“Jesus looking at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 19:26

“A delay is not denial, but a time of preparing you for the promise” 

Ravi and Pooja felt called by God in 2012 to serve with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). 

Ravi, an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, saw joining MAF as an answer to prayer. Pooja, with a master’s in social work, supported this calling, and their journey began. Along the way, God blessed them with their daughter, Johanna. 

Ravi served for a while as Stores Manager for MAF in Arnhem Land, Australia. When the COVID 19 pandemic hit, Ravi was back in India and could not return because of Australia’s border restrictions. While prayerfully considering next steps and keeping in mind MAF’s need for Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (LAME), Ravi and Pooja decided that Ravi would pursue further study that would allow him to serve as a LAME in MAF’s programmes. 

One of the biggest lessons they have learned during this period is that God may seem silent but that doesn’t mean He has walked away. He is at work in the background. 

Like a building going up behind a wall, we can’t always see the progress. 

But that doesn’t mean nothing is happening. God’s good plan is being carried out and this set of circumstances is needed to prepare us for those plans. 

Now, the family is moving to Mareeba, where Ravi will serve in MAF’s Heavy Maintenance Hangar while gaining experience toward his LAME certification. Pooja will help the family transition to a new country and culture, and Johanna will start Grade 3. 

I love my country and my people! Yet the rugged beauty of Papua New Guinea often separates many communities from basic necessities that we take for granted, such as clean water, schools, markets, and medical care. 

Growing up, I watched my physician father care deeply for patients and my mother generously give to families in need. Their lives shaped my own desire to serve. As a young boy, I came to understand that Jesus died for me—that He paid the price for my sins.  

A fascination with flying began with my very first airplane ride, sparking a passion for aviation that God has used to prepare me for His work. From 2018–2021, I served with MAF PNG as Executive Assistant to the Country Director. Now, I am humbled to return, this time as a pilot. 

My mission is unchanged: to serve God, and in doing so, serve others—bringing Help, Hope, and Healing to isolated communities across Papua New Guinea. 

Please pray that I will be faithful in this calling, that every flight will be an opportunity for the love of Christ to reach people in both word and action. 

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalms 37:4

“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 19:26

Join the Rasanjana Family as they follow God’s call to serve with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) in Papua New Guinea! 

Their journey of faith began many years ago when both Sanjaya and Thanuja dedicated their lives to serve God through missions. Since then, Thanuja has been involved in training Sunday School teachers across Sri Lanka, and Sanjaya has served in leadership roles with various Christian organisations.  

Throughout their journey, the Rasanjanas have seen God equipping them one step at a time. After hearing about Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) a decade ago, they recently felt God stirring within their hearts again. Over the last few months, it has become clear that God is leading them to play a part in bringing help, hope and healing to isolated people in Papua New Guinea. 

As part of their faith and obedience to Jesus, the Rasanjana family moved to Goroka in Papua New Guinea with MAF. Sanjaya serves as an e-Projects Specialist, and Thanuja is managing their family’s transition to life in Goroka. Their daughters go to the local school in Goroka.  

Join the Rasanjanas in their journey of following God’s call to the ends of the earth! 

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8: 38-39

“Growing up in a mission-based family, Sonali had resolved to work anywhere but missions. Satish always believed that one had to bring glory to God through professional excellence in the secularworld. However, the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, along with a desire to follow Jesus Christ and walk in obedience, led them to move ‘out of their comfort zone’ in India and serve with MAF in Papua New Guinea (PNG). 

Satish and Sonali and their boys, Sachh and Sanay, moved to Mt.Hagen, PNG in 2018. Sonali served the HR Manager for MAF in PNG and took on the additional role of Strategic Partnerships Manager along the way. This enabled MAF in PNG to navigate the COVID19 crisis and develop new initiatives – reaching out to more places and facilitating greater impact. Satish first served with MAF as a Line Pilot and subsequently took on leadership roles in the Operations department, whilst also engaging in member care and building local leadership. Sachh and Sanay found themselves needing to accept the challenges of uncertainty, staying away from parents and multiple schools in different locations over the years. 

Today, Sonali serves with MAF as the Strategic Partnerships & Development Manager – Asia Pacific. She and Satish are based in Port Moresby, the capital of PNG . Sonali is involved in developing new initiatives in the region. Satish has been seconded by MAF to a partner organization, and is working towards long lasting development in health, education, and livelihood in Western Province. Sachh is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in IT in Cairns, Australia and serving with MAF as a junior software developer. Sanay is completing his high school education in Ukarumpa, in the Eastern Highlands Province. 

“Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.”

Psalm 34:3

Ping always dreamed of becoming a pilot. For many years, financial challenges stood in the way of this dream. After a period of waiting and leaning on prayer, patience, and perseverance, Ping was blessed with a scholarship to train as a pilot. After spending two years flying in India, Ping joined MAF in 2016. His journey as a missionary pilot has taken him across regions, starting in Arnhem Land, then Kenya and Uganda. He is now in Timor-Leste, a small country between Indonesia and Australia, and home to his amazing wife, Mary.  

 Ping met Mary, a school teacher, on a hike in Timor-Leste, a year after he moved there. This encounter marked the beginning of their friendship, which grew steadily over the next few months. Eventually, Ping asked Mary to marry him, and in 2024, they married in Jalukie, Nagaland.  

 Mary supports Ping as he serves as MAF’s Country Director in Timor Leste. The couple share a love for cooking, hiking, walking by the beach, watching movies, and hosting people. They host weekly prayer meetings at their home and attend Victory Family Center, a local church in Dili.   

 Together, Mary and Ping are committed to serving God in their unique callings—Ping through aviation and Mary through education. They see their life and marriage as a testimony of faith, trust, and God’s perfect timing, as they continue to bring hope and joy to the people they serve. 

Jacophin first joined MAF as a pilot in 2017. After seeing God provide the right opportunties as she followed her dream of becoming a pilot, she committed her life to serving him. Over the years, Jacophin’s role in MAF has changed, and she now serves as the Quality and Safety Officer in Arnhem Land, Australia.  

Jacophin is married to Vivek, who brings a wealth of experience from the corporate IT world, and is now thrilled to be a part of the MAF family with a heart to serve God in isolated areas. Together, they share a deep conviction in God’s word and this drives them both in their personal and professional lives. 

The couple have a one-year-old daughter who fills their home with joy and laughter. They are so excited to be on this adventure of serving the remote communities of Arnhem Land as a family and answer God’s call in their lives.

“Whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your might.”

Ecclesiastes 9:10

“If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast”

Psalm 139: 9-10

Abdiel and Neetha grew up in remote parts of India and had first-hand experiences of the challenges facing people living in remote communities. Even though they never envisioned serving God in this way, they feel so blessed to be able to witness the difference that access can bring to people – access to help, hope and healing. 

  Their journey with MAF began in 2013 when Abdiel applied to join the organisation as a pilot. The application journey with MAF took many turns and eventually led to a role based in MAF International’s Asia-Pacific headquarters in Cairns, Australia.  

  In 2015, Abdiel began serving as the Asia Development Executive where he manages the resourcing capacity for MAF International in Asia and helps the organisation transition to becoming truly international. Neetha serves part-time with MAF, helping with recruitment, member care and coordination of the Asian team. Since joining MAF, Abdiel and Neetha have had two daughters. 

 Join the David family as they serve God through MAF International, helping show Christ’s love to people in isolated communities! 

“I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

John 10:10

For Pushpa and Sundar, to be servants in God’s Kingdom is to work to ensure that abundant life is possible for all.  

They have a rich experience of working with marginalised people and have supported people struggling with drug use and those living with HIV and fostered the inclusion of individuals with intellectual disabilities before joining MAF.  

They joined MAF in Bangladesh in 2018, with Sundar serving as Grants Manager and Development Director and later, as Country Director. Pushpa ran a non-academic programme for children, nurturing compassion and social responsibility with a focus on creating awareness and inculcating respect for the community.  

In 2022, they moved to MAF in Chad, where Sundar was the Country Director and Pushpa, the Communications Officer.  

Sundar and Pushpa are passionate about empowering people and grateful for every experience which sensitises them to the needs of people . They continue to enable changes in people’s lives and are motivated by the idea of bringing help, hope and healing through aviation and technology. 

“It is a privilege to be a part of God’s plan to make everything good again”.