AUTUMN 2017
FLYING FOR LIFE
SPECIAL EDITION: PAPUA NEW GUINEA 04 CONNECTING A SCHOOL TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD 06 DO NOT FEAR 10 A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A TWIN OTTER
FROM THE GM Welcome to our Autumn magazine, a special edition dedicated to the work being done in Papua New Guinea. We hope you enjoy exploring the breadth of the ministry you are enabling in the remote communities of our neighbouring country. There will be a few opportunities for you to engage financially and prayerfully with the work in PNG throughout the year and we hope this magazine helps inspire you to do so. To that end, I want to draw your attention to the back page of the magazine. Our Fuel for Father’s Day campaign is becoming a very popular way for churches to engage with the life-saving ministry of MAF. If this is something you’d like to explore for your church, please get in touch! We are nearing the target for our emergency appeal raising money for flights that will deliver food and medicine to remote South Sudan, where famine has recently been declared. One of the great joys in my life is watching my 7 grandchildren grow, develop, transform and thrive. It is hard for me to fathom what it must be like for a parent or grandparent to watch their children go without school, or food, or medicine. Sadly, in South Sudan, many thousands of parents and grandparents are forced into that very scenario. To those who have partnered with us in this appeal – thank you. Your gift will help save many lives. For those still wishing to give, we would greatly value your gift. You can do so today by calling the office on 1800 650 169. In His service, Ian McDougall General Manager MAF Australia
PS – We are looking at providing the opportunity for our supporters to visit our programs and experience the ministry firsthand. If you may be interested in exploring this, please phone 1800 650 169 or send us an email at maf@maf.org.au Autumn 2017 / FLYING FOR LIFE / 2
YOUR HELP IS STILL NEEDED Famine has been declared in South Sudan. Your urgent life-saving action is needed to get food and emergency supplies to the remote areas. CALL 1800 650 169 or DONATE ONLINE: MAF.ORG.AU
PNG: Tech Services
CONNECTING A SCHOOL TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD Story and photos LuAnne Cadd
A “
lpha 899, Alpha 899,” David Feka calls into the HF radio he has spent the last two days installing in a remote mountain village in Papua New Guinea. “This is our first call out of Guasa education radio. Do you copy me? Over.” The group gathered in the small schoolroom listens intently while a cluster of children press their faces up against the glass louver windows to watch the ‘show’. Lukas Schadegg’s voice comes through the speaker loud and clear from Goroka, 29 nautical miles to the northeast. “Yeah David, I copy you.”
come by in the Highlands making phones unreliable or entirely useless for reaching someone on the other side of a mountain. David passes the handset to Felix, a teacher, and explains how it works: push the button to talk; finish what you say with ‘over’; let go of the button to listen. He struggles with how to hold the handset and when to let go of the button.
With a delighted grin on his face, David responds, “I can hear you crystal clear, like I’m talking to you on a mobile phone!”
“It’s really hard to teach them this new thing. Sometimes, after they talk, they think it’s a mobile phone and they put the handset to their ear,” David describes, fully aware of the dichotomy of remote people more familiar with modern mobile phones than HF radios.
Still Relevant Radio This is HF radio, a nearly hundred-year-old technology, still relevant for remote mountain communities in Papua New Guinea, connecting them to the outside. Despite the rise of mobile phones throughout PNG, cellular signals are hard to
Connecting Fly-in Schools David Feka and Joey Redhead with MAF Technology Services (known in PNG as Christian Radio Missionary Fellowship – CRMF) flew on MAF’s Airvan to the community of Guasa in the Eastern Highlands, working for two days to install a HF radio system for
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Despite being a nearly hundred-year-old technology, the HF Radio is still changing people’s lives. The smiles of children and teachers from the Guasa Primary School show the difference this ‘old’ technology is already making.
the Guasa Primary School. The work involved many hours on a hot tin roof, in order to set up a solar panel and position the tall radio antenna. “I love doing this,” David says. “Once you finish an installation, you hear the first radio call that comes in and see the smiles on people’s faces. They know that they’re connected to the outside world. Once you do all the hard work, it’s the most satisfying thing that what you’re doing can change people’s lives.” MAF Technology Services installs radios for mission and church work, health clinics, and educational facilities. This particular HF radio installation is part of a test project for the Department of Education to install a radio in eight remote “fly-in” schools in the Eastern Highlands region – schools with no road access. If the HF Radio project is a success in the Eastern Highlands, MAF Technology Services will continue the project throughout all PNG provinces. Movie Night For the MAF Technology Services team, combining technology and ministry is central to their mission, particularly in remote places such as Guasa where access to the closest town is a two-day walk crossing mountains and rivers, or a 20-minute flight with MAF.
“At the back of it, the important thing is that we get permission to show the ‘Jesus’ video,” says Bryan Matthew, Deputy General Manager of MAF Technology Services. “We try to make sure that on every remote installation of the radio or VSAT we tie in the ‘Jesus’ video so that we are doing work and then ministry afterward. That’s the good part.” For a village in the mountains with no electricity and few forms of entertainment, watching a movie is a huge event that draws a crowd. MAF flies in all the necessary equipment, including a generator that is used for both work and the evening movie. “People walk from villages far away to come and watch,” Bryan describes. “It’s exciting.” A Lifeline The HF radio at MAF Technology Services’ office in Goroka is the link between remote places across the whole of PNG and crucial services needed such as ordering supplies, booking flights with MAF, or emergency medevacs. MAF Technology Services continues to receive an average of 200 HF radio calls per year requesting medevacs which MAF Operations responds to. “When you’re out there, there’s no one who’s going to help you except Alpha 899, our call sign,” Bryan says. “HF radio is a lifeline for many, many people.” Autumn 2017 / FLYING FOR LIFE / 5
PNG: Supporting the Church
Jennifer Wode (left) and Sarome Kelly(right)
DO NOT FEAR A workshop in Papua New Guinea teaches women how to be free from the fear of sorcery and magic through a deeper understanding of who God is. Story and photos LuAnne Cadd
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volunteer stands facing a group of women while another proceeds to wrap black wool around the lady’s body until she is sufficiently bound with her arms against her side, unable to move. It’s an unconventional way to begin a Christian workshop for women, but this is no ordinary workshop to address a deep and far-reaching issue in the culture of PNG. The topic is fear, a universal emotion, but in PNG the greatest fear is of sanguma (sorcery or magic) that leads to sickness and death.
“Is this how you feel?” one of the workshop leaders asks the women as she points to the bound lady. “Do you feel tied up with your fears?” The women respond with a resounding, “Yes! Yes!” This fear will keep a woman from going outside to the toilet at night, or hanging her clothes outside for fear that a spirit may attack or put a curse on the clothes. Most are afraid to eat certain foods or go to particular places. Spirits of the dead may cause sickness and death.
Fighting a Losing Battle The “Do Not Fear” workshop grew from the deep concerns of a British missionary doctor, Rosie Crowter, who works at Rumginae Rural Hospital in western PNG where two MAF pilots are based. As she attempted to teach health education on TB and malaria, it became apparent that it was a losing battle as everyone believed that sickness is caused by sanguma. Mosquito nets stayed wrapped in their original packaging or were used as fishing nets. Pictures of the germs that cause TB were explained away. Sanguma put those germs there. “It raised my awareness to the fact that in PNG, health is primarily a spiritual issue,” Dr. Rosie explains, “and if you don’t address the spiritual issue, in some ways you’re wasting your time. That’s when I started my transition to Bible teaching. The only thing that could really address the issue is God and God’s Word, helping them to really know who God is so they didn’t have to fear magic because they honoured and respected and feared God.” Rosie put together the “Do Not Fear” workshop especially for women, teaching what God says about sorcery and death, and that God is our defender and protector. God controls the heaven and earth, life and death. We need not fear spirits, men, or anything else. Jennifer and Sarome Jennifer Wode, attended one of these “Do Not Fear” workshops and is now teaching others, having been trained by Rosie. Jennifer’s cousin, Sarome Kelly, who also attended the workshop, moved from a life lived in fear to a confident believer in the sovereignty of God. “This teaching helped me,” Sarome affirms. “Now when I go to the bush, I go by myself. At night too, I go to the toilet. I sleep by myself. I practice this, and the fear goes away. God is in control of everything,
even sickness. Praise God, because He changed me.” One of her favourite Bible passages taught at the workshop is Psalm 91. “God is my protector,” Sarome says. “Fear is gone. I believe.” Changing a Culture Jennifer has been teaching the two workshops in remote areas since 2012, flying with MAF to places accessible only by boat, walking, or plane. The workshops take five days and include dramas such as the Red Sea crossing to show God’s power, or Mark 5 where Jesus casts out an evil spirit into a herd of pigs. Most important is scripture memorisation that helps to reinforce the teaching when fear creeps back. For Rosie, seeing people understand God’s word and practice it in their lives is deeply satisfying. “Jennifer is one of the most encouraging people, just seeing her commitment and her love for teaching, and seeing the impact of what she teaches on other people. I love the fact that she does the workshops without me.” A key part “MAF takes us to the trainings, so they are a very key part,” Rosie explains. “I write books and MAF transports those books to people throughout the western province. Nine of our health work places are only accessible by plane, and we often do the training in those same places because they have airstrips. It’s a crucial part of our work.” “This message is bringing big change in the lives of the women,” Jennifer says. “I just want to say thank you to MAF for helping us take the gospel out to these very remote areas.” We are free At the end of the “Do Not Fear” workshop, the same volunteer is again bound in a rope of black wool. This time Jennifer cuts the rope with a bush knife and says, “This knife is like the Word of God. It cuts through our fears and we are free.”
L to R: Rosie visits a friend at Rumginae Hospital; Rosie in a Bible teaching class; Jennifer leads the “Do Not Fear” workshops. Autumn 2017 / FLYING FOR LIFE / 7
PNG: Medevacs
WE BELIEVE EVERYONE
DESERVES HOPE INCLUDING THE
ISOLATED Miriam had fallen, causing dizziness and possible trauma to the baby she was carrying. She was in desperate need of medical attention. Thanks to your prayers and financial support, MAF flew an emergency medevac to Mt. Tawa to pick her up. You are bringing hope into hopeless situations each and every day. Thank you.
PNG: Community Development
Building materials for a church are off-loaded at Wobagen.
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A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A TWIN OTTER Transporting building materials for a church and delivering produce for market, all whilst navigating mountainous terrain. Sound like a hard day’s work? That’s just the beginning for a MAF Twin Otter. Story and photos LuAnne Cadd
I
t’s my third flight of the day on MAF’s Twin Otter in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. The two propellers dissolve into a blur as the plane begins to rapidly move down the grassy airstrip, lifting off the ground in a steep climb. Suddenly the girl sitting next to me on the back row doubles over. I look at her brother with an expression of concern. “Is she sick? What’s wrong?” He leans over and shouts above the noise of the engines: “It’s her first time. ” As the plane jerks in a pocket of turbulence, Galcie grabs her brother’s wrist in a death-grip, squeezes her eyes as tight as she can and cries, “Oh Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!” I can tell it’s a prayer, not a swear. This is my first time to fly in a Twin Otter and I will confess right here: I’m a nervous small plane passenger. I just hide it better than Galcie. In particular, I don’t like mountain flying, for which I blame my bush-pilot brother. He loves to tell crash stories and they mostly take place in mountains. There are dangers inherent to these particular mountains of PNG, and MAF goes to extreme lengths to make sure that the pilots are experienced and able to make the right decisions each step of the way. It must be a safe flight or there is no flight. I would not be doing this with anyone else.
My “day” actually begins the night before when the two pilots, Jason Marsh and Brad Venter, plus Caravan pilot Mike Dupuis and I, stay overnight in Telefomin, a medium-sized community in an isolated valley where MAF has a base they call an ‘outstation’. Jason and Brad live with their families on the opposite side of the country, but this area has a huge demand for Twin Otter flights. MAF has since placed three permanent pilots and their families here, which should reduce the need for long-distance commutes or overnights for Jason and Brad. The day starts We leave early the following morning, walking the kilometre from the MAF houses to the airstrip. Knowing it’s my first time on a Twin Otter, Brad informs me that at take-off it will look like he and Jason are holding hands but assures me they are not. Many jokes follow.
Autumn 2017 / FLYING FOR LIFE / 11
L to R clockwise: Galcie holds on tight to her brother Hitton; Delivering market produce from Wobagen; A view of the highlands on the flight from Telefomin to Mt. Hagen; A family delight in their first flight; MAF PNG Pilots Jason Marsh and Brad Venter. The first flight takes cargo from Telefomin to the larger town of Tabubil. It is connected by a road, thanks to nearby gold and copper mining, and is a main stop for picking up building supplies to take to remote communities. As the plane is loaded with heavy corrugated roofing sheets and metal pipes for Wobagen, Francis, MAF’s traffic officer based in Tabubil, tells me Wobagen is his home. The community raised the money to buy these materials to build a church as the current one is old and made from bush materials. “There’s no road to Wobagen. The only way is by airplane,” he tells me. “To walk to Wobagen from Tabubil takes one week, depending on how fast you walk or how heavy your load is.” I look again at the heavy pipes being loaded onto the plane and imagine how many people it would take to carry this load for a week through the mountains. First flight lands Jason flies above the clouds and mountain tops until Wobagen is below us then makes a sharp turn and dives through a hole in the clouds. At least that’s what it feels like. Several loops toward the ground and we land at the grassy Wobagen airstrip where a crowd of men and women converge on the plane to help unload the heavy materials and replace them with bags of produce to sell in the town. At Wobagen I meet Freddie Taran, a primary school teacher who was instrumental in starting the church and inspiring the community to build a better Autumn 2017 / FLYING FOR LIFE / 12
structure. “We have this convenient aviation service provided by MAF, and we are so pleased that it can bring a maximum load per flight,” he says. This is where Galcie and brother Hitton join me. It’s not only Galcie’s first time to fly. It’s her first time, at 19, to leave her village. She’s not enjoying the experience. We fly back to Tabubil, load the plane up once again with building materials, and fly to Tekin, an airstrip tucked up against a mountain in a long stunning valley. The materials are again unloaded and Brad begins folding seats down for the next full flight – 20 passengers including me. Brad checks each passenger’s seat belt and gives some reassuring words and his winning smile to a few of the younger passengers who look a bit nervous. In fluent Tok Pisin, he speaks to the group about safety procedures, making jokes and getting laughs. Holding on tight As we take to the skies once again, it’s clear there are some terrified first-timers. One girl leans forward the entire journey, gripping the back of the seat in front of her, eyes wide. Another holds tightly to an arm across the aisle, tears running down her cheeks. But one delighted couple point out the sights to their four-year old son sitting on dad’s lap. Brad tells me he’s sympathetic with the frightened ones. “Many times we fly people who have never flown before,
and although we are sometimes amused to see them clutching the hand of the person in the next seat, we can sympathise with them too, because we know that it can be scary!” We fly to Telefomin with another load of materials, then head east to Mt Hagen where I say goodbye. Jason and Brad barely have enough time to make it to their home, Goroka, before dark. More than just a load “Sometimes flying the Twin Otter you can forget about the impact that our work has,” Brad tells me. “In the business of the day and the need to keep the program going while making decisions about weather and airstrip conditions amongst others, it is easy to just treat each flight and it’s load as exactly that, just a load. “But if we take the time to speak with the passengers and find out the details of the story behind the flight, often we are amazed at what it has meant to the people involved and their communities in the bush. How these simple flights are showing people the love of Christ, and bringing help to many people and spreading the word of God to the far reaches of the world. So, even a load of building materials has a story, and what a privilege to be part of these stories!”
CHANGE YOUR CAREER; CHANGE PEOPLE’S LIVES These people pictured all had careers unrelated to aviation. Now they work for MAF in PNG. From L to R: GLEN SIM | Angora Goat Farmer to MAF Communications Officer GODFREY SIM | Head of Circus and Physical Theatre School to MAF Church & Community Partnership Manager CHAD MILLER | Company Manager to MAF Development Manager MICHAEL DUNCALFE | Veterinarian to MAF Chief Pilot GORDON BLAND | Farmer and Builder to MAF Building and Maintenance Manager JASON MARSH | Butcher to MAF Pilot and Safety Manager SHARLENE COKER | Teacher to MAF Flight Operations Coordinator Find out how you can play your part: maf.org.au/workwithus or call Kuren Galant, our Recruitment Manager on 1800 650 169. Autumn 2017 / FLYING FOR LIFE / 13
KOKODA TREK FOR MAF At the end of May, a team of 12 will be undertaking a once-in-a-life-time opportunity to trek the infamous Kokoda Track. For 11 days they will be hiking across 96km of rugged mountain terrain, tropical rainforest, and unspoilt villages in the effort to help MAF raise much needed funds to fuel our flights. We’re excited for the MAF Kokoda Trek Team and would like to thank them for all the hard work and effort they have put into preparing for this journey. Please remember to pray for them. The Kokoda Trek for MAF team is: Sam Vidler, Naomi Hough, Philip Hines, Keith Maag, James Vidler, Jessica Brice, Leighton Pittendrigh-Smith, Jared Pittendrigh, Beth Lewis, Nick Elith, Charles Dunn and Thomas Vidler.
Meet a couple of our trekers:
BETH LEWIS Gotta admit, being a doctor in PNG I have the best job in all the world, in the best place in all the world. There is nothing better than seeing someone who arrived in hospital fighting for their life go on to make a complete recovery. But at the same time there is nothing more heartbreaking than watching a mother hold her child as they take their last breath, delivering a stillborn baby, or hearing the countless stories of those who didn’t make it. Occasionally there are medical problems that we just can’t treat. But majority of the time the scenarios are the same – the condition is fully treatable, but they just got to hospital too late. Or they never made it there at all. Lives lost simply because of impassable geography. People need to be able to get to where medical help is, and medicines need to be able to get to the people. In many parts of PNG, MAF is doing just that. Transporting essential resources for life. And that’s why I’m taking part in this trek. To raise money for MAF so they can continue their life-saving flights.
NICK ELITH Ever since I was a young man I have been very conscious of how much I have, and how little many others have: food, health, work, home, hope, and a future. Because of this, I have always tried to care and give money to those who support the poor and disadvantaged. In May this year, I will be trekking the Kokoda trail and I’m doing this for two reasons. The first is to share the journey of Aussie soldiers who lost their lives, or struggled home in world war two. The second is to raise money for MAF – an organization I have personally supported for 20 years.
To meet more of our trekers, make a donation or send messages of encouragement visit kokodatrekformaf.gofundraise.com.au
TRANSFORM LIVES WITH A GIFT IN YOUR WILL Become a lifeline beyond your lifetime. If and when the time is right for you to include a gift to a charity in your Will, please remember MAF. After you have provided for your family, a gift to MAF in your Will, whatever the size, will make a real difference to remote and isolated people. For further information and resources, contact Edgar Voigts, our Relationship Manager on 1800 650 169 or email edgar.voigts@maf.org.au.
“While married to Harry I had the privilege to help him in establishing the work in New Guinea and I praise God that He has blessed the work of MAF. Over the years, many have come to know Christ through the witness of MAF. My husband Robert joins me in our desire to see the work of MAF continue and pray that many will decide to partner with us through the Harry Hartwig Fellowship by leaving a gift to MAF in your Will.� Margaret Baldock (pictured with her husband Robert)
Liberator: The Harry Hartwig Story Written by Ron Watts Read the remarkable story of Harry Hartwig: former bomber pilot who takes up the challenge of spearheading the bold new Missionary Aviation Fellowship.
A true story of love, faith and sacrifice. Cost: $15 (includes postage within Australia) Available for purchase at donate.maf.org.au/shop
Flying for Life
(ISSN: 2202-0365) Design/Editor: Cadence Media (cadencemedia.com.au) Printer: BHB Printing Flying for Life is the official magazine of Mission Aviation Fellowship and CRMF in Australia. Articles may be printed with acknowledgment. Flying for Life is a member publication of the Australasian Religious Press Association. If you no longer wish to receive Flying for Life (MAF News), please advise us at: MAF Australia 1800 650 169 and your name and details will be removed from our distribution list. FRONT COVER: Courtesy LuAnne Cadd
MAF Australia and CRMF ABN 26 134 583 887 PO Box 7187 Baulkham Hills NSW 2153 Contact: 1800 650 169 | 02 8014 6450 maf@maf.org.au | www.maf.org.au Privacy Statement MAF is committed to your privacy. We will only disclose your information in accordance with our Privacy Statement and/or with your permission. Our Privacy Statement explains what information we collect from you and how we intend to use it. You can view our Privacy Statement at maf.org.au
“Last night I h a d a drea m t h at I was a mu ffler. I wok e up exh a uste d .”
HELP RAISE FUEL THIS FATHER’S DAY There are two things that everyone loves: a good dad joke, and a life-saving initiative. Get your church involved in both this Father’s Day! Every $50 raised puts us in the air for 20 minutes – enough time to save a life.
Call Deanne or Jenny on 1800 650 169 to get your church resources! maf.org.au/FuellingFathersDay CMYK COLOURS C: 100 M: 57 Y: 0 K: 40 C: 5 M: 100 Y: 71 K: 22 C: 0 M: 1 Y: 0 K: 51
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