Paul Woodington, a pilot with MAF Papua New Guinea, recalls a medevac flight which happened just before Christmas 2017. Thanks to quick thinking, good decision-making and trust in God, Paul managed to help two severely ill patients, including the son of a missionary partner, reach the medical care they needed.
Jesse Pryor is a second-generation missionary in Papua New Guinea (PNG). His family have built a clinic and on many occasions, MAF have helped him medevac seriously ill patients to receive treatment at far away hospitals.
Yesterday, I received a request to medevac Jesse’s son out of Samban. It was one of the most difficult and complex decision-making tasks I have undertaken. But, we did our utmost to help.
It was late. I was already flying a medevac from Edwaki to Wewak, for a man with a broken leg who was lying down in the plane in considerable pain.
The Caravan was over half full and heavy. Yet, the task was to divert for an hour very late in the day, land in Samban, pick up the family of four, which all adds weight to the plane. I had to think about the weight and tail-wind for takeoff. Factor in a draggy surface penalty and recent rain. How low was the fuel? What reserves did I have? How close to last light? Could the man with the broken leg manage another hour in the plane?
Not many planes would have fuel for an hour-long diversion or the capacity to lift this load out of a marginal airstrip.
On the surface, it seems I would not be ticking many boxes so I declined. After a rethink, I found I could tick all the boxes if I diverted directly to Samban, not via Wewak. Jacob (base agent) was invaluable, acting as an intermediary between myself on the radio and the very concerned father.
So, we lifted 10 people out of Samban, one a small baby. The GA8 struggles to lift just two out of here. The Caravan with a four-knot tailwind became airborne half way along the strip, passing 200 ft over the fence.
It was such a gratifying performance. It made me realise how fantastic this plane is and to thank God for His wonderful provision for the Sepik. As I engaged the autopilot and looked back at the load, I felt a pang, a tear-jerking sensation. I experienced a real community feeling on board.
Elijah, their son with a burst appendix, was throwing up in a bag, being comforted by his big sister. Another woman was attending to the man with a broken leg which was badly swollen. Katie, Jesse’s wife, was showing another lady their newly adopted baby from PNG. I shared what was left of my lunch and passed around water, and gave pain killers to the stretcher patient.
I want to share this with you because this plane makes a real difference to people’s lives. The Pryors needed us, and are thankful for the help we provide for their family and ministry. We were able to help in the most difficult of circumstances. Not many planes would have fuel for an hour-long diversion or the capacity to lift this load out of a marginal airstrip.
This week I have done a medevac every day. Despite the difficult times we are all living, the mission community here is pulling together!
On 21 February, the United Nations marks International Mother Language Day to recognise the importance language plays in education, development and social integration.
Two German medical students recently spent their semester break volunteering at the Kompiam Hospital, Papua New Guinea (PNG). Magdalena (Leni) Bonleitner recalls their experiences of rural clinics and flying with MAF.
World Radio Day is celebrated on 13 February. Radios are a vital form of communication for remote areas, helping them feel connected to the rest of the world. In late 2019, Lukas Schadegg installed a HF radio for Biadi, Papua New Guinea.
MAF Papua New Guinea (PNG) pilot, Ryan Cole, explains the role which MAF plays in promoting education - just one of the responses to the question, 'what does a MAF pilot do?'
Support Raising and Training Manager Adam Pope speaks to Michael and Nicki Duncalfe
on their return to the UK, following an incredible 25 years of service with MAF Papua
New Guinea (PNG)
Clare and Paul Woodington are based at Wewak, where Paul is one of our experienced Caravan pilots serving the communities in the northern part of mainland PNG
Bonifas P.Korangia, known as Boni, served as a technician missionary for 22 years, until last year when he felt called to take a year off and reconnect with his village.
While husband Neal is hard at work in the MAF hangar, Lois Semanison spends her time blessing the community in Mount Hagen where they live. Many have come to faith through her witness and care.
Many of Papua New Guinea's 800 languages are spoken by just a few hundred people. The Ende language has 700 speakers in three villages around the Upiara airstrip in the South Fly, Western Province.
Radio: a constant and reliable communication channel. Reaching across high mountains and treacherous landscapes, radio communication has been used as a tool to penetrate some of the most remote areas.
When reports began to circulate of a move of God in a remote village in Papua New Guinea, Judith Dupuis, wife of MAF Pilot Michael Dupuis, just had to see for herself!
Almost 3,000 families in the communities surrounding Simbai make a living growing coffee. Frequent MAF flights serve the community's needs and fly the precious cash crop to market.
In the beginning was the cocoa pod – the beautiful, freshly picked, raw product – grown in tropical equatorial climates around the world, including Papua New Guinea (PNG).
What can you do with a cargo of solar lights and tarpaulins, Bibles, guitars and tambourines, soccer balls and volleyballs, hinges, padlocks, saws, and spanners...?
Much of the food flown by MAF to remote communities after the recent earthquake was donated by local churches motivated to help their countrymen in need.
Aid has reached remote communities in Papua New Guinea following the recent earthquake. Pilot’s Mathias Glass gives an account of a relief flight he flew to Muluma and Bosavi
Pilot Steven Eatwell flew a medevac and earthquake relief flight to the remote communities of Huya and Bosavi. He brought relief supplies and assessed the condition of the airstrips while he was there.
Recently in Papua New Guinea, short-term Swiss staff member Remo Ruegg's plans for the day took a different turn when one of his neighbours knocked on his door.
Story Remo Ruegg. Photos Remo Ruegg (RR) and Nawi Mabo (NM)
At MAF, we know that when we provide access to remote areas those areas are helped, resourced and receive medical assistance. However, sometimes it is when access is withdrawn for a time – often for unavoidable reasons – that it brings home the reality of our absence.
In August 2016, Geoff Boer was having a normal day. Just after dinner, disaster struck as he experienced a heart attack. he was flown for treatment the following morning and after surgery, has made a full recovery. Without the quick thinking and acting MAF staff and partners, Geoff may not have survived.
Kompiam Rural Hospital in Papua New Guinea is at the end of a road, inaccessible except by walking or flying, to the people it serves. The area is troubled by tribal skirmishes which have claimed more than 40 lives in the last six months.
As exam season the UK comes to an end - to the relief of children and parents alike - Glenda Giles shares how students in Tekin, Papua New Guinea nervously awaited the arrival of their exam papers.
What's it like to date on the mission field in a culture drastically different to your own? British Siobhain Dales and Canadian Ryan Cole discovered just this...
MAF Pilot Paul Woodington displays professional dedication and personal sacrifice as he battles the jungle to bring the Jesus film to an isolated corner of Papua New Guinea. We hope it encourages you to continue fighting for the Gospel.
A workshop in Papua New Guinea teaches women how to be free from the fear of sorcery and magic through a deeper understanding of who God is. Story and photos by LuAnne Cadd
The mountain village community of Megau came together to build a life-saving medical aid post in just 24 hours. Everything down to the last nail was flown in by MAF
Michael Duncalfe has been flying Twin Otters since 1998, clocking up over 6,500 hours in the process. MAF Partnership Manager – and resident aviation enthusiast – Olly Nunn asks him to share with our supporters why this aircraft is so special
A 23-year-old woman is experiencing labour complications, but as she lives in a remote village in Papua New Guinea, she needed an MAF aircraft to get the urgent hospital care she needs.
MAF women in Papua New Guinea come together a few times a year to pack Care Bags for women we fly for emergency hospital care. Madeleine Bischoff, wife of MAF pilot Markus, shares the joy of blessing two new mothers, with bags and shares their stories.
No more killing: When a young schoolgirl heard that 17 innocent people were about to die, she decided to do something about it. Story and photos Anton Lutz.
Gebrau airstrip in the highlands of Papua New Guinea is finally open, after twenty years! It will be a huge benefit to the economy of this remote community.
MAF's scheduled flight from Wewak was cancelled at the very last minute. But then the phone rang! An urgent medevac flight was required. And Agatha's village was in the opposite direction. (Photos: Ludmer Meiko)
Mandy Glass, our Communications Officer in Papua New Guinea, shared her love of reading recently with 80 high school students through the gift of books.
It was late. I was already flying a medevac from Edwaki to Wewak, for a man with a broken leg who was lying down in the plane in considerable pain. 
