Return to Chincheros (Day 2 & 3) – an Australian in the South-Peruvian Mountains

10 March 2017

Here is the article that Klaus posted on the Diospi Suyana website on 14 March (with some minor clarification edits by me) and which I am very humbled by;

An Australian in the South-Peruvian Mountains

Sitting at his desk in the Diospi Suyana Centro de Medios, 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 with the Quechua.

Australia is seven times bigger than Peru, but has 10 million inhabitants less.  His homeland counts among the countries in the world which have the highest living standard, whereas here we find here extreme poverty with people living in adobe huts are 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 high-tech expert for the three metropolitan 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.

Chris’ specialist literature in his office.

Just under 4,000 m in altitude, Chris (left) marking the location coordinates.

The right hand mountain peak (3,960 m) is our preferred site.

The second meeting with a village community going into the night.  The lady on the far left with the black hat is the Uripa community president (and an impressive leader in my opinion).

Here is the link to the original Diospi Suyana post (in English) by Dr Klaus John;

http://www.diospi-suyana.de/schluesselfigur-chris-welch/?lang=en

Regards,

Chris