(Oct. 17, 2014 - by Roger Reimer)  For decades, the only way people living in many remote Andean communities across South America could hear gospel broadcasts was from a Christian shortwave station, the Voice of the Andes—Radio Station HCJB in Quito, Ecuador.

Now, in the place of one large voice originating from Ecuador, a growing chorus of smaller voices is emerging in the Andes, including the newest one in the picturesque mountain town of Llata, Peru, about 250 miles northeast of Lima.

A team of energetic, enthusiastic workers from Reach Beyond (formerly HCJB Global), led by engineering staff member Jeremy Maller, joined forces with members of a local evangelical church to plant a new radio station within sight of the majestic snowcapped peaks.

“The small farming community of Llata (pronounced yah-tah) sits in the foothills of the Andes,” said Maller in an interview. “Huge snowcapped peaks can be seen from the radio tower site. The weather is cool but the sun is intense due to the high altitude (9,200 feet). Most days I was there I wore a jacket to keep warm.”

Maller invested several weeks of his time and labor, assisting local believers to establish the community-based radio station and see it begin broadcasting programs of interest to the people, weaving in the good news of salvation through Christ.

From the beginning, the project was fraught with delays and challenges, prompting team members to use every ounce of their ingenuity and energy to get the station on the air by the government-imposed deadline late last month.

Muddy, slippery, impassable roads forced the team to hand carry radio equipment to the building site in this high-altitude, oxygen-deprived environment. Can you imagine carrying heavy equipment and even some office furniture tied to your back up the side of a mountain? Gasping for breath is the reality for anyone not accustomed to such conditions.

“I was impressed by the work ethic of those helping us,” said Maller. “They were there along with us, ready to help with whatever we needed. I remember specifically that we needed to move equipment from Llata up to the tower site. The vehicles we used could not make it all the way up the mountain, so we had to leave the equipment, including furniture for the building, on the side of the road. One Peruvian man who was riding with us used a rope to tie a table to his back and chugged up the hill to the studio. He later came down for more equipment and kept going until the job was done.”

When the FM transmitter the team had planned to install got held up in Peruvian customs, “God made a way,” he recounted. “The company selling us the transmitter agreed to send a spare transmitter so the station could go on the air before we left. This transmitter will be replaced once the permanent one arrives in Llata.”

“We were fortunate to see the station broadcasting before we left Llata,” Maller said upon completing the installation. “It’s always a good feeling to be there when a new station goes on-air for the first time. Also, the pastor of the local church in charge of the station has been involved from the beginning planning stages. He has a great interest in seeing the station succeed and it is good to see local support.”

The pastor has aspirations for using the station as a tool to share his faith in the area that has a population of about 15,000. Although the community is small, it’s busy and thriving—important enough for politicians to visit, hoping to garner support.

“There were political rallies taking place while we were there, and the narrow side streets were filled with people, especially in the evenings,” Maller related. “Due to my lack of Spanish, there was a communication barrier, but I felt welcome. The people were warm and humble.”

Reflecting on his missionary career, Maller said facing “risk and uncertainty” has become an almost daily aspect of his experience. “Many people handle uncertainty very well; I have difficulty with it,” he confessed. “But I’ve learned to let God lead day by day and to relax when I know I cannot do anything about a particular situation. Often, I have to take things as they come and change plans on short notice. But that also helps me rely on God more.”

Maller said it’s been an eye-opener to “travel to some very interesting places and meet people of different cultures. Even when I’m not traveling, the work day tends to be one of variety with some challenges. Whether working to get a residence permit approved in the nick of time, or visiting a local market to pick up supplies, no two days are the same.”

“My experience in cross-cultural missions has been rewarding, and I often enjoy the challenges and variety of work it brings my way,” he added. “Serving God in missions brings satisfaction, knowing I am in His will for me.”

“I have the privilege of being used by God, for His kingdom work,” Maller concluded. “I’m motivated by a desire to see everyone get the opportunity to hear about what Christ has done for them. Christian radio is a great way to give them that opportunity.”

Source: Reach Beyond