2011 – Numbering Our Days!

March 1, 2011

   2010 is behind us and 2011 is already passing by quickly with much accomplished but much more to be done.  We must “number our days” and use them for God’s glory.

   In January, we took our second annual Youth Missions Trip.  This was a 10 day trip that took us to nine different locations up the coast of Peru.  God blessed and we saw at least fifty-eight (58) souls saved and other decisions made.  The trip was full of excitement.  At several locations we had high winds.  On the windiest night the projector screen looked like a sail on top of the van.  The screen braces bent to the point that it looked like they would snap.  The wind was so bad that it actually blew over one of our speakers mounted on a heavy tripod!  The speaker seems to be ok and there were souls saved that night also.  To God be the glory!

   One night we had no one publicly accept Christ but we were given some encouraging news.  We were in a very hard Catholic area.  We showed a video that brought out the differences between religion, customs, and a relationship with God.  One of the hardest families in the area came and sat through the entire video and the presentation of the Gospel.  They also received Gospel tracts.  The seed was sown in many hardened hearts.  This was an encouragement to the area pastor who has been working with them for a while.

   A national pastor saw us after another showing and was excited to say that one family came to his church that was saved that night.  This is one of the main ways that we plan to use the unit, to assist and encourage nationals in their work.  We have even been able to bring small churches together through this ministry.  We had a viewing for one pastor in a park near his church.  I knew of another work in the area for the deaf and hearing.  I took the one pastor and found the other.  The first pastor didn’t even know the other was in the area. They both worked to get one of our largest crowds to the showing.  The pastor for the deaf also interpreted the video through sign language.  It was a blessing for all of us.

   At the end of January we had our VBS.  We had a good group with an average of around sixty.  We also had two saved!

   God once again has provided.  After years of telling the government that we needed a street light near the new church building, it is finally installed… right beside our building!  God is good.

   I (Don) was asked to speak on baptism at a “childrens’ day camp” of a fellow missionary. There were around forty-five in attendance.  After teaching and giving an invitation, nine year old Hector gave his life to the Lord!  Several others made decisions to be baptized in obedience to our Lord’s command.

   We’ve seen four more saved in our church recently!  Each of those were saved through visitation.  On January 30 we baptized two more into the church family.  We obtained permission to use the public pool on the city square.  Many witnessed the two candidates as they gave public testimony of their faith.

   Last weekend we had a special youth meeting.  We made it special by showing a video and having a spaghetti dinner.  We had a great attendance of thirty youth along with four adults.  We love our young people!

   Now for some more great news!  Our daughter Christa is expecting our first grandchild in September!!!  Excuse the extra !!! but we are a little excited.  Please keep Christa, Stephen and the baby in your prayers. 

God bless each of you for your faithfulness in prayer for us and our ministry.

Serving Him for You in Peru,

                                  Don & Carla Rich