Strange Last Day…
Today was supposed to be Ryan’s last day flying before we go on Sabbatical, but unfortunately, for the first time in 10 years of flying in PNG, Ryan was rostered to fly, but smoke stopped him from getting off the ground the whole day! A disappointing farewell, as we are very aware of the huge need for MAF’s service, and Ryan was looking forward to his last few flights…
Ryan is still training…
Ryan is still trying to finish off all the airstrip checks for our neighbour before we go on Sabbatical. Capt. Richard will be the only pilot based in Telefomin for 3-4 months until our other neighbours return, so it would be useful if he is able to land everywhere in our area!!!
A Walk in the Smoke…
The smoke is almost constant now!
Please pray for a big rain to wash it out of the sky and fill up our water tanks. Without more rain soon, it might not be possible for a cover pilot to come to Telefomin after we go in 2 weeks!
Fake Autumn…
The dry season and bush fires have changed our scenery unexpectedly. But this is a minor impact compared to our local friends who’s gardens have been destroyed by the bush fires!
Mass Drug Administration Program
Ryan flew Shiv’s friend, Alice and her health-worker colleagues, out to Tumolbil near the Indonesian border. They were providing training for local health workers and volunteers in preparation for the distribution of drugs to deal with tropical diseases, alongside a childhood vaccination program, planned across the province later this month. Without the MAF plane this health program would not be possible.
Pilot Anger Management
Ryan beating his airstrip into submission! Or digging up piles of turf to make it safer when he lands! ;-) However you want to interpret his actions, the spade was above his head a few times, getting the job done.
Pray for Rain!
The lack of rain due to El Niño, has left water tanks empty, the air full of smoke and the land scorched by bush fires. Like the rest of our community, we rely on the rain for our drinking water!
Shiv Helping a Customer
Nerinda is a friend, a neighbour and sometimes a customer too, often flying to Vanimo, the Provincial Capital of Sandaun Province. She recently had some trouble confirming her seat on Ryan’s flight from Vanimo back home to Telefomin, so Shiv stepped in and sorted it out for her. She was so grateful to get home that she popped round to our house to say thanks!
Distributing more Sanitary Kits
Thanks to wonderful donors in Australia, we received more Reusable Sanitary Kits, so I was able to give them out to all the students in Grades 8 & 9 at Telefomin Junior High School. There were even enough to bless their teachers and all the hard working female staff at Telefomin Hospital.
Bogging in Dimanbil
Whilst checking Capt Richard into some new airstrips, he got to experience real life as a Bush Pilot, but thankfully Ryan was there to show him how its done…
April Holiday Highlights
After a more stressful start to the year than either of us ever expected, we really needed some R&R. We had a lovely holiday in April. We were able to go to Magnetic Island in Queensland, Australia and stay in a Missionary House.
75 years of MAF in PNG
May 2026 is the 75th anniversary of the first Mission Aviation Fellowship flight in Papua New Guinea. We thank God for guiding our predecessors and our leadership team to bring us to where we are today, still flying help, hope and healing to the isolated people of this struggling but beautiful country.
World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2026
We went to the High School to give a lesson in Menstrual Health and making good choices for your body and your future. Then we gave out Reusable Sanitary Kits.
Ryan’s 40th Birthday
Ryan celebrated his 40th birthday with carrot cake and a pile of birthday cards!
Easter Newsletter Out Now!
Our Easter Newsletter is out now and should be in your inbox if you have already subscribed! If not, give us your email at the bottom of any page and we’ll add you to our mailing list.
Shiv is recovering well…
After being mugged on 27 January 2026, Shiv is home, grateful and recovering slowly but surely. We wanted to record a short video to thank everyone for their prayers and support over the past few weeks…
Things a pilot does when he lives remotely
Ryan’s day job is flying his plane, but being a bush pilot, living in Telefomin, with very little daily support, means he has to do so much much to support MAF in this remote community. Having a road from the mine town of Tabubil has not connected us with our colleagues at the HQ in Mt Hagen yet…
One woman’s trash…
…is another woman’s treasure!
Giving away my empty, disused containers is such a simple way to be a blessing to my local Telefomin friends.
Ryan is a Trainer!
After months of waiting for the paperwork Ryan was finally able to start being a training pilot!
Click on the picture, left, to watch a video of our friend, Nurse Rhema, one of the local health care workers who MAF supports and we fly out of Telefomin.