| 18 May 2026
Hi you dear family and friends. Yes, the prettiest rose has the sharpest thorns. The biggest blessing is often the hardest trial. But it will be worth it all when we see Christ. Bob is in His presence now, receiving his loving welcome from Jesus "well done, faithful servant, welcome home".
Bob is not suffering anymore. Wednesday May 13, 11:40 a.m. earth time Bob kept his final appointment and entered eternity. He was glad to be free of this earth's suffering and he longed to go Home with Jesus. We thank Him that Bob did not have severe pain. His multiple tumors spread to his brain. At the end he could not talk but he was lucid, hearing and understanding the prayers and songs we were singing and praying around his bedside in Fairfax hospital.
The funeral service will be this Wednesday May 20 at Cherrydale Baptist church in Arlington, VA at 10 a.m. Bob had wanted just a private burial but our children all wanted to have a service that would honor and exalt the Lord, we pray that by life or by death, Jesus Christ will be glorified in our lives and all we do.
The pretty "rose", the biggest blessing, is the legacy and work God gave Bob on this earth, souls coming to Christ, churches founded all over the south of Peru especially in the area of Arequipa, mountain, valley and coastal regions. Each soul, each new believer, the full life lived for Christ are what Bob presented to the Lord. all by grace through firm faith in Christ.
Bob fought the fight, finished his course and kept the faith. We miss him here. We have been married for 60 years. We were missionaries for 59 years. Now I firmly desire to have a ministry for the Lord in my last days here on earth. Please help me pray that the Lord will direct me in this.
Thanks so very much for your prayers and for all you have shared for the Lord's work in Peru. Ebenezer Christian school continues. Please help us pray it will always be a light for Christ in Arequipa. We are thankful that we have the freedom to teach God's Word.
Most of our churches are indeed following the Lord. He is raising up leaders in many of them, the ones Bob prepared. Of course there are some problems but the Lord is faithful in guiding them. God's church marches on, His kingdom is being built.
Later this week our sons Paul and Joseph will take me to Indiana where I will be living with Paul and Kim and family. Our daughter Terri has cared for us and taken us to appointments and helped us in our needs. She needs prayer as her husband died suddenly at the end of last year. We are thankful for our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who are near and are helping Terri in every way. She is a wonderful loving grandma. Truly our whole family is wonderful. God is so good. MAY He be praised.
For now, even though we are no longer physically in Peru if any of you choose to continue sharing with God's work through me, I think the address would be the same, and I will be faithful to send it on for the school or for the churches and national workers or as specified. Most of all, thanks so very much for praying for God's work wherever we are. So for now the address is the same:
Christian Missions in Many Lands, Inc.
P.O. Box 13,
Spring Lake, NJ, 07762-0013 with a note: for Noel Rich
Again, God's blessings for each of you, Noel
