Meet three individuals with unique stories, showing how the services of MAF lets people have impact in PNG and connect with their loved ones.
Story by Tajs Jespersen
Anthon Mouyai was waiting anxiously for the MAF plane to come. He was going to fly to Telefomin to reunite with his brother as well as his one-year-old nephew that he hadn’t even met yet.
“I need to see my big brother. I have not seen him for two years. He got married and got a child. I am very happy to go and see my brother,” said Anthon
Thankfully the plane came and was able to bring Anthon to Telefomin for the visit.
Peter Pyandea knows the importance of an airstrip and the services of MAF. As a team member of the Rural Airstrip Agency he has first hand experience on the difference air service makes.
His most recent project was in the small village of Kaiam in East Sepik.
"I myself and Doctor Lutz, (Steven Lutz) we did medical patrols together for more than 25 years,” said Peter. “That's why we started to build an airstrip for them.” The airstrip took many years to complete and today the RAA are still helping to maintain the airstrip to keep it operational."
I haven’t seen my family for two weeks now so I miss them
Originally a theologian, building an airstrip was not why Peter went to Kaiam thirty years ago. He has a heart for the people living there.
“My job was to be with those people and then help them spiritually as well as physically. So that drives me to be with them and I spent most of my life there,” said Peter.
Back in Mount Hagen, Evelyn Takai was waiting for her family to come up from Kiunga.
“I came earlier because we wanted to prepare our whole house. Prepare for the kids to come,” said Evelyn. “I haven’t seen my family for two weeks now so I miss them.”
Evelyn and her family have homes in both Kiunga, Western Province and in Chimbu Province. MAF are the ones enabling them to spend time together at both places.
“We can go here because of MAF,” said Evelyn.