Key Person: Chris Welch

Chris am Computer slider

An Australian in the South-Peruvian Mountains

Sitting at his desk in the media centre, Chris analyses the topography of the Chincheros Province.  Where should Diospi Suyana‘s antenna be placed so that it reaches all 52,000 inhabitants?  Having taken hundreds of measurements, he has found “The Perfect Place”.  A couple of days later we are standing on the mountain together and mark out a square using four piles of stones.  Chris’ hard work was worth it and his positive mood influences our little team no end.

For the Australian from Sydney the Andes are unchartered territory.  He is getting his fair dose of long meetings with various village communities – something he has never come across beforehand – which have to grant us permission to go ahead with our project.  Last Saturday we had the pleasure of two such meetings.

Australia is seven times bigger than Peru, but has 10 million inhabitants less.  His homeland counts among the countries, which have the highest living standard, whereas extreme poverty lives in huts of the inhabitants of Chincheros.

“Everything I have experienced today,” says Chris that evening, “is like a film; I can hardly believe it!” “You are right,” I answer laconically, “it sounds like a missionary report!” The father of eight laughs heartily.  For 25 years he worked as a TV-Hightec-Expert for three commercial TV stations.  His high salary from back then is history.  One cannot miss noticing that the green continent fills this tall fella with enthusiasm.  As a missionary he is no longer his own boss, but has found his fulfilment on the Peruvian mountain peaks.  For God and for the people.  The finished product of our Christian Family TV and radio programme would be unthinkable without Chris.

Buecher Chris
Specialist literature at hand.
Chris auf dem Berg slider
Just under 4000 m. Chris Welch (left).
Berg neben Bitel
The right hand mountain (3960 m) is our favourite.
Ratsversammlung in Uripa
The second meeting with a village community.
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