Tucked between steep mountains and dense forest, the Hewa tribe is a scattered community of more than 3,000 people straddling the corners of three provinces in Papua New Guinea. There are no roads that reach Yifki, one of their biggest communities.
For generations, the Hewa people lived in violent conflict, cut off from medicine and education – and the Gospel.
The following stories and testimonies reveal how the arrival of missionaries and the construction of an airstrip have transformed the Hewa people.
Father of eight Kepson Pokiau tells us how his people used to live and what the transformation means for his own family today:
“We killed people, we fought other men, that’s how it was.
My ancestors, my father, my mother, it was like that, on and on.
Then, in 2007, some missionaries came, among them Jonathan Kopf.
Jonathan showed us the Bible in our own language and taught us.
My sister-in-law, she learned to read the Bible, and other people too.
At that time the school didn’t exist, the airstrip hadn’t been built yet.
We lived on top of the mountain.
In November 2011, another missionary came and surveyed an airstrip site. He said, ‘This will work.’
We’ve now built the airstrip, and there are teachers here and kids are in school.
And we rejoice!”
Facts: The Hewa People
• More than 2,000 Hewa people live in scattered communities across Papua New Guinea’s remote highlands. The Hewa live in seven villages, including Fiyawena and Yifki, with distinct dialects across the area.
• There are no roads to Yifki. Reaching Tari, the nearest town and hospital, means crossing rugged mountain and jungle terrain for 3-4 days on foot – versus a 30-minute flight with MAF.
• Since the Yifki airstrip opened, MAF has flown 65.5 tonnes of freight into the community, supporting Yifki Christian School, health care and missionaries.
PHOTO / AQUILA MATIT
This story was originally published in "Flying for Life - Spring 2026." To view the full issue, click here.