15 October 2017
|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.