December 4, 2003

Many Reasons to Be Thankful!

Dear Pastors, Praying Friends, and Family,

    It is so good to have this outlet to be able to keep you informed of our missionary journey.  We have often thought of the missionaries of the past and how they were unable to keep in touch as often with their supporting churches and families.  This is just one of the many things that we are truly thankful for, not the least of which is our own salvation.

    It has been a busy month for us but we were able to meet with a couple of other missionary families that work in the area for a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner and a time of fellowship and remembering our blessings.

    Christa started the month off by going on her “Senior Trip” with the two other seniors and a teacher/chaperone from the Christian School she attends here.  They went to Cuzco and visited the famous ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu.  She did the taste testing this month.  While she was there, she tried beef heart and kidney on a shish kabob.  I guess she takes after her father in that respect.  Actually, it shocked us that she even considered trying it!  That’s my girl!

    We praise God for the work groups who have come to work on the children’s home.  Much work has been completed, but there is still plenty to do.  Another work group is coming in tomorrow night for a week to help further the construction. 

    I want to mention here that Bro. Mike Kennedy, the missionary with whom we are working, and his family will be in the states from December 12 through the first of March.  He is going with the specific purpose of introducing the children’s home to churches.  He will be raising support for the remaining work and explaining sponsorship of individual abandoned children who will be raised at the orphanage.  If you or someone you know would like for him to come present this wonderful ministry at your church or you would like more information sent to you about New Life Children’s Home, please contact me by email at donrich@calvaryministries.org and I will have him call or mail you the information.  Or, you can reach him through his web site at www.perumissions.com .

    We continue to see souls saved each week in our church services.  We have just finished a tent revival which was held in front of our church in Cieneguilla.  During those meetings, we were privileged to see over 200 souls saved!

    Just before Thanksgiving, Bro. Mike and I were in an auto accident where a large passenger bus turned right in front of us damaging Bro. Mike’s car and forcing us up onto a sidewalk as it pushed us off the road.  Praise God, both of us were unharmed.

That same day my father was able to come home after 68 days of hospitalization and rehab.  Praise God he’s home and doing well!  Thank you so much for your prayers during this tough time.

    Our son, Shawn will be coming down the first week of January.  We will be so glad to see him and celebrate a late Christmas and a belated 21^st birthday with him.  He was born on New Year’s Day.  Please pray for his safe travel.

    We want to say a special thank you to our families and friends and churches from TX to GA and from FL to NY, who have supported us both in prayers and finances.  We could not be here without you.  We hope each of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and will have a Merry Christmas.  Thank you for your support, emails, letters, and birthday cards throughout the year.  They have been an encouragement as we spend our first year away from our family.

 Until next year! 

Your missionaries to Peru,

                                                                                           Don Rich & family