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The Good News . . .
"Praise the Lord we are on the air"
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Tina Lemazi, Station Manage
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This was the excited text I got from Aunty Tina Lemazi (Station Manager). After months of hard work and frustrating delays, Gud Nius Redio is back on the air with a new FM frequency, and broadcasting from a new tower and a new studio.
It's been a long journey for our brothers and sisters on Guadalcanal.
A journey that started when our electricity supply was hacked into and 3 months of power stolen by our neighbors ( read how this happened).
That was in September 2011.
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Selling peanuts at the Honiara Market
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A long time ago indeed!
We must remember that the Solomon Islands are very poor and isolated, so it's difficult to get things done. Money and even basic materials are hard to come by.
As well being poor, local people are not used to the idea of supporting Christian ministry like the radio.
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Laying the earth strap for the new FM antenna
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I thank the Lord for giving us a local leader like Aunty Tina. For 17 months she has inspired and led her local volunteers as they stepped out in faith to raise money needed to pay for the stolen power (used in our name), and after that to raise the money and build a new tower and studio.
What an amazing
grandmother!
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Judah (radio staff) prepares the antenna
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Some money came from our Western donors, but most of it was raised by our staff selling food and seeking donations at the Honiara markets, and from several 'dine and donate' evenings where Tina and others shared the vision for Christian radio.
Now her staff and radio listeners have a real sense of ownership. They can celebrate Gud Nius Redio as a work of faith - something they have achieved under the Lord's direction and with His provision. This helps us show the people that the Gospel is not an imported Gospel from the affluent West.
Aunty Tina, and our friends at Gud Nius -
we are very proud of the way you have stepped out in faith and obedience to serve the Lord! |
The not so Good News . . .
The transmitter needs expensive repairs
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Not long after that excited text from Tina,
she texted again.
This time was to say the transmitter was overheating and they could not broadcast until it was repaired. Fortunately we are well served with technical help in Honiara. One of our local board members is a senior telecoms technician; we get outstanding support from HCJB Global (link) and we are also friends with the local radio tech at the government radio station.
Harry (our technician board member) has found a fault in our FM antenna and in our transmitter. However, he has been able to get the station on air with temporary repairs and our friends at HCJB Global are arranging to ship the parts Harry needs for repairs, and to send us a new antenna from America.
This equipment is costing a total USD $1602.88 ($445.33 of this amount is for shipping). That's NZD $1900.00 or AUD $1550.00.
And it is needed right away.
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