September, MAF has been medevacking injured people and undertaking aerial surveys in partnership with the UN, WHO and PNG government to assess the damage. We bring you the latest on the relief efforts… The first earthquake, which struck at 9:46am local time on Sunday, has left at least nine people dead with many more missing or buried under landslides. Its epicentre, Markham Valley in Morobe Province, is 67 kilometres from the town of Kainantu, but tremors were felt some 310 miles away in the capital Port Moresby, according to the US Geological Survey. Morobe Province, Eastern Highlands and Madang Town are the worst affected areas according to the ‘Papua New Guinea Disaster Management Team’, which comprises of UN agencies, PNG’s National Disaster Centre and various NGOs. These remote, mountainous areas make relief efforts impossible to execute by road. Three hours after the first earthquake hit, MAF was airborne at 12:46pm undertaking aerial surveys to assess damage and to ascertain ‘immediate need’. This was initially hampered by dense cloud cover. A second such flight took place on Monday 12 September revealing a number of landslides, which have damaged the region’s power grid causing a bush fire. Internet cables and health centres have also been damaged along with major disruption to the Highlands Highway, which connects several of PNG’s main cities. Such critical information gleaned from these flights - piloted by MAF’s Arjan Paas, Brad Venter and Tim Neufeld - are informing the UN’s disaster response. Further aftershocks Since the first earthquake, two smaller earthquakes (aftershocks) of 5 and 5.2 magnitude occurred hours later near the first epicentre of Markham Valley causing further damage, according to the US Geological Survey. Over 450 houses have collapsed in Madang Town, Leron-Wantoat and Uni-Atzera, injuring around 30 people. More than 50 families have been displaced in Morobe Province and schools have been closed (source: PNG Disaster Management Team). Many of the collapsed houses were ‘semi-permanent’ structures made from lightweight materials and elevated on wooden posts. Immediate needs include emergency shelter, access to clean water, bedding, basic kitchen and household items, and psychosocial support for children. At the University of Goroka, more than 1,600 boarding students are currently staying in classrooms or with relatives, after their multi-story dormitory was damaged. Some students are recovering from their injuries in hospital. The university has suspended classes for two weeks. MAF medevacs the injured On Monday, MAF medevacked a total of five people injured by landslides. Most of the casualties were flown from Mibu in Madang Province - 30km from the epicentre - to Saidor, so that they could receive medical care. Another patient was medevacked from Andakombe to Goroka. Injuries ranged from open wounds, damaged legs and a torso pierced by a broken branch. 117kg of food aid was also delivered from Goroka to Mibu. Mibu Airstrip was only re-opened last October following substantial repairs to meet safety standards. PNG’s ‘National Command Centre Response’ has warned residents about potentially more aftershocks and landslides. People living in the coastal areas, which could be at risk of tsunamis, are being urged to travel inland. Fortunately, this latest earthquake and aftershocks have caused less damage than PNG's 2018 earthquake, which struck Hela Province in western PNG claiming around 150 lives and displacing 20,000 people (source: UN). MAF PNG's country director Todd Aebischer, says: ‘This earthquake is much less severe than the 2018 quake that did so much damage. The 2018 earthquake occurred during the wet season when the ground was very susceptible to landslides. ‘This time, the ground has been quite dry, so it’s more stable. We are grateful that no injuries or major damage to MAF staff or property have been reported to date.’ Thrown in at the deep end MAF PNG’s programme safety manager Dom Sant has been helping to coordinate MAF’s response, which includes assessing security and community damage reports from rural communities. Having only moved to PNG in January this year, it’s the first disaster response Dom has been involved with: ‘I received an early call on Sunday 11 September on my emergency phone from our MAF base in Madang and was asked to take the lead on mapping communities that were affected by the earthquake. ‘We've been helping with aerial assessments close to the epicentre in Eastern Highlands Province. This is the first disaster I’ve supported since moving to PNG and I hope it will be my last!’ Dom Sant, MAF PNG’s programme safety manager No MAF staff have been harmed, but MAF’s hostel in Aiyura, Eastern Highlands has sustained damage to water tanks, appliances and supplies. MAF will continue to offer surveillance flights and medical assistance where required.

MAF co-founder and RAF veteran Jack Hemmings AFC* took to the skies once again today in a surprise flight to celebrate his 101st birthday. The retired airman took off from Spilstead Farm Airfield near Hastings in East Sussex watched by delighted friends, family, former MAF colleagues and the BBC (more…)

Following 25 years of service, MAF operations in Bangladesh have ended. Significant infrastructure development including the opening of Padma Bridge, which connects the southwest to the north and east, has revolutionised transport links leading to less reliance on MAF. As MAF winds up its activities, we look back on what the charity has achieved... Due to massive growth in Bangladesh’s transport links in recent years, which has led to the decline of MAF’s services, MAF Bangladesh officially ceased operating on 1st August. The six-kilometre, two-story Padma Bridge from Shariatpur to Madaripur over Padma River opened on 25 June this year. This feat of engineering will significantly reduce overland travel time for trains and road vehicles heading to 21 southern districts, many of which MAF used to serve with its twice weekly ‘Southern Shuttle’, which launched in 2008. Dave Fyock, MAF International’s CEO reflects on the end of an era: ‘We celebrate with the people of Bangladesh the progress that has been made and are glad for the dramatic difference that this will make to the southern region. ‘MAF values the wise use of resources and seeks to balance the benefits of investment with the costs involved. Following a review of the Bangladesh programme in late 2021, we concluded that, in conjunction with the improved transport infrastructure, there was insufficient demand for MAF in the country. ‘MAF’s priorities are shaped by the greatest impact on isolated communities. Closure of the Bangladesh programme will release resources to invest in new opportunities where we can make a more significant difference. Please uphold the team in prayer, as they work through closure activities.’ Dave Fyock, CEO of MAF International MAF Bangladesh is born It was one of the world’s deadliest natural disasters ‘Cyclone Bhola’ which wreaked havoc across East Pakistan and India’s West Bengal in Nov 1970, that first mobilised MAF in the region. (Bangladesh became independent from Pakistan in 1971). A 34-foot storm surge over the Bay of Bengal devastated the lowlands killing at least half a million people (source: BBC). A small team from MAF Sweden responded to the tragedy. MAF envisaged how it could operate from both land and water to reach millions of isolated people in minutes rather than days, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that MAF was officially invited by the Bangladesh Flying Academy to assist in operating two amphibious aircraft (floatplanes) for medevacs. It became clear that a small aircraft charter service could support and develop remote communities, giving thousands of isolated people access to lifesaving help. With the capital Dhaka as its main base, MAF Bangladesh began to take shape. Registering as an international NGO in 1995, MAF Bangladesh was finally issued with an Air Transport Operating Licence in 1997 and began operating the only floatplane service in the country. Saving time saves lives Bangladesh is home to almost 5,000 miles of rivers, which cover more than a third of the country’s surface area. In the absence of a good national road network, MAF built up invaluable experience flying over and landing on a myriad of waterways. Journeys that previously took one or two days by land and river, only took MAF around an hour by air. Reaching people in a fraction of the time, transformed and saved lives. Faster access to remote areas saved time, which enabled services to run more efficiently. From 2003, Friendship’s Floating Hospitals depended on MAF to fly in patients, doctors, surgeons and supplies, which allowed more time to perform operations says Runa Khan – Friendship’s founding director: ‘For every hour saved, a person’s life is saved. If MAF hadn’t been there, two whole days would have been wasted in travel - one whole day going and one whole day coming back. How many operations not carried out in two days? Maybe a third if we hadn’t had the services of MAF. MAF understood.’ Similarly, for Operation Cleft - which carries out life-transforming facial surgery - their work simply would not have been possible without MAF, says company secretary Bruce McEwen: ‘We spent a very busy two weeks attending surgical clinics in seven cities where we performed more than 60 free cleft lip/palate operations. ‘One of the cities was Barguna in the south. There was no way we would have been able to visit this remote area without MAF’s very special floatplane services. ‘Not only was the flight quick and comfortable, but Mark Blomberg made us feel very welcome and safe. Thanks again MAF for looking after us in Bangladesh.’ Supporting development Over the years, MAF has flown thousands of aid workers, medical professionals and international development specialists to Bangladesh’s most isolated places, enabling practical help to reach the most vulnerable, quickly, reliably and safely. ‘Co-operation in Development’ for example is an organisation which focuses on the prevention of drowning, which is the biggest killer of under-fours in Bangladesh, according to the RNLI. Too many children are trudging through thigh-high waters during wet season (June to October) just to get to school. Many of them never reach their destination. The Co-operation builds bridges over waterways and fills in ponds in a bid to make school journeys safer. Much of this work takes place around Bhola Island – Bangladesh’s largest island located in the south of the country, which can either be reached by a short flight or many hours by river and road. The latter is not really an option says Dr Olav Muurlink – the Co-operation’s country director in Bangladesh: ‘MAF is literally the best way to get to Bhola Island, which has no landing strip, let alone an airport. MAF takes us straight from Dhaka to the river off Bhola and saves our volunteers around 8 or 10 hours each way. Saving just a single day travelling makes a huge difference.’ MAF on the frontline in a disaster Besides supporting the ongoing development of the country, MAF was quick to respond to several natural disasters – Cyclone Sidr in 2007, Cyclone Aila in 2009 and Cyclone Mahasen in 2013. Thomas Pope from USAID recalls MAF’s critical support following Cyclone Sidr: ‘A lot of life saving materials were carried by MAF to areas with no communications whatsoever. The roads were all gone and the task was only possible by aircraft. ‘If it wasn’t for MAF, we would have had to get a commercial flight to whatever the closest airport was and then drive hours and hours to get to wherever the place of need was, but the floods would have prevented us. MAF flights obviously saved time and resources.’ Colum Wilson from DFID’s disaster management team echoes Thomas’ sentiment following Cyclone Mahasen: ‘Because of MAF, we were able to access places in greatest need in some of the really difficult corners of Bangladesh. MAF could transport relief workers there very quickly. ‘In the wake of Storm Mahasen, we had no idea what the impact was. We knew it was big, but we had no way of getting a quick overview of what had happened. That’s where MAF came in. ‘We commissioned a MAF flight with some technical experts on board to take a very quick fly over. MAF flights became an integral part of our assessment capability for international humanitarian relief in Bangladesh.’ Investing in Bangladesh’s future Despite the programme’s closure, MAF has made a conscious commitment to the long-term development of the country. Over the years, MAF employed and trained many national staff, seeing aircraft maintenance engineers, managers, logistics and administrative professionals flourish with specialist skills. Raju Mondal (pictured right) - a former anchor boy from a remote Bangladeshi village - used to help MAF anchor the floatplane when it landed on water. Now - thanks to MAF - he is a qualified aircraft mechanic, which will hold him in good stead for the future.

At the height of the pandemic with the aviation industry collapsing around him, EasyJet engineer Mark Draper’s future looked uncertain. Inspired by his late grandfather, RAF engineer Leslie Draper - who helped assemble MAF’s first ever Cessna aircraft - Mark decided to apply to MAF. MAF’s Jo Lamb, takes up the story… On furlough between April and July last year, Luton based EasyJet power plant engineer and married father of three, Mark Draper, faced uncertainty as coronavirus devastated the airline industry. Mark’s wife Stephanie - a midwife at Dunstable Hospital – continued working while Mark stayed home to school their three daughters - Lexi [9], Evelyn [7] and Raya [4]: ‘Being furloughed during lockdown was really difficult. Going from doing what I love to being a full-time dad overnight was crazy and so tough, but I’m so grateful for where I am today. I will be working for MAF when I know so many have suffered greatly in the airline industry.’ Mark Draper, MAF UK’s newest engineer Mark had dreamed of working for MAF for a while, having been inspired by his late grandfather, Leslie Draper – one of the engineers who helped co-founder, Stuart King, assemble MAF’s first ever Cessna 180 aircraft. Leslie also worked on de Havilland Mosquito planes during WWII. MAF’s first Cessna aircraft came out of a crate MAF’s first four-seater Cessna arrived from America at Heathrow Airport in a crate in 1956. Leslie – a former RAF radio engineer who also worked for British European Airways as it was known then– was one of twenty volunteers to help Stuart assemble the plane piece by piece. Leslie used his particular skills to fit the Cessna’s radio and other electrics. In his book ‘Hope Has Wings’ (1993), Stuart King recalls the challenging task of assembling the Cessna 180 assisted by Leslie and the team: ‘Here was a crate full of tightly packed components, large and small, with no sign of where they were supposed to fit. With no manual, parts book or labels, the British Airways Christian Union engineering staff came to my assistance when they were off duty and helped greatly in putting together the carefully designed flying machine. ‘When it had been assembled, we pushed the little aircraft out to be fuelled. An airport official looked quizzically at the plane – an unusual model for Heathrow. He handed me an invoice for a landing fee. When I objected that the aircraft hadn’t made its first landing – he said, “Did it come up through a hole in the ground?” He wasn’t used to planes being put together out of a crate.’ It would be Betty Greene - MAF’s first pilot and the world’s first female mission pilot - who would pilot the MAF Cessna 180’s virgin flight to Malakal, Sudan in 1957. On board were Stuart and Phyllis King with their children, Rebecca and John. Like the Drapers today, the Kings were about to start an adventure of a lifetime. ‘My grandad would be thrilled I’m working for MAF’ Mark cites his grandfather as a source of much inspiration, motivation, and friendship until his death in 2011. Mark believes his own dream to serve with MAF stems from his grandfather’s faithful commitment to the charity, and passion for aviation: ‘My grandad was so kind, humble and inspiring. He's the reason I'm so into aeroplanes - a lot of what I am today is due to him.  I loved hearing him talk about his RAF service. He was based in Egypt with the 256 Squadron. He heard about MAF whilst working at Heathrow Airport for British European Airways – as it was called then. ‘Grandad supported MAF from that first encounter with Stuart King when they built MAF’s first Cessna 180. He would be thrilled to know that I’m working for MAF – he spoke about MAF to everyone he knew.’ ‘It will be a massive adventure for us’ Inspired by his grandfather and moved by Joyce Lin’s tribute film - the late MAF pilot who was tragically killed in Papua last year – Mark started making enquiries to MAF. Mark made a formal application to MAF on 8 June. Having almost completed his Aircraft Maintenance License – a process which has taken ten-years of self-study - Mark left EasyJet on 27 August 2021. He will receive his certification later this year. The family will relocate to MAF’s headquarters in Kampala, Uganda next year where Mark will take up the role of aviation engineer. Mark - who has never been to Africa - contemplates his next chapter: ‘It’s slightly scary not knowing what it will be like. Although it’s a leap of faith, it will be a massive adventure for us as a family. We want to live our lives supporting other people – especially those less fortunate than ourselves. MAF’s humanitarian air service is a perfect way of combining my aviation skills with making a positive difference in people’s lives.’

On 7 July, following many years of sponsorship, Rebecca Cummings from Four Corners Ministries boards a MAF flight and meets former Ugandan child soldier Grace for the first time. They meet at a Christian women’s empowerment conference in Abaana’s Hope near Gulu, northern Uganda.  MAF’s Jill Vine was there… MAF pilot Hansjoerg Schlatter transports staff– including Rebecca Cummings - from ‘Four Corners Ministries’ who are co-hosting a women’s empowerment conference with ‘Living Stones Community Church’ in Abaana’s Hope. MAF has partnered with Four Corners Ministries for ten years enabling the organisation to reach and serve the people of northern Uganda. This latest one-hour flight from Kajjansi near the capital Kampala to Gulu in the north, saves them eight hours of uncomfortable overland travel. Four Corners Ministries shares the Gospel and meets the practical needs of marginalised communities through women’s empowerment programmes, medical provision, nurturing sustainable livelihoods, educating vulnerable children and offering Christian leadership training. Their ten-day women’s empowerment conference in Abaana’s Hope attracts nearly 300 women including many former child soldiers who were abducted and brutalised by extremist group - the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Although the LRA were mostly expelled from Uganda by 2006, trauma still runs deep, and restoration and healing take time. Grace is on that journey: 'I told them I wasn’t going to fight any more' Grace was one of the 30,000 children from northern Uganda abducted by Joseph Kony’s henchmen and forced to fight on the frontline in a bid to overthrow Yoweri Museveni’s government. She has experienced unimaginable horrors and hardship, but today lives peacefully with her five children living a productive life thanks to the support of Four Corners Ministries. Grace recalls those terrible times: ‘I was taken by force from my home by soldiers who took me to Sudan for training where I stayed for about two years. There was hardship all around me. Many people were killed. ‘I lived with six other soldiers and I was in charge of them. ‘One day we were sent to the well to get some water. That day I decided I wasn’t going back. When I told the other soldiers, they were very scared - they feared we would be killed if we were found. I told them that I was going to leave and that I was not afraid to use my gun if I had to! ‘The soldiers found me at my friend’s house. They were looking for guns but we had hidden them. I told them that I wasn’t going to fight any more and that I wanted to go home to my mother. ‘Once home, there was a lot of hardship - many people had been killed. I had to live off others and beg for food. My war injuries were so severe, I wasn’t able to plough my garden to feed myself. I couldn’t sell anything to make money. ‘Four Corners Ministries found me - I moved to Abaana’s Hope and began working. This ministry has completely changed my life. ‘Because of the grace of God, I am able to live on land that I have worked for and have been able to buy for myself. I have been able to feed myself and my kids and can now pay for my kids’ school fees. ‘I am so thankful to God and for everything he has done in my life.  Without him and this ministry, I wouldn’t be alive or be where I am today. I have been transformed.’ Grace, former child soldier - Lord’s Resistance Army Grace’s sponsor and MAF passenger, Rebecca Cummings from Four Corners Ministries, is privileged to finally meet Grace, which would have been a very difficult journey without MAF: ‘MAF provided a smooth flight from Kajjansi to Gulu, which enabled us to partner with the ladies from Living Stones Community Church and host this conference. We are so appreciative of the service MAF provides, which enables missionaries to reach people like Grace.’

Half of MAF’s flights in Arnhem Land – Australia’s Northern Territory wilderness – support education. In recent years, MAF has expanded its routes outside of Arnhem Land, enabling hundreds more indigenous students to access a ‘culturally appropriate’ education. This would not be possible without MAF pilots Tim Vallance-Webb and Matt Henderson… Ḏawurr Boarding School in Nhulunbuy, north east Arnhem Land, accommodates 40 indigenous senior school students from very remote areas across Arnhem Land (Yirrkala, Gunyungarra, Dhalinybuy, Garrthalala, Maningrida, Baniyala, Birany Birany, Galiwin’ku, Wurruwi) and beyond (Bulman, Corella Creek, Croker Island and Belyuen). If it wasn’t for MAF, some of these students simply wouldn’t be able to get to school due to the sheer distance they would need to travel by road. Would you drive six hours to reach your nearest school?  With MAF, the same distance takes 40 minutes. Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) is more than six times the size of the UK. MAF pilot Tim Vallance-Webb describes the vast remoteness of Arnhem Land, located in NT’s north-easterly corner: ‘Australia might be a first world country, but the north is still remote. There’s a lack of infrastructure in Arnhem Land. The bitumen stops at the airport and then it’s 700km of dirt road. For some people, their nearest supermarket is a four-hour drive away. ‘Arnhem Land is the size of Scotland and Wales put together, but with a very tiny population of 16,000 (same population as Ripon in North Yorkshire). Geographically, people are very spread out. Many students are from remote places. It’s a huge area.’ Tim cheerfully explains his role in getting these young people to school: There’s an unsung hero in the Good Samaritan story and that’s the donkey. Ultimately, Christ is the Good Samaritan helping people and transforming lives. I’m happy to be the donkey….with wings! MAF pilot Tim Vallance-Webb ‘A clash of cultures’ In addition to flying remote students to Ḏawurr Boarding School, MAF also supports several other education providers across the region including Laynhapuy Homelands School, which runs nine schools across nine ‘homelands’ in east Arnhem Land. North east Arnhem Land constitutes 75% of MAF Arnhem Land’s flying and is home to the Yolngu people - Aboriginal Australians.   ‘Homelands’ are traditional lands where mostly indigenous people live who abide by local laws and follow cultural practices heavily connected to their land. The concept of living in another part of Australia to access mainstream education would be an incredibly difficult transition for many. Western, urban life has completely different values and social norms from what the Yolngu are used to, so thanks to MAF and partners, the Yolngu are able to access a ‘culturally appropriate’ bilingual education in their homeland environment. Tim elaborates: ‘It’s a clash of cultures - a culture that’s thousands of years old verses a really modern one. It’s like being transported overnight into another millennium – it would be very difficult to compete or succeed in that environment because they haven’t had the same educational structure that we’ve had for hundreds of years. ‘Aboriginal learning style is not about sitting down, reading and writing - it’s a lot more hands-on. We say you learn when you pass an exam; they say you learn when you have mastered how to do it. We talk about the theory of fishing; they say you’ve learnt to fish when you’ve caught a fish! ‘Forcing an Aboriginal person out of their homeland into a city to learn is like you being forced to learn in Iran – it’s a different language, culture, environment and religion. You wouldn’t be able to thrive – it would be horrendous! 'The Yolngu are much happier, thriving and at peace if they’re in their homeland going about their traditional methods of learning. At the same time, MAF fly in teachers who give students access to a wider education in the comfort of their own environment where they are settled with their families. ‘Hopefully, this bridges the knowledge gap - they can learn English, Maths, reading and writing etc in their homeland. If they do choose to move to the city when they’re older, at least they will be better prepared to cope and compete for jobs in the western world.’ MAF enables education in the homelands MAF regularly transports teachers, students, supplies, teaching resources, maintenance and IT staff to and from nine homelands, making Laynhapuy Homelands School one of MAF Arnhem Land’s biggest customers. Each primary / junior school has between three and twenty students. Most schools are within one hour’s flight from Gove – MAF Arnhem Land’s base - and some are only ten minutes apart by plane but would take hours to reach by car. MAF also flies students and teachers back and forth to Garrthalala Training Camp – Laynhapuy’s weekly boarding school for secondary school students. Teacher training is imperative. Teachers flying into the Homelands train indigenous teachers who will educate future students. Together, they are building a culturally appropriate curriculum. Fellow pilot Matt Henderson says not many people are familiar with this part of the world: ‘One of the things that’s difficult to understand about Arnhem land is that it’s in Australia. It’s hard for people to understand how remote it can be. It’s a little-known part of the world that doesn’t get a whole lot of attention, but the needs are great. ‘The reality is these students live between two worlds. Education is so important so that they can compete in a larger world, otherwise there won’t be a lot of opportunities for them.’ MAF understands complex needs Abigail White is the Assistant Principal at Laynhapuy Homelands School. According to Abigail, the success of the region’s education system largely depends on MAF’s bespoke service: ‘We have a really strong partnership with MAF - they provide a very personal service. ‘It’s not feasible for us to drive to some of our sights because the drive takes too long. Day to day, week to week driving would just take too much time out of the teacher’s day, so it’s much better for us to fly. ‘Although we have a weekly plan, it pretty much changes every week for various reasons, but MAF understands. We rely on them because they’re so flexible.’ Due to complex, changing schedules, MAF is the only local flight operator to support the educational needs of Arnhem Land’s Yolngu people concludes Tim: ‘No other operator could handle the volume and complexity of the work. Schedules change a lot, but MAF has the willingness and mindset to deal with it. ‘Commercial operators have a different ethos - they target high value clients, but MAF are not there to make money. We have to make it affordable for the Yolngu and our partners. We are the only ‘indigenous friendly’ operator.’ MAF Arnhem Land’s eight small aircraft are also technically more compatible with homeland airstrips: ‘Certain aircraft can’t land on dirt strips. They are too big and need bitumen runways. MAF’s bush aircraft however are perfect for short bush strips - they are built for that purpose.’ MAF has been doing the 'school run' in Arnhem Land for nearly 40 years. Enjoy stories like these? You can hear more about remote education in Papua New Guinea and Liberia on MAF UK's first ever podcast 'Flying For Life' hosted by Premier Christian Radio's Josh Carter. Join Sally Lloyd – Director of Strickland Bosavi Foundation, Maika Yabua – a science teacher at Nomad Mougulu High School and Steven Biggs – MAF Liberia’s Deputy Chief Pilot as they discuss how MAF makes education accessible to some of the most isolated students on earth. The Flying For Life Podcast

St Theresa’s Hospital in Nzara, Western Equatoria State, treats around 20,000 patients per year. As one of the few functioning hospitals in the region, St Theresa’s is a lifesaver, treating a range of conditions including seasonal malaria. On 28 June, MAF engineer Phil Buhler upgraded the electrics, to better serve remote communities. MAF’s Jenny Davies reports… St Theresa’s Hospital in Western Equatoria State, South Sudan is run by an order of nuns – the Comboni Sisters – in partnership with the Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB) and supports around 250,000 people scattered across the region (source: Sudan Relief Fund). The hospital provides general, surgical, gynaecological, maternal, neonatal, dental and eye care. Although they specialise in treating TB, HIV/AIDS and leprosy, patients with malaria hike during mid rainy season (June to October), which puts huge pressure on hospital resources. According to a recent CMMB report, in the last week of June this year, nearly half of the 269 out-patients (44%), were suffering from malaria. 111 of these 120 malaria cases (92%) had severe malaria – a medical emergency, which could lead to death if left untreated. Patients with gastroenteritis is also extremely common, caused by dirty drinking water contaminated by sewage and parasites – a preventable disease. St Theresa’s facilities include an accidental and emergency department, out-patients department, a medical ward, blood bank, laboratory, anti-retroviral services, TB clinic, a small operating theatre, dental clinic and eye-care services. 24/7 power is critical for a hospital In a country with poor infrastructure shattered by years of civil war, St Theresa’s lifesaving services are reliant on a 24/7 electricity supply, generated by a solar power system, which is backed up by generators. In a bid to optimise peak power performance and reduce the risk of power failure in future, the Catholic Medical Mission Board asked MAF to install an inverter into the solar powered system. Simply put, solar panels absorb sunlight and generate direct current (DC power), which needs to be converted to alternating current (AC power) with the help of an inverter. AC power then flows into the building’s electrical panel, which powers the appliances within. St Theresa’s has a bank of solar panels capable of running its lights and electrical equipment across the entire hospital. There are six inverters in total. On 28 June, MAF electrical engineer Phil Buhler boarded a MAF flight from the capital Juba to Yambio – Nzara’s nearest airstrip. After an hour’s drive, Phil was able to install the hospital’s newest inverter. Phil says they had to switch off the solar power system and rely on the back-up generator during the two-day installation: ‘The hospital ran on its generator while we completed the work. It was important to keep the electrical supply running because it powers oxygen concentrators on one of the wards. ‘This vital equipment is used to treat people with respiratory diseases like pneumonia. Children and older people are vulnerable to these conditions.’ A fully functioning solar power system is a reliable and cost-effective method of powering a hospital in a country with an inconsistent power supply says Phil: ‘Solar power is a sustainable solution for remote hospitals where it can be difficult to access fuel to run the generator. ‘It takes more than 60 litres of fuel per day to keep the generator running!’ An isolated hospital for remote communities With only a handful of blood banks in the whole of South Sudan, which has a population of 12 million people, St Theresa’s blood bank and critical care services are a rare and precious commodity. For those fortunate enough to have access to a vehicle, it’s not uncommon for patients to travel many hours to receive treatment. Others simply walk for miles or don’t make it at all because the journey is simply too far. During Phil’s stay, there was a downpour one night. Phil reflects on the daily travel woes of the locals at the height of the rainy season: ‘It rained heavily the night we arrived. If we travelled the next day, we'd be slipping and sliding all over the road, disappearing into potholes as big as lakes - even in a 4X4! ‘It’s challenging here during the wet season, especially for patients arriving at the hospital by boda boda (motorbike taxies) or on foot. ‘Hospitals like St Theresa’s are vital for people in the surrounding remote, rural areas who face many barriers accessing medical care.’ Phil Buhler, MAF electrical engineer On the mend! Thanks to MAF meeting St Theresa’s Hospital’s technical needs, medical staff can better meet the needs of their patients. More and more people are on the road to recovery: 41-year-old James contracted TB and received treatment from St Theresa’s TB clinic. He is now gaining weight and very grateful to the team. 50-year-old Martha had developed painful ulcers on her right leg and foot and was unable to stand or walk on her own. Thanks to antibiotics and care from St Theresa’s, the infection and wounds cleared up. Martha is now able to stand and walk on her own. She’s very appreciative of the doctors and nurses who treated her. 39-year-old Rose was diagnosed with HIV and had a severe lung infection, which made breathing difficult. She was admitted to St Theresa’s for oxygen therapy and was hooked up to a patient monitoring machine until she recovered. Rose is now in good health and very thankful to everyone who helped her.

Following 20 years' service in Mongolia, the plane – formerly known as Millennium Messenger - made her first ops flight in Guinea today. Roy Rissanen – MAF’s first pilot in Mongolia - used the same plane to pick up passengers from Nzérékoré, Guinea for the first time. Roy and his beloved aircraft have reunited to transform lives on the other side of the world… After months of preparation, MAF’s Cessna 208 Caravan - now registered as N2114G – took off from Guinea’s capital Conakry on Saturday 23 April on what was MAF’s first operational flight in the country. Piloted by MAF’s Roy Rissanen, the overhauled aircraft picked up a missionary couple from Nzérékoré in southern Guinea and flew them back to Conakry to attend a crucial conference with colleagues. This one hour, fifty minute flight saved them 23 hours of gruelling road travel with an overnight stay. MAF’s new Guinea service will be a game changer for passengers like these – supporting their Bible translation work and development of farming practices in the region, without the unnecessary stress of long, challenging overland travel. For MAF’s first passengers in Guinea, who wish to remain anonymous for security reasons, MAF is an answer to prayer: 'We’ve been praying for an air service since we got here over a decade ago. There are no domestic aircraft in Guinea, so we have to drive but it’s the most stressful aspect of life for us. It’s dehumanising and demoralising. ‘There are no lights so driving at night is very dangerous. Potholes are up to eight feet wide and a foot deep. MAF will be a lifesaver for us.' Missionary couple and first passengers of MAF Guinea Pioneering MAF pilot Roy is no stranger to the plane which has just transported the couple. He was the aircraft’s first pilot 22 years ago when he flew her for eight years in Mongolia. Roy was also the first foreign pilot to operate in the country. Now he’s flying her for the first time in Guinea, transforming lives once again and developing MAF’s newest programme in West Africa. As the first humanitarian flight operator in Guinea, this is how MAF will impact isolated communities: The Mongolian years Prior to Roy’s Guinea adventure, the pilot and his plane worked together for MAF’s ‘Blue Sky Aviation’. They were based in Ulaanbaatar - the world’s coldest capital - transporting, connecting and medevacking some of Mongolia’s most isolated people. Nearly a decade after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 when Mongolia’s economy was left in a fragile state, MAF’s services were welcomed in 1999 as the first foreign flight operator and only humanitarian air service in the country. Roy set up MAF Mongolia’s programme from scratch in the early 2000s but he couldn’t have done it without his trusty Cessna 208 Caravan. Roy first laid eyes on her in 1999 when she rolled off the production line in Wichita, US. Ready for MAF service in the year 2000, she was named the ‘Millennium Messenger’ – destined to deliver help, hope and healing to Mongolia’s remotest communities. By 2017 however, the country’s infrastructure had greatly improved and there was less reliance on MAF’s services. MAF eventually closed its operations and the future of the Millennium Messenger looked uncertain. New opportunity in Guinea Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, MAF was beginning to expand its work in West Africa. MAF’s regional hub in Monrovia, Liberia was developing, and it was becoming increasingly clear that its neighbour Guinea could also hugely benefit from MAF’s services. Following three years of extensive groundwork, MAF established its newest operation in Guinea in 2021. Roy and the Millennium Messenger would eventually be reunited in Guinea. The aircraft that just keeps on giving Although she’s 22 years old, she has aged well and clocked up less than 8,000 hours – way below Cessna’s recommended retirement. Roy explains: ‘She was very well kept in the hangar. Because Mongolia is landlocked and so deep inland, she had no corrosion and stayed in good shape. ‘We didn’t fly her flat out like MAF’s safari work where we fly two hours per day for several days in different locations. Her maximum usage was between 300 and 500 hours per year so not a huge number. 8,000 flight hours is only 16% of her projected usage. Cessna say 50,000 hours is the limit for when the plane should retire.’ For Roy, she’s the plane that just keeps on giving: 'She's very special to me. I'm privileged to fly the same old faithful aircraft again. She'll continue God's work in a new part of the world with a new engine, new paint and a new tail number. She'll bring help, hope and healing in many ways – medevacs, transporting passengers and supplies, and serving those who are in need in Guinea. 'The number one thing is her reliability. If I go somewhere, I can trust her to fly back. She has a good range which is important for refuelling and she’s also very practical for loading passengers and cargo. 'I’m very happy how we’ve upgraded her avionics and equipment to keep her going. She’s a good workhorse! I like her very much. Roy Rissanen, MAF pilot  Moving a small plane across huge continents So what does it take for a small aircraft to cross continents during a pandemic and fly in another country that couldn’t be more different environmentally and politically? In 2020, Roy and his wife Sirpa took five days to fly the plane over Siberia in wintery conditions from Ulaanbaatar to Holland in the first of three ‘ferry flights’. In Holland she is given a paint job and has her cold weather equipment removed in preparation for flying in a hot climate. In June 2021 – ahead of another four-day ferry-flight - she is flown to Switzerland by MAF pilots Hansjöerg Schlatter and Daniel Dubouloz for a series of PR and donor events attended by over 100 people. In July, Hansjöerg and Guinea’s programme developer Emil Kundig fly her from Switzerland to Uganda via Italy, Greece, Egypt and Sudan, following the River Nile. At Kajjansi Airport she receives a new engine, new propeller, flight control bearings are replaced, and everything is thoroughly lubricated, cleaned and adjusted. Following further maintenance, she is finally ready for service once again: Permissions are finally granted for her final leg to Guinea, following travel restrictions caused by the pandemic. On 26th January 2022, she makes her third and final ferry-flight, which takes five days from Uganda to Guinea via Central African Republic, Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, piloted by Roy Rissanen and Emil Kundig. Almost there! The aircraft is finally ready for her new mission in Guinea but what about the pilots? For MAF’s newest programme, the overhauled aircraft is registered under the American ‘MAF-US Part 135 certificate’. This means that any pilots intending to fly her in Guinea need to have additional flight training to meet special requirements. In January, MAF US’s chief pilot Brian Shepson facilitates that training in Uganda for pilots Roy Rissanen and Dave Forney. As part of the US registration and audit process, on 21 March, MAF's aircraft makes her first ever test landing in Kissidougou, southern Guinea. The plane is met by a lot of excited locals and missionaries in the area. For Roy who has been with his beloved aircraft from the very beginning, he is excited to be part of MAF’s history and future: ‘It’s a new era - I feel very privileged to be part of it. I feel a bit like Stuart King who ventured out with his plane to demonstrate what could be done. That’s the approach we are taking now. ‘We’ve taken her to Guinea where they don’t know MAF. We want to show people what she can do. I feel like we are following in Stuart’s footsteps. It’s exciting and I’m looking forward to it.’  It takes all sorts of skills, experience and people like Roy to get a plane up in the air to carry out MAF's vital work. Find out how you could work for MAF. Work with us

On World Malaria Day, MAF and Rotarians Against Malaria protect isolated Papua New Guineans from a disease which kills hundreds of thousands of people globally every year. In 2022, MAF and RAM delivered 34,250 nets to 26 airstrips preventing thousands of deaths. MAF’s Siobhain and Ryan Cole have got what it takes to lead a complex operation… MAF and Rotarians Against Malaria (RAM) – MAF’s biggest malaria partner in Papua New Guinea (PNG) - have been working together for over ten years. RAM’s goal is to eradicate malaria from the face of the earth using proven interventions such as free mosquito nets, particularly long-lasting insecticidal nets or ‘LLINs’. In remotest PNG, there are no roads or infrastructure and the only means of transport in mountainous areas is either walking or flying. MAF serves some 200 bush airstrips across PNG’s vast, isolated areas. So great are the distances, it can take two days to walk to the nearest airstrip. For RAM – who distribute lifesaving nets in PNG every three years - MAF are the most cost effective, reliable, fastest and safest mode of transport to reach vulnerable, rural communities. In February, RAM distributed over 28,000 nets out of MAF’s base in Telefomin, which serves hundreds of remote communities in Sandaun Province and the North Fly area of Western Province. Siobhain Cole from MAF PNG’s Ground Operations team says RAM’s work in this area of the country would be very difficult without MAF: ‘We specialise in flying to very hard to reach remote communities. Telefomin is a major area where we partner with RAM because no one else will fly to its airstrips. They are very remote, steep, scary airstrips that no commercial operator will fly to because it’s not commercially viable. ‘We’re flying nets to 20 bush airstrips serving 32 health centres. Each health centre serves at least a dozen villages. Without MAF, not everyone would get a net.’ Siobhain Cole, MAF PNG Ground Ops MAF pilot Ryan Cole and team load thousands of nets into the plane as efficiently as possible: A complex operation For Siobhain and the MAF PNG Ground Ops team at Telefomin, it has been an intense and complex operation. It has taken months of planning to transport thousands of nets and 18 RAM staff to 20 bush airstrips using three MAF planes and four pilots in just one week: ‘In order to move these nets as quickly as possible and fill the aircraft efficiently, I arrange all the details so that the pilots know what the plan is, where they’re flying to and how many nets will be loaded onto their aircraft. ‘I work with the ground staff who weigh the nets and any fuel drums that may be required to transport the nets further (ie. for motor operated canoes). We also weigh the passengers and their luggage, so everything is prepared.’ In addition to thorough logistical planning, good weather is also key to a successful operation as MAF pilot (and Siobhain’s husband), Ryan Cole, testifies: ‘We may have a wonderful plan, but PNG has some of the most challenging flying in the world because of the weather, which adds to the complexity. ‘Poor weather is created by the mountains - there’s a lot of cloud on the ridge lines, which causes problems for us pilots. We need to find holes in that cloud to punch through to get to where we are going. ‘We have two options – either land at a jungle airstrip, stay overnight and wait for the weather to clear, or try and find a clear hole through the clouds. Excessive cloud can mean grounded aircraft and planned flights are unable to take off. ‘In hundreds of miles of cloud, there might be just one little clear hole I can go through. Sometimes it feels like God is giving me a window.’ For Siobhain, she might have to go back to the drawing board with her best laid plan: ‘A well-made plan has to be adjusted at 7am before the pilots can take off - that’s my job! Fortunately, our team of ground staff and pilots work together to make these flights happen and bring help and hope to some of the world’s most isolated people.’ MAF - a vital link in a very long chain As integral as MAF’s part is in the distribution of essential nets to PNG’s most far-flung communities, MAF is just one leg in a very long journey. For example, in February, MAF flew 152 bales (containing 50 nets each), two RAM staff and four drums of fuel from Telefomin to Edwaki – MAF’s furthest bush airstrip from its Telefomin base. This thirty-minute flight is only a fraction of the overall journey from when the nets are despatched from Australia. For a bale of nets to reach the people served by Edwaki Airstrip, the entire journey could take up to two months by the time the cargo has cleared customs. Siobhain explains: ‘There’s a huge amount of logistics involved before the nets even get to us. They have travelled overseas by boat, barge and truck before MAF planes can pick them up. The nets have already travelled hundreds of miles by sea, river and road. ‘From one of Australia’s major ports, they are shipped to PNG’s capital, Port Moresby. From Port Moresby, they are trucked to a barge port, put on a small barge where they travel up the Fly River to Kiunga mid-country. From Kiunga, they travel by lorry for four hours to Tabubil where MAF has a base. MAF then fly the nets from Tabubil to Telefomin, then from Telefomin to Edwaki. From Edwaki they are walked or canoed to their final destination.’ If RAM didn’t fly the Telefomin to Edwaki leg, there would be huge implications in terms of logistics, time and cost says Ryan: ‘One day’s trek is around 5 minutes of flying. Without MAF, from Telefomin it would take four days on foot to reach the nearest river, another two days travel by canoe and another day of walking to finally reach Edwaki – a week of overland travel compared to a 30-minute flight!’ Just a 30-minute flight across PNG’s vast jungles, rivers and mountains makes all the difference to Tim Freeman - RAM’s Programme Manager: ‘Since 2011, MAF has been one of our leading partners in the distribution of LLINs in remote areas, particularly in Telefomin of Sandaun Province and North Fly of Western Province. ‘Without MAF’s vital services, RAM would be unable to reach the remote parts of PNG without huge difficulty. We would like to thank MAF for a very long-lasting partnership, which has greatly aided RAM’s ability to provide a service to the remote parts of PNG.’ Since February 2022, RAM – with MAF’s support – has distributed a further 6,250 mosquito nets to six remote airstrips across PNG’s Hela and Southern Highlands Provinces. Thanks to this partnership, thousands of Papua New Guineans are protected from malaria, preventing unnecessary deaths.  News Coverage BBC Online Portsmouth News United Christian Broadcasters News

Rainy season in South America’s Suriname is nothing new, but this year’s water levels have reached a new high causing more devastation than ever before. In response, MAF is partnering with the national disaster response agency ‘NCCR’ delivering food to far-flung people affected by the floods. MAF’s Helmer Maas updates Claire Gilderson on the relief effort so far… Suriname’s rainy season between April and August has always been a challenge. Flooded streets with broken-down cars and motorbikes are nothing new but this year, unusually heavy rainfall since January has caused riverbanks to burst, flooding dozens of villages across the country. According to AFP News, more than 3,000 households have been affected by 'unprecedented floods', which have also devastated crops, livelihoods and schools. Helmer Maas, MAF Suriname’s Office Manager based in the capital Paramaribo, says the floods will affect the country’s long-term food security: ‘In Suriname’s interior, crops are grown next to the rivers where people live. Rivers are their lifeline but burst riverbanks have completely destroyed the cassava harvest this year, so their main supply of food has gone. ‘The next season of cassava will be planted in August, which means that they’ll have to wait until early next year for their next harvest. They can’t wait that long! Food supply is a big issue now.’ Many residents are no longer able to reach their village by foot, so are having to travel by small boats to reach their destination. Others cannot access health centres due to the floodwaters. Suriname’s president Chan Santokhi has declared seven out of the country’s 10 districts ‘disaster areas’ with water levels rising to five metres in some areas. He’s calling for international help and MAF has responded. Over 200 families fed so far MAF has joined forces with Nationaal Coordinatie Centrum Rampen or NCCR – Suriname’s national disaster response agency - in a bid to distribute food aid to the most isolated people cut off by the floods. This is the first time MAF has worked with NCCR to alleviate suffering caused by flooding. On 9 June, MAF flew around 30 sacks of food containing rice, potatoes, canned vegetables, cooking oil and onions to Amatopo in southern Suriname. A similar cargo reached Coeroenie on 21 June and Tepoe on 24 June. The plane was met by local village leaders and a small team who then went on to distribute the food amongst their villagers. To date, over 200 families have received food flown in by MAF. In the coming weeks, using two planes and three pilots, MAF will make similar trips to another five remote village airstrips in the south including Apetina, Kwamala, Paloemeu, Alalapadu and Sipaliwini. Without MAF, it would take days to reach people On average, it takes MAF between 1 hour 30 minutes and 2 hours 15 mintues to fly from Zorg en Hoop Airport in Paramaribo to the above remote villages in southern Suriname. These villages are not serviced by any roads so without MAF, the journey would take days to get there! By air, Tepoe takes 1 hour 30 minutes from Paramaribo but without MAF, Helmer explains the arduous alternative: ‘Heading south from Paramaribo, they would have to drive around Lake Brokopondo – one of the largest reservoirs in the world. The road ends at the bottom of the lake, so they would have to travel by boat on the rivers or by foot to continue. ‘Depending on the water levels, it would take several days by boat and walking. It could take three days or so to reach Tepoe. There are no roads! The only transport is plane, boat or by foot – it would be very challenging!’  In Suriname’s hour of need, the NCCR is reliant on MAF’s safe and fast service: We are very grateful for the cooperation and security MAF brings in the distribution of food aid. Without these flights, it would be a big problem delivering these essential packages. Without MAF, it could take up to three days to reach some of these villages. Colonel Slijngard from The Nationaal Coordinatie Centrum Rampen Without air travel, these communities would be cut off from essential supplies and disconnected from the rest of their country. Floods make landing difficult Perfect weather makes for perfect flying and landing conditions, but what if it rains non-stop? Given Suriname’s wet season, rain is expected to continue falling until mid-August, which can prevent planes from landing on soddened soil. When planes are the only means of distributing food in a disaster, that is a challenge says Helmer: ‘Every morning we get weather reports. If there’s too much rain, the authorities close the airstrips because you can't land when the soil is too soft from heavy rain, so we're not able to get there at all!  ‘The next day, if there’s no rain and the soil has dried up, we’re able to land there again, but sometimes we need to wait. Unfortunately, we had to delay the food aid flight to Tepoe because the airstrip was simply too wet to land.’ Suriname’s unstable weather calls for careful planning by the pilots – as ever, safety comes first. Helmer faces floods first-hand Two weeks ago, Helmer personally experienced the floods first-hand in MAF’s pool car when he attempted to drive through Paramaribo in a bid to sort out his visa. His wife Maye captured this footage: Helmer takes up the story: ‘We had a whole night of rain - it was so bad, many streets were flooded. People had to raise up their beds and fridges at home, which is crazy! It’s the worst it’s ever been. I needed to hand in some papers in the city. Getting there I didn’t have to go through any water - I arrived dry, but on the way back I went via another route because of the one way system. ‘Suddenly, I approached a lot of water so I changed direction. Initially, I thought the area wasn’t too bad - just two hundred meters of water, but it turned into a long street of water full of speed bumps – much worse than I thought! In Suriname, speed bumps are big but if they’re under water, you can't see them! I just kept on going. ‘The water was about half a metre deep. Whenever a truck passed by, water would splash over the car! I was quite scared because water had got into the car the night before and colleagues had to take it to the garage. ‘The water came in faster than I expected and I had to drive quite fast to get out. The engine could have died and I would have been stuck. Fortunately I arrived back at base....wet, but at least the car didn’t break down until the next day!’ But for many people living in Suriname’s interior, Helmer says there’s no spare cash to repair damage or replace goods caused by the floods: ‘A broken down car is an inconvenience, but for the people living in remote areas, there’s a lot of poverty. When water floods their homes and things break down because they’ve gotten wet, they don’t have any resources to buy new things or access building materials to make their houses good again. They are stuck – for those people, the situation is really bad.’ With crops wiped out until early 2023, MAF’s immediate response is turning into long-term support for Suriname’s most vulnerable and isolated communities concludes Helmer: ‘These floods are a long-term problem for the people living in the interior because their crops are gone. For the cut-off communities dependent on outside help, airbridges and MAF flights are vital for food supplies when there is no cassava harvest.’ As Suriname recovers from these unprecedented floods, MAF continues to provide medevacs and other flights, which support community development and evangelism alongside immediate relief. Please pray for the people of Suriname at this time. MAF isn't able to carry out its life-transforming work in countries like Suriname without the amazing generosity of our supporters. Could you make a one-off gift today or even set up a regular gift to help us continue our work? Make a donation

Work first began in Wetap in 2016. Six years later, following an airstrip extension, two years of travel restrictions, several aerial surveys, ground inspections and a test flight, Wetap Airstrip is finally open for business. MAF’s Mandy Glass reveals just what it takes to reach this momentous moment and why this new airstrip will transform lives in future… On Friday 17 June, pilots Richie Axon and Wilfred Knigge set off from Tabubil and landed a MAF aircraft on Wetap Airstrip for the first time – a remote bush airstrip in Sandaun Province in northern Papua New Guinea. The test flight took an hour including various circuits and approaches to determine the safest possible route and landing. It was Wilfred’s first ever test flight to a new airstrip. For safety reasons, test flights do not carry cargo or passengers. Landing on a short 411 metre airstrip that’s 11% steep can be a dangerous business explains MAF co-pilot Richie Axon: ‘If we weren’t happy with anything, we’d simply abort the landing. No new airstrip or first landing is worth having an accident over! ‘Fortunately, it was really nice weather. The wind wasn’t too strong and the air was clear. There were no clouds in the area, which gave us an opportunity to fly over the airstrip a few times from both the left and from the right. This assessment determines the best circuit that all future pilots should take in in order to land here. ‘Once we had satisfied ourselves that we could approach the airstrip safely, we did a low-level inspection pass, which enabled us to get a really good picture of the ground, which helped us set up the plane for the first landing.’ A phenomenal reception Shortly after landing, local people came running and cheering as Richie and Wilfred disembarked from the plane. For many people, it was the first time they had met someone from outside their community. Richie describes their phenomenal reception: ‘It’s a pretty exciting day for the people - they really appreciated us coming. When we landed, they came rushing over! 'When Wilfred was assembling the wheel chocks (equipment to prevent the wheels from moving), they nearly tackled him! He was surrounded by about 20 people jumping up and down watched by loads of other people standing further away. Then they noticed me, came running over and nearly knocked me over too!’ After Richie and Wilfred spent some time with the locals, they inspected the airstrip by foot. Since the last survey and in preparation of MAF’s test flight, the community had improved the surface by digging drainage ditches to prevent the ground from becoming too soft from heavy rain. Short grass and an airstrip free from erosion and any obstacles - like large rocks or stray dogs! – are also imperative for landing. MAF – a vital connection to the outside world Wetap Village has no roads and consists of a few basic ‘buildings’ topped with corrugated iron to keep out the elements. Richie sums up the enormous challenge of travelling to and from Wetap without MAF: ‘Just to travel overground is such hard work! MAF will be a blessing to this community - a lifeline!’ Richie Axon, MAF pilot in PNG Before MAF, the locals carried building materials on foot. It takes at least eight hours to bring supplies from Oksapmin with an overnight stay at Gawa before continuing to hike another three miles to Wetap. Only the strongest of residents are able to traverse the terrain carrying heavy supplies. Such is the remoteness of Wetap, residents must hike to a mountain in order to receive a mobile phone signal. Following years of hiking and boating for days to reach surrounding villages, people finally have fast, safe and convenient transport of their own – MAF! MAF medevacs will now fly patients to hospital. If local produce is lacking, a range of nutritious food can be flown in by MAF offering a more balanced diet. Conversely, when local produce is abundant, MAF can transport it to market to sell or deliver it to others in need. Students will be able to further their education when MAF flies them to the nearest boarding schools in Oksapmin and Telefomin. Thanks to MAF, medics and missionaries will be able to access Wetap to support and develop the local community. The people of Wetap will no longer have to trek for hours to reach their nearest remote airstrip nor will they have to carry heavy building materials with their own bare hands for hours on end. Finally, they have connection to the outside world! ‘I shed tears and my heart filled with joy’ Shortly after MAF’s test flight, Wetap community leader Shedric Bisapen shared his heartfelt thanks with MAF. ‘I received a call today and in the background I heard the noise of MAF’s aircraft and people dancing and celebrating. ‘I shed tears and my heart filled with joy. I felt satisfied that all our hard work had finally paid off! The day has come for my people to enjoy this important service and connect to the outside world. ‘MAF has been so helpful - that’s why I have a reason to smile. You have given hope to these rural villagers who have struggled over the years. ‘You all worked for the good of my people. Congratulations to captains Richie Axon and Wilfred Knigge who flew into Wetap - you make me proud. Well done. ‘On behalf of my humble community, I praise God for answered prayers. I can’t wait to fly home! ‘May God continue to bless MAF.’   In the coming weeks, MAF will conduct its first operational flight into Wetap carrying cargo and / or passengers. The flight path and safest approach for landing - set by Wilfred and Richie - will be followed.

PNG ranks in the bottom half of the global maternal mortality index according to World Bank data. Rural areas without reliable electricity pose the greatest danger to women in labour. MAF is partnering with Dr Freda Wemin to roll out ‘Mama’s Waiting Hut’ initiative, which uses solar power to light remote clinics, making childbirth safer. MAF’s Joy Suarkia reports… Papua New Guinea ranks 129 out of 185 countries in the World Bank’s maternal mortality index. PNG has a population of nearly nine million people, but only 13% (1.16 million people out of 8.9 million) have access to grid-connected electricity (source: World Bank). With a huge rural population of 87%, most Papua New Guineans – like those living in Eastern Highlands Province - do not have access to reliable power or sufficient lighting, which are critical to healthcare provision including midwifery services. Unsafe and inadequate health infrastructure in such a remote setting leaves women feeling vulnerable. They have little choice but to give birth at home, relying on traditional birth attendants, often delivering in the dark. Without sufficient lighting, both mother and baby are in danger. Mama’s Waiting Hut project – a solar power solution Gynaecologist Dr Freda Wemin decided to tackle maternal mortality rates in rural PNG by setting up the ‘Mama Waiting Hut’ lighting project’ – a solar power initiative rolled out by MAF Technologies PNG and supported by PNG’s Provincial Health Authorities. To date – thanks to the installation of mini solar power kits - 15 health centres in Eastern Highlands Province now have access to reliable energy and sufficient lighting. These centres range from huts to labour wards and clinics. The Nupuru Health Centre thanks MAF for transforming their labour wards and maternal waiting huts:   ‘Thank you very much for the solar light kit we received under the Mama’s Waiting Hut lighting project. ‘You have met our lighting needs during the night when many of our patients go into labour. Only last month we lost a mother partly due to lighting difficulties.’ The Nupuru Health Centre, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea Babies are delivered by torch light MAF Technologies PNG electrician Simeon Tom has been carrying out the solar installations and has witnessed first-hand the dire need for lighting: ‘The only source of light available is from torches that the community health workers use, but once the battery goes, they are left to rely on their mobile phone torch, which runs down the phone battery very quickly. ‘Until I did this installation for the Mama’s Waiting Hut lighting project, I never knew how challenging it was for mothers in remote communities who need help during labour. Solar power will have a huge impact on the lives of the mother, her unborn child and the community health worker.’ Simeon can feel the palpable sense of relief from community health workers and expectant mothers living within the vicinity of the 15 health centres, which now have 24/7 reliable power. Eventually, it’s hoped that every rural clinic across PNG will benefit from this service, ultimately saving more lives during childbirth. MAF Technologies PNG also reduce maternal mortality through radio technology

Over the past 20 years, the number of female prisoners around the world has increased by 33% according to new research by Penal Reform International. Papua New Guinea is reportedly home to some of the most under-resourced prisons in the world, even more reason for MAF’s Harriëtte Knigge to visit the female inmates every week…   Harriëtte Knigge – wife of MAF pilot Wilfred Knigge – has been visiting female prisoners in Wewak Prison in Papua New Guinea for the last three years. Prisoners in PNG often go without blankets and beds. They have a hole in the ground for a toilet, fed a meagre bowl of rice once a day and live off an intermittent water supply. Many inmates are still wearing the clothes that they arrived in and are so far from home, that families cannot practically help them with their personal needs. Rehabilitation and spiritual renewal Based in Wewak with her family on the north coast of PNG, Harriëtte decided to give something back to the community and make an impact while her husband is out flying: ‘I was searching for options and one of my missionary friends said that she regularly visits the women’s prison.’ Harriëtte supports the women’s prison ministry set up by the Evangelical Brotherhood Church: ‘I visit the ladies every week. We open in prayer and ask them what they want prayer for. They obviously miss their children, family and friends and often need prayer for their court cases too. ‘Then we alternate between religious studies and a rehabilitation programme. We’ve also taken them through a trauma healing course and taught them different recipes like how to make banana pancakes and jam.’ Harriëtte continues: ‘One week we memorise Bible verses and talk about the Word of God, and the next we reflect on the past and focus on the future for their rehabilitation. ‘We find out what’s important to them and explore how they could make a living in future and contribute to their community. How can they help other ladies in a similar situation? We are working on self-love, self-respect and courage to reach others in need. ‘I’m also teaching them some conflict management skills.’ Harriëtte marvels at the women’s resilience on the inside: ‘Despite being in prison - no matter where they are or whatever circumstances they find themselves in, they make the best out of life and make time for each other. It’s really beautiful to see.’ MAF’s Harriëtte Knigge and member of Evangelical Brotherhood Church Women’s Prison Ministry Low literacy in prison   Harriëtte and the team also help prisoners improve their reading and writing skills: ‘Eight out of the ten ladies I visit, cannot read or write fluently. Their literacy levels are very low so – with the help of some Tok Pisin materials – they are learning how to read and write in prison. ‘We started a pen pal letter writing project with some Christian ladies back home. I found some ladies online who were willing to write letters to the female prisoners. ‘Their English letters get translated into Tok Pisin and then we help the female inmates to write something back. It’s really good practice and also very encouraging for both parties who share their lives and favourite scriptures with each other.’ Taking God’s light into a dark place Harriëtte explains how a little bit of hope can go a very long way: ‘We want to bring light into a very dark place. We want to bring these ladies God’s love and show them that whatever happened in their life, they are still loved and are daughters of the almighty God. When they are released, they still have a whole life to live so we want to give them hope.’ Harriëtte also finds the whole experience personally fulfilling: ‘The most rewarding thing for me is the smiles on their faces when I walk into prison. They know that I come every week and give me so much love. We just share life - it’s really nice to just be available and share God’s love with them.’ MAF Technologies PNG regularly donates solar-powered audio Bibles, printed Tok Pisin Bibles and reading glasses to Evangelical Brotherhood Church’s Women’s Prison Ministry.

Last summer, MAF flew Dr Simon Stretton-Downes OBE and team to remote northern Liberia to conduct a mobile dental clinic. In Voinjama, which has zero dental provision, they extracted over 400 teeth in three-and-a-half days. During ‘National Smile Month’, Simon tells MAF’s Claire Gilderson why oral health in Liberia is nothing to smile about… Ever grumble about the lack of NHS dentists in the UK? Spare a thought for those suffering from toothache in Liberia. According to SIM missionary Dr Simon Stretton-Downes OBE – who runs Trinity Dental Clinic in Liberia’s capital Monrovia – there are only seven dentists in the whole country, which has a population of five million people. In Liberia there is no such thing as a ‘check-up’ and currently nobody can officially train and qualify as a dentist in-country. For many, oral health is inaccessible and unaffordable Due to a severe shortage of dentists, many Liberians simply cannot access local dental services. For those who can afford it, patients travel from all over the country for treatment at Trinity Dental Clinic. Simon describes his weekly workload: ‘We see many face swellings caused by abscesses, dead bone in jaws from dental infections and great big tumours and cysts. ‘Most swellings are caused by rotten teeth, which infect the jaw, spread into the soft tissue, constrict the airway causing further infection, possibly death. ‘Every week, I drain small swellings but when the patient has difficulty breathing with a big swelling, I send them to hospital for intravenous antibiotics. After draining, they're sent back to us for tooth extraction. ‘We also see many trauma patients - children who have broken their teeth from falling over or someone who's been in a fight and had a rock thrown at them.’ Dentist Dr Simon Stretton-Downes OBE For many, dental health is simply not a priority in a country where healthcare and education are not free says Simon: ‘People are very poor – they have to decide on either buying food for their family, sending their children to school or seeking healthcare.’ Superstition and witchcraft are widespread Superstitious beliefs concerning teeth are very common in Liberia explains Simon: ‘We’ve seen people in the clinic who are afraid to have their “last tooth” (wisdom tooth) out because they think they are going to die. ‘In some parts of Africa - if a baby has diarrhoea - they remove one of the baby’s canine teeth. They believe by removing the perceived “worm” underneath the bud of the developing canine, this will cure the illness. ‘These “extractions” are often carried out with a sharp teaspoon handle with no anaesthetic, which can cause serious injury. ‘It’s a different world compared to what we are used to. British society tends to blame everything on something medical or scientific, for them everything is spiritual.’ Bad habits and traditions undermine dental care In Simon’s career of 39 years, the last five years in Liberia have been the most clinically interesting. He has treated patients for conditions not usually encountered by dentists in the UK. Broken jaws caused by motorbike accidents for example are prolific in Liberia. In the last three months alone, Simon has treated 12 patients with broken jaws. None of the injured wear helmets sighs Simon: ‘There are usually three or four people on the bike driving really fast with no helmets. I’ve been told some of the drivers are on drugs to keep them awake.’ Another practice which is not conducive to maintaining healthy is eating bones. It’s the cultural norm says Simon: ‘Filleted meat means you have cheated them out of the best bits! ‘It’s a serious issue here - it’s not just chicken bones, it’s beef ribs that they are grinding to powder in their mouth. Everybody does it - even little old ladies. ‘They bite on the bone so hard with their virgin teeth that it literally splits the tooth straight down the middle. ‘I see patients every day in the clinic who have split their tooth on bone - it’s totally preventable.’ ‘In Liberia, there’s no such thing as early presentation’ Many Liberians also ignore dental problems, which can lead to death if left untreated. Simon says most patients only access his clinic when their problem becomes unmanageable: ‘In Liberia, there’s no such thing as early presentation. ‘Most of the time I’ll see patients who have had a broken tooth for a long time - if it’s not hurting them, they won’t do anything about it. When they leave it, abscess develop and then they come to see us. We try and save the tooth especially if it’s a front tooth. ‘Other times there’s swelling and bone damage. When it hurts, they’ll try the traditional healer first and then when it’s really bad, that’s when they consider seeing us. ‘People with broken jaws come to see us after it’s been broken for two or three weeks. When we explain to them what we are going to do, some of them don’t come back for treatment.’ MAF takes around an hour instead of three days Outside of Monrovia, the dental landscape is even worse. For the last two-and-a-half years Simon and his team have been regularly conducting dental outreaches further afield. Around six times a year, they serve Liberia’s most isolated communities who have no access to dental healthcare. Last July, Simon and the team went to Voinjama - up north near the Guinea border – where there is no dental provision whatsoever. It was the team’s remotest outreach to date in a predominantly Muslim area. On a good day, it takes ten hours to reach Voinjama from Monrovia by car. On a wet day – when the roads turn to mud – you’re looking at two or three days but with MAF, it only takes one hour and ten minutes by air. MAF flew the team of seven including Simon’s wife Grace and Musa the evangelist (a former imam), plus all their essential equipment including portable dentist chairs. Together, they treated, prayed and witnessed to 150 patients over three-and-a-half days and extracted 430 teeth! Fostering home-grown dental practitioners When Simon isn’t facilitating remote mobile dental clinics and running the practice in Monrovia, he’s project managing the building of a new dental training school. This is being constructed next to the existing Trinity Dental Clinic and should be completed in September. Thanks to these new facilities, students will be able to formerly undertake a two-year dentistry diploma course approved by Liberia’s Ministry of Health. From this autumn, students will be able to qualify as dental therapists at the first officially recognised dentistry training provider in the country. They will be able to extract teeth, teach community dental health, undertake temporary fillings, descale teeth and examine, diagnose refer and treat patients where possible. Liberia’s dire dental landscape is about to change concludes Simon: ‘We want to set up more formalised dental training – that’s what we’re aiming for. Once we’ve built the school, we’ll be able to take on more students - potentially up to 12 every year. I want to see how far we can go with this school – that’s my full focus. ‘I’ve had the privilege of really making a difference with my skillset in Liberia. I’m hoping to continue here for at least another three years.’ We wish Simon and the team all the very best with their endeavours. We pray that the new school will nurture and launch the careers of many desperately needed Liberian dental practitioners all over the country. In the meantime, MAF will continue to enable mobile dental clinics for Liberia’s most isolated people whenever they are called upon.

More than six million people have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded (UN). Elsewhere - away from the spotlight - the plight of refugees continues. Over two million South Sudanese are still living in refugee camps since war broke out in 2013 – mostly in Uganda. MAF works with various partners to support these refugees including ‘ForAfrika’. MAF’s Jill Vine reports… Omugo – Uganda’s newest refugee settlement in the country’s north-western corner - opened five years ago in Terego District and has the capacity to host 43,000 South Sudanese refugees (source: UN). MAF partner ‘ForAfrika’ provides agricultural training, start-up kits and water pumps during the dry season so that refugee farmers can grow their own food and have a more diverse diet. These homegrown vegetables are a welcome addition to the staple maize rations provided by the aid agencies. Any surplus vegetables are either preserved for the leaner months or sold as a source of income. ForAfrika has also established saving and loan associations for farmers enabling anyone in the community to borrow money if they need it. They uphold a mutual understanding where nobody defaults. Farming is used as a means of integrating refugees into the wider host community. Both parties farm together on communal land, which fosters a peaceful co-existence. When a local host leases their land to the refugee farmers, they receive 30% of the harvest. ‘MAF is quick, smart and very smooth’ In April, MAF flew Fred Mutenyo, ForAfrika’s Uganda Country Director, to the nearest airstrip, Arura, to access the camp. The smooth 90-minute flight from Kajjansi, just south of the capital Kampala, saved him a ten-hour uncomfortable drive. Fred began flying with MAF in 2017 and hasn’t looked back: ‘MAF is quick, smart and very smooth. I find their hospitality much better than other agencies.  I mainly fly from Kajjansi to Arua, Karamoja and Gulu where we work in refugee settlements. ‘I like to see tangible results as we change people's lives. I love that we are genuinely helping people.’ Fred Mutenyo, Uganda Country Director, ForAfrika On his latest visit, Fred is distributing agricultural tools and seeds to refugee farmers and inspecting 70 acres of land that they’re hoping to lease to another 30 refugees. Fred is in discussion with the head farmer about planting sesame seeds rather than peanuts because some seeds don’t do well in the local rocky terrain, which often surrounds Uganda’s refugee settlements. The host communities don’t tend to use this rocky or swampy land for farming, so ForAfrika offers advice on crop selection to get the best out of the land. ForAfrika supports around 1,500 refugee farmers in Uganda – that’s 50 farming communities each comprising of 30 farmers. MAF's Jill Vine talks to some refugee farmers to see how they’re faring under ForAfrika’s initiative: Betty’s story Betty was forced to flee Yei, southern South Sudan, in 2018: ‘My husband died in 2019 - he was shot on the frontline. ‘Thanks to ForAfrika, I can now provide for my children. Before, I didn’t have any seeds but now I have cow peas, sesame, peanuts, beans, onions, cabbages and aubergines. 'I bought a goat with the profit. 'Now I’m ok -I've stopped grieving my husband. ‘South Sudan cannot stabilise. I feel at home here in Uganda. I want my children to stay here and receive a good education. ‘Development is key – the money we get we use for farming and pay for our children’s schooling.’ David’s story David (R) stands proudly on his newly leased land with a sense of hope. He fled Yei on 25January 2018:  ‘Although I worked for the UN in South Sudan as their Political Community Liaison Officer, I have always been a farmer - farming is our backbone.  My job was to mediate when conflict arose.’  For no apparent reason, David was suddenly arrested at Juba Airport and detained. He was imprisoned for seven months: ‘When I was released, I stayed with friends for three months before attempting to reach the Ugandan border, but I was arrested again by one of the opposition groups (IO) and spent another year in prison. ‘In 2017, the National Salvation Front attacked the prison, saved my life and urged me to reach Uganda again.’   Since arriving in Uganda four years ago with his wife, his two children and three of his brother’s children, David has reaped the rewards from ForAfrika’s initiative: ‘When I arrived at Omugo, I was given a small 40 x 40 plot of leased land. ForAfrika gave us 6kgs of maise seed. This produced a 120kgs harvest, which generated 150k of profit (£30). They also gave us onion and tomato seeds plus 10kgs of sesame seed. This generated 450k (£100) from just 1/8th of an acre.  ‘I bought 300 watermelon seeds from the profit and rented a 1/4 acre of land.  My profit increased to 6,220,000 Ugandan Shillings (£1,390). This has enabled me to pay for my eldest’s university fees. The younger children are at good schools in Jinja because of ForAfrika's support.  They have given me quality seeds that have produced yields for three years. Now I’m not worried about how I will feed my family.’  Now that David’s family are independent and leasing 12 acres of land, ForAfrika will reallocate their support to other refugee farmers who need it. David is delighted with the results and fully supports ForAfrika’s ethos: ‘My life has improved since I came to Uganda. I want my children to finish their education and I don't want to return to South Sudan. Here, we are stronger together. We are self-driven but ForAfrika has supported us so much.’ Andrew’s story In 2017, Andrew (L) was chased out of Yei by the opposition group IO and the pro-government’s ‘Sudan People’s Liberation Army’ (SPLA). His family of ten safely reached Uganda and ForAfrika supported him shortly after arrival: ‘When I was chased out of my country, I thought about what I had left behind, but then ForAfrika helped me with seeds. They helped me plant beans. We made 200k (£50) profit and enough food to eat at home. ‘Let's forget about what happened in South Sudan and cultivate the land here in Uganda. 'I am settled here - why would I go back to South Sudan when there are so many rebels who could kill me? I want to plant more beans, sesame and watermelon!’ We wish David, Betty and Andrew every success with all their endeavours as they settle into their new lives in Uganda. More from South Sudan's refugees and IDPs I have a name We can be heroes! Issa's story

RAF veteran, Jack Hemmings AFC*, took to the skies today to raise money for MAF and pay tribute to fellow MAF co-founder and RAF engineer, the late Stuart King, in what would have been Stuart’s 100th year. In 1948, the pair flew across Africa in the same aircraft model, which surveyed the needs of some of the world’s most isolated people…. On Saturday 19 March, Jack Hemmings AFC* piloted a vintage 1947 Miles Gemini aircraft over Old Warden Airfield on the Shuttleworth Estate in Bedfordshire – the same model he flew 74 years ago for MAF. This follows Jack’s 100 birthday celebrations last August, which saw him perform aerobatics at White Waltham Airfield in Maidenhead. Jack – a former World War II pilot and squadron leader - is thought to be one of the oldest British airmen to perform stunts of this kind. Today, blessed with a clear blue sky, Jack was accompanied in the air by the Miles Gemini’s owner, Stu Blanchard. They had a bird’s-eye view of Shuttleworth’s huge collection of vintage aircraft set in 875 acres of parkland. Shuttleworth is home to some of the world’s oldest flying aircraft, including a De Havilland Rapide –  the model first used by MAF in Sudan, which Jack flew during the 1950s. Shortly after landing in Shuttleworth, Jack summed up his momentous feat: ‘It was wonderful to be back in a Miles Gemini after 74 years. ‘I love flying because I have a feeling of detachment from all the problems in the world, and there are a lot of problems! Flying is an enjoyable relaxation.’ Jack Hemmings, MAF co-founder An adventure of a lifetime Jack’s first flight in a Miles Gemini aircraft was on 6 September 1947 when MAF began its six-week UK tour from Broxboume Airport, Hertfordshire. It was MAF’s first British aircraft. Rallying  support from the British public was crucial ahead of MAF’s first ever survey across Africa. The UK tour comprised of more than 30 stops covering 3,600 miles. Over 18,000 people got to hear about MAF and the Miles Gemini named the ‘Mildmay Pathfinder’ – Britain’s first ever mission aircraft. Following its successful UK tour, on 13 January 1948, the Mildmay Pathfinder took off from Croydon, South London and headed to Nairobi, Kenya – the starting point for MAF’s Africa survey. MAF was the first ever British mission to assess wide-ranging humanitarian needs of isolated communities across Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Rwanda and the Congo. This six-month trip saw the Miles Gemini encounter hazardous terrain, difficult climates and dangerous conditions, which Jack and Stuart documented in 900 pages of notes. During their survey, they travelled more than 10,000km visiting over 500 remote missionaries across central Africa. Jack recalls: ‘Everywhere we landed was somewhere new to us, and a lot of locals would never have seen a plane in the air, let alone in their village! We were met with total bewilderment and people gathered round with great interest. ‘We explored whether we could help with the aims of local missions in areas almost completely cut off.’ Together, Jack and Stuart concluded that the only way to provide lifesaving help in hard-to-reach places was to build airstrips in the wilderness. An incredible legacy This year’s Miles Gemini flight was an opportunity for Jack to celebrate Stuart’s life and raise money for MAF, whilst reliving the excitement of his former years. Jack reflects upon his early days with MAF, which led to a lifelong friendship and the global aviation charity that it is today: ‘Together we shared many novel experiences – first flying the Miles Gemini on the UK tour, then the six-month survey of central Africa in 1948. ‘Stuart was a pilot, a conscientious engineer, a pioneer and a man of resolute faith. He was a great friend, a man of vision, devoted to MAF since the early days of 1947. If Stuart were here today, I would simply say to him: “Stuart – you done good!” ‘Today, MAF has over 120 aircraft around the world. Every flight does some good – I think MAF is like the international Good Samaritan of the air. If anyone needs transporting out of difficulty, or needs urgent medical help, MAF is there.’ To date, Jack has raised over £1,000 for MAF in Stuart’s memory. You can still support Jack here.  *AFC = ‘Air Force Cross’ , which is a military honour awarded to officers for acts of exemplary gallantry while flying. News coverage The One Show Daily Mail BBC Online BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Surrey BBC Three Counties Radio RAF News Bedfordshire Live Sussex Express

Denge fever cases in the first quarter of 2022 are five times higher than last year, as per Timor-Leste’s Ministry of Health. Children are mostly affected with 77% of all cases reportedly under the age of 14. Without MAF, it would take hours to get to hospital by road or boat instead of only minutes by air. With MAF, saving time saves lives…. Dengue fever is spread by infected mosquitoes and is common during Timor-Leste’s hottest months between December and April. This year however, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Timor-Leste is experiencing ‘unusually high levels compared to previous years’. Timor-Leste’s Ministry of Health is describing the number of dengue fever cases as a ‘serious public health issue’. The WHO says: ‘The significant daily increase in the number of dengue cases and the rate of hospitalisation in the current outbreak are unusual. The number of reported cases from 1 December 2021 is substantially higher compared to the same period in previous years since 2016.’ On 28 April 2022, Timor-Leste’s Ministry of Health reported a total of 4,523 dengue fever cases since 1 December 2021, including 51 deaths. During the same period in 2021, there were only 901 cases and 11 deaths – that’s five times less than 2022. What is denge fever? Dengue fever presents itself as flu-like symptoms with a high temperature. The infection is usually mild and clears up after a week, but sometimes it can be very severe and even life threatening. Preventing mosquito bites is an effective way of avoiding the disease. There is no vaccine for dengue fever, which can usually be treated with paracetamol, plenty of fluids and rest. Early recognition of the disease and appropriate care are key and can reduce severe cases and death. But in a country with a fragile health system, poor infrastructure and where available resources are already battling coronavirus, it’s of little surprise that the number of severe cases have increased in Timor-Leste. MAF saves a seven-year-old In February alone this year, 1,284 cases of dengue fever were reported compared to only 242 cases in February 2021 (source: Timor-Leste Ministry of Health). Since 2007, MAF has been the only air ambulance service in the country to fly patients to Timor-Leste’s main hospital ‘National Hospital of Guido Valadares’ in the capital Dili, saving patients thousands of hours of road travel. Without MAF medevacs, there would be more deaths caused by untreated severe dengue fever this time of year. One of those cases was this seven-year-old on 14 February: The child's medevac from Viqueque in the south to the hospital in Dili only took 35 minutes. By road it takes six hours. Time is critical says Nurse Jumenia Ximenes Saldanha: ‘Due to distance and poor roads, it’s very difficult for us to transfer patients from rural areas - it would take hours to reach hospital for specialist treatment. ‘If MAF wasn’t operating here and didn’t collaborate with Timor Leste’s Ministry of Health for medevacs, it would be difficult for Timorese.’ Nurse Jumenia Ximenes Saldanha Thanks to MAF pilots Marcus Grey and Jan Klassen, the child received the right hospital treatment in good time – they are now on their way to recovery. Following a six-hour overland journey on poor roads, who knows if the child would have survived? A medevac from Atauro Island only take 15 minutes Three days’ later, the two pilots medevac another two-year old boy suffering from severe dengue fever to the same hospital. His condition is critical. The flight from Atauro Island off Timor-Leste’s north coast to Dili only takes MAF 15 minutes. By boat it takes two hours – far too much time says Broslin dos Santos, the boy’s father: ‘Our flight was very fast and easy - only 15 minutes to Dili. Normally we travel by boat, which takes two hours. If the weather is bad, we can’t travel at all. ‘My son had a severe fever when we brought him to Atauro Island Clinic. The nurses decided to transfer him to the national hospital on the mainland for treatment. After a few minutes, MAF picked us up and flew us to Dili. He was in hospital for almost a week. When he recovered and was discharged, we returned by boat. ‘We are very thankful for MAF’s medevac, which saved our child’s life. We hope that God blesses MAF’s mission in Timor-Leste, which transforms the lives of isolated people. I can’t imagine MAF not operating here - it would be difficult in emergency situations.’ From January to March this year, seven of MAF’s medevacs in Timor-Leste have been related to severe dengue fever. Five were from Atauro Island, one from Baucau in the north-east and another from Viqueque in the south. All patients were under the age of ten. Since 2007, MAF has medevacked nearly 3,000 patients to Dili’s National Hospital of Guido Valadares from all over the country. In Timor-Leste, MAF is summoned for a medevac nearly every day:

Dama gazelles are one of earth’s most endangered species. Globally, only 100 are left with half of them living in Chad and Niger. To boost breeding, the Sahara Conservation Fund transferred several specimens from UAE’s Abu Dhabi Zoo to Ouadi Achim Wildlife Reserve in central Chad. MAF flew the animals from Abeche to Oryx – the last leg of their journey… In Chad, a dama gazelle is a rare symbol of beauty and elegance. Automatic weapons and vehicles however, are more commonplace. Thanks to human encroachment and poaching, this species is on the brink of extinction. Today, it’s extremely rare to observe dama gazelles in the wild. The Sahara Conservation Fund (SCF) aims to change all that. By introducing several new specimens from the UAE's Abu Dhabi Zoo to Ouadi Achim Wildlife Reserve in Chad, it’s hoped that their breeding programme will increase the local and global population. Flying with MAF is fast and low risk On 14 March 2022, SCF's CEO John Watkin and his team, accompany the sedated animals on the last leg of their journey from Abeche to Oryx. By road it takes around ten hours, but with MAF it only takes 35 minutes! MAF pilot and Chad operations manager Becki Dillingham is at the helm. John explains how the SCF plan to strengthen Chad’s damal gazelle population: ‘Back in the day, they were throughout the whole of the Sahel, but now they're in a very compromised state. By breeding these animals at the breeding centre, they will mix with the genes from a number of other populations. ‘We're going to have three populations of female damas with one male, and we hope to produce about 20 to 30 gazelle fawns per year in the next two years. Hopefully we’ll get the population up to about 150. ‘They will be released back into the wild once they are old enough not to be threatened by jackals and dogs from the nomad camps.’   Dama gazelles are incredibly sensitive creatures says John: For no reason at all dama gazelles can take off. If they're not used to being in an enclosed space, they will often run into fences and do themselves terrible harm. ‘We wanted to reduce that risk as best we could, so we took the decision last year to sedate them and fly them across. John Watkin, CEO of Sahara Conservation Fund Preserving future species After their release, John is happy to report that the animals are faring well: ‘They seem to be very happy with the situation. It will take them a couple of weeks to adapt to their new diet before moving onto a natural diet. We can't change anything too quickly because the bacteria in their stomachs need to adapt. It can't all be at once - it's got to be a phased approach.’ In January 2020 – again with MAF’s help - the SCF introduced a female dama gazelle 'Becki' from Chad’s Manga Region into Ouadi Achim’s captive population. 'Becki' - named after MAF's Becki Dillingham - was personally flown by MAF to Ouadi Achim and has successfully gone on to reproduce. John concludes: ‘Becki went on to have three fawns (two females, Shaika and Hiti, and one male, Kallé) and they are genetically very important individuals. The plan is to start breeding them with other individuals who are there, secure their genes and release them into the population. ‘These genes are important because of their diversity. Diverse genes mean that these animals will be able to withstand disease and harsh weather like floods or droughts. This genetic base is fundamental for biodiversity and dama’s global population, both in the wild and in captivity.’ Shaika was born on 25 August 2020, Hiti on 21 March 2021 and Kallé on 8 November 2021. The future survival of the dama now depends on fawns like these. MAF takes conservation and living more sustainably seriously. Did you know that MAF has a six-part Bible study series 'He Saw It Was Good', which explores how, together, we can protect our precious planet? Find out more and sign up today

Aviation experts grappled with zero co2 emissions and the future of flying at MAF’s fourth Ecological and Electric Aviation Conference on 9 March in Finland. With electric cars already a reality, how long before electric aircraft regularly grace our skies? Conference speakers, George Bye and Anders Forslund, weigh up the pros and cons of going electric (more…)

Following four years in Uganda, Dave Waterman - MAF engineer and regional avionics manager for Africa - is now serving in West Africa based at the new hangar in Monrovia. Four months after moving to a new country, Dave and his wife Becky lift the lid on Liberia and reveal how they are adjusting to their new life so far…When did you arrive in Liberia?On 9 August 2021, we waved farewell to Uganda. Three months later, the wheels of our plane touched down in Liberia on 9 November. In what was an incredible answer to prayer, the boxes we had shipped from Uganda arrived at our new house on the very same day! We’ve been busy getting unpacked and settled, and making this house feel like home. We took to the streets to explore the local shops to discover what supplies we could pick up for the house. Stock seems to vary weekly, but we’ve found plenty of food to keep us going.How different is Liberia from Uganda?The culture is completely different. Liberia is as different from Uganda as it is from the UK. Many people from the West think of Africa as just one whole, but there are 54 different countries and each of them has their own distinct culture, climate and ways of doing things. It’s hard work coming into an entirely new environment trying to work out how everything works. It’s hard enough moving across a country that you know – where are the supermarkets? What’s the best route to get to work? So imagine that, multiplied by a 100!What were your first impressions of your new home?Amidst the sweatiness of hot Liberian days, we have battled frequent power and water cuts, crazy traffic, enormous storms, insane levels of rust, cockroaches and even scorpions! One even made its way into the house next door - we’ve been checking where to put our feet ever since! The compound we live on is beautiful, and it’s so lovely to have a beach just minutes from our front door. It’s a wonderful way to relax after a busy and hot day.It’s strange to be in the unusual again, but we are so glad to be here. Liberia is a place of striking contrasts, from storms with huge amounts of rain, to a scorching dry season forcing Dave into the role of firefighter when the dry brushland near MAF’s new hangar caught fire.There’s extreme poverty, with people begging in desperation outside shops, to people with contented beautiful smiles worshiping God within the churches.Dave, describe your new job in Liberia‘After spending time in the UK, it’s great to be doing work on MAF’s planes again. I was strangely pleased to come home and find my fingernails caked in dirt and oil. I enjoy the work here —one day I’m out on the hangar floor doing an inspection or fixing a fault, the next I’ll be working in the office, planning for the West Africa Maintenance Base.’Dave Waterman - MAF engineer and regional avionics manager for AfricaEvery day is different. As the regional avionics manager for Africa, my days are incredibly varied. I help with plans for building new houses in Liberia and I’ve recently joined in with setting up the Guinea programme, which includes taking on the role of maintenance controller.  I’ve organised a backup generator to plug into our solar panels and batteries, to ensure our houses keep power when the rest of the city goes dark (a frequent occurrence!) That’s just a taster - jumping from job to job is a challenge, but I love it!How do you envisage MAF’s work in the region expanding?In West Africa, MAF has two planes in Liberia and a third in Guinea. Life is busy working in the hangar and office, while supporting the fleet of planes in Africa with avionics issues. Our hangar in Monrovia not only supports Liberia, but MAF’s work in West Africa. It’s a different way of working. It’s amazing to think about the impact those planes will have in countries where the roads are completely impassable during monsoon season (and treacherous the rest of the time!)From tyres to vaccines, medevacs for people too sick to reach hospital by road, to sacks of onions for missionaries living in remote areas, our planes are always packed to the brim with essential supplies and people, making a massive difference across West Africa.Becky, how are you supporting MAF?One role I’ve taken on is looking after MAF kit— a supply of kitchen equipment, bedding, towels, curtains, etc. That kit is provided to new families entering the programme, to give them a bit of time to sort out their own supplies. The job involves working out what we have already, doing some shopping to fill in the gaps, and then making sure everything is in place for new families. Our newest family arrived in February. Our team will double in size in the next year or two, so there will be many more sweaty days getting organised!What are some of the challenges here?Working in multiple currencies (US dollars and Liberian dollars) is complicated enough. Throw in a bit of Liberian English and simple shopping becomes complex!A couple of ladies visit our house most days to sell us fruit and vegetables. In our first week, I accidentally bought 30 bananas from one lady. I asked for five, but she unloaded 30 because she thought I wanted five dollars’ worth! We ate them all eventually – banana cake, banana oatmeal cookies, banana bread, bananas with cereal, bananas with absolutely everything you can imagine!These little things you don’t even think of back home are challenging here. I’m missing butter because we haven’t been able to get hold of it for the last couple of months. It’s definitely going to take some time adjusting to shopping here.One of the biggest challenges here is the language. Technically, Liberia speaks English – that’s the official language, but they speak ‘Liberian’ English which is like pidgin English. You hear the odd word and think, I should be able to understand that, but I have absolutely no idea what you’re saying!The climate is also very hot here – the coldest our thermometer has gone down to is 29 degrees and the humidity is insane. The only reason why we’re not dripping with sweat right now is because we have air conditioning on. It’s so hot and humid - it takes it out of you.There are ants who have a taste for human flesh, giant spiders and jellyfish which wash up on the lovely beach with their vicious stings. There’s a lot to get used to and it’s going to take a while, but those challenges will be overcome one day at a time. Hearing about the work enabled by MAF, makes it all worthwhile.What about the power cuts?Frequently, we have no power for two to three days at a time. Without our solar panels we would have no power at all, but our system isn’t quite powerful enough to keep all the houses running throughout the night (hence the need for a new generator). It’s stressful wondering what you’ll be able to keep running and trying to sleep in 30+ degree heat without a fan to cool you down. Couple that with occasional water outages, and you can imagine the difficulties getting smelly and sweaty clothes washed and dried (not to mention smelly and sweaty bodies!)We are in the process of building new houses that will be equipped with individual solar systems, as well as solar water heaters – that will be a huge help. We’ll also be reducing our environmental impact, as much of the power generation in Liberia is based on burning diesel, especially in the dry season when Liberia’s hydropower stations struggle to keep up because of lack of water.What do you enjoy most about Liberia?This country is so green and full of life - most of the interior is rain forest. There are wonderful birds flying around and multi-coloured lizards darting across the path in front of you. There’s a beach that runs down the whole side of the country that’s just beautiful. The people are welcoming and lovely - they’re happy that we are here. I’m really loving this country and enjoying it here.Remind us again - why is MAF in Liberia?So much of the amazing work here would fail to happen without MAF. From medevacking patients to hospital with critical spinal issues - who would be impossible to take by road - to transporting newly translated New Testaments in the local language to ecstatic believers. We hear these stories day in and day out. Our partners can use their time so much more effectively by travelling with MAF - an hour’s flight rather than a 20-hour car journey. What would you like to say to your supporters?We have no words to express our thanks to all our supporters. The love we receive just blows us away. As we learn to navigate the complexities of a new culture, we feel buoyed up by their thoughts and prayers - it’s their generosity that keeps us here at all. We wouldn’t be here without them! Thank you for walking with us on this amazing adventure.Follow Dave and Becky’s Liberian adventures here

According to the International Society of Women Airline Pilots, 94% of the world’s pilots are men. Meet MAF pilot and instructor, Dr Bridget Ingham, who bucks that trend. Bridget worked in Timor-Leste as a pilot and for MAF Mareeba’s Flight Training Centre, which trains tomorrow's MAF pilots. Bridget shares how she broke that proverbial glass ceiling… New Zealander Dr Bridget Ingham's passion for aviation and God-given desire to become a pilot, began at the tender age of 11: ‘I have a very distinct memory of wanting to fly small planes. I don't know where it came from because I'd never been in a small plane. ‘I said to mum, “I think God wants me to be a pilot” and she said, “maybe you could fly for MAF”. “What’s that?”, I asked, and she explained that they fly missionaries around the world. She'd just heard a radio advert on our local Christian radio station about MAF. ‘A few years later, a couple from my church announced that they were going to be joining MAF - that’s what set me on the path. As they were talking about MAF and what they were called to do, I just felt this burning in my spirit that I should follow too.’ Fulfilling her God-given desire Bridget excelled academically and completed her PhD in physics in 2005. During her studies she took up flying lessons and obtained her private pilot’s license at the age of 19. She worked as a government research scientist in experimental physics for 13 years, using synchrotron X-rays to probe the atomic structure of materials. Her work included overseas stints at Imperial College London and Stanford University in California. Her medical certificate for flying and biennial flight review eventually lapsed, but in 2016, God reminded her of her dream: ‘When I looked into becoming a MAF pilot, God showed me how different parts of my life - abilities, opportunities & experiences - fitted together. That had been His plan all along.’ Dr Bridget Ingham – MAF pilot and flight instructor Bridget achieved her commercial pilot’s licence in 2017 and completed her flight instructor licence at MAF Mareeba’s Flight Training Centre in northern Australia in July 2019. In August, she began teaching. MAF trainee pilots are ‘living the dream’ As a qualified flight instructor, Bridget's specialism is ‘Ab-initio’ classes – delivering crucial first lessons to new students. Bridget loves their eagerness to learn: ‘It's great seeing students’ infectious enthusiasm, especially when they first arrive and get to look at a plane up close and personal. We take the cowlings off (metal cover) so they can look at the engine, but when they get to do their first flight, there’s always a bit of buzz. ‘They're living the dream, which has often been under the surface for a long time. Their milestones – their first solo flight, first solo navigation, passing their exams and seeing the penny drop – it’s really rewarding!’ Bridget is particularly proud of designing a course for the Commercial Pilot’s License Aerodynamics exam: ‘A lot of students struggle with this and although we have books and resources available that do a pretty good job of covering it, it's a lot better to have someone who can actually explain things and have that interaction. It was a privilege to be asked to put that together.’ An unexpected change of scenery As much as Bridget was enjoying her flight instructor role, little did she know she would be urgently reassigned to Timor-Leste. In July 2020, she was transferred to Dili for six months due to a shortage of pilots caused by coronavirus. At the height of the pandemic, MAF was the only local operator to fly in-country. For people wanting to get to Oecusse - an exclave surrounded by Indonesia on the north coast of the island - it was their only option. For the first three weeks Bridget had to undertake bespoke training for a very different terrain: ‘Some airstrips in Timor-Leste are more basic and shorter than Mareeba. When you fly into an airstrip that's only 640 meters long, you don't have a lot of margin. ‘There are many important factors to think about - wind, length, altitude, and slope. When you land, is it uphill or downhill? Is the surface grass or gravel? Is it sealed? Are there any obstacles near the airstrip that you have to fly around to get in? Technique and decision making are critical. ‘Some airstrips in Timor-Leste have a 90-degree crosswind across the runway, so you can land in either direction because you get no assistance from the wind.’ In addition to the technical differences, visually, Timor-Leste is completely different: ‘I like the scenery the best - very steep mountains, forests, plus flying over coral reefs and the beauty of the sea. I got to fly over that on a daily basis. It's a fantastic place to fly from one end of the country to the other - it's very different all the way along. ‘There's always something to look at out of the window, as opposed to Australia, which is very flat and the same for hours. I never tired of doing those flights, especially in the east from Viquequeor to Los Palos.’ ‘Blessed are the flexible’ This was the first time Bridget had moved to somewhere where English was not widely spoken. She also had to lower her expectations in a country that moves at a much slower pace than Australia: ‘I realised that I had to keep my expectations of what I could achieve in a day very low. Everything takes longer and is harder - especially when communicating with people and you can't speak the language, and you're limited to pointing and pleases and thank yous.’ Simple things like running water from a tap and turning on power from the flick of a switch, also proved challenging: ‘Every house has a water pump that draws water out of a borehole, but it doesn't always work. Sometimes it’s the water pump itself and other times the power's gone out. You have no idea when it's going to come back on! That happened twice a week. ‘Once I was trying to cook dinner - I had my rice in a pot and turned on the stove, but the gas bottle had run out. Sometimes the water, electricity and gas ran out at the same time! ‘If you want to have a shower when the water's not working, you have to take water home in buckets. I did that for two weeks waiting for the pump to get fixed. Things can take a while to get sorted out. ‘You have to be prepared for anything. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be broken!’ Memorable medevacs MAF is contracted by Timor-Leste’s National Ambulance Service to provide medevacs. Since operations began in 2007, MAF has carried out nearly 3,000 medevacs. Consequently, 75% of Bridget’s flights in Timor-Leste have been medevacs. At times, medevacs can be highly stressful. Bridget recalls a motorcycle accident casualty she flew from Viqueque in the south to Dili in the north where the National Hospital of Guido Valadares is located: ‘The guy was in a lot of pain. I tried to do the turn-around as quickly as I could. We got him, his family member, the medic on the plane and took off. It was only a 30-minute flight but in the last 10 minutes when I was coming into Dili, he started yelling and calling out constantly. I just knew I had to concentrate on flying that plane and landing as smoothly as I could.’ Another memorable medevac was when Bridget transported a head injury patient from Baucau on the north coast to Dili – another 30-minute flight: ‘A guy in his 20s was trying to pull out the IV line from his arm and the oxygen line from his nose, so the medics had to physically tie him onto the stretcher using bandages. One medic was on each limb, holding him down as they tied him. That was just so hard to watch - seeing him struggle. ‘When we arrived in Dili, the guy's mother came over, took my hand and pressed her nose to it. In Timorese culture, that’s a sign of deep respect and gratitude, something that people do to their parents, grandparents or an important person. She did that to me, which was really touching. She appreciated what we had done so that her son could get medical treatment.’ New horizons Flying in Timor-Leste has made Bridget a better flight instructor. ‘Now that I've seen how MAF operates in a programme, having that picture in my mind as the end goal when I teach, will help my students achieve what we want them to achieve. ‘I now have a few more real-world scenarios that I can draw on. My hands-on flying in Timor-Leste should make my plane demonstrations a bit tighter as well. Being more disciplined here has really helped – it’s something I will carry over into my instructing.’ Bridget will never forget her time in Timor-Leste: ‘Knowing that you're making a real difference in people's lives is just so rewarding. It has been a great experience and my flying skills have really improved. It's been a real privilege to come here and get a taste of what it's like flying here.’ After leaving Timor-Leste, Bridget returned to flight instructing at MAF Mareeba in January 2021. She left Australia in October 2021 and relocated to Papua New Guinea in January 2022 as a MAF pilot. Bridget is loving every minute: ‘I’m incredibly excited to be used by God in this way, serving Him through MAF. I know the future won’t be easy, but I know God goes before me and I can trust Him in all things. I thank and praise Him for everyone who is supporting me on this journey of faith.’ Follow Bridget’s MAF adventures in Papua New Guinea here

It has been described as the ‘worst drought’ Madagascar has seen in 40 years. UNICEF says half a million under-fives will be ‘acutely malnourished’ this year, with a further 110,000 facing ‘severe malnourishment’. In response, MAF flew staff from the ‘Malagasy Assoc. of Biblical Baptist Churches’ who have been distributing food to the worst hit areas…In southern Madagascar where 80% of the population depend on agriculture to survive, one in two people are now facing hunger (UN World Food Programme). The drought has decimated crops and dried up water sources, resulting in little sustenance for communities and cattle. Farming families have lost their livelihoods and have been displaced by the drought.The pandemic, deforestation and Madagascar’s cyclone season have exacerbated their woes. According to UNWFP, this could become ‘the first famine to be caused by climate change’.80% of Madagascar’s rainforest has been cut down, leading to soil degradation. Sandstorms are occurring as frequently as four times a month where dust smothers and ruins any fledgling crops (The Guardian).Once farms are covered in sand, it’s difficult to reuse the land for planting as the sand has to be removed manually.Al Jazeera reports that some communities have been eating locusts, leaves, clay and even shoe leather just to survive.Partnering with MAF meets ‘real needs’In December, MAF’s Ryan Unger flew a team from the Malagasy Association of Biblical Baptist Churches (MABBC) to Ambovombe – a city in the far south.The team facilitated food distribution in more than 20 surrounding villages, which have been devastated by the drought.Thanks to MAF, MABBC and Pastor Jonoro – a local pastor who works in southern Madagascar - some 2,500 people received food aid over three days.Had the team driven from Madagascar’s capital, Antananarivo, it would have taken them over 20 hours to reach Ambovombe by road, instead of a 3.5 hour flight.‘MAF are partnering with us and together we’re able to distribute food to around 2,500 people. We are thankful to God and MAF for their transportation. Our partnership is meeting real needs.’Josoa Salama Emmanuel, Gen. Sec. of Malagasy Assoc. of Biblical Baptist ChurchesFood and water have become unaffordableFor many southern Malagasy people who are farmers on incredibly low incomes, accessing basic food and water has become unaffordable.Today, an average family of six has to find money for the following:20 litres of water - MGA 3,500 (66p) 1kg of corn seeds - MGA 10,000 (£1.88) A 5,000 litre water tank to service one village costs 150,000 MGA (£28) per day.Josoa from MABBC continues:‘It’s not affordable for anyone in that area anymore. Cassavas and sweet potatoes are difficult to find - few were produced because of the lack of rain. Before, families could afford to eat once a day in the evening. Now people from the villages are forced to relocate to the city to find a job.‘Many farmers have sold their livestock. They have to sell something to find MGA1,000 (19p) - that’s the daily cost of feeding their whole family. The rich became poor after selling all their cattle. Others sold their houses and land just to be able to eat and drink.’Spiritual nourishmentBesides meeting practical needs, spiritual food was also offered to the people. Hundreds heard the Gospel for first time.At a time of dire need, there’s an opportunity for Christians to share the love of God. In one village, 30 people repented and burnt their charms to the delight of one village church leader:‘I am thankful to God for this food, but I am more thankful to see a crowd gather here to hear the Gospel, commit to God, repent and be saved.’One new Christian shares her experience:‘Before, I was asking myself, "what will I eat?” after trying hard to find something, but God heard my cry and today I got something to eat! Thanks to God for hearing my cry. I want to rely on this living God who Christians are worshipping.’She is one of many to glorify God. The feeding programme has also strengthened and encouraged local church leaders and Christians longer in the faith, says Josoa:‘It’s a big relief for them, physically and psychologically. They are strengthened in their faith and are persevering during this long test. As they share food with others, they feel encouraged to share the Gospel with their non-Christian neighbours.‘We are seeing double the numbers of people coming to church and have added more than 10 villages to our Bible study programme. Pray for these fledgling churches - may God grant them perseverance and an enduring faith. Also pray for rain.’Please pray for Madagascar at this time.

‘Wings of Love’ – a new Cessna Grand Caravan - arrived in Lubango, Angola today, replacing MAF’s oldest serving caravan in its global fleet. The 37-year-old Cessna Caravan ‘Wings of Hope’ – which once flew HALO’s demining team in Angola to work with Prince Harry – is retiring after 17,000 flights…Wings of Hope (WOH) – built in 1985 - has flown in Angola since MAF first established its operations there in 1989.For more than three decades, WOH has faithfully supported Angola’s remote communities, transported medical staff and partnered with demining organisations across the country. But as WOH aged, the increasing cost of maintenance meant a replacement aircraft was inevitable.On 9 February, WOH's replacement – the new donor-funded Wings of Love (WOL) - left Kansas, US, after it was outfitted with additional fuel tanks needed to fly across the Atlantic Ocean.The ferry flight – piloted by Dylan Fast – took seven days to fly nearly 9,000 miles via seven destinations:Winnipeg, southern CanadaQuebec City, southeast CanadaNewfoundland Island, off east coast of CanadaThe Azores, PortugalThe Canary Islands, SpainDiass, Senegal, West AfricaLome, Togo, West AfricaFinal destination – Lubango, southwest AngolaWatch WOL finally land in Angola on Wednesday 23 February. What a welcome!Given the long journey, increasing fuel capacity was essential as MAF Canada’s Vice President of Operations, Lowell Deering, explains:‘Three aluminium tanks are installed in the cabin to carry an extra 2,040 litres of fuel. Combined with the 1,250 litres already in the fuel tanks, that gives a total of almost 3,300 litres, which will give the pilot up to 17 hours of flight time.’An inflatable life raft is also legally required to be on board all transatlantic flights.‘If Wings of Hope could talk!’As we say goodbye to WOH, MAF Canada’s CEO Brad Bell, summarises her incredible history:‘If WOH could talk, she would tell many stories of flying through war zones to rescue people, of being shot at, at performing countless medevacs that have saved lives.‘Flying bomb technicians who've removed thousands of landmines preventing severe injuries and saving many lives, transporting medics to remote areas to perform lifesaving operations, and bringing medical supplies and food in times of dire need and famine.‘WOH would describe gripping tales of 30 years of incredible service, so it’s our hope and prayer that WOL will have a similar legacy, bringing help, hope and healing for decades to come for the people of Angola.’Brad Bell, CEO MAF CanadaHere’s a snapshot of how WOH has been serving the people of AngolaSupporting demining across AngolaWOH – the single-engine, ten-seater turbine plane – has worked with the HALO Trust since 1994. The demining charity has been locating and removing landmines following Angola’s 27-year civil war, which started in 1975.Although the conflict finally ended in 2002, hidden landmines continue to detonate and devastate vulnerable communities two decades later.WOH exclusively transported HALO staff to demine various locations and was on-call 24 hours in the event of an emergency medevac from a minefield. WOH allowed HALO to keep working, knowing that MAF would always be there should the need ever arise.On 27 September 2019, WOH flew HALO staff to Dirico near the Namibian border to work with the Duke of Sussex who detonated an active landmine in honour of his mother - continuing Princess Diana’s legacy.MAF pilot Brad Fretz - who served in Angola with WOH between 1990 and 1997 - sadly recalls the time he medevacked casualties from a community blighted by landmines:‘I remember folding the seats of WOH down to carry in medicine and supplies, then folding them back up again to carry out a lot of landmine victims – women and kids sadly as they were the ones who worked on the farms and were stepping on the landmines.‘Angola is a gorgeous country, but it has suffered for many years. There are still thousands of landmines there. If a landmine is buried in a road that’s 10km long and somebody steps on it, that whole road becomes a landmine. Until you clear the complete road, you won’t know where those pieces are.’Brad praises the work of WOH and looks forward to her replacement:‘The distances in Angola are huge and rebuilding the infrastructure there is slow, but to have a plane like WOH that can do almost everything is so important. I am so grateful that we are sending WOL – a great tool that can help Angola.’Millions of pieces of unexploded ordnance are reportedly still buried across Angola today.WOL will follow WOH, continuing to support HALO’s vital work.Wings of Hope’s legacy will live onThe acquisition of MAF’s newest aircraft is only possible thanks to the generosity of MAF’s faithful supporters, says Brad Bell:‘Wings of Love will continue the legacy of using a Caravan to serve the people of Angola. Because of its capacity, new advanced avionics and navigation system, we will be able to maximise our impact and mission while operating safely.‘The newest aircraft will replace MAF’s oldest – funded by generous donations from MAF supporters in Canada. We want to thank everyone for their unprecedented support to help us keep MAF flying in Angola for years to come.’WOL - a Grand Caravan seating up to 14 passengers – is bigger than WOH and can carry an extra 400kg of cargo.With a top speed of 350km per hour, WOL will be able to shave 30 minutes off longer flights compared to before. She also has the power to take-off more quickly.Due to her more advanced capabilities and capacity, WOL will reach even more remote people in need of medical care.The transportation of the coronavirus vaccine, which requires cold storage, is now also possible with WOL. This was not achievable with WOH.God willing, the more efficient Wings of Love will continue Wings of Hope’s legacy for a very long time.

Indagen is a hidden mountain community in Morobe Province, north-eastern Papua New Guinea. With no roads, it’s only accessible by air or by foot. Decent healthcare is hard to come by. In response, MAF, Braun Hospital and Etep Rural Hospital joined forces this month, enabling hundreds of people to see a doctor for the first time in years… Indagen - six hamlets nestled within the peaks of Saruwaged Range - is easy-to-miss. On 7 February, MAF’s Glenys Watson lands on Indagen’s airstrip carrying eight medical professionals and 25kg of lifesaving drugs that can transform lives in an instant. In seconds, the aircraft is surrounded by curious yet welcoming villagers. Word of MAF’s arrival spreads fast – news of an Aerial Health Patrol reaches other villages. Indagen does have a small clinic run by a handful of staff, but the shelves are empty – drugs, bandages, intravenous fluids, drip lines and basic consumables ran out long ago. The nearest hospital is in Etep - a two-day walk away. 600 patients in 3 days For the next three days, Aerial Health Patrol leader Dr Simon Ganal and his team, treat and advise around 600 patients. They facilitate much needed consultations, surgeries, cancer screenings, vaccinations, ultrasound scans, health talks and blood, urine and eyesight tests. Of the 600 patients, 38 receive surgery and 71 have eye consultations. All 600 listen to critical medical advice about coronavirus, hygiene, family planning and TB. For the first time in years, hundreds of people within Indagen’s vicinity are being treated properly for tumours, osteoarthritis, TB, pelvic inflammatory disease, eye problems, respiratory diseases, STDs, reflux, hernias, cysts and backache. One of the team and MAF passenger – medical officer Samuel Mori – is both overwhelmed and humbled by the sheer need of the people: ‘People are happy to wait all day just for a chance to be seen. It’s heart-breaking seeing people who’ve walked 5 hours over three mountain ranges just to receive basic medical advice and a packet of paracetamol. ‘A 2 hour wait at Port Moresby Hospital in the city for a Panadol would cause a tantrum, but for these people, a 5 hour walk means receiving a service. I never imagined severely marginalised people would be so accepting of so little, with such a grateful heart. ‘Our mission is to give, but I’ve received more in return - a lesson in humility from a forgotten people who appreciate so little and never act like victims despite their harsh circumstances.’ Samuel Mori, an Aerial Health Patrol medical officer Mr Benson’s story 70-year-old Mr Benson had a huge swelling in his groin and scrotum (hydrocele). He tried to get treatment from other hospitals, but due to coronavirus, it was difficult to access surgery. He lost motivation and hope to seek any more help. Fortunately, Mr Benson lives near Indagen and news of the Aerial Health Patrol gave him new hope. He explained to the team that the swelling caused him pain and restricted his movement. Thanks to the team’s clinical expertise and use of ultrasound, Mr Benson was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia – his soft tissue and intestine had bulged through the weakest part of his abdominal wall. He was operated upon on site, and received appropriate, safe surgery not far from his doorstep. Mr Benson was so happy about recovering in his own home, surrounded by family members who could care for him. ‘A little goes a long way’ For medical officer Amanda Avinaga, it’s her first Ariel Health Patrol adventure into rural Papua New Guinea: ‘It’s a very eye-opening experience - I’ve learnt a lot! Our people have great needs in these rural areas, especially in Indagen where there is no road access whatsoever, and they walk for at least a day to get to the nearest hospital. Their only transport is via plane. ‘Indagen Clinic is run by six very hard working, committed people with little resources. They try to serve the people here, but there’s great need even for the little things – medication, oxygen and a proper water supply. A little goes a long way! ‘I’ve come here to give, but they have given me their gratitude, hospitality, kindness and faith. They are so appreciative of the little things we do. ‘Also, big thanks to MAF - we definitely need more Aerial Health Patrols!’ Fellow Ariel Health Patrol teammate and MAF passenger, Malachi Liko, agrees with Amanda’s sentiment: ‘It was really busy every day - people came from everywhere. Even though we were tired and there were still heaps of people waiting in line at 6pm, we just had to see them. ‘Even though I was exhausted at the end of the day, I felt happy and fulfilled. At least they gained something from us and we gained something from them. It was really good.’ Teamwork! This is the first time staff from both Braun Hospital and Etep Rural Hospital in Morobe Province have worked together for an Aerial Health Patrol. With MAF’s support, leader Dr Simon Ganal, is delighted by what they have collectively achieved: 'Organising outreaches with Braun and Etep together makes outreach more sustainable. Sharing capacity makes it a lot easier. Having a big team enables a comprehensive outreach across all primary healthcare. ‘Our out-patient team saw almost 200 patients a day. We did vaccinations, surgeries, antenatal checks, tests, cancer screenings, health talks – that was only possible because of a bigger team – it was really special. ‘Thanks MAF! We look forward to making an action plan this year. We are very excited to keep the ball rolling!'     Following a successful Aerial Health Patrol, practically the whole of Indagen turn up on the airstrip to wave goodbye. God willing, they won’t have to wait too long for the next one. Read about MAF PNG’s Aerial Health Patrol from Kompiam Hospital

When Arilo Airstrip reopened this month in Eastern Equatoria State after years of civil war and coronavirus travel restrictions, MAF’s first cargo was welcomed with open arms. In partnership with SIL, MAF delivered hundreds of Tennet New Testaments so that people could finally read the Gospel in their own language. MAF’s Jenny Davies reports… On 18 January, MAF pilot Raphael Flach flew boxes of the Tennet New Testament to Arilo for the first time. It was the first cargo the airstrip had seen in eight years.Due to South Sudan’s civil war, which broke out in 2013, followed by coronavirus travel restrictions, Arilo Airstrip had been closed for nearly a decade.The New Testaments - originally printed in 2020 – could not be delivered until now.Arilo - and the surrounding area within South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State - is home to the Tennet tribe, which has a population of around 11,000 people according to the Joshua Project. Tennet community leader, Commissioner Okach, welcomes the long-awaited scripture:‘I was a doubting Thomas, thinking that the Bible is not really available in Tennet, but now I believe it is real.’ Tennet community leader, Commissioner OkachOn 23 January, a Bible dedication ceremony was held to celebrate the momentous occasion attended by the SIL team - flown in by MAF - plus government officials, and many youngsters from the Tennet community.30 years in the makingTranslation of the New Testament into Tennet began in 1993 originally in Kenya, Uganda and Sudan. MAF passenger and linguist, Scott Randal, remembers the early days:‘Translation started because of two Tennet pastors studying at Bible college in Kijabe in Kenya. They asked SIL for help because they needed scripture in their own language, so SIL sent me to work alongside them. ‘We started by recording folktales and investigated the best reading system to use for the language. We then translated some initial scripture. I left after seven years, but Adelino and his team continued the project.’Translator and fellow MAF passenger Adelino Amargira picks up the story:‘After the language analysis, we continued with the Bible translation. The first book we translated was Luke, which contained stories about the life of Jesus. We finished the Gospels before moving onto Acts and Paul’s letters.‘We had to do this in Uganda because, by then, there was no peace. We kept moving back and forth between Uganda and South Sudan.’ Even when South Sudan’s civil war broke out in 2013, Adelino pressed on:‘Before the war, we used to fly to Arilo with MAF, but after 2013 we went by road, which was dangerous. Sometimes, we couldn’t even reach the village.‘When the other translators abandoned the project due to insecurity, I was left to continue the translation alone, so I went to Torit – another part of Eastern Equatoria – and Kenya to speak to the Tennet people there instead.‘With their help, we have finally finished the New Testament.’‘Translation is a very long, tiring and tedious process’Finding the right phrases for scripture in another language for the first time, has also proved challenging:‘When there’s a Biblical expression that you don’t have in Tennet, you really have to search for the meaning, so you translate it correctly. It’s important to go to the community with words that we’re not sure about.‘We read different sections to them and listen to what they have to say. They give their input on what’s appropriate. They might say, “this word, doesn’t sound right!” so we adjust the text based on their feedback, without compromising the meaning.‘Sometimes there are differences of opinion about the right word to use. Translation is a very long, tiring and tedious process, but always worth the effort.’In terms of the Old Testament, Genesis, half of Exodus and the book of Ruth have also been completed to date.Overcoming every obstacle for God’s WordDespite Adelino’s arduous journey plagued by war, isolation, coronavirus, linguistical challenges and travel woes, his sheer determination and courage has paid off:‘I am very excited to see the translation in print. It’s a happy day to know that people can finally read the New Testament. ‘One lady said to me, “What’s this?” When I told her it’s the Word of God in Tennet, she said, “Finally the Tennet have become human beings.” That really touched me. Without the Word of God she felt that her community was less than other people.‘It encourages me to see how much people value the Bible and for them to understand what we are doing.’ 

For more than two decades, civil unrest prevented MAF from landing safely at Yalum Airstrip in Papua New Guinea and serving the local people, but after years of walking four days to access basic services, the warring parties finally made a truce and welcomed MAF back with open arms… Twenty-two years ago, Yalum Airstrip in northern Papua New Guinea’s Enga Province was closed when a group of men stormed an aircraft in a bid to attack a passenger they believed to be their enemy. Fortunately, their attempt failed but mistrust and insecurity continued to plague the community. Today, MAF conducted its first operational flight from Mount Hagen to Yalum Village in Nete Lyaim - home to around 17,000 people - delivering much needed school resources to children. The local primary school (200 pupils) and secondary school (150 pupils) will directly benefit from cargo on board this MAF flight. Without flight access, from Yalum it takes eight hours of hiking, followed by an hour’s driving to reach the nearest town, Laiagam. Miok Michael – a local Yalum resident and engineering graduate – was on board the historic 40-minute flight, accompanied by recovering patients from Mount Hagen General Hospital. Miok says it’s been a long-awaited answer to prayer: It has been 22 years and our prayers are finally answered. We used to walk four days to access basic services. We thank MAF for reaching the unreached in Nete Lyaim region. Great thanks to MAF Ops Director, Satish Moka, the Mount Hagen team and MAF Pilot, Richie Axon, for the great flight today. God bless MAF as they continue to reach the unreached rural communities of PNG. All in all, we thank God for this. Miok Michael - local Yalum resident, MAF passenger and peacemaker ‘Pregnant ladies and babies died on the road’ There are no health facilities or medical staff in Yalum, nor does the village have any road access. Before MAF resumed its essential service, Miok explains how the community used to struggle to get to hospital. ‘It used to take about three days. We used to sleep overnight and take the bus to access medical care. Sometimes, pregnant ladies and babies died on the road. It's a sad story to tell, but now MAF is a great blessing to us here.’ Miok played an integral part in community peace talks, which resolved tribal differences. According to PNG newspaper ‘The National’, the warring tribes finally ended their hostilities on 7 December 2020 in a ‘mass surrender’. They burned their guns, arrows, bows and even uprooted their marijuana, which had been used in illegal trade for firearms – a source of much tribal fighting and intimidation in the region. A dedication service followed, attended by 46 tribes from across the region. For the first time, former enemies dressed in traditional attire held hands and danced together to hand drums. With peace assured, renegotiation with MAF followed. Miok continues: ‘I just talked with the local community leaders. We came together as one and cleaned up the airstrip. It took us about a year before we reconnected with MAF. ‘I would like to thank MAF. It's a great opportunity and blessing to the people of Nete Lyaim. Thank you Lord for using MAF to meet the needs of our rural communities. We are very happy.’ ‘You are not forgotten’ Before the first operational flight could take place, MAF pilots, Richie Axon and Paul Woodington, ensured that the airstrip was in good condition before undertaking a test flight in August last year. Fortunately, the airstrip was free from obstacles and in much better condition than they’d expected. Local residents had worked hard to remove obtrusive trees, overgrown grass, and took the time to re-erect the broken fence — a real community effort. When Paul and Richie completed the test flight, they were greeted by dancing, singing and smiling – the mark of a reconciled community. Richie was thrilled with the warm welcome: ‘It’s a privilege to reopen the airstrip. We appreciate the effort you have put in to improve the airstrip to a level that we can operate again. We are God’s servants to you. I hope our coming here will remind you that you are not forgotten.’ On the day of the first operational flight to Yalum, Richie continues to be in awe: ‘It’s pretty special to be here today on what is the first operational flight of MAF in 22 years. Last year, Paul Woodington and I reopened the airstrip, but we didn’t have any cargo on that flight. ‘It was a training and dedicated flight to open the airstrip, but today - actually bringing in a load and helping this community - albeit in a very small way - it’s special to be involved in that.’  At around 450 metres long, Yalum Airstrip is particularly challenging. With its short length and 2.4% slope, it means that all aircraft loads must be limited, and stringent safety procedures adhered to. MAF is encouraging residents to work with the Rural Airstrip Association to lengthen their runaway, which will increase flight opportunities in the future. Stay up to date with E-news Receive the latest stories from MAF straight into your inbox! Find out more and subscribe today

Nurse Amy Beyer has been working in Liberia since 2014. With less than 7% of the roads paved outside of Monrovia (source: USAID), and a monsoon season which lasts six months of the year, attempting a road trip in the hardiest of 4x4s is not for the faint-hearted. Amy tells MAF pilot, Steven Biggs, why she chooses MAF for her mission…Ranked 175 out of 189 on the UN’s Human Development Index, Liberia is one of the poorest countries in the world. Life expectancy is a mere 64 years of age.Civil war from 1989 to 2003 destroyed most of the country’s health facilities and medical practitioners are scarce.According to the Liberia Medical and Dental Council, the country has just 298 doctors for a population of 5 million – a doctor patient ratio of 1:15,000. This is considerably lower than the World Health Organisation’s recommended 1:1,000 ratio to adequately run a country’s healthcare system.‘There’s very limited access to doctors’Infrastructure and healthcare outside of the capital, Monrovia, are even worse. Foya in Lofa County in the far north-western corner is particularly disadvantaged, as Nurse Amy Beyer explains:‘In Foya, there’s very limited access to doctors. We treat who we can while we’re there. We always identify a couple of major problems, which cannot be solved locally, so we coordinate and bring patients back to Monrovia for surgery or whatever care they need before returning them to Foya.’Amy is one of the team from Effort Baptist Church in America, which has been undertaking annual week-long medical and evangelical missions since 2003. They also deliver much-needed medical supplies.She has been part of the mission since 2014. Every year - In partnership with MAF and the local church - Amy has helped facilitate medical clinics in remotest Liberia treating a range of conditions including malaria, diabetes, typhoid and worms.Less time travelling, more time treating patientsBefore they discovered MAF, Amy’s team would drive to Foya from Monrovia – the wettest capital in the world. She’ll never forget that first road trip:‘On my first trip to Liberia, I took the road to Foya and it took 20 hours! It was a rough road -we had lots of car trouble. When you arrive after such a long journey, you have to recuperate before you start working! We have such a busy schedule, but the road to Foya takes away from that.‘The following year, we used MAF and we’ve been flying with them ever since. It’s amazing that we can fly to Foya in an hour and spend more time with the people. It’s always good to be in Liberia on a MAF plane.’Amy Beyer – nurse and MAF passengerWith many of the roads unpaved outside of Monrovia, and a monsoon season from May to October, getting from A to B on dirt tracks for half of the year is an arduous task.No tarmac or drainage, plus heavy rain, inevitably leads to very poor driving conditions.Copious amounts of mud make many regions inaccessible. Even hardy 4 x 4 vehicles slip and slide and have to be pushed out of deep waterlogged ditches. Other vehicles often get stuck or stranded overnight.Good Liberian drivers don’t leave home without a winch, shovel and a pair of wellies!But today, Amy’s travel woes are far behind her. With only an hour’s mud-free flight from Monrovia’s James Spriggs Payne Airport to Foya Kamara Airport, Liberia’s travel chaos is 9,000 feet below.Instead of arriving exhausted and heading straight to bed after two days of gruelling, intermittent, rollercoaster road travel, Amy’s journey by air is smooth, fast and clean.The essential medical supplies also arrive intact and unspoilt.Amy and the team – courtesy of MAF pilot Steven Biggs - arrive refreshed and ready to serve the local people.

Having a ‘purpose in life’ was always Ryan Cuthel’s dream. Today, the country director for MAF Kenya is living that dream as MAF and partners plan to launch a new service to Marsabit and Garissa in a bid to improve eye health in remotest Kenya. MAF’s Claire Gilderson finds out the latest and asks Ryan why he still loves Kenya after 17 years…Ryan Cuthel has served with MAF Kenya and MAF South Sudan – initially as a pilot and more recently as a country director - since 2005. Apart from a four-year stint with Australia’s Royal Flying Doctor Service, which ended in 2016, Ryan’s heart has always been in Kenya.As a child, Ryan was a frequent flyer to Canberra, Australia, visiting relatives. This and his admiration of ‘fast things’ ignited his passion for flying. A career as a pilot was calling and he was blessed to attend flight school at 17 before becoming a Christian at 18.God was going to use Ryan’s skills and passions in ways he never imagined:‘I always had dreams and passions, but not really a purpose. My ideas back then were about making money and setting myself up for comfort. As a kid, I was taught that this was important, but God had other ideas and changed my heart.‘My fundamental purpose in life really got me thinking - What am I actually doing? What meaning does my life have? What is my purpose? I’m not here just to make money and die – there has to be more to it.’Ryan Cuthel, MAF Kenya Country Director and Pilot‘The end of the earth’Nearly 20 years later, Ryan’s purpose - serving the people of Kenya and South Sudan through aviation – still rings true. As a young pilot at the tender age of 23, Ryan never forgot those first few landings in Kenya’s most impoverished areas:‘The capital, Nairobi, felt developed, but an hour and a half later I’d land somewhere that felt like the end of the earth. The remoteness and underdevelopment of the places where I’d land had the biggest impact on me. In my first few months, it was quite a shock. There were days when I thought, “Where am I? How did I end up here?’”Marsabit County in arid northern Kenya is one of those places that Ryan speaks of. 340 miles away from Nairobi and situated on an isolated extinct volcano in the middle of a desert, MAF provides the only regular flight shuttle service to and from Marsabit on Tuesdays and Fridays.By road, it would take eight hours to reach Marsabit from Nairobi, whereas a MAF flight only takes one hour and 40 minutes. MAF’s Marsabit service has been running for at least 30 years.80% of blindness in Kenya is preventableCompared to Nairobi, healthcare in Marsabit Country is extremely limited. Eye health in the region is particularly poor.According to Christian Blind Mission (CBM), 80% of blindness in Kenya is preventable and curable. Three out of four people who are blind, do not need to be.Thousands of people are needlessly blind because they can’t access simple surgery or treatment that could save their sight. Going blind when you’re on a low income often means missing school and losing your livelihood and independence.A simple cataract operation could prevent all of this, but accessing treatment as a nomadic Kenyan farmer living far away from any health facility is very difficult and expensive.74% of Kenyans live in rural areas where healthcare, let alone eye care, is extremely limited (source: The Fred Hollows Foundation).‘People who can’t see will be able to see again’Given the huge need in this area, MAF – in partnership with Kenya’s Ministry of Health, CBM, The Fred Hollows Foundation and Kikuyu Hospital near Nairobi - will reinstate eye safaris this year.The eye safaris unfortunately stopped running 12 years ago when funding dried up, but thanks to new funding streams and a renewed focus, this new service will once again restore people’s sight. Ryan is excited that MAF will be part of this incredible work:‘Eye health in some of these places is terrible These communities move around a lot and live in smoky huts where they light fires – they sleep in there and cook there. When this service gets going this year, it will be really high impact work that will transform lives. People who can’t see will be able to see again, which is really awesome.’Ryan explains how the new eye safaris will work:‘We will start in Marsabit County and Garissa County and go to each region twice a year. It’s very difficult for our partners to reach these remote areas, so we’ve put together a plan where MAF will fund the bulk of the flights. Our partners will just pay ‘bus fares’. Garissa County in eastern Kenya is predominantly Muslim with limited healthcare and high rates of illiteracy. Ryan continues to unveil his plans:‘We are starting with four eye safaris this year – four week-long trips - probably one a quarter. We have a three-to-five-year plan, where we will eventually expand this service to seven counties across Kenya - Marsabit, Garissa, Wajir, Isiolo, Lamu, Mandera and Tana River.’Heart will always be in Kenya  It’s clear that Ryan and his wife, Anna, love the Kenyan people. Even faced with uncertainty in the grip of a pandemic and living in a developing country, Ryan and his family stood firm:‘People talked about going home, but that never crossed my mind. We definitely didn’t want to flee the country. We wanted to be here and help our team through it and make sure that everyone was ok.’The same strong emotions were evoked back in 2008 when the Kenyan post-election violence kicked off. Ryan and family happened to be on home assignment, catching up with relatives in Australia and undertaking various MAF speaking engagements.Their first reaction wasn’t relief to be so far away from the chaos and danger – they were actually itching to get back:  ‘People were being killed and places were being burned. When most people see that on the news, they would never want to be there, but we just wanted to get back.‘We wanted to be there because the country was hurting - we felt bad that we were somewhere else and not part of it. We felt really guilty and tried to get on the next plane back.’Somalia refugee crisis – a defining momentAnother defining moment for Ryan came three years later in 2011 when MAF was the first flight operator to respond to the Somalia refugee crisis. Ryan flew food aid, essential supplies and various disaster response staff to Dadaab Refugee Camp in eastern Kenya.He recalls meeting a mother of eight who had pushed her eight-year-old paralysed daughter in a wheelbarrow to reach the camp. They had been walking for 20 days:‘A thousand people were arriving every day. I was at the entry point of the camp where refugees were arriving after walking for days. ‘There was this lady with a wheelbarrow and six kids – all under the age of 10 - and she had been walking with them. One of her children who was disabled was in the wheelbarrow.‘She had walked weeks to get to Dadaab and lost two children along the way. She didn’t have any food or water. They were desperate. ‘When that crisis began, MAF were one of the first organisations to respond. We started flights twice a week to Dadaab before the UN responded. We did that for nearly six months before the UN started their flights with much bigger aircraft, but we were there first.‘I saw the conditions people were living in – that’s probably the toughest thing I have seen in Kenya. I’ll never forget that place, that day or that lady with the wheelbarrow – her story was heartbreaking.‘It’s those moments when you’re on the ground and you hear someone’s story first-hand - as a pilot, it’s extremely rewarding. To be involved in that sort of stuff is humbling – to see the struggles that people have just to live. ‘Those things have hopefully shaped the person I am today.’‘Purpose, career and passions - all in one place.’Ryan concludes that working for MAF – doing God’s what – has fulfilled him in ways he couldn’t have imagined:‘My time at MAF Kenya has far exceeded my expectations. I only expected to stay for two years - something fun, get some experience and tick the ‘missionary flying in Africa’ box. It’s easily a job I could do for the rest of my life and not get bored. ‘There’s something more at MAF – you’re not just helping people physically, you’re doing it spiritually. It’s pioneering work and so necessary.‘Everyone I know who’s worked with MAF has loved their time – not just the job, but everything it encompasses. It’s your purpose, your career, your passions - all in one place.‘When I thought about joining MAF, someone said to me, “you know what your problem is? You try and find a job that fills every compartment of your life,” and I think that’s a good way to sum it up – it actually does.’For anyone else seeking God’s purpose in life, Ryan offers up some sound advice:‘We joined MAF because it was what we felt God had actually placed in us. If we didn’t use it, it wouldn’t be right. ‘If you’re considering mission and feel like God is stirring something up in you - explore it and chase after it because he probably has put something in you! Hopefully God will take you on a journey, which will be as amazing as ours.’The first eye safari will take place in spring.

In a new UN report, 45% of women globally have experienced violence or know someone who has, since Covid-19 began. In 2021 – in partnership with Miyalk Domestic and Family Violence Shelter - MAF rescued a woman every week in Arnhem Land in northern Australia. Never before has MAF’s service been more vital for women fleeing violence…One in four women around the world feel more unsafe in their own home and have experienced more violence since the pandemic started, according to ‘Measuring the shadow pandemic: violence against women during Covid-19’ – a new UN Women report launched on 24 November 2021.Research reveals that seven in ten women have experienced more verbal or physical abuse from their partner than before, and three in ten say that violence against women has increased within their community.Restrictions and lockdowns to curb the spread of the disease have unwittingly curtailed women’s freedom, confining them to their homes with their abusers, thus creating dangerous conditions for them and their children.Vulnerable women rely on MAF every weekAustralia’s Northern Territory has the highest rate of domestic violence in the country. On average, 61 incidents are reported per day – 89% of abuse survivors are Aboriginal women, (source: Northern Territory Council of Social Service).Arnhem Land is a vast, remote area covering 37,000 square miles. The terrain is mostly dense bushland comprising of dirt tracks only passable during the dry season.Women fortunate enough to have access to a vehicle would have to endure a bumpy drive of up to twelve hours to escape their perpetrator, but with MAF, flights take between thirty and sixty minutes.     Kylie Lawrie is the Crisis Accommodation Manager for MDFVS in Gove, Arnhem Land.     Kylie reveals the extent of the crisis during the pandemic throughout her region:‘This year, not a week goes by without a woman from a remote homeland community requesting transport to the shelter or to their family's home community.'Partnering with MAF in Arnhem Land is an absolute necessity for these emergency evacuation flights, which support women and children experiencing or who are at risk of domestic violence. We are very reliant on this amazing partnership.’Kylie Lawrie, Miyalk Domestic & Family Violence Shelter*Sarah-Janes’s storySarah-Jane lives in a small community in East Arnhem Land.She recently left her partner when he attacked her head with a hammer. A few weeks later he arrived at her house drunk, carrying a crossbow and arrow, threatening to kill their daughter. He then proceeded to smash up the house.He also threatened to put a spell on Sarah-Jane using black magic, at which point she fled the house and went to stay with her mother.The police were called, but they were too busy attending another incident.The following evening, Sarah-Jane attended church. Her ex turned up holding rocks, threatening to throw them at her head.MDFVS supported Sarah-Jane and came up with a safety plan until the police were able to get there.Although the police finally arrived to take a statement from Sarah-Jane, the risk of danger increased, as reporting incidents often spark further aggression from an ex.Daily threats to kill her and her daughter meant it was crucial to get them out of community as soon as possible, so MDFVS contacted MAF to evacuate mother and child to their safe shelter in Gove.Without MAF, this would have been a four-hour drive.Sarah-Jane and her daughter are now in a safe space. With the right support, they have started their journey of recovery from domestic violence.Although survivors are out of danger when they arrive at the shelter, their self confidence is at an all-time low, says Kylie:‘Their sense of worth is zero. Many of them are already defeated in terms of their self-confidence and self-ability. We build them up and strengthen their self-resilience so that they can connect with the services that they were not confident enough to do before because they've been so devalued. We journey with them, walk them through it and show them that they can do these things for themselves.’ *Lucy’s storyLucy had been exposed to abusive relationships from a young age.Now as an adult, she had been in an abusive relationship herself for several years.She has a history of self-harm brought on by feelings of worthlessness having been belittled throughout her life.Lucy – an expectant mother - was unhappy with her life and felt unsupported by the people around her. She had been living in a very stressful and fragile environment.With little support, Lucy was anxious about the circumstances in which her baby would be born into.Following an argument with her partner, which escalated to violence, Lucy had to keep herself and her baby safe, so she contacted MDFVS.This was incredibly brave as Lucy was isolated and far away from her family – they couldn’t easily support her from such a distance.MAF flew Lucy home to her family.After spending time with family and feeling supported and loved, Lucy is now excited about her pregnancy.Lucy finally has the time and space to think in a safe and supportive environment in preparation for the birth of her baby.Kylie explains that physical abuse is only part of the problem:‘Most people think it’s always about physical abuse, but that’s only part of the cycle. There’s also financial abuse, where the perpetrator controls the household finances right down to the point where women aren't allowed to have phones. They have to ask to buy food.There’s also psychological abuse, where they're degraded and told that they're no good until they believe it - the perpetrator is the only one who gives them their sense of value. This behaviour is pretty standard worldwide - there's no real difference across country or culture.’ *Sarina’s storySarina has been in and out of the hospital due to a number of violent assaults by her partner.He is currently serving time in prison for domestic violence.As her children are settled in the community where her ex is from, Sarina initially stayed put.Sarina, however, does not receive any support from her community. They are hostile towards her and make her feel bad about her partner’s situation. She feels intimidated.Sarina feels exhausted and is in desperate need of safety and security. She needs her family who are far away.MAF are able to fly her back to her family and home community - Sarina now feels safe and is able to rest.Her children now have good, healthy routines.In many cases, the behaviour of the perpetrator can continue for years, so life with them becomes ‘normalised’. Kylie explains how difficult it can be to break the cycle of domestic violence:‘It’s something that people go through quite a few times before they realise it. Each time they contact us, we peel back another layer and show them what a healthy relationship should look like.‘Each time, we give them another viewpoint until gradually they become aware of the patterns of behaviour that they’re involved in. They might need to travel through that cycle and keep touching base with us until it all starts making sense and they begin to transition out of it.‘That's why it's called the ‘cycle of violence’, because people go round quite a few times before they make changes. Domestic violence survivors can take anywhere up to five years to seek help for the first time.’*The women’s names have been changed to protect their identity.Saving time saves livesThroughout the pandemic, MAF has provided a lifeline to many women and children in Arnhem Land. MAF simplifies emergency evacuations and reduces the burden of travel costs for MDFVS.Without MAF, MDFVS simply would not be able to save as many women says Kylie:‘MAF’s support is a necessity – they increase our capacity to assist women and children to safety. Our response is now more immediate, which saves lives. Violence can escalate quickly within families and without MAF’s support, it would be frightening to see the outcomes.‘Before MAF, we'd look at our finances to cover the cost of remote transport, but it wasn’t enough. We had very limited resources. Now - thanks to MAF sponsorship - complexities of an emergency evacuation have been reduced.’Supporting wider female empowermentIn addition to emergency evacuations, MAF supports the wider work of women’s empowerment within Australia’s remotest, indigenous communities.In September this year, MAF transported the guest speakers to and from the ‘Galiwin’ku Women’s Space: 2021 Empowerment Conference’, hosted in Nhulunbuy and Elcho Island off the north coast.The guest speakers for the two-day conference flown by MAF were: Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann AM – Aboriginal activist who won ‘2021 Senior Australian of the Year’ awardProf MaryAnn Bin-Sallik AM - the first indigenous person to graduate as a nurse from Darwin Hospital and the first to gain a doctorate from Harvard UniversityWendy Burns - international coach, mentor and senior Aboriginal police officerBettina Danganbarr - chair of Galinwin’ku Women’s Space Altogether, more than 160 local women attended.Galiwin’ku Women’s Space (GWS) provides a range of crisis and preventative support resources and services to overcome domestic violence plus events, which seek to support and empower women and encourage healing and wellbeing within their communities.MAF also partner with GWS to rescue women in the area who are subjected to or at risk of domestic violence. Without MAF, the work of GWS simply wouldn’t be possible as manager, Bridget Woods, testifies:‘MAF enables us to support women and children experiencing domestic violence. Your continued support has enabled us to evacuate high risk cases, which make the difference between violence or safety.‘Violence is pervasive in this community - every woman has a story, every woman deserves a chance and every woman matters. MAF enables GWS to show these women that they matter.’

Patsy Kettle – a retired vicar and former teacher from Surrey – decided to celebrate her 80th birthday with an indoor skydive raising thousands for MAF’s 7&5 Campaign. The thrill seeker is no stranger to an adrenaline rush, having already raced a Ferrari and Lamborghini on a previous birthday. Patsy recounts her latest feat and why she’s supporting MAF…On 12 November, Patsy Kettle celebrated her 80th birthday at iFLY Indoor Skydiving centre in Milton Keynes with her first ever skydive, raising over £4,000 for MAF’s 7&5 Campaign.The unusual gift was presented to Patsy on her actual birthday back in May by her nephew, Luke, who hoped to emulate the same excitement Patsy experienced three years ago when she got behind the wheel of a Ferrari and a Lamborghini.Reminiscing about her laps around Dunsfold Aerodrome in 2018 – the test track used by BBC’s Top Gear – Pasty recalls:‘I know 110 miles per hour isn’t very fast really, but I put my foot down as hard as I could – it was wonderful! This skydive however, is so different and exciting.’For her latest thrill, Patsy was accompanied by members of her family. Her sister, Vicki, brother-in-law, Balogun, and niece, Esther, all did a skydive of their own on the day.‘MAF is the charity for me!’Fortunately, Patsy had the foresight to use her unusual birthday celebration as a personal fundraiser, but for which charity? It had to be MAF:‘I thought I really ought to get sponsored, but for which charity as a lot of them lost money during Covid?‘I think God had a hand in it - through the post in the next couple of days, along came some MAF literature which said they were flying Covid vaccines to out of the way places that their little aeroplanes can reach.‘They also fly medical and school supplies, building materials and food to people all over the world who can’t access these things easily.‘It’s a flying charity and I’m going to do some flying, so MAF is the charity for me!’Patsy Kettle, thrill seeker and MAF fundraiser Patsy - an aviation enthusiast - grew up with a keen interest in aircraft in an era when, according to Patsy, ‘women didn’t race cars let alone fly planes’.She discovered the work of MAF at teacher training college in the 1960s and has supported the charity ever since:‘I’ve been supporting MAF and praying every day for their pilots and staff around the world for as long as I can remember. This money will help MAF deliver more vaccines and lifesaving cargo to the hardest-to-reach communities. MAF do such wonderful work.’‘Swimming in air’Patsy describes her latest feat:‘It was wonderful - I loved it! ‘You’re inside what’s like a fishbowl with an instructor – people see in and you can see out. It’s pressurised air, so as soon as you step in you are horizontal. It’s as if you are swimming in air. I had some trepidation, but mainly I was quite excited.‘The session is about a minute and a half, which sounds very short, but an actual free-fall from an aeroplane is under a minute. ‘On my second go, I put my thumb up, which meant I wanted the air to be stronger so that the instructor could take me up to the top. It’s a long way up, but I decided to have a go once I was in the right position. Your position is key to it all. Once that’s right, there’s an extra whoosh of air and gradually you go round and round and up and up.‘I felt very windswept. It’s the nearest I’ll ever get to flying like a bird.’Overwhelmed by supportPatsy has raised over four times her initial £1,000 target with donations still coming in:‘I’m very touched by all of the support and so grateful to everyone. I’ve been amazed how people have responded – my church is right behind me and they have been very generous. I’m well pleased.‘The money will help communities living in isolation – they will receive some of the essentials they need to survive. MAF is well worth supporting.’Patsy trained for the Church of England priesthood and went on to become one of the first women to be ordained as a deacon in 1987, then as a priest in 1994. Patsy joined St Mary’s Church in Worthing before serving as a chaplain at Cambridge University offering pastoral care to students.She then moved to Woking where she met her late husband, Richard. Patsy retired in 2001 to care for her husband who died in 2008, but has remained very active into her 80s. Now a member of Wonersh Church in Surrey, Patsy still organises events, takes funerals and conducts services. She is a keen gardener and bird watcher and lives with her beloved dog, Zanzi – a flat-coated retriever.You can still support Patsy hereNews CoverageBBC 1 Look East newsBBC Radio Surrey (listen from 1:21:33)Milton Keynes FMMilton Keynes CitizenIn Your Area Indoor Skydiving Source 

Fresh rebel fighting in eastern DRC in recent weeks has forced at least 11,000 refugees into neighbouring Uganda in one single day, according to UNHR. But for MAF frequent flyer, Kenneth Rwego, falling foul of DRC’s dangerous militia is nothing new as he shares his terrifying tale with MAF’s Jill Vine…Kenneth Rwego is Founding Director of Eden Mission – a charity which plants churches in some of the remotest parts of Africa including eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and western Uganda. ‘As we were talking, a large buffalo suddenly appeared, which forced us to scatter. It then chased the rebel who had a gun. I knew it was God protecting us.’Kenneth Rwego, Founding Director of Eden MissionDivine interventionKenneth has just flown with MAF for the 36th time, but back in 2014 – when he’d never heard of Mission Aviation Fellowship – he unfortunately took the road, which nearly cost him and his family their lives:‘I was driving with my wife and two girls (then aged three and two), when we encountered rebels at a roadblock.‘They pulled me out of the car and dragged me into the bush.  My prayer was that they would kill me and not touch my family. They demanded that I give them everything I had including my phone and money, and then they told me to leave my wife with them.‘I explained that I was doing mission work, gave them everything, but pleaded with them to leave my wife alone. ‘As we were talking, a large buffalo suddenly appeared, which forced us to scatter. It then chased the rebel who had a gun. I knew it was God protecting us. I ran towards my car, terrified that the buffalo was going to kill me, so I drove off like a madman.‘I crashed through the rebel barricades across the road and just kept on going.  After 20-30kms, I reached a small town and found my car was completely wrecked. One of my daughters was also injured, but we had escaped with our lives.‘I had always preached about ‘God interventions’ but had never actually experienced something like this first-hand where God had definitely intervened. If he hadn’t, I would probably be dead and who knows what would have happened to my wife and children.’ Peace of mind with MAFAccording to Al Jazeera News, there are more than 120 armed groups currently operating in eastern DRC.Ongoing conflict has uprooted millions of people from their homes. Escalating violence in recent years has left a devastating trail of burned-out villages and looted crops. Most of Africa’s internally displaced people come from the DRC (source: Independent).The DRC has also earned the unenviable title of ‘rape capital of the world’It wasn’t until Kenneth shared his harrowing experience with a friend, that he learnt of MAF’s work and how they support ministries like his in the remotest places on earth.Kenneth has now safely used MAF’s services for seven years without fear or retribution – he hasn’t looked back!‘It’s still risky to reach these locations because of ongoing rebel activity that’s between these remote areas, but I believe that God will protect MAF because it’s MAF’s intention to be a blessing to God’s kingdom.’Not only has MAF eased Kenneth’s peace of mind, but short flights have also saved him days of exhausting road travel:‘We’ve been able to reach the whole of Orientale Province in eastern DRC because of MAF. This area alone is three times the size of Uganda. From Bunia near the Ugandan border, we can fly north to locations like Aru and Mungwalu or south to Mambasa and Komanda, which would otherwise take two to three days to reach by road.’‘We could never have achieved this without MAF’During a time of financial struggle for the charity, the story about Kenneth’s close shave reached the other side of the world in America:‘A Texan man flew over from the US and asked to visit us. He took a flight with MAF to see our projects first-hand in eastern DRC. At this point we had run out of money, but he helped us to raise funds for Eden Mission – so much so, we now have an office based in Dallas! I can’t believe how quickly our ministry has grown.’After 10 years of Eden Mission, Kenneth is still going strong: ‘To date, Eden Mission has helped around 4,200 people - I have seen so many lives transformed! We offer economic empowerment using local resources, a maternal health programme, marriage counselling and parental training. We also provide spiritual development and discipleship training. ‘If it wasn’t for MAF, I would have stopped after my rebel incident seven years ago. We could never have achieved this ministry without MAF.  We’ve seen God use MAF in ways I can’t explain.’

In South Sudan’s tenth year of independence, MAF continues to run peace and reconciliation workshops all over the country. This month, Rumbek in central South Sudan hosted MAF following on from Kajo Keji in the south and Malakal in the north. Since 2018, 18 workshops have transformed lives, replacing hate with hope…South Sudan’s civil war (2013 to 2018) has killed 400,000 people and has triggered Africa’s largest refugee crisis since the 1994 Rwandan genocide (source: Reuters).Although a peace deal was signed in 2018 – and again in 2020 - violence continues to mar the country. According to Oxfam, nearly four million people have fled their homes with two million of them now living in neighbouring countries.Fear, despair and mistrust have plagued the people of South Sudan for many years, but  church leaders continue to hope, pray and work towards a better future, including the Bishop of Kajo Keji - the Rt Rev Emmanuel Murye Modi.The reverend was appointed bishop back in January 2017 - three days before war reached his town. His home became a battle ground and people fled.Today, many of Kajo Keji’s people are still languishing in the refugee camps of Uganda. For those who have remained, government forces are an authoritative presence in the area.Bishop Emmanuel explains how he has worked tirelessly over the past four years to broker peace:‘The opposition here was led by the Kuku people. Others of us supported the government. Hatred was building. In 2018, the army and the opposition tried to come together and I became the mediator. They were able to unite and since then, the security situation has changed - people are no longer tortured and properties haven’t been removed.’Armed cattle raids however, continue to disrupt communities. There is still a long way to go and forgiveness, peace and reconciliation after much atrocity and mistrust, take time.MAF workshops start and end with GodIn 2021, MAF facilitated ten workshops across the country. In June, Bishop Emmanuel gathered people from his diocese in Kajo Keji to participate.It’s not the first time they have attended such workshops, but MAF’s workshops teach that reconciliation starts and ends with God. A change of heart is required.Peacebuilding is like building a house - brick by brick on the foundation of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.The walls symbolise people’s wounds. When they are revealed and acknowledged, healing begins. Healing the leads to repentance, forgiveness and finally reconciliation, which is the roof of the house.This message of hope is achieved through drama, discussion and various activities. MAF’s Bible-based workshops engage people and give them an opportunity to respond.‘Thank God for MAF. Your service to our people helps us a lot. We want to expand MAF’s programme. We must multiply and reach many more people. We must remove our heart of hatred and replace it with trust.’Bishop of Kajo Keji -        Rt Rev Emmanuel Murye ModiPeace is like a lemon treeBishop Emmanuel closes the workshop with a tree planting ceremony, which encapsulates his vision for Kajo Keji:‘Today, we will plant lemon trees as part of our peacebuilding. In Genesis it says we should take care of the land and nature, which God has created. It says: “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it.”‘I wonder why God reminds us why trees have seeds? Maybe it’s up to us to replant them so that we can change our environment. We have to plant more trees and do afforestation ourselves.’Bishop Emmanuel hopes that the lemon trees will be a permanent reminder of the commitment that people have made during the MAF workshop.He hopes that the people of Kajo Keji will be just as determined to nurture peace as carefully as they will tend to their trees.Both will take time to grow, but Bishop Emmanuel looks forward to the day when the whole community will be able to come together to enjoy their fruit.Partners in peaceBishop Emmanuel is enthusiastic about his partnership with MAF:‘I thank God for our relationship with MAF. Your service to our people helps us a lot, especially when people are sick and you fly them to Juba.‘It’s also very important to build peace, bring people together, and build confidence between people who mistrust each other, so that eventually they can live like brothers.’  Bishop Emmanuel continues:‘It’s difficult to live with your own brother who has done something wrong, so we are making peacebuilding a priority. We have to build confidence between our own brothers and sisters. We look forward to forgiveness and reconciliation.‘We want to expand MAF’s programme. We must multiply and reach many more people because we must remove our heart of hatred and replace it with trust.’ Malakal – a city ‘set back 50 years’In September, MAF took the workshop to Malakal in the north following an invitation from South Sudan’s Presbyterian Church.Before the civil war, Malakal used to be the second largest city in South Sudan, but that all changed in 2015, when war wreaked havoc. Jaap de With, MAF Sudan’s Partnership and Development Manager, describes the scene:‘It's unimaginable to see how a city has been set back 50 years. Before the crisis there was electricity - now there’s just one generator you only hear at night. ‘There used to be a bus station where buses drove back and forth all day long - now there are no buses, cars or trucks in sight. The few cars you encounter now belong to NGOs or the governor. All the roads were demolished to make transport as difficult as possible.’ Residents are slowly trickling back into the city, but healthcare and the local economy have been severely impacted.This particular workshop targets the youth and youth leaders with the aim of participants sharing what they have learnt with their communities, thus multiplying the impact.Foot washing ceremonyMore than 40 participants arrive from three different tribes - Nuer, Shilluk and Dinka.The Shilluk come from an IDP camp (internally displaced persons) and the Dinka come from town. Just bringing these tribes together in one place is a significant step in itself.The workshop begins with a moving foot washing ceremony - an expression of unity reminiscent of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet.Sessions include the reason for our existence, sin and guilt, prejudices, loss, wounds, the healing process, confession, asking for forgiveness and valuing others by saying what they’re good at and what you wish for them.Given the trauma of what the participants have gone through, some of the sessions are really tough. For some, it’s the first time they have shared their personal horrors of war.One participant expressed huge relief once he confessed to killing a young person. Within the safety of the workshop, he was able to ask for forgiveness. On the last day, ‘Kings' Table’ takes place - a celebration of people’s differences with lots of singing and dancing.In closing, the participants give and receive blessings. Jaap de With concludes:‘Now I know that these people no longer look at just what they’ve lost through the crisis, but what they have overcome through Christ.’A further six MAF workshops in South Sudan have been booked for 2022. 

As the UN’s Climate Change Conference (COP 26) gets underway in Glasgow, renewable energy investment is on the agenda. MAF Technologies PNG has been facilitating solar energy solutions for over 60 years. For remote PNG villages, reliable energy makes the difference between life and death. Elsewhere, for MAF’s headquarters in Chad, solar power is a more sustainable and economically viable option…Kwaplalim is a small, remote village surrounded by a vast mountain range located in the green, tropical heart of Menyamya, Morobe Province in Papua New Guinea’s Eastern Highlands.Kwaplalim Clinic is the nearest place for surrounding communities to access healthcare. Facilities include a ward, delivery room, a small laboratory, operating theatre, vaccine fridge, oxygen concentrator and other equipment, plus storage for drugs.The clinic was founded by Lutheran Health Service and employs six health workers.Like many other health facilities across remote PNG, constant access to electricity is a challenge. An interrupted power source in hospital can lead to serious problems.Some vaccines and medicines spoil if they’re not kept cool enough, essential medical and diagnostic equipment cannot work, vital telecommunications are sporadic and a lack of basic lighting hampers everything from routine treatment and surgery to emergency procedures and childbirth.A torch between the teethLifesaving interventions are compromised by a mere lack of reliable energy that the rest of us take for granted.The most common cases seen at Kwaplalim Clinic are open wounds caused by frequent tribal disputes over land, resources and other grievances leading to death, injury and displacement.  These wounds – inflicted day or night - need stitches and rigorous care. During the darker hours, it’s not uncommon for health workers to attend patients, illuminated by light from mobile phones or torches.When assistants are thin on the ground and extra pairs of hands are scarce, the health worker – busy attending the patient - has no choice but to hold the torch between their teeth to see what they are doing.  Darkness breeds crimeAt night, without light, the security and safety of both patients and health workers are compromised.In the past, when the clinic has been left in darkness, criminals have broken in.A lack of light plays to their advantage - perpetrators have stolen from patients and have even sexually harassed health workers.A well-lit facility provides greater security and leaves patients and health workers feeling less vulnerable.It was clear that Kwaplalim Clinic was in dire need of a reliable power source so that health workers could serve their communities more effectively, and for patients to receive the care that they so desperately needed.‘The new light in their clinic not only brings physical change to their community, it also brings spiritual and psychological change. The solar installation symbolises help, hope and healing to everyone in their community.’Brian Baimako, MAF Technologies PNG electrician‘A new chapter’Kwaplalim Clinic’s solar power installation over the summer by MAF Technologies PNG was made possible by the generous support of international NGO - Care International.MAF completed the installation in just two weeks! MAF Technologies PNG electrician, Brian Baimako, is delighted to have been part of the project:‘God saw the need at this clinic and made it possible for the installation to take place so that lives can be saved. I am glad to be part of this work.‘Since seeing the hospital lit after a very long time, the villagers say that this marks a new chapter in their community where law and order has been a major concern.‘The new light in their clinic not only brings physical change to their community, it also brings spiritual and psychological change as well. The solar installation symbolises help, hope and healing to everyone in their community.’The new solar installation now provides adequate lighting and power, which makes the jobs of health workers much less challenging.Patients now feel more reassured and can sleep more peacefully at night, safe in the knowledge that the entire clinic won’t be plunged into total darkness or dysfunction.New solar panels power MAF Chad HQMeanwhile, for MAF’s operations in N’Djamena, Chad, electrics in both the hangar and the residential compound were becoming increasingly unreliable. Fuse box burnouts were common, causing appliances such as fridges, computers and mobile phones to fail.Improving energy efficiency meant installing a new central switchboard on the compound, and voltage regulator systems in both the compound and the hangar. Once completed, solar panels were installed and connected to power the new system.Despite the challenges of the pandemic, MAF engineers Henk Groenendaal and Alexander Teeuwen - with support from MAF Chad’s maintenance and hangar teams - secured 34 solar panels on the hangar roof and another 28 throughout the compound in October.Reducing MAF’s carbon footprintSteve Machell, Country Director for MAF Chad and member of MAF’s Global Environmental Working Group says:‘Chad is an ideal place for solar technology. It has sunshine pretty much 365 days a year, even during the rainy season. The number of days when we would have an inadequate supply of sunshine is minimal. ‘Most of our hangar electrical usage is during daylight hours, so there are readily achievable benefits - not just in terms of reducing energy usage, but also reducing the cost of buying electricity from the grid.’ Steve continues:‘Our solar power solution has been getting attention from other air operators. Many people have looked at our hangar solar panels – we’ve even had one inquiry from somebody who wants to install them. If MAF can lead the way in this, that will be excellent. ‘We are demonstrating our commitment to improving our environmental credentials. Anything we can do to reduce MAF’s global carbon output is helpful. It shows what MAF stands for. We care about stewardship - not just our physical resources, but also environmental resources, the planet.’ More MAF solar power stories

Four years ago, MAF asked Kompiam Hospital: ‘What would physical and spiritual impact look like in Enga and East Sepik?’ One year on, Kompiam Aerial Health Patrol was born, flying doctors to remote villages in under an hour instead of walking for days to treat patients. Dr Williams shares how MAF has transformed her work and the lives of her people… Back in November 2017, Todd Aebischer - MAF Papua New Guinea’s Country Director, asked Dr David Mills - who heads up Kompiam Hospital in PNG’s Enga Province - how could MAF transform healthcare in the region? Situated in the deep north of the country, for years, David and his small team would trek for several days on foot from Kompiam Hospital to reach nine surrounding communities in desperate need of healthcare. Due to the sheer remoteness and distance of each community, it simply wasn’t possible for the team to visit their patients regularly. Together, MAF and Kompiam Hospital came up with a plan to serve the local people. Four times a year, MAF would transport a medical team to all nine communities and pick them up two days later after completing their rounds. Thanks to unexpected funding streams, this has become a regular, sustainable programme for MAF PNG – nine airstrips, 18 flights per quarter, 72 flights per year. Only 500 doctors for nine million people According to the World Bank, around 80% of Papua New Guinea’s population of almost nine million people, live in the rural areas. Last year, PNG Prime Minister James Marape publicly acknowledged that the country only has 500 doctors, most of whom practise in urban areas leaving those in the countryside to fend for themselves. Due to the sheer isolation of these rural areas, it’s hard to recruit and retain health workers in the bush. Dr Rebecca Williams however, has bucked that trend. Rebecca – who grew up in PNG’s busy capital city of Port Moresby - joined Kompiam Hospital six years ago as a trainee junior doctor straight out of medical school. She joined three years before MAF’s aerial patrols started. Today, Rebecca is the superintendent and takes charge of the day-to-day running of the hospital. Rebecca’s role is varied and intense, and encompasses everything from running clinics, aerial health patrols, child health, maternal health, surgery, hiring staff, writing contracts and even bookkeeping! It takes two days to reach some villages by foot Kompiam Hospital serves around 60,000 people – that’s one hospital and two staff doctors for a population that is very scattered across the region. Most of their patients are in the far-flung villages of Malaumanda, Lapalama, Puyralama, Yankeesa, Yambaitok, Elem and Kyum. Rebecca recalls what life was like before MAF’s aerial health patrols took off: ‘Some of these sites are one or two days walking distance from Kompiam Hospital. When I first came to Kompiam, Dr Mills was doing the patrols on foot! On foot, you get a true sense of how difficult it is for our people to access healthcare. ‘Foot patrols also take more time away from the hospital and if there's only one doctor working at the hospital at a time, that means we can't cover the hospital either.’ Rebecca continues: ‘When MAF’s aerial health patrols started, it was really good because we saw areas even further away from us that we couldn't walk to in two days. Flying is easier - we see who we need to see and then come back in a day or two. Reaching more communities in our area is a big advantage for us.’ On a two-day patrol – usually from Tuesday morning to Wednesday evening - Rebecca and the team can see up to 100 patients. Rebecca leads the latest MAF Aerial Health Patrol to Malaumanda Village, which has a population of around 300 people. The village is so cut off, it takes a four hike before catching a mobile phone signal. Malaumanda is a 20 minute flight from Kompiam Hospital. A typical patrol team comprises of a doctor, a dentist, community health workers and a pastor. On arrival, time is split between general patient practice and administering vaccinations. On the flight, the medical team is accompanied by medicine and other medical supplies. Sometimes, patients are too sick to be treated in the bush and need further treatment or surgery back at Kompiam Hospital. During the latest aerial patrol at Malaumanda Village, Rebecca examines two young girls – five- year-old Mia and eight-year-old Masi - with suspected TB: ‘There are two children who we think have TB of the lymph nodes, so we'd like to fly them back, admit them to hospital, extract some of that lymph node, test it to confirm the TB diagnosis and start them on medication. They’ll spend two months on meds at Kompiam Hospital. By then they’ll go back to Malaumanda when they’ll be clear of TB. ‘If we weren’t able to fly those two young girls back with us, most likely they would have gotten sicker and eventually they might have died from the disease. These girls will be given beds with their guardian in the paediatric ward.’ Kompiam Hospital - where Rebecca is based – has adequate facilities and equipment to treat a range of conditions. Rebecca gave the US Ambassador, Erin McKee, a tour of the hospital last month: God had other plans for Rebecca Working in the bush as a doctor was not what Rebecca had envisioned, but God had other plans: ‘I’ve lived most of my life in urban areas, so I really didn't think that I'd be doing rural patrols like this! As a medical student, I didn't see that as part of my career. ‘Previously I did some training at Kompiam and had seen how Dr Mills had run the hospital. I got some really good mentorship and training there. ‘I had applied to several other hospitals at the time, but no one accepted me. Kompiam was the first hospital that accepted me, so that's where I ended up! I really think it was God's hand on my life as it wasn't something I thought of or chose for myself.’ During the patrols, Rebecca and the team commonly treat patients with chronic illnesses, arthritis, malaria, fungal infections and infectious diseases like TB. They also check on expectant mothers. The further away the patrols are from Kompiam’s centre, the more prevalent malnutrition is. In the three years since MAF’s Kompiam Aerial Health Patrols started, Rebecca says healthcare for the region’s most isolated people has significantly improved: ‘We're rolling out more immunisations, especially in areas where there is no vaccine fridge. Our immunisation coverage is pretty good for our district. We haven't had any severe outbreaks - a big part of that is down to having a team like this flying out routinely to immunise patients, treating them or flying them back to Kompiam Hospital if necessary.’ Standard vaccinations during the patrols include measles, pentavalent (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B and Haemophilus flu), tetox (tetanus toxoid) and TB. ‘Holistic healing’ Training up rural community health workers for each village is also integral to maintaining good healthcare in remote areas. During the aerial patrols, medics from Kompiam Hospital deliver training to new community health workers and assess existing ones to ascertain their standard of care. These community health workers also get to spend several months at Kompiam Hospital to reinforce their training. Six years later, Rebecca is still enjoying the job: ‘Being able to help people and bringing some kind of comfort or closure to them or their family – that is for me. It's useful and I find that very satisfying.’ Unlike secular medical outreach, for Rebecca, the spiritual element of the aerial patrols is what sets them apart from other programmes: ‘Not everything can be treated by medicine or seeing a doctor - some things are spiritual. We want people to receive holistic healing and for them to know Christ. That's the whole point of these patrols. Through our actions and serving the communities, we are a reflection of God so that people may come to know him.’ Dr Williams, Superintendent at Kompiam Hospital Rebecca concludes by making a plea to aspiring doctors from Papua New Guinea: ‘To all those young people who want to take up medicine, often we see ourselves in top careers and being someone big in society's eyes. If that is your vision or dream, serving as a rural doctor probably isn't for someone who wants to make a name for themselves. ‘But I've come to realise out here, that serving my community is very important. For us people who have the opportunity to gain a higher education, we can give back to our country. We can't keep looking to outsiders to serve our own people. If we don't do it, no one is going to do it for us. It's time we take ownership and help our own people.’ MAF’s Aerial Health Patrols continue to grow Since MAF’s Kopiam Aerial Health patrols launched in 2018 in northern PNG, MAF has expanded its aerial health patrols into other parts of the country. From July 2019, MAF has been delivering regular preventative care, immunisations, health and sanitation training to isolated communities in the west, along the Indonesian border. Lutheran Aerial Health Patrols have also been established in Morobe Province on the north coast of PNG and plans are afoot to establish similar health patrols in Jiwaka Province in central PNG and elsewhere. This expansion has resulted in the purchase of two additional Cessna 208 aircraft, which now serve 34 airstrips with 4 medical teams. By the end of 2023, MAF aims to expand its Aerial Health Patrols to 72 airstrips across PNG. A total of 12 medical teams will bring healthcare to the country’s most isolated people.

As one of MAF’s busiest programmes, PNG pilots frequently transport the sick and injured by air in under an hour, avoiding days of treacherous travel by road or river. Saving time, saves lives as MAF’s Annelie Edsmyr reports, one busy week in September…Yet again, MAF proves that time is of the essence.A short flight can make the difference between life and death for these passengers from rural Papua New Guinea:  Medevac 113 Sept, 34-min flight from Aiambak to KiungaMAF pilot, Joseph Tua, takes off from Mount Hagen when he gets a medevac request for a woman who has travelled from her remote village to her nearest airport in Aiambak, Western Province.Her journey to her ‘local’ airport has already taken over four hours by canoe to get there.She has lost a lot of blood and urgently needs to get to the town of Kiunga for emergency treatment as Joseph explains:‘When I got to Aiambak, I could clearly see she was very weak and close to losing consciousness. We loaded her into the cabin as gently as we could, before flying her and her guardian to Kiunga where the ambulance was waiting for us. I believe it would have taken them at least another two days to reach Kiunga on foot.’By air, it takes 34 minutes.Medevac 214 Sept, 20-min flight from Tapila to DaruJoseph has already received a message the night before about his next medevac - a young woman has been badly beaten and needs hospital care in Daru.She has lost all feeling in her legs and can’t walk or move her feet.Joseph has prepared for an early take-off and fortunately the weather is on his side:‘I was able to reach the village early morning. The patient and her family were already waiting at the airstrip when I arrived. With their help, we loaded her into the plane accompanied by her two guardians.’Without MAF’s medevac, this journey would have taken at least four days of trekking through the bush with additional canoe travel.By air, it takes 20 minutes.Medevacs 3 & 416 Sept, 35-min flight from Mougulu to KiungaToday it’s MAF’s Jan Ivar Andresen’s turn to pilot the plane.His double medevac request comes from Mougulu in western PNG.Jan is just about to clock off for the day when he is notified that two people urgently need hospital treatment.Jan has to quickly source a second stretcher before heading to Mougulu to pick up the patients.The first patient is a woman who has been in labour for four days with her second child at Mougulu Clinic, but needs advanced clinical intervention in Kiunga to help her deliver her baby.One of Mougulu Clinic’s health workers, Sally Lloyd, describes the situation:‘She had strong contractions and had attempted to deliver her baby for many, many hours, but she just couldn’t deliver. She began to lose strength, and by the morning was totally exhausted. The mother or the baby might not have made it without the medevac.’ When Jan arrives at Mougulu Airstrip, they load the heavily pregnant woman onto the first stretcher but she has difficulty laying down, so she sits on the back seat of the aircraft instead.The second patient is a young man who has fallen from a coconut tree – he is unconscious for nearly two hours and has injured his back.Reaching Kiunga only takes 35 minutes by air, instead of a week of overland travel. On arrival, the ambulance meets the plane and takes the patients to hospital.Two days after the medevac, Jan is relieved to hear that mother and baby are doing well:‘I was so happy to receive a photo of mother and baby looking so strong. Walking to the hospital in Kiunga would have taken six or seven days - not an option in her condition!’MAF pilot, Jan Ivar AndresenMedevac 517 Sept, 53-min flight from Suki to DaruJoseph is contacted about a potential medevac from Suki, which is in the western corner of PNG near the Indonesia border.The patient is a young man who has been hit in the groin by a spear. Due to sheer agony, he finds it difficult to sit or lay down.With daylight fading, the man is loaded onto the aircraft piloted by Joseph:‘I was quickly running out of daylight but the weather at my destination – Daru - was good, so I happily continued. I arrived at Daru at 5pm where the ambulance was waiting. Without MAF, it would have taken them a week or two to get there.’ By air, It takes 53 minutes.Saving time, saves lives.

For the last four years, Uganda-based aviation engineer Dave Waterman has been servicing MAF aircraft across Africa. As Dave prepares to move to Liberia in November to play a key role in developing MAF’s new West Africa Maintenance Base, Dave explains how this new operation could help solve MAF’s aviation engineer shortage….    Further to the pandemic, which has seen the aviation industry struggle and thousands of aviation staff lose their jobs around the world, another crisis continues to affect the sector. According to Boeing’s Pilot and Technician Outlook (2021 – 2040), 626,000 new maintenance technicians (aviation engineers) are needed to maintain the global fleet over the next 20 years. In Africa alone, 20,000 aviation engineers are needed to service aircraft across the continent. As an unabashedly Christian organisation seeking to recruit Christian staff who want to live overseas, MAF International’s HR Manager, Mike Riley, sums up the predicament: ‘We’re trying to recruit the one percent of the one percent – that’s our recruitment pool.’ As global aviation advances, the long-term demand for talented engineers to maintain, repair and overhaul aircraft continues to rise. Licenses and length of training MAF would not be able to function without people like Dave Waterman – a former commercial aviation engineer who has served MAF in Uganda for the last four years. Every MAF aircraft requires the support of two engineers to meet safety standards. When engineers are in short supply, this impacts flying schedules – a world wide problem. MAF’s challenge is not a shortage of pilots or planes as Dave explains: ‘You can become a pilot in 12 to 18 months, but to become an effective engineer takes five to eight years of training – that’s before gaining experience and approvals (licenses).’ The other issue is the time it takes to convert an international engineering license to a locally approved license. Dave continues: ‘When we place our engineers into an international programme, they come with a valid approval, but they have to convert it to the local approval, which can take years.’ ‘Rather than each programme having two engineers, we’ll gather all the engineers for West Africa in one place, i.e., our new Monrovian hangar, and have the aeroplanes, which serve West Africa, come to us for maintenance. This will massively reduce the complications we currently have.’ Dave Waterman, Regional Engineer MAF West Africa Rethinking MAF maintenance As MAF expands into West Africa, Dave will assist in developing MAF’s new hangar in Monrovia, Liberia, which will become MAF’s new maintenance base for the region. MAF’s new approach to maintenance in West Africa is about adopting a ‘regional’ mindset as opposed to a country specific focus. This will be a new direction for MAF. As MAF’s new regional engineer for West Africa, Dave looks ahead to how the maintenance base might work: ‘There always has to be a regulatory licensing system in place, which we have to operate under – European, American or Australian for example. If we pick one single system, we’ll only have to train our engineers one way in future. It will be a lot easier and save us from this maintenance madness. ‘Rather than each programme having two engineers, we’ll gather all the engineers for West Africa in one place, i.e., our new Monrovian hangar, and have the aeroplanes, which serve West Africa, come to us for maintenance. This will massively reduce the complications we currently have.’ Aircraft breakdown for MAF is rare Thanks to generous donor support and wise operational investment, aircraft breakdown for MAF is rare as Dave testifies: ‘98% of the time, the aeroplanes are working fine – it’s only 2% of our operating time when we need to fix an aeroplane that has broken down. The rest of our engineering work is scheduled maintenance. ‘For us, maintenance is mostly when an aeroplane has flown for 100 hours and needs some work done. In future, pilots in the region can just fly their aircraft to us! Our new engineering base will look after the whole region, not just Liberia.’ A mammoth task ahead As work continues to establish a single regulatory licensing system for MAF’s West Africa base, Dave contemplates another mammoth task ahead – kitting out MAF’s new Liberian hangar, which will be able to service up to nine aircraft: ‘The hangar is built, but it’s not finished. We’re waiting for the equipment to arrive from the US and Europe. Solar panels need to be installed and the facilities need finalising. We’ll need to increase stock levels and obtain all the parts to service a number of aeroplanes. ‘Once everything is ready in the hangar, we need five staff to start with, plus their approvals. The plan is modular. With every additional aircraft or location, that’s when we add more people - it’s all scalable.’ Gone are the days when MAF just had one aircraft in Liberia, a little office and where maintenance took place in a borrowed hangar! MAF’s new West Africa base - a ‘good blank canvas’ Unlike MAF Uganda, which has a well organised hangar, Liberia is somewhat unknown territory for Dave: ‘Liberia is a good blank canvas, which continues to evolve – I have an opportunity to add my brushstrokes to the foundations laid by others who have gone before me. ‘It’s got such potential - everything MAF plans to do in Liberia, Guinea and surrounding countries will be really high impact. ‘Right now, there’s a limit to what we can do, but to be part of a solution that could enable so much more work is amazing! I’m looking forward to helping make that maintenance base the best it can possibly be. This new regional approach frees up more potential to reach so many more people. ‘Our biggest flying restriction is the global aviation engineering shortage –there are not enough people to fix planes. My goal is to take that problem away. If we can get rid of that, particularly in West Africa, then we’re winning.’ A dream come true As Dave and his wife Becky prepare to relocate to the world’s wettest capital in November, which endures an annual rainy season of nine months, Dave is excited about the future. He can’t quite believe he’s living the dream that God gave him as a thirteen-year-old boy, when he first spotted an advert for an aviation engineer in MAF’s Flying for Life Magazine: ‘I’ve wanted to do this job since I was 13. Now at the age of 35, I’m doing my childhood dream – that’s bonkers! Who gets to do that? Who gets to work on aeroplanes in Africa that fly off and change people’s lives?’ MAF’s West Africa Maintenance Base will be ready for regional aircraft maintenance within the next two years. In the meantime, MAF’s Liberia programme will continue to operate out of the new hangar in Monrovia.

In the remote village of Lokutok in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State, access to adequate healthcare is severely limited. Daniel Zobel – a missionary with Diguna – could have died from a burst appendix if MAF hadn’t medevacked him to the capital, Juba, for lifesaving surgery. MAF’s Jenny Davies caught up with Daniel during his recovery…It all started with a ‘really bad pain’ on the right-hand side of Daniel’s abdomen. On the morning of Sunday 29 August, the married father-of-three wondered whether he had eaten something bad, but after Googling his symptoms, he feared it might actually be appendicitis:‘I had the exact same symptoms that were mentioned but I didn't want to go to the local clinic because it's not very well equipped, so I contacted MAF in Juba and asked for a medical evacuation. I didn't really want to bother MAF because I thought it's a Sunday and they need rest, but my wife encouraged me to do it because appendicitis can be life threatening.’Lokutok – a ‘challenging’ place to landDaniel packed up some things and walked very slowly to his pastor’s house in the village and asked for a lift to Lokutok Airstrip.Lokutok is based at the foot of a hill near mountains – a difficult place for a plane to land as MAF pilot Tobias Meyer testifies:‘The village itself is in a nice round shaped valley but it's close to the mountains. When we fly - just before we turn towards the runway – there’s a hill close by so at times it can be challenging, especially if there's wind.’Regardless of the challenges, Daniel was very relieved to see MAF’s incoming plane:‘I was very happy to see the airplane coming, knowing that there was hope on the way. I was excited to see Tobias. The flight was OK and I was very happy to reach Juba - very thankful.’ Appendicitis and flying – a dangerous combinationFor medical conditions like appendicitis, MAF pilots have to fly low to prevent perforation and septic shock as Tobias explains:‘We flew a bit lower because the pressure difference with high altitudes means there is a greater risk of injury that could be incurred. We stayed low – we were lucky it wasn't too bumpy. Sometimes, it can be really bumpy at lower altitudes, but this time it went well, and we landed in Juba thirty-five minutes later.’On arrival in Juba, Daniel had to have a coronavirus test before entering the hospital. Fortunately, he tested negative.There was discussion about whether Daniel should have surgery in Juba or be flown further to Nairobi in Kenya where medical facilities are more advanced:‘I was very happy to finally see some doctors who took very good care of me. I got a CT scan, which confirmed appendicitis. That evening, they all agreed I should be operated on in Juba. It wasn’t necessary to fly me down to Nairobi in Kenya, because they had the capability here.’A night of sheer agony  The surgery took place on Monday morning, but Daniel had to endure excruciating pain overnight:‘Sunday night until Monday morning was a very painful time. I couldn't stand, lie down or sit - it was so painful. The doctor gave me some painkillers and I wondered what would have happened if I was still in my village? I probably would have been exhausted by the pain – it wouldn't have stopped, I would have been completely finished. I was so relieved I followed my wife’s advice to call on MAF for a medevac.’In hindsight, it was the right decision to stay put in Juba:‘My wife told me that the doctors said I wouldn't have survived the flight to Nairobi because when they opened me up, the appendix was about to burst. The surgery was just in time. If it wasn’t for MAF, I probably would have died - I'm very thankful.’ Daniel Zobel – a missionary with DigunaFor Tobias, it was just another day at the office!‘The flight for me was just a normal day at the office, but then afterwards hearing Daniel speak about the ‘what ifs?’ makes MAF so relevant. It’s a privilege to serve missionaries like Daniel in this capacity - that's why MAF is here, to help out when there’s a need.’God at workDaniel reflects on his ‘life and death’ situation:‘Just one WhatsApp conversation asking for help, and basically everything fell into place for me. Everything was organised by MAF or the clinic that helped me. I’m really amazed by God's grace.‘I'm glad I got rid of that appendix! I'm feeling much better now. It was probably the darkest experience of my life pain-wise.‘When I was in the operating theatre, I took much longer to wake from the anaesthetic. In my delirium I asked the doctors, ‘Will I survive or die?' I remember quoting scripture all the time like ‘The Lord is my shepherd’ and ‘The Lord is my strength and my shield’. It was a strange world I lived through in those six hours.‘The care, love and patience I received was a great testimony of God’s work and how he used different people with different gifts to help me. I can clearly see the hand of God in all these things.'

In the wake of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake, which hit south-western Haiti on 14 August shortly followed by Tropical Storm Grace, MAF has been responding to the disaster. In the latest tragedy to hit Haiti, MAF has been working with partners in a coordinated relief effort… Haiti’s earthquake has left more than 2,200 people dead and around 12,000 injured with over 52,000 homes destroyed, according to Haiti’s Civil Defence Agency. Hospitals are overwhelmed and hundreds of people are still missing. Many essential buildings such as hospitals, schools, churches and offices have been badly damaged or destroyed. Relief efforts have been hampered somewhat by Storm Grace, which wreaked havoc on Haiti two days after the earthquake hit. 35mph winds and two inches of rain per hour were recorded. Torrential rain poured non-stop over the southern seaport of Les Cayes for 15 hours (source: The Guardian). Flash floods turned streets into rivers, causing landslides. Gang warfare has also hindered aid getting through to the south via the main road to the region. As a result, aviation aid is more critical than ever. It’s hoped that negotiations between the gangs and government will ease the situation. UNICEF estimates that 1.2 million people including 540,000 children, have been affected by this disaster. Medevacs, medics and supplies Les Cayes has borne the brunt of the damage where half of its buildings have been demolished (source: The Guardian). Many houses in Haiti are built with poorly made cement and really heavy materials so in the event of an earthquake, they cause catastrophic injuries if they collapse. In the midst of chaos, MAF has immediately taken to the skies providing as much assistance as possible. On the day of the earthquake, MAF medevacked six injured survivors from Les Cayes to hospital in Port-au-Prince - Haiti’s capital. MAF has also been transporting families back and forth. The next day, MAF delivered medical supplies to Jérémie - a city in the south west, which has also been badly affected with its main road and bridge cut off.   Next, MAF transported eight Haitian nurses from a hospital in Pignon in the north to Jérémie down south, in a bid to support fellow medical staff as they treat the wounded. There are reported water, food and blood shortages in the region. PPE, painkillers, splints for the injured and tents for those needing safe shelter, are also in short supply (source: The Guardian). In a bid to meet the shortages in Jérémie, MAF transported a further 800lbs of medical supplies on 20 August from Danita’s Children – a charity based near the Dominican Republic border - accompanied by three of their doctors and five nurses. Medevacs continue nine days later Residents who do have homes still standing are reticent to sleep in them in case they collapse in the aftershocks. There are also fears of flooding from remaining stormwaters. On 23 August – nine days after the earthquake - MAF pilot Eric Fagerland delivered around 2,000 lbs of emergency relief to Jérémie. The injured in Jérémie include people from the surrounding countryside who have managed to make their way into the city to seek medical help, plus others who have sustained new injuries from collapsing buildings. Eric was able to medevac some of the injured to Port-au-Prince: ‘Transportation is challenging in Haiti. Some of these folks were seriously injured nine days earlier – broken backs, broken arms, head trauma and broken legs. But when you're in the countryside without any shoes, with only mountain trails and your leg is broken, what do you do? It's heart-wrenching. I'm so glad we’re able to help these people get medical care.’ MAF pilot Eric Fagerland A catalogue of disasters MAF has been supporting partners - Samaritan’s Purse, Missionary Flights International and Agape Flights with logistical support. An additional caravan aircraft from Samaritan’s Purse arrived over the weekend, which will be jointly used by MAF and Samaritan’s Purse for relief flights. The earthquake and Storm Grace are just the latest disasters to befall Haiti, not to mention the coronavirus pandemic. Only last month on 7 July, Haiti’s President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated, which has destabilised the government. Hurricane Matthew claimed nearly 900 lives in 2016, devastating the same southern peninsula. Neither had the country fully recovered from the 2010 earthquake, which struck Port-au-Prince killing over 200,000 people and reducing much of the capital to rubble. Once again, Haiti begins its long road to recovery. In response to this disaster, MAF flew over 1,000 passengers and 27 partner organisations on 216 flights.

Since 2015, MAF’s Training Centre in Mareeba, Queensland, Australia has been training up would-be mission pilots and upskilling existing ones to be the best that they can be to serve others. But what unique skills must a MAF mission pilot possess to work in the world’s most isolated places? We caught up with the class of 2021 to find out…The reason why the MAF Flight Training Centre at Mareeba exists is not only to train pilots professionally on how to be safe and competent while flying, but also how to follow God’s leading using their skills to serve Him.Students Ethan McMaster, Joe Farren, Jacob Walton, Shan Wadham and Cameron Bruce are on that very journey this year.Understanding God’s missionThe centre desires to give students an introduction to how aircraft can be used to share God’s love with people in remote places. Andrew Little, Flight Instructor and Head of Training, explains:‘Taking students to visit remote churches is really important - it connects technical flying training with real Gospel opportunities.It’s an eye-opener for them to see first-hand isolation faced by remote believers. We love to show them mutual encouragement that comes from overcoming distance to meeting together in Christ.’Andrew Little, Flight Instructor & Head of Training - MAF Mareeba’s Flight Training CentreAs part of their training, the students flew a Cessna 172, VH-WMC, to the coastal town of Cooktown in Queensland – an eighty-minute flight from Mareeba.This not only increases their flying experience but also gives them the opportunity to encourage and participate in a small, remote church. Jacob Walton really enjoyed the trip:‘It was a great experience, and we plan on going back there in a few weeks to do some voluntary work. The church wasn't much bigger than the average family living room and only had around eight people there on the day. They were such lovely people, and we had a great time getting to know them.’Ethan McMaster recalls the contribution he made during the church service he attended in Cooktown:‘I shared how much I was enjoying MAF fellowship in Mareeba and how God has been working in my heart and inspiring me through the instructors and engineers. It was an amazing blessing to be part of their small church community – I look forward to flying back there.‘I have always been in love with flying and being in Mareeba with MAF has only confirmed that. It’s still early days but I can’t wait to see what the future holds and what God’s plan is. I would love to serve with MAF one day!’Practise makes perfectIn practical terms, there are many skills to master as a commercial pilot including navigation, emergency procedures and controlling the aircraft in a range of weather conditions. At MAF’s Flight Training Centre, instructors help their students to become proficient in all of these areas.It’s imperative that students have enough flying experience to substantiate the theory taught in the classroom.MAF teaches flying in a range of conditions including travelling to different aerodromes, various geographical areas and weather conditions, with and without passengers, and flying at different times of the day.Experiencing such variables strengthen the pilot’s ability to control the aircraft safely and increase their confidence, as they practise their skills.Good training, good decisionsEthan McMaster describes his experience of flying to Cooktown in the morning:‘I had to cross over the Atherton Tablelands to get to the coast while dealing with low cloud over the range. The most challenging thing about low cloud is making good decisions about when to turn back in deteriorating conditions.‘The weather at Cooktown was very windy and it was a new aerodrome I’d never been to before. Despite the conditions, I got o Cooktown without any issues, thanks to great training!’On the return flight, it was Joe Farren’s turn to pilot the plane:‘I had to divert from my flight plan on the way back. I had planned to fly down the coast but because of bad weather, I had to divert inland and fly back to Mareeba via Lakeland Downs. I thoroughly enjoyed the views – I saw such vast and beautiful landscapes so much more than if I drove somewhere. It’s such a privilege to fly and live out my childhood passion.’A range of runwaysIt’s essential for MAF pilots to land and take-off safely from a range of runways. Runways can be grassy, rocky, sealed, flat or sloped. They can be remote or in the middle of a township where children are playing football.A good pilot knows how to evaluate all these conditions and risks so that they can fly and land confidently. The MAF Flight Training Centre incorporates all these scenarios into pilot training.The cohort are learning how to master ‘short field’ and ‘soft field’ take-offs, and landing on grass airstrips. They’re flying the VH-MAO and VH-WMC to the rural Atherton Aerodrome in Queensland, accompanied by MAF’s Andrew Little and flight Instructor Bridget Ingham.Despite the short eight-minute flight from Mareeba, Atherton Aerodrome has very different conditions. It’s 900 feet higher in elevation than Mareeba with an airstrip that’s less than 1,200 metres long. It has a grass runway rather than sealed.Flight Instructor, Bridget Ingham, compares the ‘soft field’ and ‘short field’ techniques:‘Short field is taking-off and climbing above obstacles in as short a distance as possible. In a soft field landing, you’re touching down as slowly as possible because the surface is soft, so you need to protect the propellor and nose gear from impact.‘Both techniques are necessary for MAF as we often fly in and out of short, grassy airstrips, which can be wet or soft. MAF’s standard take-off is a ‘short field’ take-off, so it’s important for students to master.’For Shan Wadham, it was her favourite part of the training:‘I really enjoyed short field take-offs and landings - it’s the best part of flying I feel.’Miscalculations could jeopardise safetyIn Arnhem Land – in the far north of Australia’s Northern Territory - the shortest airstrip that MAF pilots regularly fly to is Howard Island, which is only 700 metres long. With an airstrip that short, calculations about how many passengers can be safely carried during take-off on a short runway are critical. Any miscalculations could jeopardise the safety of the aircraft during take-off.In Papua New Guinea, MAF’s shortest runway is around half that length again – Aziana Airstrip in the Eastern Highlands is only 340 metres long. It’s often used to transport coffee beans to larger towns for sale. Aziana is also situated on the slope of a hill with a 14% gradient for pilots to consider. ‘For the soft field and short field training, each student flew for one hour with their instructor. Those waiting their turn to fly did some ground exercises – calculating theoretical take-off and landing distances for the conditions on the day, which include making allowances for wind, barometric pressure, altitude, temperature and the dry grass surface, then they measure their calculations on the airstrip to see how the aircraft behaved. The results were pretty close!’Cameron Bruce, particularly enjoyed the challenge of flying in low cloud:‘Finding the airport, then sharing the airspace with the “Ag Planes” (crop duster aircraft) was a completely different environment – awesome! Doing the soft field take-off was also really cool - it was a very abnormal phase of flight, but a fun exercise to do.’For most of the students, this was also their first time flying passengers onboard other than their instructor.

Jack Hemmings AFC - one of MAF’s founding fathers – is performing aerobatics today at White Waltham Airfield in Maidenhead to celebrate his centenary. As Jack takes to the skies in a Slingsby T67 Firefly aircraft, we look back on his early days with MAF… Born in Bentham in Yorkshire one hundred years ago, Jack gained a bursary at Christ’s Hospital, West Sussex, where he boarded full-time from the age of 12. Jack trained in aerobatics in 1992 - a sport which showcases the very best of aerial acrobatics for spectators to enjoy. Today, he is accompanied by flight instructor, Nigel Rhind. At the height of World War II, Jack joined the Royal Air Force in 1940. In 1942 he became squadron leader of 353 Squadron, flying Lockheed Hudson and C-47 Dakota aircraft. Award-winning pilot Jack was awarded the Air Force Cross for ‘exemplary gallantry while flying’, and later received the Master Air Pilot Award in 2017 from the Guild of Air Pilots. Whilst in India in 1945, he came across a copy of ‘Mildmay Outlook’ magazine, which featured an article about launching a Christian air service. It was written by Murray Kendon - a New Zealand pilot and one of the founders of MAF. As a Christian this resonated with Jack, so on his return to London in 1946, he made steps to become a member of the early ‘Mildmay Movement’, which would become Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). Jack helped launch the first mission air service from the Mildmay ‘Operations Room’ in Islington, London, and was appointed chief pilot of the first ever MAF survey flight across central Africa. It would be the aptly named ‘Mildmay Pathfinder’ - MAF’s first Miles Gemini aircraft - which would carry Jack and fellow MAF co-founder, Stuart King, to the African continent. First, a UK tour Following an aircraft dedication service at Broxbourne Airport in Hertfordshire in August 1947, the Mildmay Pathfinder toured the UK for six weeks, raising much needed awareness about MAF. On tour, the founding members - Jack Hemmings, Stuart King, Murray Kendon and Tom Banham - visited over 30 locations including Newcastle, Portsmouth, Bristol, Cheltenham, Nottingham, Lincoln, Blackburn, Liverpool, Coventry, Sheffield, Glasgow, Inverness, Edinburgh, Manchester, Cumbria, Belfast, Londonderry, Dublin, Northampton and Cambridge. Over 18,000 people got to hear about the ministry of MAF ahead of their African survey. The UK tour attracted the first of many life-long supporters. First MAF survey to Africa Jack and Stuart took off in the Mildmay Pathfinder from Croydon Airport, Surrey, on 13 January 1948. They plotted their route across Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan and Kenya, using the river Nile as their guide. The pair, who became the first British airmen to survey the needs of isolated areas across central Africa, formerly launched MAF - a global mission, which now spans over 25 countries. Now in its 76th year, MAF is recognised as the world’s largest humanitarian airline. Building airstrips in the wilderness Whilst discovering unimaginable needs amid hazardous terrain, Jack and Stuart were able to make contact with over 500 remote missionaries. Together they concluded that the only way to provide lifesaving help in hard-to-reach places was to build airstrips in the wilderness. In the absence of roads, small planes enabled emergency cargo, missionaries and medical equipment to be delivered safely and quickly, saving many days of treacherous overland travel. It was an adventure of a lifetime, which Jack embraced with fearless determination – a trait which has never left him. ‘Crasher Jack’ On one occasion, as Jack piloted the Miles Gemini accompanied by Stuart, they climbed slowly through the valleys of Burundi’s foothills, but struggled to reach an altitude of 8,500 feet to clear the mountains ahead. As they approached the highest peak, a strong headwind dragged them down where they fatefully met a banana tree on their descent. Miraculously, both men survived but the Gemini was in ruins. As a result, Jack earned the nickname ‘Crasher Jack’, which is still affectionately used by family and friends today. 100 fearless years Jack moved on from MAF to begin a successful career in accountancy but he remained closely affiliated with MAF, returning to flying in 1982. Even at the age of 100, Jack continues to perform in the skies for pleasure. His wife, Kate Hemmings – who he lives with in Heathfield, East Sussex - describes her husband’s fearless nature: ‘We believe that the motto “fear not” from his early 353 Squadron days, along with his firm Christian faith have helped him all the way through. Jack is an awesome, amazing man, and the whole Hemmings family want to wish him a very happy 100th birthday.’ Kate Hemmings Jack continues to be a dedicated supporter of MAF today. News coverage: BBC1 Breakfast  Daily Mirror Maidenhead Advertiser

Indonesia has overtaken India as Asia’s ‘Covid-19 hotspot’. Kalimantan in the Indonesian part of Borneo is experiencing a surge of cases. In response, MAF has flown out medics, batches of the Sinovac vaccine and coronavirus tests to contain the outbreak…To date, Indonesia has recorded over 2.4 million coronavirus cases and 64,000 deaths (source: Reuters). According to the BBC, the country is seeing more than 900 Covid-19 deaths per day.  In a bid to slow the deadly spread of the Delta variant, restrictions came into effect from 12July across 15 locations including Kalimantan. Measures include shopping centre and restaurants closures and enforced working from home for non-essential workers.Health services are reportedly overwhelmed and requests for hospital beds and oxygen tanks have been shared on social media.On 28 June, MAF flew Malinau Regency’s Director of Health - Dr John, to Long Ampung in northern Kalimantan to help control the outbreak. He was accompanied by several doctors. Batches of China’s Sinovac vaccine and coronavirus test kits were also on board.Overground travel is too difficult‘It’s laughable to guess how long it takes to travel by land or river to reach the communities we serve - there are just too many variables.’MAF Pilot, Jeremy ToewsThe distance between Malinau and Long Ampung is 150 miles as the crow flies, which only takes one hour in MAF’s Kodiak aircraft. As there is no road between Malinau and Long Ampung, overground travel would be incredibly difficult as MAF Pilot, Jeremy Toews testifies:‘From Malinau, you’d have to drive about four hours east to the coast, then about 12 hours south to the river, then take the river back inland for a couple of days depending on the current and when it rained, then travel by four-wheel drive from anywhere between several days to a couple of weeks subject to road conditions, landslides and height of the rivers that you have to cross.  ‘Two weeks ago, that 4x4 trail was impassable because the rivers were too high to cross, plus the authorities blocked off all the roads due to the spread of Covid-19.’Limited healthcareLong Ampung has a population of several hundred people and is located within Kayan Selatan District. Although the people of Long Ampung have access to the only health facility in the area, it also serves other communities within its 150-mile radius. Jeremy explains the challenges:‘The medical service that this “hospital” provides is very limited and certainly not equipped to handle a large-scale outbreak of an infectious disease.’There is a better equipped hospital in Malinau Regency, so most MAF medevac requests tend to be transfers from the health facility in Long Ampung to the hospital in Malinau.  On 11 July, Jeremy was requested to fly two critical Covid-19 positive patients from Long Ampung to Malinau. Medevacs such as these require robust risk assessments to protect everyone involved. Jeremy continues:‘We went through all the guidance together, analysed each requirement and determined our level of readiness to undertake such a flight at an acceptable level of mitigated risk. This included risk to the pilot, airstrip ground crew, hangar staff and quarantining considerations for both pilot and aircraft.‘We created a plastic barrier between the passenger compartment and the cockpit, serviced the oxygen system, covered a couple of air vents to ensure consistent airflow and made sure PPE was available. ‘I'm thankful to be part of this team.’This is the second time that MAF has delivered the coronavirus vaccine to Kalimantan. The first batches – accompanied by three medics - were transported on 2 February, which were intended for Kalimantan’s healthcare workers in three separate locations. A total of 264kg of the coronavirus vaccine was distributed. One medic got off at each location to oversee local distribution. They also carried out checks for temperature and breakages.

On 7 July, MAF’s latest aircraft - PK-MVK - finally made her first operational flight to Emdoman Village following months of coronavirus travel restrictions. On board the one-hour flight were boxes of the New Testament and food supplies destined for remote communities in the central mountainous region of Yahukimo Regency…MAF’s Mike Brown had the pleasure of piloting PK-MVK’s first Papua flight from Sentani - MAF’s base in the north - to Emdoman further south, which would have taken several days travel by road, plus additional hiking.The nearly new Quest Kodiak 100 aircraft - originally purchased in 2018 - did not arrive in Sentani until 25 April, due to coronavirus travel restrictions.PK-MVK is MAF’s 11th Kodiak and the latest aircraft to join MAF’s global fleet.On 12 May, the aircraft finally received its certificate of airworthiness from the Indonesian Aviation Authority.Remembering Joyce LinThis date also marks the one-year anniversary of Joyce Lin’s death – the MAF Papua pilot who tragically lost her life while flying Covid-19 test kits, PPE, soap and medication to Mamit in the Highlands. Certificates of airworthiness usually take months to come through, but on this occasion, the process took a fraction of the time as Brad Hoaglun, MAF’s Director of Corporate Communication, testifies:‘Typically, a certificate of airworthiness can take up to 6 months following the inspection of a new aircraft. Our team was delighted when approval came in just 4 weeks – and on the special anniversary of Joyce Lin’s accident.’Brad Hoaglun, MAF’s Director of Corporate CommsWhen MAF’s PK-MVK was finally approved for service on the anniversary of Joyce’s death, MAF Papua held a special event at the Sentani aircraft hangar to dedicate MAF's latest acquisition to God and to celebrate Joyce’s life.   The team wore bright blue t-shirts emblazoned with the word, ‘ReJoyce!’ on the front to commemorate the occasion. On the back were the Papuan words ‘Bertumbuh’ (meaning ‘to grow’), ‘Berbuah’ (meaning ‘to bear fruit’), and ‘Bersatu’ (meaning ‘to come together’).    PK-MVK will meet many needsPK-MVK will be used for a variety of tasks as Brad Hoaglun explains:‘This aircraft will be used for medical evacuations (medevacs), transporting medical staff and equipment and flying teachers, pastors, and Bible translators in and out of remote areas.‘The Kodiaks can also deliver larger items like solar panels and boxes of food and possibly Covid-19 vaccines. These planes are often the only connection with the outside world. They are a workhorse on the mission field.’ The first Kodiak in Papua to have weather radarPK-MVK will join two other Quest Kodiak 100 and four Cessna Caravan aircraft in Papua. This latest model – with only 50 flight hours on the clock - also has the added bonus of a weather radar, which will significantly help MAF Pilot, Mike Brown:‘This is the first Kodiak aircraft to be fitted with radar technology in the MAF Papua fleet, which is a great addition to the plane. Weather radar significantly improves the pilot’s situational awareness. In the tropics, we get quite a few ‘pop-up’ storms, and this technology helps us to determine the severity of those storms so that we can avoid them or fly through less stormy skies.’A Kodiak is well-suited for MAF’s work in Indonesia given its ‘short-field capacity’, ie, its capability for short take-offs and landings from the most basic, unpaved and remotest of airstrips.It can also accommodate either heavy cargo or fly up to 10 passengers.This particular Kodiak has also been upgraded with a high-frequency satellite, a single point fuelling system, larger tyres and a cargo pod. It has a high-wing, unpressurised, single-engine turboprop with a fixed tricycle gear. 

MAF South Sudan’s maintenance manager and former electrician, James Mollenhauer, always knew his skills would come in handy on the mission field, but little did he know he would be fixing breathing apparatus for newborns. MAF’s Jenny Davies finds out how some simple repairs have transformed the work of ‘In Deed and Truth Hospital’…Two fragile little lives are hooked up to one oxygen concentrator in the in-patient ward of ‘In Deed and Truth Hospital’ (IDAT) in Tonj, northwest South Sudan.Oxygen concentrators extract oxygen from the air removing the nitrogen, so that patients with breathing difficulties can receive concentrated oxygen through a mask. In the absence of ventilators or a reliable supply of bottled oxygen, oxygen concentrators are the next best thing.‘Pneumonia is a very common cause of death in infants - for us to have oxygen is critical.’Nurse Rebekah Soper, In Deed and Truth HospitalAccording to the UN, for every 1,000 births in South Sudan, 39 babies die compared to 3 in the UK. South Sudan has one of the worst neonatal health outcomes in the world.Patients can walk two days to reach IDAT HospitalMost of IDAT’s patients are pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and children from remote villages. Patients will often walk two days to reach the hospital. They sleep on the road with their children and arrive on the second day.Charge Nurse, Rebekah Soper, explains how oxygen concentrators are vital for supporting sick babies who are admitted with respiratory infections after such a gruelling journey:‘Recently, we’ve seen so many babies with respiratory problems. Bronchiolitis is a viral infection where the airways in the lungs become inflamed - they struggle to breathe and their blood oxygen levels drop. It normally takes a few days for them to improve.‘Pneumonia is a bacterial infection but it’s hard to tell if it’s bronchiolitis or pneumonia here. We don’t have X-rays and blood tests to test for those things so if a child is really struggling to breathe, we’ll give them intravenous antibiotics and oxygen. Pneumonia is one of the most common causes of death in infants, so for us to have oxygen is critical.’‘It breaks my heart - this doesn’t have to happen’As there is no healthcare within their local vicinity, it’s rare for patients to present just one problem at IDAT Hospital – they usually have multiple health issues, which have accumulated over time.At the opposite end of the ward, another baby is hooked up to another oxygen concentrator. The baby is the size of a newborn but is actually nine months old. Rebekah carefully lifts the blanket to reveal skeletal legs and saggy skin:‘This is what acute malnutrition looks like when you’ve also got TB. The baby is on oxygen and special therapeutic milk via a tube. It’s really challenging because they’ve got a disease which is making them lose weight, We’re trying to feed them, but this one has diarrhoea too, which is common when you start re-feeding. Diarrhoea causes dehydration.‘The baby is so wasted – their leg joints are sticking out because of muscle wasting and their arms are so tiny. It breaks my heart. This doesn’t have to happen - it’s so treatable. Kids shouldn’t have to end up looking like this!’‘Back home, this baby would be in a neonatal intensive care unit with one-on-one nursing care and all the gadgets. But we can only do the basics here – we keep them warm and feed them intravenously if they are too small to breastfeed.’Oxygen concentrators can be temperamental Without technical back-up, oxygen concentrators can quickly become an expensive waste of space as Rebekah testifies:‘Recently, someone made a simple error by plugging one of our machines into the wrong voltage supply. Without any technical support, lifesaving equipment like oxygen concentrators can quickly become nothing more than an expensive paperweight - even as a result of a minor fault.‘Thankfully, IDAT have spare parts and this particular mistake was remedied by MAF. Less than a week later, the concentrator was loaded back on the MAF plane bound for Tonj Airstrip, where it was received and taken straight to the hospital.’‘Fixing things is my happy place!’ A few hundred miles away in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, MAF’s Maintenance Manager, James Mollenhauer, tinkers with a broken compressor unit from one of IDAT’s oxygen concentrators. He’s surrounded by a clutter of bits and bobs where it looks like old electronics come to die.James is saving lives by fixing medical equipment that MAF’s partner cannot afford to throw away, but how did this lifeline come about?IDAT’s Co-Founder, Suzy Kuj, began by asking the question:‘We have these broken oxygen concentrators - do we know someone who can fix them?’ James was delighted to help:‘We’ve got people at MAF with skills and this is how we can serve our partners. Before coming to South Sudan, I used to fix a lot of appliances - mostly electronic repairs and radio installations. My favourite thing is fixing things! It’s my happy place – anything that keeps me away from meetings and paperwork!‘There were four oxygen concentrators with different problems - one had a blocked diaphragm, one had a blocked filter and the other two had problems with their compressor units.’ Technical support requests increasingFortunately, the fixes were quite straightforward and the equipment was flown back and forth on MAF’s weekly shuttle flights to Tonj. James continues:‘I had one concentrator back to IDAT within a week. The 110-voltage unit had accidentally been plugged into a 240 volt supply, which meant it ran too fast and the pressure blew the hoses off. There was no damage - it was fine.’ James says there is an increasing demand for technical support in South Sudan’s remote areas:‘More and more people are needing help with technical issues in the bush. They might need a part for a generator, which MAF is able to source in Juba and we’ll fly it to them on an MAF plane.‘We want to help people in the bush with their medical or mission work, especially if they can’t get help any other way. We really want to spend as much time as possible helping people in remote communities - it’s what MAF is here to do.’MAF essential to IDAT’s ministryWhether it’s transporting faulty equipment, medical supplies or people, IDAT make good use of MAF’s shuttle flights to and from Juba most weeks. IDAT doctor, Jonathon Macleod, considers MAF to be an essential support to their ministry:‘Road transport to Juba is not an option for us due to distance (three days driving), lack of proper roads and high risk of ambush from rebels on the way. Having a weekly shuttle from Juba has massively improved our effectiveness.’IDAT employs 90 staff including medics, pastors, chefs, cleaners, assistants and administrative staff. At their busiest time, IDAT can see up to 300 patients per day. In 2018, they recorded 52,000 outpatients.Dr Macleod continues:‘It’s been such a privilege to watch God grow IDAT over the past seven years. We’ve seen the number of patients triple, a new outpatient centre open and a new ward completed. God has healed so many children physically and spiritually. We’ve got such an amazing team.’As IDAT’s ministry grows, MAF will continue to support them for the foreseeable future.

25 years in the making, the entire Bible has finally been translated into Chadian Arabic. On 28 May, MAF delivered copies to the remote northern town of Bardaï and dispatched a further batch to Dar Sila in eastern Chad on 24 June. MAF's Katie Machell reports... MAF partner, Global Christian charity 'SIL', completed the full Bible translation into Chadian Arabic in 2019.21,000 copies - printed in China - arrived in Chad in April 2021, just before the country encountered some political challenges.'Very precious cargo'A few weeks later on 28 May, pilot Phil Henderson prepared MAF’s Cessna 182 for a flight to Bardaï in the far north of Chad.The cargo was very precious – copies of the whole Bible in Chadian Arabic, a language spoken by 50% of Chadians (source: SIL).The churches of Bardaï were about to receive the Word of God in their own language for the first time.'The Bible in believers' hands will have an impact in Chad for years to come. Please pray that this Bible will strengthen churches and make God’s Word accessible to many in Chad.'SILPeople from all faiths celebratedIn a country that’s 57% Muslim (source: Joshua Project), representatives from both Islamic and Christian faiths attended the celebrations.To mark the arrival of this Bible translation into the country, two Bible dedications were held in Chad’s capital, N’djamena.The first was attended by the Minister of State charged with Dialogue and Reconciliation, the Minister of National Education and a representative of the High Counsel of Islamic Affairs.The second dedication followed on Pentecost Sunday (23 May) attended by church members and the public. This event included singing and speeches, a procession of the Bible, readings, and a prayer of dedication delivered by both Catholic and Protestant churches.Copies were sold at both dedications and have also been made available for people to buy across N’Djamena.  Bibles were ‘received with joy’Hundreds more Bibles have been distributed further afield in central Chad, the east and other areas in the north.According to SIL Chad’s June newsletter:‘Whether officials or humble Chadians, the Chadian Arabic Bible has been received with joy. When one believer came over to receive her Bible, she literally jumped for joy and had tears in her eyes knowing that she could read the whole Bible for herself now.’MAF fly more Bibles to eastern ChadOn 24 June, another 120 Bibles were delivered to Dar Sila in eastern Chad destined for 15 churches within the region.‘We don't have the capacity to carry the amount of Bibles needed in Dar Sila on such a long journey. It's wonderful that MAF can support us in this way. We’re very thankful.’Local missionary in Dar Sila, ChadA local missionary – whose name has been withheld for safety reasons – admits the latest consignment is probably not enough:‘The demand is so high - I should have ordered a lot more! I was naive to think that there wouldn’t be a huge demand for Chadian Arabic Bibles! I think we're easily going to go through several hundred Bibles over the next year or so.‘There are quite a few believers who already use their Chadian Arabic New Testaments (which are already in circulation). They preach and teach from it and share the Good News. Now they want the entire Bible so that they can share from the Old Testament as well.’The local missionary continues: ‘The Bibles will be carefully given out to people interested in learning more about Christianity and Chadian believers. I will supply a small number to each pastor and missionary in Dar Sila, so seekers will be able to read the truth for themselves.‘It’s wonderful that they can now use the Old Testament as well as the New in Chadian Arabic, which has never been available before. I'm really excited to see God’s blessing pour out on the people of Dar Sila.‘Bibles just don’t make it out here without support. My issue is that I can't carry the weight in my car - the Bibles are heavy. We don't have the capacity to carry the amount of Bibles needed in Dar Sila on such a long journey. It's wonderful that MAF can support us in this way. We’re very thankful.’Chadians will also be able to access the Bible in Arabic through an Android app.MAF is honoured to play a small part in this significant event.

Thousands of people have fled Palma on the northeast coast of Mozambique following terror attacks on 24 March. Since 31 March, local MAF partner – Ambassador Aviation – has rescued more than 800 refugees in a joint emergency evacuation effort… On 24 March, militants raided Palma - a town in Cabo Delgado Province causing some 70,000 people to flee their homes (source: UN). According to the BBC, Palma's total population is around 75,000. On 31 March, Ambassador Aviation made their first two round-trips from Palma to the region's capital, Pemba –  a 50 minute flight south - to evacuate 13 adults, 12 children and six babies. Due to the number of casualties caused by ongoing fighting in the area, medical teams have set up a temporary treatment facility in Quitunda Village near Palma. On 13 and 14 June, Ambassador Aviation flew several health workers to Afungi (nearest airstrip to Quitunda) plus over 300 kg of medical supplies. They treated around 270 patients. 34 critically injured patients were flown to hospital in Pemba including the elderly and children - one two-year-old boy was shot in the leg. On 21 June, Ambassador Aviation flew a further four health workers to Afungi to treat a growing number of patients. Another eight passengers who needed critical care were flown to Pemba including a baby whose mother was killed. To date, Ambassador Aviation has evacuated more than 800 refugees on over 150 flights. One passenger and eyewitness who runs a nursery in Palma told MAF that the attack began right outside his nursery - gunfire shook the building. The man fled into the bush and hid there for 15 days. When attempting to return home, he learned that insurgents had broken into his property using it for their own ends. Following his ordeal, the man is very grateful for the evacuation flight to Pemba. Most of the passengers were women and children. I helped carry a few of their bags - all their possessions after fleeing their homes.  One woman had her foot wrapped in cloth and was limping along. I saw another hand her baby to her child, who was about 4 years old, and try to carry this woman on her back.  Most didn’t speak Portuguese, only the local language. Although just an hour’s flight away, they were going to a city with a different language after living in a remote town. Getting on a plane, as foreign as it was to them, was the least scary thing they'd done - they had fled violence.  Imagine leaving everything and facing a completely unknown future.   Jill Holmes, MAF’s Disaster Response Specialist Storm Jobo has made matters worse Since 31 March, Ambassador Aviation pilots Dave LePoidevin and Dave Holmes, have been coordinating evacuation efforts from Afungi Airstrip, which is six miles from Palma. A Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft had been used to evacuate refugees from the area. To make matters worse, Storm Jobo hit Cabo Delgado Province on 22 April delaying Ambassador Aviation's delivery of food and emergency supplies. The Afungi peninsula is heavily guarded due to the intermittent construction of a multibillion-dollar liquified natural gas project owned by French energy giant ‘Total’. Private security forces, local police and the Mozambiquan military maintain control of the area that includes Afungi Airstrip. The terrorist attack was launched just hours after Total announced that it would resume work on its gas project. Since then, Total has been forced to suspend their operations and evacuate their staff. Emergency evacuations of local residents are being undertaken by Ambassador Aviation, other agencies and by boat. Deciding who to rescue Evacuees entering Afungi Airstrip are screened by police and security forces to prevent terrorist infiltration before they are accepted on the flights. This has resulted in long queues of hundreds of people. Once vetted, passengers are given a hot meal. Many of the evacuees are not originally from Palma and do not speak Portuguese, but were working in the area when they were forced to leave the volatile situation. Unfortunately, Ambassador Aviation aircraft can only seat up to 14 passengers at a time, so deciding who to rescue is incredibly difficult. The most challenging part is deciding who to put on the flight. There are sick and injured people, pregnant women, and families with many children. We are unable to take them all and we can't break up families with many children, so it's never a simple process. It's so difficult to look into their eyes and hear them plead to be on the flight, and leave some behind. Diniz Cardoso, MAF Operations  Engineers and equipment also flown in Palma’s hospital, banks and the state prosecutor's office have all been destroyed in what the BBC describes as ‘one of the biggest’ extremist attacks in the region since militants launched their insurgency in 2017. In addition to evacuations, Ambassador Aviation has flown in mobile phone tower engineers, cables, a power supply and repair equipment in a bid to restore damaged communications infrastructure. Ambassador Aviation is also working in partnership with local humanitarian agency, VAMOZ (Voluntários Anónimos de Moçambique) flying in over 2,700kg of food, drinking water, clothing and mosquito nets. Some supplies are for fleeing survivors who had attempted to enter Tanzania but were prevented from crossing the border and had nothing with them to sustain them. The need for evacuation flights, food, medical supplies and other relief continues. In response, MAF has secured another aircraft and pilot from partner, Mercy Air in South Africa. In total, nearly 3,000 people have been killed and almost 800,000 have fled the region since the extremist attacks began in 2017. Half of the refugees are children (source: Al Jazeera). MAF partner, Ambassador Aviation, doing what they do best:

It’s been 19 years since Angola’s civil war ended, but still the country is riddled with landmines, which continue to devastate the lives of ordinary people. This month, work started in Cuando Cubango Province in the south, to rid the area of 153 minefields. It would not be possible for HALO to do their work without MAF pilots like Marijn Goud… MAF has been providing travel logistics and round-the-clock casualty evacuations for HALO since 1994. This month, MAF’s Marijn Goud flew the HALO team to Jamba Airport in Cuando Cubango to evaluate suspected minefields across the province. HALO estimates that it will take five years to completely clear this area including two potential minefields either side of Jamba Airport. Marijn Goud is quick to reassure us that where MAF lands in Jamba is completely safe: ‘Just to clarify, the airstrip is safe!  Where we land is a strip of 8 to 10,000 feet – very long for us, so landing here safely is definitely not an issue.’ A landmine exploded the day before MAF arrived ‘Preventing future deaths - that’s our vision, which we will see through to the end.’ Hoseas Elevoco, HALO’s Operations Manager Hoseas Elevoco, HALO’s Operations Manager and MAF passenger, explains the scope of the work: 'We came to Jamba to re-evaluate several known minefields found by HALO back in 2005. We need to find out what the actual status of these mines are and gather information about accidents that have happened between 2005 and 2021.' Hoseas continues: ‘We were informed by the authorities about an accident that happened the day before we arrived in Jamba. Three brothers from the same family tried to make a fire due to the cold but something exploded - two were wounded and one unfortunately lost his life. ‘We also heard about another accident last month. Three people picked up some explosive ordnance in an area that’s currently being inspected by my colleagues. It could be a weapon or ammunition storage area, we don’t know, but we will wait for more information so we can finish this issue here in Jamba.’  HALO is also working closely with Angola’s military who recently found a stash of explosives. Take a trip with MAF Pilot Marijn Goud as he accompanies HALO staff around Jamba – all in a day’s work: An opportunity to inspect the runway Whilst on the ground – under the watchful eye of HALO’s experienced staff - Marijn has the opportunity to inspect Jamba’s airstrip: ‘There’s a bit we haven’t used so far as we’ve always used the other side, but hey there’s another couple of thousand feet, which we might be able to use too. There's some pretty high grass, so we need to see how usable this end is. ‘There’s a barrier, which shows that that side of the runway has some holes, so we can’t obviously use it past that point. Bushes and high grass clearly aren’t usable either – it hasn’t been cut back. There could be all sorts of animals in the grass – it’s not very safe. We can’t land here.’ Preventing future deaths Marijn catches up with Hoseas before flying the team back to base camp. Hoseas is pleased with how the evaluation went: ‘We found out about an area with lots of projectiles, which will be a task for our Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team. They will thoroughly survey the area and eventually send a team to destroy all those ordnances laying around. ‘That will prevent future deaths - that’s our vision, which we will see through to the end.’ During Angola’s 27-year civil war, HALO estimates that 10 million landmines were laid all over the country of which they have removed nearly 100,000. HALO’s work is far from over. When Prince Harry met Marijn   Follow Marijn on: youtube.com/marijngoud facebook.com/marijnennoortje instagram/goudmarijn

On 7 May 1951, MAF conducted its first ever flight in Papua New Guinea. 70 years later, MAF is still going strong and is the longest serving operator in the country. Max joined MAF PNG as a pilot in 1961. From thousands of flights over 17 years, Max remembers one passenger who he’ll never forget (more…)

Following three years of extensive research, MAF is setting up its latest operation in Guinea. An in-depth study has revealed that the presence of a consistent, sustainable domestic airline will greatly enhance development and support the work of aid agencies and Christian ministry in the country… Why Guinea? Guinea is ranked 178 out of 189 countries on the UN’s Human Development Index, which measures criteria such as life expectancy, levels of education and living standards. Widespread poverty is therefore high. Life expectancy is 61 years of age and one in every 20 children will not survive their first birthday. According to the World Health Organisation, there is barely one doctor for every 1,000 people. A third of the population does not have access to clean water (source: UN Sustainable Development Goals). According to the World Food Programme, 55% of the population live below the bread line. Nearly 100,000 children under five suffer from severe malnutrition and nationally, a quarter of the population does not have enough food to eat. 70% of the population are illiterate (source: Omundi Index). Fact-finding mission Since 2018, MAF has undertaken three surveys in Guinea. In the first instance, NGOs and missions completed a detailed questionnaire with the aim of assessing future opportunities for MAF to serve. The response prompted an in-country survey which took place later in 2018. Interviews were carried out with NGOs, churches, missionaries and government bodies including Guinea’s Ministry of Transport, the Civil Aviation Authority and airport management officials. Another survey was carried out in February this year by MAF Chief Pilot - Emil Kundig and Finance Manager - Margrit Kundig. They visited missions and hospitals in the south including Mission Kissidougou, Mission Macenta, Hospital Nzérékoré, Hospital Beyla and Mission Gbenko. Representatives were invited to fill in a further questionnaire, which gleaned data about transportation needs. Most NGOs are based in the capital, Conakry, with their associated projects located all over the country. Conakry is the only location which processes staff visas and work permits. The overall study revealed that MAF could save these potential partners time and money and provide a faster and safer journey to their destination. Needing reliable and secure transport to facilitate projects upcountry was a recurring theme in the participants’ answers. They also expressed a need to transport officials to visit their projects and return them to Conakry either on the same day or the following day. Several respondents expressed their need for a domestic medevac service to and from remote locations. This extensive research has shown that the people of Guinea will significantly benefit from a domestic MAF flight operation. Bad roads and bad weather There are approximately 12 airfields around the county, but many airstrips are no longer in use. MAF inspected several for possible future use including Sambailo Airstrip in the north, Siguiri Airport in the west and Macenta Airstrip in the south. Guinea’s railway network is also no longer running - built during the French colonial period, it has fallen into disrepair since the country’s independence. As a result of this severe lack of national transport, aid and development agencies and missionaries who are supporting the people of Guinea, are limited to ground transport only. This means long distances on poor roads combined with some of the wettest weather in West Africa, makes travel across the country very challenging. According to the UN, only 5% of Guinea’s roads are paved and the quality varies. Roads are particularly inadequate in the east and in the north. Even the tarmacked roads are full of potholes, which significantly slows down vehicles. Even a road journey between the capital, Conakry, on the west coast and Nzerekore in the south (approx. 830 km) can easily take two days. A similar driving distance between Kent and Glasgow in the UK would only take around 7.5 hours. Furthermore, Guinea’s rainy season lasts from June to November when flash floods often render rural roads impassable for several days. Given the harsh environment, MAF would need to operate an IFR-equipped (Instrument Flight Rules) Cessna 208B aircraft there, which has the capability of flying in poor weather conditions. How Ebola crippled a nation The West African Ebola epidemic from 2013 to 2016 devastated Guinea and underlined the lack of healthcare in the country. An Ebola outbreak reoccurred again in Nzérékoré in February this year. WHO health workers reportedly had difficulties reaching the area due to poor infrastructure and transport problems. Religious landscape According to the Joshua Project, 88% of the population are Muslim and 5% are Christian. The Fulani, Malinke and Susu people groups (branches of Islam) in Guinea are unfamiliar with the Gospel. MAF will enable the Church of Guinea and wider mission organisations to reach the remotest areas, accessing 30 unreached people groups around the country, comprising of approximately eleven million people. What’s next? MAF is currently working with the Government of Guinea and aviation authorities to meet registration requirements and is in the process of obtaining all necessary permissions. Once granted, MAF’s Cessna 208B aircraft - previously deployed in Mongolia - will be made available for service. Kissidougou Airstrip in southern Guinea will be the first airstrip to be redeveloped. Aviation systems need to be set up and essential parts and tools need to be purchased. Upcountry logistical support and fuel supplies need to be arranged. Potential flight destinations such as a weekly shuttle service to the north, northwest, centre and the southeast and provision of a medevac service for communities and partners based in remote locations, need to be considered and planned for. MAF needs to fill three full-time positions to implement and manage this new aviation operation. ‘We see a significant opportunity to bring help, hope and healing through aviation in Guinea. Join us in prayer as we lay the foundations for this new programme and make the necessary preparations to begin flying in this country.’ Dave Fyock, CEO of MAF International

It has taken 64 years to translate the entire Bible into the Damal Tribe’s local language. Missionaries, John and Helen Ellenberger - now both aged 88 - began their life’s work back in 1957 when they first set sail for ‘Dutch New Guinea’. MAF’s Linda Ringenberg charts their amazing adventure and how MAF has supported them every step of the way… In 1957, newlyweds John and Helen Ellenberger from the Christian and Missionary Alliance (CMA) boarded a ship in New York and set sail for Dutch New Guinea, now Papua in Indonesia. Their mission? To deliver the Word of God to the Papuan people in their own language. In Rotterdam, Holland, the couple were transferred onto a Dutch ship hauling 200 tons of beer, which was also destined for Papua.  Six weeks after leaving America, John and Helen finally set foot on Papua—one of the world’s largest tropical islands filled with jungles and majestic mountains. They boarded a Mission Aviation Fellowship aircraft and headed to the farming valley of Ilaga to join other CMA colleagues already established amongst the Damal Tribe. Reaching a remote people with the Gospel According to Survival International, the Damal Tribe is one of 312 tribal groups in Papua and has a population of around 19,000 people (source: Joshua Project). Damal villages are situated either side and amongst ten of the valleys south of the Carstenz Mountain Range, which soars over 16,000 feet high. The mountain passes, which people use to travel by foot, are situated at 12,000 feet. It was the Ellenbergers' desire to bring the Gospel to the Damal people living south of the Carstenz Mountain Range. Blasting a big boulder The first step was to locate and clear some land for a potential airstrip to improve the area’s accessibility.  MAF conducted an aerial survey with John, and together they found the most suitable spot - a place called Jila, which has an elevation of over 4,000 feet. Although the area was suitable in many ways, it still had a gigantic boulder protruding from the middle of the would-be airstrip. John and his colleague trekked across the lofty mountain pass and asked the Lord how to dispose of this giant rock. After the missionaries unsuccessfully tried to blow up the entire boulder with dynamite in one fell swoop, the locals succeeded in cracking it with their traditional method of burning. John and his colleague then proceeded to use half a stick of dynamite at a time to blast the boulder into smaller pieces - a painful process that took nearly a year to complete! Heart problems During this time, John fell seriously ill. Even though he was only in his twenties, John was experiencing heart problems he had never encountered before. Given the sheer altitude of the 12,000 feet mountain pass, John was medically advised via radio to stay put as the four-day gruelling journey on foot from Jila to Ilaga would have been too much for his heart to take. The situation was grave. To ensure John’s survival, he had to be medevacked. MAF pilot, Hank Worthington, therefore attempted the first ever flight landing in Jila. After surveying the situation, Hank bravely touched down on the incomplete airstrip, narrowly avoiding what was left of the boulder. Fortunately, Hank skilfully brought the airplane to a complete halt just before the sheer precipice fell away hundreds of feet below. This bold move saved John’s life.  Hank flew John to Jayapura on the coast where he was diagnosed with a New Guinea virus, which caused heart problems. Miraculously, following just a week of rest and medication, John made a full recovery: ‘We appreciate MAF!’ he says with a smile. 40% of the Old Testament translated John and his family returned to Ilaga in Papua’s interior. Alongside his evangelism, John became a fully trained Bible translator. The first translated books of the Bible were ‘mimeographed’ for Damal readers. This was an early method of low-cost duplication using a stencil, which predates photocopying. The first book of the Bible to be officially printed in Damal was – ironically - the ‘Gospel of John’. Printing took place on the coast and MAF would fly boxes of the printed Gospel back into the Damal valleys around 1967. By 1988, the entire Damal New Testament was printed and by 1992, 40% of the Old Testament was also translated.  MAF had the privilege of transporting this precious cargo into various Damal villages. Later, John took some time out of Papua to teach at the Alliance Theological Seminary in New York from 1985 to 2003. He also served on MAF’s Board of Directors in California from 1990 to 1994. During the Ellenbergers’ period in America, other missionaries continued the translation work in Papua. Mission accomplished! But in 2015, John and Helen revisited their original calling and returned to Papua once again. Building on the work of his predecessors, John helped to complete the translation of the remaining 60% of the Old Testament. On 28 February, the last chapter of the book of Job was translated. Following a lifetime of hard work, the entire Old Testament had finally been translated into Damal: ‘Praise God!’ exclaims John. In recent weeks, together with Damal Translator Rev Timothy Birdshooter, John and Helen have been diligently proofreading the remaining books of the Old Testament. Once the entire text has been proofed, it’s hoped that the Indonesian Bible Society will print 6,000 copies of the new Bibles in the summer of 2021. In the autumn, MAF will fly them out to the villages of Ilaga, Beoga and Timika where large numbers of the Damal are residing. What a privilege for MAF to partner with lifelong servants of God like the Ellenbergers.

This month, MAF joined forces with charity, CURE International to facilitate mobile medical clinics on Lamu Island and in Bura Town – two isolated communities in southern Kenya. Over 80 patients were treated for numerous conditions including cerebral palsy, club foot and cleft palate. MAF's Jenny Davies reports (more…)

In the last five years, increasing demand for solar energy installations in Papua New Guinea has resulted in a new Solar and Electrical Department for 'MAF Technologies PNG'. MAF's Joy Suarkia looks back on how they've been meeting the demand (more…)

Activist, Ashley Judd - and star of ‘Double Jeopardy’ and ‘Divergent’ - was medevacked to safety by MAF on 5 February after sustaining a severe leg injury during a wildlife research trip in the DRC. Ashley recounts her 55-hour ordeal to New York Times journalist, Nicholas Kristof…. MAF flies Ashley Judd to the Democratic Republic of Congo several times a year. She accompanies a team from America’s Harvard University who study endangered bonobos – great apes located deep within the DRC’s jungle. On 16 January, MAF had flown Ashley and the team from the capital Kinshasa to Djolu in the north, with plans to retrieve them three weeks later on 8 February. Whilst out walking in the jungle, Ashley’s plans were dramatically cut short when she tripped over a fallen tree and badly injured her leg. ‘I had to physically hold the top part of my shattered tibia together, and we did that for six hours. I was at the edge of my very edge.’ Ashley Judd, actor and activist Unable to walk, she was carried for hours in a makeshift stretcher, followed by a harrowing six-hour motorcycle ride, before finally being medevacked by MAF back to Kinshasa on 5 February. With MAF pilot, Jonathan de Jongh, at the helm, the 964 km flight took around three hours. Ashley’s leg was stabilised at a hospital in Kinshasa and again in South Africa, before she had to take a further four flights (another 22 hours) to reach America where she had an eight-hour operation. Unbeknown to Ashley, she had broken her leg in four places and suffered nerve damage. Biting on a stick to control the pain In an interview with New York Times journalist, Nicholas Kristof, she describes her ordeal from her hospital bed in South Africa: ‘I was doing what I always do – up at 4.30 in the morning with two of our world class, trackers, walking in the dark. My headlamp was not quite working properly. I can walk in partial light, but accidents happen. There was a fallen tree on the path, which I didn’t see and I had a very powerful stride going and I just fell over this tree. ‘I knew my leg was breaking. What came next was an incredibly harrowing 55 hours. It started with 5 hours lying on the floor with Dieumerci, one of our trackers, with his leg under my badly misshapen leg, biting my stick, howling like a wild animal.’ The name Dieumerci means ‘thanks be to God’. In the absence of strong painkillers, Ashley was forced to bite down on a stick to control the excruciating pain: ‘They couldn’t offer me ibuprofen, but they offered me a depth of understanding because they know what suffering is.’  Transported by hammock and motorbike Ashley’s other tracker, Maliko, ran back to wake up Martin Surbeck, who heads up the ‘Kokolopori Bonobo Research Project Camp’. Five hours later, another man called Papa Jean, finds them and resets Ashley’s leg: ‘Papa Jean puts his hands on me to reset my bones. I’m going into shock, I’m passing out, the pain is really bad, my teeth are chattering, I’m in a cold sweat, I think I’m gonna vomit. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. I believe that Father God is with us in our suffering. ‘Then it’s an hour and a half in the hammock being carried out of the rainforest by my Congolese brothers who are barefoot, up and over hills, through the river and then we’re finally back at camp. That’s just getting to camp.’   It would be another 49 hours until Ashley reaches South Africa: ‘Once I get to camp, there’s another hour and a half through the rainforest in the hammock with all my brothers hoisting that thing on their shoulders, taking turns, encouraging me. Then comes the motorbike ride. 'It took courage for someone to ride with me because they had to physically hold me up. One man driving and another sitting behind me and I said: “I would like a man of God” and so Maradona got on the bike. He had to hold my leg and I had to physically hold the top part of my shattered tibia together and we did that for six hours. The motorbike really tested me and sometimes it just felt like a pure crisis in my head.’ ‘A beautiful deep act of human service’ On what seemed like a never-ending journey, Ashley was also carried across a series of rickety bridges: ‘They had to take me off the motorbike and put me back in the hammock to walk me over these rickety bridges that are very fragile and tenuous. There was an old man who was very thin and wire-y. He was bare foot and stopped what he was doing. He didn’t really look like he had the physical stamina or strength, but he picked up the hammock because he’s good at walking across these slippery bridges. ‘There were four bridges in a row and there was a fair distance between them, so he had to carry my weight and he just walked and walked and walked. He balanced me so well. When he set me down, I looked in his eyes and said: “Merci papa” and he looked back and said: “Je suis Papa Freddy”. ‘It was a beautiful deep act of human service and I wouldn’t have made it without the Papa Freddies along the way.’ In pain, but privileged In spite of her agony, Ashley remembers how privileged she is: ‘We had the Congolese franc to pay someone to drive us to Djolu. For a Congolese person, this would have been the end of their options. They would have got as far as the ancestral villages in the bonobos range and that would have been it. It would have been the end of their leg and probably their life.’ Ashley has faced the stark reality of what it takes to access urgent medical care from deep within the world’s second largest tropical rainforest. But for the Congolese women with no means who need to see a doctor, severely inadequate healthcare is their daily reality. Ashley has been using her platform to shine a light on the plight of Congolese women and is particularly passionate about maternal health. In the DRC, according to the UN: 1 in every 24 women die in childbirth 258 babies die every day before they are one month old 1 in 4 women aged 20 – 24 give birth by the age of 18 Only 6% of newborns in rural areas receive postnatal care within 2 days of being born MAF continues to work with partners across the DRC to alleviate suffering and support the most isolated communities. Long road to recovery Following Ashley’s six-hour gruelling bike ride, she spent the night in a hut in Djolu where MAF met her and flew her to Kinshasha. She spent 24 hours in DRC’s capital before completing the next leg of her journey to South Africa where she had a blood transfusion in Intensive Care. Ashley’s journey home has been long and difficult, but her journey to recovery has just begun: ‘I thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers and support. The walking is going to be tricky, but the bone will heal – I have a wonderful trauma orthopaedic surgeon. ‘Right now, my right foot is lame and it’s going to take some time for that nerve to heal and there’s going to be intensive physical therapy. There’s not really a time frame. I will walk again because I am determined and I believe in modern science and miracles. I have a journey ahead of me.’ We wish Ashley well and pray for her speedy recovery.

MAF partner and gynaecologist, Dr Denis Mukwege, has been protected by UN peacekeepers since a failed assassination attempt in 2012. Dr Mukwege recounts his life-saving evacuation by MAF in 1996, when war broke out in the DRC… In the last twenty years, Dr Mukwege and team have treated around 85,000 women at Panzi Hospital in eastern DRC, who have survived rape and violent sexual assault – horrific weapons of the DRC war. As a world leading specialist in the treatment of injuries caused by wartime sexual violence, Dr Mukwege continues to publicly condemn these atrocities and vows to get justice for the violated women whom he treats. His calls to end impunity - which has previously protected the perpetrators of mass rape during the first (1996 – 1997) and second (1998 - 2003) DRC wars – have triggered death threats and attempts on his life. Rescued by MAF Dr Mukwege remembers the first time he was confronted by armed men during the outbreak of the first DRC war in 1996. He was working at Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, which he founded, when soldiers stormed the building and threatened to seize vital equipment. When he refused out of concern for his patients, the soldiers accused him of siding with the rebels. The lives of Dr Mukwege and his family were in grave danger: ‘It was pure madness - soldiers killing for no reason. We thought it was the end, but I managed to get hold of Roland Storgren who worked for MAF Kenya. Two MAF planes were sent and there was a lot of drama when they landed. With God’s help, we managed to hide. All the soldiers gathered around a larger passenger plane that had just landed on the other side of the runway. This gave us the chance to rush on board the MAF plane - it was a miracle.’ Fighting for justice Dr Mukwege is an advisor to the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council where he continues to use his international platform to call on world leaders to bring war criminals to justice: ‘In all the conflicts around the world, the use of rape as a weapon of war should not go unpunished. If we all stand up and say, “it is not acceptable,” I know this can be solved.’ ‘MAF saved my life. I didn’t know how I would make it from Bukavu to somewhere safe, but with MAF, I was able to quit Bukavu and go! I was saved along with my baby girl and my boy whom I was pregnant with at that time. Thanks to MAF, we are all safe.’ Maguy – DRC war survivor and MAF evacuee Maguy’s story When war broke out in October 1996 in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), aid worker, Maguy, had to find a safe way out of Bukavu situated near the Rwandan border. The married mother of a seven-month-old baby, with another one on the way, sensed growing panic around her as rebel forces moved in to take control of the DRC’s border. As the war intensified and violence moved towards Bukavu, Maguy had to come up with an escape plan: ‘The rebels were coming from Uvira and they were on their way to Bukavu. Everyone was working hard to get out of this town and go to a safer place. The only way to leave was to go on foot but I couldn’t make it - it was a desperate situation.’ Escaping on foot would be daunting for anyone, let alone a pregnant woman with her babe in arms. Desperate to find safety, she sought a more feasible alternative to escape the impending violence. Her brother-in-law was a pastor who worked with missionaries in the area. He found out that an MAF evacuation flight was leaving the area soon. Thankfully, there was enough room on the flight for Maguy and her baby but not her husband. He was forced to flee on foot, but only left his family once he was satisfied they would be flown to safety. It was a scary situation: ‘Thank God my sister’s family had to be evacuated because of her husband. Thank God I was also put on the list. We were evacuated with MAF from Bukavu to Niakunde because of the disorder in town. Thank God I got the opportunity to fly with MAF.’ ‘Even now we don’t know where he is buried’ Eventually Maguy’s husband joined them, but even as a strong, young man, he barely survived the journey on foot through forests and hills. Two days later, Maguy’s hometown of Bukavu was taken by the rebels. Maguy’s father-in-law was killed in the fighting and to this day, they don’t know where he’s buried: ‘Even now we don’t know where he is buried because they told us he was buried in a mass grave.’ So many people lost their lives. Thanks to MAF’s evacuation, Maguy and her family are now flourishing: ‘MAF saved my life. I didn’t know how I would make it from Bukavu to somewhere safe, but with MAF, I was able to quit Bukavu and go! I was saved along with my baby girl and my boy whom I was pregnant with at that time. Thanks to MAF, we are all safe.’ ‘I praise God for the wonderful work that MAF is doing in Congo – they are really saving lives. They go where no one can go. They stay even when the situation gets worse. When everyone left the country, MAF stayed to save lives. God bless MAF and all who are supporting MAF.’ Today, Maguy works as a Deputy Programme Manager for a humanitarian charity. Maguy’s children are now in their twenties and her eldest daughter is studying at university. Maguy shares her story with MAF’s Nick Frey in 2018: Sobering DRC stats Conflicts in the DRC have resulted in more than 5.4 million deaths between 1998 and 2008 – half of whom were children under five. This is the 'deadliest conflict since the second world war' (International Rescue Committee). At the peak of the war, 45,000 lives were lost every month (The Guardian). The UN currently has more than 12,200 peacekeepers in the DRC (BBC). More than 5 million people have been displaced and 19.6 million are in need of humanitarian assistance (IRC). DRC is ranked 175 out if 189 in the Human Development Index.

As another former rebel leader from the DRC is arrested for ‘crimes against humanity’ including mass rape, survivors of sexual violence continue to seek treatment. Despite war-torn infrastructure, MAF has set up a travel corridor between Panzi Hospital and remote villages, enabling these women to get the help that they desperately need        (more…)

MAF US Mobilisation Manager, Crissie Rask, was just 13 when the Southern Yali Tribe murdered her father – missionary, Phil Masters. MAF’s Claire Gilderson caught up with Crissie who recalls the heartbreak of losing her dad and the joy of the Yali eventually turning to Christ… This summer saw MAF deliver more than 1,100 Bibles and 1,400 children’s Bibles to the Southern Yali villages of Holuwon, Oakbisik and DeKai in the Papuan highlands. This is the second time MAF has flown Bibles to the Southern Yali in their own language. Today the Yali treasure God’s word, but 52 years ago, it was a very different story. On 25 September 1968, World Team missionaries and MAF partners, Phil Masters and Stan Dale, were hiking in the Seng Valley to share the Good News, but they were ambushed, killed by bow and arrow and cannibalised by the Southern Yali. Phil’s widow and Crissie’s mother, Phyliss, was three months pregnant at the time with her fifth child. Decades later, the Yali’s transformation is nothing short of a miracle. Thanks to her father’s and Stan’s sacrifice, others dared to follow in their footsteps to share the love of Christ. As a result, there are now over one hundred churches amongst the Yali today. ‘We were such a curiosity’ MAF continues to support the work that Phil and Stan started all those years ago. Crissie – who went on to work for MAF Papua for 16 years - recalls what it was like growing up in remote Papua as a child: ‘We went when I was about 6 years old. It was a natural, normal childhood to us – very happy. We lived in pretty simple housing conditions especially when we moved to Korupun. Our house had a thatched roof and a dirt floor. My dad built us beds. We had mattresses flown in by MAF and our windows were opaque screens. The people would crowd around us because we were such a curiosity and as I got older, that got more difficult.’ Crissie describes her father as a ‘fun, gregarious person who loved people, but he was quite strict as well.’ ‘There was tremendous spiritual resistance’ Phil was an incredibly tenacious person too. He was determined to share the Gospel with the world’s most forgotten and unreached people, no matter what the cost. Tragically, it cost him his life. Crissie explains the extent of their spiritual battle: ‘There was an area between Ninia and Korupun, which had been very resistant to the Gospel - the Seng Valley. Stan had already been shot at once trying to reach that area and two Yali Christians had been killed trying to go south from Ninia toward Korupun. The Yali were fearful of their ancestors’ spirits. They were dominated by them and didn’t want to embrace Jesus. There was tremendous spiritual resistance and they were blind. My father and Stan felt that if they approached the area from the other side, perhaps the people would be more receptive. They just had a real zeal for areas that had no access to the Gospel. Because Stan had already experienced opposition, people often ask: “What were they thinking? Were they fool hardy?” but I have to say that the Holy Spirit compelled them to do it. They thought it through - they didn’t just rush in.’ ‘We just cried and cried and cried’ As was the practice back then, MAF would plan and execute an aerial survey in conjunction with partner missions. Once a new community had been detected, missionaries would hike in with a view of setting up a new base and airstrip. It was on one such hike that Phil and Stan lost their lives. Crissie explains what happened on that fateful day: ‘As they hiked, people gathered from villages all around the Seng Valley. They started to follow them. My dad and Stan each had around 75 to 100 arrows in them, so it wasn’t just one single killer - it was the intent of the whole community. Some of the evangelists from my dad’s group escaped to the northern Yali mission station of Angguruk. They reported that the missionaries had been killed and radioed MAF. I remember the day when we first got the hint that something was wrong - me and two of my siblings were at boarding school. Aunt Betty told us that dad was missing. A day later MAF flew us to the main mission station to be with mom. We hoped against hope that they had escaped into the jungle. MAF coordinated the search and requested a commercial helicopter from Papua New Guinea to conduct a proper investigation. A couple of days later we got confirmation that they had been killed. We just cried and cried and cried. I wondered how our lives would go on without my dad.’ 'I forgave you when it happened. The Lord has forgiven me for my sin and, in turn, I forgive you.' Phyliss Masters addressing the Southern Yali Tribe Forgiveness in the face of injustice Others in Phyliss Masters’ tragic position – a widowed mother of four children with another one on the way – might have fled the country but incredibly, Phyliss felt compelled to stay. She continued to do God’s work amongst the indigenous tribes for another twenty years and set up a women and children’s ministry. In 2010, Phyliss attended a New Testament dedication ceremony for the Kimyal Tribe in Korupun, during which time the Yali sought Phyliss’ forgiveness. Crissie shares that poignant moment: ‘The Yali leader didn’t know that my mom would be there and was moved to tears. He arranged a special meal for my mom with all the pastors and made a formal apology on behalf of his people and asked for her forgiveness. My mom never held it against them as she knew they were in darkness. Mom quoted Ephesians 4:32 and said: “I forgave you when it happened. The Lord has forgiven me for my sin and, in turn, I forgive you.” God’s transformative power As for Crissie, coming to terms with her father’s death is a continuous journey through hills and valleys: ‘I don’t think I was looking for justice. We knew those people were in darkness, but I don’t want to say that everything is smooth either. Ultimately though, I’ve had the privilege of growing up seeing the transformative power of the Gospel at work. What a huge privilege that, in our suffering, we can somehow bring glory to God the Father and bring others to know him.’ Luliap Pahabol, was the first member of the Yali Tribe to become a Christian. He also helped to translate the book of Mark into Yali - the first ever book of the Bible to be translated into his own language. Crissie became friends with Luliap: ‘I knew him as an adult and he and his wife are friends of ours. With Luliap as a Yali representative, I can easily say that I love those people and I would love to sit among them and rejoice with the Yali about what God is doing.’ 40 years with MAF Despite the tragedy which befell Phil Masters, Crissie always knew she wanted to be a missionary like her father: ‘That was always in my heart, but I didn’t quite know how it would be achieved. God gently kept me on course, but it was my mom who stayed on in Papua as an encouragement to both the Yali and Dani believers, which was a huge influence.’ Crissie met and fell in love with pilot and mechanic, Dave Rask. Crissie returned to Papua with her husband in 1983 and began working for MAF: ‘I knew it was God’s gracious way of bringing me to my calling. I knew MAF growing up – they were my heroes. I may have played a little part in steering Dave toward MAF as opposed to another mission organisation! Me coming back to Papua meant something to the people. God used it so that I would once again invest my life in the people of Papua.’ Crissie has been working for MAF US for nearly 40 years. During their 16 years in Papua, Crissie and Dave were based in Sentani, Manokwari, Mulia and Boma. There are 250 different language groups in West Papua alone. Since 2006, they have been based in Nampa, Idaho. As MAF US Mobilisation Manager, Crissie recruits much needed MAF missionaries and places them all over the world. Dave is Operations Support and Fleet Manager for MAF US.

On 29 August 2020 - in MAF’s 75th anniversary year – MAF co-founder Stuart King passed away peacefully at his home in Folkestone, Kent, at the age of 98. We celebrate Stuart's incredible life (more…)

MAF pilots flew more than 1,100 Bibles and 1,400 children’s Bibles to the remote Papuan villages of Holuwun, Oakbisik and DeKai. Following in the footsteps of Christian martyrs – World Team missionaries, Phil Masters and Stan Dale - MAF continues to bring Good News to the Yali in their own language. MAF Papua's Linda Ringenberg reports…      'There were not enough Bibles for this southern Yali community, so last year, their church ordered more to be printed in Jakarta and shipped them to MAF’s hangar in Papua, Indonesia. MAF delivered the Bibles to the villages of Dekai, Oakbisik and Holuwun. In Dekai, the Bibles were distributed to church evangelists and pastors. In Oakbisik, people from neighbouring villages walked for a whole day just to receive a Bible.   The rest went to Holuwun where the ladies were waiting, excitedly swaying back and forth, chanting in their Yali tongue. They were waiting for the MAF plane to land, which would bring them Bibles in their own language.  The Cessna Caravan touched down and taxied to the top of the mountain airstrip. As MAF pilots, Dave Ringenberg and Peter Santana, climbed out of the plane, the colourfully dressed villagers continued to chant and sway. Dave Ringenberg, Instructor Pilot and Director of Papua Operations, recalls that special moment: It felt like we were on holy ground. It was a holy moment - one to be remembered. Dave Ringenberg, Instructor Pilot and Director of Papua Operations 55 years earlier in 1965 – with similar excitement and trepidation - it was again MAF pilots, with local partners, who first discovered the Yali whilst undertaking survey flights.  Only God knew the trials, tribulation and fruit that would follow… The southern Yali Bible translation took 32 years The villagers helped to unload the precious cargo - boxes wrapped in hessian sacks containing newly printed Bibles in their own language. This edition was a reprinting of the original southern Yali Bible, which had been completely translated in June 2000. It has taken some thirty years to translate the Bible into southern Yali by linguists and missionaries. The very first book of the Bible to be translated into Yali was the book of Mark by World Team missionary, Stan Dale, and a Yali man named Luliap Pahabol. Luliap was the very first Yali man to receive the Gospel. Stan and his family lived in Ninia among another southern Yali group where they had established a fledgling church.  Stan was translating the book of Acts into southern Yali when he was tragically killed in 1968. Stan Dale and Phil Masters martyred for their beliefs Stan and his World Team colleague, Phil Masters, had arrived to scout out a place for a new airstrip in order to evangelise this particularly hostile Yali tribe. These Yali men were renowned jungle warriors and cannibals who lay in wait for Stan and Phil. Bow and arrows in hand, they hid near the path that wound through Yali Seng Valley territory.   They had heard that these two strange-looking white men had brought a new message to the surrounding tribes - one that went against their witchcraft and warring.  The southern Yali ambushed Stan and Phil near a place called Lolat, and began mercilessly pelting them with arrows. At first, the two missionaries stood their ground and began pulling the arrows from their bodies, breaking them in two. 200 broken and bloodied arrows later, Stan and Phil fell and died. Apahapsili Village is where the northern Yali live who speak a different dialect to their southern counterparts. The northern Yali received their complete Bible translation in their own dialect in 2019. This film documents that momentous occasion: God uses evil for good Three months after Stan and Phil's deaths, an MAF plane crashed tragically killing the pilot and the Newman missionary family, with the exception of their youngest son, Paul.  Paul stumbled out of the burning wreckage and found himself in the very same valley where Stan and Phil had been martyred.  Paul miraculously happened upon the home of a southern Yali man who had been against murdering missionaries. That man thankfully kept Paul safe until a search party arrived.  These events led to new interaction with the Yali tribe. Amazingly, they believed this second visit from white strangers was a positive sign and therefore invited them to stay in their village.  Five years later, the first 35 believers in the Seng Valley were baptised - the church was born. 55 years after MAF and partners first discovered the Yali tribe, God has faithfully worked through a killing and a plane crash.’ Today there are over 100 churches among the Yali.  

MAF in Mongolia – known as ‘Blue Sky Aviation’ – has ceased operating, following a detailed viability study. In two decades, Mongolia’s infrastructure has improved, reducing the demand for MAF’s services. We look back on what MAF has achieved in this unique country… Mongolia – a country of extremes Spanning over 600,000 square miles with a population of just 3.3 million, Mongolia ranks as one of the most sparsely populated countries on the planet (1). It’s capital, Ulaanbaatar, is the coldest capital on earth plummeting to -40C in January (2). Conversely, Mongolian summers can reach a sweltering 40C! 45% of Mongolia’s population live in the capital. According to the WHO, until recently, Ulaanbaatar was the most polluted capital in the world, fuelled by coal burning stoves to keep people warm. In a bid to clean up their air, the Mongolian government outlawed burning raw coal last year (3). MAF receives invitation from Mongolia’s MOH In 1991, when MAF first surveyed Mongolia following an invitation from the Ministry of Health, the country was less developed than it is today. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, they withdrew their financial support, which triggered widespread poverty and unemployment across Mongolia. Basic infrastructure and medical services fell into disrepair and the most remote, rural communities had little access to decent healthcare. Due to the sheer vastness of the country and bad or non-existent roads, international development NGOs and aid agencies found it almost impossible to reach rural communities. A Christian missionary commissioned by Mongolia’s MOH to overhaul their failing health system, contacted MAF for help - the final missing piece of the jigsaw. 'I’m so thankful to God and MAF for giving us such a good service with a discount to enable us to develop our ministry around Dadal in eastern Mongolia' Minister, Charles Cook The fall of Communism creates new opportunities Following nearly 70 years of Communism and religious suppression, there were very few Christians in Mongolia. The fall of Communism in 1990 however, ushered in new ideas, a fledgling democracy and ultimately, religious freedom. Many Mongolians returned to Buddhism, but the opportunity to demonstrate God’s love and share the Gospel had never been greater. Mongolia became more open to foreign development accompanied by a thirst for education and progress among the younger generation. As the Christian community started to grow, so did calls from missionaries and NGOs for better transport to go about their work. ‘Blue Sky Aviation’ is born! Following further surveys in 1993 and 1997, MAF joined forces with local partner, ‘Exodus Way’. By then, an experienced pilot family arrived to set up MAF’s first flight programme. In spring 2000, a prefabricated hangar was shipped out and assembled at Ulaanbaatar Airport. By July, a new Cessna Caravan aircraft – funded by generous MAF supporters – had arrived. The ‘Millennium Messenger’ was fully equipped for flying in extreme temperatures and ‘Blue Sky Aviation’ (BSA) was launched in 2001. BSA saves lives BSA was the first light aircraft operator to enter Mongolia and played a significant part in developing aviation across the country. People who lived hundreds of miles from towns and cities were now able to reach them in a matter of hours by plane rather than a week by road. BSA became an ‘air ambulance’ service so that emergency healthcare could be accessed in the remotest of regions, which saved many lives. Thanks to BSA’s partnership with charity, ‘Nurses Heart to Heart’, doctors and nurses in rural areas received CPR training resulting in more saved lives! By 2012, demand for BSA’s services increased. MAF helps grow Mongolian Church BSA formed a long-term partnership with ‘Reaching the Light’. This Christian charity provides physiotherapy and speech therapy to children with disabilities, supporting hundreds of isolated families. During its time in Mongolia, MAF played its part in supporting various missionary partners such as the Antioch Church project, which spreads the Gospel to unreached communities and raises awareness of people trafficking. Over the years, BSA helped Christianity grow in rural Mongolia, by facilitating many mission trips from the capital, Ulaanbaatar. BSA has enabled a range of domestic and international church groups to evangelise, educate and encourage isolated communities and churches throughout Mongolia. From a handful of Christians in 1990, Mongolia’s Christian population today has reportedly grown to nearly 80,000 people (4). 'I’m so happy to see my daughter walk properly. It would have been so difficult to go by car for two days to get treatment. The flight was so important because most families can’t afford a government flight. The pilot was so kind. I’m really thankful for Blue Sky Aviation.' Mother of ‘Reaching the Light’ patient The Millennium Messenger flies to pastures new By 2017, Mongolia’s infrastructure and transport network had improved. Today, various construction projects are still underway across the country. The church in Ulaanbaatar is rapidly growing and many young Mongolian Christians are sharing the Gospel across their own country. Simultaneously, government agencies are increasingly taking responsibility for healthcare in remote locations. Following 20 years of faithful service, it’s time for MAF to move on. The Millennium Messenger will be redeployed from Mongolia to Guinea to serve other remote communities in future. 1. The Telegraph 2. World Atlas 3. UNDP 4. Operation World

Having completed her first solo flight for MAF in March, 40-year-old Joyce Lin from Colorado, was looking forward to living out her God inspired dream – serving others in far-flung places through aviation. For reasons only known to God, Joyce was tragically killed in a plane crash in Papua. We celebrate her life…     On 12th May at 6:27am, MAF Pilot and Flight Instructor - Joyce Lin, took off in a Kodiak 100 aircraft from Papua’s Sentani Airport, bound for the remote highland village of Mamit. She was scheduled to deliver coronavirus test kits, but never made it. Two minutes after take-off, she made a distress call and fatally crashed into nearby Lake Sentani. Due to coronavirus restrictions, there were no other passengers on board. Joyce was leading an anti -coronavirus campaign at the time and planned to distribute Covid-19 test kits, PPE, soap and medication to aid workers and missionaries across twenty villages. Following God’s calling Joyce was raised in Colorado and Maryland by Taiwanese Christian immigrants. She became a Christian through a children’s outreach programme run by her local church. Joyce graduated with a degree in computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and worked in IT for a decade. Joyce envisioned her life as a computer programmer, but God had other plans. In an MAF US interview from the archives, Joyce recalled how God changed her life: ‘When I was at college, I went to a summer programme where I got to fly gliders. I had no thoughts about becoming a pilot, but I loved it and convinced my parents to let me get a pilot’s license. Then God called me to go to seminary.’ ‘Everything kind of clicked’ On her quest to do God’s will, Joyce enrolled at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary: ‘A year in, I was exposed to what one normally goes to seminary for –a pastor or missionary, but I wasn’t interested in those things. One day, when I walked into my room, I heard the words, “You should google 'missionary pilot'” and I was so shocked because that was the only time that I had ever heard a voice like that and it was so loud, I couldn’t ignore it. The first hit was MAF’s website and when I started reading it, everything kind of clicked. I knew from that moment, this was what God had for me.’ 'It felt amazing to land the Kodiak on my own for the first time' Joyce Lin ‘I was convinced that God was calling me to be a pilot’ Listening to God’s prompting, Joyce had finally discovered the perfect vocation that would combine her interest in flying, computer programming skills and her faith. Joyce interned with MAF in 2010 and visited Papua that same year to find out what life might be like there as a MAF pilot. Joyce had no doubt in her mind: ‘I was convinced that God was calling me to be a missionary pilot and work towards getting different licenses to become a flight instructor. I had to pass the technical evaluation, raise support and go to language school.’ Although Joyce had finally earned her private pilot license whilst studying at MIT, she still needed an instrument rating, a commercial pilot license and endure months of training to meet MAF’s standards. A long and arduous journey Joyce finally earned her commercial license in 2015 and moved to Sentani, Papua in 2019. In her December newsletter last year, Joyce recalled the thrill of landing her first MAF plane by herself: ‘It felt amazing to land the Kodiak on my own for the first time. This has been my dream airplane ever since I found out about mission aviation. It’s been a long road of training, but I’ve enjoyed every step! Thank you so much for your support and prayers during this lengthy journey.’ In addition to flying out essential supplies to remote villages, Joyce also helped to complete a fibre cable network project, giving partners across Papua access to the internet. Making the most of every God-given opportunity In her MAF US interview, Joyce was keen to dispel the commonly held myths surrounding missionaries: ‘When people think of a missionary, they don’t think of what I do - flying planes or fixing computers. They think of someone out there evangelising and that’s just not we do most of the time. My prayer each morning is that I would be sensitive to the Holy Spirit - that I would be a blessing somehow to someone that day. It might not be through flying or IT. It might be through a 30 second conversation. The more I’m in tune with God’s leading for my life, the more there are opportunities each day to make a difference in other people’s lives.’ Right time, right place! God created such an opportunity when bad weather forced Joyce to divert from Danowage to Wamena - the largest town in the Papua highlands. At the airport, she found a woman in desperate need of major surgery, but due to the coronavirus lockdown, all flights had been cancelled. Unbeknown to Joyce, on that same morning, the Wamena MAF team suddenly got clearance to fly medevac flights.  God’s amazing timing enabled Joyce to fly the woman back to Sentani, where Joyce was based, for life-saving surgery. The patient and her husband were ready to leave in 30 minutes. Joyce had the privilege of piloting the first medevac flight out of Wamena since lockdown began. It was also Joyce’s first ever medevac flight. Vital work during a pandemic Even during a pandemic, Joyce was convinced she was in the right place as per her email update on the 6th May: ‘It may sound strange, but these trying times have enhanced my feelings of purpose in Papua. With every flight, I see first-hand how MAF is connecting isolated villages with vital supplies and medical care. This can’t be taken for granted in normal times, but especially now with the travel restrictions, the people remind us of how thankful they are every time an airplane is able to land in their village.’ 'Joyce was extremely generous, giving of herself and her treasures selflessly'                    Brock Larson, Regional Director of MAF Indonesia ‘A dedicated teammate and well-loved’ Joyce’s colleagues, like Brock Larson - Regional Director of MAF Indonesia, remember her fondly: ‘Joyce was extremely dedicated. She was committed to being used by God and sharing His love with others, especially with those who were less fortunate. She was also extremely generous, giving of herself and her treasures selflessly. Joyce was a light reflecting Jesus, and she will be deeply missed.’ David Holsten, President and CEO of MAF US agrees: ‘I’ve been inspired by so many elements of Joyce’s story. She embodied so much of what we love to see in MAF staff. She was a professional and invested in the local culture. She was a dedicated teammate and well-loved by those she served. Her accomplishments were remarkable, but the thing that so many people talk about was her humility, her intentionality to connect with others and her sense of joy and contentment in the work that she was doing. She was a remarkable woman.’ Joyce died ‘doing what she loved to do’ David continues: ‘We feel a great sense of loss, but also a great sense of comfort because Joyce was doing what she loved to do. She was faithful to God’s calling. She gave her life serving the Lord in a way that was impacting others.’ Before her passing, Joyce encapsulated her sheer joy for serving God through MAF: ‘I can’t explain why I get such a thrill out of flying or programming a computer - it seems to be the way my brain is wired. I’m so fortunate to be able to do this. Each day I fly is a gift. I’m privileged to be serving the churches and missionaries in Papua who continue to reach out to isolated villages so that people can be both physically and spiritually transformed. While I will always be excited to fly planes and work on computers, I am most excited about sharing the love of Jesus Christ by helping to transform other people’s deep discouragement and mourning into dancing and joy.’ Joyce is survived by her parents and two sisters.

UPDATE 2020: Jackson works as a lab technician in refugee camp ‘Jackson has been working hard at a clinic in the Palorinya Refugee Settlement in Moyo on the South Sudanese / Ugandan border. He’s been using his training to help his own people who, like him, are still taking refuge in northern Uganda.  Jackson tells me that they see up to 200 patients a day. He tests for malaria, Hepatitis B, syphilis, pregnancy, blood sugar and anaemia. He also carries out stool and urine analysis and screening for many other tests. Jackson explains what he loves most about being a lab technician: “I like microscopic diagnosis, which I can confidently and tirelessly do due to the fact that I don’t need a lot of body movement. Instead, I use my brain, which suits my situation. Working in the laboratory is where God has made a way for me to help my community.” Through God, all things are possible Jackson Mataya – lab technician and refugee To this day, Jackson continues to use his wheelchair in everyday life, which MAF helped to fix eight years ago:  “I’m very thankful to MAF for returning my refurbished three-wheeler. I need it very much to move around and to get to and from work.  Thank you for standing with me constantly. Through God, all things are possible.” Doctor dream on hold for now Jackson still dreams of becoming a doctor and completing his Bachelors and Masters degrees at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, but there’s some uncertainty around his South Sudanese education being accepted by Makerere University. Coronavirus has also exacerbated the situation. Jackson’s plans are on hold for now, but that won’t stop him.  Please pray that he will be able to further his education somehow. For now, we are grateful that Jackson is bringing practical help to his fellow refugees at the Palorinya Settlement in northern Uganda. 2012: Jackson first meets Jill at orphanage I first met teenage orphan, Jackson Mataya, during a visit to Bartholomew’s Orphanage in Kajo Keji, South Sudanin 2012. While he was crawling in the dirt, I noticed his rusting wheelchair nearby, which he could no longer use. He crawled three miles to school and back again every day.       During his childhood, Jackson contracted polio – a disease which can easily be avoided with one simple injection. Despite his chronically twisted spine, Jackson radiated a positive attitude with one of the broadest smiles I have ever encountered.  I called MAF Uganda. They were happy to fly Jackson's damaged wheelchair to Kampala for repair, but who would fix it? Fortunately, Katelemwa Cheshire Home - a charity which supports people with disabilities - could. One of their volunteers, Liz Oliver, collected Jackson’s three-wheeled chair from the airport and they made it roadworthy.  ‘The elation on his face will remain with me forever’ A few weeks later, MAF flew the repaired wheelchair back to South Sudan, covering the freight cost as a goodwill gesture. Pastor David from Bartholomew’s Orphanage was waiting for us on arrival to transport the wheelchair back to Jackson.  At first, Jackson was nowhere to be found! Due to MAF Uganda’s schedule, we only had half an hour to handover the newly restored wheelchair. Finally, we found him at a school near the airstrip where he took delivery of his precious new wheels.   The elation on that young man’s face, who’d been given back his mobility, will remain with me forever.  2017: Jackson and Jill reunite in northern Uganda As happy as that ‘ending’ was, Jackson’s fate weighed heavily on my mind. I didn’t hear from Jackson for four years, but I was told that Kajo Keji in South Sudan - where Jackson lived - had been evacuated in January 2017, following devastating militia attacks. I also wondered what the future held for a severely disabled person in a war-torn country wracked with poverty.  In September, another prayer was answered. I was finally able to make contact with some South Sudanese pastors from Kajo Keji. Ahead of my flight to a refugee settlement in Uganda, they shared the wonderful news that Jackson’s school had been relocated to Arua in northern Uganda where he had been safely living. With great joy, the two of us were reunited on Friday 22nd September 2017. Looking dapper in a shirt and very smart shoes, Jackson told me was studying medicine and had dreams of becoming a doctor.  I am so relieved to report that Jackson is safe, excelling at his studies in Arua. Lucky to be alive Jackson’s story could have been so very different.  A year before our reunion – on 21st September 2016 at 11am - 12 armed militia entered his school in Kajo Keji and began shooting indiscriminately. Jackson – only a few metres away from his attackers - describes that horrific moment: “We had nowhere to run, so we had to lay on the floor. One boy was shot right next to me.” Two of Jackson’s fellow students were killed during the 15-minute ordeal. They had been sitting exams at the time. Everything was stolen by the militia, including Jackson’s school bag – a gift from MAF in 2013.  Thankfully, Jackson was able to grab his wheelchair and get home. For his own safety, Jackson was transported 90 miles from Kajo Keji in South Sudan to Arua in northern Uganda. Jackson recalls the journey: “My wheelchair was toed by a boda boda (motorbiketaxi) with me on top of all my belongings!” After arriving in Arua, Jackson was able to complete his exams that he and his classmates were sitting during the attack.  His attitude - even after all he’s been through – is stunning. Losing both parents to war and seeing his fellow students killed - let alone managing the crippling effects of polio - is enough to break anyone, but Jackson refuses to let trauma hold him back. This young man remains utterly determined to become a doctor and serve his people. Jackson flies for the first time with MAF One of Jackson’s dreams was to fly in a plane. On the 15th December, we made that dream come true when Jackson came to stay with me and my family in Kampala for the weekend. MAF flew Jackson in the LDR from Arua to Kajansi for his first ever flight! This was an epic day.  Film shot in 2018:  2019:Jackson qualifies as a lab technician in Uganda After Jackson graduated as a lab technician from Arua Medical School and completed his internship at the Arua Hospital in northern Uganda, I said goodbye to Jackson on 19th September 2019. Jackson returns to the Palorinya Refugee Settlement in Moyo on the South Sudanese / Ugandan border to restart his life and help his people.’  

Former RAF Flight Lieutenant Stuart King, one of the founders of MAF, has received the Award of Honour from The Honourable Company of Air Pilots (HCAP) for his outstanding and enduring contribution to aviation (more…)

'As the engineer officer for 247 Fighter Squadron I had sailed from Portsmouth with my aircraft servicing unit, part of a convoy of staff and equipment of the Second Tactical Air Force. After landing we were to prepare as quickly as possible for the arrival of our aircraft.' Firsthand account by Stuart King taken from his book Hope has Wings   The early morning light was murky with smoke. Through the haze the flat beach at Courseilles-sur-Mer lay ahead of us, drab and hostile, rising into grass-tufted sand dunes beyond. The enemy was there. Along the smoke-filled coastline lay our own battleships, destroyers and frigates. Above them floated hundreds of squat grey barrage balloons, their defensive securing cables tied to the warships below. German aircraft were diving on the ships. Noise was continuous: the roar of aircraft, the bursting of bombs, the crackle of machine guns and the barking ‘woof’ of anti-aircraft fire. Our small landing craft edged to the shore. Its bows dropped down to form a ramp. We drove our Jeep out over it, followed by our Bedford trucks loaded with men and equipment, and clawed our way up the beach towards the flat fields of Normandy. The fighting raged on around us. Normandy, June 1944, 124 Wing technical staff. Photo taken on Airstrip B6 between Coulombs and St Croix de Grande Tonne. Within an hour we were in a cornfield, near the small village of Coulombs, where a heavy wire-matting aircraft landing strip had already been laid. As we set up our tents and unloaded our supplies, a German Messerschmitt 109, chased by a British Spitfire, roared low above us. Anti-aircraft fire from our surrounding army units blotched the sky with angry black puffs of smoke. Shells from a naval battleship screamed overhead towards the enemy positions a few hundred yards beyond us. One fell short, near our tents. Mercifully it didn’t explode. 'Noise was continuous: the roar of aircraft, the bursting of bombs, the crackle of machine guns and the barking ‘woof’ of anti-aircraft fire.' Our squadron aircraft flew in: formidable, heavy single-seater Hawker Typhoons, their task to knock out enemy transport and tanks. Many of our pilots were lost in dangerous low-level operations, some shot down almost over our heads as they attacked the close front-line targets. For almost two months we remained pinned down in our narrow beachhead, shelled, strafed and occasionally sniped at. Then, supported by aerial bombardment, the Allied troops began to break out.

There is a village high in the mountains of Papua, Indonesia, called 'Apahapsili.' Story by Chris Burgess. Photos by Mark Hewes. The name has several different meanings to the northern Yali people who live there, but today it most closely means 'the place where we are uncovered by God.' Because of the Gospel, the Yali who were hidden behind the mountain were found by God. But 'Apahapsili' didn’t always mean this. Not long ago the word meant something very, very different. Everything Changed The Yali people group—numbering around 100,000—lived entirely cut off from the outside world for generations. But life was far from idyllic for the Yali. 'We didn’t know anything about the outside world,' said Unus Walilo, a Yali pastor of the local church (GKII). 'We didn’t know there were people beyond the mountains. We lived in the stone age—killing each other, eating our enemies. We didn’t know any life different than that.' Back then the village’s name was understood to mean 'the place where we take the skin from our enemies and eat them.' On September 10, 1965, after MAF pilots and local partners had discovered the Yali people while doing survey flights, the first outsiders arrived in Apahapsili. 'I still remember the day, when the missionary with local pastors arrived here,' said Unus. 'It made a big impact.' This first contact began a decades-long process of learning the language and the culture of the Yali and launching a joint effort with them to translate the Bible into their northern dialect. This process would not be fully completed until 2018. We didn’t only want to hear the word of the Lord in other languages, we needed to hear and read it in our mother tongue. Pastor Unus Walilo The Word Comes to the Yali Siegfried Zoellner and Friedrich Tometten, German missionaries from the United Evangelical Mission, have worked very closely with Yali translators. The initial focus of the translators was the New Testament, which was completed and printed in 1988. A few years later they began work on the Old Testament. An abridged version of the Old Testament was completed in 1998—but the Yali wanted more. 'When I came back to the village in 2006,' said Friedrich, 'the Yali told us they wanted to complete the Old Testament. I asked what was missing and they said, "the genealogies." This was strange for me, but I learned a lot from them about the meaning of all these lists and various parts of the Bible. 'They said the Old Testament is their story — it is the story of their own lives.' They said the Old Testament is their story — it's the story of their lives. Friedrich Tometten, Missionary from United Evangelical Mission The process of translating the Bible into any language is lengthy, but for the Yali it was particularly challenging. One Yali word can have about 1,000 forms. This process required collaboration between the German translators who were fluent in biblical Greek and Hebrew and a team of Yali translators who were the experts in their own language. 'We didn’t only want to hear the word of the Lord in other languages, we needed to hear and read it in our mother tongue,' said Unus. 'It is really a privilege to have the Bible in our own northern dialect.' 'Speaking on behalf of the other Yali women, we really love to read the Bible in our language. It nurtures us,' said Antje Faluk, the youngest female member of the translation team. 'Some of the women have memorised entire chapters and know many of the Psalms by heart.' The Yali were eager for the Bible to be completed. This work transformed the entire people group in so many ways. This once-violent group now looks to educate their children not in warfare but in reading and writing. They band together not to fight their enemies but to raise funds to construct a church building. For the Yali, the story of the Bible is 'our story; it is the story of God looking for us; it is His love seeking us.'  A Lifeline for the Yali MAF played a key role in this entire process — from helping to locate the Yali to supporting the missionaries working there, to delivering Bibles and supporting the entire community in so many ways. 'MAF is a lifeline for people living interior in isolated places like Apahapsili,' said Jeremiah Hartin, an MAF pilot in Papua. 'We carry in not only Bibles, but also food, supplies like roofing material or medicine. We provide transportation for people as well. As a pilot, it feels very satisfying to know that I am playing a small part, but it is a significant link in the chain of what God is doing.' MAF’s role is recognised both by the missionaries and the Yali themselves. 'All that we are doing here could not happen without the support of MAF,' said Paulina Wandik, another Yali translator. This northern Yali village name was understood to mean 'the place where we take the skin from our enemies and eat them.' A New Beginning When an MAF team recently landed in Apahapsili, they were greeted with an elaborate ceremony of dancing and singing. This ceremony explained the history of the Yali. They tell how they were found by God, laid down their arrows and spears, and took up His Word. The community that once devoured its enemies now lives in peace—with each other and with their creator. And their story is far from over. As Yali evangelists chat with Friedrich and the MAF team about how life in Apahapsili has changed, a young boy walks up and sits at their feet. The older Yali people look on him with pride and affection. 'We are looking to the future,' says Paulina. 'We hope our children get the best education possible. They will learn more than we have ever learned. Maybe they will be able to go to school in Indonesia, Germany, or even America.' Someday in a faraway classroom, a student might say to his instructor, “I come from a place called Apahapsili. Let me tell you what that means.' We are looking to the future. We hope our children get the best education possible. They will learn more than we have ever learned. Paulina Wandik, Yali translator

For over 40 years, MAF has been partnering with Yirrkala Homelands School and Laynha Air to bring education to the remote communities of Arnhem Land. Since the very beginning, they have been using MAF services to transport teachers out to the remote Homelands. Story by Rebekah Somandin. Photographs by Divyan Ahimaz, Rebekah Somandin and MAF archive.  The partnership goes back as far as one of our very first MAF pilots in Arnhem Land, Ken Stockton. Ken worked closely with the school principal, Leon White, to provide support for Homelands education. First day of school 'If it wasn’t for MAF, Yirrkala Homelands School would not have been established in those early years,' said Leon. Leon explained how they were clearing the airstrips by hand in those days, and MAF was a tremendous support. Leon clearly remembers one time when he was stuck in Gangan for a week because the flight couldn’t get in due to the wet weather. During that time he caught dysentery and got very ill. When Ken Stockton finally flew in, he saw how unwell Leon was, and took him straight to hospital and stayed with him until he was cared for. It was Christmas Eve, and Leon always remembers the kindness and care showed to him by MAF staff. Back in the classroom MAF continues to fly teachers from Yirrkala Homelands School out to communities every week. One Tuesday morning, MAF pilot Simon Kepert flew a team of teachers out to Gangan and was able to stay for a few hours while they prepared for school. The day began with lesson-planning and then the “school bell” sounded – a large speaker playing a song written by the students over the whole community. Almost 30 lively students gathered at the school, splitting into two groups, primary and secondary. The students were well engaged in the lessons, participating with fun-loving enthusiasm. Learning together The philosophy of the school is to work in teams with the local Yolngu Homelands Centre Teachers as well as visiting teachers. They provide support by helping with lesson-planning and demonstrating teaching techniques. The teachers fly in every week, stay in the community for several nights, then fly back to Gove. Currently Yirrkala Homelands School services six different Homelands, some as far as four to five hours drive away depending on road conditions. A MAF flight can save them a whole day of travelling rough and dangerous dirt roads. During the wet season (October to March), the roads can become impassable and the teachers rely on MAF to reach these remote communities. Partnership with Melbourne University Melbourne University and Yirrkala Homelands School have a partnership where student teachers undertake a placement in these remote schools, to develop their skills and understanding of the Arnhem Land context. 'If it wasn’t for MAF, Yirrkala Homelands School would not have been established in those early years' Leon White

Elisha Moita describes himself as, ‘Just a normal Maasai following my tradition,’ when he came to faith. The evangelist was born in a remote village on the shores of Lake Natron in northern Tanzania. Mark and Kelly Hewes find out how it all started... ‘I got a call when I was very young,’ he explains – ‘one day the Lord called me by a vision and told me that I had to change. I have to become a Christian. I didn't even know what Christianity was.’ When a friend gave Elisha a copy of the New Testament he began to read it. As the words sunk in, he says, ‘My heart became very comfortable and encouraged. Since then, I have started to speak what is written in the Bible.’ Dangerous safaris In the beginning, Elisha walked huge distances from village to village sharing the Gospel.  ‘At that time, it was dangerous because there were many dangerous animals like elephants, lions, buffaloes,’ he remembers. ‘One day when I was walking, I met with a big gang of elephants and they chased me. I ran from the place where I found them and they chased me to the mountains. I climbed a big rock and the elephants went away when they realised that they couldn't get me.’ On another occasion he had to climb a tree to escape an angry buffalo and had to wait out his opponent. Taking off ‘One day when I was in Malambo, the MAF plane came from Moshi.’ The pilot of the plane at that time, Peter Empson from England, heard about my story, my problems. MAF told me that they wanted to help me visit Maasai people in this area.’ We thank MAF so much for having that kind of heart, which is with us in our pain Elisha Moita, evangelist and founder of Malambo Bible College At first, Elisha couldn’t imagine how a plane could help his work. I said 'how can it be possible to use a plane for evangelism?' Peter shared MAF’s vision for using planes to reach remote communities. ‘I became happy, and they helped me to reach more places - it was a time that God did a lot,’ Elisha reflects. The number of Christians Elisha served increased tenfold, from 63 to 600, from that time onwards. Many more of his countrymen have come to Christ since then. Faith in a changing world The Malambo Bible College which Elisha opened is helping to overcome barriers for Maasai Christians. Evangelists no longer have to leave the area or study the Bible in Swahili – a language many don't speak. Instead, they can stay closer to their communities and embark on their ministries sooner. ‘We built a special Bible college, which receives people who are not even sent to school,’ Elisha explains. ‘We teach them how to read and write… to understand the Maasai Bible so that they can read it for themselves. That is our aim - to train local people who can deal with evangelism in a Maasai community easily.’ Elisha recognises the challenges that younger Maasai face in a changing world. The Gospel can help young Maasai navigate the new opportunities opening up to them, as it once helped him to discover his own identity and purpose. ‘Traditionally, Maasai have their own beliefs. They believe in gods… they worship and sacrifice and do other things. So when we preach the Gospel, a conflict can appear because of those kind of beliefs, which are brought about by traditions.’ ‘The time that we are living now, it is a time that even Maasai are trying to discover, or to know, that their tradition is not enough for their life,’ he explains. Flying for life Today Elisha visits Malambo every month with MAF for two to three days at a time. As well as sharing the Gospel, he helps communities to access treatment when they’re sick - caring for their body, soul and spirit. During a recent trip, he arranged for a woman in childbirth to be flown out of a nearby village. She reached the hospital in time and delivered a healthy baby girl. ‘We thank MAF so much for having that kind of heart, which is with us in our pain, you know, a bad situation, in our remote area like this one. They are sharing our normal life. Sometimes we become proud of MAF because it helps so much.’ Evangelists like Elisha and simple life-giving words that they share, are a big part of why MAF still serves in Tanzania. 45 years after his ministry began, Elisha is covering as much ground as he ever did to bring others to Christ. It’s a privilege for MAF to share his journey and his calling to support and build the growing Maasai church. When I first started, I can't believe I asked, 'Can it be possible to use a plane for evangelism?' Elisha Moita, evangelist and founder of Malambo Bible College

In Stuart King's book 'Hope Has Wings', MAF's co-founder recalls his bold adventure across the Congo and beyond. Stuart encounters breathtaking yet dangerous terrain, and meets isolated British missionaries who haven't spoken their native tongue for many years (more…)

In Stuart King's book 'Hope Has Wings', MAF's co-founder Stuart King recounts MAF's groundbreaking 1948 survey flight across central Africa, which assessed the region's humanitarian needs using a Miles Gemini light aircraft for the first time in history (more…)

Manuela Yawa is a nurse and one of 15 medical staff working with Christian Mission of Development (CMD) in the village of Pagil. Four days after arriving in Pagil Manuela started feeling drowsy and having severe headaches. Eight days later her condition is critical. Deputy Operations Manager, Leon Prinsloo, received the call Saturday at 2pm - too late to fly that day. 'One of our nurses needs a medevac! She has cerebral malaria.' Medical emergency The following day and Clinical officer Gatmai Yak Tutdeal, and Mary, a Medair Reproductive Health Manager, have escorted Manuela to the airstrip where they stand waiting for the plane. Before Manuela can board, pilot Florian Poinstingl, offloads 700 kg of iron sheets and 180 kg of wire mesh, brought from Juba to upgrade the grass-thatched tukul roofs of CMD's Primary Health Care Centre (PHCC). Meanwhile Manuela sits patiently in the shade of the wing. The temperature is 40° Celsius, so to be sitting outside with a fever isn’t something you want to do for long. 'Thursday Manuela showed signs of malaria, and we started treating her orally with the antimalarial Coaterm,' Gatmai tells us. 'But on Saturday she started having seizures and a high temperature; she was convulsing and yelling nonsense from 9am until 2pm.' Running out of options That was when Gatmai diagnosed cerebral malaria. Realising that he didn’t have the means to treat Manuela properly, he requested a medevac with MAF. No other airline in South Sudan would fly to Pagil on a weekend. 'We continued treating her the best we could,' Gatmai resumes, describing in detail the course of medication they administered. 'We even tried to cool her down with wet towels and gave her paracetamols to keep her temperature down,' Gatmai explains. 'We continued treating her the best we could' Gatmai Yak Tutdeal Mary, who had been keeping an eye on Manuela the past two days at the Medair compound, recalls that Manuela had started yelling again Sunday morning at 4 and 6 o’clock, but that she now had become silent; literally she could not speak and only communicated by writing messages. Flying unconsciously Finally, Manuela boards the plane; with support from Mary and Gatmai she manages to walk to her seat and slumps into it. James Wieh Thou, a registrar at the PHCC, sits next to Manuela to assist her during the flight. 1:37pm, an hour and 11 minutes after landing in Pagil, the Caravan takes off. Florian lets the plane climb to 9,000 feet; normally, he would go to 12,000 feet to save fuel and fly faster, but he is concerned with how the altitude will affect Manuela’s condition. Going lower this time of year, with the turbulence of the dry season, would result in a very bumpy ride. At 2:15pm she starts to cry violently, and James holds her firmly. All of a sudden she relaxes completely and either falls fast asleep or becomes unconscious until the aeroplane at 3:19pm lands at Juba International Airport. MAF’s dispatch team are ready; David Juma quickly lifts the semi-conscious Manuela from the plane to a car, and she is immediately taken to Victorious Hospital. There is nothing more we can do, but hope and pray. An answer to prayer Richard Duke, one of the dispatch guys, knows Manuela, and confidently said that she would get better, because her church had been praying for her at their Sunday service. Monday morning, Duku and Juma went with me to the hospital to pay Manuela a visit. She was lying in bed, dressed and with a tired smile. She couldn’t speak, but answered all of our questions in writing. Her little sister, Harriet, had slept on the bed next to her and was happy to see her sister recovering so well. Suddenly, Manuela answered audibly to one of my questions and Harriet lit up in a big smile. Although Manuela had no recollection of how she had come from Pagil to Juba, it made everybody happy to see that she was clear-headed and smiling at our jokes. An hour after we left the hospital Manuela started speaking again. Duku called her the next day, and she sang to him on the phone, praising God for her recovery.

MAF is continuing to respond with flights to affected areas in the aftermath of the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck Papua New Guinea’s Hela Province on 26 February (more…)

The day begins with 5Y-ESU departing South Sudan’s capital Juba and climbing into the skies above the River Nile. Over the following hours, the aircraft will serve locations along the country’s southwest borders with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Story and photos by LuAnne Cadd This region, Equatoria, was once one of the most prosperous and peaceful of the world’s newest nation, but in recent months the ethnic conflict which has destabilised so many other areas has arrived. As a result, aid agencies are exercising much greater caution and avoiding overland travel on local roads which involve the threat of bandits and multiple checkpoints manned by armed militia. This has caused demand for MAF flights to destinations in Equatoria to soar, and the team in South Sudan have responded by scheduling four services a week. Will you help keep Sam flying in South Sudan?   'Aid agencies are avoiding overland travel on local roads causing demand for MAF flights to Equatoria to soar!' Piloted by Sam Johnston, this particular flight is calling at stops in West Equatoria. As a shuttle service, aid and mission organisations greatly benefit from the opportunity to buy only the seats they need on board, rather than charter the entire aircraft. The schedule for the day will transport 21 passengers, representing 11 different humanitarian and Christian organisations, and make calls at four separate locations. The activities these workers are involved in are incredibly diverse and include medical training, agricultural improvement, local church ministry and more. Aphrodisius, a 29 year-old priest serving with Don Bosco, is in a particular hurry; he has an infected foot and is flying on the shuttle for the flight leg back to Juba, where he will board a commercial service to Kenya to undergo the urgent medical treatment he needs. 'Equatoria, was once one of the most prosperous and peaceful regions of South Sudan but in recent months the ethnic conflict  has arrived'. The stop at Mundri is typical of what happens during an MAF shuttle service. Several people who have been on board since the departure from Juba disembark and step on to the dirt airstrip, while others heading elsewhere remain on board. Sam unloads any bags from the cargo pods beneath the aircraft which belong to those who are leaving. He then works with Simon Elniah, an airport official at Mundri, to check and complete paperwork regarding the flight. With new passengers joining the service, Sam commits the journey to God in prayer before taking off for the skies again. Similar scenes take place at the other stops along the route and before long, 5Y-ESU is heading back to Juba. With the sun’s changed position, the shadows have moved and leave different parts of the city’s landscape exposed to the sunlight breaking through the clouds. Sam safely guides the aircraft to the ground, and the final passengers disembark – ending 5Y-ESU’s work for another day - until next time. Will you join Sam's team so he can keep flying for life with MAF in South Sudan?

In Stuart King's book 'Hope Has Wings', we learn how God called together like-minded people after World War II to bring about MAF. Pioneers Stuart King, Murray Kendon, Jack Hemmings, Ken Ellis and Tom Banham, would use their aviation skills used in war to bring help, hope and healing to some of the most isolated people on earth 'Traumatic at times, MAF’s story is an adventure of faith. Above all, it’s God’s story. 'After World War II, in air forces throughout the world, the hearts of men and women were stirred by one question above all others – "Can aircraft that were used so effectively for death and destruction now bring God’s peace and love to isolated people in unreached areas?" 'New Zealander Murray Kendon – who’d been an RAF pilot in Coastal Command – was one such airman inspired by this idea. Jack Hemmings, Ken Ellis, Tom Banham and I were among the first to join Murray and his new organisation, Missionary Aviation Fellowship. We all shared the feeling that God had called us to survey missionary needs in Africa by air. 'It took two long years to raise funds for the twin-engined, four-seater Miles Gemini aircraft that became known as ‘The Mildmay Patfinder’ in honour of our sponsor, the Mildmay Movement. 'Finally, on the afternoon of Tuesday 13 January 1948 at Croydon Airport – after an electrical fault had been corrected– Jack (pilot) and I (engineer) were given permission to take off. 'We promptly flew the Pathfinder into a squall of icy rain with a 70mph crosswind for good measure. There had been a brief debate about waiting for better weather, but we’d done crazier things in the war and couldn’t wait any longer to start this new adventure!  'Flying low across the Channel, a strong side wind made it necessary to correct our course by 20o all the way to France. Two hours later, we touched down safely in Paris – the first leg of our African adventure completed. Praise the Lord!' Just before the Mildmay Pathfinder left England that day, a supporter thrust a small movie camera into Stuart’s hands and urged him to film the journey. The resulting documentary is called 'Flights of Faith' and is now available for a donation on DVD. Excerpt taken from MAF co-founder Stuart King's book 'Hope Has Wings'.  (more…)

When I first saw Jackson Mataya he was crawling in the dirt. I was told that he had a five-mile journey to school every day. He’d contracted polio as a child – a disease which can be avoided with one simple injection. Yet, in spite of the severe disability of a chronically twisted spine, Jackson radiated a remarkable, positive attitude and a smile to match. A call to MAF Operations Manager Dave Rogers back in Uganda established MAF would be happy to fly the wheelchair frame back to Kampala for repair. Terrific news, except that I wasn’t certain what the next step would be! God’s timing, God’s promise Fortunately, I’d received help in the past with providing a wheelchair from a group called Katelemwa. One of their volunteers, Liz Oliver, collected Jackson’s three-wheeled chair from the airport and took it to Katelemwa for it to be made road-worthy once again. MAF then flew the repaired wheelchair back to South Sudan – donating the freight cost as another goodwill gesture. However, unable to make contact with partners in Kajo Keji before landing there, I couldn’t be sure if anyone would be there to greet us. However, God faithfully answered our prayers – Pastor David from the orphanage was waiting on our arrival to transport all of us and the wheelchair to Jackson. At the orphanage, we were informed that Jackson wasn’t there! Due to MAF’s flight programme, we had less than an hour to hand over the now road-worthy three-wheeler. Finally, we found Jackson at a school close to the airstrip where he took delivery of his precious new wheels. The elation on the face of a young man who’d been given back his mobility will remain with me forever. Five years later As happy as that ‘ending’ was, Jackson’s fate weighed on my mind after hearing that Kajo Keji had largely been evacuated in January after militia attacks had pummelled the region.  On top of this, what future was there for a severely disabled person in a country wracked with poverty? In September 2017, another prayer was answered when I finally made contact with some South Sudanese pastors from Kajo Keji. Ahead of my flight to a refugee settlement in Uganda, they relayed the news that Jackson’s school had been relocated to Arua. He’d been living there safely since the previous January. With great joy, the two of us were reunited on Friday 22nd September. Looking dapper in a suit and very smart shoes – I’d last seen him in flip-flops – he told me he’s studying to be a doctor! Undaunted Yet, but for the grace of God, Jackson’s ‘story’ could have been very different indeed. Almost exactly a year before, 12 armed militia entered his school in Kajo Keji and began shooting indiscriminately. ‘We had nowhere to run so we had to lay on the floor,’ he told me. ‘One boy who was shot was right next to me.’ Two of Jackson’s fellow students were killed during the 15-minute ordeal. Practically everything was stolen by the militia, including the school bag we’d given Jackson in 2013. But he was able to grab his wheelchair and get home. Orphanage Director Mama Susan prayed for and counselled Jackson before he was taken the 90 miles from Kajo Keji to safety in Uganda. ‘My wheelchair was tied behind a boda boda (motorbike taxi) with me on top of all my belongings!’ Once he arrived in Arua, Jackson completed the exams he and his classmates had been sitting when they were attacked. Jackson continues to thank God for the faithfulness He has always shown him. Undaunted by the crippling effects of polio and the loss of his parents during South Sudan’s tragic conflict, this young man remains utterly determined to gain a Phd in medicine and serve his people. It is a relief and a joy to report that Jackson is safe and excelling at his medical school in Uganda. Your prayers, I’m sure have made it possible for this story to be told. 3rd December is International Day of Disabled Persons campaigning this year for 'Transformation towards sustainable and resilient society for all.' Why not mark the day by sharing Jackson's incredible faith story with your friends?

In Stuart King's book 'Hope Has Wings', it's clear that supporters have always enabled MAF. From regular givers to huge sponsors, the church has been an integral part of MAF. Without the Mildmay Movement who funded MAF's first aircraft or the thousands of donors since, serving the world's most isolated people simply wouldn't be possible (more…)

According to the WHO, about 50% of PNG's health services in the rural areas are provided through Christian missions like Enga Baptist Health Services, which runs Kompiam District Hospital and 10 other health clinics. Dr David Mills heads up Kompiam District Hospital and shares the challenges of providing healthcare in a remote hospital, which is periodically forced to close due to tribal conflict (more…)

'Your daughter is special… she’s going to be a world changer. When the world shuts her out, she won’t take no for an answer.' This is what the stranger in line behind at us at the pizza place says. I’m a little taken aback. Charlee is one year old and is the happiest, most pinch-able little girl on the planet. I can’t picture her doing anything, except loving someone to death. That was one year before the doctors told us that Charlee had a genetic deletion of her FMR1, FMR2 and IDS genes - a deletion big enough to have killed her if she had been a boy. Sometimes Fred asks me: 'Why can’t Charlee talk?' or 'Why does Charlee scream?' The only explanation I have come up with that he can understand is that your body is like a puzzle and sometimes there can be some missing pieces. I don’t particularly like that explanation, because to me nothing is missing – she is perfect, a perfect reflection of God’s grace in my life. A gift of love Charlee sees the people that most of us would pass by. She befriends the elderly lady that no one sees come into the church; she holds the hand of the little girl in a wheelchair waiting with her mum; she blows kisses to beggars and paints a smile on sad faces. I think she is amazing. One Sunday we piled into the car with friends and headed to the children's ward at Mulago Hospital. Mulago is the largest government hospital in Uganda and is very over-populated and under-resourced.  I was afraid of what we might find there, but Charlee marched fearlessly in and started talking to mothers, praying for babies and fitting right in. 'Charlee’s disabilities don't limit her, they make her perfect – just the way God intended her to be' She was very alert in taking everything in. A mama with three-month-old preemie twins was more than happy to let Charlee hold one for a bit. She has been in the hospital alone since their birth and specifically called us back to pray with her, even though she is a Muslim. She just needed someone to care. Charlee and a friend spent time with a sick boy who was tucked away in the corner. They stood there with him and held his hand, even after his dad said, 'It doesn't matter.' These little girls see the hope in the situation. A little guy, Matthew, was one of the only babies here alone. Every time we walked away, he would cry, so she would go back and kiss him, and then we would move on and she would go back and kiss him... A gift of hope The greatest gift I received last Christmas wasn't something I could unwrap or tuck away under the tree – it was a Christmas party for a group of special needs kids. The plan unfolded between us, a small Ugandan Baptist Church and two other MAF staff and their families and everything fell very effortlessly into place. I was so excited, I could hardly contain myself! The day was truly beautiful. When we arrived in the little room at the church all the parents and kids were already singing and dancing…  pure joy on their faces. The caregivers went around the room and introduced themselves and their children through a translator; most of them referring to these kids as 'their greatest blessing' or 'my gift from God'.  Something that was so amazing to hear in a culture that can view them as rejects. Every family received a bag of groceries stocked with soap, salt, sugar, milk, dried beans and peas, maize flour and other supplies to feed the family over the next week or more. The best part of it all was that every child received a wrapped gift. There was one girl who was carried in at the very end. She had missed all the food and festivities, and even all the presents had been given. Charlee didn’t hesitate – she took the last gift – her gift – over and gave it to the girl. A gift of joy Being a parent to a special needs daughter is, well, special. I would have never chosen this for my family – or for Charlee – but now that’s it’s here, I would not 'un-choose' it either. Days can be hilarious, or hard, or humbling… I rejoice over the small things (dressing herself is fun, yet ‘make-a-huge-mess’ new skill!) or get upset at the comments people feel at liberty to speak, just because she’s not your average almost-seven-year-old… but mostly our days are filled with joy. I’m convinced that more joy passes through her heart in an instant than some of us experience all year. She’s taught us to be gracious, understanding and compassionate. She’s taught me that anyone can be a warrior, if they need to be. And most importantly, she’s shown us that everyone has something real to offer. Charlee’s disabilities don't limit her, they make her perfect – just the way God intended her to be.

MAF is continuing its relief work in Haiti as we respond to the desperate need for flights to Haiti's hurricane-battered coastal communities. The partner organisations our team in Haiti team has flown this week include Samaritan’s Purse, HERO, World Concern, CARE, Christian Aid Mission, Medair, Global Orphan Project, Children’s Hope, Sonlight, and Food for the Hungry. As of 11 October, MAF completed 71 disaster flights, carried 233 passengers, and delivered 5,378kg of cargo. Here are three of the towns we're reaching that were severely affected. Dame Marie: homes destroyed… Linda Brooks, from England originally, works in Dame Marie with Solidarity Dame-Marian helping children to access education. Although evidently shaken by what she has experienced, Linda is thankful for MAF’s continuing support. ‘The national highway runs along the coast, all the way up from Dame Marie through three or four other cities beyond it. And all those houses are gone’. Linda begins. ‘Every single home along the coast for miles and miles and miles are gone. That’s hundreds of homes. They’re all completely wiped. You would never even know that there were houses there. All you have now is sand and conk shells.’ ‘And people lived in those homes. It’s really crucial now that we find some kind of alternative, that we get tarps in there. It’s going to be really important to get some sort of tent city set up.’ Walking around an area on the edge of Dame Marie it is clear that it isn’t just homes that had been destroyed. What appears to be school books laid out in orderly rows to dry in the Haitian sun, suggests that many of its schools have fared little better. Nearby a felled tree has become a makeshift washing line - shaken inhabitants are still sifting and salvaging their precious possessions from the storms debris. ‘In the city centre homes are also damaged’ Linda continues. 'They haven’t completely fallen down but they are severely damaged. They have structure, the walls mostly, but they’ve all lost their roofs.’ ‘MAF, it’s amazing what they’re doing’ Linda shares, taking time to encourage us in our work. ‘They’re working 24-7 to get supplies in, to get people in, to get people out. I’ve already done 3 or 4 medevacs with them. On the flights that I’ve been in, they don’t even question when I say, “This person has to get to Port-au-Prince. We need to medevac them.” They just say, “Yep! Put them on. We’ll find space.” ‘They are working consistently to assist.... people that are asking for flights, to get supplies in, to get medical teams in, to get relief teams in, to get people who are looking for family in. They’re trying to fit it all in. These people are doing an incredible job and they need to be supported so they continue to do that.’ Jeremie: 'hot, humid, destroyed' The coastal town of Jeremie was battered by 145mph winds when hurricane Mathew hit. The town was directly in its path. The MAF pilot used three words to describe the situation on the on the ground once the storm had passed: ‘Hot, humid, and destroyed’. ‘Trees are either bereft of their foliage or knocked down like matchsticks. Any doors or windows of buildings are blown out and gone. Hurricane Matthew has compounded the effects of deforestation in a few short days, through no fault of the locals’. MAF flew to Jeremie to carry a survey team of staff from three organisations, Feed the Hungry, Engineer Ministry International, and a Korean relief team, to assess the need. The statistics behind the images are hardly any better – more than 450 people are thought to have died here. The thriving town now lies in ruins, its inhabitant facing the herculean task of rebuilding. Port-Salut: health concerns Farther west down the coast, Port-Salut had not yet begun to received relief supplies when MAF flew in with a medical team bound for Klinik Timoun nou yo (Creole for Our Children's Medical Clinic). While waiting for her MAF flight to depart, Boston physician, Robin Horak from the Charity ‘No Time for Poverty’, shared the medical needs she will be helping to meet in the paediatric clinic. ‘We serve up to about 75,000 children every year in that area; we cover most of the southern department. After the hurricane, most of our families have lost at least all or part of their homes. ‘We’re seeing a large increase in diarrhoeal diseases – both typhoid and cholera – so we’re bringing IV fluids, supplies to start IVs, antibiotics to treat those conditions; we’re also bringing suture and gauze and antibiotic ointments; we suspect we’ll still be seeing a good amount of skin infections. ‘We’re also bringing some basic supplies to shore up our clinic and our staff, some tarps, some basic food as well as some clothing, especially for our infants and small children where our families have lost everything, and they now don’t have any blankets or clothes for those children. ‘We are extremely lucky. Only about three days ago I got in contact with MAF and asked if we could get a plane to help us move these objects, all the supplies, to Port Salut. The roads right now are both dangerous as well as it’s very difficult to get through. So we’ve no other way to move these supplies. ‘It was wonderful to get a flight to Les Cayes today, which will allow us to move all of our supplies into Port Salut and up the coast where many of those communities have actually not received any support yet. MAF is really one of the only organisations that is consistently in Haiti, and actually is always willing to move supplies and people, not just to Port Salut but to other parts of Haiti. We’re very appreciative that that service is available and how quickly they’re willing to respond to needs.’

Nes was spending the holidays with my family when, a few days after Christmas, I handed her a piece of paper. It was a plea for help from a missionary in the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Following a measles outbreak, an ‘expert witch hunter’ called Lakimon from Nes’ home village of Wanakipa accused four women at Fiyawena of being responsible for the deaths there. Nes’ father Mark accompanied Lakimon to Fiyawena as her bodyguard. ‘This is really bad news,’ Nes explained, ‘Our grandparents taught that pisai or evil spirits in certain people come out and kill the rest of us, and that the pisai can get passed from mother to daughter. The only way people can be safe is to kill those who have evil spirits.’ Death sentence Nes described the murders she had witnessed, and said some of her friends were under a death sentence in Wanakipa. ‘The boys shot my friend Koela with so many arrows that her body was held up off the ground. And for what? The arrows must not kill anyone else!’ That night, Nes found out more about her father’s time at Fiyawena, as well as the harrowing seven-day hike back to Wanakipa. Mark and Lakimon had been threatened, intimidated and, in the end, bribed to point the finger at 4 women and their 13 children. Seventeen people would be murdered at Fiyawena… soon. Nes asked me to book her an MAF flight to Wanakipa. Back in Wanakipa, Nes walked to the market and told the community that the days of killing each other because of evil spirits were over. Dangerous talk ‘A new time has come in which this behaviour will not be passed on to the next generation,’ she explained. Some laughed. Some warned Nes that it was dangerous to say these things. But many agreed. Her brothers and her cousin Josely Kaipas stood behind her. Josely’s stepmother had been accused and brutally murdered, and he didn’t want his stepsisters to be next. Gradually, Nes’ speeches began to take effect. Eventually, some weeks later, a crowd gathered by the airstrip fence to witness the arrival of an intervention team led by the Deputy Police Commander of Enga Province. ‘What have I done?’ A week earlier, Lakimon had visited Nes at dawn, weeping. ‘What have I done?’ she cried. ‘I have accused others since I was a teenager, but I was only trying to keep from being killed. I have no idea who is a pisai person and who isn’t. I make it up! I need to take back the accusations against the people at Fiyawena. I don’t want them to die.’ Lakimon, who was standing near the MAF plane, called out, ‘I say “No” to accusations. I say “No” to killing. I am returning all the bribes, the cash, everything! And I am turning over this stone.’ Three young men came forward, ‘Today, we too make our choice. We will not kill people anymore.’ They broke their arrows, throwing the pieces on to the overturned stone. Pastor Saki gave the young men a Bible to show that the community’s decision had been taken before God. Against the law Then Deputy Police Commander Nili spoke. ‘I commend the Wanakipa community for taking a stand, but need to clarify the law. Taking the law into your own hands and killing pisai suspects is wilful murder. You will face the full force of the law!’ Later, a team of 18 people, including 8 Christians, arrived at Fiyawena to speak to the families there. ‘Let the heavens open,’ they prayed, ‘and the Holy Spirit move in this place.’ The following afternoon, the intrepid delegation from Wanakipa addressed the Fiyawena villagers. Nes was nervous, but gradually gained confidence. ‘I used to believe the pisai were the reason we became sick and died. Today, I know this is not true. It was just measles. You pressured Lakimon to point out who needs to die. But Lakimon made it all up. ‘You all saw her statement for yourselves on the video we showed you. She has turned over the stone and won’t accuse anyone again. We are returning your gifts and bribes. We retract all the accusations.’ ‘Follow God’ As Nes concluded her speech, her cousin Josely stepped forward with the Bible presented to them at Wanakipa. ‘Let us abandon the accusations and murders, let us follow the way of God. Take this Bible and make the promise with us.’ The village leader hesitated. ‘I won’t accept the Bible unless the Fiyawena people themselves agree that this is the path they will follow.’ Then Deputy Nili spoke up. ‘Dreams and last words are not a legal basis to kill anyone. You think you are doing something good, but you are not! If I hear so much as a rumour that you are trying to hurt these four women or anyone else, I will return. This time, we came to help you – next time, we will come in full force!’ He then asked the Christians to pray over the community. Nes joined hands with the team as Deputy Nili led the village in a prayer of repentance: ‘Today, we repent before God and apologise to our victims. Today, we admit we were wrong and fall on our knees and pray for mercy.’ Relieved When the MAF plane landed at Fiyawena the next morning, Deputy Nili encouraged the villagers to remain true to the Word of God, meet together regularly, and help each other. Nes was satisfied and relieved. ‘It is a good seed that we have planted here,’ she mused, ‘May God keep it safe and grow it into a full harvest of peace.’ The battle continues Sadly, although this intervention was successful, news later reached Anton that Misila, one of the four accused women, had been axed to death (by a group from outside Wanakipa). ‘Her family was helpless to do anything and she died,’ he said. ‘They are hoping that the police will be able to apprehend the killers and seek justice another way.’ Pray that the cycle of fear and violence associated with witchcraft in the area will be broken once and for all.

MAF flew a consignment of measles vaccines to Aweil in the north of South Sudan, enabling our partner Medair to vaccinate an astounding 49,483 babies and children and halt the spread of a large-scale measles outbreak that was tragically claiming many young lives. Looking at the six large coolers securely tied down in the back of our Cessna Caravan, MAF Pilot Chris Ball said these were the biggest coolers he’d ever seen. The coolers, measuring 3 feet long by 2 feet high, held thousands of vaccines to immunise between 40,000-60,000 children. ‘It was,’ Chris said, ‘a pretty amazing sight.’ 'I’m very happy because now my children will be free from measles' Mary, beneficiary 49,483 babies and children Alicia Morcombe, Medair’s Health Manager, explains how the need for the vaccination campaign had become apparent. ‘Medair came to Aweil for a multi-sector assessment, and it became clear very quickly that health needs were a huge priority. ‘The more communities we visited, the more people told us of children dying of measles. We even heard about one community that was burying children every day who had died from preventable diseases, including measles.’ No time to lose Children rarely die of measles in the UK because they are routinely immunised against a range of childhood diseases. It is a level of provision that is rare in South Sudan, where conflict and an under-funded health system – coupled with high rates of malnutrition and poor living conditions – leave children even more susceptible to this highly contagious disease. ‘There was no time to lose after our assessment,’ Alicia recalls. ‘We were able to launch the measles campaign in a week. Medair contacted MAF to request a flight from Juba to Aweil to deliver the vaccines as quickly as possible. ‘It was imperative that the measles vaccines were kept cool. Along and bumpy trip on insecure roads was out of the question. The vaccines wouldn’t remain cool enough. Going village to village Just three hours after take-off, Chris landed in Aweil and unloaded the huge coolers of vaccines. Over 40 Medair teams consisting of 290 local staff then travelled village to village, providing measles vaccinations to thousands of children. 'There was no time to lose after our assessment - we were able to launch the measles campaign in a week' Alicia Morcombe, Medair’s Health Manager At each vaccination site, hundreds of mothers lined up with their little ones, eager for their sons and daughters to receive the life-saving vaccines. Mary, a mother of five, expressed her relief and thanks. ‘Measles is very dangerous, so I’m very happy because now my children will be free from measles. If Medair hadn’t done the measles campaign, the outbreak would have left a trail of destruction behind, and there would have been many deaths.’ Ruth Burns, a Health Project Manager for Medair, echoes her thanks. ‘We’re extremely grateful for MAF’s support and contribution to our life-saving measles vaccination campaign in Aweil North. We couldn’t have done it without them.’

There are many children named Irene or Mary in Kajo Keji. Traditionally in South Sudan a child is named after someone special. In this case, it’s the midwives who delivered the children and often saved the baby or mother’s life in the process. Irene Ewuzie and Mary Akotimolla are part of the Deploying Midwives Project established by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). This is a group of 30 international midwives positioned around South Sudan to strengthen midwifery services and contribute to the goal of reducing maternal deaths. Irene and Mary have spent two years in South Sudan training and mentoring students on a midwifery programme. They find it ‘enormously rewarding’ to be regularly saving lives. It’s the ultimate job satisfaction. Losing a baby ‘Helping a woman to deliver a baby and then checking that they are both alive and well is a joy, a passion!’ declares Nigerian-born Irene. ‘It’s not about the money. Not in South Sudan with all the dangers around us.’ She shakes her head. But there is also a very personal reason that goes to the very heart of this courageous midwife. ‘I lost my first baby. It was traumatic. So each time I see a pregnant woman come to us I try all I can to send her home with her baby, because I know the pain of losing your child.’ These words are written on Irene’s face as she speaks: ‘If we lose a baby I feel so bad. People sometimes say “Don’t worry” but I say “No! It is only that woman who knows just what she’s going through." Nine months she carried that baby, and for nothing. It’s not okay.’ 'I saved both lives' Mary is from Uganda. ‘I’m always motivated by helping people at a time when they need it most. As a midwife, I feel fulfilled at the end of a day when I’ve supported a mum through her pregnancy and she’s had a normal, healthy delivery. It brings me the most joy to serve people who are less privileged than me.’ Since graduating from midwifery school in 2013, Alice Jaguru has been mentored by Irene and Mary. She works in the Kajo Keji Hospital next door to the school, and her eyes light up when she talks about her job. ‘Now I can manage emergencies in the maternity ward,’ she beams, ‘because Irene and Mary have added to my knowledge.’ She talks exuberantly about alerting doctors to dangerous conditions such as umbilical cord prolapse which required an emergency C-section, and placenta praevia which saved the lives of a mother and her baby. ‘I feel proud because I saved both lives. The second one happened Sunday morning. I was raising my hand up to God and saying “You are taking care of me!”’ Nothing more beautiful than prayer Every eight weeks, MAF flies Irene, Mary and other international midwives back to the capital Juba where they catch commercial flights to their home countries. ‘MAF is wonderful,’ says Mary. ‘The staff are so kind and the pilots so good, but I’m touched most by the prayer. They always make a prayer before the flight and, as a Christian, there’s nothing more beautiful to me than that. Whenever an MAF Pilot says a prayer, I feel everything is fine.’ ‘You know, our profession is a call from God,’ Alice concludes, ‘and I am very proud of that. My job is my passion!’ Like our stories? Sign up to get our emails

On 4 December 2015, MAF had the honour of flying Maud Kells OBE back to the village of Mulita, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where she was the victim of a shooting attack in January 2015. Less than a year after MAF's medevac that saved her life, she returned to a joyful celebration. Hundreds of people gathered at the small grass airstrip to greet Maud as she stepped off the plane. A brass band played while the crowd waved and cheered her arrival. 'Great excitement!' she exclaimed. 'It’s really nice to see them again… they’re always very welcoming.' After exchanging greetings with local village and church leaders, Maud and MAF pilot Dave Jacobsson were escorted through the village in a celebration parade. The procession ended at a makeshift amphitheatre where a ceremony of singing, dancing, and preaching was held in Maud’s honour. 'The whole community was there,' Dave said. 'I think we got a slice of the appreciation, the love, and the concern that the people had for her, and the joy of having her back again.' After the ceremony, Maud returned to the airstrip to help unload the plane full of medical supplies and gifts she brought with her to Mulita. 'I brought quite a lot of stuff out from home...baby clothes, supplies…literally, everything under the sun.' Maud is a WEC International missionary who has served in the DRC since 1968. In Mulita she has helped build a primary school and hospital, trained staff and taught at the local Bible school. 'During the years, I could never have continued the work at Mulita without MAF - I couldn’t have done any of it.' On this trip to Mulita, Maud will finish the nursery that she started building before the shooting. On the night of January 4, 2015, Maud was summoned from her house in Mulita to the hospital. When she returned home, she was confronted by two masked bandits, one of whom pointed a gun at her. Not realising it was real, Maud reached to grab the weapon, and was shot in the chest. 'I yelled at the top of my voice.' Eventually help came and Maud’s condition stabilised. However, there was no means of communication available in Mulita. Someone would have to travel through the night to the nearest town, 30 miles away. The next morning, MAF received a call requesting a medevac for Maud. 'We were really upset when we heard that she was shot,' MAF pilot Jon Cadd said. 'The whole team just jumped into action.' MAF staff quickly contacted local doctors and rearranged the day’s flight schedule, A few hours later, Jon landed in Mulita with medical personnel on board and was able to medevac Maud to MAF’s base in Nyankunde. After receiving treatment in the Nyankunde Mission Hospital, Maud spent a week recuperating in the home of Jon and Cher Cadd: 'So much of the healing process was down to MAF caring for me, loving me, and just being so kind and hospitable. I probably wouldn’t have survived without MAF.' Maud Kells OBE

A swirling sea of colour; arms covered with Rendille beads and waists hanging with Borana gourds dance around each other in joyful motion. Hands clapping a vibrant rhythm, voices raised in harmony, switching between languages but the meaning always the same: ‘God, bless Your children with peace. Bless Borana, bless Rendille, cover them with Your peace.’ This is a peace meeting, bringing together two tribes who have been trapped in conflict for decades. Women who once held each other in contempt now hold one another’s hands, but the journey that brought them here hasn’t been smooth. Violent cattle raids The village of Leyai, south-east of Marsabit in northern Kenya, was once home to both Borana and Rendille people. Living as neighbours, they cultivated and herded there side by side. But escalating disputes, and increasingly violent cattle raids claiming more than 250 lives, caused such division that eventually almost all the villagers left and segregated themselves into separate tribal enclaves. Houses crumbled into disrepair and crops were overrun with weeds. Over the years, various attempts have been made to re-establish peace, but with little success. Among several seemingly insurmountable obstacles to peace was the fact that Marsabit is over 310 miles from Nairobi, where most international development agencies are based. Long journeys on terrible roads eat up precious time and take a huge toll on vehicles. But an innovative approach by development agency Sauti Moja Marsabit (‘one voice’ in the Swahili tongue) has sparked change and brought new hope to this fractured society. And being able to use MAF planes has made the delicate process of reconciliation more efficient, and less expensive for the agency. Livestock loans With a strong focus on vulnerable and marginalised women, Sauti Moja was already running Community Livestock Banks (CLBs). A ‘loan’ of one donkey and four goats is given to an impoverished woman, and then repaid by giving away the first female offspring of the animals to another woman in the community. Sauti Moja had often been approached about undertaking peace work in the area. ‘But everybody was doing peace work out here and I thought, what can we possibly do that’s meaningful, that’s different?’ recalls Tim Wright, the organisation’s founder. The idea came to use livestock loans as a catalyst for peace. Instead of giving an animal to a widow from their own tribe, the ten Borana and ten Rendille women chosen to participate would pass on the animals to women from the other tribe. These women, who considered each other responsible for their own widowhood and destitution, would have to share their most valued and precious resources with each other. The emotional challenge was immense. If this unique ‘peace’ CLB succeeded, it would send a powerful message of reconciliation to the warring communities, and hopefully pave the way towards lasting peace. Making choices Memories of stability, friendship and life in harmony were distant and faded by the time the project began. Already a whole generation of Borana and Rendille had grown up knowing only hatred and bloodshed. ‘During that time when there was no peace, people could not go to get firewood or take the livestock to water,’ explains Sube, a Borana widow, ‘It was not safe.’ Against this backdrop, the team realised that while they could manage logistics, facilitate meetings and encourage interaction between the women, the true work of change was an internal process. Each woman would have to choose to set aside her history and actively work for peace. This wasn’t always easy for the project participants. Gumatho, a Rendille woman who lost her son in an ambush, describes how she felt when she first came face-to-face with those she had long considered her enemies. ‘The first time I met with them, everything came back to me,’ she remembers, ‘and I couldn’t tolerate it for a long time’.   Better than conflict However, determined to overcome these difficulties and encouraged by others in the group, Gumatho became convinced that, ultimately, peace is better than conflict. With the same resolution and fortitude that is evident of all these women, she committed to leaving the past behind and working towards a better future. The first peace CLB not only succeeded, but far exceeded the hopes of the Sauti Moja staff. Purposefully focusing on similarities rather than differences, the women truly embraced the project, and began to develop and enhance it with their own initiatives. They started visiting each other in their homes, and they welcomed one another to weddings, funerals and other significant events. They even visit other communities to encourage them towards reconciliation. Women have been empowered to preach peace and share testimonies, and male tribal elders have responded positively. Happiness is growing in communities which had been defined for so long by hatred, fear and devastating loss. Swords into ploughshares Thanks to MAF Pilots, Sauti Moja staff have been able to take many of these long, dangerous journeys of peace ‘off road’ – simply flying above the obstacles of armed raiders and hazardous roads. There is still a long way to go and much work to be done. Inter-tribal conflict remains a daily reality for many in northern Kenya, but the work of Sauti Moja and the women of Leyai has shown that hope isn’t futile and the possibility of peace is very real. ‘Instead of conflict, let us unite and advocate against the war,’ the women sing together. May their voices echo through many generations to come.

Maud Kells OBE was medevacked by MAF to hospital to be treated for gunshot wounds during a robbery in her village in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The then 75-year-old missionary from Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland was shot twice in the shoulder in a night attack by bandits in Mulita on 4 January 2015. Staff from MAF's Nyankunde base co-ordinated a medical evacuation and reported that her wounds were treated. Maud survived. Shortly after Maud received treatment, Jon Cadd, a pilot and programme manager for MAF's operations in eastern DRC, said, 'It was great to be part of the MAF team getting Maud out and helping her recover. The trauma team cleaned up the wound and things are looking good. It made me happy to be one of the pieces in the puzzle. We just took some supper to Maude down in ICU and she actually sat up to eat. She asked us to pray and thank God for taking care of her.' Speaking in 2011 about Maud, Jon said, 'She is really remarkable. Even though we fly in a lot of her supplies, sometimes she has a need for something at the hospital, so she rides her bike for a whole day to get to the nearest small town, gets what she needs, stays the night and then rides back the next day.' Working for WEC International, Maud's ministry is based in the remote rainforest village of Mulita, in the Ituri Forest, south-east of Kisangani. MAF has flown Maud around 70 times, including an emergency evacuation when rebels took the nearby town of Punia in 2013. In an earlier interview with MAF, Maud said, 'I've been flying with MAF since they started flying here way back in the 1980s.'

The testimony of missionary pilot Nate Saint and his crew is one that underpins MAF history, and continues to fuel our mission today. Nate and four American friends first made contact with the widely-feared Auca people deep in the Ecuadorian rainforest in 1955. Lowering down gifts every week for 13 weeks in a bucket from the plane, the missionaries hoped to show love and peace to a tribe renowned for violence. These people had never been contacted by the outside world. It was an exciting opportunity for the Gospel. The Aucas - now called Waodani - not only received their gifts but gradually became more and more accustomed to the arrival of the plane. By the 6th week, tribesmen even attached a beautifully feathered crown as a return gesture. From then on, gifts were exchanged back and forth until Nate made plans to land. First encounters Soon after Christmas, when the missionaries had written festive greetings to far-flung relatives, the group made one of their final flights to meet the Waodani people. They landed on Palm Beach on 3 January 1956, setting up camp on the fringes of Waodani territory, waiting for an encounter. After 3 days, suddenly a group of naked Waodani appeared on the bank of the river opposite Palm Beach. Jim Elliot, Nate's closest friend, waded towards them; his open hand offering a warm invitation for the visitors to join for food. After a few minutes, all were relaxed, and the little group settled at the Americans' camp, drinking lemonade and jabbering in their mysterious dialect. When their visitors finally disappeared back into the forest, the 5 friends could barely contain their excitement. This meeting was the one thing they had longed and prayed for. Final landing Two days later, Nate's final call to his wife Marjorie said, 'Pray for us. This is the day!' At 12 minutes past 3 on Sunday 8 January 1956, Nate's wristwatch was suddenly smashed against a stone. The hands stopped moving. This is believed to be the moment he and his dear friends lost their lives to Waodani spears. The missionaries' tragic martyrdom was only the beginning of a powerful message of salvation that has spread from Ecuador's remote Waodani community across the world. Transformation Their sudden deaths shocked the world. Many MAF supporters still remember hearing the news on the radio. Knowing God had a plan for them, Jim's wife Elisabeth and their 10-month-old daughter Valerie, decided to stay in Ecuador and continue the work Jim had left behind. A turning point came when two women left the tribe to meet with Elisabeth, thereby opening the door for both her and Nate's sister Rachel to make contact with the Waodani. They lived with the tribe for two years, bringing them God's Word, teaching them to forgive fearlessly and love tremendously – transforming their way of life forever. Nate's children were also invited into the tribe, where his son Steve committed his life to them. He was baptised by Mincaye – the very man who killed his father. The tribe renamed itself 'Waorani', turning from their 'Auca' roots – which meant 'savage' – to display a powerful message of transformation. MAF has been a vital part of that message, and has taken Nate's vision to use small aircraft to spread the Gospel into thousands of remote communities in more than 25 developing countries. Restoration In 2010, with the partnership of Fuel the Mission, MAF restored Nate's home in Shell, central Ecuador. Originally built in 1948 for the missionary family, the home had become infested with termites and had a few years left to stand. The project was an inspiration to gain a new generation of support for MAF, and to keep Nate's memory alive. The re-dedication of the Saint's home was translated into 3 languages, giving everyone a chance to hear the message of Christ; the message that still fuels MAF's planes to this day. The Waodani people are just one tribe that has turned to Christ thanks to Christians in aviation, and with the help and prayers of our many supporters, we pray there will be many more. Why not read the full account by ordering your copy of the book 'Jungle Pilot', Nate Saint's brief but adventure-packed story! Order the book now! A lifeline beyond their lifetime The martyrs' legacies were to bring a life of forgiveness to the Waodani. Each and every legacy given to MAF can transform lives, no matter how big or small. If you are interested in leaving your own legacy to MAF, please do get in touch on 01303 851958 or find out more here. Leave a legacy to MAF