| 04 June 2023
Hi to you all. Yes, June here is "busting out all over",with firecrackers really loud right out our windows. Some of them are pretty and all, but they make a terrible noise. The parked cars on our street all whistle out their alarms and the poor dogs just cringe. We had the cutest cocker spaniel puppies (mom dog had lots of pups on our roof) but they just tremble and shake when the firecrackers go off.
The statue I mentioned last month, the patron saint of Arequipa, the virgin of Chapi "visited" the main cathedral in the city square May 31 - "she" was brought out in the evening to bless all the people who came to see her "cry" and do miracles. There was a huge crowd. I was coming home with some ladies after the ladies meeting in another part of the city and we had to walk by the plaza - fortunately most of it was over and they took this idol back to Chapi, the place where supposedly the virgin Mary appeared long ago. Anyway, the idolatry here is really pathetic.
Actually I wanted to share first of all our good news: Bob has been in VA again for 10 days and has had several tests and scans at the cancer clinic our daughter Terri got him affiliated with. All the tests came out really good. His cancer has not advanced or spread at all. Bob is also tolerating these very expensive, very strong pills he has to take daily. He's had 2 months already and has started on the third month.
He does not have to go back to the U.S. now till the end of August, and I hope to go with him then, for a couple of weeks. We are deciding to stay here in the ministry God has given us for as long as He gives us the strength to do so. There surely is a lot to do. Bob wanted to go to Espinar for another "convention" there last week but he could not because of being in the U.S. Our coworker Jeffrey, and some other brothers from our churches here went. There are some problems in that area but they did have good meetings and were able to encourage the believers. Hopefully Bob can go up there soon. He has no problem in the altitude, we are thankful his lungs are not invaded by the cancer.
Also, good news from here: Bob was able to recognize two elders for our main assembly here in Arequipa. These are faithful brothers. Thank you for praying for Julian and his dear wife, Paola, and their precious one year old Samuel. Julian is our harpist, really talented and loves to glorify Christ through really good music. Before the pandemia he was playing the harp for breakfasts in one of the tourist hotels here in Arequipa. He really would like to be employed at that again, he was a real witness for the Lord and there were many opportunities there.
But sadly the tourism in Arequipa is not restoring as we thought it would be. Hotels are just now reopening slowly. The shaky political system here with the many protest marches, road closing, etc. scares tourists away. So please pray for stability and the restoring of the tourist industry and for the door to open for Julian. He does welding so has been working in that and in whatever is available. He is a very willing worker and a witness wherever God puts him.
Also, the other elder is "our" Pepe, with his dear wife Sara. Pepe is now 36, so he really is older than he looks, and is in leadership with the youth and also with the music (guitar and autoharp). He is always active and very hospitable. Bob also reconfirmed the deacon we've had for some years, Justo Pastor. He and his wife Narcisa are Pepe's adoptive parents. They have other grown and married children walking with the Lord.
And now we have another deacon, Jeronimo. He and his dear wife, Elena, have two grown children. Their daughter Katy is a youth leader and Sunday school teacher. Katy and her fiancé, José Luis are leading one of the outreaches the youth have in different areas teaching children. Pepe and Sara lead another outreach in another area. These are kind of far from Arequipa but the kids and parents are thankful and God's Word is reaching out to them.
Jeffrey and his wife Angela are helping in another of our churches in Arequipa plus also teaching children and having Bible studies with neighbors in Uchumayo, hoping for a church to be raised up there. Angela has land there with aloe vera plants. Hopefully they will get titles and water and eventually go to live there.
Well, sorry that this is so long. Thanks for reading, and thanks for praying. God is building His church. We want to be His servants till He comes. Our support address is:
Christian Missions in Many Lands, Inc.
P.O. Box 13
Spring Lake, NJ, 07762-0013 with a note: for Bob Rich, Perú
Thank you so very much, and God's richest blessings for you all, Noél for us
