Written by Noél Rich | 07 June 2022

Hi again!

Well, maybe it is not busting out all over, but June is busting out! Both May and June are special months for the Roman Catholics and they sure do shoot a lot of firecrackers. All over our neighborhood anyway. We are the "rose among thorns". A cloistered nun's convent is by the back side of our church and apt. property and a big Catholic boy's school, residence for poor boys, soccer field, and workshops are across the street on the front side. Especially there they shoot lots of really loud firecrackers.

We say their "saints" just love firecrackers but the dead ones have not woken up yet. So they keep trying I guess. Anyway, Bob had a good trip to Espínar with one of our church leaders here and they were able to encourage the believers there. It is winter here and the mountain temperatures are low, it freezes at night. So far we have had nice sun in the day here in Arequipa, and that helps.

This morning Bob preached a really good and necessary message, showing how very definitely the issues of abortion and homosexual "life style" are condemned in Scripture. It is so very true, but many people ignore or do not believe the Scriptures, God's Word. We sadly read about and see how the U.S. is going downhill - becoming a nation without morals, without values, without God. It is happening here too. Yet so far we have the freedom to preach and teach God's Word and we must make the most of this while it lasts. Truly I am blessed in teaching the O.T. to 4th and 5th graders. Some of them know God's Word and say they will be faithful to Him all their lives. Next year I hope to have these classes for the N.T. Thanks for praying for them. We long to be lights for the Lord in a very dark society.

Our son Joe returned from the Ukraine and is working again in Indiana. He does want to go back but he has some projects and jobs he has to do up in the U.S. for a couple of months. One includes helping in the pro-life movement in Tennessee and that will take a month anyway to do. Thanks for helping us pray for him in his desire to serve the Lord in these ways. At least he has been encouraged to hear that some of his friends who had to fight in the Ukraine survived. Still, the war is awful and we pray it will end soon.

Thanks for praying for our Christian school, Ebenezer, as well. There have been some problems with some of the graduating class recently. Kids get all kind of stuff off the internet and they are being led to believe it is really cool to copy some of the very wicked foreign movements (Chinese) which do have Satanic connotations. Too often the parents are not aware of all that goes on between kids getting into this not knowing the consequences it brings.

We are thankful for Christian teachers, some real precious Christian parents, and some of the kids who realized this and got it stopped. But it sure shows up how much the internet is influencing our youth. They had to get on to do homework during the almost 2 years of the pandemic and now many of the kids are almost addicted to seeing all the stuff online. Even little kids are stuck on their cell phones playing video games, and many of them are violent.

Again, thanks for praying for God's work here and thanks for your sharing as God leads you. We pray you Dads will have a very blessed Father's Day, remembering to honor and follow our heavenly Father, setting an example before our children.

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 thanks for all of you, Love, Noél for us

Written by Noél Rich | 07 May 2022

Hi again to you all,

Well, May is truly a lovely month. But we don't seem to see real peace in this world. The war in the Ukraine is still raging, and there are other conflicts.

Peru is always in a political crisis it seems. People want to impeach the president, there are protest marches pro and con about everything.

But the Lord is at work. Bob had a good trip to Piraucho and Chuquibamba last month. Still some problems there but it is a bit better. There is a lack of men leaders in these places that are qualified to lead church groups. This is a real need in most of our churches, here in Arequipa too. So please help us pray for God to raise up dedicated men. Our youth remain active and some of these guys we trust will be formed for leadership as time passes, so that is a blessing.

It is truly a blessing for me to be able to teach God's Word again to 4th and 5th grades in our Christian school next door. Please help us pray for salvation for the kids and their families. In many places it is prohibited to even talk about God in school, so we are especially thankful for the freedom we have. True, the state curriculum is anti-God and they are making it hard for private schools. Our directors, Marino and Lupe, and dedicated teachers are really doing a great job with all the requirements, most of them really unnecessarily complicated. So thanks for praying for this too.

This war in the Ukraine is on our hearts especially these days as our son Joe continues there helping the needy. Joe has visited the Ukraine a few times in the past,and has many friends there. So Joe is standing with them and helping where needed, distributing medical supplies, food, help where needed. He tells us heartbreaking things as he sees first hand bombing, killing, destroying innocent civilians, men, women, children. The Russians are ruthless and we do earnestly pray this war will end.

Joe has to return to the U.S. mid May but hopes to work enough to earn enough to return in June or July. We cannot send funds from here for him, but hope to find someone going that can take some. If anyone wants to help him return to Ukraine please write directly to him and he will tell you how this can be done. His email is: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Thanks so much for praying for this need and for God's work here. Joe also does our website, it is: bobandnoelrich.com Visit us there!

Next Sunday is Mother's Day and we want to wish all you Moms a very happy one! Keep praying for your children and dedicating them to our Lord.

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)

So, many blessings and thanks for all of you, Sincerely, Noél for us

Written by Noél Rich | 10 April 2022

Hi to you all,

Well, April is indeed passing fast. March was a busy month here. Sadly, Miguel, whom I mentioned before, died a few days after I wrote that last letter. His young widow, Mabel, has a hard time accepting this, but most of all their little 10 year old son, Jose Miguel, really had a hard time with it. He was continually crying and not wanting to go to school.

Mabel took him to psychologists but they counselled him wrong, even said not to talk to him about God or heaven. Thankfully he is doing better now. We assure him his Dad indeed is in heaven and is totally well. We of course visited them and Mabel calls regularly, she is doing better with it too. Anyway, prayer for her and her children is appreciated. Her mother, sister, brother and grandmother all live in the same house so Mabel is not alone. Of course the extended family does not replace Miguel but they help with the children. They have their individual apts., the house is big.

On a happier note we had a wedding of a couple from our youth group. It was a 2 day affair and really very nice. This couple are believers who want God to be glorified in their lives together.

One of our men leaders had a nasty fall and has some bad wounds, but he is thankfully recovering. Another dear sister had a nervous breakdown and still is not well. A dear older couple has real problems as he has advanced Alsheimers and she has blood pressure problems, stress, etc. Also, sadly we have heard of division in one of the earlier churches the Lord used Bob to found. When the Lord is working the enemy comes with hardships and trials. But God makes Himself real to us in these trials and always.

Truly we thank you all for your prayer for God's work here. Bob is in Tuti (in the Colca canyon) for this weekend for what they call a "convencion". These are special meetings for teaching and encouraging believers from several churches in the canyon. Some of our youth went to teach the children. That is a real blessing for the folks up there too.

March 8 I had surgery to remove a big cataract and replace the lens in my right eye. I do see better and will hopefully soon get glasses adjusted for reading anyway. I don't really need glasses for every day work.

The good news: Wow! What a blessing to be able to teach God's Word, the O.T. this year, to 4th and 5th grades. The students are in school in person now. If anyone gets a sniffle they have to stay home and the computer is on in the classroom so the ones who are home can see and participate. But indeed most are in person and doing really well. We have tons of rules, still have to wear masks, and the kids cannot have recess all together. Each class has an assigned area in the patio and they can go out one or two classes at a time to that assigned area. No programs for special days are permitted yet, but we trust soon to be able to do something like that as we did before. But we are rejoicing in the freedom we have to share Christ and the real meaning of the Easter season.

Always we remember Christ's death and resurrection for us, redemption and salvation, but this season is a special time for this and for sharing Christ with others.

Please do remember our son Joe in the Ukraine helping as a volunteer with the many needs over there. He will have to return to the U.S. in May but hopes to earn enough to go back in June for more time.

Thanks so very much for praying for us and God's work here. And for sharing as you are led. Our website, done by Joe, is bobandnoelrich.com 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 Resurrection blessings for each of you, In Christ, Noél for us

Written by Noél Rich | 08 March 2022

Hi to you friends and family,

Marching we are, and it is going by. Bob is on his way to the Colca canyon for special meetings in the town of Lari, he has a car full but is driving in the cold rain right now. It is cold and wet here and raining but the mountains are much colder, and snow is on the passes, so if you get this soon please pray for them to get there safe and have profitable meetings up there for these next 3 days. Thanks.

February was a fast and busy month as well. Bob and I went to the coast, Camaná for 2 days. We went to the beach a couple of times and also met with the believers there. On Bob's 77th birthday we were there and talked to some relatives of the believers and 2 young people made professions of faith. Bob said that was the best birthday present he had! The young girl, Sarina Noemi, is now working here in Arequipa and was baptized last Sunday in our main church here.

2 young guys from here were baptized along with Sarina. They are also from believing families, they are José and Nicolas. We are thankful for these new believers and thank you for praying. The other guy who professed faith in Camaná, Enrique, will be baptized either there or here sometime soon.

So February started and ended with good news. Bob had a trip to Chuquibamba also, there are still some problems there but some are getting resolved.

Our Christian school will start Monday, March 7, Lord willing, but just virtual for a week. Then March 14 we start with semi-presencial, that is one group goes one day and the other group the next day, etc. I get to be semi-present! Ha. I thank the Lord for the opportunity to again teach God's Word and really I do hope to be all there for each group each day. Thanks for praying for us in this.

We cannot insist that all the children be vaccinated but some are. Teachers all are, and we do pray for God's protection. We will have to wear masks and keep distance as well as we can (but kids can't, you know that). I will have to adjust to having the screen up so the kids who don't come on that day can get the video in their homes. This is new to me but I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks, we will see. (Arf arf) Hopefully by the first days of April we can be ALL present.

Marino has done all the requirements for all the protocols to be ready for this. Thank you truly for praying and thanks especially to you who are helping with the fees for the needy families who want their children in Christian school but who cannot pay fees. Fees are necessary to pay our dear dedicated teachers. Thanks truly.

Our youth and others continue to reach out, teaching children in poor neighborhoods,visiting in homes, and doing Bible studies. God is blessing but there still are trials. Last month I mentioned Miguel - on the ventilator with bad Covid. His lungs are now hard and full, though other organs are better. Still, he is on the border of death this minute. God can do a miracle and heal him.

We are praying for the Lord's will in this, we trust He will do what is best for him and his family. His wife is fervently praying for a miracle, but we hope is willing to accept God's will and help for her and the 2 small children. Between 4 and 9 people are dying daily of Covid here in Arequipa so it is still not gone.

Special prayer request for our son, Joe: he is going to Poland (eastern Europe) to help with the crisis in the Ukraine. Joe has been to Kiev several times and has friends there. He was actually planning on moving there but cannot yet with the terrible war. He is going now as a volunteer, to help with refugees, rebuilding, donating blood, helping where needed. Maybe he will be in the Ukraine part of the time, helping wherever needed.

Last note for this time: I (Noél) am scheduled for cataract surgery (lens replacement) next Tuesday, March 8. Thanks for praying for this too.

Thanks to you all. 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 | 02 February 2022

Hi again, and welcome to a winter like summer! Feb. 2, groundhog day. Supposedly if he sees his shadow, it means one thing and if he doesn't see his shadow it goes the other way. I can never remember which way was the shadow, my mother was very hep on all these little details. Anyway, the groundhog would be very confused in our Andean "summer" weather.

Yes, the days are long, and when the sun shines it is bright and warm. It is rainy season and when it rains it mostly is foggy, freezy, very cold. Arequipa usually has sun, too much of it for my skin, but just these 2-3 months are totally different. OK, my journalist grandson says never to start a letter with the weather, but - it is Groundhog day, exceptions and attempts on explanations are ok just this once. (I hope.)

Bob has been again up to Chuquibamba where there still are problems, but some good news in that a couple almost teen girls and a new believer guy want to receive their baptism. The former leader who had caused the huge problem still does not repent, but at least he said he would cooperate by removing his things from the part of the church property he had taken. We pray other men would be raised up there to lead the church, there is now a real lack of men with the gift of leadership.

However we are thankful that some of the believers from here in Arequipa are helping take responsibility in also visiting, traveling to some of the places, helping and encouraging these dear ones. Bob does keep busy preparing, teaching, counselling, visiting and helping the believers in many churches and families here. The youth from here are also seeing fruit from their outreach labors in different areas, with children and their folks sometimes too. And our colleagues, Jeff and Angela, are seeing a group start to meet formally this coming Sunday out in Uchumayo where they have some fields of Aloe Vera and other things. They are getting a small house built out there and hope to see a church raised up there. They have baptized a few and we hope there will be more soon.

Along with good news, there is a sad side. The third wave of covid-19 is hitting hard here in Arequipa. Most of the cases are from the variant Omicron, and most of the folks are getting over it, usually it is not worse than a bad flu. However, we right now have one dear believer fighting for life in hospital, in ICU, on maximum oxygen, but with over 80% of his lungs filled with virus, covid viral pneumonia.

He had just had a round of chemotherapy for a cancer he has, so he could not get any of the vaccinations. Miguel is young and really in spite of these conditions he was doing well till this Covid hit him. He has a lovely wife and 2 small children. We are praying fervently for his recovery - only God can do this. Also on a sad note: a 15 year old was killed while riding his bike on the road when a front loader tractor ran over him. Somehow the driver of the front loader did not see him. The boy's grandparents and uncle and aunt are faithful believers with us in our churches here. Our comfort has come in that the boy, Alvaro, was the only one of his immediate family who had trusted Christ and was faithful in church. We pray for his parents, that they would see their need of trusting Christ. His Mom is the daughter of the grandparents here but has not made Christ her personal Saviour. Please help us pray for these needy ones, and others who need to come to the Lord.

Also I want to mention the school. Please help us pray we can indeed have in person school starting next month. This is a real need. Also for God's chosen ones for teachers and students here. Thank you so very much for praying for us, and for sharing as God leads, for His work in hearts here.

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

May you enjoy God's richest blessings, this month, this year, and on, in Christ, Noel for us