July 5, 2005

The Angels are Shoutin’!

Dear Pastors, Praying Friends, and Family,

    Wow, have we really been here in Cajamarca almost 12 weeks?  Time has been flying by and we have been busy. 

    We recently sent out a special letter concerning our building program.  With this, our regular prayer letter, we would like to update you on other happenings over the past 2 months.

    Carla and I attended an anniversary service of a church here in the Andes mountains soon after arriving.  Afterwards, we had dinner on the ground which included goat meat, rice, and potatoes. Mmm, mmm, tasty.

    I was invited to celebrate my birthday by going with a group of Peruvian seminary students on a Missions trip to two nearby pueblos needing a church.  What a great opportunity to meet and get to know some of the future spiritual leaders of Peru and to see other areas where we can start churches.  When I returned home that night, Carla had prepared a surprise party complete with a houseful of our new Peruvian friends.  

    As you know from our recent special letter, God has blessed us in being able to find a national pastor with whom we will start our first church.  It was after much prayer, many questions, and much consideration that we chose Bro. Jorge Ortiz.  He has been serving as youth pastor, along with other duties, in his local church and comes highly recommended.  He also helped a national pastor begin a new work while in seminary.  We believe he will be a wonderful pastor.

    Last month, a dear sister-in-Christ from Manchester England visited here.  She found us by our website and came to visit us and some other missionaries that she has been praying for.  She is a prayer warrior and loves missions and missionaries.  She was a delight to have in our home.  While she was visiting, we took her to an ancient burial ground nearby.  I began talking to our guide, Pablo Chavez, and before we left the site, I led him to the Lord.  I returned soon after and took him a Bible.  He wants to visit our church as soon as it is open.  As the song says… It will be worth it all for “Just One More Soul”.  The angels are rejoicing!

    On June 3^rd, we signed the paperwork on the church property!  We plan on breaking ground next Monday, July 11.  We are trusting God to bring in the needed support for this building project.  On June 9^th, we signed a rental contract on a building to begin our first church.  We took possession of the building on the 20^th.  We are in the process of preparing the building, and the pews and pulpit are under construction as I write this letter.  Once they are in, we will be having our first service.  What an exciting time!

    We are blessed to have our daughter, Christa, and dear friend Vivian visiting with us for 3 weeks.  They arrived just in time to celebrate Carla’s birthday with us.  Carla, my firecracker of a wife, was born on the 4^th of July.

    Once again, we thank each of you for your continued prayers and support.  We pray God’s blessings on you for your help in reaching the lost souls of Peru.  For each one saved, as my pastor would say, “You get halfers!”.

                                                                                                                                Serving Him for You in Peru,

                                                                                           Don Rich & family

Don’t forget to visit our web site:  www.Rich2Peru.com