A few thoughts from Monday 10th Feb.

The MAF team tend to start their day early - it's the coolest part of the day but very importantly for the flying the most stable weather. Anyone who likes to go for a run will be out around 5.30am before light. The office starts with devotions at 7.30, the aircraft base staff start earlier. This morning it is clear bright - and soon pleasantly warm. The pilots check their routes, loads and aircraft; assess whether they want more fuel on board while the ground team get everything else ready. I join Michael Vogel going to a short 'real bush' strip as he calls it at a small place called Yambaitok

He checks his Cessna Caravan, tests the fuel (for water in the tanks), checks his engine, flight controls and calculates his loads. The caravan is a 10 seat, single engine aircraft suitable for landing on fairly short and sometimes a bit soft grass airstrips. This strip is very short (527m to be precise) and he doesn't want to be too heavy for landing going in or for take off or out again once we have delivered our passengers and goods and collected people to come back.

It is only 27 mins in the air but we fly over what I would call  typical PNG terrain - dense forrestation, winding rivers, and valleys with occasional signs of bush houses and habitation - but very few roads (almost none)

I see an airstrip to our right, on a small ridge it looks quite short. I'm sure there is only one way in and out (flying) due to the terrain. I can see no track or road to it at all. On the flight out are a few people who have been to Mount Hagen ( a major town -by their standards- where we started this morning) for different reasons and food goods loaded into the pods underneath. Michael explains that the diet is limited in variety and lack of protein can be an issue. There is an abundance of fruit and vegetables in the highlands (where Mt Hagen is) but in the lowland swamps little grows well.

On the return we bring Bible students. All their flights have the highest subsidy available from MAF because we want to support the gospel, good training and encouragement in these remote places.There is still much witch craft in parts of this country and fear, punishments and retribution is a part of the culture. The love of God and the freedom of the gospel is so very much needed here.

I take a few photos of the children and others who have come to shake hands and say hello. They love to see their photos I have taken and then others come to join in. Without any mirrors it is likely that many of them have not a good idea of what they actually look like !

The seats are full on the way back, the passengers are very pleased to be on board. Much waving from the villagers as we taxi to depart.

This is a short strip (with a dog leg in it, so we start to one side of the strip and that lines us up for the centre!). It has rained a fair amount recently. There are few options to change your mind mid take off here - once we have power on for take off we are committed!

Michael had calculated his take off weight. He needs to have sufficient margin in these conditions on this strip; freight and people are carefully weighed before he takes off with significant flap extended to enable a low speed take off . (More flap gives extra lift for slow speed - usually used for landing) Power on, the kids have scattered to the long grass and bushes as the engine creates a lot of downdraft.

And so we return back over the mountains, deep valleys, broccoli looking trees and winding rivers to Mount Hagen....

If you ask me what I think or feel ? - It is very humbling, the feeling of real inadequacy - Because of the level of need - We are so blessed, so materially wealthy and privileged especially in terms of education, experiences, food variety (!), travel, health, life expectancy and the availability of Bible versions, teaching etc..

But then perhaps, as we already know, our challenge is the amount of distraction from this!

Love from Ruth (in a philosophical moment!)