So let us spring into an update of the Stanley Adventures! The photo on the front was taken in Liberia, Africa, as we installed a new transmitter and new antenna system for Radio ELWA. Standing with us is Sargba Borkay who is the head of the engineering department there. We were in Liberia for about 10 weeks (October through mid-December) and it was a grueling, BLESSED ordeal!!
The grueling parts: Very high humidity and very hot temperatures throughout our time there caused us to sweat, sweat, sweat and we both lost many pounds of weight and energy. Some component failures in the new transmitter caused some exciting times of sparks and smoke and balls of fire which resulted in the loss of other expensive and hard to replace parts. The electricity situation at the radio station is based on generators and old wiring and we faced several times of no power at all. Understanding English in the Liberian way was as difficult for us as it was for them to understand American English.
How many times can a person repeat a sentence??? Many times!! And the extreme poverty issues in Liberia caused us much heart pain and some wallet pain.
The BLESSED parts: The Atlantic Ocean was a gift. It was right in front of our house. Its breeze after a sweaty day was wonderful and made sleeping possible. DHL delivery service from Costa Rica (factory location of the new transmitter) to Monrovia, Liberia took 4 days and big bucks, but it worked and supplied the replacement parts. Knowing you, our friends, were praying was a rock of comfort and support. There was also a group of old women in the interior of the country, we were told, who when they heard that some Americans had come to restore radio service to them after years of silence, took it upon themselves to pray that promise into existence. When we finally experienced the first night when
all three transmitters were on the air....the new transmitter that we had installed, an old transmitter that we had found on the shelf and fixed and an FM transmitter that had been running at very weak power, but we had been able to increase to a more listenable signal.....there was quite a joyful celebration as this station had not been running in this manner in 17 years, since before the two civil wars.
The Atlantic Ocean......200 feet from our front door in Africa
We continued to work for the Liberian station even while we were at home in January as we had left with many promises on our sleeve to do when we got home. We sent 6 boxes of "promises" to them in early February. Fortunately though, not with DHL, but as part of a shipping container that a company was sending from Mufreesboro, TN, just an hour or so up the road from us. A man there sees his mission in life as getting materials into the hands of missionaries and Christian organizations in Liberia with a minimum of hassle and fees. What a blessing to find out about him!
As we write this update, we are also beginning to gather parts together for our trip to New Mexico for the month of April. We will again be at The Lord's Ranch, a radio station near Las Cruces, NM, where we installed a new transmitter and antenna last summer. We will go to make a few adjustments to the equipment to make it sound a little better and be more reliable.
September is being set aside for coming to Michigan to speak to our supporting churches. We have already set dates with the Overisel Church for September 21 and 24 so go ahead and mark them on your calendar as well. We will also be speaking at other churches as we line up the dates. Stay tuned.
As some of you know, I had surgery on February 25 to have my silicone breast implants removed. These had been part of my reconstructive surgery after cancer in 1976, but had now ruptured and were causing problems. The surgery went well and I am still healing. John has been precious to take on my heavier jobs in the meantime. I have told him that with the new thinner me, I will be able to fit into even lots narrower spaces in these radio transmitters that we work on. We have been blessed by your prayers and your concern.
And your continuing delight in the Lord's work through us is also a blessing. Stay the course. Rejoice in the Resurrection!
