Grandparents…  Again!

November 6, 2012

Pastors, family and friends,

   We have so much to be thankful for as we enter the month of November.  God has allowed us to watch our first church plant continue to grow and thrive while we are here in the states on furlough.  It is such a blessing to know that we are accomplishing one of our main goals, to establish a church that will run on its own.  We continue to hear great news from our national pastor, José Zamora.  Recently he has contacted me to report that since our last prayer letter there have been at least seven saved in our church!  Among those are two couples.  We love to hear that families are coming to the saving knowledge of Christ.  Within a family there is built-in encouragement to strive for God’s best.  The pastor said they recently had a special fellowship dinner and are excited as they plan activities to celebrate our Savior’s birth this Christmas.

    We praise the Lord again for His blessings!  Caleb Michael Sapp was born October 25 to our daughter Christa!  Our second grandson was born over two weeks early but came into this world at a whopping eight pounds seven ounces and stretched out twenty-one inches long.  If he’d have been a fish we’d have had to put him on a plaque to adorn the wall!  He is a trophy for sure.  Both mother and son are healthy and doing great.  Our son-in-law is a great dad and big brother Ethan loves his little brother and enjoys cuddling up to Caleb.  We praise the Lord that we were able to arrive just a few hours after the birth and be with them for a time to visit and help out.  We are even planning an early Thanksgiving dinner with them.  Every day is thanksgiving with the blessings that we have received.  

   In December, before our next prayer letter, I (Don) will be having shoulder surgery and would appreciate your prayers.  It should be interesting to visit churches and preach with my arm in a sling for a few weeks. 

   Spanish Bibles continue to be delivered to national pastors and missionaries through the ministry entrusted to us by Victory Baptist Press.  Hundreds of Bibles are sent out each month by bus or postal service to those who are requesting them.  Hardly a week goes by that I do not receive at least one or more requests.   We are planning a few trips when we return to Peru to deliver Bibles into the jungle areas and to the countries of Chile and Argentina. 

   Over half of our furlough has passed and God continues to bless as we’ve traveled thousands of miles through at least twenty states and had meetings in twelve of those.  Recently we had two individuals raise their hands for prayer as they feel God is calling them to the mission field and another made a decision for Christ.  We have spoken with others who have also asked us to pray for God’s leading in their lives, feeling that they too are called to be missionaries.  It is a blessing to be able to encourage them in God’s work.   

   May you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a very Merry Christmas while you celebrate the greatest Gift and best Reason we have for giving thanks.   If anyone needs to get in touch with us, please contact us at don@rich2peru.com or 678-921-5116.

   May God bless you all for your faithful support of our ministry.

Serving Him for You in Peru,

                                  Don & Carla Rich