Visit to Wewak

Recently, we had the opportunity to go to Wewak for two weeks in order for Madeleine to get some home schooling support from a German teacher. As Niklas was taught by a nativ German speaker, Markus was introduced to flying in the Sepik. With Wewak being located at the sea, we were able to enjoy the warm Pacific.

Wom Beach with its own coral reef

Joelle on the surf board

... and Niklas had to try, too

Lucien enjoying the beach

Family picture at Talio Lodge

Furlough 2014 – A Picture Review

It's getting close to two and a half months since we have arrived in Papua New Guinea for our second term with MAF. This is about half the time we spend in Switzerland (April to August) for our first furlough. To celebrate this remarkable day we have put together some pictures with the highlights of our stay at home proper.

A house with garden – blessing from heaven

Visit to Castle Chillon

Celebrating birthdays (13 in 5 months)

For once a real Swiss BBQ (with the famous Cervelas sausages)

Family-Parties

"Swimming" in the icy river Aare

Toboggan at Heimwehfluh

An almost marriage holiday at Casa Moscia on Lago Maggiore

Camping and Rain Retreat (picture of the only sunny day)

First solid food

Swimming lessons

Holiday in the Swiss Alps

Visit to the Matterhorn

Visit to the Air14 airshow

I guess, I will become a Fighter Pilot after all

(For more pictures of our furlough click here)

... and Lucien is (already) one

And now he already turns one. We can well remember this day a year back. Everything about it had been special. And the same is true for little Lucien. Now, we even had the opportunity to celebrate this special occasion at a special location. As we currently are in Wewak for a little stint of Sepik-Flying, we went to the beach and enjoyed the birthday cake with sun, sand, and the sea.

Lucien: now he is already one

The mandatory birthday cake ...

... and even some presents!!

The Birthday-Party: MAF families from the Wewak base

First Steps

First day of school

This week it was at last happening. After she has not been able to go to kindergarten during our furlough in Switzerland, Joelle could finally start with first grade. Niklas is still in second grade and the other two are into everything else.

Joelle on her first day of school

Calculus is (still) fun

Niklas is now working on second grade (mostly) on his own

Gian in "playgroup"

Marawaka Celebrations

"PNG just celebrated its 39th anniversary of Independence all over the country. But for the people in the remote Marawaka Valley the celebrations held a little earlier this year meant much more to them. The opening of different building projects and the donations for more life changing facilities really have a greater impact on their day to day life."

Here the full story released by MAF PNG:

Click here to read the story as PDF

MAF Twin Otter taking-off from a bush strip

Helping others to achieve their mission

"In the lowland jungle in Rumginae it gets hot early in the morning, and it is hard to drink enough water to keep refreshed. However, we can just take a bottle of filtered water out of the fridge. It’s something we take for granted. But what about remote communities in the jungle?"

Here the full story released by MAF PNG:

Click here to read the story as PDF

Watertanks collecting rainwater in Rumginae

A different view of Switzerland, Pictures by Niklas

(For more pictures click here)

Our first term with MAF in PNG

Birthday Season

As always in the spring time, we have a bout of birthday celebrations: After Madeleine at the end of March, there is Markus, Gian, and Joelle. This time we also had Lucien's dedication. Here some of the pictures:

Gian is 3

Joelle and the birthday cake

Princesses among each other

... and (for once) some cousins at the party

Lucien's dedication

Lucien with pastor, parents, and godparents

Home Assignment Commences

Finally, it came to pass: On Tuesday, April 1st after having been in PNG for more than 2 1/2 years and having travelled for 24hrs our feet touched Swiss soil again. After a journey that started almost a week earlier in Rumginae and led us through Kiunga, Mt Hagen, Port Moresby, Singapore, to Zürich we could embrace family and friends. Very exciting (as Canadians would say and Swiss only think). The weather, too, welcomed us with friendly temperatures and spring all around. We're looking forward to a great time.

The beginning of The Journey: Early in the morning and with a sad heart we let our turtles loose. Better, however, than to leave them for our neighbour's supper.

First stage of The Journey in the MAF Caravan: Rumginae – Kiunga – Mt Hagen

On the go: Madeleine's birthday celebration in Mt Hagen

Visiting Ebels and Swalms on the second stage of The Journey: Mt Hagen – Port Moresby

Intermittent stop at midnight during the third stage: Port Moresby – Singapur – Zürich

Spring is waiting for us in Switzerland

Our cosy home for the next 4 months

Unrequited Love

"The request came for MAF to pick up a critically injured person from Pyarulama and fly them to a Baptist Mission Hospital at nearby Kompiam – just eight minutes flight away. The only alternative is an horrendous walk along a narrow and unstable track, over multiple ridge lines and across multiple rivers. It is likely the patient would not have survived that journey."

Here the full story released by MAF PNG:

Click here to read the story as PDF

Janeka has shocking injuries to her fore-arms

Reopening of Rumginae Airstrip

After 1 year 4 month and 16 days we have been able to reopen the airstrip in Rumginae. On Tuesday, February 4, at about 4pm Luke Newell and I landed the GA8 Airvan on a limestone surface, under the joyful supervision of hospital staff and village people. I had not had that huge a gathering witness a landing ever before in Rumginae.
Even though I did not mind the commute to Kiunga all that much, it felt good (and somehow strange) to call Moresby flight services with the call: "taxiing Kiunga for Rumginae". I must admit that I was exited myself, too – just a little bit, anyway.

The first approach to land in Rumginae after the closure

After a long time we park in Rumginae again

Luke Newell thanks Chris Matinson for his help

Volunteer workmen and -women

A big crowed of spectators