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Cooke Family

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Chris and Sarah Cooke, along with their four daughters Riley, McKenna, Amelia, and Lucy, arrived on May 26th, 2015. Their daughter, Charleigh Cooke, was officially adopted in 2017. Read her story here.

Chris is a registered nurse and fills an important role in overseeing the medical aspect of our ministry.  Because of his background in trauma nursing, we are able to offer training to the local nurses who fly along with us on emergency flights, as well as more advanced care for patients in life-threatening situations. Chris and Sarah are both a part of our hospital ministry as well!

As an RN, Chris is thrilled to be a part of sharing Christ’s love and saving lives through medicine. As a family, they love using the various gifts and talents God has given them to be His hands and feet to the people of Papua New Guinea.

Hamer Family

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Luke and Tracy Hamer first arrived in Papua New Guinea on November 3rd, 2017.

Luke and Tracy Hamer are both experienced float pilots, mechanics, and aircraft engineers from Alaska. Both Luke and Tracy graduated from Liberty University; Tracy with a BS in Commercial Aeronautics and A&P Certificate, and Luke with a BS in Missions Aviation and A&P Certificate. In September 2018, Luke and Tracy celebrated the birth of their first daughter, Lorelai.

We are grateful to have these two helping to pilot our floatplanes!

Mosca Family

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The Moscas arrived in Papua New Guinea in early 2019.

Nick Mosca is currently a professional pilot in St. Louis, Missouri. Lorraine was previously a high school math teacher with a Masters of Education. She now stays home with their three boys: Eddie, Zeke, and Titus, and daughter, Rosalyn. Since before Nick and Lorraine were married in 2011, they both felt a call to missions. Though they had served in Africa, Mexico, and Vietnam on a short term basis, the Moscas hadn’t felt called to full time overseas missions until hearing about Samaritan Aviation from Luke and Tracy Hamer in November 2017. Nick has been a corporate pilot/mechanic/manager in a flight department for 6 years and is also a flight instructor. Previously Nick was in the U.S. Army from 2003 until 2006, including a year in Iraq as an infantry team leader.

The Moscas are excited to use their gifts to serve and share the hope of Jesus Christ!

Askew Family

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In 1996 Tim and his wife Diana, along with their family, moved to PNG and into the Nakui tribe, an unreached people group located deep in the interior jungle. For the next fifteen years they were involved in translating Scriptures, teaching literacy, developing Bible lesson curriculum, and pastoring the small Nakui church toward maturity. For many of those years, he also served on leadership teams and as a field consultant, providing support and oversight to other tribal church planting works. Since returning to the U.S. in 2010, they have been involved in training international leaders in Africa and India to see churches planted by focusing on children and youth as a growth trigger.

Tim’s role with Samaritan Aviation as Director of Staff Development and Missional Engagement leverages his years of ministry experience. His role involves preparing and supporting Samaritan Aviation missionaries for overseas service as well as implementing transformational, Gospel-driven initiatives and programs in PNG. Tim also uses his time to continue the ongoing Nakui Bible translation project. Tim and Diana have three children (high-school and college-age) and are based out of San Diego, CA.

Hovenden Family

Australian family Robert and Katie Hovenden, along with their four children, are working towards joining the Samaritan Aviation team in Papua New Guinea in 2021. Rob is a licenced aircraft maintenance technician who is currently employed at the School of Missionary Aviation Technology (SMAT) in Michigan, where they’ve served for the past five years.

Prior to that, Rob and Katie were with Mission Aviation Fellowship in Australia for over ten years, and they are looking forward to using their skills and experience to bring hope to the people of Papua New Guinea.

James Maxcy

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James Maxcy was a volunteer with Samaritan Aviation before coming on full time as a Missionary Project Manager. He and his first grade sweetheart, Taylor, got married in 2015 and attend Redemption church in Gilbert, Arizona. James’ family were missionaries in Africa for three generations and he began to develop a heart for unreached peoples after a family trip to Côte de’Ivoire to see where his mother was raised. James became hooked on Samaritan’s mission from the moment he heard about it and is excited to take the journey into full time ministry. James will be splitting his time between Papua New Guinea and the United States working on various projects as needs arise.

Visser Family

Palm Family

The Palm family arrived in Papua New Guinea in January of 2010.

Mark Palm, the President and co-founder of Samaritan Aviation, visited Papua New Guinea in 1994. While trekking through the jungle and seeing the desperate needs of the people, he felt that God was calling him to this country and devote his in serving the people of Papua New Guinea.

Kirsten Palm has earned a Bachelors of Arts Degree and a Masters Degree in Cross Cultural Education from Point Loma Nazarene University. She has her Secondary Teaching Degree in Health Sciences. Kirsten has been a part of short-term mission trips to Mexico, Portugal, Chili, and Papua New Guinea. Kirsten has been a part of Samaritan Aviation since 1998.

Their children Sierra, Drake and Nolan love helping out and being a part of the ministry. Sierra helps in the hospital ministry, and all three kids have helped in the delivery of medical supplies to remote villages up the Sepik River. They are a part of the community outreach and relationship building with the Papua New Guineans. As a family, the Palm’s make a great team. They work together to make the rescue flights, hospital ministry, hospitality with teams and meetings possible, and are working full time to build relationships with the people of Papua New Guinea.