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

New pictures of Lucien Marc

Lucien Marc Bischoff

(Click here for new pictures)

Pictures of Niklas, Joelle, and Gian have also been updated. You find them under the heading "Favorite Picture Albums" on the right hand side of this page.

Barbie goes to Papua New Guinea

A few weeks ago we bought some carved wooden figures. One is a man with a spear and the other a woman with a Bilum (a traditional bag carried with the head). Joelle then drew the following Barbie story:

Barbie together with Ken visits a village in the middle of the jungle of Papua Neu Guinea. Suddendly, she is attacked by a fierce looking man with a spear. Ken hurries to his beloved to save her. (The speech bubble reads: Oh no!)

But Ken cannot withstand the ferocious warrior. He is speared down and now lays at Barbies feet, slowly bleeding to death. The woman with the Bilum is horrified and rebukes her husband.

A doctor flown in by MAF is able to save Ken's life. To celebrate the healing (and pay compensation) the whole village prepares a big party. Everybody dances and enjoys themselves. And they lived happily ever after.

The couple that triggered the story