Written by Noél Rich | 03 March 2011

Dear friends and family,

Yes, most of March is ahead of us! A couple of days have passed, but we are marching through quickly! Our Feb. rains have gone away for a while at least and our mountains have pretty snow, which will also melt soon unless the weather man is right and we do get some more rains.

Last month we were blessed to have 6 new believers baptized here in our main town church. Some of the younger ones live a bit far out but a dear believer from here has been witnessing to her neighbors. From two of her neighbor families, 3 youth were baptized. Then parents of two of the children in school were baptized as well. Efraín's father is really active in God's work in the Majes Valley, but his wife had a lot of J.W. influence. The school also has played a part in these folks coming to church more and taking that step of identifying with the Lord. Then Marcos, the dentist who works in Pedregal was also baptized. Bob will continue to disciple him on Wednesdays when he goes down to Pedregal for Bible studies.

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Written by Noél Rich | 03 February 2011

Yes, it is truly a wet summer here! After several years of not much rain at all, this year it is really making up for it! We have had like 8 days of rain rain and more rain, day and night! Here when there isn't sun, it gets cold. So, guess the ducks are happy! And we at least should have enough water for the city's needs this year!

So we are thankful! And thankful for all the Lord is doing here. Bob is going down to the agricultural area of Pedregal every Wednesday evening for Bible study with the church there. It is about 2 hours drive from Arequipa and really growing in population. Teodoro Huayta, one of our workers, lives there. He had been witnessing to a good dentist there who worked on his teeth. The dentist, Marcos, is truly interested and desires to follow the Lord. Bob has had several visits with him. He comes to Arequipa for weekends, and has come to church here several times. Please help us pray he and his wife will come to know the Lord. Bob also goes every other week from Pedregal to the town of Aplao in the Majes Valley. We have a small group of believers there and it is growing. Bob has a Bible study with them every other Thursday evening. So besides teaching and discipling here, Bob is able to get out to the towns some too, which is an encouragement all around. He has gotten the ex ambulance pretty well fixed so he can use it for most of these trips. Last week I went with him, to Pedregal, Aplao, and then Camaná on the coast. We visited some believers there and we got a few hours at the beach. It's nicer down there than here in wet Arequipa! A nice treat for our 45th wedding anniversary!

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Written by Noél Rich | 02 January 2011

Hi, dear family and friends!

Well, welcome 2011! And we trust you will have a fruitful and good year, all of 2011. We had a good watchnight service here Dec. 31, lasted till way past midnight but we are seeing the Lord work in lives. There are a few families here with us that are really growing in their faith and helping in the church. These are our future leaders. Bob's weekly meeting with them, Bible study, prayer, and discussion of church needs has really helped prepare them. This will continue, D.V. each Monday afternoon that Bob is here. Thanks for praying for this need, of godly, prepared leadership here.

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Written by Noél Rich | 02 December 2010

Hi dear friends and family!

Yes, it is December already! Hard to believe the year has gone so fast! I still haven't caught up with it. Supposedly we are in late spring here, but we have had some really cool weather, with winds. Still, the temps are somewhat warmer.

Bob had a good trip this last month to the Majes Valley. He bought an "interim" car. That is, he decided to sell it again before it was actually transferred to his name. So it is for sale, and I surely pray we won't lose on it. Bob has found another vehicle that he would like, so we are just waiting for this "interim" one to sell! Thanks for all you who are praying with us about this!

Bob has several weekly Bible studies, preparing leaders for the church and discipling new believers and some of our young guys. We trust God will continue to produce fruit in their lives.

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Written by Noél Rich | 01 November 2010

Hi dear friends,

Well, it is November already! We are thankful always, for the Lord and all He is, and has done for us, but November is a special time to remember His love with great gratitude. We thank Him for you, too!

Mid October we went to a couple jungle cities here in Perú, Tarapoto and Yurimaguas. It was for ministry, but it was also a good time for us to get a change in weather and pace for just 4 days. We thank the Lord for this blessing, and for the opportunity to meet and appreciate the work of other missionary friends. Later in the month, Bob sold his van. Alvaro helped us with that sale and we are thankful it is done. Now Bob is looking for another vehicle that will be adequate for God's work here. Please do pray with us for this. Thanks! For now, we are riding buses and taking taxis, and walking, etc. This is fine and somewhat healthy I guess, but Bob does need a vehicle to take Bibles and other literature to the folks and also for traveling, and for visiting places around the city here.

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