Written by Noél Rich | 01 August 2012

Hi y'all!

Yes, another month has gone by - bye! And fast! Hope you are enjoying your summer, also going fast! Here it is still cold nights, but getting warmer in the days.

In July I got to travel with Bob a couple of times. We had a seminar in Cotahuasi, with our missionary colleagues, Brad and Gina Shaw. It was a good time, and folks came from different towns in the canyons where they work. Bob did a lot of the teaching and I helped with the children's classes. A real blessing!

From there we came back through Chuquibamba and Aplao and visited the believers there. They need prayer and encouragement as there are fewer believers in these towns, but some do desire to continue meeting together. Thanks for praying for these places and their believers.

Then last week on the school mid year vacation, Bob and I went to Espinar, a high, cold place in the Cusco province. Believers came for meetings from different ranches around, and we think it was an encouragement for them. Again, Bob did most of the teaching, though the believers from there all speak Quechua. Many of the women do not speak Spanish, so some of the brothers interpreted, or re-taught Bob's messages to the ladies.

I had some children's classes there too - the kids speak Spanish as soon as they go to school, so it worked out. Except one little detail: Sat. noon after two Bible stories and applications, songs, prayer, etc., I was playing a game with the children, (about 20 of them) and while running around their circle to get to the place before the little gal caught me I tripped and went down again, you guessed it, pow on my poor already broken, twisted, and permanently RED NOSE!!

It went "crack" and bled and I was really weak for a good while, (altitude too played a part in that!), but it did not fracture again, but it did deviate the septim more, disconnecting a bone from it's cartilage. After Espinar, we went to a ranching community (these "ranches" are llamas and alpacas, high altitude animals with valuable wool, and some sheep) in the Puno state.

I had a children's class there and again, Bob spoke, as believers from 4 churches in that high area get together once a month and this time Bob and I helped. Again, it was mostly Quechua, but the older children do know Spanish. There weren't as many children there as in Espinar, but some did profit I trust, from their Bible teaching. In both places we exhorted the parents to teach their children.

This is one of the biggest problems in our outlying churches, many of the children do not follow the Lord when they grow up even though they have Christian parents. This is one of the main reasons we have the school here in Arequipa, - though yes, it is the parents' responsibility, there are opportunities here to help the parents, students, and teachers to know and follow God. Thanks so much for praying for us in all of this.

After the ranches in Puno, we went to the city of Puno where we have a small church, founded by Mario Soto, along with Rafael Roca and their families. We were just there Sunday evening and Mon. morning. Rafael's brother is a medical doctor in Puno. He is not a believer yet, but is very willing and helpful to the believers there. He got me to get an xray in his clinic and yes, I have to get my nose fixed. I had some other problems too and he was very helpful and kind.

If you ever go to Puno he specializes in tourists' medical needs and emergencies. Also please pray for Ricardo Roca and his Dad, Alfredo, to come to know the Lord. The mom, sister, and brother are dear believers.

Well, this computer does not show me how to get the letters bigger or the paragraphs better spaced so hope you all can read this! Thanks! We have two weddings coming up this week, so my school vacation is getting shorter. Seems I also picked up some unwanted invaders in my guts on this last trip so I'm having a hard time getting much done!

Will add about the trips: the car worked really well! We were on mostly dirt roads, some worse than others, and are very thankful for the vehicle. However, on one of these dirt roads, going in to Espinar, a big truck from a mine up there threw up a rock from its tire which went right thru our windshield, shattering glass all over! This will have to get fixed. Amazing how sharp and fast that came up. Thankfully no one was hurt.

Bob keeps busy preparing his teaching times. We ask you to pray for our leaders here in the Arequipa city church, where we live. Bob is preparing some for eldership and is desiring to see them ready for this responsibility. They do a very good job while Bob is gone, but we desire to see them recognized as elders.

There are some hangups here. Also we ask you to pray for our national workers. Some have problems, specifically now the one in the Espinar area, who has gone to Cayarani, way up above Espinar. He has some attitude problems with the believers in Espinar, which is hindering the furthering of the Gospel there.

A happy surprise: our dear oldest GRANDdaughter, Tamra, is getting married in Florida in December. Also, a nephew of Bob's is getting married in Michigan in January. So we are hoping and planning to go up to the U.S. for a month. Shorter this time, and only east, as far west as Michigan and Indiana, but this grandma is sure looking forward to seeing family and share these special events with these special people! Please help us pray for God's leading in this too!

God convicted me of my forgetfulness. HE has provided the funds for the building of the 3rd floor of the primary (elementary) school! We are most thankful! Now Marino has to work on getting the permissions and the license.

They started and put up the bases and then the municipality said we had to have the license. We thought maybe it wouldn't be necessary as it is on the back of the school, not visible from the street, but because we are in the "centro historico" it is necessary. Marino and Lupe have gone to Lima for the school vacation as they had a very important event in their lives -- first grandchild born to daughter Yanira and her husband Javier. So all this paperwork will get done later this month, hopefully. THANK YOU FOR PRAYING!!!!

Written by Noél Rich | 02 July 2012

Hi y'all!

Where did June go?? And now July is starting off running, as they say! For me, school tests are coming up again this week and next, and I have to prepare most of them.

Bob and I went to Chuquibamba in early June. The car worked really well. Bob won't let me sleep in it with him, so we slept in a hotel. That was ok, much better than past years in hotels in a mountain town. There were a couple baptisms there, and meetings to encourage the small church there. It was a good weekend. Then Bob went another weekend later in June to Pampacolca. He slept in the car there. Worked ok!! Truly we are very very thankful for the vehicle. It is smaller than others we have had, but is fuel efficient, which is good, because it is gasoline, and gas here is over $5. a gallon! The U.S. $ is at an all time low, which doesn't help a lot. Guess that is true everywhere. God is so very good to us and supplies our needs. THANK YOU so very much for caring and sharing with us too. You are a real blessing!!

Here in the main Arequipa church we also have had baptisms the past two Sundays. Orlando, the husband of the lady we mentioned who has a real gift of evangelism, was baptized last week. We have a weekly Bible study in their home on Tues. evenings, to which they are inviting many neighbors, some believers, some who will soon become believers! Orlando and Gladys have made a second story on their house and are giving most of the downstairs for these meetings. Please help us pray for them and the ones there in this group. Also we have a Wed. evening Bible study with another family in another area here and their oldest son was baptized last week too. Jose has a daughter in the University. His wife left him a few years ago and lives in Lima with their 18 yr. old son. This has been hard for Jose, but he is trusting the Lord and growing in the faith. His folks and siblings are believers. They help him.

Two more were baptized last week and this week Eliot, a young man who was severely depressed, but now is now finishing law studies in the University was baptized. His folks have also been coming to church, but have had J.W. influence and are not yet ready to commit to Christ. Please pray for them, Abram and Elsa. So God is giving growth here and can turn bad news into good news.

Another really sad case that needs prayer, please, is for Marcos, the dentist we mentioned who worked in the plains town of Pedregal. He was baptized last year and is growing in the Lord. He comes to Arequipa on weekends, and a couple weeks ago he met with the surprise that his wife had left him, taking everything he had here, with their 14 yr. old son, Sergio.

Marcos is really sad over that and has tried to talk to her, without success. First she had said that her priest had told her that if Marcos did not return to the R.C. church, she should divorce him. Then she said he had to buy her another house (they own a house and a luxourious apt.) or she would leave. Well, he did not buy the house - they are really expensive now and they really don't need another one! Anyway, rumors are from the neighbors that she was being unfaithful and finally left.

Please pray for Marcos and for Sergio. We are helping him all we can, but only the Lord can work in these difficult situations. So many homes are coming apart. Our school kids suffer this too, we have many from broken or breaking homes. A really good Christian couple is coming monthly to give talks on marriage and home life and child raising at the school, for what we call "School for parents". Please pray more parents will take interest in this. Of course God's Word is the main text book.

Bob is helping translate some Creation materials and this has taken a lot of his time. He works hard preparing Bible studies too, and we are thankful that these are helping many, over radio and group teaching.

So much more has happened and is happening. Thank you so very much for praying so faithfully for us. Thank you for sharing with us too. Our street has been calmer recently, for which we are thankful, and there is even some police patrolling around.

Written by Noél Rich | 07 June 2012

Hi all!

Can't believe June is going so fast! Anyway, we surely thank you for praying for us and sharing with us in God's work here.

The Lord has answered prayer and the ex ambulance is sold. Bob was able to purchase a 2008 hyundai 4x4 which is by far the nicest vehicle and the newest we have ever owned! It works really well. It's a bit small for Bob to sleep in but he had a mattress made that he can fit on and that fits in the hyundai so he will try that out next week, Lord willing, on his trip to Pampacolca.

Last weekend I went with Bob to Chuquibamba for some special meetings there. This was a blessing as this church really had been a bit low. God has put some good brethren there who needed encouragement. Brethren from different churches came and they had a real profitable two and a half days in God's Word. The car sure worked well and is a blessing. Thank you so much for praying.

School is going fast and we are in the middle of tests again. I have like 200 tests to prepare, give, correct, grade, register, etc. and it is a lot. But it is a real blessing to be able to teach God's Word and several of the kids really are profiting from this.

There are always some problems, some rebellious high schoolers, etc. Many are from broken homes, and see violence in their families. This hurts. One precious little gal in 3rd grade is now seeing her Dad and Mom break up, and is being like "passed" from one to another. This is obviously affecting her. God knows the society in which we live here in this city.

One Sunday afternoon early in May we heard a street brawl, then gunshots, and then realized a murder had taken place right across the street from us. For sure they had been drinking, but we now read in the papers that the killer is free because supposedly he did this in self defense, which was not true. We saw the university student who was killed walk away and some others walk up the street too. The murder was after the fight. Justice here is just not well administered.

Then the next week in prayer meeting we heard screams and struggling and several of our believers went out to find a girl who had been robbed, actually the thugs had attempted to kidnap her but when they saw our people come out of the church they fled in their car. The trembling girl came inside and we prayed for her. The thieves had taken her phone and money, but at least she was spared the violence they would have done, and are doing to several others around here lately. So we ask for prayer for this increasingly wicked city, and for God's protection for our students at the school and brethren from the church, for all of God's people here. Thanks so much for praying for us, really.

Also we ask prayer for funds for the construction of the third floor of the primary school building. God is supplying and we trust Him for the rest as it needs to be done before the rains come again at the end of the year.

Bob is working with a couple family Bible studies weekly, and we are seeing growth in these new believers. We asked prayer for Orlando, the retired military husband of the sister who has a real gift of evangelism. Orlando and Gladys accompanied us to Chuquibamba last week and now Orlando is really seeking to serve the Lord. Thanks for praying for his full surrender to Christ and for their home, which has had problems too.

Father's Day is coming and we wish all you Dads God's best - not just on that special day, but all year. Our homes really need dedicated Christian DADS, to lead their wives and children in God's ways. Thank you so very much for your praying and sharing with us.

Written by Noél Rich | 04 May 2012

Hi y'all!

It was my sincere intention to get this done on "May Day" as it was a holiday here (Labor Day) but it didn't happen. We have had much too much to do these days. You know what that is like.

God is blessing in many ways, and there are some discouraging things too. Good news first: we had a baptism of a youth from a church in the Ocoña valley who will be finishing high school there this year and coming to Arequipa to study. His sister is here in the University and is also an active believer. Even though these little churches in some of the towns are struggling, it is a blessing to see some of the youth come to Christ. Our youth group in the main church here in Arequipa is growing. One of the guys Bob is preparing for eldership here is teaching Basic Bible studies to these youth. This is one of many series of Bible studies Bob has prepared and it is really helping many of our new believers. We have started teaching these to two different family and neighborhood groups in a couple outlying areas of Arequipa, and new ones are coming. One of these groups is in the house of the sister who has a real gift of evangelism, Gladys, and she is seeing her husband and neighbors desire to know the Lord. Please help us pray for these outreaches.

The most discouraging thing for right now is that the ex ambulance still is not sold. We will not be able to sell it for enough to make the difference for a better vehicle, even with the funds we already have, but we know the Lord will supply and we thank you for praying for this need. We do need something from the ambulance, so please help us pray for its sale.

The school is going well and we are in exams again now. Also we are planning for a Mother's Day program next Friday. Please help me pray for God to be glorified in this, and for strength for all that needs to be done. I have had some health issues that are probably stress related so need to relax a bit more and try to get more rest, something a bit impossible it seems, but necessary.

Please help us pray for two really needed kids from school. Shortly after school started in March they were going on a trip and the bus went over the cliff. Both parents were killed. These kids are really banged up, and the son, Gerard,17, had internal injuries besides broken legs, etc. He is in his last year of school but has not been able to be in class yet. The trauma of losing both parents plus being temporarily disabled is really hard. The little gal, Allison, just 5, would be in Kindergarten.

Neither of these two have been in class yet since the accident. They are living with an aunt and recuperating. The parents were believers, but this aunt is not. She and her husband are willing to keep the kids in our school but asked for scholarships for them as they do not have the needed funds. We are praying for this and Marino and Lupe from the school are willing to help here, but it would be great if we could see sponsors for these kids raised up. It is $60. a month for all the needed fees and books, etc. Again, Gerard only has this year left, but Allison is just starting. Please pray for these dear lives. God spared them for a purpose, we know.

Thank you all so very much for praying for us and for all you share with us. We wish all you dear Moms a very happy Mother's Day! What a privilege to have and raise children for the Lord. Keep up the good work!

MAY you have a wonderful Spring, enjoying the beauty of our Lord's creation.

Written by Noél Rich | 01 April 2012

Hi all!

Well, it is true! April is here. We are hearing it is quite warm for the U.S. too, and here it is still warm! Has rained, after rainy season, and it may still do that! Anyway, we are glad to be back and into FULL swing of things!

The believers here did an excellent job while we were gone, both in the main church here and visiting outlying areas, etc. Also counseling and evangelizing. A couple has made a profession of faith, and another guy, a plumber who has worked for us and for the school, wants to receive the Lord. He's been bringing his two little boys to church and Sunday School here. Praise the Lord with us for that and please help us pray now that we will be able to recognize a couple more elders here for the main assembly here in Arequipa. Thanks!

Upon arriving, we were hit with a few "tragedies". First, a dear believer, mother of one of our strong believers here, passed away. She had been ill for a long time, was in her nineties, and ready to go. So that was good. Not even a week later though, the cousin of one of her granddaughter's husband, killed himself. His wife had been murdered a year ago, and this fellow just couldn't cope without her and with their one ten year old son.

Now this little boy is traumatized. The believers who live close to this family are really trying to help him and the family to trust the Lord. Please help us pray for this little guy especially, who now has to be raised by his grandparents on the mother's side, and they are not believers.

Also, two of the daughters of believers tried to commit suicide and ended up in psychiatric wards in 2 different hospitals. We visited with them individually, and the Lord has worked. Both are now released, and we pray are really finding purpose in their lives. One of them, Zenia, is baptized, but was a victim of depression for some time. She does not have custody of her little 5 yr. old son because of this, and it really troubles her. The other girl, daughter of believers in a mountain town, was violently kidnapped and raped 3 years ago, and this had left her with terrible depression as well.

She was in a state hospital, and we were not allowed to talk to her about the Lord, nor bring her a Bible or anything like that. Well, we did not exactly obey that. We kind of smuggled in tracts and she hid them. She really does want to follow the Lord now and we think He has done a work in her life. Please pray for Elsa, and Zenia too. Sure shows the terrible situation this city is in, the lack of respect for human life and law.

We need prayer too. God has protected us so far, but even other missionary colleagues have suffered awful violence and theft here. Thanks for praying for us, really. Also, since being back, we are experiencing the civil discontent, now with different strikes and protests. The public transportation was on strike for a day, the post office has been on strike for a couple weeks, helping not at all on correspondence. People never seem to be content with who they elect for government.

Another not too pleasant surprise for us here has been that, as Bob puts it, after coming back from the U.S. we "lost our crowns". (Dentally speaking).One of mine came out of a tooth, Bob broke his tooth again, and now has to have 4 more crowns made. Dentist says I have three crowns which need to be broken and replaced, as somehow there are spaces between them and this retains food particles and causes problems. SO, another $1,500 goes down the dentist's tubes! Oh well, they say it is a lot more expensive in the U.S. Still, it is a pain in more ways than one.

School is really busy for me these days. This year I have over 100 students for Christian formation, (Bible lessons) and English. This is 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th grades for Christian Formation. It is also 4th, 5th, and 6th grade English. It means over 200 tests to prepare, correct, grade, and register each month plus 15 hours of class time. We are in the middle of the first tests, for our first month, March.

Now also I am preparing for the Holy Week program, skits for 4th, 5th, and 6th grades to do - acting out the Triumphal Entry, the Last Supper, and Jesus in Gethsemani. Well, time is really limited as how do you juggle reviews, tests, and practices all now before Wednesday when the program is? Thanks for praying. We just want the Lord to be glorified in this and the children, teachers, and parents to really remember Who Jesus is, how much He loves us and what He did to save us! May this be a lasting impact on us all.

We still are praying for the funds to finish the primary school 3rd floor. The base is up and waiting for the walls, doors, windows, and roof. Thanks for helping us pray for this!

Last prayer request for now: Bob still hasn't been able to sell the ex ambulance! We need to see that happen so he can get another vehicle useful and strong for him for the work here and in the mountain and valley areas. Thanks for praying!

Truly, thank you very much for praying for us and for sharing with us in God's work here.