Hi to you dear ones,

Well, not just in November. We should be thankful all the time. But as Thanksgiving comes near, we remember all we have to thank the Lord for.

Bob went on some trips later last month. The first one, he was supposed to be in Culypampa, (very high) for some special meetings. But - going through the mine before getting there his car hit a sharp rock in the dirt road twice, front and back wheels. Well, it blew the 2 tires. Other things were out of whack too. The guys with him helped change the one tire (he had one spare) but the other one they had to get fixed somewhere. So they were forced to go back to a place where they could get at least two tires, but not the right size.

Somehow they made it back to Arequipa, and the next day Bob was able to get the things fixed on the car. But the mechanic told him that after 5 or 6 years, this vehicle is losing the life he needs for where it goes. This is sad to think about. For sure it is the very best car we have ever had and really has worked well. Also the expense of another one seems out of sight. We will for sure keep this one as long as possible, but guess you can help us pray for wisdom in this, a lot depends on where Bob takes it.

The roads in Perú are much better than before, but still not all good ones, in fact many are very difficult still, especially in the rainy season. Up there where they got stuck it was snowing, and that melted makes slush and mud. The car was caked with mud and dirt when it got back to Arequipa. The next weekend Bob did make it fine to Caylloma, also high, but not as high as Culypampa.

They had good meetings there, the believers were encouraged. This past weekend he was in the Majes valley in a town called Cantas, and there they also had good meetings, encouraging the believers in the valley. Thanks for praying for the many believers we have in mountain and valley areas, and some on the coast too, Camaná especially. They all need encouragement in Christ.

As God blesses, His and our enemy cause trouble. We have had problems with our Quechua worker, Daniel - moral problems with his son, and Daniel not only accepting it but promoting it, not taking seriously God's standards and not accepting counsel or correction. So for now the church here is cutting off his support, but instead of recognizing sin, he is rebelling more. Please pray for Daniel and this whole situation. He was used of the Lord to bring many to Christ, but somehow now is going in the wrong.

Here in Arequipa, the Christians from different churches, and the Christian schools, have remembered the 500 years of the Reformation movement. The Christian schools, including ours, had a large march, with the bands of a couple larger schools - on one of the main streets here. It was a good testimony. Also there was a thanksgiving service and concert last Saturday for this, also an excellent testimony.

These were mostly organized by the Norwegian Lutheran mission and school, but different Christian churches cooperated. It was a good testimony too. Truly we are very very thankful for the freedom we have here to teach and spread the Lord's Word, His gospel of salvation by grace, through faith, and based only on Holy Scripture. Again, so much to be thankful for. We are thankful for you dear ones who stand with us in spreading and teaching God's Word, forming disciples of Christ. We have seen growth.

We are glad to be sending a couple to the tribal work at the end of this year. Joel and Esther are preparing for this, and are faithfully serving the Lord here while in preparation. Please pray for them, that all their needs will be met and that they will have a fruitful ministry for our Lord.

Here it is late spring, but we have had a cold spell, nights and early mornings especially, with lots of wind. Still, it is a nice weather time. We are in the last bimester of the school year. Again, we are truly thankful for the freedom to teach God's Word in the school. Please help us pray for next year, dedicated Christian teachers, students, and sponsors for several children whose parents or tutors can not pay fees.

Fees have to go up some as the teachers need more pay. The state has raised the minimum wage for the teachers immensely, forcing the private schools to also pay more. We need God's wisdom and guidance, and His provision for all of this.

Thanks so very much for praying and sharing. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving season. Our webpage, done by our son, Joe, is bobandnoelrich.com Our support address is-

Christian Missions in Many Lands, Inc.
P.O. Box 13,
Spring Lake, N.J. 07762-0013 with a note - for Bob Rich, Perú.

Many Thanksgiving blessings for you, Noél for us

Well, finally! Dear praying friends,

Hi again! Today there we have our water cut off, and about 1:30 a.m. we woke up to a rather long shake up. South Perú (Tacna) and northern Chile had an earthquake of 6.3 on the richter scale. It was "shake, rattle and roll" here for a couple minutes, but no severe damage was done here. A couple got hurt trying to escape down some stairs but that is all we heard on the news so far.

We had a really blessed time at a retreat in Chiclayo (north Perú) with some CMML missionaries last week. God took us and brought us back safely, but these airplanes just leave late too much. I got back just for the last part of the school's anniversary program, too late to see the 5 yr. old sing their little song I helped them learn in English, but in time to give out the prizes for the winners of the Bible contest.

All the students in the school studied the last half of Acts, Paul's journeys, etc. From Acts 13 on. We pray what they learned will stay with them for life. And all else they learn from God's Word. We are thankful for the opportunity to teach His Word in school. Thanks for praying!

God has blessed here in our main church with baptisms the last two Sundays. The first one was a sister from our outreach to Yarabamba, a little town about an hour's drive from Arequipa. Our colleague, Jeff, along with some others from here, have been going Sunday afternoons and sometimes midweek to work with the folks there. There are only like 4 baptized from there - but it is a start.

Leonarda has to be in a wheelchair and does not read, but she understands the gospel very well, and has desired baptism, so she and we are blessed! Then last Sunday another young sister was baptized, she goes into the hospital today for a rather delicate operation, but we are trusting the Lord for her healing, thanks for praying! Her name is Genesis - (beginning!)

Next week Bob plans on going to some special meetings (called "conventions") in two of our mountain areas, Culypampa (very very high altitude, like 14,500 ft) and Caylloma, also high altitude. It is still cold up there, though here it is nicer finally, with cold nights but hot, sunny days.

There are still some marriage problems here, and others who are being some indifferent to God's ways, so we do appreciate your prayers. Thanks so very very much for all you share with us too. Please visit our website: bobandnoelrich.com (done by our son Joe). Some brothers from here are putting Bob's studies and messages on a website in Spanish: www.decristo.pe. Also some of his Sunday evening messages in video - and on facebook.

Enjoy the fall colors I miss so much! Our support address is:

Christian Missions in Many Lands, Inc.
P.O. Box 13,
Spring Lake, New Jersey, 07762-0013

Many blessings and thanks! Noél for us.

Hi to you dear ones,

Finally! Many things have happened to make this late, sorry. Last month I forgot to mention that we have had some funerals. The two last month were old people, a dear sister from way up around lake Titicaca, only spoke Aymará, stepmom and grandmom of sisters from here, and then an old grandpa of another believer here. The sister we believe is with Jesus, but the older grandpa we don't know, God does. Still - it is difficult for family members and others.

Well, last week we had another one, this time truly sad. One of the elders of the church that meets with Phil Riggenbach passed away - he was a dear saint, active in God's work. Donato had leukemia and we knew this was coming some time, but honestly I thought he would be with us a bit longer. He is with his Lord, but he is sorely missed here. Please pray for his widow, Manuela, and their 3 grown children. Precious family. Well, death is a part of life, so we accept that and were able to minister some anyway especially in the older folks' funerals.

Here we had a really cold winter, June - August, but now it is getting some warmer it seems, high parts got some rain and our mountains got new snow, but Misti has lost its "poncho" now. As to the weather, we are really praying for our family and friends in Florida as they prepare for this horrible hurricane Irma - not at all a welcome visitor. We do pray God will keep His people safe and their homes too. He alone can calm the storm.

Here in Arequipa we are between two large Roman Catholic institutions and surrounded by several RC churches. Today they celebrate the virgin Maria's birth, 9 mos. after her "immaculate conception" Dec. 8. All holidays and most weekends are full of loud firecrackers, which cause our poor little cocker to cringe. Guess the virgins and the saints just love firecrackers, but they don't seem to wake up no matter how loud they get!

Anyway, we are very thankful for this property, our church and home, central meeting place for our dear believers. God gave this to us in 1989 and we began meeting here in 1990. In 1991 the apts. above the meeting place were finished and we moved here. Now, 2017, we are transferring all the property into the name of an association - several of our local church members, and us included. They have unanimously agreed to let us remain living here as long as we last on this earth, but we won't have to worry about the govt. or anyone else taking it over if something happens to us. Ironically, because it is a central location and now valued much more than what it cost us, we have to pay a tax on it in order to be able to give it away! But the church offerings will cover most of it, and they are very good about their share of expenses, etc. Thanks for helping us pray for a smooth transfer here, plus the other needs.

Also we are thankful for the school, the opportunities to teach God's Word. I want to continue doing this as long as God permits, kids these days are a bit more difficult and confused because of our messed up society, broken homes, lack of discipline, etc. - so we need prayer for this generation, we all desperately need Christ.

Bob spends time teaching, counseling, preparing, studying, visiting, traveling some, discipling newer believers, and much more. We thank the Lord for our health. Bob has had some minor problems with his sciatic nerve and I have had a tight throat, dry cough, etc. throughout the winter here, somewhat provoked by slight allergy to wool and the contamination with all our incredible traffic - way too many vehicles for these streets.

Thanks so much to all who pray for us and share with us. We pray God's best for all of you! Thanks so much again, Many Blessings, Noél for us

Dear friends,

Thanks so much for praying for us. Many prayed for my healing after that awful fall. It was a long road, July was NOT the best month of my life, but we praise the Lord most of my pains are gone or going. Thanks, and boy, I never want to fall like that again!!

Bob had a profitable meeting again with the leaders of several churches in a mountain area - in Sibayo. There were other meetings in another area of Espinar that weekend too and those also were good, they say. We are truly thankful the Lord is raising up some men to lead these churches - please keep praying for this great need. We need men filled with the Holy Spirit with solid families and values, there are a few, but more are needed.

July 28, Peru's Independence day, I went with Bob and a couple other brothers from here to Juliaca, where we talked with a dear sister who wanted baptism, and the next day, Saturday, we met up with the believers from Puno and Thelma was baptized in Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake, by a beautiful beach. It is winter here and cold in the altitude, but the lake water was warm around noon time, even though the air was cold. Anyway, we thank the Lord that the Puno church is growing too. Thelma's daughter was baptized in November, and we were there for that too. The family attends the church in Puno as it is in Spanish, while the church in the Quechua community of Occoro is mostly done in their native Quechua. Anyway, there is great fellowship with the group there. Sunday the 30th we were in Occoro for their combined meeting with the church in Patapampa, another Quechua community. We got home late Sunday night, and school started up after mid year vacation Monday. So we have been and are very busy! But blessed. Now Bob is going to Espinar area again, a Quechua community Mamanihuayta, for meetings tomorrow and Sunday. We are thankful for our national worker, Daniel, who is seeing growth and blessing in this vast area. Thanks for praying for these outreaches.

However, Satan does not rest and again we have had some of our families with struggles. This comes with gossip and discontent and we pray will not cause division. Please help us pray for these problems, just when it seemed truly overcome, again, a little point causes friction.

Thankfully, the school building project is almost done, and totally provided for. It is being used too. School this year is a blessing, with dedicated teachers and content for the most part, very active! Many holidays and special events these months, all good and we trust, glorifying to God.

A couple weeks ago there was an earthquake along the coast north of Camaná and a good part of a mountain literally fell over the Panamericana highway, blocking the only accessible highway between Arequipa and Lima. So for a long time goods were not able to get through, busses, trucks, etc. blocked. They had to go via Cusco, instead of the normal 18 hour trip from Arequipa to Lima it was 26 hours, via Cusco. Finally it is being fixed so that at least one way at a time can get thru, delaying, but not as bad as the Cusco route. We had a book order stuck in the blockade, but we finally got it 2 weeks late! We felt the shake up here but it was not bad in the city, just kind of a long shake.

Well, never a dull moment! Thanks so very much for your faithful prayers for us and for sharing as God leads you! Thanks so very much, and we wish you many blessings,

Noél for us

Hi to you all again,

Sorry! I sure meant to get a letter off for this month earlier, but days go fast and are full. Earlier this month our street had an early morning fire! Really big, in a big machinery shop a few doors down from us. Thankfully there was no wind, so it did not blow our way, but was just straight up, lots of flame and smoke - did million dollar damage to their equipment, walls, roof, doors, everything. There were 2 big firetrucks with their hoses, etc. - quite exciting, but it was controlled by the time most of the neighbors got up. I get up early so saw it out the window, and when I went out a few other neighbors were out too, the lady right by the place had called the fire dept. and they were on their way with their sirens, etc.

A couple weeks ago Bob was in a leaders meeting in the mountain town of Lari, in the Colca canyon. These meetings are encouraging for the local leaders - especially in the mountain areas. They get together and share problems and needs and don't feel so isolated. Bob and other older brothers give them good teaching too. However, getting home, Bob had an attack of sciatic nerve pain. It was really painful for him for several days, even with injections for the pain, anti inflammatory meds, etc.

Well, praise the Lord he is fine now and can walk all over again. We are getting older. We both have had treatment for our eyes, (cysts, Bob's was outside, but mine was inside and though dr. removed it, that eye is still swollen and irritated, hope it gets better soon.) And now, us oldies are in tooth torture. Yes, dentist is attacking our mouths. Bob is a wonderful patient - not I. We have to pay "thru our teeth" for this, but guess it would be ten times more in the U.S. I have to get a new crown. I sort of think I'd rather wait for the one in heaven - to give to our Lord, instead of getting more to be buried with here, but guess these things have to be.

Bob also had a profitable trip to the Majes valley and is encouraged that at least a few are going on with the Lord there, the recently baptized young gals, and some of their families anyway, and another couple. Our national worker, Teodoro, goes frequently to help them with Sunday morning meetings. Here in Arequipa the main church is growing, as is another church Bob helps Sunday afternoons in an outlying area, (Enace). The brothers from here who are going to Yarabamba and Polobaya and an annex near there, Agua Buena, are encouraged that though there only a few in these places, they are receiving God's Word and meeting together. Thanks so much for praying for these outreaches and the brethren who take God's message there. Please continue to pray for some of the marriages here that have had problems. Some still are in problems, some are healing, but it is often a slow process. We spend time counseling, especially Bob, in these and other areas.

Thanks for praying for the school too. We are thankful for this year's dedicated Christian teachers, mostly contented parents and students. Now we are in exams, as well as preparing for the Mother's Day program. Please help us pray for this, that it would glorify the Lord and challenge the Moms to really train their precious children in the Lord's ways from early on, in the home. School construction is going on quickly. Some still is lacking for the finishing, but we are surely thankful for all the Lord has provided so far. Thanks so very much for praying.

We do ask prayer for more who are willing to sponsor some of our dear little ones whose parents just cannot afford to pay fees. We need to charge some, to be able to pay the teachers. The directors keep the fees as low as possible. Thanks so much to all of you who are giving for this, your children here are so very thankful and working hard to merit your confidence in them and help for them.

Another news is that a local brother from here is working on a Spanish website for Bob's messages and Bible studies. I don't know how much is available there yet, but it will be called "De Cristo" Joel Gonzalez and his wife, Esther, are headed to missionary service in the jungle of Peru by next year, with the Ashenika people. Our main church here in Arequipa will support them. Joel does websites for folks here and earns some that way. Thanks for praying for them too!

Many May blessings to you, Noél for us

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