Kepten Bilong Mipela

On the 15th of November, we moved to Telefomin to reopen the base. We received a very big welcome, with a traditional ‘sing-sing’ and 30+ local dignitaries forming a line from the plane to the base, to shake our hand and welcome us. We were also given ‘leis’ to wear, which Tim was less than impressed about having to wear a ‘necklace’ (we managed to convince him to wear it until the end of the ceremony). It was really nice for us to see how excited the Telefomin community are to have MAF back again, living in their community and providing a more reliable service to the bush communities around here. Previously, there were pilots overnighting one or two nights a week, and there was always more work then they could get through. Everyone calls Richie ‘Kepten bilong mipela’ which means ‘our captain’.

The MAF team have made a big effort getting things back into shape, after 4 years of not having anyone living permanently in the houses here. Thanks to some donors in the Netherlands, we have solar power on our houses. There is no ‘mains’ power here, so previously the houses were reliant on an intermittent hydroelectric power plant, and a generator. We can now have uninterrupted power every day, run mostly on the solar, giving the batteries a break one day a week to charge up fully again. We were also able to meet Kevin, a retired missionary from New Zealand, who installed the panels and controller. He has been very helpful in troubleshooting any problems we have had.

There have also been challenges in moving here, one being very patchy telephone and internet service. MAF has installed a VSAT, and over coming months the internet service will be improving as work on this is completed. Bernie has also had to adjust to using the solar system, which means that you can’t have the water pump and the kettle on at the same time, or the hot water booster and the microwave. We are also using a small bar fridge (and a chest freezer) at the moment, until our full size fridge arrives from New Zealand in about a month.
 

Pre-flight checks complete.

On Thursday last week, Richie passed his captain’s check so that he can fly as a captain with all members of the Tele team (previously he could only fly as a captain with a training captain). This is very exciting, and although it has been a very busy couple of weeks for Richie getting ready for this check as well as flying and settling in here, God has given him the strength to get through.

Snapshot of Telefomin

Telefomin is the district headquarters for this area of Sandaun province. It is accessible only by air or walking, and MAF has the only expatriate staff living in the area. The district has 30,000 people, but this is made up of a number of small villages. There are the district government headquarters, a ‘haus sik’ (hospital), primary school (grades 3-8) and secondary school (grades 9-10) and a police station. Most villages have their own elementary schools (K-2).

The climate is temperate and similar to Mt Hagen, and the surrounding mountains make for a picturesque view. There are no real shops, just a few trade stores and a small market. We will do a 2-3 monthly shop in Mt Hagen, and receive weekly veggies from Hagen like we did when we were based in Wewak. The soil in Telefomin is poor, so the fresh food market usually consists only of what people had spare in their gardens. We have discovered you need to go early on in the morning, otherwise there is not much there at all!

Bernie and the kids have been enjoying the freedom they have to walk around here, as security is not a problem. We also live in a regular house, not a compound, which has also been nice. There is an old aircraft servicing trolley in our backyard, which makes an excellent makeshift climbing frame for the kids. Our house is only a few minutes walk from the MAF base, so Emily, Timothy and Stephen have enjoyed being able to go and collect Richie at the end of his days work.

We have an excellent view of the airstrip, so can watch all arriving and departing planes very closely. It can be a little disruptive of meals or school if a plane happens to arrive in the middle of it, but we are learning to be flexible in this regard. Stephen has become aeroplane mad, and always asks hopefully if a plane will be landing soon.

Saved by a Leatherman

In our first week, we were invited to a Baptist church opening at Kobex, a village about 20 minutes drive from Telefomin. MAF had flown in the materials for the church, and the community were very grateful for MAF’s part in building their new church. We were treated as honoured guests, so much so that Richie was asked to stand alongside the local Member of Parliament for the official ribbon cutting. There was a moment’s confusion, as people were looking around for the forgotten scissors. Luckily for everyone involved, Richie takes his leatherman with him everywhere, and the MP was able to cut the ribbon using the blessed tool.

We were also invited for a special lunch put on just for us, where we were able to meet and talk to the church chairman, a retired government official.  Attending this church opening made us realise just how much impact MAF has in village communities such as Kobex, where they have no other way of getting building materials. We felt very privileged to see the part MAF had played in supporting the local church here. Thank you for your part in helping MAF to do this important work.

The Tele Team

The current team consists of Michael Vogel, Dallas Patten and ourselves. Michael and his family were here when the base closed 4 years ago, so they are very excited to be a part of the reopening. His family is based in Cairns now, and he tours to PNG every 3 weeks, but over the Christmas holidays his wife, Jael, and their 4 children will come up for 5 weeks. We are looking forward to seeing them, as they are good friends of ours. Afterward they return to Cairns and Michael will continue to tour. 

Dallas Patten is a single female pilot from New Zealand. She will only be with us until March 2016, when she is leaving PNG. There are plans for another family to come in September 2017, and management are currently looking for a replacement for Dallas.

Christmas Crowds

There will be a lot of people at Telefomin at Christmas time, which will be very nice (there are thankfully vacant houses for them to stay in, they are not staying with us). The Bischoff family, the Swiss family who are planning to move out here next year, will be coming over Christmas. Some of the young singles from Mt Hagen are hoping to spend Christmas with Dallas, including our good friend and former neighbour Siobhain. And of course the Vogel family will be here as well. We are looking forward to spending time with them all in our new home.

We wish you all a merry and blessed Christmas.