Furlough is Almost Over

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Furlough is Almost Over

November 1, 2026

   These past eight months of furlough have flown by quickly.  With just over one month to go, we continue visiting many of our supporting churches and others who have invited us.  If our calculations are correct, when we return to Peru the first week of December, we will have visited around sixty churches, been in many meetings, driven over thirty thousand miles, and have been through at least twenty states.  Doctor and dental visits have also been included on the calendar.  Of course, our favorite part has been to visit with family and friends that we don’t get to see often.  It is always great to reconnect and enjoy making memories together.

   We’ve been in mission conferences, camp meetings, Bible conferences, and been able to visit three Bible printing ministries that have provided materials for us over the years.  It was great to see the entire process that is needed to get the Word of God ready to ship to us and many other ministries. 

   One great honor that I (Don) had was to be on the ordination council for a dear friend.  Micah Rice is the son of a former missionary in Peru whose family became like our own.  He and his siblings call us “Uncle Don” and “Aunt Carla”.  It was such a privilege to watch him grow up since he was two years old then be a part of this momentous occasion.  Micah was also voted in as pastor of the church where he was ordained just a couple of weeks later.  We pray the best for him and his wife Leanna.

   On a Wednesday night recently, at one of our supporting churches in Alabama, I was privileged to preach and see a teenage young lady come to the altar and give her heart to Christ.  It is always a blessing to be a part of someone’s salvation experience and know that God is using your ministry.

   While we’ve been away, our churches in Peru have been staying busy.  They continue with the monthly men’s, women’s and youth meetings along with regular services.  They have also been out evangelizing in a local park and other locations.

   Our “Ancla” (Anchor Bapt) church celebrated its three-year anniversary in September.  Please continue to pray for this work as it continues to struggle to see growth and faithfulness. 

Bible Ministry update: With the delivery of almost 5000 Bibles into Bolivia in October, we are now out of Bibles.  We are still delivering John and Romans booklets to pastors who request them.  Time will tell if/when we will be receiving another Bible shipment in 2027. 

   A few years ago, I wrote a book on the Spanish Bible and translated it into both English and Spanish.  It has been used as an informational tool for many.  Recently, I was asked for several copies of the book.  A national pastor requested them as teaching material in his Bible Institute classes.  He has also shared them with other national pastors outside of the Institute.  Please pray that the purity of God’s Word would be foremost in these pastor’s hearts and ministries.

Update on Construction ministry:  As we mentioned in our last letter, we have begun a new ministry helping poor congregations with construction on their church buildings.  Our first endeavor has been to help build the 2nd floor with Sunday School rooms in a deaf ministry.  We are glad to report that the brick walls and columns are up, the cement roof is poured, and stucco has begun.  There are pictures of the progress on our website.

   When we return to Peru, we will hit the ground running.  We ask for your prayers as it is setting up to be a busy time. A couple of individuals and at least two church groups are already planning to visit us in the coming year.  

   As I close, I’d ask you all to please pray for Carla.  For a while she has been suffering from neck and back pain.  She has begun therapy and we are praying that the pain will subside before leaving for Peru.  Thanks in advance for your faithful prayers. 

Don’t forget to check out the new photos on our website, rich2peru.com. 

May God bless each of you!

Don & Carla Rich