Bonaire

Sorry I haven’t written in so long, it’s been a pretty crazy time from travelling to South America to enjoying a short stint in Nebraska for Clay and Rachel Wakefield’s wedding. But I wanted to tell you a little about my Bonaire trip as well as what will be happening in Africa.

Bonaire was great. It’s the most ugly beautiful place I’ve ever seen. It looks as if a part of the moon decided to crumble off and then smash itself in the middle of the crystal blue Caribbean. Beautiful shorelines and desolate salt pans define this little island. And the sunsets, wow, it looked as if the sky exploded. My eyes drank in those hues as if they have been thirsting for color all my life.

The main reason for my trip was to do an information piece on the radio towers on the south end of the island. Due to the high salt content of the ocean, there is a large salt farm on the southern end of the island (you Nebraska folk will be happy to know that it’s a farm ran by Cargill). The constant 30mph winds pick up the salt and blow it onto the towers, causing them to rust very quickly. They are hoping to raise the money to fix the rusted braces of the towers before it gets so bad that the towers may collapse. That would be a huge loss since these towers transmit the Gospel to millions of people, all day and every day, from Cuba to the north to Brazil to the shouth, and all the countries in-between. You can watch the video at www.twr.org/bonaire09.

Filming there was a great experience. From the sunsets, to the desolate landscape, the salt pans, the waves, and getting hoisted up 250ft by rope to film the rusting towers. Yes Mom, I was hoisted up in a little 2.5ft X 1ft chair 250 feet, with a video camera in one hand, and my other grasping for dear life on the rope, just swinging in the gusting wind way, way above the Bonaire landscape. I spent a good ten minutes just swing up there, trying to tether myself to the tower. You can actually see one of the shots of this little adventure if you watch the video online at www.twr.org/bonaire09. I think that was one of the craziest thing I’ve done next to skydiving.

It was an awesome experience. I was treated very warmly by the missionary families down there who cooked lunch or dinner for me everyday. My last day there I even got to go snorkeling (it took me a good hour to convince myself “Yes Ryan, you can breath under water”). And the waters are just as glowing blue as in all those pictures.

Now Africa. Tomorrow another intern and I will be making the 17 hour flight to Johannesburg, South Africa to begin our two-week filming and shooting trek through Africa. On top of South Africa, we will be travelling through Kenya, Swaziland, and Mozambique. It’s going to be quite the ride, and this is the big trip I’ve been most excited about. Please keep us in your prayers that we both stay healthy and that we can get all the footage and photos we need.

Thanks so much for your continuing prayers and all your support!