| 16 January 2024
Welcome, 2024.
Well, we are still here, and God knows our times. Thank you all so very much for faithfully praying and sharing for the Lord's work here in southern Peru.
This year started out kind of "on the wrong foot" however. I had the worst of my trips and truly a horrible fall. Joe and I were walking downtown for some needs for him as he had just arrived, and it was after the New Year's holidays. In a plaza just a few blocks out of our apartment I tripped and fell - I could not get up, even with help.
Bob was in his office just those few blocks, so he was called and came immediately. The "Citizen's Security" officers brought an ambulance and took us to the clinic where our traumatologist Dr. works for x-rays. Verdict: fragmented fractures in my right knee cap and in my left elbow. So, Dr. ordered hospitalization in the hospital where he operates for private patients and the next morning he did the two surgeries. Both points now have nails and wires again.
The left knee cap was the one that had the fractures before and both elbows had been operated on before. This Dr. works full time in the social security hospital but we do not have that insurance here in Peru. So, yes, it is expensive but truly in many ways better to just go privately. Anyway we are way too old to get into an insurance plan here. We have medicare in the U.S., and our daughter Terri is doing a wonderful job of managing all this for Bob.
Here, the elbow is healing well, but the knee cap stitches are badly infected. The Dr.comes regularly and has ordered really strong antibiotics to be applied to me intravenously with the saline solution morning and evening. He also gave me a stomach protector because I do not tolerate medicine very well. A neighbor nurse comes to apply the IVs. However she has a real hard time finding a vein.
The baby needle connection remains on my arm but at night sometimes it comes out, which makes it hard to get into a vein again. So far, it is taking, but the other complication is swelling (edema) in my right ankle and foot. Also in my left hand. So, I am now a "basket case". Very uncomfortable. and very frustrating.
Joe is still here and is a real blessing and help. We had to cancel our 2 day vacation by the beach but Joe also has been working with our youth here. There is another wedding this afternoon. Joe is videoing some of the youth outreaches and distributions to the children's home we help. Also he is getting his teeth worked on here (less expensive than in the U.S.} He will be able to go with some of the youth to the beach by Camana where God is raising up a little church we work with. So all is not lost. Guess the Lord had other plans for us.
Bob is staying with me, and it is a blessing to see the brothers here take responsibilities, trips and churches here and elsewhere. Bob had really wanted to go to the training of leaders and we pray he will be able to go the next time, early Feb. He does have his leaders training here. But all this is really tiring for him. He has lost a lot of weight.
The director of the school, Lupe Riveros, is cooking dinner for us every day. Everyone wants to help but honestly it is very frustrating. I cannot go downstairs, we live on the third floor, so I am stuck. Please help pray us through all this. Please forgive me taking so much time explaining this difficulty, but we do want to continue to serve the Lord - we are willing to go or to stay - as the Lord leads. He has provided for us and we trust will continue - as He promises.
Please pray for the school, now on vacation for 2 mos. They are in their vacation courses, what they call "useful vacations" (vacaciones utiles). They offer mini-chef, music, sometimes drama or other special courses. We truly are very grateful for all you who help with the school, sponsoring needy students and other needs. We sure pray many will come to Christ through the school and through all we do here. May we be lights for Him.
Honestly, thank you so very much for all you have shared with us here. Please pray for me, your black and purple sister here. (Doc. says I really tore into the blood vessels, and have bruises all over - legs especially.) May the rest of 2024 really be a lot better - for God's glory. Thanks again and again,
New Year blessings, Noel for us. Our support address remains:
Christian Missions in Many Lands, Inc.
P.O. Box 13, Spring Lake, NJ, 07762, with a note: for Bob Rich Peru, THANKS!
