return to algeria?

While most of the Heart Sounds International trips have various kinds of complications to deal with, the planned trip for Algeria was in a category all its own. One of HSI’s co-founders had helped set up a video editing facility in Algeria, at the nation’s only Christian training base. Not only were people trained in video editing by the team but also return trips were made to upgrade the equipment.  It was now time to organize trip number four.  The team needed more training and better equipment including a new laptop and software.

visa problems

While finalizing what had become a routine process in obtaining an Algerian visa we were stunned to hear the visa would not be granted this time. All visas to the Algerian location were being refused.  It was also discovered that laws were being proposed requiring Christian groups to register themselves - the government’s way to limit church growth and make home churches illegal. While the government accepted activities happening in church buildings they seemed more cautious about informal churches.

While trying to make sense of the Algeria visa restrictions, another mysterious set of complications took place. Incredibly, not once but three times it seemed that confirmed airline tickets could not be processed for various reasons. Would HSI ever get back into Algeria anytime soon, if ever again? The conviction remained strong, however, that a trip was still the right thing. The sense of calling remained strong. The laptop and software were tested and ready. 

malta here we come

The clock was ticking. One week to go. Alternatives had to be explored and figured out. Possible options were getting to Morocco where we have a contact doing great work in video; or Malta, where we had helped train some broadcast workers in audio. The idea of bringing the Algerians and the Moroccan to Malta to conduct training, which now could also include those working in Malta, was proposed. The Malta leader responded that such an idea, on such short notice would not have been possible until just a few hours ago when a trip just got canceled. We sensed this just might be God’s moment and were told that they would also try to get a Tunisian university student studying film production to Malta. What had begun as a trip to Algeria was turning into a pan-North African venture. 

Could the North Africans possibly get their visas and airline tickets to Malta in time?  This new plan really seemed God-ordained. There was no time left to raise funds for all the airfares to Malta. Our one man HSI team member offered to cover the costs for the Algerians. More snags with visas took place, but somehow eventually all arrived on time. What a demonstration of God's power at work controlling and arranging everything in His perfect timing.

With less than a week before the trip, yet another unexpected thing happened, this one a good thing. In fact a God thing, for sure!  A team member who had been on the previous trips to Algeria was available for a few days to join the team going to Malta. Only then was it fully realized that it would have been quite difficult for one person to carry all of the equipment to Malta. What a God-send. Though the additional team-member could only stay for the first part of the trip his involvement was crucial.  He explained lighting, exposure, camera technique, creativity, and the often overlooked issue of how to set up the various components of the studio facility.

multinational students

The team of students from several nations worked amazingly well together, handling some of the very latest video technology. The final exam was to make a promotional video to attract potential recruits to the Malta ministry. They successfully accomplished the task within 72 hours, going from pre-production through filming to editing to post-production. One outcome has been the start of discussions to organize a video production group called TAMM (Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Malta) Productions for ongoing video projects in the region. Another far-reaching result has been that the successful radio broadcasting ministry based in Malta has now added video to their arsenal of tools reaching into North Africa.

an HSI team member’s conclusion:

"Lest anyone doubt that ALL North Africans can be reached by video through satellite, I saw a picture of a very remote village in Morocco (with NO electricity) and yet there was a satellite dish on top of one of the homes. I asked the Moroccan brother about it. It turns out that they have TV's and satellite receivers that are powered by modified car batteries in many remote regions."

What seemed a hopeless situation turned into an opportunity to train not one but four teams spread across the North African region. This may have been God’s desire all along to put an HSI video team together on short notice to help a group of North Africans move deeper into video production for great Kingdom purposes in this very strategic part of the world.