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

Written by Noél Rich | 06 July 2024

Hi to you all,

Yes, July is already flying by! June was a very busy month for us here. We had a baptism, then a wedding, and just last week we heard sadly that a dear brother in his 90's had passed away. Albino had a real testimony of being converted and changed to a new life in Christ. He worked with our dear colleague Bob Riggenbach (with the Lord now), for years in the Quechua speaking towns in and around the Colca canyon. Albino also wrote most of the songs in the Quechua hymnbook they use. For sure he is now with the Lord he loved and served, and has heard his "well done".

Some of his grown children and grandchildren are here in Arequipa and some have their children in our school. I have had 2 of them in my Bible classes, last year and this year. They do really well, the little guy in 5th grade could teach the class, he knows all the answers!

Bob is traveling now to the canyon for the leaders training up there tomorrow and Lord willing, Bob will go to Sibayo, where Albino lived and served, Sunday morning to help and encourage the family and other believers there. Albino's widow, Manuela, is not doing well physically either, and is on oxygen, so please pray for her in her grief and weakened state. Also, please pray for dedicated leaders to continue on the Lord's work in all the churches in and around the Colca canyon, and in all the areas we have served in for so long.

School marches on. Tomorrow is declared "teachers day" in all of Perú. The students had surprises for their teachers and tutors and then the directors invited the teachers (and Bob and me) for dinner. Bob was able to give thanks for the meal and later to exhort all present to seek the Lord and put Him first in their classes and teaching. I am truly blessed in teaching the O.T. to the 29 fifth graders, every class is a blessing. We are thankful for the freedom we have to teach God's Word and His values here still.

Bob traveled right after the meal and we trust will have a very profitable teaching time up in the canyon tomorrow, and an encouraging Sunday morning in Sibayo. And a safe trip home Sunday afternoon. Then he has to go to the U.S. for his cancer checkups, scans, bloodwork, etc. He leaves Monday afternoon (July 8) and has his return ticket for July 23-24. Then we have another wedding early in August. This one is a couple who are leaders in the youth, Sunday school, outreaches teaching children, and other areas of the church here. So the busy life is not over yet.

Thank you so very much for praying and sharing with 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

Many thanks and blessings for you, Noél for us

Written by Noél Rich | 03 June 2024

Yes, June is "busting out" all over. Again, our RC neighbors across the street have busted out really loud firecrackers - a few times during Bob's message during church here, and before and after. I guess they are trying to wake up some long dead "saint". Well, these loud bangs serve pretty well to wake up tired living saints during Bob's preaching in church. (smile). Anyway, June is here.

God is blessing here with the youth and others continuing to go out into areas around Arequipa to teach the children and others Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Bob is teaching Sunday afternoons in one of our churches in another district of the city. We see growth in some of the leaders in several of these churches. One of them had an anniversary celebration last month. We went and truly were blessed to see how the group there has grown in the Lord. They are thankful to Bob's leading them to Christ, but truly all glory goes to our Lord.

However in many of the mountain churches we still need to see leaders raised up to be able to carry on the Lord's work here when we can't anymore. So far, Bob is still able to travel and help many of these places. God is at work, and He is building His church in spite of many problems. Truly the division and problems in the Espinar church cause sadness to Bob and the true believers there. Please help us pray for solutions in this and for encouragement to the true believers there and for wisdom and encouragement for Bob in this.

Here too, when things are going really well, the enemy aims at destruction, especially attacking families of leaders. Also some of our youth have fallen into fornication. Though they repent, sin leaves scars. Thanks for your prayers.

School is going on and it is a real blessing to continue to have freedom to teach God's Word. The pre-teens are thrown into all kinds of temptations on the internet and cell phones all over. Especially after the long pandemia here because of Covid-19. Kids were not allowed to go out and now as it is over they are kinda wild, and have very little orderly discipline in their homes, so many homes are separated. Fathers Day is kinda sad here, so many Dads absent from their homes and families.

However we do wish each of you dedicated Dads a very happy Father's Day. You Dads are really important, your children need you! God is our perfect and loving Father. We are truly thankful that He has made us His sons and daughters. Many thanks to you who are standing with us, for praying and sharing as God leads. 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

Many blessings, enjoy June! Noél for us