As we drove through the village at night, we saw many people gathered around their fires. While we can't physically join each group, through the radio, we can sit by each fire and join their conversations.

Radio Chiunjota, with its tall tree trunk for a tower, is lighting fires of interest in the remote mountains outside of Chiconono, Mozambique. Radio Chiunjota has been on the air for five months, and many communities will never be the same again. The signal is heard as far away as 60 miles in some areas.

Community Voices

On the Airwaves In efforts to tie communities together and increase radio listenership, greetings are read over the radio. People walk long distances to bring their greetings and requests. One old man arrived at the studio with his radio on a string around his neck and his three-string tortoise shell guitar in his hands. He and his wife sang and played on Radio Chiunjota. A teacher from a nearby village came by and expressed how much he enjoyed listening to the gospel music and Bible readings

The governor of Niassa province, Arnaldo Bimbe, was invited to visit the ministry. He expressed his appreciation for the efforts of Radio Chiunjota to uplift the community and to promote peace. The huge cake baked especially for him quickly disappeared.

The king of the Yao people, King Tamila, visited the station and greeted his people on the air. He appreciates the ministry to his people even though he is not a Christian.

A Good Beginning

Normand Saindon with SIM in Mozambique writes, “In the beginning Radio Chiunjota struggled with solar power and reliable generators, so it was off and on for the broadcasts.

“A man came to see why we were off air and brought his radio with him. In his eagerness to find the right frequency, he broke the tuning knob. A group of young boys would come by and lie in the grass near the studio with their radios, intently watching the building while listening.

“During this first phase on air, our aim is to make friends with our neighbors, while not compromising our Christian witness, so we have lots of music and community request and greeting programs, as well as devotional readings and Bible stories.

"Materials and ideas are coming together for an AIDS awareness program series. Huge forestry projects are planned in our area, and we hope to be a voice of hope and encouragement to the community in this time of change. As our agricultural, health and other community programs develop, we hope to be a blessing to the Yao people in our mountains and valleys."