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

Written by Noél Rich | 07 October 2024

Hi to all of you, and yes, you probably will be seeing beautiful fall colors soon. I do miss them and hope we see some when we go again to NOVA for Bob's next cancer appointment in a couple of weeks. We only stay in the U.S. for a little over 2 weeks this time.

And typical for me to enter the fall season, I did have another nasty trip, and it ended in a fall. Praie the Lod nothing is broken, just some sores, old age doesn't help get over bangs and bruises. I need to pick up my feet more, the cement and rocky streets are really hard here.

September really went fast, and was busy all the way through. We had baptisms, a wedding, a funeral, and numerous other things. Bob now is on his way home from the first Saturday of the month leaders meeting for the churches in the Colca canyon.

Bob is really thankful that he can still serve the Lord here. He wants to finish strong, to fight a good fight, FINISH his course, keep the faith and go for his reward, God knows all our times. Bob still will receive treatments here, which so far have been the exact same as he has had in the U.S.

We are really thankful for our precious children who want the best for us and are really doing all they can for us. We look forward to seeing them and meeting our newest great granddaughter, Natalia Rose, Josué and Terri's third grandchild! Terri and Josué's son, Joshua, and his Brazilian wife are expecting their first so there will be another great grand soon, Lord willing. I especially would love to see our other great grandson, Jaime, who will turn 2 Oct. 31. He is Mark and Tania's Jessica's son. Our dear Mark has been with the Lord for several years, but would be really happy to know his daughters are serving the Lord. We sure pray daily that our children and grandchildren and great grandchildren will grow to also know and follow Christ.

Ebenezer Christian school had their 21st anniversary program yesterday. We are really thankful for the freedom to teach God's Word here. The corruption in the governments, the education and other systems makes it difficult, but we press on. We pray God will always be glorified in the school, our churches, and everywhere through Christ in us.

Thanks so very much for praying for us and the Lord's work here. Our support address is:

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

God's Rich est blessings for each of you, Noél for us

Written by Noél Rich | 07 September 2024

September is here, spring is coming here as autumn is going your way.

So very much has been happening here. We have had weddings and baptisms and lots of counseling new believers. The Lord is at work.

There are some problems though. Last month I mentioned that Bob is receiving different meds. for his cancer. Sadly Bob had a very bad reaction to the new medicine so he had to quit taking it. He takes the others to help with other needs. Thanks for praying for our health.

August 4 was a very bad afternoon for me. On the way down our stairs to go to a meeting with Bob, somehow I banged my left arm on the stair railing. No, I did not fall, (thank You, Lord). The x-ray showed NO fractures, (thank You again, Lord). BUT, the Dr. said my muscle mass on that arm and shoulder is very harmed, and it still gives me a lot of pain. Again, we are very thankful it was my left arm, not the right. I can do everything I have to, but I still get sharp waves of pain, all through the day, whether or not I use it. Please help us pray this will get healed soon.

We really are blessed that Bob has no pains, even though his cancer is still there. He still teaches the Word in various churches here, in and around the city of Arequipa and in the mountains. Other brothers from the main church here go to the Majes Valley, the coastal town of Camaná. and other places. We are really thankfu for our brothers and sisters in Christ here.

Thanks for all you who are praying for us and sharing as the Lord leads and provides. It is for His work. Bob is now on his way to the first Saturday meeting in the Colca canyon, leadership training for the various churches in the canyon. He is driving, but has some brothers with him who can help him if needed. It has been really cold, below 0 centigrade nights in our Andes mountains, but slowly warmth is coming and of course we have good sun in the daytime.

The missionary we support in Uruguay is with us for a few days, for meetings in different parts of Perú and elsewhere. Gustavo arrived this morning and after lunch here accompanied Bob to the canyon. Thanks for helping us pray for Gustavo and his family. The family is staying in Uruguay while Gustavo is away on these meetings, we understand it will be a couple of months that he will be gone. Please do pray for his dear wife, Danitza, and their 3 children. We are very thankful for the technology that permits families to see each other and talk every day on these little phones. Amazing, really.

We never even had a telephone for our first 18 years here. Bob would be gone up to 2 or 3 weeks sometimes, and I stayed with our 3 little ones, first in Mollendo and then here in Arequipa. When our Joseph was born in 1983 we still did not have a phone, but later that year the neighborhood together paid for the phone cable and soon we all had one. God was, and is, always with us. It is truly awesome to look back and see how the Lord led and protected us.

God is blessing Ebenezer Christian school and we are truly thankful we still are allowed to teach God's Word. This year I continue teaching the O.T. to the fifth grade, (29 students). How I wish to teach the N.T. to this same class, as they will be in 6th grade next year, but our future is unknown. But what a blessing to see younger and older kids and adults in this generation remain faithful to our Lord. Yes, some are rebellious and addicted to the bad stuff on the internet and in this corrupted world. Sexual violence, corruption, and lack of values are way too prevalent in today's world. How we need the Lord!

Again, thanks so very much for all you pray and share. Our support address is:

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

May our Lord bless you richly, Gratefully, Noél for us

Written by Noél Rich | 03 August 2024

Hi to you all again,

Well, August is here with lots of wind and lots of dust because it is the dry season. These months are the best for traveling to the mountains because even though it is winter and cold at nights, it is dry.

So Bob traveled again to the Colca canyon for the discipleship training for the leaders from the churches in the canyon. Vicente Kacma went with him, he does know how to drive in case Bob needs help, but so far Bob is able to keep going, driving and teaching.

Please help us pray for Bob's health and ministry. The Lord is really helping us but there are some problems. In July Bob was over 2 weeks in VA again for scans and checkups. The Dr. there changed Bob's medicine because what he was taking is no longer effective. The new meds will have to be taken with steroids (prednisone) which will likely make it harder for Bob. The Dr. wants Bob to be in a study at John Hopkins in MD. which may be a step in the direction of a cure. His stage 4 cancer is irreversible but at least the meds are to keep the cancer under control and give him more "quality time".

So, please help us pray. Bob should take the new meds and prednisone here till the end of this year and then start the study. We still plan on being there a few months and then be here in ministry for several months. We don't have a place to stay for a long time in VA or MD so please help us pray.

This week we have the wedding of the youth leaders we mentioned in the last letter, José Luis and Ruth Katerine, a real blessing. Some of last year's weddings are now producing a "baby boom", newborns and expecting parents. We pray these will result in godly homes and churches.

Many of these newlyweds are enthusiastic, serving the Lord. There are some problems, but we are glad to see our pastors and others taking responsibility, visiting, counseling, teaching, and careful parenting. The Lord is showing us that He can use each believer with their gifts.

Many still call Bob and tell him all their problems, but they are learning to respect and seek counsel from our Peruvian leaders. Again, the most progress this way is in the Arequipa churches, which is why it is important to see the mountain, valley and coastal churches also have responsible leadership.

The school is still my main place of service and I pray to be able to finish the OT. this year with the 5th grade by late Oct. and somehow be here to teach the NT. next year to the same class, 6th grade by then. These kids are attentive and are a blessing. My prayer and desire is to see this next generation firm in the faith.

The govt. does not help, they declare extra holidays, prohibiting schools to function. There are too many holidays, strikes, etc. here. We are thankful for our Christian teachers and hardworking directors. Thanks for praying and sharing. God's Word and church will go on, PTL!

Gratefully, Noél for us. Our support address is:

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