Ryan, a pilot with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), was detained in Mozambique in November 2022 while preparing to fly supplies for local orphanages. He was released months later, and in 2024, a Mozambican court officially dismissed the case against him.

(Photo courtesy of Annabel Koher)

Now, the Kohers have returned to the city of Nampula in northern Mozambique, resuming their Gospel ministry with MAF.

“Back in October of last year, we got news that the case was closed, and that was really exciting for us,” Ryan recalls. “At that time, Annabelle was pregnant…. It was several months after the case was closed that we were finally able to return here. So we got back to the field in mid-April.”

Ryan has stepped into a larger leadership role this time — serving not only as a pilot and mechanic, but also as the Director of Operations.

“It’s a lot more responsibility and a lot more challenge,” he says. “But I find it really enjoyable to be serving this way.”

MAF’s team in Mozambique supports the MozMed Project, a partnership that flies doctors into the Niassa Special Reserve. Medical teams visit remote villages, providing vital care in the name of Jesus.

Ryan also flies for other ministries and church partners — helping short-term mission teams and denominational leaders reach distant congregations. Meanwhile, MAF’s Mozambican staff continues to share Christ through Jesus film showings.

“We’ve had [at least] 30 requests from local pastors and communities too for us to come out and show the Jesus film,” Ryan says. “It’s really cool to see the desire for Jesus here.”

MAF pilot Ryan Koher reaches a flying milestone. (Credit: Annabel Koher/MAF)

Following Ryan’s detainment, MAF has implemented a few internal policy updates — but the ministry’s mission hasn’t changed.

“We’ve understood that my situation was very unique,” Ryan explains. “We did learn a lot from it, so we have made some changes policy-wise, but nothing very major. I don’t think we’ve changed who we fly or where we fly at all because of this.”

The Kohers ask believers to pray for northern Mozambique, where terrorist activity has intensified and some attacks are being directed at Christians.

Annabel requests, “Be praying for Christians in Mozambique, for protection, [and] for them to stay steadfast in their faith. Also, [pray] for the terrorists, that they would come to know Christ and they would repent of their ways. They’re not too far gone, and we believe that the Gospel is powerful.”

Learn more about MAF’s work in Mozambique.

Header photo of the Koher family, courtesy of MAF — used with permission from the Koher family.

Annabel and Ryan Koher have experienced this firsthand through their work in Mozambique with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). Their stories have taken unexpected turns causing both of them to lean into God’s plan. While Ryan is often the primary missionary out of the home, Annabel shares that her role is missional and requires this same trust and obedience as well.

“I thought I knew what it would look like,” she says. “I think many people think they know what it’s going to look like going to be missionaries, whether you’re the spouse or the primary missionary in the family.  And we really just don’t know what God has in store for us.”

Steady Work to Support the Mission

Koher says that much of her daily work as a missionary in Mozambique looks the same as it would as a wife of a commercial pilot in the United States. She makes their meals, does the laundry, homeschools their children, and keeps the house running smoothly.

This work is crucial in any family, but Koher shares that sometimes it can be hard to connect it directly to the missions work in Mozambique. In those times the stories of God at work through her husband and others helps fuel her role.

“Hearing their stories, I remember my part in the kitchen, washing dishes, changing the dirty diapers, hanging the laundry on the line – those things allow for Ryan to be able to fly the planes,” Koher says. “Which allows for the Bible translator missionaries to be here. Which allows for the Bible to go out and the Gospel to be shared and for people’s hearts to be changed and come to know Christ.”

(Photo courtesy of Annabel Koher)

In addition to supporting her husband’s flights Koher is part of the spiritual enrichment team in Mozambique. She helps prepare for their monthly meetings as well as arranges conferences and retreats for their team and the national staff.

Koher also explains that her first role, and every parent’s primary mission field, is with their own children. “I would also say that any parent, in a way, is a missionary at least to their kids. The kids are not automatically saved and they need discipleship. And I think a lot of moms in particular, their home is their primary mission field, and then it goes out from there.”

Walking in Obedience

However, no matter what she is doing, Koher seeks to stay focused on God. For those considering a foreign mission field or those who feel called to stay where they are at, there is consistency – rely on God.

“I think our story is a great one, because we were committed to doing the work that we thought God had for us and turned out that that also included Ryan going to jail. And a lot of waiting in the US. And lot of interviews that we never thought we would be doing.

“So, we don’t always know what God has in store for us. We don’t know what He has in store for us if we go overseas. We don’t know what He has in store for us if we stay where we are currently at. So, I think the biggest things are not to be afraid of the unknown, because we know who is already there, and that is God. If He’s calling us to it, He will give us the grace and the peace to sustain us through whatever He calls us to. It doesn’t mean it’s not going to be hard, but if we continue to keep our eyes on Christ and on the work that He has done and on who He is, then we will be able to get through anything – even if it’s the dark valleys or celebrating the Gospel proclamation going out.”

To learn more about Mission Aviation Fellowship’s work in Mozambique or how you can get involved visit their website.

By God’s grace, the experience of imprisonment in Mozambique actually deepened Ryan’s passion to serve the Mozambican people.

“Over at least my detainment experience, I grew to love the people of Mozambique more as I spent time with the worst of society in jail and learned to love them and love the people who put me in jail and the prison guards,” says Ryan. “We just also look forward to doing life with our team and our national staff that we came to know in Mozambique, and just ministering to them as well.

“Our drive going back is rooted in our love for Christ and our love of serving Him and bringing people to Him.”

Ryan Koher, Annabel Koher, and their two boys. (Photo courtesy of MAF, used with permission from the Koher family.)

MAF has been serving in Mozambique since 1999 and created Ambassador Aviation in 2014 to meet new requirements for charter services. Today, the ministry’s missionary families and indigenous staff primarily serve hard-to-reach people groups in northern Mozambique, flying healthcare resources and other forms of aid in Jesus’s name.

The Kohers still believe in this mission and want God to use them, despite whatever future challenges may arise.

“God has given us special gifts and abilities and skills, and also opportunity to go and serve in Mozambique,” Ryan says. “We are just going to take that open door and go and serve them there.”

After their daughter is born and they have time to recuperate as a family, Ryan and Annabel plan to move back to Mozambique and continue serving with Ambassador Aviation.

As they prepare to follow God’s calling, Annabel requests, “Prayer for the visa process, that our daughter’s passport would come through quickly and smoothly, that we’d be able to get visas to go to Mozambique smoothly.

Ryan Koher (Photo courtesy of MAF, used with permission from the Koher family.)

“Also [pray for] the transition back into Mozambique because we have been out of the country for over a year now. Our boys are five and almost four, and they’re super excited to go back. That’s home to them, but we also realize that there will be a transition going back. So prayer that that will go smoothly, that our language skills will come back to us, and just that we’ll thrive there and be open to whatever ministries God has for us in Mozambique.”

To learn more about how Mission Aviation Fellowship serves communities in Mozambique, visit MAF’s website.

Header photo taken in September 2022 at Nairuko, Mozambique. Featuring Ryan Koher, Annabel Koher, and their two boys. (Photo courtesy of MAF, used with permission from the Koher family.)

“From the very beginning, we knew that Ryan was carrying out a legitimate and needed flight and was completely innocent of the suspicions that were investigated,” said David Holsten, MAF President and CEO. “During this lengthy ordeal, Ryan and Annabel have faithfully trusted the Lord and experienced His sustaining care on many occasions. We are so grateful to everyone who has diligently prayed for the Koher family. We know that God will use this situation for His glory.”

Ryan Koher (Photo courtesy of MAF, used with permission from the Koher family.)

Ryan Koher responded to the news by saying, “It has been a long journey and an uphill battle at times, to get to this point of closure. I know this would not be possible without the many people who have been faithfully praying to this end. I would like to thank everyone for your prayers and love for our family. I pray that God will receive all the glory for His work in our lives.”

On November 2, 2022, Koher left the AAL base in Nampula for a five-hour flight to Inhambane on a Cessna 206. He met two South Africans who had brought supplies to be delivered to an orphanage in northern Mozambique. AAL has been conducting these supply flights to the
orphanage for several years.

While going through the normal security scan at the airport, police took an interest in some vitamins, over-the-counter medications, and food preservative supplies. They confiscated the entire load and detained Koher and the two South Africans. None of the confiscated material belonged to Koher nor had it been loaded onto the airplane, which was secured by police.

The three men were jailed under suspicion of supporting the insurgent activity in northern Mozambique, near to where the orphanage is located. Following an initial incarceration at the local police jail on November 4, 2022, they were officially arrested on November 7 and moved to a prison in Inhambane. Koher and the South Africans were then moved to the Machava High Security Prison near the capital city of Maputo on November 16. AAL retained a Mozambican lawyer for Koher, and the U.S. Embassy was made aware of the situation.

Kohers arrive in Boise. (Photo courtesy of Mission Aviation Fellowship)

Koher was released from the high security prison on March 14, 2023, and required to remain in Mozambique. In late September 2023, a judge ordered that Koher’s passport be returned and he and his family arrived in the United States on October 5. Ryan and his wife, Annabel, have two boys and are expecting their third child in December. They are currently planning to resume their work in Mozambique in 2025.

“There has never been a point in this whole process where Annabel and I lost the desire to return. Through this experience, we have come to love the people of Mozambique more, and we are very excited to go back and continue serving there. Because we know from experience that God is faithful to carry us through hardship and difficulty, we can return in confidence, knowing His plans for us are good and that He will again help us in any time of trouble,” Koher said.

Mission Aviation Fellowship has been serving the people of Mozambique since 1999 with Ambassador Aviation becoming the operational entity in 2014. Based out of Nampula with two aircraft, the Cessna 206 and a Cessna Caravan EX, typical flights include medical evacuations, medical care through the MOZMED project, and flights for conservation groups in the Niassa Special Reserve, to name a few.

In 2021, AAL evacuated over 800 people from Afungi following insurgent attacks on Palma in the Cabo Delgado province. They also provided food, medicine, and relief supplies to the area. Medical personnel flights served the area for several months in late 2021 and early 2022 as the
region recovered from the attacks. In 2019, AAL provided a disaster assessment by air following Cyclones Idai and Kenneth and conducted 184 relief flight legs, delivering over 45,000 kg of cargo and 691 passengers as part of the humanitarian assistance response.

Tomorrow, we’ll share part two of this story, focusing on the Koher family’s hope to resume their ministry in Mozambique.

Header photo: Ryan & Annabel Koher, their two boys, and a baby girl expected in December 2024. (Photo courtesy of MAF)

Zacharie’s story is significant, not just because it shows what can happen when we are faithful to follow God’s direction. His example today is a living testament to other Haitian kids and believers that they are not sidelined in God’s story. If they commit their lives to follow Jesus, God could use them on the mission field too — maybe even as a missionary pilot/mechanic!

In particular, one moment stands out to Zacharie that shows how God can use him to inspire others.

In a rural village, Zacharie explains airplane lift and physics to a group of school children who are on a special field trip. (Photo, caption courtesy of MAF)

When Zacharie was interning at MAF Haiti as a mechanic apprentice, he went on a ride-along medivac flight. The MAF plane landed in Fond-des-Blancs, a town nestled in the mountains which is normally a 3 to 5-hour drive from Port-au-Prince.

“We had landed there, dropped off the paramedic,…and we were gonna wait for the paramedic to come back so we could come back to Port-au-Prince, the capital, with them,” Zacharie explains.

“While we were waiting, the kids in the village came out to the plane. Typically, there’s only a foreigner there who doesn’t speak Creole well, so they’re kind of shy about it. But this time, there’s this Haitian guy wearing an MAF shirt, and they were like, ‘Oh, I want to talk to him!'”

Zacharie says the kids gathered around him and started asking him questions about the plane. It was a sweet interaction, but then he says one of the young Haitian boys spoke up.

“Basically, what he was saying was that he didn’t believe that a Haitian could fly or maintain an airplane, even with God’s help.”

Zacharie was not yet a pilot/mechanic with MAF at the time. He was still pursuing the education and training. Still, he couldn’t shake the child’s doubtful comments.

“I was not there yet. I was unable to provide him with an answer. And that was hard. On top of that, being a Haitian, I understand where he’s coming from. I understand the comment he’s making. I’ve heard it. And there’s time when I might be tempted to believe it.”

Zacharie Francois, MAF Haiti pilot/mechanic. (Photo courtesy of MAF)

Haiti is the poorest country in the Caribbean and Latin America. Its unemployment rate is around 15%, and only six in 10 Haitians above age 15 are literate.

Yet, even Jesus was dismissed by people because of where He was from. In John 1:46, Nathanael (who would eventually become Christ’s disciple) responded to Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth saying, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?”

Zacharie overcame many barriers as a young boy from Port-au-Prince to finally become a pilot/mechanic with MAF. He eventually completed his pilot and mechanic training as God opened doors through donors, encouragement, and countless prayers.

While his resume is impressive, Zacharie gives all glory to the Lord for his achievements and service on the Haitian mission field, supporting Gospel initiatives and inspiring others who didn’t think it could be done.

“People start seeing you slightly differently. And especially because it’s MAF, they’ve never seen a Haitian fly for MAF. I’ve already had comments on the airport! They’re like, ‘Wait, you’re the Haitian who is the MAF mechanic? How did that happen?’ Or, ‘Wait, you fly for MAF?’ It is a bit of a different shift!”

Zacharie says, “Every step, I could see God along the way. Every single step of it.”

Pray for more Haitians to follow Jesus and allow God to use them in big ways for His Kingdom! Thank the Lord for faithful believers like Zacharie following the Holy Spirit’s lead to the mission field.

Learn more about MAF Haiti’s ministry here.

Header photo of Zacharie François, left, on a flight with MAF Haiti pilot Eric Fagerland. Nestor Mercure, an MAF mechanic assistant, is in the back seat. (Photo, caption courtesy of MAF)

However, Zacharie had no idea the Lord would eventually lead him to become MAF’s first Haitian pilot/mechanic.

It all started in May 2013 when he had his very first flight in an MAF plane. Zacharie says, “He (the pilot) fired up the engine, and next thing we know, we were flying! You could see a shadow of the plane separating as we took off that day. We flew to the northern part of the country, which is Pignon.

“Throughout that flight, going there, being there, and coming back, God sort of touched my heart and showed me how mission aviation can make a difference in people’s lives. It can actually change the ending of so many isolated people. But beyond that, though, having a Christian perspective in an area can make a big difference.”

Zacharie François, left, on a flight with MAF Haiti pilot Eric Fagerland. Nestor Mercure, an MAF mechanic assistant, is in the back seat. (Photo, caption courtesy of MAF)

Prior to this, Zacharie didn’t know what he would do beyond high school. Zacharie says, “I was already on track to being the first to graduate from high school on both sides of my family. Knowing that my dad only made it to 2nd grade and my mom only made it to 9th grade, I was like, ‘Okay, I’m already struggling to get through high school itself. I don’t think I can make it any further than that.’”

However, with leading from the Lord and encouragement from an MAF pilot’s wife, Zacharie began to consider what it would look like to attend flight school in the US.

Yet, this would prove to be easier said than done.

Zacharie explains, “You had to prove to the US Embassy that you have all the funds in place to be able to pay for [your education]. So that was a challenge. Basically, I had to have all the money sitting somewhere before I could go.

“During that time, that’s when I started interning at MAF has a mechanic apprentice. I joke to people I did everything during my internship except for counting money up until last December! But everything from cutting the grass, washing the planes, passenger receiving, cargo, flight following — you name it, I’ve been through it all.”

Eventually, the Lord opened doors and Zacharie had everything in place to pursue becoming a pilot/mechanic with MAF. He enrolled at the School of Missionary Aviation Technology (SMAT) in Michigan in 2018.

Zacharie’s graduation from SMAT. (Photo courtesy of Zacharie Francois/MAF)

“You’re in and out in 12 months with your full mechanic license, with some missionary mechanic training background, and some very, very high standards,” says Zacharie.

“I graduated [from SMAT] in 2019 and came back to Haiti. Within a year and a half, I was holding the director of maintenance position for MAF in Haiti by interim and also was trying to raise support to do the flight training portion.”

In 2022, Zacharie completed the flight training program at SMAT.

Not long after that, he shares, “In April 2023, I took MAF’s TE and passed, so I was approved as an MAF pilot. Now, I’m going through the MAF internal flight training as we speak!”

As MAF’s first Haitian pilot/mechanic, Zacharie serves as an inspiration and example for other young kids and believers in Haiti. Praise God for faithful brothers like Zacharie for using their gifts and following His call on their lives in the mission field!

We’ll share more tomorrow about what ministry looks like for Zacharie flying with MAF in Haiti.

Meanwhile, is God calling you to consider a life of service in missions? Learn more about MAF’s ministry here!

Header photo of Zacharie Francois, MAF Haiti pilot/mechanic. (Photo courtesy of MAF)

In January of 2021, MAF’s airplane landed at an airstrip in the village of Pagamba, Papua, Indonesia. The airplane was quickly surrounded by armed men who identified themselves as part of a Papuan liberation group.

After removing the pilot, passengers, cargo, and all other items that could be taken out, the nearly $2 million airplane was destroyed by fire.

MAF’s burned Kodiak airplane on the airstrip in the village of Pagamba, Indonesia. Photo taken from rebel video footage briefly posted online in 2021. (Photo, caption courtesy of MAF)

After being detained by rebels for a day, local villagers guided the MAF pilot to another village for extraction by helicopter. The incident was investigated by the Indonesian government, leading to the capture of some of the rebels.

“I am pleased that this replacement airplane will continue to be used to serve the people in Papua. We are responding to God’s call to serve others and do not involve ourselves in the politics of a country,” said MAF president and CEO David Holsten.

“MAF has been serving the people of Papua since 1954, delivering medicine and medical personnel, teachers, pastors, Bible translators, and many basic items to meet the needs of people living in extreme isolation,” Holsten concluded.

The destroyed airplane is being replaced by another Kodiak that has less than 250 flight hours. The plane was purchased using insurance settlement funds and a donation from the family who purchased and donated the original Kodiak that was burned.

The Kodiak will be ferry flighted to Papua, Indonesia early next year.

You can support MAF’s ministry in Papua here!

Header photo of Mission Aviation Fellowship President and CEO, David Holsten, leading the dedication ceremony of the replacement Kodiak at their headquarters at the Nampa airport. (Photo, caption courtesy of MAF)

Ryan says, “During my detainment, I think I gained a new love for the Mozambican people and a deeper and more rich understanding of who they are as a people. We feel that God is calling us back and we’re really excited to be going back.”

(Photo courtesy of MAF)

While the Kohers are in the States on furlough, they’re connecting with support partners, debriefing and training with MAF, and enjoying a time of refreshment with loved ones.

The next deadline for Ryan’s case is in June. If the prosecutor in Mozambique doesn’t make a decision before then, the investigation will expire or need to be renewed.

“We trust God for safety through wherever He leads us,” says Ryan. “We know it may not be an easy ride, and it hasn’t been an easy ride. But He was with us through all the trials and struggles that we had to go through.”

Pray for the investigation in Mozambique to end favorably and Ryan’s case to be closed. Ask the Lord to open doors for the Koher family to continue ministry in Mozambique.

Ryan’s wife, Annabel Koher says, “God was calling us to come alongside Him in the ministry that He is doing in Mozambique to reach the Mozambican people with the true Gospel — and that hasn’t changed. That’s still the same.

“We know that when God calls us to something, we are committing to it. We know that there will be hard. We didn’t necessarily expect that we would experience this! But we knew that we would experience hard.”

You can support Ryan and Annabel Koher’s ministry with MAF here.

Header photo courtesy of MAF, used with permission from the Koher family.

Ryan spent four months in a maximum security prison and was provisionally released back in March. He’s been in Mozambique since then with his family on Mission Aviation Fellowship’s (MAF) base – known in-country as Ambassador Aviation. Then a few weeks ago, a judge lifted Ryan’s travel restrictions.

Kohers arrive in Boise. (Photo courtesy of Mission Aviation Fellowship)

Ryan says, “It feels great to be back. Definitely, a load has been lifted that I didn’t really know I had. But it’s been a really restful time even though it’s been a really busy schedule. It’s just been great to be back and to visit with everyone at MAF who has been praying for me, and visit with our home church here in Idaho. It was great to reconnect with a lot of these people, meet a lot of new people, and to share a little bit about how God’s been working in our lives.”

In November 2022, Ryan was detained while preparing to transport orphanage supplies including vitamins, over-the-counter medication, and food preservatives. Ryan and two orphanage volunteers, Willem du Plessis and Eric Dry, were accused of “supporting terrorism.”

The next deadline for Ryan’s case is in June. If the judge doesn’t make a decision before then, the investigation will expire or need to be renewed.

Ryan’s wife Annabel explains, “It’s been a secure investigation because of the accusations of terrorism and the accusations of helping the insurgents. So the way the investigation is, it’s actually very closed, from my understanding. Even our lawyer doesn’t really have much information into what they’re investigating or what their next steps will be.”

As Ryan and his family transition to life back in the States, he says, “We’re starting our furlough, which is a time of debriefing, retraining, refreshment, and connecting with our family and supporters.”

Ambassador Aviation in Mozambique flies to reach the most remote and isolated communities with aid and the spiritual hope of Jesus Christ. Prior to his detainment, Ryan served as a pilot and mechanic with Ambassador Aviation.

Ryan Koher (Photo courtesy of MAF, used with permission from the Koher family.)

Once the case is concluded, the Kohers hope to resume ministry in Mozambique. Just like many missionaries, their work is supported by financial partners linking arms with them for the Great Commission — something that’s especially helpful and needed during furlough.

Click here to give in support of Ryan and Annabel’s ministry!

You can also donate to MAF here and help cover ministry costs related to Ryan’s case (attorney fees, travel, medical checkups, etc.).

Ultimately, please pray this will be a time of rest and encouragement for the Koher family. Ask God to use Ryan’s story of faithfulness to the Great Commission for His glory in Mozambique.

Annabel says, “One of the biggest things that kept [Ryan] going, aside from God Himself and the Word, was knowing that believers had been praying for him.”

Header photo courtesy of Mission Aviation Fellowship, used with permission from the Koher family.

Back on Ambassador Aviation’s base in Mozambique, Ryan shares, “We’re waiting for the investigators to finish their investigation, and then the case will go to a judge and we’ll see if they’re going to press charges or drop the case, or if there’s going to be some sort of a hearing.”

Ryan and Annabel Koher (Photo courtesy of Mission Aviation Fellowship, used with permission from the Koher family.)

Ryan’s wife Annabel and their two young sons are on the ministry’s Mozambique base with him. Since Ryan is unable to leave Mozambique (a provision of his release), they are trying to soak up this time together as a family. Ryan is free to travel within Mozambique, but cannot “work” since he does not have a current work visa.

Annabel says, “Life is somewhat normal because now we’re back in our house and we’re able to do day-to-day stuff. So in one sense, it’s not as hard. But in another sense, it’s hard because it’s almost like our life is on hold right now.

“We can’t make any decisions for our family for the future…and so it almost feels like our family is on hold…. We just don’t know what’s going to happen. We don’t know how the case is going to end.”

In the meantime, Ryan and his family are living out what it means to walk by faith.

Ryan shares, “I think people would think that I personally would be impatient or anxious. But really, I’m not feeling that. Definitely, there are hard aspects of waiting, like I’m not able to work and not able to drive or fly. So it’s kind of a little bit stuck.

“But I believe that God has a purpose for this time and that there’s no wasted time with God. So I kind of have peace in that — knowing that He has a plan and He’ll take care of me and take care of us, as He has in amazing ways so far.”

A significant way Ryan has seen the Lord’s provision is through tangible support and prayers from fellow believers around the world who are following this case.

Ryan Koher (Photo courtesy of MAF, used with permission from the Koher family.)

Ryan says, “One of the biggest blessings I had in prison was knowing there were so many people on the outside who were caring and praying and taking care of my family, sending meals and clothes and toiletries and things like that — as well as people working relentlessly on the legal side of things as well. So through that, I can see it was a work of God having His Church come behind me in that way.”

As the waiting continues, Ryan offers three specific prayer needs.

“The things that we need prayer for are a quick and desirable outcome for the case, and that we’d be able to return to the US soon and take our furlough and get additional training and support there.

“Also, another big prayer request that we have is that we’ll be able to return to Mozambique and continue to serve here once our time in the US is over.

“Then the last thing would be just [prayers for] wisdom on how to best use this story…to glorify God in the best way.”

Check back tomorrow as Ryan and Annabel talk more about their passion for ministry in Mozambique!

Header photo courtesy of Mission Aviation Fellowship, used with permission from the Koher family.