Day 1

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Day 1

‘MAF aircraft fly all sorts of things
To help people out,’ Mike said.
‘This Advent, let’s build a list of them
All the way from A to Z.’

A is for audio Bible,
For listening to God’s wonderful Word.
As Mike took off in his small aircraft,
He was glad the Good News would be heard.

The first stop was northern Australia,
The territory of Arnhem Land.
As Mike landed his plane on the airstrip,
A man came to lend him a hand.

‘Most Bibles here are in English.
That’s not something that’s easy to read.
But now we can hear our own language,
Your cargo’s a blessing indeed!’

Mike showed him the audio Bible,
All charged up by the sun’s warm rays.
No need to worry about batteries or plugs,
Now people could listen for days.

These audio Bibles are just one of the things
That MAF flies through the skies.
Join us tomorrow for the next letter,
And another exciting surprise.

Day 2

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Day 2

‘MAF aircraft fly all sorts of things
To help people out,’ Mike said.
‘This Advent, let’s build a list of them
All the way from A to Z.’

B is for blankets, cosy and warm,
Stacked up in the back of Mike’s plane.
Flying so high, he looked down at the view
But could only see muddy terrain.

Beneath Mike lay Sulawesi island,
A place where he often had flown.
This Indonesian land was ruined and scarred,
It was a true disaster zone!

There’d been an earthquake and tsunami,
But MAF had got there quick,
Delivering everything the people might need
To those who were injured or sick.

Mike brought his plane down safely
For the people who’d lost their homes.
They were glad to receive his blankets
To cover their weary bones.

These blankets are just one of the things
That MAF flies through the skies.
Join us tomorrow for the next letter,
And another exciting surprise.

Day 3

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Day 3

‘MAF aircraft fly all sorts of things
To help people out,’ Mike said.
‘This Advent, let’s build a list of them
All the way from A to Z.’

C is for chimpanzee – what a surprise!
As Mike turned his plane to the west,
A call came over his radio set,
‘Please respond to this urgent request!

‘A poor baby chimp has been injured,
She has fallen out of a tree.
Please will you help us by taking her
To the wildlife sanctuary?’

Mike landed his plane in Liberia,
Where he picked up the injured ape.
Her name was Mary Beauty,
And she’d had a lucky escape.

Some poachers had killed her mother,
Leaving Mary all alone.
Mike was only too happy to take her
To the safety of her new home.

Chimpanzees are just one of the things
That MAF flies through the skies.
Join us tomorrow for the next letter,
And another exciting surprise.

Day 4

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Day 4

‘MAF aircraft fly all sorts of things
To help people out,’ Mike said.
‘This Advent, let’s build a list of them
All the way from A to Z.’

D is for dentist – open wide!
They help us to keep our teeth healthy.
Although there are many in the UK,
Not every place is as wealthy.

The next stop for Mike was Papua,
And as he began to descend,
Down there waiting, below on the ground
Was a dentist called Ika, his friend!

‘Please take me to Nalca,’ said Ika,
‘I’m teaching the small children there
About how to clean and look after their teeth
And to treat all their smiles with care.

‘I use my puppets to teach them,
They really enjoy the show.
Fun helps the children remember
The toothbrushing skills they should know.’

Dentists are just some of passengers
That MAF flies through the skies.
Join us tomorrow for the next letter,
And another exciting surprise.

Day 5

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Day 5

‘MAF aircraft fly all sorts of things
To help people out,’ Mike said.
‘This Advent, let’s build a list of them
All the way from A to Z.’

E is for evangelist –
Which is quite a difficult word
For a person who tells others about God’s love,
So the Good News can be heard.

Elisha lives in Tanzania,
Where he shares God’s Word with his tribe.
He travels all over the area,
Preaching to those far and wide.

As Mike brought his plane to a standstill,
He saw Elisha with a giraffe.
It was his dear friend Alpha,
Who always made Mike laugh.

The pair were surrounded by people,
Who were eager to hear what they’d say.
They’d been sharing God’s love with the Maasai,
And teaching them all how to pray.

‘MAF flies me to faraway places.
If I walked, it would take many days,’
Said Elisha, as he entered the aircraft,
‘You’re such a great help Mike, always.’

‘May I join in your alphabet adventure?’
Alpha asked his good friend Mike.
‘To see the things MAF’s flying,
Is something I’d really like.’

Evangelists are just some of passengers
That MAF flies through the skies.
Join us tomorrow for the next letter,
And another exciting surprise.

Day 6

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Day 6

‘MAF aircraft fly all sorts of things
To help people out,’ Mike said.
‘This Advent, let’s build a list of them
All the way from A to Z.’

F is for fuel drums – jolly and red,
And very heavy indeed.
With fuel inside, to help our planes fly,
It’s just what our pilots need.

Mike’s next stop was back in Australia,
To MAF’s maintenance base.
Waiting was Pilot Bridget,
With a great big smile on her face.

‘Welcome, Mike and Alpha,
I hope you can help me today.
These drums full of fuel will help me fly
To Arnhem Land far away.’

The friends were only too happy to help,
And the drums were soon on the plane.
Then heading west towards Arnhem Land,
They knew they’d see their friends again.

These fuel drums are just one of the things
That MAF flies through the skies.
Join us tomorrow for the next letter,
And another exciting surprise.

Day 7

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Day 7

‘MAF aircraft fly all sorts of things
To help people out,’ Mike said.
‘This Advent, let’s build a list of them
All the way from A to Z.’

G is for glass eyes – they can’t help you see,
But they might help you feel more content
If you unfortunately lost your own eye
Through an illness or accident.

The next stop was Madagascar,
On the runway below was a fox.
It was their old friend Foxtrot,
In whose paws they saw a box.

Foxtrot handed over the cargo,
A big box filled with glass eyes.
They were needed in a faraway hospital,
To give a patient a nice surprise.

Foxtrot climbed into the aircraft,
And the friends were soon in the air,
Heading off to the remote village hospital,
To deliver the cargo there.

These glass eyes are just one of the things
That MAF flies through the skies.
Join us tomorrow for the next letter,
And another exciting surprise.

Day 8

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Day 8

‘MAF aircraft fly all sorts of things
To help people out,’ Mike said.
‘This Advent, let’s build a list of them
All the way from A to Z.’

H is for healthcare workers
Who use their special skills
To help people far from a hospital,
And take care of all their ills.

Next stop for the friends was Angola,
The home of Dr Tim.
He looks after people who aren’t very well,
So they were pleased they could help him.

‘Hello friends,’ said the doctor,
As Mike carefully landed his plane.
‘I’m needed in a hard-to-reach village,
Do you think you could help me again?

‘I help people when they’re feeling sick,
I tell them about Jesus too,
But the village is a very long way away,
So I can’t get there without you.’

‘Climb on board,’ shouted Alpha.
‘We’ll soon get you there,’ said Mike.
Foxtrot said, as he loaded the plane,
‘We’re glad we can save you a hike.’

Healthcare staff are just some of the passengers
That MAF flies through the skies.
Join us tomorrow for the next letter,
And another exciting surprise.

Day 9

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Day 9

‘MAF aircraft fly all sorts of things
To help people out,’ Mike said.
‘This Advent, let’s build a list of them
All the way from A to Z.’

I is for injured people,
Who need urgent medical care.
If they can’t get to hospital by car or bus,
MAF carries them in the air.

As Mike and his friends headed west,
An urgent call came through:
‘Could you hurry to the island of Timor-Leste?
We’ve an urgent job for you.

‘A villager was hurt on his bike,
When it started veering madly.
Please take the patient in your plane,
He needs a crutch quite badly.’

The friends were only too happy to help,
And they sped to the man in their plane.
They soon had him safe with the doctors
Who helped him feel better again.

Injured people are just some of the passengers
That MAF flies through the skies.
Join us tomorrow for the next letter,
And another exciting surprise.

Day 10

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Day 10

‘MAF aircraft fly all sorts of things
To help people out,’ Mike said.
‘This Advent, let’s build a list of them
All the way from A to Z.’

J is for the Jesus film,
With a powerful story to tell
Of what Jesus did in His time on earth,
And His power to change lives as well.

The next stop for the friends was Uganda,
To catch up with their old mate Sam,
Who works hard as an evangelist,
Which is why he’s a busy man.

Sam was below on the airstrip
As Mike brought his plane in to land.
‘Could you take me to the Ssese Islands?
I’ve something exciting planned.

‘The people who live in the islands
Have had a difficult year.
I’m going to show them the Jesus film;
They need some Christmas cheer!’

In no time at all, they were on their way
To the isolated location,
Sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ
At the islanders’ celebration.

The Jesus film is just one of the things
That MAF flies through the skies.
Join us tomorrow for the next letter,
And another exciting surprise.

Day 11

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Day 11

‘MAF aircraft fly all sorts of things
To help people out,’ Mike said.
‘This Advent, let’s build a list of them
All the way from A to Z.’

K is for the Kündigs,
A couple from Switzerland.
They’ve been with MAF for many years,
And love to lend a hand.

Our friends flew to see them in Guinea,
Which is where Emil and Margrit live.
They are travelling around the country
To see what help MAF can give.

The roads in Guinea are not very good,
With some washed away by the rain.
It’s certainly easier to travel there
If you’re flying in Mike’s little plane.

It would be such a joy for the people
If there was an MAF base.
The Kündigs are working to set one up,
Which would be a great help for the place.

Alpha was very excited
To hear all the news of their mission.
He decided he’d stay and help them there;
He’d be a most useful addition.

The Kündigs are just some of the passengers
That MAF flies through the skies.
Join us tomorrow for the next letter,
And another exciting surprise.

Look around

In Liberia, it rains a lot! Monrovia, the capital city, has seen more than five metres of rainfall fall at one time, and is known as the ‘wettest’ capital in the world.

Because of all the rain, bumpy roads turn into mudslides, so MAF planes are often the only way people can travel. There are lots of people who are in need. For 14 years, there was a violent war which caused 750,000 people to run away from home. On top of that, 6 years ago, the Ebola disease infected thousands of people and there were only 50 doctors to help everyone. That’s less than the number of doctors in just one of our NHS hospitals! MAF flew in extra medical staff and delivered vaccinations, protective clothing and emergency tents to help people fight the virus.

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A little more about Liberia...

Location

Liberia is located on the western coast of Africa, bordered by Sierra Leone, Guinea and the Côte d’Ivoire.

View map

Time

9:05am, 11th November 2025

UTC +0

Fascinating Fact

Liberia’s most famous footballer is George Weah, who has played for some of the most recognised clubs in the world. Following his retirement from football, he became a politician and is currently President of Liberia.

Weather

During December it is drier in Liberia than at other times of the year. It’s very hot, with temperatures around 32°C, but it can be a lot cooler in the mountain areas at night.

An aerial shot taken over the coast of Liberia. Photo by Dave Forney.

There are virtually no roads along the coast, it's mostly swamp or jungle that runs into the ocean. Photo by Dave Forney.

MAF Liberia pilot, Ulrich Mueller, unloading tyres from his Cessna Grand Caravan. Photo by Dave Forney.

Monkeying Around

Last year Pilot Andrew, based in Liberia’s capital Monrovia, was delighted to respond to a call to pick up a baby chimpanzee – one of MAF’s more unusual passengers!

A newly born female chimpanzee in Sapo National Park had fallen from a tree after poachers shot her mother for bushmeat.

The park is the country’s largest area of protected rainforest and is home to some 1,600 wild chimpanzees. It is against the law to hunt this animal because creatures like chimps are endangered, but that doesn’t always stop the poachers.

Park rangers heard the gunshots and managed to rescue the little chimp. She was driven by moped to a global conservation group, which named her Mary Beauty.

They contacted Jenny from Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue & Protection in Monrovia to pick her up, but the two-day road journey from Greenville was impossible due to badly flooded roads.

MAF often helps another organisation, the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation, by flying their team to remote locations and delivering supplies. So, when the foundation heard about Jenny’s challenge, they knew who to call – and MAF was delighted to assist.

Mary Beauty is now doing well at Jenny’s sanctuary.

Great teamwork from six organisations, including MAF, made this one rescue possible. We’ve made a list of the other organisations if you click here, why not search them online to see what they do?

Conservation is quite a new idea for Liberians. After a long civil war in their country, people tend to treat the forest as their ‘bank’ – taking nearly all the things they need to live from the forest.

Through the work of agencies like these, local people are gradually understanding that if a hunter goes into the bush and kills all the wildlife, it will only benefit him and his family. But, if people choose to preserve the forests instead, it will bring in tourists, protect the animals, and the whole community will benefit.

Watch video

Poachers

A person who Illegally hunts or catches animals or fish that are protected. Animals are often poached for their skins, tusks or for traditional medicine.

Bushmeat

This is meat gained by killing wild animals, particularly in Africa or Asia.

Endangered

An endangered animal is at risk of becoming extinct, meaning that there would be no animals left of that species.

Conservation

The act of protecting wildlife, like chimpanzees, from poachers or hunters so they can live safely.

Fauna & Flora International

Liberia Chimpanzee Rescue & Protection

Liberia Forestry Development Authority

Liberia Wildlife Crime Task Force

Wild Chimpanzee Foundation

Civil war

A war between people of the same country.

Read

Luke 1:31

You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.

Pray

Dear God, we thank You for organisations like the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation that help save these incredible animals. We ask You to protect the chimpanzees from poachers and help the Liberians in their conservation efforts. Amen.

Today's Challenge

Consider doing a sponsored challenge for MAF to keep our planes flying enabling us to keep rescuing wildlife – what could YOU do to fundraise?

Did you complete yesterday's challenge?

Provide some blankets or sleeping bags for the local homeless shelter

Downloads

MAF Advent Adventure Story

Christmas activities

We help vulnerable people in hard-to-reach places, but we couldn’t do it without you

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