| 11 October 2023
Hi again! Well, September's letter was so late and now October's keeps getting put off, but truly these have been and are very busy months.
We are really thankful for all of our recent newlyweds, and we had the blessing of having specialists Billy and Donna Hires to give us a really great marriage conference here in our main church. Several of the couples attend here and some attend in different churches we work with. Most of these newlyweds are working for the Lord teaching children and youth in outlying areas, and serving the Lord in other ways, helping this generation to believe in Christ and to keep believing - through "thick and thin" as the saying goes.
Another couple now have told us of their engagement, so it looks like we will have a few more weddings in 2024, Lord willing. Also some may be having their first babies next year too. So, God is forming godly Christian homes and families. Thanks for helping us pray for their faithfulness, Spiritual growth, and influence in their local churches.
Though the churches here in Arequipa are doing well, many of the churches away from the city are struggling as they do not have strong leadership. Many of the youth in these areas come to Arequipa city to study or work, which drains the leadership in these outlying areas. Bob helps in preparing local leaders but it is hard for these men to come to the city, so the next monthly leader's preparation is planned for a town in the Colca canyon. This should make it easier for the leaders of the local churches in that canyon to attend and be strengthened and encouraged in the Lord.
Ebenezer Christian school had its 20th anniversary with a ceremony of Thanksgiving. Bob preached on the need to stand firm on the foundation of God's Word in our school. A Christian congressman was present and he gave acknowledgement to the school, diplomas to the director and others in charge of Christian formation. He is presenting a project in congress in favor of Christian schools and eliminating the "gay" teaching in the state school curriculum.
He also has formed an association of Christian schools to have a united voice in eliminating the "anti God" materials in the govt. curriculum. Well, hard to explain, but now more than ever we need prayer for this generation to know God and His Word from an early age. Truly we are thankful for the freedom we do have to teach the Lord's message. Please help us pray for real dedicated Christian teachers, we thank the Lord for the ones we have.
Bob's health is holding up. He is able to teach, preach and counsel many here. Sept. 27 I had one of my famous "accidents". But this time I did not fall. Coming home at 6 a.m. I was attacked by a pack of street dogs, the biggest one came at me and bit into my left leg. I just kept walking across the bridge and prayed. I am having the anti rabies vaccinations as there is no way of controlling the dog and there is rabies in Arequipa. The crazy law prohibits eliminating street dogs, so rabies is a real threat.
Bob has seen at least one with foam in its mouth in a pack of street dogs. Praise the Lord he was driving his car and not out walking like I was Sept. 27. I have had 3 doses and have 2 more to go. The main fang wound is slowly healing, the other 3 have healed, and we thank the Lord for His protection. It is nice to walk here early a.m. but I now pay a bit more and get a taxi back home.
We are concerned about the wars in Israel and the Ukraine. It seems the Lord's return will be soon. "Even so, come Lord Jesus". 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 and may God richly bless you, Noél for us
