| 15 July 2023
Yes! July is already flying by. Sorry this is so very late. It happened again, and I really fell into it. On America's birthday, July 4, I had another nasty trip and a nastier fall. I did not spend an autumn (fall) on a trip. I was walking home at 6 a.m. from the pool and at the end of the bridge where buses crowd together from 2 directions I tripped on the curb and went down. Praise the Lord, NO bones were broken. But my right leg shin scraped hard over the rocky cement curb and it is a very very nasty wound.
Of course infected in spite of treatment with antibiotics, iodine and sulfa cream. Anyway, finally the best trauma dr. (who operated on my elbow and knee before) came and had to do a major cleanup and then removal of dead tissue, etc. Well, it really burns as my skin is very thin and delicate. It looks absolutely horrible but really he does know how to treat it best. He is putting on a different cream, one that helps regenerate the skin. Guess it will take a while. Anyway, no more swimming for me for at least a month. Thank you for praying for healing without more complications, and of course, patience - God is teaching me this, it is not an easy lesson. But it is not the nicest way to begin my 80th year.
Sorry to bother you with all that, but again, thanks for praying. Bob's health is great, at least he feels fine and can work, preach, teach, counsel and help a lot of people. Yesterday we went to the funeral of a brother who had worked in a mine for a long time. His wife and daughters called and had us go to comfort and share the gospel with them and other family members.
Today we counselled another couple getting ready for marriage in Sept. Every day has been really busy. Tomorrow I can go with Bob to Puno for a wedding there. Dr. says I should not go to the places where it is dirt floors and roads, etc. so Bob will go on to a Quechua community in from Juliaca and one of our deacons has offered to bring me back so Bob will go alone into Occoro for Sunday church, a combined meeting with the Quechua community Patapampa believers. Bob is able to travel to several of the mountain areas, not as far or long as before, but we are thankful he is so well. Thanks for praying.
This past Sunday we had a baptism in our main church here in Arequipa, and we should be having more baptized here Sept. 23. These are from the community "Agua Buena", a district of Polobaya, about an hour's drive from Arequipa. A brother from here has gone there faithfully for over a year and a few have been converted. They do not have warm water (their lake is really cold) and it is winter and higher altitude there.
We thank God for new believers in different areas where there are no strong Christian churches yet, and pray for more new believers. There still are some problems, when the Lord works, His enemy works too. We know the Lord will win in the end but we need to fulfill His command to get the good news everywhere.
The school year is half way through and we still are very thankful for the freedom to teach God's Word and values. Several students and teachers have had the flu and colds, etc. a lot because of the cold winter here. Thanks for praying for the school, students, teachers, parents and tutors. Thanks again so much for praying for the Lord's work here. 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
Many blessings for you all, enjoy the rest of July, flying by, Noél for us
