What a Busy Way to End the Year!
What a Busy Way to End the Year!
January 3, 2015
Carla and I wish each of you a happy, prosperous, and blessed New Year! The last two months of 2014 were packed with ministry activities and blessings. We will try to share as much as possible in this letter.
At the end of November, we had a men’s prayer breakfast in our home. We had a great time and they left wanting more of this type of fellowship. One guest had just been saved the night before in the house of one of our church families.
We also had a Kids’ Day Out at a nearby park with 31 attending. We had a devotional, plenty of competitive games, a playground to enjoy, then ice cream at a local store! Some of these kids are from farms outside of town and don’t know how to get on or off of an escalator. It was a funny site just watching them.
We had a youth music service in mid-November, using our talented young people, developing them for God’s service.
In December, we showed the God is Not Dead video in our church with 50 in attendance. Many hearts were touched and souls challenged with this presentation.
Christmas time was busy. First, a ladies’ Christmas party where they wrapped gifts for SS kids, along with enjoying games, food and fellowship. Carla worked hard for several weeks to prepare for this night. The turnout made it well worth it. Then, we enjoyed Navidad al Calvario (Christmas at Calvary). It was a wonderful day at our church with singing and preaching. We had seven youth and adults saved plus several decisions made by young children. Gifts were given to all of the kids. Our chocolatada (party w/hot chocolate and fruit cake) was attended with around 180 kids and adults. What a great time!
Carla and I were invited to the Christmas party of a home for abandoned girls here in Cajamarca. I played guitar and led the Christmas music. Carla helped serve the meal to the many girls who live there. We watched their eyes light up as our friends Sean and Crissy handed out gifts to each one. It was a great evening.
Tract Ministry update: We continue to send tracts from one end of Peru, at the Ecuador border, to the other end, near Chile. We have already distributed over one-third of all of the tracts we received in the container, with orders coming in almost daily. Please continue to pray for each person who will receive these tracts, that many souls may be saved.
Bible project complete! In just TEN months, God used His people to supply ALL of the funds for this great need! As always, He has done “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think”. The printing is complete and the binding and boxing has already begun. Delivery should be the end of February or first of March! What an awesome God!
Since the funds were sent directly to Victory Baptist Press, Carla and I will never know everyone who gave to this project. We would sincerely like to thank each of you who gave sacrificially so that God’s Word could be placed in the hands of thousands who, without you, would still be without hope.
Jungle ministry update: In our last letter, I shared the needs that we saw in the Peruvian jungle. After returning from the trip, I showed a PowerPoint presentation to our church here in Cajamarca and explained the needs, encouraging our church to get involved in missions. It was great to see how hearts were touched. That Wednesday night, a church member approached me and gave me the money to purchase the property for the church building! For two weeks, we took up a special offering to help cover the other needs. We added that to some special gifts that have been sent in by some of our supporters. We have now purchased the property and the tin for the roofs of the three churches! I am planning on returning to the jungle to see the work after it has been completed, and to encourage the pastors. I am also working with one Peruvian pastor who oversees others in his area. He has translated doctrinal teaching into the Awajun dialect but has no funds to print it. I am going to work with him on formatting and getting them printed. Then, we will plan conferences to share this teaching and material with the mostly untrained national pastors. Check out our updated website with new photos of this and other activities!
May God bless you all for your faithfulness in prayers and support of God’s ministry in a foreign land.
Serving Him for you in Peru,
Don & Carla Rich
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