Wetap People of Papua New Guinea finally see an Aircraft

Wetap People Of Papua New Guinea Finally See An Aircraft [Photo by MAF Australia]

After many years of hard labour, the Wetap people in Papua New Guinea finally have seen an aircraft land on their airstrip when Richie, along with his colleague Wilfred Knigge, landed there a couple of weeks ago.

As the plane landed, the people immediately came running as Richie and Wilfred got off the plane. Overjoyed, they run to hug the pilots.

Wilfred flew the first landing on this short 411 meter, but 11% steep airstrip. “It’s a pretty exciting day for the people,” Richie writes, “When we had landed and stopped in the parking bay, it was almost like they’d been watching the State of Origin match! They came rushing out, and while Wilfred was trying to get the chocks and the tail stand in the airplane, they nearly tackled him. He was surrounded by probably 15 or 20 people jumping up and down and a heap of other people standing a little bit further away from the airplane."

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"Then they noticed me," continued Richie, "and I had quite a crowd of people come running over to me and they nearly knocked me over too!”

To have this airstrip operational is a really significant event for the community after all these many years of hard labour and waiting.

Can you imagine that after so many years of hard work, suddenly a plane actually lands?
🚣‍♂️ Can you imagine that now people finally have a safe and convenient connection to the outside world (without hiking or boating for days)?
🏥 Medical emergencies and patient transfer flights are now possible to fly people to a hospital.
🥫 Now, food can be flown in, when the local produce isn’t sufficient for a growing population. Or local produce can be flown out to market or to be sent to pastors or Bible school teachers and students in other places.
✍️ Students can further their education and will be able to fly to boarding high schools such as nearby Oksapmin or Telefomin.
🛩️ Now, service providers can come, like medical patrol teams, pastors or missionaries.

Source : MAF Australia 

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