Chrysolite-based radio studio

I'm still learning how to pray. Or, maybe, I should say, I'm still learning to pray.

As Sarita and I have committed ourselves to give to various charitable causes, we (or--let me speak for myself--I) have not kept pace in praying for these causes.

So this year I began using the monthly prayer sheets some of our favorite charities send our way.

Sunday, FEBC mentioned a community FM radio station in Iraq sponsored by its sister agency, Feba. "Called Voice of Joy," the article said, "the broadcasts are transmitted from a Chrysolite-based studio. . . ."

"Chrysolite-based" studio? I asked myself. "What's that? . . . There's a gem named chrysolite. Is the transmitter or studio somehow based on chrysolite, the way the old crystal radios were based on or used quartz or other piezoelectric crystals? (???) Or, perhaps, is there a town in Iraq named Chrysolite? (???)"

I looked it up on Google.

I could find nothing.

So I wrote to a friend I know at FEBC: "What does that sentence in the FEBC Prayer Target mean?"

He wrote back with a link to a video that, he said, included "some info about the Chrysolite suitcase studio." (!!!)



The poor engineer who is asked to explain the device appears totally ill-at-ease in front of the camera. But eventually he seems to forget himself as he warms up to his subject.

If you're at all into electronic or technical "stuff," I think you'll find it fascinating. The video lasts 8:33.

My friend concluded his email: "Actually, Feba is in negotiations with some other UK-based ministries to take over the production of these studios, as they are moving away from engineering and more toward program innovation."

. . . Ah! I found another video, a bit more polished for public consumption: