Misdirection or God’s Plan?

November 6, 2013

As I write this letter we are on our way to the country of Chile to deliver many Bibles and New Testaments. I’ll write more in our next prayer letter about this trip.

We have some sad but glorious news about one of our members. Twenty-one year old Jordan passed away on September 22. He had cancer for three years causing him to lose one of his legs. Before his passing he prayed with our national pastor who shared this with us. He boldly prayed… “Lord, I thank you that you have given me more than you have taken away”. In a letter to his family he wrote that he thanked God for the cancer which brought him so close to the Savior. What a testimony! Don’t cry for him. He’s running in Glory looking on the face of the Savior! And, we’ll see him again one day!

In September a dear friend, Ken, from one of our supporting churches came to visit us for a second time. He traveled with us as we drove to the coast with our mobile ministry unit. We showed two Christian films, saw two saved and delivered 35 cases of Bibles to several national pastors along the coast.

Recently there was a planned strike against the gold mine, although it did not have much attendance. The same day many government workers decided to take advantage of the opportunity (normal occurrence) and had a strike. People who didn’t want to be involved were rounded up by people with sticks and re-bar and made to participate. Nothing like democracy, huh? We saw at least one man who was beaten with a stick until he joined them in their march.

I spoke at a pastors’ conference in Lima in October. We delivered over 1000 Bibles to many pastors there. I was cornered by many at the end of the conference asking for more Bibles for their churches. I now better understand the meaning of the “throng and press” that surrounded Jesus (comparing the crowd, not myself to Jesus). I also have a long list of those wanting Bibles whenever we can get more here in Peru. By the way, all of our Bibles are either delivered or promised. (More on this in a separate letter)

Also in October, we headed to the jungle city of Nieva with over 1000 Bibles for twenty churches where the pastors have been the only ones with Bibles. When we got to the last city on paved road we were told that our vehicle would not make it the rest of the way because the rainy season had started. The road was full of deep holes, steep hills and mud. We opted to send the Bibles by 4x4 truck to my contact in that area of the jungle. He is distributing the Bibles to the villages for us.

It was apparent that God had other plans. Our friend Eric had just moved to the jungle city of Moyobamba so we drove another five hours to visit him and his family. Once there we rented a boat to visit a couple of river villages. I was privileged to lead one lady to the Lord there. I was also able to lead our boat driver/guide to the Lord.

A Peruvian pastor that I know had given me the name of another pastor whose church was in that city. I called him and he asked me to meet him at 1pm on Wednesday. When I arrived I was surprised to find that there were fourteen pastors there in a pastors’ meeting. He had invited me to speak to the pastors which I gladly did. I shared with them about our Bible and Mobile ministries. I also gave each of them a Bible. Surprisingly, they had heard of us and our ministries from other pastors many hours away. We have been invited back to have open-air meetings with them next February. They also are in need of Bibles for their churches.

The next night, using the Mobile Unit, we showed a video in a poor area near the river. We had around fifty people in attendance. After the movie I preached and we had 18 decisions for Christ!

On October 20th we presented the first video shown in our church with our newly installed sound and video equipment. It was a video about Christian persecution called “Bamboo in Winter”. There were plenty of tears in the pews.

Last Sunday morning we received seven new members and one candidate for baptism! We have also seen several saved at church and in visitation recently.

There never seems to be enough space to write all that God is doing here. God bless each of you!

                                                                 

Serving Him for You in Peru,

                                  Don & Carla Rich