The difficulties of living and working in a third world country are compounded by the lack of amenities at a standard that we often enjoy in the west, such as relatively good and reliable electricity, telephone and water.
But in today's technologically connected world, good decent internet is a must! This is certainly the case in Christian Radio Missionary Fellowship's situation, as we provide email services to many remote locations for missionaries, pastors, hospitals, schools in Papua New Guinea. Even much of our own technical support, ordering, correspondence, researching and banking is done "online".
Until recently (believe it or not) the whole city of Goroka ran on a 64K connection, providing internet at approximately 100 times slower, and 100 times more expensive than many connections in Australia.
Due to recent developments in the communications regulations in PNG, a direct internet connection to Australia via satellite (VSAT) has now become possible.
Particularly important has been our own installation of a VSAT dish in Goroka (mostly done by ourselves). We now have a 128K down/64K up internet link all to ourselves. It is amazing to use it, downloading information at a speed and volume that was previously simply impossible – we've entered the 21st century!
Although our new VSAT connection is still about 10 times slower and more expensive than many broadband connections in Australia, we are ecstatic and find it's quite adequate for our needs.
CRMF has been following the progress of VSAT in PNG for some years, and is now involved in the advice, installation and technical support of this technology.
We have assisted to varying degrees the application procedures and installation for other missions such as New Tribes Mission, Mission Aviation Fellowship, Church of the Nazarene Hospital at Kudjip, and Christian Leaders Training College at Banz.
This is just one more of the new technologies that CRMF has been researching to help further the work of missions in PNG, and hence the knowledge of Christ to the people of this beautiful country.
CRMF provides a radio network linking isolated communities to the outside world, so enabling God's workers to help people and bring the truth of the gospel to remote areas of PNG.