Written by Noél Rich | 27 September 2023

Hi, finally! Yes, September is almost gone, so sorry this is so late! Too much is going on but we are so thankful for God's care for us and the fruit from our and others labors for Him! The Lord is working in hearts. We have had some baptisms here in our central church, some young folks and a mother of one of them. This family is from Cotahuasi. They have had many trials but are overcoming them. Please pray for them: Arody, his mother, Doris, and special girl friend Luz. Arody's Dad, Sotil, was baptized years ago but was not walking with the Lord for a while and now is reconciled with God. Another young guy, son of faithful believers, Benito, also was baptized here not long ago.

Yesterday we had another wedding, two young folks who are dedicated to serving the Lord, join the ranks of several other youth we have helped begin their homes with Christ in first place. We are very thankful that the dear missionaries who are especially burdened for helping marriages will be with us for a marriage conference later this week, Billy and Donna Hires. We are inviting couples from several of our churches in Arequipa, newly weds, longer weds, troubled homes, and just everyone really, for Friday and Saturday evenings.

We have had 5 or 6 weddings so far this year, all dedicated to serving Christ. He is building His church. Our enemy wants to destroy homes and we are thankful for these young folks who truly desire to form godly homes and relationships. Thanks so much for praying with us for this next weekend, the marriage conference and Billy and Donna's speaking to the parents at our school. Please do pray for Billy's health, he also is recovering from surgery, but has the green light to come here and help the Lord's work. Yes, only Christ can save our homes, the modern "psychology" is often humanistic and anti-God, creating more chaos.

Bob's health is still good enough to travel and visit and counsel, but the strong medicine he is on causes some fatigue. Bob and I traveled for 2 weeks to the U.S. for his checkups and treatment. It was a tiring trip both ways. The dr. there wants to see Bob in 3 months and I still have things to get done there so we have to go back in December. I will have to finish my course and finals early at school but we trust with the Lord's help it will happen.

Bob's desire is to remain in Peru and we both are still active in the Lord's work here. So, not thinking of "retirement" yet. After his last trip Bob had to buy 2 new tires for the car, so our vehicle is now "re-tired" but still able to work!

Thanks for praying with us, thanks so much for all your generous sharing in the Lord's work here. I may not be able to write individual thank you notes this month, but we really truly are thankful to you all. Please mostly keep on praying for the Lord's work here.

We are truly thankful for the elders we now have in our central Arequipa church. This morning after much prayer Bob was able to recognize 3 elders in another one of our Arequipa churches. This is a real answer to prayer. We have prayed years and continue to pray for Holy Spirit filled leaders in all of the churches we have worked with in and around Arequipa in south Peru. There still are some churches who lack and need men leaders, elders and deacons. Thanks so much for praying with us for these needs. We pray for you all too.

Our weather here is strong winds, dust storms, drought in the desert and mountains. The dust storms are really nasty. Again, thanks so much. Gratefully, Noel 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, Peru.

Written by Noél Rich | 08 August 2023

Hi again, last month I was late in getting the monthly letter out. So as August is almost here and there is time right now at least I can get it ready.

July was a bit difficult as I had a nasty fall. I still have the wound on my right shin. Dr. says it will still take some weeks to heal. Thanks for praying for quick healing. Bob had a better month healthwise. He still is doing well and tolerating the strong meds he has to take daily for the cancer in his bones. The cancer has reduced a good bit and does not bother him. He is a bit more tired but that is because the meds knock out his hormones.

We plan a trip to the U.S. August 30 for 2 weeks for Bob's checkups in VA. We hope after this to be able to stay here in Perú and do the checkups here. The treatment is the same. God has led us here and Bob still has a ministry here. Thankfully he is still able to travel - even to the cold mountain areas. He had a good trip to Espinar and the Quechua community: Chullupata. The believers there were encouraged by Bob's visit and teaching.

School here is still my main ministry and it really is a blessing to teach God's Word (NT this year to 5th and 6th graders). The govt. makes it difficult for private schools but our directors are doing an amazing job in keeping the school going, and we are really thankful that it is a light for Christ. Many kids and their families are hearing the Lord's message. We are thankful for our dedicated Christian teachers. Thanks so much to you who are helping with fees for some of our needy students.

There still is a lot of economic difficulty for many after the pandemia of Covid 19. The economy really suffered from this and it will take years to recover. The Lord knows our times, this whole world is suffering. And here in Perú as in other places the corruption is really bad. Perú has had 6 presidents in 6 years - most end up impeached and in jail, but the problem continues.

Here in Arequipa we again have had some baptisms of new believers. One of these is from the community of Agua Buena, where Vicente from here has been evangelizing and teaching. This is about an hour outside of Arequipa, but this believer has some health problems and the water out there in his town is just too cold this time of year. We are thankful for the new believers especially from these outreaches.

Also, weddings are still being planned and occurring among our youth - we are truly thankful for these young couples who are serving the Lord together. We pray for Christian homes and this generation to know the Lord and to help others believe in Him as well.

Thanks so very much for standing with us here by praying and sharing as God leads you. 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.

Thanks so very much, many blessings for you dear ones, Noél for us

Written by Noél Rich | 15 July 2023

Yes! July is already flying by. Sorry this is so very late. It happened again, and I really fell into it. On America's birthday, July 4, I had another nasty trip and a nastier fall. I did not spend an autumn (fall) on a trip. I was walking home at 6 a.m. from the pool and at the end of the bridge where buses crowd together from 2 directions I tripped on the curb and went down. Praise the Lord, NO bones were broken. But my right leg shin scraped hard over the rocky cement curb and it is a very very nasty wound.

Of course infected in spite of treatment with antibiotics, iodine and sulfa cream. Anyway, finally the best trauma dr. (who operated on my elbow and knee before) came and had to do a major cleanup and then removal of dead tissue, etc. Well, it really burns as my skin is very thin and delicate. It looks absolutely horrible but really he does know how to treat it best. He is putting on a different cream, one that helps regenerate the skin. Guess it will take a while. Anyway, no more swimming for me for at least a month. Thank you for praying for healing without more complications, and of course, patience - God is teaching me this, it is not an easy lesson. But it is not the nicest way to begin my 80th year.

Sorry to bother you with all that, but again, thanks for praying. Bob's health is great, at least he feels fine and can work, preach, teach, counsel and help a lot of people. Yesterday we went to the funeral of a brother who had worked in a mine for a long time. His wife and daughters called and had us go to comfort and share the gospel with them and other family members.

Today we counselled another couple getting ready for marriage in Sept. Every day has been really busy. Tomorrow I can go with Bob to Puno for a wedding there. Dr. says I should not go to the places where it is dirt floors and roads, etc. so Bob will go on to a Quechua community in from Juliaca and one of our deacons has offered to bring me back so Bob will go alone into Occoro for Sunday church, a combined meeting with the Quechua community Patapampa believers. Bob is able to travel to several of the mountain areas, not as far or long as before, but we are thankful he is so well. Thanks for praying.

This past Sunday we had a baptism in our main church here in Arequipa, and we should be having more baptized here Sept. 23. These are from the community "Agua Buena", a district of Polobaya, about an hour's drive from Arequipa. A brother from here has gone there faithfully for over a year and a few have been converted. They do not have warm water (their lake is really cold) and it is winter and higher altitude there.

We thank God for new believers in different areas where there are no strong Christian churches yet, and pray for more new believers. There still are some problems, when the Lord works, His enemy works too. We know the Lord will win in the end but we need to fulfill His command to get the good news everywhere.

The school year is half way through and we still are very thankful for the freedom to teach God's Word and values. Several students and teachers have had the flu and colds, etc. a lot because of the cold winter here. Thanks for praying for the school, students, teachers, parents and tutors. Thanks again so much for praying 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 for you all, enjoy the rest of July, flying by, Noél for us

Written by Noél Rich | 04 June 2023

Hi to you all. Yes, June here is "busting out all over",with firecrackers really loud right out our windows. Some of them are pretty and all, but they make a terrible noise. The parked cars on our street all whistle out their alarms and the poor dogs just cringe. We had the cutest cocker spaniel puppies (mom dog had lots of pups on our roof) but they just tremble and shake when the firecrackers go off.

The statue I mentioned last month, the patron saint of Arequipa, the virgin of Chapi "visited" the main cathedral in the city square May 31 - "she" was brought out in the evening to bless all the people who came to see her "cry" and do miracles. There was a huge crowd. I was coming home with some ladies after the ladies meeting in another part of the city and we had to walk by the plaza - fortunately most of it was over and they took this idol back to Chapi, the place where supposedly the virgin Mary appeared long ago. Anyway, the idolatry here is really pathetic.

Actually I wanted to share first of all our good news: Bob has been in VA again for 10 days and has had several tests and scans at the cancer clinic our daughter Terri got him affiliated with. All the tests came out really good. His cancer has not advanced or spread at all. Bob is also tolerating these very expensive, very strong pills he has to take daily. He's had 2 months already and has started on the third month.

He does not have to go back to the U.S. now till the end of August, and I hope to go with him then, for a couple of weeks. We are deciding to stay here in the ministry God has given us for as long as He gives us the strength to do so. There surely is a lot to do. Bob wanted to go to Espinar for another "convention" there last week but he could not because of being in the U.S. Our coworker Jeffrey, and some other brothers from our churches here went. There are some problems in that area but they did have good meetings and were able to encourage the believers. Hopefully Bob can go up there soon. He has no problem in the altitude, we are thankful his lungs are not invaded by the cancer.

Also, good news from here: Bob was able to recognize two elders for our main assembly here in Arequipa. These are faithful brothers. Thank you for praying for Julian and his dear wife, Paola, and their precious one year old Samuel. Julian is our harpist, really talented and loves to glorify Christ through really good music. Before the pandemia he was playing the harp for breakfasts in one of the tourist hotels here in Arequipa. He really would like to be employed at that again, he was a real witness for the Lord and there were many opportunities there.

But sadly the tourism in Arequipa is not restoring as we thought it would be. Hotels are just now reopening slowly. The shaky political system here with the many protest marches, road closing, etc. scares tourists away. So please pray for stability and the restoring of the tourist industry and for the door to open for Julian. He does welding so has been working in that and in whatever is available. He is a very willing worker and a witness wherever God puts him.

Also, the other elder is "our" Pepe, with his dear wife Sara. Pepe is now 36, so he really is older than he looks, and is in leadership with the youth and also with the music (guitar and autoharp). He is always active and very hospitable. Bob also reconfirmed the deacon we've had for some years, Justo Pastor. He and his wife Narcisa are Pepe's adoptive parents. They have other grown and married children walking with the Lord.

And now we have another deacon, Jeronimo. He and his dear wife, Elena, have two grown children. Their daughter Katy is a youth leader and Sunday school teacher. Katy and her fiancé, José Luis are leading one of the outreaches the youth have in different areas teaching children. Pepe and Sara lead another outreach in another area. These are kind of far from Arequipa but the kids and parents are thankful and God's Word is reaching out to them.

Jeffrey and his wife Angela are helping in another of our churches in Arequipa plus also teaching children and having Bible studies with neighbors in Uchumayo, hoping for a church to be raised up there. Angela has land there with aloe vera plants. Hopefully they will get titles and water and eventually go to live there.

Well, sorry that this is so long. Thanks for reading, and thanks for praying. God is building His church. We want to be His servants till He comes. 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

Thank you so very much, and God's richest blessings for you all, Noél for us

Written by Noél Rich | 01 May 2023

Yes! May our Lord Jesus Christ be praised. And now that the rains have gone, morning is "gilding" the skies. Sunrises and sunsets are pretty. God is everywhere.

Today, May 1, is Labor Day here, a holiday. It is also the main day for the famous Virgin of Chapi, a very idolatrous festival, especially in the area of Chapi, near Arequipa. This image is the patron saint of Arequipa, and there are sanctuaries for the image in 3 or 4 places in and around the city. People go on foot - some even barefoot, for miles to visit these sanctuaries and ask this virgin for miracles. It is sad that so many are still blinded to the truth of our Lord Jesus Christ being the only mediator between us and God and the only way of salvation.

Being Labor Day there are some protest marches, though politically we are in a tense calm, with 4 ex presidents in jail and many authorities processed for corruption. In spite of increased violence, robberies and even murder, we are thankful we still have the freedom to teach and share God's word openly. Many do sincerely desire to know Christ. Our youth and others are seeing results in their outreaches in areas in and around Arequipa, not only in children but also some parents and other adults.

There are results in the youth too, many of the couples I mentioned in earlier letters are now getting married, so we have had and will have a few more weddings in the coming weeks and months. These weddings are glorifying the Lord. We truly thank Him for these young couples desiring to continue serving God. Hopefully they will indeed form godly Christian homes and be examples of Christ's church in the future. The Lord is building His church.

Many of you are praying for Bob's health. God is answering: Bob feels really fine, still strong and working hard. Next weekend he will go with some believers from here for special meetings (they call it a "convention") in the mountain town of Sibayo. This is above the Colca canyon and they invite believers from all of the churches in the canyon. These "conventions" are an encouragement to the believers in the whole area and those from here too. It is only about 4 hours away from Arequipa and the roads are much better than before.

The altitude is about 12000 feet, but Bob takes the altitude really well. Bob continues to teach here in Arequipa, visiting churches besides our main one where we live. Believers are constantly calling and coming for counsel and to buy Bibles and other literature. There are some problems in the new churches in Camaná on the coast so we ask for prayer. Thanks so very much for praying for us, especially that we may continue in the Lord's work here. Our times are in God's hands.

School is also going well, and we are truly thankful we can now have in person school and even some programs with parents present. The Easter program was glorifying to the Lord and a blessing. Now Mother's Day is coming, and we trust the program for the moms will also glorify Christ and be an encouragement to them to teach their children to love God. Satan wants to destroy our homes, and sadly there are many broken homes here. Please help us pray for godly and united homes - this is one of the purposes of our Christian school. So, happy Mother's Day for all of you Moms!

Thanks so much for your prayers and sharing with 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)

Many blessings, "May Jesus Christ be praised!" Gratefully, Noél for us