When Bad Weather Meets Demands

I was out in Telefomin again for a week doing some training with a pilot when a request came in pick up a young man in a remote village who has broken his leg and needed some professional attention. As Telefomin has a Hospital (even though without a doctor) this was the obvious place to take him to.

We already had a busy schedule on that day and as it was "only" a broken leg we suggested to do the flight on the following day. However, the weather turned bad on us about mid-day and we reckoned that instead of throwing in the towel or hang around for an indefinite time we might as well go to Miyanmin and pick up that patient and see if the weather changed in the meantime. 

The village was happy to see us coming already and the patient was, too. And by the time we made it back to Telefomin the clouds and rain to the south had cleared as well and we were able to continue with what has been planned initially.

Strapping in the patient before loading the other passengers

A Six-Seat Cessna 206

This story is from the Carin LeRoy, who I flew a few times during our time in Rumginae. The most vivid memory is the loss of one main wheel while landing at their airstrip in Yehebi, when we stayed overnight in their house until we were "rescued" the next morning. 

Read the story of LeRoys service to the Western Province here:

A Six-Seat Cessna 206

Kompiam Health Patrols

Since a few years, MAF supports Kompiam Hospital with flights for their regular health patrols. Whereas before, these had to be done on foot, with up to 2 days of walking, the same areas can now be reached with 20-min flights. In addition, the area of operation could be increase, serving villages that could not be reached before. See below a short (or longer) video of one of these Clinic Patrols.

Short Version Video

Full Version Video

P2-AHP, Arrival of a New Plane

MAF Papua New Guinea got a new airplane. This is the 10th aircraft added to our fleet of Cessna Caravans, C208. The registration AHP is witness to its origin and purpose: to fly medical patrols in the Western Province (Aerial Health Patrol).

Roughly double the size of Switzerland the Western Province only has 5 hospitals, 2 of which have a doctor on a permanent basis. That is why the vast majority of people living in the Western Province do not have any access to health services. Several years ago, MAF started an initiative to fly a team of medical personell to a remote village where they attend to the sick and provide health education. Looking for a sponsor MAF partnered with Sustainable Development Programme (SDP). In the meantime this organisation has taken over the whole project and with AHP has already donated the second aircraft for MAF PNG.

Dedication of P2-AHP from MAF PNG on Vimeo.

Arrival of P2-AHP in Mt Hagen

AHP Team in Habi, Western Province

Dr John doing a check-up on an infant

Move to Ukarumpa

This week we finally made it: We have arrived in Ukarumpa, our new home for 1 year. After having packed for several weeks, we loaded up our Cara-van (aka moving van) and flew, with a 4-day layover in Mt Hagen, Eastbound past Goroka to Ukarumpa in the Eastern Highlands. Here Niklas will visit 3 years of High School and hopefully Joelle will join him next year. 

We now stay in a ex MAF hostel (boarding home) with 11 rooms looking after our kids and a friend's teenager, hoping that the newly hired dorm parents will arrive Q2 2022 so that we can move on.

Steven giving Lucien a briefing

Moving with a plane: Cara-van

Fully loaded cabin

Ukarumpa

Bischoffs and Sachh in front of the hostel

70th Anniversary: MAF Papua New Guinea

On 7 May MAF celebrates its 70th anniversary of operating in the country of Papua New Guinea. This makes it the longest continues air service in this nation.

Back in Telefomin

Today we finally made it: after 11 months we are back at our Telefomin base. What was supposed to be a 5-month trip to Switzerland turned into a double-the-time journey due to COVID delays. Now, we are glad to settle in our own house again and stop living out of suitcases.  

Welcome party in Telefomin: MAF Staff

Departure for Papua New Guinea

After a 2-month delay we are now on our way to Papua New Guinea. We were fortunate enough to catch a ride with a World Food Programme Charter from Kuala Lumpur to Port Moresby. 

Waiting for departure in Zürich

En-route to Doha - Kuala Lumpur - Port Moreseby

Tobogganing

When we left PNG end of June and arrived in Switzerland in the heat of the summer we never thought it might end like this:

It was a Wednesday when we pooled all our winter clothes, mittens, and toque, hopped in the car and drove to Meiringen in the Bernese Alps (past Interlaken at the other side of Lake Brienz). We bought a day pass and took the cable car to Hasliberg, where we rented four toboggans. Despite initial moaning about being cold it was only several rides later that we actually stopped as mum and dad, being utterly exhausted, had to call it quits. 

A day to remember: tobogganing in Switzerland

A lot of Firsts in December

Thanks to the pandemic: the constantly changing travel dates have allowed our kids some unique experiences. Not only did they celebrate the first Christmas with a real fir tree and real candles, but they also saw their first snow, built their first snowman, and had their boots filled with goodies from St Niklaus.  

Hiking in the first snow

Frozen pond in our garden

The first snowman ever

What did I get from St Nikolaus

Lots of snow ...

... but all gone by Christmas.
Looking for the perfect tree

Real tree and real candles

O Christmas Tree

Our kids waited 9 years to do this: cut a Christmas Tree in the forest, set it up in the living room, and decorate it. Christmas is a-coming!!

Picking a Christmas Tree ...

... and then decorating it.

Our time in Switzerland

Our time in Switzerland has been both busy and relaxing. We held several talks at churches and other groups, met with supporters and spent time with family. As we did before, we also tried to show our children what and who Switzerland is. So, we visited castles (history), a chocolate factory (trade), walked through the alleys of Bern and traveled to several picturesque places (geography). Below a few impressions.

Our temporary home in the heart of Ostermundigen

Homeschooling continues in Switzerland

A rest with a view - Aletsch glacier

Eating blueberries straight from the bush

The impressive eagle on the Simplonpass

Sunset in Sardinia

Madeleine and I enjoy Sardinia - just the two of us

View down the impressive Lauterbrunnental

Traffic education for our children

25 years ago we've been married in this church

Beinwil am See - Place of our wedding reception

Visit to Lenzburg Castle

First snow of the year - for us it has been 9 years

Klick here for more pictures

Silver Wedding Anniversary

25 years ago Madeleine and I made our marriage vows in the Reformed Church of Bolligen. Today, we revisited some of the locations of that well remembered day.

As we decided to celebrate this milestone together with our children we first visited the Hallwyl castel. Then we ate a splendid lunch at the same restaurant we had our reception at. The room we used then is still the same – as, according to Madeleine, is the carpet.

Time did not allow to go on a boat trip on the lake of Hallwil, however, we payed a visit to the church in Bolligen on our way back home. It was a beautiful, sunny fall day making the colours of the trees shine as they did 25 years ago.

1995: after the church service

Beinwil am See where we held our reception

Reformed Church of Bolligen

Switzerland – at last

After the three-month wait in Mt Hagen we have finally made it to Switzerland. Eventually, we did not travel on our booked route through Singapore, but with Qatar Air via Doha with layovers in Port Moresby (for the night) and Brisbane (12 hrs waiting). Despite having to wear a face mask for 21 hours straight, the travelling was pleasant enough. Now we enjoy Switzerland and our current home.

Boarding in Mt Hagen

On the Grimsel pass

Our house in Switzerland

Stuck in Mt Hagen

April 6th we were supposed to depart Papua New Guinea for Switzerland. However, due to a nationwide travel restriction and a major lockdown of airports along our intended route of travel, we never made it out of Telefomin. Only on April 10th did we leave Telefomin for Mt Hagen, but again it was not by our choice. With all international air travel still impossible we thought of staying in our home in Telefomin until things calmed down and we could journey to Switzerland. However, the PNG government decided to isolate the border provinces to Indonesia, which would have made it impossible for us to leave later on. So, Mt Hagen was a saver place to wait.
And now, 6 weeks later, we still are in Mt Hagen, with no prospect of leaving soon. Living out of a 23kg suitcase each we stay in an empty house at the Kagamuga compound close to the airport. Markus is working in his role as Crew Training Manager in the office, doing the occasional, State-of-Emergency approved flight, while Madeleine has resumed her role as a Family Manager, schooling the children and making sure we can survive on the few things we brought along. The kids are doing great, finding and making new toys (we had no space to pack any) with stuff they find in the surrounding gardens. As there is no complete lockdown, we can actually move about and had the chance to visit a nearby cafe a few times. Also, there is quite a bit of interaction going on on the compound itself, with Bibel study, morning/evening workout, and volley ball being just a few.
All in all we are doing well and hope to resume our travelling in June. By that time, most of Switzerland will be opened up again, too, so that we can actually do our home assignment as planned, including public speaking engagements.

Homeschooling for Joelle

Making friends with the compound guard

Niklas doing exercise with colleagues ...

... and Lucien joins in as well

Homechurch during lockdown

Building a plane with dad

Kathy's Walk to a Changed Life – Part 1

It all started with a visit from a YWAM team in Agali, one of the most spectacular places in PNG. Located in the Strickland valley, Agali rests on a plateau with the steep Strickland gorge in front and a high rising mountain range at the back. It is days from any other village and probably weeks from the next town – walking that is. With the plane it is 20 Minutes to Tari and about the same to Tabubil.

Agali looking towards the Strickland Valley

Micha Lucht is a young, enthusiastic German with a passion for Jesus. In 2019, he spent quite a bit of time in Papua New Guinea. First, he came for ten weeks as part of an outreach programme of the Discipleship Training School he attended at Queenstown, New Zealand. Later, he returned for a longer mission: to teach the Discipleship Bible School himself to young Papua New Guineans enrolled at Camp Kalina, situated on the outskirts of Mt Hagen. During a two-week outreach in Agali Micha met Kathy, a local woman, and decided to teach the Gospel in a practical way.

Click here to read the story as PDF

Strickland Gorge near Agali