Natasha Tordoff - with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF)
You can find out about Natasha's work at https://www.maf-uk.org/get-involved/support-our-staff (...). Please find below some extracts of her latest newsletters. ("PNG" = Papua New Guinea)
February 2026 (Excerpts)
Life is so busy here that I don't get as much time as I would like to thank you for your ongoing prayers and support that are making such a big difference here. I hope this letter will show you how your gifts and prayers are transforming lives and enabling me to serve.
My daily tasks at the office have been my primary focus since the day I arrived here. I am trying my best to lay a good foundation for the organization before I leave and pass the task to another. I see so many changes happening, new faces coming and going, new technologies being developed, and new goals for our future. I hope that at the end of the day our hearts are in the right place and that sharing the love of Christ with the people of Papua New Guinea, remains our primary focus and motivation for all that we do.
Do you recall back in April of 2024 when I wrote to you about how MAF is opening a new Programme in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville? The project is now moving at full speed with plans to open a MAF Hangar in the region soon. MAF Tech has started work on the island by installing HF Radios and Solar Systems in Health Centers, a project funded by a foundation located in the Netherlands. The Goroka office is training a new recruit who will be sent to work on the island as a technician. We are excited to see help hope and healing brought to the people of Bougainville.
Did you know? MAF Technologies also installs, Solar Vaccine Fridges in remote locations! Digicel Foundation, (PNG's Mobile Network), are in partnership with us to install vaccine fridges with the Public Health Authority. This means that remote health centers can store lifesaving vaccines in fridges powered by solar technology that we supply. This year we have installed vaccine fridges in Chimbu Province, Vanimo, Daru and Finschhafen. We will continue to install fridges throughout 2026, helping to improve health centers around the nation and the quality of life for those who live on the outer rim.
January 2024 - "Establishing Operations in Bougainville"
At the beginning of January I said goodbye to my mum, who flew on to Perth, Australia to see my older brother. I then got ready for the programme trip to Bougainville to conduct our feasibility study for establishing operations in this region.
On my last letter to you, I touched briefly on the political context of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, an atoll island to the east of PNG that still remains a part of it, but desires to be independent. The island is abundant in natural resources; oil, gold and other mining. After much request from local leadership for our presence to be established in Bougainville, we finally made the long anticipated trip by MAF Airplane all the way from Goroka to Buka Airport, stopping at Hoskins (West New Britain) to refuel. (Pictured above, is one of the 2 major and active volcanoes on the island, taken from our flight).
From 1988 to 1998, Bougainville suffered a violent civil war that left many of the population devastated. Though MAF vows to not involve itself with political ideologies or issues, the aftermath of this war has left the people of Bougainville crying out for development and resources, and our mission, is to now bring help hope and healing. (Click on the picture to the left for more info).
The feasibility study saw us travelling to different locations around the island to meet with government officials, NGOs, church leaders and the local community, to gain a better understanding of the needs on the ground. It was a historical moment for both MAF Aviation and MAF Technologies, as MAF have not touched down on the island for 30+ years since before the civil war. For Technologies we are excited to expand our HF Radio, solar services and biblical resources to those in need in Bougainville.
The project is now underway to establish operations in Bougainville. I am privileged to be on the project team, leading HR and recruitment.