Recent Prayer Letters

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On May 2, we were married! What a special answer to prayer this day has been for us. Thank you to everyone who prayed for us, watched online, traveled to celebrate with us, and showed us such kindness and encouragement. Peru and Uganda were both well represented on our special day, and it meant so much to us to have so many people we love celebrating together.

Babies and weddings! Oh, my!

It has been an exciting beginning to the new year! Krista and Matt’s beautiful little girl was born in February! Her name is Saige. I am a very proud grandfather. Our family, and most of our extended family, were able to meet her at Risha’s wedding.

Yes! Risha and Jordan had their wedding March 6th and are currently on their honeymoon. We are very excited to have Jordan as part of our family. Please remember to pray for them as they will be raising support to plant a new church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I encourage you to partner with them in prayer and financially JordanMcDowell1706@bimi.org.

I can’t believe that it is almost the end of the year. Wow! I am still amazed at God’s leading and all the changes over the last year. God continues to bless!

Risha and Jordan McDowell are now engaged and planning their wedding for March. I am so excited for them! Jordan has also started having some meetings & missions conferences as he starts raising support for church planting in the Pittsburg, Pennsylvania area. Risha has been able to join him for some of those meetings. Please keep them in your prayers. And contact Jordan if you would like to partner with them or would like more information JordanMcDowell1706@bimi.org.

I am enjoying working at BIMI’s Home Office—the World Missions Center. I have been staying very busy and learning a lot! It is exciting to be a part of the things that go on here. Since I have been here, we have had the following:

• Action Conference for World Evangelization—missions-focused preaching, fellowship, and interactive workshops
• Candidate School where 48 missionaries were preparing to raise funds or getting ready to go to their countries of ministry
• Enrichment Week where veteran missionaries who are traveling in the States get a chance to relax, have some fun, be encouraged, fellowship with other missionaries and get a little spoiled
• Two separate weeks of CAMP BIMI where those who are interested in missions have an opportunity to focus on the needs around the world in a Christian “camp” setting

This has been a crazy but great few months. It was hard leaving Peru and saying goodbye to family, friends, and the different ministries we were involved in. We didn’t bring very many things back to the states with us. I had the opportunity to leave most of our things (furniture, appliance, car) for a new missionary family who should get to Peru later this year. My landlord agreed to hold the house for them. So I didn’t have to try to sell or move anything. I was able to leave it set up in the house ready for them. What a blessing!

WOW! What a start to a year. Risha and I enjoyed being able to see lots of friends and family in the States as well as being able to give updates to some of our supporters. Then I headed back to Peru to “wrap things up.” It has gone well, though it has been harder than I thought it would be. But at the same time, it has been very rewarding and encouraging. It has even been very confirming for me to continue our ministry with BIMI in the States.

Things have been going well in Peru! This year I was a bit overwhelmed with my classes at our Christian school but loving it! What a privilege to teach the Bible to young people. And our church continues to grow. Exciting!

Some BIG changes to announce! First, I can’t imagine not being in Peru! But after 25 years focused on Peru, I will be changing my focus from serving in Peru to serving other missionaries all around the world. Next year I will move from Peru to the World Mission Center of our mission board BIMI, Baptist International Missions Inc. I will take the position of Missionary Services where I will focus on helping other missionaries as they serve.

Hello from Perú! For those of you in the United States I hope you have enjoyed your summer! Here in Perú we are finishing up with our cold weather as it is starting to warm up. We are looking forward to some warmer weather, although it doesn’t really get very cold here.

It is exciting for me to currently have Risha here in Perú with me! Here is an update from her:

Thank you again for all your faithful prayers and support. I could not be in Peru without you! It is a blessing to be here!

In March, Risha and I had an opportunity to go to Brazil for a BIMI Field Conference. And what a blessing it was for both of us! It was great to connect with other missionaries in South America and see how God is working. I was also presented with a silver pin to commemorate 25 years with BIMI. I can’t believe it has already been 25 years. But sometimes when it gets very busy like this year has been, I wonder how it could only be 25 years! Thank you for each of you who gave financially so that Risha and I were be able to go! We cannot say Thank You enough!

Wow! What a wonderful, busy, crazy and exciting few months! Finishing the school year is always a little crazy with all the end of year programs. In Peru the school year starts in March and finishes in December. From finishing classes, tests, Christmas dramas, multiple graduations (preschool, elementary, high school). Crazy, but also exciting because of all the opportunities to connect with the families and share the Gospel with them!

I would like to thank each one of you for your faithfulness in praying and giving so that I can be on the mission field. What a blessing! It is exciting for me to be able to be here in Peru and work with the different churches and the Christian school. Here is a picture of our English church service from earlier this year. This year has been up and down with our attendance so please keep us in your prayers. New people attending and others getting ready to move to other countries. Many health issues and prayer requests.

Hello from Perú! Things are going well here. Our English church recently had a joint anniversary celebration with the Spanish church and another home church. It was nice to have all three churches together at once. We had 347 people there. Last week, the Spanish church baptized some new Christians!

In my last prayer letter, I focused on Janise’s wedding with Ethan. They are wasting no time. I am excited to announce that I have a grandchild on the way! Due in January. So guess where I will be in January… Please keep them in your prayers!

Krista graduated with her masters in May! Wow!

I had a great trip to the USA visiting family, friends, and churches. Of course the main reason for the trip was to be at Janise and Ethan’s wedding which was beautiful! I am so excited for them. Please keep them in your prayers. For the father daughter dance, Janise changed into the dress that Kathy wore for our wedding to honor her. Very thoughtful! I don’t think there was a dry eye in the place. What a blessing!

A lot has happened since my last prayer letter:

Tom Pace, missionary to Peru since 1967, was called home to heaven on November 8th, 2022. By God's grace, he is in the unimaginable presence of his Lord and Savior; and he is certainly enjoying the great reunion with many loved ones and his daughter Kathy. To God be all glory! One extra blessing was that at Tom’s services I was able to visit with many people who had known Kathy also.

I am so appreciative of those who support and pray for my family! It is a privilege for me to work in Peru as a missionary. And I know that I could not be here without your prayers and support! Thank you!

Our English church services continue to grow (little by little) both online and in person. It is exciting to get to know everyone and be able to preach and teach from God’s Word. Growing pains are always good. All of a sudden there are too many kids for the kids’ classes. A need for a nursery and nursery items. Trying to figure out how best to reach the teenagers and trying to fill all the teaching positions. And many more. God is Good! Please continue to pray for Tom Pace. Three of us take turns preaching and if I am not mistaken Tom has only missed one of his turns this year. Which is a blessing as he continues to fight his cancer and back issues.

Our church has been fighting with some old sound systems for months (if not years). Each week it was a guess as to which of the channels would work or not work. Well no more! Through one of our supporting churches, God has provided us with a brand new sound board and the money to purchase some new microphones. What a blessing! It was during a missions conference where they spoiled and loved on me and gave many more gifts. It was a great encouragement for me. Thank you!

Wow! Time flies! Sorry for the delay in writing this prayer letter!

I was able to spend Christmas with all four of my girls here in Peru! It was a huge blessing and encouragement! Risha was able to stay longer into January. An extra blessing even though she got sick with COVID which allowed her to stay longer.

Great news! Krista is engaged to be married! Her wedding is on June 4th in Pensacola, Florida. So I have a wonderful trip scheduled for it! Please keep them in your prayers.

Back In Peru!

I’m finally back in Peru!

I flew back to Peru October 4th. I had my plane ticket ready September 6th but then I got Covid along with my mom, dad, sister and brother. Little by little we have all recovered. My dad was hit the hardest and almost has his strength completely back. Because of this I had to postpone returning to Peru for almost a month.

The extra month gave me some extra time with my parents and brother and sister (being sick and quarantined with them still counts). I was also able to get some good fishing in! Both in New Mexico and Colorado.

I am so excited to be back in Peru! But please pray for me during this time. I still can’t imagine being here in Peru without Kathy.

Also Please continue to pray for my girls and I. This month could be a hard one as it will be a year since Kathy went home to be with our Savior.

All four of my girls have their plane tickets ready to come to Peru so that we can be together in Peru for Christmas. Please pray that travel to Peru stays open and that no one gets sick before they are scheduled to travel. Thank you again for everyone’s faithful prayers and support! What a wonderful blessing!

Rick, Janise, Krista, Raeya and Risha Anderson

Dear Friends and Family,       July 10, 2021

I can’t wait to get back to Peru! But I can’t imagine returning without Kathy!
Kathy’s dad, Tom Pace, needed to have back surgery again before he could return to Peru. He had to wait until the middle of April for his surgery because of being on blood thinner after some blood clots were found in his lungs back in January. I chose to be available to help him and Carolyn get to appointments during that time. He had his surgery just over four weeks ago and seems to be recovering well. But not as fast or as well as he would like.

Dear Friends and Family,       May 10, 2021

I’m heading back to Peru September 6th!
I now have my plane ticket to fly back to Peru on Monday, September 6th. Getting close!

Kathy’s dad and mom flew back to Peru July 8th. I’ve enjoyed being their designated driver and helping them get places. While traveling I was able to visit some churches and lots of family and friends with them. It has been a great time. Please continue to pray for their health and all the details of being back in Peru.

November 2020
Dear Friends and Family,

Kathy is with her Savior! Kathy passed away Wednesday, October 28th. Each one of our daughters, her mom and dad and her sister Becky had a chance to be with her that day before she went home. The rest of her brothers were able to visit very recently also. We are so glad that we have all been together during this. God is good! Please pray for our family during this time. It is a time of celebration but also of loss and mourning.

October 29, 2020

October 28, 2020

Hello. This is a quick update on Kathy: She is with her Savior!

Kathy passed away this afternoon (Wednesday October 28th). Each one of our daughters, her mom and dad and her sister Becky saw her today before she went home. We are so glad that we were all together during this. God is good! Please pray for our family during this time. It is a time of celebration but also of loss and mourning.