Anniversaries, Transition and Open Doors

September 13, 2013
 

   The church in Puylucana that was turned over to us consisted only of kids 15 yrs old and younger, except for one crippled boy who is 27 yrs old.  We planned a special day for the youth in that work to get to know our church.  We wanted to let them be a part of a church where adults attend and are active in the ministry.  At one point in the service, all ‘parents’ were asked to stand.  The parents’ eyes were filled with tears as they realized that they were once “those parents”, like those of the children from Puylucana who let their children go but do not attend church themselves.  They set a bad example and are leading their children to a hellish eternity.

   After much prayer we have decided that the best way to utilize the national pastor in Puylucana and continue ministering to the youth in that area was to join their church to ours.  We changed their three services a week to just one on Saturdays. This ministry is now an extension of our church, Calvario, and is led by the national pastor who has been working with these youth for a few years.  We also started a bus route, offering them the opportunity to come to our church on Sunday mornings.  The pastor from Puylucana has transitioned to our church as the youth leader and a Sunday school teacher.  He will now be able to pull from the people of our church to help him with the Saturday service.  This allows other church members to be involved in a ministry.  Our goal is to see the Puylucana work either reach and maintain a base of faithful adults or transition someone else into it as a youth ministry so that we can start a new work with the national pastor and his wife.  

   On July 15^th Carla and I celebrated ten years in Peru as missionaries!  It is amazing to look back and see just how God has blessed.  We are excited to see what He will do in the next 10!

   In August we celebrated the 8^th anniversary of our church!  We had 172 in attendance for the service including many visitors. Afterwards, we fed over 220 which included visitors from other churches who came after their services!  We baptized three and had a marriage vows ceremony for a young couple in our church that had only had a civil wedding at the courthouse.  (pictures on our website)

   On our anniversary Sunday I drove the van to pick up 20 kids and two adults from Puylucana.  As I arrived “early” there were already eight waiting (a small miracle in itself). When they saw me a couple of the kids started jumping and shouting “aquí está!” (here he is!)  As they climbed in the van the kids saw a box of tracts in the floorboard and asked why they were there.  I explained that they were there to give to people so that they can know how to go to Heaven.  I then pointed to a taxi waiting just in front of us and a man on the sidewalk and said “people like them”.   The kids excitedly asked “Can we give them one?”  They jumped out and began passing out tracts to the taxi driver and those on the sidewalk.  What a blessing to watch their enthusiasm!  When we arrived at church, there were 3 more adults from Puylucana!  God is working in this transition.

   A group from our home state of GA just left after a one week visit.  What a great time we had with them!  We saw around 40 decisions for Christ and passed out around 7000 tracts!  As they arrived we were just completing the exterior painting, the installation of the grill and the sound system.  Thanks Calvary’s Grace for being such a blessing and encouragement to us by coming to Peru.

   Recently Geronimo, the sign maker who painted our church signs, received assurance of his salvation during a conversation that I had with him.  He then told me of an open door for another ministry.  He teaches art to poor kids back in the mountains.  He said that he wants them to receive teaching in the Word of God.  While visiting there with the group from Georgia I was able to preach to around 50 people.  Of them, around 35, including adults, youth and children, made decisions for Christ! So much work!  So little time!  We really need help!

   There is so much more to share but no room on this page!  I guess you’ll just have to wait for our next letter or come down to see it all for yourself!   God bless each of you who support us in prayer and financially.

Serving Him for You in Peru,

                                  Don & Carla Rich