January 5, 2011

What a way to end the year!

Carla and I would like to start by wishing everyone a very Happy New Year. We pray that God will bless each of you this year in a big way.

In November, Carla and I took a couple of others and drove up the coast to Chiclayo and Piura. The reason for this trip was to meet more national pastors who would allow us to return with our youth group for their missions trip. I (Don) also was invited to preach the anniversary services for a national church. We took advantage of the opportunity and planned open air evangelism using the Mobile Unit. God truly blessed and there were at least 32 decisions made for Christ! The trip was very interesting and enjoyable. It is a given that while traveling the Panamerican highway you will go through several toll booths and be stopped several times by police checking credentials. Each officer and toll booth operator received gospel tracts. One of the open air meetings was far back in a desert with only one small brick home in sight. We were invited to eat in the home before the meeting. It had one light which was run by a car battery. Around forty people walked or were brought in the back of a truck to sit on the sand dunes and watch the video and hear the gospel. There were five saved that night. We also did evangelism in small pueblos and on city squares. We were served meals in different homes which included ceviche (raw fish marinated in lemon and onion juice), goat and duck. Someone yelled “duck” so we ate it! (poor attempt at humor). In our travel we encountered a couple of iguanas and a fox. We made several new contacts and were invited to go to the jungle with our mobile unit in the future. God continues to open doors. There are pictures on our website www.rich2peru.com of the trip and other activities.

We have seen three more saved in our church in Los Baños del Inca in the past two months also. One of those was a lady who works in a store where we have copies made for the church. We have invited her for a couple of years. She finally came and has continued faithful after accepting Christ as Savior.

God continues to bless our first work here as we also watch our members grow in the Lord and step out to minister to others. What a blessing to see fruit and see others walk in faithfulness!

In total we saw at least 164 come to Christ last year through our different ministries; the church, evangelism, the Mobile Unit, visitation and our Bible study in the small city of Jesus.

Carla and I were blessed to be in the states for Christmas thanks to a good friend and Christian brother who provided us with airline “buddy passes”. We were able to spend time with family who are now scattered from Georgia to Texas and Oregon. What a blessing it was to all be together once again.

Building Program Update - All of the stucco is completed now. We will be pouring the second floor (second layer) in two weeks. Then we will start painting the first floor. Next will come the installation of doors, windows and bathroom fixtures, and tile work. God continues to bless us with special gifts for building even through a bad economy and the Christmas season. One would almost think that God can do what He wants when He wants!

Ministry Opportunities: Are you called to be a missionary director of a Christian School? We are praying for someone of like faith and values who can oversee this part of our ministry. If interested, please contact us for details.
* Calvary Children’s Home in Powder Springs, GA (out of our home church) is searching for a couple who feel called to be house parents. 770-794-1500
* Plan a trip to come visit us here in Peru. Several have expressed interest. Ask God to help you make it happen!

God bless you all for helping to make 2010 a wonderful year in our ministry.
                                                                                          

Serving Him for You in Peru,

                                  Don & Carla Rich