The adventures of Mathias and Mandy Glass
"The atmosphere must have been electric that day..."
"The atmosphere must have been electric that day..."
The Glass' are an extraordinary couple! Although they are part of MAF Germany, we were able to have them over at our UK office where Mandy was receiving communications training.
Mathias is one of MAF’s incredible pilots in Papua New Guinea and Mandy’s taken a role in communications sharing and is doing a fantastic job of that too! They tie together first-hand experience with great story writing.
Whilst in the office, they shared what they’ve been up to in PNG. The stories they told were absolutely staggering, so we thought we’d share a couple with you too!
The airstrip in Kaiam has been in the making for 15 years by the community and the Lutz’s, a Lutheran Church family. In February this year, having finally been completed, Mathias and Sebastian Kurz performed the first ever landing.
Kaiam is so small and isolated; not even Google maps could find it but more importantly there’s no way of getting access to healthcare or education for the estimated 100 local folk living there. This is why an airstrip had to be built!
MAF’s contribution was merely the tip of the ice-burg but the reaction of the locals, when the plane first landed, must have made Mathias and Sebastian feel like what they’d done had made all the difference in the world!
The people were jumping around as the plane came to a halt. Mathias and Sebastian could barely get out of the plane before being hugged and covered in mud (a customary greeting in this community). They got the plane pretty good too!
This airstrip, although a long time coming, has meant that a better quality of life is just around the corner for the folk in Kaiam and it must have been incredible to have experienced their initial excitement!
Another incredible moment that the Glass’ are sure not to forget was when the Yembiyembi tribe received bibles in their language for the first time!
Unto the Nations is an organisation who have been serving this community for many years now and when a translation into the Bises language became available, MAF were invited not only to transport the bibles, but to join in the festivities that surrounded the day!
There was much singing and dancing as the local people gathered to celebrate the word of God finally coming to their village. Many speeches were made by Brooks Buser (Unto the Nations worker), the church leaders and key disciplers in the community.
The atmosphere must have been electric that day and the Glass’ certainly conveyed that same electricity when sharing the story with us. It must have been amazing to have been there!
We’re so grateful for the Glass’! Their service with MAF goes such a long, long way and it’s always super encouraging to hear of their adventures in PNG. We’ll be sure to keep our ears open for more brilliant stories to come from Mandy!
With dense jungle, mountainous highlands and hazardous roads, the need for MAF in Papua New Guinea is great
On 21 February, the United Nations marks International Mother Language Day to recognise the importance language plays in education, development and social integration.
In a place where there are no roads, a 2-hour flight saved the life of a heart attack victim in Papua New Guinea.
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
On 30 May, UK pilots Paul Woodington and Israel Neale, re-opened the airstrip Pangoa Airstrip 25 years after the last flight.
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.
Two young Papua New Guinean dentists are making a big difference in remote communities that have never had access to dental care.
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!
This radio might look dirty, old, and unimportant. but this radio is vital to rural communities in Papua New Guinea.
‘What can be more special than walking through the front door of your house and being leapt on by a nine-year-old girl and given a great big hug?'
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.
Indian Pilot Satish Moka recently jumped on a medevac flight to rescue a man with a broken leg from Tamo, a village 75 miles north of Mt Hagen.
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
Glenys Watson is a pilot and busy mum to four daughters. Here she shares a glimpse of her busy life in Papua New Guinea
As the MAF plane lands in Mount Hagen, Communications Officer Mandy Glass is there to meet the patients and help with the hospital transfer.
MAFs Nawi Mabo flew to bring help to earthquake stuck communities in Papua New Guinea and describes what he saw.
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.
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.
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.
We all like a nice cup of coffee! But have you considered where your cuppa might have come from? Story and photos by LuAnne Cadd
When a medevac flight was delayed by bad weather God’s sovereign purposes were at work in a seemingly hopeless situation
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.
Maintaining the airstrips is just as important as maintaining the aircraft to ensure safe landings.
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
Senior Communications officer LuAnne Cadd spent a day flying on MAF's Twin Otter aircraft in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.
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.
Pregnant women suffering with labour difficulties are given a double token of love, thanks to a new initiative from MAF's women.
"Rose was confronted by two men from the neighbouring tribe who proceeded violently."
Mud celebration marks historic landing in Papua New Guinea
MAF Operations Manager Siobhain Dales explores leadership and the challenges of culture for women in Papua New Guinea
Karina Mills describes a marathon that changed many little lives in Papua New Guinea
Water and sanitation projects are delivered in Papua New Guinea's remote Torricelli Mountains, thanks to MAF's partnership with WaterAid
A boy in a remote mountain community in Papua New Guinea is glad to be alive after being bitten by a death adder
We have a new aircraft in Papua New Guinea - and it's already come to the rescue of several people in remote communities