Written by Noél Rich | 09 May 2024

Morning does "gild" our skies these days. Lovely pink and orange streaking through the light clouds, morning and evening. We can see most of these sunrises and sunsets from our roof, and yes, "MAY Jesus Christ be praised" - always.

Bob is again in the Colca canyon for the training session the first Saturday of each month. He is feeling better physically, especially when he gets an afternoon rest. We are thankful for all God is doing here in the south of Peru.

A lady who remembers Bob visiting and establishing a church in Chuquibamba when she was a little girl now has a store a couple of blocks from us. We visited her and she was totally ready to give her life to Christ. She was baptized here last week.

She has been reading her Bible and remembers loving to hear Bob teach in her town as a child. Melchor, one of her brothers, was a dear believer. He talked to Margarita about the Lord and she was very receptive. Melchor is with the Lord now.

It is wonderful how the Lord leads and builds His church. A couple of years ago a worker in the club where I go for an early morning swim a couple times a week surprisingly told me she remembered Bob and I going near her family's llama and alpaca ranch in the high altitude.

Her first cousin and family were the first believers there. Olga remembered us up there when she was a child, and now she had an open heart to receive Christ and was baptized here. Also she was able to rejoice and reunite with her cousins in the church here.

We both have had many come up to us and say "I remember you coming with the Word of God" - some telling me they remember my teaching them in grade school. Well, I don't remember all of them, but it is a real blessing when grown children become believers in Christ because of His Word planted in their hearts when young. MAY there be more.

However the enemy always tries to hinder this. One of the mountain churches Bob "planted" is now divided. A very ambitious guy has introduced wrong doctrine and faith - seeking self glory. Please help us pray for the believers in Espinar, there are some sincere ones who really want to do right but this guy is bringing others from different places to lead God's children away from Him.

This is discouraging. Bob says he identifies with the apostle Paul, who was rejected and weighed down with the concern for all the churches. Thanks for praying for wisdom and faithfulness in both blessings and difficulties.

May 1 is "labor day" here and also the day Arequipa honors their big doll "virgin of Chapi". Supposedly this virgin appeared in this area years ago and now is the patron saint, "guardian of Arequipa." There is a huge sanctuary for this doll (idol) a couple hours away from the city and a few sanctuaries for it in different districts of the city itself. Over 200,000 people go in processions to ask this "miraculous" doll for favors, health, prosperity, etc. Idolatry still is strong here.

The Lord is working in our Christian school too. What a blessing I have to teach - this year the O.T. to 29 fifth graders. Precious, open hearted children so far. The govt. makes it tough for private schools but the Lord is helping our director and administrator to do all the required paperwork and modifications to get the licenses we need. These dear ones really need your prayers. Other private schools have had to close but we are still going, praise the Lord.

Healthwise Bob is doing well, seems he is better, at least not worse. So his "answer to cancer" seems to be: "Come no further." As to "my knee and me" it too is not able to see the bone joined together as it should because of the nail sticking in the bone. But the Dr. in the U.S. said to just wait. Thankfully I can walk and do what I have to do. Thanks for praying and sharing for 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 blessings and for all you Moms: Happy Mother's Day! Gratefully, Noél for us

Written by Noél Rich | 07 April 2024

Well, Spring has sprung for you all and here it is nice, with still a few showers of rain and many showers of blessing. As always a few disappointments, but they are really God's appointments. He always knows and does the best for us, so in everything we give thanks to Him.

Five new believers were baptized here before we left for the U.S. Most of them were from one of our sister churches in another part of the city. 3 of these are youth, active in their church and evangelism. We are truly thankful for our youth, several of our newlywed couples, who are dedicated to serving the Lord, teaching children in outlying areas of Arequipa, thanks for praying for them, for fruit from their labors and for personal growth in Christ. We pray these will be solid Christian homes and families, examples of our risen Lord and Savior.

This last week I started teaching the O.T. to 29 fifth graders, going through chronologically. What a blessing! Please help us pray for this school year at Ebenezer Christian school next doors to us (plural because the school does indeed occupy the 3 doors next to the church) This is a shower of blessing for us. My constant prayer is for these kids and all in our church and family will remain firm in their saving faith in Christ.

Yes, we had another fast 3 week trip to the U.S. March 13 through April 4. Bob's checkups went basically well. He has to return in July for more scans and control. He has lost a lot of weight which is not good, but he is tolerating the really expensive medicine donated as long as he returns after 3 months. Our daughter Terri has done a real good job of getting both of us in the "system" of Innova health care in northern Virginia. It is difficult but at our age and as we do not have insurance here in Perú it seems like this is as least for a while longer permits us to be here for our dear brethren and for the Lord's work here.

We were blessed by our grandson Joshua's wedding, it was truly beautiful. Maiely is a lovely Brazilian Christian wife and help meet for Josh. After their honeymoon they dived into completing something like 200 pages of application for her U.S. residency.

Unfortunately for me, my knee saga is not going so well. The orthopedic surgeon who saw me there said the dr. here operated with the old method of putting in nails and wires in my fractured right knee and left elbow. This type of surgery was very effective in 4 or 5 surgeries in the other knee and both elbows previously. But now the elbow is healing fine but the knee is not.

One of the nails jabbed into the bone and broke it and now is prohibiting the bone to cisar or get back together as it should. The nail is keeping the space open. Anyway, please help me pray for a miracle in this. Thanks to God I can walk, and do everything I really need to do. It still bothers but it is not infected, so we leave it at that for now. Thanks for praying.

Bob is coming home now from Lari in the Colca canyon where the first Saturday of every month the leaders of the churches in that canyon have a teaching time. Bob really wants to continue with these meetings as long as he can. He also wants to travel to other churches we have seen raised up in southern Perú. Bob always takes with him some of our faithful brothers from here who can help drive if necessary.

So we continue here, still active, for the Lord. These are our "April showers of blessing". Even though we are going into the dry season we still have blessings, and disappointments, but God is in control. Thanks so much for praying for God'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.

May you all have April showers of blessings, thanks so much, Noél for us

Written by Noél Rich | 03 March 2024

Yes, March is here. A lot is happening. Bob went with some brothers from here to the mountain area of Sibayo for the monthly leaders training for the churches in the Colcla canyon. These meetings are the first Saturday of each month and have been a real encouragement for the churches up there. We are thankful that Bob can keep traveling, driving, teaching, counseling, visiting and doing other ministries. He has lost some weight but with a strong vitamin substance he is regaining some. The Lord is giving us strength to serve Him.

School starts next week, we are praying for the teachers and the students to truly come to know our Lord. We are thankful for the freedom we still have to teach God's Word here in our Ebenezer Christian school. Thanks to all of you who pray and help with fees for students whose folks cannot afford fees. We do keep them as low as possible. As the Lord leads, I hope to teach the OT this year to just the fifth grade, 2 hours a week.

We need to go to the U.S. again this month for Bob's cancer checkups and also for our grandson's wedding March 16.Our tickets are for March 13 leaving here till April 4 arriving back here to Arequipa, Perú. My knee cap and elbow are getting better, but there is a complication in the knee. First, some surgical thread remained in the stitches, causing an infection. So I had to take antibiotics for over a month, by vein, then we tried orally but it destroyed my stomach, and finally for the last 2 weeks by injection, well, it is over now.

But during the op. a nerve was severely damaged. It makes the area red and sore and very sensitve to contact. The dr. says it will take a long time for the nerve to heal. Also a nail with its wire came loose and causes some pain. Patience is needed.

We continue to thank the Lord for our youth and many of our newly weds who are evangelizing children in different areas around Arequipa. Many of these children really are learning God's Word, and desire to follow the Lord. We pray for their parents and families to come and listen, some do, others don't. Our co-workers Jeffrey and Angela are leading a group in Angela's property in Uchumayo.

Jeff and Angela also have to go to the U.S. to finish getting Angela's citizenship and several of the youth are taking care of keeping these kids coming during their absence. Another group is led by the French missionary and her husband in the area of Apipa. They are expecting their first baby and again, the youth are taking care of keeping that work going. And other believers from our churches here have other outreaches. We had a combined meeting here for encouraging and praying for these several outreaches in children's ministries. It was really an encouragement. Please do pray for these precious lives and souls, in school and in these outreaches.

Please also pray for 14 year old Fabricio. He is the son of a believer here. His mother is an alcoholic and has caused much grief for the father, Orlando, and younger brother David. Fabricio is hospitalized in the psychiatric ward. He was not talking, nor reacting, and had high fevers and racing heartbeats. The stress plus the abuse and other factors, some unknown, are very real. Fabricio was first in his class last year, but somehow the the problems got to him. David is ok so far.- he too was leading in school and is now going into 7th grade.

Also we pray for our older sister, Florencia. Her son had a terrible accident and also is in a coma, not expected to live. Unfortunately Miguel never wanted to hear about the Lord. Florencia is a widow and was converted after Miguel was an adult and living bad. Florencia also lost 2 of her daughters, one of them was a believer but the other one not. So please pray for God to comfort Florencia. These cases are sad, but we must admit that when the Lord works and folk are saved, Satan sure tries to hinder it. But God will win the victory.

Thanks so very much for praying for God's work here, and sharing as He leads and provides.We trust you will have a blessed and meaningful Easter season. Jesus is alive, what a wonderful truth! Our support address:

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

Thanks so very much, Easter blessings, Noél for us

Written by Noél Rich | 07 February 2024

Hi again! Here we are in mid summer and it is warmer than other years here, and there is very little rain so far in this rainy season. Many places really need the rain for their plants and animals so that is a prayer request. Thanks.

Last letter I wrote about my starting this new year, 2024 on "the wrong foot", and it still is having nasty consequences, the stitches from the surgery on my knee cap caused an infection which still is not getting better. The dr. says I definitely need more antibiotics but my stomach does not tolerate them orally. So please pray for the Lord to heal fully and a method that the needed antibiotics will get into the necessary place. Thank you so much.

Also about health, Bob is doing well but recently shows signs of being more weak and tired. He still prepares and teaches good Bible studies, and he preaches a lot. The believers here are wonderful in accompanying him, helping both of us in all ways. They surely want us to stay here, serving the Lord, counseling and seeing new souls come to Him. Bob and I also want this for as long as we can be useful, so that is the prayer request. God will guide us, thanks so much for praying.

Our son Joe is with us and he also is a big help. Joe has been able to do good things with our youth group and has done several videos of the Lord's work here. Hopefully he will be able to return to the U.S, in a couple of weeks, after he accompanies Bob to at least one of the leaders preparation in the Colca canyon, (Yanqui) next weekend. Bob really wants to go there, he wasn't able to go to the January one because of my fall, surgeries, etc. So, another prayer request is that this infection will be healed and I can be ok by then.

The school is officially on "summer vacation", the rest of February. They finished their vacation program in January, and now are registering for the school year beginning early March. Please help us pray for dedicated Christian teachers. We praise the Lord for the ones who are staying with us this year, and do need a few others yet. Also for the students, and their families, so many still do not have the economic means for a Christian school. Thanks to you who are helping by sponsoring some of these needy ones with school fees. They and their families are truly grateful.

Many are from broken homes, single moms who struggle to make ends meet. A truly Christian school is really helpful, and we pray will be God's light in this neighborhood, helping many to come to Christ and be God's witnesses for this generation. Thanks for your help in this.

We have seen the Lord raise up leaders here, which has been an answer to prayer. Our youth continue to reach out to many neighborhoods teaching children. We are really thankful for the freedom to teach God's Word, in the open air, in the schools, etc. Please help us pray for this freedom to remain.

Thanks so much for praying for us and for all you share in 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, Peru)

Thanks so very much, blessings for you all, Noel for us here

Written by Noél Rich | 16 January 2024

Welcome, 2024.

Well, we are still here, and God knows our times. Thank you all so very much for faithfully praying and sharing for the Lord's work here in southern Peru.

This year started out kind of "on the wrong foot" however. I had the worst of my trips and truly a horrible fall. Joe and I were walking downtown for some needs for him as he had just arrived, and it was after the New Year's holidays. In a plaza just a few blocks out of our apartment I tripped and fell - I could not get up, even with help.

Bob was in his office just those few blocks, so he was called and came immediately. The "Citizen's Security" officers brought an ambulance and took us to the clinic where our traumatologist Dr. works for x-rays. Verdict: fragmented fractures in my right knee cap and in my left elbow. So, Dr. ordered hospitalization in the hospital where he operates for private patients and the next morning he did the two surgeries. Both points now have nails and wires again.

The left knee cap was the one that had the fractures before and both elbows had been operated on before. This Dr. works full time in the social security hospital but we do not have that insurance here in Peru. So, yes, it is expensive but truly in many ways better to just go privately. Anyway we are way too old to get into an insurance plan here. We have medicare in the U.S., and our daughter Terri is doing a wonderful job of managing all this for Bob.

Here, the elbow is healing well, but the knee cap stitches are badly infected. The Dr.comes regularly and has ordered really strong antibiotics to be applied to me intravenously with the saline solution morning and evening. He also gave me a stomach protector because I do not tolerate medicine very well. A neighbor nurse comes to apply the IVs. However she has a real hard time finding a vein.

The baby needle connection remains on my arm but at night sometimes it comes out, which makes it hard to get into a vein again. So far, it is taking, but the other complication is swelling (edema) in my right ankle and foot. Also in my left hand. So, I am now a "basket case". Very uncomfortable. and very frustrating.

Joe is still here and is a real blessing and help. We had to cancel our 2 day vacation by the beach but Joe also has been working with our youth here. There is another wedding this afternoon. Joe is videoing some of the youth outreaches and distributions to the children's home we help. Also he is getting his teeth worked on here (less expensive than in the U.S.} He will be able to go with some of the youth to the beach by Camana where God is raising up a little church we work with. So all is not lost. Guess the Lord had other plans for us.

Bob is staying with me, and it is a blessing to see the brothers here take responsibilities, trips and churches here and elsewhere. Bob had really wanted to go to the training of leaders and we pray he will be able to go the next time, early Feb. He does have his leaders training here. But all this is really tiring for him. He has lost a lot of weight.

The director of the school, Lupe Riveros, is cooking dinner for us every day. Everyone wants to help but honestly it is very frustrating. I cannot go downstairs, we live on the third floor, so I am stuck. Please help pray us through all this. Please forgive me taking so much time explaining this difficulty, but we do want to continue to serve the Lord - we are willing to go or to stay - as the Lord leads. He has provided for us and we trust will continue - as He promises.

Please pray for the school, now on vacation for 2 mos. They are in their vacation courses, what they call "useful vacations" (vacaciones utiles). They offer mini-chef, music, sometimes drama or other special courses. We truly are very grateful for all you who help with the school, sponsoring needy students and other needs. We sure pray many will come to Christ through the school and through all we do here. May we be lights for Him.

Honestly, thank you so very much for all you have shared with us here. Please pray for me, your black and purple sister here. (Doc. says I really tore into the blood vessels, and have bruises all over - legs especially.) May the rest of 2024 really be a lot better - for God's glory. Thanks again and again,

New Year blessings, Noel for us. Our support address remains:

Christian Missions in Many Lands, Inc.
P.O. Box 13, Spring Lake, NJ, 07762, with a note: for Bob Rich Peru, THANKS!