Dear Friend,
Greetings in the new year!! We trust you had a blessed Christmas and are off to a good start in 1999. Being in Massachusetts for our furlough has given us the opportunity to have a lot of time with family, especially during the holiday season. We have also been greatly encouraged by our meetings with churches and individuals. God has certainly given us some special people as our support team! We have had over 35 meetings since we left Guam in late September. Thanks to all of the increases and new supporters, we are standing at 85% of our total monthly financial support need with a target return time of early spring.
Furlough highlight:
One highlight of our furlough has been to be nearby a historic place
in terms of radio. Read on and we will tell you about it.... Imagine that
the year is 1906; the date - December 24. You will spend the Christmas
holiday out at sea. You are on one of the many merchant vessels located
off of the east coast of the United States...
Working as a radioman, your job is to translate all the "clicking sounds"
that are used when you communicate by Morse code. Suddenly, in the place
of the Morse code that you are expecting, you hear something that sounds
like the voice of a man. Can it be???? Yes, it is! You turn the volume
up and listen carefully.
First you hear a man's voice announcing a program, then "Handel's Largo"
played on a phonograph. Next you hear the hymn "O Holy Night" played by
a violinist with someone singing one of the verses.
Then you hear the story of Christ's birth from Luke Chapter 2 :
"10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
You are amazed at this first voice radio broadcast, being sent from Brant Rock, Massachusetts. The voice? Reginald Aubrey Fessenden -- a scientist working on an experimental way of using "continuous waves" to generate a radio signal, giving it the ability to carry audio information rather than just clicks. Fessenden pressed on to see his dream become a reality in the face of opposition from leading industries like The British Marconi Company and The General Electric Company.
Indeed, this first voice radio broadcast could be considered a missionary message. For, in the passage in Luke quoted on that radio broadcast of December 24, 1906 we read that the great news of Jesus Christ the Savior is for "ALL PEOPLE". It is exciting to note that from the very beginning radio was used to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. We feel privileged to take part in continuing to proclaim this same message to all people in Asia (and beyond) through the TWR broadcasts from Guam.
Plaque commemorating first voice radio broadcast
Doug standing near antenna base
While on furlough in Massachusetts, we had the unique opportunity to visit the location in Brant Rock where this important event took place. We visited a supporting church in Brant Rock and were able to encourage the congregation about the historical event that took place just a mile from their church over 90 years ago. We reminded them about the important part they play as partners with us in ministry with Trans World Radio.
Doug standing at the antenna basePlaque commemorating broadcastLooking back:
In August of 1996, we were engaged on a roller coaster in Vienna. Doug decided that his life was like a roller coaster (lots of exciting changes). Denise has found life with Doug to never be boring and always full of excitement as we walk with God in our life and ministry together. In this new year as we reflect on the previous two years since our marriage, we truly thank God for His faithfulness and for all He has done for us through all the highlights and challenges: helping us to adjust quickly to marriage and serving the Lord as husband and wife on Guam, carrying us through a major typhoon, allowing us the wonderful opportunity to visit the country of Indonesia, furlough, etc....It certainly has been a couple of years of change and excitement for us! And, of course, as we look forward to 1999 we realize that there is even more change in the horizon. We have been told that our lives will change just a little bit with a baby in the family! Be sure to check out our web page to see photos of our baby as soon as he/she is born (due date: Feb. 1st.)!!! Love, Doug and Denise
