http://www.maf.org.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.maf.org.nz en-us Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:17:16 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.maf.org.nz/blog/post/168556/bringing-care-to-forgotten-corners-of-arnhem-land/ Ely is married to MAF aircraft maintenance engineer Josh, and mother of four active children, but she’s also an occupational therapist working part-time in a private practice based in Nhulunbuy, Arnhem Land.Her clinic gets referrals from the Northern Territory Government for a wide variety of clients, so Ely’s job takes her to the homelands and communities of East Arnhem Land, in addition to work in Nhulunbuy town.“Coming here is really lovely,” says Ely. “I really didn't think that I ... Mon, 10 Aug 2026 14:10:47 +1200 http://www.maf.org.nz/blog/#post168556 http://www.maf.org.nz/blog/post/167948/when-cyclones-strike-maf-responds/ Cyclone Narelle: Evacuations and food relief in Arnhem LandWhen Tropical Cyclone Narelle made landfall in Arnhem Land in Australia’s Northern Territory earlier this year, MAF planes were kept busy making evacuation flights for more than 70 residents from the Laynhapuy homelands to the safety of cyclone shelters in Nhulunbuy.After the cyclone passed, residents were safely returned home. However, damaged tracks and depleted fuel supplies soon created another crisis, with several homelands runnin... Mon, 27 Jul 2026 09:53:16 +1200 http://www.maf.org.nz/blog/#post167948 http://www.maf.org.nz/blog/post/167947/tanzania-transformed-maf-begins-a-new-chapter/ As MAF begins to transition out of Tanzania in the coming months, the country today is in far better shape than when MAF first started serving there over 60 years ago.In 1963, life expectancy was a dismal 44 years – today it’s 70. In the last 25 years, maternal mortality has drastically reduced by 71%, and primary school enrolment has boomed to 93% since the government introduced free basic education in 2015.The electrification rate has reached 69% across rural areas (source: Int’l Trade A... Mon, 27 Jul 2026 09:45:10 +1200 http://www.maf.org.nz/blog/#post167947 http://www.maf.org.nz/blog/post/167945/light-in-paradise/ For him and his wife Caitlin, a good weekend means getting in the four-wheel drive and going far beyond mobile phone coverage, sleeping in a tent, sitting by the campfire and looking at the stars. He is also no stranger to epic sea journeys, having accompanied Caitlin to the Coral Sea, Australia, where she worked as a dive instructor and marine researcher. But Karlos had never been anywhere quite as remote as the Carteret Islands. He had never felt so cut off from the outside world.Paradise in d... Mon, 27 Jul 2026 09:25:41 +1200 http://www.maf.org.nz/blog/#post167945 http://www.maf.org.nz/blog/post/167944/the-people-laid-down-their-arrows-a-story-of-lasting-change/ “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 each other.” Tribal conflicts were part of daily life, and fear was a constant companion.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, pointi... Mon, 27 Jul 2026 09:17:21 +1200 http://www.maf.org.nz/blog/#post167944 http://www.maf.org.nz/blog/post/167941/education-protected-mary-from-human-trafficking-and-child-marriage/ “I’m happy that I am going to secondary school,” says Mary with a smile. Soon, she will take the next step in a journey she has dreamed about for years.Mary Nangiro is a dedicated student. She joined Akigyeno School in 2021, a school run by MAF’s partner organisation, Ezekiel 37 Ministry. The school serves around 300 students in Uganda’s Karamoja region, where literacy rates are among the lowest in the country.“I used to read my books in the night to excel. The school gave us torches... Mon, 27 Jul 2026 08:55:06 +1200 http://www.maf.org.nz/blog/#post167941 http://www.maf.org.nz/blog/post/167938/the-sudan-crisis-for-such-a-time-as-this/ Nearly two years ago, leaders from the entire MAF International family gathered to make a bold, and unanimous decision. We came together as a collection of MAF groups to create something new – an integrated MAF International that unites our operational programmes and national fundraising groups like never before.We are in a once-in-a-generation moment that has been signposted for us in many ways. I believe it creates a new space for us to believe in new beginnings.Looking out over the MAF Inte... Mon, 27 Jul 2026 08:37:27 +1200 http://www.maf.org.nz/blog/#post167938 http://www.maf.org.nz/blog/post/167881/a-calling-beyond-the-cockpit/ “I really sensed God’s call on my life to be a missionary when I was eight years old. It was also at that time where I developed a passion and desire to become a pilot. So right from a young age I always believed that I was going to be a MAF pilot.”This never did happen, but as Mark reflects, this was for a bigger purpose. Having served several of his earlier years in pastoral ministry, combined with his passion for aviation, Mark was ideally shaped for this role.“When I joined MAF as th... Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:04:50 +1200 http://www.maf.org.nz/blog/#post167881 http://www.maf.org.nz/blog/post/167767/we-are-hurting-without-healthcare/ “I have come to get my baby checked,” young mother Elisabeth Moses said, holding a lively baby girl in a carry cloth among the crowd of people gathered in front of an unfinished building.The clinic is run in a bare concrete structure with roofing providing shelter from the harsh sun. The building lacks doors, floors and windows, not to mention plumbing and electrics.In cooperation with Kilimatinde Hospital, MAF flies a monthly mother and child clinic to the village of Dabia. During these out... Mon, 20 Jul 2026 15:44:44 +1200 http://www.maf.org.nz/blog/#post167767 http://www.maf.org.nz/blog/post/167764/getting-to-work-on-flight-over-treacherous-waters/ Winding rivers and mangrove-lined creeks carve the East Arnhem Land coastline into a maze of islands and convoluted promontories, requiring long detours by track for travellers driving between communities that are relatively close as the crow flies. And those crossing to a nearby island may have to plan carefully to catch a periodic charter barge if one is available.Today, Sharon Yunupingu, Operations Manager of a Community Housing Organisation (CHO) for East Arnhem Land Real Estate, is travelli... Mon, 20 Jul 2026 15:26:27 +1200 http://www.maf.org.nz/blog/#post167764