The government had refused entry to Witness missionaries. However, in October 1945 the Society arranged for two Gilead graduates from Bolivia to get in touch with the Department of Foreign Affairs in order to find out what was holding up the visas for our missionaries. Through inquiry, it was learned that by coming into the country as tourists, and then paying $25 per person, missionaries could in time get their visas to remain here. So it was that after much correspondence and many efforts eight Gilead missionaries finally arrived in Peru on October 20, 1946. That original group included Walter and Christine Akin and Nellena and Verda Pool, who would spend decades here aiding sheeplike ones.

House-hunting while lacking knowledge of the language and of currency values proved to be quite a job. During their second week in Peru, the missionaries found a house for rent, but it proved to be too expensive; and a month later another house was rented. The sisters carried their baggage and few possessions, while Brother Akin took the heavier things in a taxi. But, at least, they were getting settled.

The original group of eight missionaries divided Lima into eight territories. It fell to Brother and Sister Akin to work the section called Lince, which proved to be a very fruitful field.