and rich culture of the communities they served. With each click of the camera shutter, Martijn documented the moments of joy, resilience, and connection shared between volunteers and villagers. Everywhere he went, his camera and drone were taken along, and especially the drone drew huge crowds! His eye for detail and appreciation of the beauty of creation, the land and sea, translated into stunning images that not only preserved memories but also shared the stories of the people they encountered. On the beach of Korak was one of those moments Martijn will never forget. “As soon as the drone took off, children gathered around me and crowded the screen to see their village from a whole new perspective. As soon as they figured out the drone was filming them they started waving and running up and down the beach to follow the drone. It was amazing to see their joy and excitement.” While Martijn mostly used his drone to photograph the beautiful nature found in Madang, he could never resist taking a few shots of the villages from above. “It is such a different world from our home country, there is such beauty in simplicity of the lives lived here.” Their five-week experience in PNG left
Fleur with her little friend Anna, one of the children who the YWAM team visited at Malas village in Madang Province last year. “Malas is a two and a half hour drive from our volunteer house in Madang and it was the first time YWAM came here so the people were so excited!” Fleur said. “They built us a shelter to sleep in and this is the village most of us had our first river bath, where the boys were upstream from the girls. Anna danced with me – she just had the most beautiful smile! – and later on she sat on my lap while we watched an educational talk about brushing teeth. All the kids received their own toothbrush and toothpaste.”
them in awe of the kindness of the people and the stunning landscapes, reaffirming their decision to pursue impactful work in places where their skills can make a difference. In fact, after leaving PNG, the couple began another new chapter in their adventurous missionary life, living on another of YWAM’s ships, the MV YWAM Koha for nearly three months and adding an eye clinic to the dental and medical services provided in isolated islands in Fiji. As well as helping Martijn in the clinic, Fleur taught dental hygiene to children with interactive puppet shows. With other female volunteers she also held group talks with Fijian women
and girls on subjects such as puberty and recognising their own
and humanitarian organisations.
The couple say that as they grow in faith and fulfil their passion for serving others, their focus is moving more towards evangelism. Although now back in the Netherlands and serving their local church once more, the hearts of both Martijn and Fleur still burn for missionary work and they know one day they will return to the developing nations of the Pacific.
value and beauty, and handing out
menstruation kits. After Fiji, and returning to the Netherlands for a family Christmas – their first as a married couple – Martijn and Fleur set off again in early 2024, basing themselves in New Zealand to take part in a five-month course at YWAM’s Discipleship Training School. After the first part of the course – which involves getting to know God better – in
New Zealand, the couple flew to Fiji
PNG Air flies from Port Moresby to Madang twice per week For bookings: Call + 675 7411 2644
again to carry out the ‘make God known’ part
in further outreach mission work with churches, schools
VOLUME 40 2024
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