First week of flying

This week I was en tour for the first time with a MAF airplane. I didn’t fly myself, since I do not have a licence yet. But being a passenger was enough to start with. It was exciting to land at all those crazy airstrips at the craziest places out in the bush. It’s amazing to see to what length villagers went to build those strips at those locations. And it’s even more amazing if you realize that they didn’t have any excavators or even shovels to build them. All is done by hand and digging stick. It often takes years until such a strip is finished.
The region we were flying in had not received regular MAF service for a long time. Even though there are plenty of airstrips around. In fact, some of these strips were build and no plane ever landed. A lot of places have coffee to be flown out, but we just couldn’t take it all. So it is likely to rote and bring no income to the community and families won’t be able to pay school fees, etc.
You wonder why that is? Well, the answer is quite easy, almost too easy. There’s simply not enough pilots in PNG. For years the MAF programme in PNG has been short of at least 10 pilots. So bases had to be closed, the service restricted. And when I saw the people out in those villages, saw their needs and realised what MAF could do my heard ached. Therefore, I like to ask you to start praying for new pilots in PNG. A lot of them. I am convinced that God will provide if we only ask. Thank you.

Village Orientation: Sangapi

For a week we lived in a remote village in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. Sangapi can only be accessed on foot – in a three-day hike. Or by MAF-plane in 30 minutes. I guess it's pretty obvious how we travelled.
The goal of this week was trifold: To practice PNG's trade language (Tok Pisin), to learn about PNG culture, and to see how daily life looks out here. And, of course, to to experience the impact MAF makes in the life of these people.

Below are a few pictures from our time in Sangapi. A more detailed report will follow shortly:

Arrival with the MAF Airvan. As soon as it's gone we only have to walk three days to civilisation.

Our home for one week (only 1/3 of the house). 1 bedroom, cold water, gas stove, no electricity. Who needs anything more.

Niklas and the sons of our landlord. Actually, these aren't his sons, but his brother's. Though, nobody really cares in PNG.

Medical Evacuation. The woman had an open fracture on her leg and lost a lot of blood. She was carried for several hours from the bush to the health clinic in Sangapi. Due to bad weather, however, the MAF-plane was only able to come the following day. Unfortunately, the clinic had also run out of morphine.

Gian was the big attraction. To hold him is the most exciting thing for a PNGian, and we could have made a lot of money. However, nobody has money here.

Joelle with the neighbour's son.

Traditional housing. Mind you, this is no historical village. Most of the people in PNG still live like that.

The week's main activity was strolling around. We always found someone willing to chat and in no time there was a bunch of people gathered.

And home we flew.

Here's home

If you want to know where we presently live, here are the coordinates:
5˚ 51' 20.82" S
144˚ 14' 26.58" E

Temporary New Home

With this blog entry we would like to introduce you to another of our new temporary homes. There are several things that are new to us, and maybe to you as well.
First of all there's the size of the rooms in this house. After living in a small apartment in Switzerland and several weeks in small hotel rooms, the space we now have is overwhelming.

Living Room

Kitchen

And then we have several layers of security measures to prevent any kind of intrusion. High fences and razor wire surround the whole compound we live on. Doors and windows are barred and floodlights installed to shoo away the darkness. In order to completely eliminate the possibility of somebody joining us unasked, there is a security guard patrolling during the night – if he's not asleep.

Thoroughly secured front door

Razor Wire

Electricity (if not out for the time being) is pre-paid, water is provided by the town, and should it not flow we have a rainwater tank. That we have to boil the water is already habitual, but we are looking forward to get our own water filter (which is in our shipped belongings). The warm water is heated by a solar system on the roof, at least as long as the sun shines and we don't use too much. Cooking is done on gas provided by an oversized gas bottle outside the kitchen.

Hot water from the sun

Our beautiful garden we have already mentioned. We've got various exotic flowers and trees whose fruits we are allowed to eat. There are plenty of banana trees with bunches of bananas in various states of ripeness. Once the leaves of the tree wither you can cut off the bunch of bananas (usually still green) and hang it under the roof or in the garage until they are fully ripe.

Exotic flowers

Papaya

Bunch of bananas on the tree

(For more pictures follow this link)