Solomon Islands
*** UPDATE *** (19 April 2016)
Final arrangements have been made and we travel to Solomon Islands on the 9th of May 2016 to install transmitters at Honiara and Munda. Please pray as the team from NZ travel to do this vital ministry. If you would like to be kept up to date with this project please contact us through our Contact Us page and we can send you our Newsletter.
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*** UPDATE *** (5 May 2016)
One of the objectives of this trip is to give training to at least two or three capable locals in the basics of maintenance and simple repairs. To this end we have put together a basic toolkit shown below and we will train them in the use of all the tools in the kit. If you would like to help us put more kits together to help the local people become autonomous then please consider donating to the Project on our Make a Donation page. 100% of all funds received go directly to these Projects.
*** UPDATE *** (9 May 2016)
The Team set off on the 9th May to construct and install two transmitters, one in Honiara and the other on Munda. We actually achieved FOUR installs, one in Honiara, another in Munda, another in Ghizo and the fourth in Auki on the Island of Malaita !!
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*** UPDATE *** (20 April 2018)
Plans are being made to revisit Honiara and Munda to complete the fit out of the Studios so that we can then train staff to have 95.3FM and 98.5FM LIVE to Air !
This requires full studio fit outs with all the equipment necessary to broadcast live from Honiara and Munda. This is a huge expensive undertaking and will require quite an extended stay in both Honiara and Munda to complete the work required.
*** UPDATE *** (12 July 2024)
The station at Munda was visited by the Team from UCB and the Transmitter / Antenna repaired.
Modern technoiogy allowed this by remote control so to speak.
HONIARA
Ebenezer House of Prayer where we are developing the basement area for studios. We are covering all of Honiara and some of the outer Islands from this location on 95.3FM
Floor joists down ready for flooring. This area will house an On Air studio, a Production Studio and Offices.
Flooring finally arrived over a week after being ordered and paid for.
View out to Honiara harbour from Ebenezer house.
View from Ebenezer house of Prayer out to some of the out lying Islands. 95.3FM easily reaches these Islands as well as all of Honiara.
Raising the Antenna on the roof of Ebenezer house of Prayer.
Many hands make light work. Raising the Antenna on Ebenezer House.
Transmitter on top of a cupboard well out of harms way as a temporary install until the Studios are completed. Roly doing some finer adjustments.
Many hands make light work. Raising the Antenna on Ebenezer House.
Transmitter on top of a cupboard well out of harms way as a temporary install until the Studios are completed. Roly doing some finer adjustments.
MUNDA ISLAND
Arriving at Munda by Twin Otter, max 18 passengers plus very limited luggage.
Studio at Munda ready for lining out and equipment installed
Lining the walls with a vermin proof fibrous lining. Views out the window right across the lagoon.
Owen Wilson, one of In The Gap Ministries volunteers for this trip, busy with a hammer lining out one of the soon to be studios.
Owen with one of the local lads helping to fix the Antenna to the side of the house.
All hands on deck raising the mast with Antenna for 98.5FM Munda. We have a high power 350watt transmitter at this location servicing Munda and many of the closer Islands.
Studios that have been donated for the cause.
One of the Tool Kits that In The Gap Ministries have donated from generous donations from our supporters. This kit now stays with the station for repairs and maintenance.
A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE.
Kids enjoying the Radio on 95.3FM listening on the Galcom Solar Powered Radio. This is a fixed frequency radio so can only be used for our stations.
Others too are keen to hear the new radio station, the first Christian Radio station ever for Munda. The Solar powered Radios are hugely appreciated. Thanks to our Supporters for making this possible.
Roly making final adjustments on the 350watt transmitter at Munda.
Track and four wheel drive are the only way to get to the Transmission site. Great track when the weather is fine but if it is raining then that is another story altogether.
GIZO ISLAND
Another "interesting" trip from Munda to Gizo by Twin Otter.
Yes, that is Gizo airstrip as viewed through the cockpit window of the Twin Otter. The whole island is the Airstrip. Thank goodness for the short strip capabilities of the Twin Otter !!
It is a short boat trip from the Airstrip to Gizo proper.
Foreshore of Gizo.
A small section of the daily market on the shoreline of Gizo
The Guesthouse where we stayed and ultimately installed a Radio Transmitter on the highest point of the Island. Fabulous grounds, lovely Guesthouse and views to die for.
Erecting the Antenna on what used to be an old Ham Radio mast. It now has LaifFM on 107.3FM broadcasting Christian Radio over the Island of Gizo.
Our lovely Hosts who kindly allowed us to put in a transmitter and let it operate in the kitchen on top of the refrigerator. ...... What ever works !!
Trying to reach the top of the Antenna......before a box was employed for extra height..........
A view of just some of the many hundreds of Islands which make up the group known as the Solomon Islands. Ship wrecks from WW2 are still quite visible in parts from the air.
MALAITA ISLAND
Looking out towards Auki harbour
Scenes across Auki on Malaita Island
Our very kind Hosts at Auki
Makeshift Antenna on a bamboo pole
Possible future mast we can use for our Antennas on 108.3FM
Map showing all four locations and coverage for Christian Radio in the Solomon Islands
A Call to Action
Please contact us either by email at info@itgministries.co.nz or by filling out the form found on the "Contact" page or click HERE.
You may not be able to "come on Mission" but still be interested in supporting us in some way. Would you consider a donation towards this Project in getting Christian Broadcasting established in the Solomon Islands? If so, please press the Donate button to the left of this page or click HERE.
Above all, In The Gap Ministries would solicit your prayers for this and other Projects of a similar nature around the Pacific. Why not ask for our Newsletter so that you can be informed as to what is happening in the Pacific Islands with Radio Broadcasting?
Click HERE to receive our Newsletter for prayer interest.
To read some very interesting TESTIMONIES from the Solomon Islands click HERE
