May 18, 2004

Preparing for the “Empty Nest”

Dear Pastors, Praying Friends, and Family,

We pray that this letter finds everyone doing well.  We are praising the Lord each day for how he continues to bless us here in Peru.

Bro. Mike, the missionary we are working with, and his family returned from a four month furlough to raise support for the children’s home which is currently under construction.  While in the states, Bro. Mike had to have gall bladder surgery.  He is doing well, although a little sore.  We praise the Lord for their safe return.

In April, I was privileged to be invited to the jungle city of Iquitos to attend the induction of a national pastor of a church there. 

While we were there, I was able to see the airplane of missionary pilot Kevin Donaldson which was shot down in error in April of 2001 carrying Jim & Roni Bowers and their 2 children.  It was full of bullet holes and fire damage from the shooting and subsequent crash which killed Roni and her baby Charity. I also met the new missionaries that are taking up where they left off to reach the river people in the jungles of the Amazon River.  God’s work must go on.

This past month has been a good one for food tasting.  While in Iquitos, I was able to try gator.  I have eaten gator before in the states, but it just isn’t the same as eating it one block from the Amazon River.  We have also had deer/venison and Andes mountain trout.  All were good.

We had wonderful Easter and Mother’s Day services at our church here in Cieneguilla and continue to see souls saved.  Carla helped prepare for and then spoke at the Mother-Daughter Tea for the ladies of the church and visitors.  It was a good night of fellowship for all.  Renzo, a young man who works in a shopping center parking lot washing cars came to visit our church after several invitations.  He can only come on Wednesday nights but has been faithful since visiting the first time.  Last Wednesday night, after many questions, he was one of four who prayed to receive Christ as their Savior.  Praise the Lord for him and the others who are reached through this ministry.

I would like to take a moment and thank each of you for the anniversary cards and birthday cards we have received.  It is such an encouragement to hear from you.  We didn’t tell everyone at church when our anniversary was.  They found out about it a few days after.  The next Sunday night, they had cake, drinks, and chips for us after church.  They had us sit up front while they took turns standing and telling how we have blessed them by our coming to Peru.  The kids’ class drew hearts, etc. and presented them to us.  It was a good evening.  We didn’t have a clue that they were going to do it.  It truly touched our hearts.  Then, the day after our anniversary, Susy, our national pastor’s wife, gave birth to a baby girl.  Her name is Gracia (Grace).  Mother, baby, and daddy are all doing well.  Please keep them in your prayers.

In six short weeks, on July 2, Christa will be graduating from High School and preparing to go back to the states for college.  Please pray for us all as we go through this transition.  By the way, you are all invited to Peru for the graduation exercises.  I promise it won’t be a long service as her graduating class consists of three students. 

When we bring Christa back for college, we will be in the states in August and will have a couple of openings for meetings if anyone would like for us to drop in.  We will be in GA and then in north Florida.  The easiest way to reach us is by e-mail, donrich@calvaryministries.org .

Serving Him for you in Peru in 2004,

                                                                                           Don Rich & family