Only What is Done for Christ Will Last
“Only What is Done for Christ will Last”
January 1, 2018
Wow, I just typed the date for the first time in 2018! It is hard to believe that we are entering a new year. Time is going by so fast and there is still so much to do for our Lord. I am reminded of the quote by C.T. Studd, British missionary to China in the 19th century…“Only one life twill soon be past. Only what is done for Christ will last.”
Carla and I invited some Peruvian families from our church to help us celebrate Thanksgiving in our home. We had twenty persons in total. Carla cooked the turkey and all the fixin’s. She also baked some special deserts that were enjoyed by all. Everyone had a great time, and no one left hungry.
In December, we hosted a Youth Christmas Party in our home for the young folks of our Cajamarca church. We had teaching from God’s Word, food, and games. Twenty-eight youth, including several visitors attended. We were blessed to have six saved that evening. This makes a total of at least ten saved since our last prayer letter.
Jacky, a member of our Cajamarca church was married on December 21. The beautiful wedding ceremony was performed in our sanctuary. Carla volunteered to bake and decorate the wedding cake. She has always enjoyed baking, but this was her first attempt at a wedding cake. It turned out great! She always amazes me.
The next day, a long-time member of our church lost her son. Fernando David, ten years old, had suffered from severe cerebral palsy since birth. He recently was injured in a fall. Complications caused him to get pneumonia, after which he went to be with our Savior. Please be in prayer for Martina and her family. Her husband and oldest son are not believers. She has another son and daughter who are members of our church.
Carla and I spent Christmas at our Guadalupe church on the coast. We had great attendance in the Sunday morning service, then celebrated afterwards with hot chocolate, fruit bread, and gifts for the kids. It was a little odd to celebrate Christmas in 80+ degree weather, but we ‘suffered through it’. That evening, we enjoyed a Christmas meal with national pastor Juan Carlos and his family. They had been given a hen turkey from a church member. It was very fresh. I had to gut it and remove the feet and head. Being a hunter, I felt right at home, just like field dressing a deer… until I found an un-laid egg inside. That will be a fun Christmas memory to share.
Bible Ministry – In November, we were able to ship several cases of Bibles into Venezuela! God blessed, and we were informed that the Bibles arrived on schedule and in great condition! We are so glad to report that in December, we sent a handful of Bibles to a new missionary who was making a survey trip to Uruguay. He plans to be on the field after June of this year. We will be sending more when he has “boots on the ground”. With these deliveries, we have now been blessed to get Bibles into all nine Spanish-speaking countries in S. America! We continually receive requests for more from national pastors and missionaries. We are praying to receive another container of Bibles later this year to continue distribution. If you’d like to help, please send support to the printing ministry of “Bibles for South America” at PO Box 766, Milton, FL 32572. You can contact them at 850-384-4402 or email the director at jfellure@biblesforsouthamerica.com .
As we enter this new year, we are excited to have two guests coming this month. Then, in February, Carla and I will be headed to the US for a five-month furlough to visit many of our supporting churches. Carla and I are praying that this will be the year that God supplies a couple or family to work with us here in Peru.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support,
Don & Carla Rich
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