In 2022, I (Grant) took on the role as MAF Lesotho’s Chief Pilot. I am very excited about this, as it means I am in charge of training new pilots on the program, as well as ensuring our current pilots keep up to standard. I have always enjoyed the more advanced aspects of flight training, and am excited to work with our pilots and challenge them to be the best at what we do.

This means adding tasks to my existing roles of Director of Safety and Quality. MAF on a global scale has been taking big steps towards ensuring we meet international aviation standards and expectations. Taking safety seriously in our type of operation is a priority and translates into a fair bit of work on the legal and procedural side to ensure that we keep up with and surpass expected standards. It is work that I enjoy, and that makes all the difference.

MAF has been able slowly but surely increase our flying hours after we saw a decrease during the unsure pandemic years of 2020 and 2021. The Lesotho Flying Doctors restarted their weekly doctors visits to the clinics, as well as the daily 1-2 scheduled flights we do for nurses and supplies. After a significant rainy season, we are seeing an increase in the amount of emergency medical flights needed due to impassable rivers and bad roads in the mountains.

Emily’s work with Pulane Children’s Centre continues to be fruitful and challenging. I believe that’s the nature of any work with children. I am sure my mom, who has been a hardworking primary school teacher all her life, would echo that. No one is in that line of work because it’s easy! At PCC some children flourish and exceed what we could hope for, while others provide challenges and need a bit more time, love and energy to find a healthy path in life.

Emily is passionate about improvements at PCC, and we have been learning how important it is to reunite children with families as much as possible. Often the easier option is to take a child in and know they will be provided for. But we have been challenged recently to think about their long-term development, and to try and find ways for them to remain in their villages with family members. This is not an overnight change. But rather a concept that we are trying to move towards over time. We are learning about how to improve PCC’s role in the community to help and support not just children, but families so that they can support their own children. It is exciting and extremely overwhelming!

For the first time since March 2020, Jane is back to regular school hours every day. We are so thankful for the return to some kind of normalcy and routine. It’s amazing how having the consistency of daily school really boosts what she is able to learn and absorb. She is now big time into Pokemon, and our household always seems to be in the midst of some kind of Pokemon showdown.

Our little puppy, Ghost, is growing fast and making sure our home is never too ‘put together.’ Puppies don’t have a medium mode: they are either very naughty, or very adorable, there is no in between.

As the world continues to deal with challenges, heartbreak, anger and frustration on so many fronts, we are thankful you have chosen to support us and to help us make even a small change and improvement to some lives in the mountains of Lesotho. Thank you.