| 13 November 2024
Dear ones,
Another Thanksgiving special day is coming this month. We truly have much to thank our Lord for. Every day we see God's leading and protection.
Also we see how the Lord has saved and changed many lives during our 58 years in Perú. One of the biggest blessings is when grandchildren and great grandchildren of elderly believers, some already with the Lord, are becoming firm in their faith in Christ. There is much corruption and indifference to Spiritual things among the youth today. So it is a real blessing from the Lord to see the descendants of older believers choose to follow Christ.
One of Bob's first converts was in a very high and far place, Culypampa. Policarpio believed in Christ along with his wife, Irene, and some family members. Bob baptized them in the cold river up there, he had to break the ice to do it, but what a blessing that they have continued faithful to Christ.
A couple years ago a first cousin of Irene recognized me at the place where she worked and said she was a little girl when Bob and I visited with the gospel. She also wanted to receive the Lord and was saved and baptized here. Olga and Irene had a joyful reunion. They had not seen each other for years. Olga's job keeps her from being able to be at all Sunday meetings but thanks to technology she and others can see our church services and Bob's messages on the computer.
Policarpio and Irene's 3 grown children are following the Lord. Their second son, Joel, is our missionary to the Asheninka tribe in the Peruvian jungle. Joel's wife, Esther, is from our church in Chuquibamba. Joel and Esther with their three lively little sons are here in Arequipa this month. What a blessing to see how they have grown and seen some fruit for Christ in some of the Ashenenka communities. Joel challenges all of us to be faithful to Christ in spite of difficulties and trials.
Last month I mentioned a little boy in my 5th grade Bible (O.T.) class that could teach the course, a real blessing to see his firm faith. Anyway, Daniel Supo is the great grandson of Albino Supo who recently passed into eternity, close to Christ. Daniel brought his mother to church here. Loida is a granddaughter of Albino's. She was baptised here early this month. We have had other baptisms here too. One young guy who lives and works in Spain came to visit and reconcile with his father. He was won to Christ and recommended to us here. Each new believer has his own story, and each one is precious to the Lord. He is building His church.
As usual when we see the Lord's blessing, our enemy does not like it and brings problems. Some of our believers are experiencing marital problems. One couple who had 3 children in our school is going through a real trial. Their oldest son graduated from our Ebenezer Christian school and now has many doubts.
Please pray for Elton to believe in the Lord in spite of problems between his parents. Bethsie was in my 5th grade last year. She really loves the Lord and is a good student. Liam is in my 5th grade class this year and he is doing well in school, but all of these kids suffer when the parents fight. Thankfully, our new elders, Pepe and Julian have been dealing with these parents and it seems they are on their way to reconciliation with the Lord and with each other. Please pray for this family and others going through marital crisis. We praise the Lord for the freedom to teach God's Word in our Christian school.
Bob now is in Sibayo for the leaders training for our churches in the Colca canyon. He really wants to continue to travel some and help our believers, as well as counseling, teaching, preparing messages and Bible studies. However his last bone scan showed significant spread of the cancer in his spine and other bones. So he must start chemotherapy later this month. Because the oncologist in the Schar cancer facility in VA can have Bob participate in a John Hopkins study (or trial) of different new meds to see if there would be some that could help him as all the hormonal therapy no longer is efficient for him.
To be eligible for participation in this, he must have at least one dose of chemotherapy there in VA. The doctor there gave us the option of having the first 2 doses here (3 weeks apart) and then after 3 weeks be in the U.S. for the third one. Time is a factor, waiting longer would be dangerous. Sadly we have to work toward leaving Perú for ? Indefinitely ? Probably, but our times are in God's hands. Please help us pray for wisdom, courage, and strength to do all of this.
Bob probably will have his first chemo session later this month. We still look forward to the visit of our son Paul and wife, Kim, their 6 grown children and one daughter in law, 9 people - with us, 11!. They will be in Perú from Dec. 20 to January 3. They will go on tours in the mountains, and to the beach. Bob really wants to have devotions with his grandchildren and their whole family. We pray for each of our grandchildren and great grandchildren daily.
God has given us peace in this decision, a very extremely difficult one. We want to always be a part of God's work, wherever we are. We don't have a permanent place in the U.S. For a while anyway we will be with our daughter Terri and her husband Josué Raimundo. They also have a precarious housing situation. They may have to leave the house they have been caring for for over 20 years.
Their two grown children are married. Their daughter Jennifer and husband Tim have our first 3 great grandchildren. What a joy! Terri and Josué's son, Josh, with his Brazilian wife, are expecting their first daughter, to be born in January. Mark's daughter, Jessica, and her husband Andrew, way out in Texas, have little Jaime, so we have 4 great grandchildren and one on the way!
What a wonderful family our dear Lord has given us, biological and Spiritual. We have THANKSGIVING to HIM every day. May you also have a wonderful Thanksgiving, this month and always. Love, Thanksgiving blessings, Noél for us
