Pilot reflects on the people, the potential, the food of Liberia – and the time MAF flew a printing press to the jungle.
Ulrich Muller is leaving Liberia after four years with a cool African shirt, a taste for spicy local cooking and special memories of MAF’s impact in isolated communities.
The Swiss pilot, who will go on to fly in other MAF programmes, looked back fondly at the people he has met – as well as some of the more unusual cargo he has flown.
It was a flight to deliver a heavy printing press to a jungle location that showed Ulrich how aviation can change lives in remote areas.
He said he asked the missionary about the purpose of the trip and why he would not consider printing his papers in the capital Monrovia.
“He then told me that yes, that would be much easier, but how could the place out there develop if all the jobs are done just in the city,” said Ulrich.
He then told me that yes, that would be much easier, but how could the place out there develop if all the jobs are done just in the city,” said Ulrich.
The missionary teaches people in this location and equips them with new skills to operate printing presses, and he creates jobs where there are none. He produces books and teaching materials that then go far out into the bush.
“And that is MAF - we do things that might not make much sense at first sight, crazy stuff like flying printing presses. But these things have a much bigger impact compared to doing things the way the world does and where the main focus is to increase profit.”
Ulrich admitted he was sad to be making his final flight in Liberia but he is excited about the future of a country he loves.
“The most recent flight indeed, wasn’t a special one, as it probably was my last one in Liberia, saying goodbye is also always a bit sad,’’ he said.
“I will cherish and remember the many friendly, peaceful and resilient people I have met in Liberia.
“I really hope MAF develop and grow to have a bigger impact. I hope that new airstrips can be opened in places that need development, medical support, and education.
“But I also hope that Liberia will develop so that one day MAF is no longer needed here.”
I will cherish and remember the many friendly, peaceful and resilient people I have met in Liberia.
The pilot, who was presented with an African shirt by his workmates, has deeply engaged himself in the country’s culture and enjoys traditional Liberian dishes, particularly the spicy pepper sauce.
“There are so many good things here. I, of course, love rice I now eat a lot of pepper sauce with my food, like the Liberians,” he said.
‘’I think one thing I personally understood a bit more is what our Lord says in Zechariah 4:6. ‘Not by might, not by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord’. It's not our work and our efforts that will change things in the end. It is his spirit,” he said.
“I would like to thank my whole team here in Liberia. Sometimes the focus is a bit on us pilots with the uniform and the gold stripes. But it's a team effort. It needs each and every one. And I'm so thankful for the good people we have here in Liberia. I hope to maybe come back one day.”