We had a full day at the transmitter site with a little over 60 people present to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the start of TWR Swaziland broadcasts.\u00a0 As far we know, Virginia and I, plus Samuel Masilela were the only ones attending who were present 40 years ago when the first broadcasts was aired.<\/p>\n
We plan to provide photos and more details, but in the interest of getting something posted in a timely manner we’ll forego the photos for the time being.<\/p>\n
As part of the program, I was asked to give a 10 minute testimony.\u00a0 I was not told ahead of time, but was amazed to find out how well it meshed with the theme, “Remember the Marvelous Works which He has done….”\u00a0 I Chronicles 16:12<\/p>\n
Following is the text of that testimony (sorry for the length — there is probably a better way using a link):<\/p>\n
Testimony for 40<\/strong>th<\/sup><\/strong> Anniversary of TWR Swaziland<\/strong><\/p>\n Larry McGuire<\/p>\n 31 October 2014<\/p>\n First,\u00a0let me say that\u00a0Virginia and I\u00a0feel\u00a0privileged\u00a0to\u00a0have served with TWR\u00a0for the past 47 years. \u00a0We both agree that the most memorable of those years were while living here in Swaziland from 1973 to 1989. \u00a0All five of our sons were born during that time and Swaziland still feels like home to us.\u00a0 This transmitter site brings back so many memories of the “great things God has done.”<\/p>\n Today, I could spend hours\u00a0telling you about details of the early history of TWR Swaziland.\u00a0 Instead, I will try to tell of\u00a0just four, of many, times that we clearly witnessed God’s Hand at work.<\/p>\n Isaiah 65:24, “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”<\/strong><\/p>\n In the video we have just seen [\u00a0http:\/\/vimeo.com\/109814775 ]<\/em>, Edie referred to God’s provision of sand just when it was needed. \u00a0Here is my recollection of that amazing event.\u00a0\u00a0In 1973 and 74, during the early stages of construction, we were taking river sand from the river from near the end of the current suspension bridge. \u00a0This sand was being used to make thousands of concrete blocks, and to pour foundations and anchors for buildings and antennas. \u00a0Maybe 30% of the way into the project, we had nearly used up all the available sand. \u00a0We were investigating the\u00a0logistics,\u00a0and were overwhelmed by the cost, of purchasing and transporting hundreds of tons of sand to continue\u00a0the construction. \u00a0About then, we\u00a0experienced some very heavy rains.\u00a0 Since this was before the roads and building site were graveled, the roads and working conditions became extremely muddy.\u00a0 The river rose very high for a\u00a0couple of days cutting off access via our normal route. \u00a0\u00a0So, in\u00a0addition to being annoyed by the\u00a0miserable working conditions,\u00a0we had to\u00a0travel the\u00a0hour-longer north route through Scotts Ranch.\u00a0 When\u00a0the\u00a0river receded, the sand that we had used up had been replaced, plus a whole lot more. \u00a0So, while we were fretting, God was providing — abundantly. \u00a0We may have lost a few hours of productive work, but God had silently been redeeming those lost hours so that the work could progress even more quickly!<\/p>\n When trying to locate a suitable transmitter location in Swaziland, we explored and tested many sites. \u00a0We would drive aluminum rods into the earth and use a special meter to measure ground conductivity. \u00a0(Those who observed us must have thought we were crazy.\u00a0\u00a0We heard later that some were convinced that we were working for the CIA!)\u00a0 I recall testing sites near Ngwenya, Malkerns, Big Bend and what is now Hlane Game Park, but a site near Mhlume was, by far, the very best. \u00a0When TWR was finally granted a license in 1973, the only property available was Mpangela Ranch, so here is where TWR established its transmitter site. \u00a0Several years later, we were again taking ground conductivity measurements to find a\u00a0location for our station in Boputhatswana. \u00a0At that time, we decided to test the ground conductivity here on this property.\u00a0 To our amazement, the measurements were similar to the ones taken at Mhlume.\u00a0 We praised God and marveled at what He had done by providing\u00a0Mpangela Ranch at just the right moment back in 1973 — and it was a whole lot closer to Manzini than Mhlume!<\/p>\n On \u00a01 November 1974 we had only one 25 kw transmitter on the air, broadcasting from the storage building located about where the wall behind me is. \u00a0The first section of the transmitter building was just nearing completion and housed only two transmitters. Therefore, only one diesel driven alternator was needed.\u00a0 It was only when the second section of the building was completed in 1975, that the third and fourth\u00a025\u00a0kw transmitters were ready for service. \u00a0At that point we purchased and installed the second diesel driven alternator. \u00a0Since the power plant building was located across the way [about 200 feet southwest]<\/em>, we needed a heavy power cable to bring the additional power from the power building to the transmitters. \u00a0No company that we contacted wanted to cut the length of expensive cable that we wanted off a full reel. Eventually, we found a company that had a partial reel that was quite a bit longer than what we required, but they agreed to sell it all to us for only the cost of the length we wanted. \u00a0We cut off what we needed and for four years the huge reel with left-over cable sat outside, then in the storage shed. \u00a0When it came time to add the Continental 100kw shortwave transmitter in 1979, we needed a heavy power cable to connect it up. \u00a0We measured the length of cable required. When we checked the remaining cable on the reel, there was just enough cable to make the connection.\u00a0 Once again, the Lord had made provisions for a need, that we did\u00a0not know we would have until four years later!<\/p>\n Last but not least — When TWR Swaziland first went on the air, the nearest power line ended at the top of the hill near Singing Pines [20 miles away]<\/em>.\u00a0 Because the cost would have been much too high to connect, TWR utilized two diesel driven alternators to provide electricity. \u00a0(The larger of those two alternators is still being used on the smaller of the current standby engines.) \u00a0Two years later, in 1976,\u00a0we observed that the power line had been extended to Mpisi farm [6 miles away]<\/em>.\u00a0 We again contacted the Swaziland Electricity Board about the possibility of connecting onto the end of the Mpisi line. \u00a0SEB agreed, and,\u00a0amazingly, at no capital cost to TWR. \u00a0Since this\u00a0line\u00a0was coming all the way from their substation on the other side of Manzini [25 miles away]<\/em>, SEB stipulated they would only be able to supply enough power for two, of our four, transmitters. We\u00a0accepted this\u00a0limitation, as it would still greatly reduce our operational costs.\u00a0 After connecting the two\u00a0 transmitters to SEB, we\u00a0found that the\u00a0voltage sagged\u00a0nearly\u00a010% when\u00a0high voltage was\u00a0switched on.\u00a0\u00a0It was true — loading on all four\u00a025kw transmitters was impossible —\u00a0EXCEPT\u00a0— we were about to make an amazing discovery!<\/p>\n When TWR obtained the 25kw shortwave transmitters in 1971, they were nearly 25 years old, but had never been used. \u00a0Included with the spare parts, that had been gathered in the 1940s for these transmitters, was a large, rather unusual, transformer that was not even a transmitter\u00a0part. Since it was not needed, we stored it in the back of the storage shed. Now, with the limited load capability of SEB, we decided to check out this now well-hidden transformer and discovered that it was a regulation transformer. \u00a0Doing some calculations, we discovered that it was just big enough to regulate the low voltage sections of all four transmitters, but SEB would have to approve the additional load on their power line. \u00a0SEB agreed and within weeks all four transmitters were successfully operating on SEB power.\u00a0 The high-maintenance diesel engines were now reassigned for standby service only. \u00a0Our operating costs and\u00a0labor for maintenance dropped dramatically!\u00a0 All this could only happen because God knew of our need 30 years earlier and saw to it that someone in the 1940s ordered this regulation transformer so that it would end up being included with the transmitter parts destined for Swaziland!<\/p>\n This God, who answered before we knew we even had a need in the early history of TWR Swaziland, is the same God that we serve today.\u00a0 Let us continue to trust Him, so that we will\u00a0see\u00a0His\u00a0Hand\u00a0at work in our personal lives\u00a0and in the\u00a0ministry\u00a0of TWR, possibly for another 40 years, if He does not return before then. \u00a0All praise goes to our Great God for what He has done, for what He is doing and for what He is going to do!!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We had a full day at the transmitter site with a little over 60 people present to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the start of TWR Swaziland broadcasts.\u00a0 As far we know, Virginia and I, plus Samuel Masilela were the only ones attending who were present 40 years ago when the first broadcasts was aired. 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