Written by Noél Rich | 18 March 2025

Hi again, dear friends and family. February went by very quickly and now we have marched into March.

Life goes on. We are here in the U.S. for Bob's cancer treatments. He had 3 chemotherapy sessions in Arequipa and 3 more so far here in VA where we are staying with our daughter Terri and her husband Josue. They still need prayer for their housing situation. They need their own house. We are very thankful to Terri for scheduling appointments and for both of them for taking us to all of these.

Bob had a scary reaction to his fifth chemo session. The Dr. here ordered a drug which really knocked him out for a good while. But his 6th session went ok. The 7th chemo session is scheduled for later this month so we will see how that goes.

Bob is also taking an alternative treatment that Josue can buy for him, we pray it will help, it consists of lots of pills. Pet scans are scheduled for this week and early next week. Also I had surgery to correct my prolapses. Hopefully I will continue to recuperate. This week I will see the dr. again. Again, thanks for praying. Unfortunately our insurance does not cover everything. God will supply as He always has.

The good news is that the Lord's work in southern Peru is going well. Our main church and the youth from there and from the other churches in several parts of Arequipa are going on outreaches to different neighborhoods teaching God's Word to children and adults. The youth will have special meetings in the Colca canyon this weekend, March 21 - 23. Thanks for praying for fruit from this. The elders from our main church and the elders and leaders are doing a great job.

Ebenezer Christian school has started the 2025 school year. We are thankful for all the students and dedicated teachers the Lord is sending us. Please help us pray for the school, that we will always teach God's Word and His values, really fundamental for their personal faith in Jesus the Christ. I should be teaching the NT this year to the same class that had the AT last year. They are now in 6th grade so will be moving up to secondary school next year. Bob and I really desire to return to God's service there and are fervently praying to be able to.

One more prayer request: that Bob will be able to sell his large stamp collection. He had hopes for being able to sell at a good price to help Terri and Josue with their needs, but so far the contacts with stamp places have not worked out.

Thanks so very much to all of you, thanks for praying, and for sharing as the Lord leads you. Hopefully this will get updated soon, Our support address remains:

Christian Missions in Many Lands inc.
P.O. Box 13
Spring Lake, NJ, 07762

Written by Noél Rich | 10 January 2025

Wow! 2025 is already here! And we are still here, and we have so much to be thankful for. We are still working here, but are in a time of transition, and we need your prayer for us in the decisions we make. Thank you.

Bob is now in Chuquibamba with Joe. Besides doing some paperwork to help the believers there, they hope to encourage the brethren and see more come to true faith in Christ.

We had a good visit with our son Paul, his dear wife Kim, with their 6 mostly grown children, and one daughter in law. They toured the famous Inca capital in the Cusco area and also helped us carry large suitcases back to the U.S. with a lot of our materials and other things we need to send if we have to spend a long time there. We still have a lot "more to carry" hoping that we can again be serving the Lord here for a time. Now our son Joe is here. He can also help with "more to carry."

Bob does amazingly well, he drives to the closer towns with one or more of the believers accompanying him. He hasn't needed help driving yet. He has had 3 sessions of chemotherapy. He will have more in the U.S. and may participate in a trial "study" to see if another drug not yet approved by the FDA could help keep his cancer from advancing. It is not a guarantee, some say it is only 50%. So we again ask for prayer for this.

Several of the churches we have seen founded are doing well and have capable leadership, but many still need prayer for God to raise up leaders and keep the believers faithfully growing in Christ. Bob is like the apostle in that besides God's work advancing, Paul carried the burden of all the churches he was responsible for.

Some unfortunately do not want to repent and get out of the sin that binds them. This weighs heavily on Bob's true pastor's heart. Others have the joy of sins forgiven after true repentance and we share that joy, while praying for them to remain faithful. Bob still preaches and spends long hours preparing the messages the Lord gives him.

We are glad to see some of our youth take over in Sunday school supervision while still active in the outreaches in several poorer neighborhoods. They are seeing some of the parents also seeking the Lord.

School is out till March, but they have a vacation program, mostly sports activities and we pray the school will be a real light for Christ in this. We truly thank especially you who have helped with school fees for needy families. Thank you, and please keep doing this. God will reward you greatly.

Even on vacation our directors, Marino and Lupe, have lots of work, too much paperwork and ridiculous requirements of the govt. education system. Please pray for the school to continue to have freedom to teach the Word of the Lord. Today's kids and parents need Christ and His values. Thanks for your part in God's work here.

Our website, done by Joe, in need of updating, is: bobandnoelrich.com and our support address is:

Christian Missions in Many Lands, Inc.
P.O. Box 13, Spring Lake, NJ. 07762 - 0013 with a note: for Bob and Noél Rich, Perú.

Thanks again for praying and sharing as God leads you. And many blessings for each of you for all of 2025, Bob and Noél Rich.

Written by Noél Rich | 12 December 2024

YES! Year's end is almost here again.

And, praise the Lord, we are still here, in southern Perú. Bob and I are especially busy all the time, so many people come for help, Spiritual and physical.

Earlier this year we had several weddings, and we are very thankful for these young couples who are continuing to serve the Lord. Many of these couples continue to serve through outreaches to poorer areas around Arequipa, teaching children and evangelizing adults and other youth. Christmas time is the time for most of them to have their hot chocolate and panettone specials with prizes for learning Scripture verses and faithfulness in attendance, etc.

There are too many cases of child abuse especially in these poorer areas. School vacation is from mid December through February, as it's "summer" here in the southern hemisphere. It's rainy season but we have not had much rain yet. Thanks so much for praying for these outreaches, to children and youth as well as some parents and other adults.

School will start early March, Lord willing. Please help us pray for dedicated Christian teachers for 2025. We are very thankful for the freedom we have to teach God's Word, His values and principals. Sadly, when the Lord works and changes lives, our enemy works too. Some of our older couples are struggling in their marriages, resulting in unfaithfulness, discontent, confused children, and bad testimonies. Bob and our other elders are dealing with some of these.

Thankfully some are truly repenting, and God is changing their lives. Some still are rebellious. Today's families need more prayer and less cell phones. Those little devices look harmless but are destroying many homes.

Bob has had two sessions of chemotherapy here. He has tolerated them well so far, but they do cause tiredness and weakness. He needs to rest more, but this is difficult as so many want his counsel and teaching. God is really giving him strength to keep going. He is on his way now to the Majes valley mostly to deal with a problem with one of our older believers. Tomorrow he needs to go from the valley to Chuquibamba to do much the same, deal with problems and see to some paperwork for the title of their meeting place. (People here trust Bob more than other Peruvians so he has "inherited" meeting rooms for some of our churches in rural towns. Now he has to get out of "owning" these rooms, being "president" of their associations, etc.)

That last is very difficult to explain, enough to say there is way too much "burro-cracia" in Peruvian affairs, land titles, etc. - legal work. Saturday Bob will come back to Arequipa via Pedregal where he is having the monthly leaders training meetings. He will hopefully encourage these believers plus our worker Teodoro Huayta and family. Bob will join the church there for Sunday a.m. and then hopefully arrive home Sunday night to be in shape for the Monday leaders meeting plus the study he is teaching on the gospel of Mark Monday evening. Bob always takes with him at least one of the brothers who can drive if necessary.

Our son Paul and his family are due to arrive here Dec. 20. They are Paul and his precious wife Kim, with their 6 children and one daughter in law. We sure are looking forward to their visit here, December 20 till January 3. They want to do some tours here, Cusco, Colca, etc.

This time we have one way tickets to the U.S. in mid January. We want to come back to Perú if and when Bob's health permits, and the Lord definitely leads us clearly and opens the doors. We pray we could after a couple of months but we are not sure. We are really thankful for the leaders the Lord has given us this year, dedicated Christian elders, deacons, and other servants of Christ that we can trust with His work here. Thanks to all of you who pray for us and share with us for the Lord's work in the south of Perú. God is still at work here, and so are we.

Thank the Lord with us for sending our Lord Jesus Christ to us. Truly amazing that our dear Jesus came so humbly to save us. We wait for His majestic and glorious return to take us to live with Him forever. Our support address is:

Christian Missions in Many Lands, Inc.
P.O. Box 13
Spring Lake, NJ, 07762 0013

May you each have a very blessed Christmas, and a very fruitful new year 2025 love, Noél for us

Written by Josef Samuel | 27 November 2024

Good afternoon, my name is Abe Hanson. I am a missionary serving in the country of Panama. We have been working here for 16 years. I just wanted to share a short testimony with you that I believe will be a blessing.

Just over a year ago we started visiting a new area of our town and met a young lady by the name of Aleika Olivo. She is originally from the village of Púcuru. My brother and his wife, who are working with us, went back to her house and shared the gospel with her and she gave her heart to the Lord. She invited her mother and brothers to come to church with her. Her brothers and nephie also accepted Christ as their Saviour.

A couple months back I went over to Aleika's mother's house and she shared with me her testimony. Her name is Isabel Vàsquez. She attended the church that your son, Mark, worked in alongside the other two missionaries. She gave her heart to the Lord in their church. She is now attending our church along with her sons and daughter and grandkids.

One of her son's came up to me after a service and said God was working on his heart to go back to his village and share the gospel with them. I want to thank you for raising a son who obeyed God's call to come reach and unreached people group. This family is the direct fruit of the labour, love and sacrifice that your Son Mark and Thania's gave during their time here in Panama.

Only eternity will reveal the harvest from the time your family sowed the precious seed here in that jungle village. God bless you and pray you have a wonderful day.

Sincerely,
Abe Hanson

Written by Noél Rich | 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