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Egbert's one-way ticket pays off for bush people

After graduating from Don Bosco Technical Institute, Egbert Awani bought a one-way ticket and travelled across Papua New Guinea. In search of work, he left the city of Port Moresby and focussed his efforts on the small town of Kiunga.“You guys have to pick me up from the airport,” he told his friends. But after almost a year, and multiple failed attempts at finding a job, he stumbled across a social media advert for a role with MAF.Growing up in Nuku, in the Sepik region, Egbert had seen MAF...

From bush hut to permanent health centre: MAF flights enable epic transformation

Dedicated community health worker Patrick Dickson has been serving at Yambaitok health centre for almost nine years. Working in a bush materials building, he has personally experienced the pressing need for a proper healthcare facility to support locals from Yambaitok and neighbouring communities.Thanks to the ten crucial MAF flights that delivered the required building materials from Kompiam, the new facility will feature a labour ward, a small outpatient area and rooms to accommodate patients....

From Dreams to Skies: A PNG Pilot Story

“The spark was there,” says Ricky Poki. “But I honestly believe God puts it in your heart before you’re even born. Ever since then I’ve always had a thing for flying.“My first plane ride – man! The thrill that I got! I was like, ‘I want to be the person doing that over and over again.’”Little did Ricky know, his lifelong dream would eventually shape his calling – to share God’s love through his passion for flying.“It’s like showing a little bit of what God is like for...

Flying seriously big fridges across razorback ridges

In much of Papua New Guinea’s mountainous Hela Province, getting to the nearest hospital where you can vaccinate your kids means days of travel through thick vegetation, crossing dangerous rivers and climbing to high elevations.In this part of the highlands, there are no roads to drive on. The only way to reach many villages is to take the risk and commit your family to a long journey on foot.But MAF changes this.Hela Provincial Health Authority technician Peter Herowa was grateful for the two...

Two days from death: Meltine saved by dawn flight

When Rasoarimalala Meltine was safely flown home after nearly a month of treatment, her family knew they had witnessed something far greater than medical skill alone.“If we were only two days late,” her daughter, Rakotoarison Landihasina Yollande, said, “she would have died.”Meltine, a 58-year-old mother of seven, had suddenly fallen ill.What began as a simple flu worsened rapidly, as Meltine stopped eating and suffered from fevers. Concerned, her relatives brought her from her home in t...

'Only MAF can help' - Aircraft fill critical gap to save lives in Timor-Leste

When patients cannot safely travel by road, since 2007 MAF aircraft have helped evacuate them from municipalities across Timor-Leste to the national hospital in Dili.Dr Simplicio Amaral de Deus, a general doctor who has served in a director role since 2023, said the partnership between Servisu Nasional Ambulancia Emergencia Medika (SNAEM) and MAF has become a necessity for the country.“This partnership is very beneficial and important for the people and government of Timor-Leste,” he said.Be...

'Some don't come because they haven't eaten': Removing barriers to education

“When children receive a meal at school, it does more than fill a stomach. It helps them stay in class, helps parents, and hopefully helps them build a better future,” said Alice KoloinaRahelimalala, director of Convoy of Hope in Madagascar. Convoy of Hope works to bring help and hope to communities in need, whether by feeding children, empowering women, training farmers, or supporting vulnerable families.In Madagascar, the organisation currently focuses much of its work on hard-to-reach vil...

"The people laid down their arrows" - Mother and son reflect on tribal tranformation

“Before God’s Word came to Telefomin, the people here just thought about fighting. They were angry,” says ‘Mama’ Nunta Markis. “They would just get an arrow and shoot you; shoot me.”Amongst the older women in the Telefomin community, Mama Nunta is one of a shrinking number of people who can remember when the Good News first came to this highland valley.“I would move around the mountains,” she says, pointing. “I would cut across that mountain there and go up, planting sweet po...

Thousands of King bilong Glori books take wing with MAF

“The books were so well received that we quickly ran out of the supply that we had,” said Glenys Watson, an MAF pilot based in PNG.In 2023, MAF began receiving King bilong Glori (King of Glory) Bible overview books, as part of the MAF Technologies ministry. Pilots like Glenys carry them in ‘Bible Boxes’ on most flights, alongside English and Tok Pisin Bibles, Bible comics, audio Bibles, and other resources. These items are sold at a great discount to make them affordable for people in re...

Graduation in jeopardy: Double medevac keeps two teenagers' hopes alive

For 19-year-old Cristiano Monis Martins, his year was meant to end with graduation. A Year 12 student from Maliana, Timor-Leste, Cristiano was preparing for his final exams when a routine trip with his best friend, Vincencio Cardoso, ended in a serious accident.“We were going to repair a phone,” Cristiano said. “On the way back, another motorbike overtook a car without indicating. Everything happened so fast.”As the bikes converged, Vincencio jumped off. Cristiano lost control.“Both mo...

Flying for the hearts: 'Level-up' for MAF's maternal child health clinic flights

MAF’s new partner The One New Heart joined the monthly mother and child clinic flight to Chidudu village, a community where access to healthcare remains a major challenge.The journey from the city of Dodoma to remote Chidudu normally takes around eight hours by road.With the MAF aeroplane, it took only 35 minutes.“The partnership enables us to reach communities that would otherwise remain inaccessible by other means of transport,” said Godfrey Maro, Co-Founder and Director of Communication...

'Everything was broken': Cyclone Gezani devastates Toamasina

When Cyclone Gezani tore through the east coast of Madagascar, families faced a night of fear and uncertainty.Pastor Miarana, leader of the Baptist Church in Ambolomadinika, watched helplessly as the roof of his church and his house were torn down.“We put the children under the bed so the ceiling would not fall on them,” he said. “The day of the cyclone, was very tough. I live near the church and could see in detail each roof being torn off and sent flying. Our house also lost its roof. Th...

Surgeon opens eyes to education in South Sudan

“On the last day, after lunch, we were almost closing, and a boy walked in with bilateral cataracts,” he said. “With both eyes he couldn’t see. I operated both eyes and this morning we removed the bandages, and he could see!Helping this patient was the highlight of the trip for Dr Emmanuel Oryem, who believes it is important to open not only eyes but horizons for children in South Sudan.“The dad was emotional – I was just telling him, ‘Let the boy go to school!’ Whatever plans yo...

'MAF does more than bring people to hospital'

“I think what we do as a team is really helpful for the Timorese people,” said Inggrid Pinto I, MAF’s hospital chaplain in Dili. “Because MAF does not just help to bring them here to the hospital, but we also give them care and support.“Sometimes we might think it’s not a big deal, but we can see that, for the patient, especially in their difficult situation, what we do is so meaningful to them. MAF do more than bring people to the hospital.”Since the early days of the flight opera...

How a Midnight Emergency Led to Lifesaving Care for Baby Amonia

As xefe aldeia – the village chief – Marcelino Antones is used to caring for people — but one night he found himself fighting for the lives of his own family.“It was after midnight when the doctor told us that an operation was badly needed to save both my wife and our baby,” Marcelino said. In the middle of the night, he had woken to find his wife Amonia de Lima in premature labour.The caesarean section was performed at the local hospital in Suai, Timor-Leste, but immediately afterward...

Meet Andrew Davis

Andrew and his family felt led by God to move from Ohio, USA to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2021 to serve in mission work. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Andrew is grateful to be back by the ocean, having previously been involved with YWAM in medical mission outreach through YWAM Ships Aotearoa and the TKDC dental clinics.Now serving with Mission Aviation Fellowship, Andrew is part of the Youth Engagement team and the Co‑Pilot Cohort, where he is passionate about seeing young people equipped...

Family on a mission to bring Good News through technology

Last May, Sanjaya Rasanjana, his wife, Thanuja, and their 12-year-old twin daughters, Anubha and Anagi, moved to Goroka in the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea (PNG).With an IT background and a wealth of experience using solar and radio technologies in remote areas, Sanjaya is the newest member joining the team to help bridge the digital divide for isolated communities across the nation.“What keeps me going is the passion I have for missions and especially using technology for missions,�...

Not just a medevac - Francisco also gets a flight home

Alighting from the aeroplane onto the grass airstrip of Atauro Island, 64-year-old Francisco De Souja Araujo is one of hundreds of patients and their families that MAF flies home each year.“I would like to express my gratitude because of the great journey to arrive in my place in Atauro,” he said, standing with his wife Rosa De Araujo and daughter Murdiana De Souja Araujo, who also travelled with him.Murdiana, who is one of Francisco and Rosa’s six children, spoke not only of their journey...

'Early grave' for babies averted: New Hope for Liberian families

In the remote corners of Liberia, reaching a clinic or health centre has often been a matter of life and death. Pregnant women from the hard-to-reach places of Foya, Lofa County, faced dangerous journeys over rough roads.Francis Forndia, Executive Director of Foya-Borma Hospital, highlighted the risks for expectant mothers using everyday motorcycle transport to get to medical care.“Before they could get to the clinic, the pregnant woman would have lost her foetus. The pregnant mother sitting o...

Clean water transforming isolated communities

Fewer stomach aches. Fewer trips to the clinic. More peace of mind at home. That’s what clean water is already changing for families in Enairebuk.Water Matters has been providing water filters in the community for almost 2 years and the difference is clear. Reduced cases of diarrhoea and stomach illness, which also means less money spent on healthcare....

Reliable power for life-saving flight operations

For years, the MAF team in Papua New Guinea (PNG) has battled with power outages disrupting their work to bring help, hope and healing to remote communities. However, a recent upgrade to their headquarters main generators has meant essential operations can now run smoothly.“When I have medevac call, I need power to know where the call is coming from, and where our planes are at that moment,” said flight programmer Dalinda Maxie – one of over 30 staff who depend on the generators at the hea...

Guns to Bibles: MAF supports life-changing impact

“I am a man who carried a gun and held up boats on the river.” These were the words of a man attending a Scripture Application and Leadership Training (SALT) course, who testified that he used to carry a pistol and an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle – and had been involved in many crimes.“Some people gave me a SALT book and shared a little bit of the teaching with me,” he said. “It wasn’t long before the Holy Spirit gripped my heart. I told my brother, ‘I am going to hike all the way ...

"Activating Aroha for Te Araroa" - MAF and Kai Aroha fly relief to East Cape communities

Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) has partnered with local charity Kai Aroha to fly essential supplies to families left isolated due to recent weather events.People in Te Araroa and surrounding communities have been cut-off due to roads being destroyed by flooding and slips. Without any access in or out, they have been left without life’s necessities.   MAF made two flights on Wednesday to the region, delivering water, food and medical supplies provided by Kai Aroha in their Cessna 2...

Amber's Journey from PNG to Arnhem Land

Across MAF programmes, we’re seeing more people from the very regions we serve stepping into vital roles - people who understand their communities deeply. Some, like Papua New Guinean aircraft engineer Amber Mori, are going on to serve in other MAF programs. Their journeys show how the future of MAF is being shaped by those rising from within.Amber’s path began as a determined young woman with a passion for aviation and a quiet confidence in God’s provision.“I went to church with a guy c...

A Change of Course

All day long, Esther Dii has been walking around with clammy hands. She can’t eat a thing. Her mind is racing. For days, one question has been on repeat: What am I going to say to the man who saved my life? Nervously, Esther sits down behind her laptop. With trembling hands and a radiant smile, she presses the button. It’s going to happen. Today, she’s finally meeting the man who saved her life 36 years ago. And, Esther has surprising news to share with him.It is 1989. Deep in the remote h...