June 7, 2003

Countdown!!!
 

 Dear Pastors and Praying Friends,

     We are counting the days!  Each day we count down as we look forward to flying out of Atlanta and being on our way to the land God has called us to.  As of today, we are only 38 days away from arrival in Peru! 

     With our airline tickets in hand and the container scheduled to arrive in less than two weeks to ship our personal belongings, I can’t begin to explain the pace we keep as we continue to drive to meetings, pack boxes for shipping, check and recheck to make sure everything is on schedule, and make sure that nothing is left undone.

     Christa is excited and looking forward to starting school in Peru in August after we arrive.  She will be in a class of only 5-10 students.  The name of her school is Fetzer Memorial Academy.  It is a missionary-run school using the ABEKA curriculum.  She will be there for one year and graduate next June. 

     I told you last month that Carla had pulled a lower back muscle.  Praise the Lord, she is much better after a few weeks of physical therapy.  Please keep her in your prayers as she continues to heal.

     We are all up to our eyeballs in boxes in my parents’ basement where we live.  They were so gracious to let us stay here until we were ready to leave for the field.  That means that when it’s time to go, we don’t have to get out of a lease, sell a house, etc.  WE JUST GO!

     Our computer will be packed and on a ship to Peru, so we will not be sending out a prayer letter in July.  We will update everyone once we are unpacked and set up.  As soon as we can, we will be adding pictures to our website.  We want to share with you our missionary journey.  Not everyone can go to the field, but maybe you can experience some of it along with us in this way.

      In the next 38 days we will be traveling from Alabama all the way to New York.  I will be preaching and presenting our burden in 18 meetings in 6 states.  Please pray for traveling mercies as we drive these many miles on the last leg of our deputation trail.

    We still stand in need of a small amount of our monthly support and much of our moving expenses.  This includes the cost of shipping, customs, furniture, appliances, turning on utilities, a vehicle, etc.  We remain confident that God will supply.  We praise Him for the support that has already been raised.

     I want to say thank you once again to those of you who stand with us in prayer and financial support for allowing God to use you in this way.

Your missionaries to Peru,

                                                                                           Don Rich & family