15 August 2018
|Hi again, y'all!
Yes, August is here, another month, another winter month. We have had a very cold winter. Today is a little better, and we have sun. Many days we did not have sun and even had hail and cold rain, not much, but it is real cold here when the sun does not shine!! We are spoiled with sun most of the year.
Now we have wonderful visitors here for about 10 days, Billy and Donna Hires. They are hitting the ground running, Bob has Billy preaching 3 times today and this week they will talk to the teachers, parents and h.s. students at the school, plus visit other ministries here. This morning we were really blessed and challenged to stay close to the Lord and let HIM shine through us. We are looking forward to more of this teaching, including special meetings here at our main church in Arequipa, and a short trip to Chuquibamba. Thanks for praying for lasting fruit from these sessions, and for strength for all of us these days.
In July Bob had a couple trips, and we ask for continued prayer for the Espinar believers. Attitudes up there are somewhat better, but there are still some problems. The last few days of July however, Bob and others from here had very profitable meetings up in the Colca canyon, Lari. This was encouraging to many of the believers in the area churches.
There was some sadness in July, 2 deaths, funerals, burials. One was Abraham, whom we mentioned before who died of TB. We are so very very thankful he found peace with God in his last days on this earth. Truly he gave a clear testimony of the Lord's forgiveness. The other was the mother of two of the elders in the Cono Norte church here. She was a faithful believer who prayed daily for all of her children. At least 4 of the 8 are believers and the others are listening, we pray they will see their need and come to Christ. Honorata did not speak Spanish, nor read. But she memorized and sang songs and verses in Quechua. Both these dear saints are with the Lord, our final hope as well.
This past week was school vacation, our mid-year break. For the anniversary of Peru's independence the students prepared a re-enactment of the declaration of Independence - it was good. I am thankful for the freedom here to not only teach God's Word (the most important), but also for the patriotism. It is sad that in the U.S. they took out the pledge of allegiance to the flag, etc. as well as the freedom to teach about God.
Thanks so much for your prayers and for all you share with us. Please keep us in your prayers. We need God and His strength daily. Our support address is
Christian Missions in Many Lands, Inc.
P.O. Box 13,
Spring Lake, NJ 07762-0013 with a note saying for Bob Rich, Peru
Thank you so much, God's richest blessings for each of you, In Him, Noél for us