06 May 2019
|Hi to you all! Hard to believe May is here already. Yes, nights are definitely cooler here now, days are dry sun, which is nice. April went really fast. We had a good Easter program at school and a large attendance in our churches, here in the city and in other towns too. Bob and I went to Camana for 2 days, got to go to the beach but also we had some good visits with the believers there and a meeting with all of them Thursday evening.
Bob has a real ministry in teaching and counseling. So many come and call at all hours, but he is always patient. He cannot solve all their problems though. They seem to think he should be able to. At least he prays with each one, counsels, and gives them over to the Lord.
Tomorrow Bob is going to Sibayo for meetings there for their anniversary Sunday, and ministering to believers in the towns around too.
Here in Arequipa we are seeing the Lord answer prayers for local leaders, though we need to see more. At least our youth group is growing and serving, and this is an encouragement. We have had Pepe with us since he was 5, when we got him from a nun's girls home. We then helped a dear believing Peruvian family to legally adopt him. Anyway, now he is 32 and is probably our main youth leader. He also preaches well and helps share some really moving messages he has been blessed preparing. We thank the Lord for his life and pray God will raise others up too, to lead and encourage His work here.
Some of our believers are continuing to have an outreach to towns around Arequipa, specifically Polobaya, and its annex: Agua Buena, and also Yarabamba (annex Belaunde especially). Jeff and Angela started that work and it has grown, not just the children, but the parents too. Vicente Kacma and family go to Polobaya. Jeff and Angela also have outreaches to their family and neighbors, and in an area not far from their small farm land near Uchumayo. Thank you so much for praying for these outreaches and the ones working on them.
Thanks for praying for the school ministry. It is a blessing to teach God's Word. The children today are quite lively. Some truly want to listen and learn, and they are precious, but others, especially the boys in the 4th grade class, disrupt and are very difficult. It is easy to see the ones who have a disciplined, orderly home. So many don't have this, and we need prayer for our homes and for open hearts in all our students. We are blessed with many Christian teachers this year.
Again, we are able to help at least one Venezuelan, as teachers aid. She is a precious believer, and of course there are many Venezuelans all over here. They are heart broken over the horrible situation in their country and the separation they have to have to be able to survive, so many leaving their country and coming to other countries who will help them. So we pray for these dear ones too.
Again, thank you all for faithfully praying for God's work here and for your sharing as our Lord leads. 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, and many blessings, and a happy Mothers Day to all you Moms! Noel for us