Home Again!!

May 5, 2013

   We are finally back in Cajamarca! We had an uneventful trip returning to Peru with no problems with luggage, etc. That is always a big blessing.

The last Sunday before leaving the US I preached at our home church and saw a young man saved. What a way to leave! We arrived in Lima on April 15th. Close friend and fellow missionary Shane Rice and his family met us in Lima in our van that they had driven down from Cajamarca. We stayed in Lima for a week to work on our resident visas which we knew was going to be a problem. This was complicated even further by the customs agent who incorrectly stamped our passports as we entered the country. This has to be taken care of first before beginning our actual visa paperwork. We had originally been told what documentation we needed. We presented that paperwork and were told that it had to be duplicated for each person (small detail they had omitted). After signing several documents and having them “legalized”, we made the two day trip driving back to our home in Cajamarca. We will be required to return to Lima 3-4 more times to jump through all the government hoops and receive our resident visas. Please pray that this process and all our travels go smoothly.

Carla and I celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary on the very day we arrived back in Cajamarca! What a blessing it is to work together for the Lord. And He couldn’t have given me anyone better to serve with.

Our Peruvian church had a dinner to celebrate our return. It was a sweet and humbling time as each one in attendance stood to give testimony of how our ministry has impacted their lives. Sometimes we get so busy in the “work” of the ministry. How refreshing it is to hear how God is using the “work” to change lives.

Our first Sunday back in our church showed good attendance with visitors in both AM and PM. We met several of the new members who have joined since we left for furlough. There were six baptized in April and two more today! On a sad note, two youth, who come faithfully with their mother and have been saved in our church, wanted to be baptized but their unsaved father would not allow it.

Returning from furlough we are reminded that the life of a missionary isn’t always studying, preparing, preaching and winning souls. Life is life no matter what country you live in. Our home had been sitting more or less dormant while we were gone. When we returned we found that three light fixtures, one light switch, one sink and one toilet had to be repaired or replaced in our home. Carla worked for days deep cleaning each room from the dust, etc. I then spent two days helping a national pastor work on his car. Immediately following this we spent two more days helping a fellow missionary move from one house to another. Now Carla and I need to renew our drivers’ licenses, which can be a lengthy process. But, that is life as a missionary!

I was anxious to check out our Bible inventory when we arrived. We have sent out so many Bibles and still have requests coming in. When I opened the door to the container I was surprised to find that we only have about one-third of the Bibles left for distribution! These will go quickly. I have some trips in the planning stages to deliver Bibles to many pastors in the jungles of Peru. Just this past week I sent Bibles to Argentina and we have some that will be arriving soon in Columbia.

While we were in the states I was contacted by another missionary that had been working in our area of Peru for a few years. They were moving back to the US and asked me to take over their ministry. Please pray for us as we take on this responsibility and determine God’s will for the future of this work.

Now that we have the house back in order, the internet and phone turned on, the grass cut and the groceries bought, it is time to get busy with our long list of ministry items to accomplish. May God bless each of you for your faithful support of this ministry in prayers and funding.

                                                                 

Serving Him for You in Peru,

                                  Don & Carla Rich