Diospi FM On-Air in Andahuaylas

19 August 2018

As of 5:10 pm Saturday 18 August 2018, Andahuaylas and its surrounds is on the air with Diospi Suyana FM 96.1 MHz.  This is 3 of our 6 sites to launch as part of our initial rollout phase.

Our FM antenna bearing on the city of Andahuaylas.

It was another FM installation with its own set of unique challenges for us.  Being one of the first transmitter systems purchased by Diospi Suyana some 2 years ago, but its installation delayed due to a long string of problems not untypical in Peru.  This meant that the system was in storage for this extended period, and I discovered the preparation process that the 1-5/8” RF cable connectors had been lost due to multiple relocations of the Diospi Suyana store during this time.  Sourcing such specialised RF connectors quickly in Perú is not a trivial task.  But a pair was eventually found from a vendor in Lima, so our installation proceeded on schedule.

Then we had delays with the power connection by the electrical authority, Electro Sur.  After arriving on Monday, we did not see power at our site until Thursday.  Anyone familiar with installing sites will know how frustrating it is not to have power for tools, testing etc.  We were able to get access to a generator, but not without its own set of issues and delays.  The second hand HV transformer was then found to be faulty.  And then the new replacement they installed the wrong one with half the needed capacity!  It was enough to get by for now, but much patience is needed here.

Then the satellite pole was not in the correct location to enable it to point to our satellite.  So we had to get a new 6” diameter steel post sent overnight from Curahuasi while our team dug another 1.4m hole in the rocky soil for the foundation.  And more concrete, sand and gravel was purchased and delivered in loads with our new Toyota Hilux.  Followed by multiple trips to cart the needed water to the site.  With the most amazing rapid effort of manual digging I have seen, we had the new pole installed within 24 hours of me realising the mistaken location.  And with quick setting cement and some creative foundation steelwork welding to support the post, we had the satellite antenna installed that same afternoon and we were on the air – truly an amazing effort!

Temperatures in Andahuaylas dropped to near zero (1°C) overnight due to its 2,926 m altitude.

Our Centro de Medios manager Doris Manco’s father died of cancer in Lima early Sunday morning (terribly sad for all and a most difficult time for Doris) but he was told of our successful launch the day before by his daughter.  So Doris had to urgently return to Lima first thing that morning.  The good news is that he was a faithful Christian and supporter of Diospi Suyana, and we have the absolute assurance we will meet again in heaven.

But with lots of prayer and a resilient team of 4 Diospi Suyana staff, 2 equipment supplier contractors and me, we saw fruit to our labour after 6 days (all 12+ hours) with the launch of FM 96.1 MHz.  Then another 12 hour day to complete our installation work on the Sunday with the security system.

My previously publicised Andahuaylas radio reach was estimated to be 80,000.  But I now believe we are covering many more habitants based on the latest the Perú 2017 census figures which have just come to hand.  I am working on updating those figures based on our coverage predictions and hope to update these soon.

Following is a photo montage of some installation highlight moments.

 

Overlooking farmers’ crops – Diospi tower is on the very left.

Our installation team in front of the Andahuaylas FM site from left to right: me, Doris, Americo (contracted rigger), Euloguio, Cristobal and Luis (contracted equipment supplier).

Power is connected by the Electro Sur linesman.

Electrical pole access the cheap way – no cherry pickers here as used in Australia (and a very different WHS model in Perú).

My selfie of lunch time on site (with a few drop-in visitors).

Euloguio and Cristobal making lightning work of a new mounting hole in rocky ground.

A view of the satellite antenna through the open transmit port – our telemetry signal returns to Curahuasi through this.

Lifting the satellite dish onto its final mounting post.

Our satellite is commissioned on Intelsat using our R&S ETL brought out from Australia.  Thanks to R&S Australia for their support with this instrument.

My telemetry / security system install with thanks to support from Steve Schilg of Maximation in Australia.

An end of day completion of work up the tower (that’s me with the rigger toward the top)

Here are some examples of the many messages that have flooded into our Curahuasi studios (Centro de Medios) every day following our Andahuaylas service commencement:

Translation:  “Thanks to you also for using her (our announcer) as we experience the voice of our Father through her. We are always waiting for your program and it is a joy for me... so may God continue to bless your program. Thank you”

Translation: “Hello brother very good afternoon.  My name is Roxana I am from Andahuaylas and it is the first time I listen to your radio – it is a great blessing.”

Saludos cordiales (Best regards J),

Chris

Our Centro de Medios Advances

06 August 2018

Whilst getting ready for our next FM site installation, Andahuaylas, there is a lot else going on here in Curahuasi.  The Centro de Medios (aka Diospi Suyana studios), is undergoing a major upgrade just as we approach the 2 year anniversary mark.  The roof has been removed and we are currently installing a 3^rd floor on the building to accommodate another 12 offices for more media staff, a small TV studio and 2 small radio recording studios. 

To oversee the construction, civil engineer Udo Klemenz returns again from “retirement” Germany to Diospi Suyana with his wife Barbara (they are in their 70s).  They are here now with no plans to return to Germany this time.

 

View of the rooftop construction access ramp with our Curahuasi 5,850m+ snow-capped mountain peak backdrop.

Centro de Medios rooftop construction viewed from the front.

Dr Klaus discusses progress on the rooftop with our construction manager Udo Klemenz and Centro de Medios manager, Doris Manco.

This is necessary to improve our program further and provide much needed resources to a fatigued hard working production team.  This comes in the form of many areas such as phone support for the significantly increased number of listeners who call in since we have launched Puerto Maldonado.  We continue to receive many encouraging calls a day and many people desperate for help coming from shattered and seemingly hopeless lives. 

As of last week, 3 more Peruvian’s were added to our Centro de Medios team, now numbering 10 people.  Here copied is our current updated organisational chart;

There is a casual helper for me also, Christian Oswald who is from Germany albeit full time in other mission work in Curahuasi.  I will endeavour train him as much as his time allows to occasionally work with me so that there is someone who knows the transmission system for when I return to Australia on furlough next year.

With this new blood in the team, things are understandably upbeat in the Centro de Medios.  Note also Diospi are also moving into community announcements to help offset the day to day running costs of the expanding department.  So two of our new staff will work in this area (amongst other departments).

In the future, more staff will be added to supplement our production needs so we can provide more locally produced programs with more diversity to be more effective in our audience reach.

 

The complete Centro de Medios team with our new members, was introduced after the chapel service on Monday.

This Monday morning walking up the hill to Diospi Suyana I see a long line of people from the hospital entrance, down the road and around the corner along the lower fence line of the hospital.  This sight is becoming a more common sight since we launched our Puerto Maldonado FM transmission (a market we estimate to be not less than 200,000 people). 

 

Many of these people sleep on the path where you see them standing now for days waiting for Diospi Suyana entry!  This gives new meaning to being on a hospital waiting list!

The good news is that all of these people will hear and see the Gospel message whilst waiting to be seen by first world medical doctors.  And all of these people will have the option to attend our weekday chapel service which is packed to standing room only.

Moreover I hope to depart with my installation team early next Monday morning for Andahuaylas, where we will reach a further 80,000 people (conservative estimate) with our next FM service on 96.1 MHz.  As they say in this industry… “Stay tuned for more!”

Thank you for your prayers and support.

Chris

Diospi FM On-Air in Puerto Maldonado

10 July 2018

As of 10:00am Monday 1 July 2018, Puerto Maldonado and its surrounds is on the air with Diospi Suyana FM 107.7 MHz with our population reach estimated at 200,000.  In recent years this place has seen an infectious growth rate which is ongoing. 

During our visit it was 32°C and 85% humidity every day, with a minimum of 20°C in the night.  Normal Amazon jungle weather for this time of year.  This was the closest thing for me to a Sydney summer since being in Perú.

The 50m Diospi Suyana radio tower of Puerto Maldonado with the new FM antenna installed atop.

It was a fight all the way as there was setback after setback – in fact I don’t think one part of our installation went without some level of problem.  It was clear to me we were in the enemies’ camp with what we were doing here. 

Here is a brief overview of some of our challenges (sorry to our readers, some of these are a bit technical);

• Upon arrival we found the site was overgrown with tropical plants – it was like an episode of Lost in Space I recall watching as a child.  In fact a vine had even grown half way up the 50 metre tower ladder! (see photos)
• The electrical supply meter on the outside wall was stolen just before we arrived!
• Then I find that the electrical authority installed 3 phase power instead of single phase – despite providing drawings, load charts and having face to face meetings with them in advance.  So they had us run in double the extra heavy gauge copper cables which we had to go out and buy (expensive) in order to get approval for our power connection, even though we would still only actually use the original single phase pair of cables we brought with us.
• The tower rigger arrived a day late. Then the day after he could not start as his supervisor went missing for most of the next day!  So we lost 2 days there.
• The antenna pipe clamps did not fit their brackets despite coming from the one supplier, and all needed workshop bending to fit.
• The satellite antenna alignment was delayed as we had a significant frequency error in our satellite downlink equipment due to a misconfiguration in the telemetry decoder.  So the spectrum did not match my signature reference plot taken the week before.  This made me think I was pointing to the wrong satellite, but I was not.  When I worked out what was wrong (no external 10 MHz reference to our LNB resulting in it drifting hundreds of MHz off frequency), then support was not available to fix the reference issue in the German provided modem (a complex unit) as it was the weekend.  So we had to get a conventional standalone type LNB sent from Curahuasi.  Fortunately our team was able to send this to Puerto Maldonado overnight (it’s a 12 hour drive) to get us operational the next day.

There were a number more issues of course, but I think you get the picture.  So now some of the first fruits of these labours…

When we drove into town just a few hours after commencing transmission, we stopped at red light (not everyone does that here by the way! J) whilst listening to our broadcast on the Hilux FM radio.  And to our surprise at the restaurant opposite us, Diospi Suyana radio was blaring out!  We laughed – talk about a quick take up!

Then days later back in Curahuasi, we start getting many calls from Puerto Maldonado listeners with amazing positive feedback such as the following examples (ongoing);

 1.       On 2 July, just two days after launch, one Puerto Maldonado man named Victor was about to commit suicide but listening to Diospi radio, he calls at 6:15am and asks for help.  Our team prays and councils him over the phone to avert this tragedy, putting him on the path to a better life.

2.       On 5 July we receive a call from the Puerto Maldonado prison to thank us for the programming.

3.       Also on 5 July, we receive a call from a man in Cirilo thanking us for our program, some 7 hours from Puerto Maldonado only accessible by canoe!

4.       Our Centro de Medios manager, Doris Manco (who appears in some of my installation photos) says to me “Hermanos, gracias por venir a Perú (with a crying emoji), estoy feliz por tanto amor de Dios. Dios los colme de sus bendiciones.  Gracias, gracias, mil gracias!”  Translation:  Thank you to my family for coming to Perú, I am happy for so much of God’s love. God bless you with your blessings (with our work on the radio). Thanks, thanks – a thousand thanks!

5.       On 7 July, the mum of a Caleb and Damaris calls in to announce: What a blessing is this radio Diospi Suyana, what beautiful music.  Let us rejoice to hear you sing to the Lord – thank you brothers to all who work in this radio of the Lord.  There is no lack of testimonies from many men with hard hearts who also listen to this radio.  Of which I will say is the only Christian radio beating in this city…

And I have listened across the FM band in Puerto Maldonado myself, and I hear such hopelessness / meaninglessness from the other stations.

As our Welches in Perú mission scripture Isaiah 55:10~11 states (NIV);

¹⁰ As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,

and do not return to it without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

To our amazing supporters – this is just the beginning of course.  The listeners will increase with time in Puerto Maldonado, and I am soon to install our 5 other FM sites which will increase our Diospi Suyana coverage up to 630,000 people! 

And as I have reported previously there is more - the next phase Dr Klaus John is intent to buy more licences in 4 more key districts which are prime catchment areas of Diospi Suyana hospital patients.  They travel such a long way to receive first world medical services, love and respect offered by Diospi Suyana that is so rarely, if ever, available for the indigenous Quechuas of Perú.

Here below is a photo montage of the works…

 

When we arrived and opened the compound doors, we were surprised to see the growth after only 2 months from when it was a newly finished construction with bare ground.

A vine amazingly climbed half way up the 50m tower ladder!

Unloading the truck with our transmission equipment – here our 2.4m satellite antenna box (which is heavy!).

Piecing together our 2.4m C-Band satellite antenna.

The Electro Sur electrical authority worker connects a new circuit breaker and meter whilst the wires were live and with one leather glove and a metal handled screwdriver! (a normal practice in Perú)

When in the city, Diospi Suyana enjoyed a strong police presence J

Eventually the heat got to me and one night I insisted on trying suri (cooked on a kebab stick as no suri pizzas were to be found).  It’s their rainforest grub not unlike our Australian witchetty grub.  You have to try these things once in your life (and once was enough for me J).

A top down view of the new FM antenna installed on our 50m tower.

Testing the FM coaxial cable return loss (in the sweltering Puerto Maldonado day heat) with our R&S ETL analyser.

Here I am commissioning the FM transmission system with my originally Australian acquired R&S ETL analyser (with radio option donated by R&S Australia).

Our Diospi Suyana installation team – from left to right: Carlos, me, Doris, Euloguio and Cristobal.

After completion we were back in the Diospi Hilux for the 12 hour drive back to Curahuasi in the Andes via a 4,725m mountain pass with seemingly unending hairpin bends.

I plan to return to Puerto Maldonado next week with one assistant to make operational the satellite telemetry, commission it with the 2.4m satellite antenna with Intelsat and complete phase 2 of 3 of our site security system installation (i.e. siren, strobe, CCTV cameras with video images linked back to Curahuasi via satellite).

Thank you for your ongoing support partnering with us in this good work.

Chris

3 Visits in 3 Months from Back Home

28 April 2018

So far this year we have had 3 lots of visitors from Australia.  With this we have been blessed.  

Mum and Dad from Perth

Firstly we had the lovely honour of Sandi’s parents visiting us for the month of February and into early March.  They came to experience our everyday life and join us in serving here in Curahuasi.  And we think they did! J

The day before Mum and Dad arrived we made a spontaneous pet baby Alpaca purchase.  We bought “Milkshake” from a Quechua lady that we spotted in a Cusco main square (Plaza de Armas).  She was using him to make money from tourists posing for photos in traditional Quechua dress.  It was the cutest, soft and big brown eyed pet you could imagine. So we had the fun of surprising Mum and Dad at the airport with all of us and our new pet Milkshake.  It made for a fun 2.5 hour mountainous drive home.

 

The Quechua lady we purchased “Milkshake” from in Cusco with Sarah and Isaac patting him

The kids with our new Alpaca “Milkshake”

 A Rescue Mission

On their second night here, we were grateful for our parent’s help, as Dad accompanied Chris on a late night “rescue Sam” mission.  As it happened, on Sunday afternoon Sam went on a late afternoon road cycle up to the nearly 4,000m ASL peak near our house. The mountain night crept in and weather changed sooner than he expected.  It got dark, started to rain and the temperature dropped whilst thick cloud descended on the mountain.  Total blackness engulfed him. 

Sam then suffered exposure problems with the cold such that his fingers could not use the brakes to remount his bike and ride down the mountain.  The few cars that came past him in the following hour did not stop as Sam tried to hail them from the middle of the road.  In fact he had to jump over the steep bank to avoid being hit!  By this time his body was shaking and he was afraid for his life.  He approached some houses and yelled for help but no one opened their doors (it’s normal in the Andes culture not to stop the car for anyone or let anyone in the house out of fear).  Finally a man did open their door, resisting the ladies in the house who were trying to shut it closed again!  As the man recognised Sam as a white “gringo” from Diospi Suyana where he had himself once been given help as a patient.

The family nursed Sam in their humble cottage with hot tea and blankets.  After about an hour, Sam had recovered sufficiently and his fingers thawed out enough to access his smartphone and have their teenage son find Chris’ number.   This call was an answer to prayer as we did not know where Sam was along the 32km stretch of road!  Chris and Dad then set off on the rescue mission.  All ended well and we know without prayer, it could have ended so much worse!  And Sam no longer embarks on such rides in the afternoon! J

      

Kids Club Outreach

Mum and Dad jumped (or were put J) right into action.  We spent the afternoons of their first week here working at a children’s holiday outreach program.  Dad picked up some Spanish words and was able to help with kids craft groups and Mum was fantastic as a bible verse lesson assistant leader.  The kids and I were there helping too!  It was exciting to see many children accept Jesus into their hearts at the end of the week.

 

The holiday kids program at Diospi Suyana Club de Niños.

18 February was Sam’s birthday.  As a sign of respect to Sam our housekeeper, Rosita, cooked Sam a special Peruvian lunch. We had fun as she taught Dad some Spanish words and he taught her some Aussie lingo.

A Visit to Cusco

The third week of their visit we spent in Cusco. Chris had to work but he drove us to Cusco and returned to Curahuasi the next day. It was God’s perfect timing that we were away this week.  Chris returned home early in the morning to find an excavator digging up our driveway (without notice) as they were installing new water pipes.  So our 200m long driveway was impassable by car for the indefinite future.  But at least because we had gone to Cusco our car was on the road end of our driveway and not in our garage!  And it was still the wet season meaning Chris spent the week traipsing through mud to get to our house with no water! J. 

The wet season also causes many landslides along the main Panamericana Highway because of steep unsupported excavations, with no exception being the section between Curahuasi and Cusco.  Here is a rock that came down on this piece of road during Mum & Dad’s visit that we frequently travel (but fortunately we were not at that moment in time!).

Landslide on the highway to Cusco

While in Cusco we house-sat for friends and spent some lovely days together.  On one day Sam was tour guide for Mum and Dad visiting Machu Picchu.

 

Pa and Sam at the legendary Machu Picchu

When Chris came to pick us up, we visited a Perú native animal sanctuary near Cusco.  We saw the pumas, bears, monkeys, wildcats, condors and more animals indigenous to the region. 

  

When we arrived back in Curahuasi we found our driveway had turned into a very long mud puddle.  The boys/men carried the suitcases on their heads up to the house and we had a lovely week at home, trapped there by mud!  We were able to park on the main highway and walk to the house, but couldn’t drive in for the next 4 weeks.  A wheel barrow was great for transporting shopping!  But we were grateful for the pipe work to improve our water availability (albeit later we found out our sacrifices were not for our water/house at all but for our neighbours! J )

Here I drove up behind our “surprise excavator” on our driveway

More work on the driveway with our family carrying our bags up the hill after a 200m walk

4WD access only! (we got bogged trying to pass this with our van)

Grandma and Pa also drove with Chris and Sam to nearby Abancay to see Sam race on his road bike.  Although when passing through the treacherous Abancay streets, Chris swerves to avoid a semi-trailer on a narrow road and then BANG!  The front passenger side wheel falls into one of the many drains that are missing covers on the side of the road.  But there is no roadside service in these parts of Peru, and not even any tow trucks.  So a group of men came to our rescue, to lift the car up a bit at a time until I had slid enough large rocks under the wheel in the drain so we could simply drive away.

Carrying our racing gear including Sam’s bike down our undriveable driveway

Our van stuck in a hole in Abancay

We made sure they had many local experiences whilst they were here.  We ate local food, much Peruvian chocolate, tried the famous Inca Kola and of course Cuy (roasted Guinea pig).  We visited the thermal springs and our local (very cold) swimming pool.  They toured the hospital and school.  Mum and Dad bought us a cricket set, and we have had fun teaching German friends how to play this beloved game of ours.

 

Cuy (Guinea pig) is not everyone’s preference but you have to try it at least once!

On 1 March the kids started back at school.  Mum and Dad were here for their first day. Solomon is trying again this year.  I think he will cope well.

Team Welch’s first day back at school for 2018

We loved having them visit. It was a special time and we made many Peru memories together.

Bill and Carolyn from PHCS

From 16 to 19 April, we had two teachers from Pacific Hills Christian School in Sydney visit Curahuasi. Pacific Hills, and in particular principal Dr Boyce, have been a faithful blessing to the Diospi Suyana School.  Bill and Carolyn came to spend time with the Diospi school teachers, sharing with them about integrating God into school life. They had numerous sessions speaking to students also.  The kids loved hearing Bills testimony about his Dad growing up in impoverished Greece, and were encouraged in the importance of pursuing an education for the good of their families as well as their own futures.

Carolyn presents to the Diospi Colegio seniors

We shared some lovely time with them here in our farmhouse too. Our kids, Chris and I were very blessed by their friendship and encouragement. Also by the suitcase of Australian treats, school books and of course the kangaroo and koala costume they brought with them!

Carolyn, Bill, Chris and Sandi

Henri & Halyn

Friends Henri and Halyn and their youngest son Benji then arrived in quick succession days later.  (As background: Chris and Jake initially embarked on our first and life changing short term mission trip to Cambodia with Henri and his son Sam in Easter of 2014.  This was run by Pacific Hills Christian School for year 9 students, hosted by Samaritan’s Purse in Cambodia).

We were blessed to enjoy some more Aussie / NZ company as we showed them around Diospi Suyana and Curahuasi.  Benji was brave and spent a day at school with Sarah’s class. We had some great fellowship catching up on our respective lives since we left Australia.  They have big mission hearts and took opportunity to bless and invest in people here in Curahuasi.

In the middle of their stay, they took time out to do Machu Picchu (as most do for obvious reasons).

Henri also cooked up some Thai food in our kitchen when we mentioned it is not found in Peru outside of Lima and one of the things we missed about Australia.  This was after we climbed the 1km high “hill” behind our house with 5 of our kids.  And together replaced the rope on the tree swing in our front yard which our younger kids have appreciated ever since.

Almost as quickly as they arrived, they were off again on the second part of their journey.

Time for a quick group photo after the Diospi Suyana morning chapel service

Love to all,

Sandi & Chris