The Mayor I voted for, Dinaldinho Wanderley, was elected today with a 10% margin over his nearest rival and will take up office on January 1st. His Deputy Mayor, Bonifácio Rocha, is a good friend of mine. It was a victory of right over wrong I feel and I thank God for answered prayer. I now pray that the new guy will stay on the straight and narrow.
It was a tense day waiting for the result. Polls closed at 5pm and we had the result by 6.30pm.
Today (Sunday) is the day local elections are held nationwide in Brazil for Mayor and Town Councils. In Patos there are 5 candidates for Mayor and 194 for Town Councillor for which there are 17 places to be had. As usual our church held its only service today from 8am to 9am so as to leave people free to vote afterwards. We don’t hold our main Sunday night service on election day as the noise in town by then is too great. Voting takes places from 8am to 5pm and as Brazil uses an electronic ballot system it gives very fast results so we expect the result in Patos by about 7pm. I voted straight after the service in church.
Things are exceptionally quiet for an election day in Patos which I interpret as a good sign for the candidate I voted for Mayor. There are not a lot of coloured shirts either as there normally are. This is all good in my opinion for the anti-corruption candidate. However we will watch and pray and wait and see!
Thursday night’s Bible study went very well. On Friday I went to Green Pastures and discovered there had been a bust up there between Tarcisio and another worker so had to sort that out.
Tomorrow night we have a special meeting at the request of the College of Physiotherapy in Patos to thank God for the 10 years of the College. Thus I am preparing my message for this. A good opportunity as most there will be none Christians.
Today (Sunday) is the day local elections are held nationwide in Brazil for Mayor and Town Councils. In Patos there are 5 candidates for Mayor and 194 for Town Councillor for which there are 17 places to be had. As usual our church held its only service today from 8am to 9am so as to leave people free to vote afterwards. We don’t hold our main Sunday night service on election day as the noise in town by then is too great. Voting takes places from 8am to 5pm and as Brazil uses an electronic ballot system it gives very fast results so we expect the result in Patos by about 7pm. I voted straight after the service in church.
Things are exceptionally quiet for an election day in Patos which I interpret as a good sign for the candidate I voted for Mayor. There are not a lot of coloured shirts either as there normally are. This is all good in my opinion for the anti-corruption candidate. However we will watch and pray and wait and see!
Thursday night’s Bible study went very well. On Friday I went to Green Pastures and discovered there had been a bust up there between Tarcisio and another worker so had to sort that out.
Tomorrow night we have a special meeting at the request of the College of Physiotherapy in Patos to thank God for the 10 years of the College. Thus I am preparing my message for this. A good opportunity as most there will be none Christians.
The EAB InTouch magazine edition 86 is now back from the printers and going into the post this week. It gives a nice overview of the work in NE Brazil during the last few months so do read it and then pass it on to someone who might find it interesting. There are plenty of photos and short stories and reports – so it’s very readable. Thanks to Marian Rashleigh for all her input into this and to Dave Flowers for the layout and production work.
I went up to Jabre Peak with a policeman from the church yesterday to see the situation after the forest fire. I walked a lot and clambered over rocks like never before! I’m at least pleased that the firefighters managed to contain the fire more than I had thought they had – but the mess is still very sad.
I am now preparing for tonight’s Bible study.
Continue Reading
The EAB InTouch magazine edition 86 is now back from the printers and going into the post this week. It gives a nice overview of the work in NE Brazil during the last few months so do read it and then pass it on to someone who might find it interesting. There are plenty of photos and short stories and reports – so it’s very readable. Thanks to Marian Rashleigh for all her input into this and to Dave Flowers for the layout and production work.
I went up to Jabre Peak with a policeman from the church yesterday to see the situation after the forest fire. I walked a lot and clambered over rocks like never before! I’m at least pleased that the firefighters managed to contain the fire more than I had thought they had – but the mess is still very sad.
I am now preparing for tonight’s Bible study.
Continue Reading
The disastrous forest fire at Jabre Peak finally seems to have been extinguished today, having started last Friday, but we will have to still be wary tomorrow before we can say anything definite. It does now sadly seem that some of the fires, if not all, were arson. Unbelievable!
Last Sunday’s baptism was great with Philip baptizing 7 and 2 others were received into fellowship. I preached on baptism too. It was a lovely service.
I interviewed a couple getting married last night. The wedding is this Friday and I have prepared the ceremony today.
I was asked to go and speak to a College about the environment today and that went well. In the morning I will have a coach load of 6 year olds (including granddaughter Bia) at Green Pastures to visit the Nature Reserve. At night I’ll be leading the Bible study.
On Saturday I’ll be preaching at Ibiara on Saturday and then preaching back in Patos on the Sunday.
On Monday it was grandson John David’s (photo below) 15th birthday so we had the traditional cake and pop drink late afternoon. Philip is down with the flu, his son Lucas has broken his arm and his other son Luis has Chicken-pox so it’s all happening! Your prayers are valued.
A terrible bush fire developed yesterday afternoon in the special preservation area we have been fighting to save at the Jabre Peak – the highest point in our State. It was probably caused by poachers. The fire burnt all night and the firefighters are up there trying to extinguish remaining fires on the south side of the Peak with the north side almost completely burnt to the ground. It is very sad. I have been heavily involved in coordinating the bringing in of firefighters and police. I had discussions with the State Governor to ask for his support sending reinforcements and this has happened. Please pray for this tragic situation.
Philip’s 9 year old son Lucas has broken his arm and has gone to João Pessoa to get it put in plaster as it needs a special procedure to get the bone back in place under sedation. His baby brother Luis is covered in an as yet undiagnosed rash.
My virus just doesn’t go away. I keep going but do not feel right. I am now taking a 10-day course of antibiotics. So we value your prayers for one and all here. Tomorrow is the big baptism service!
Continue Reading
A terrible bush fire developed yesterday afternoon in the special preservation area we have been fighting to save at the Jabre Peak – the highest point in our State. It was probably caused by poachers. The fire burnt all night and the firefighters are up there trying to extinguish remaining fires on the south side of the Peak with the north side almost completely burnt to the ground. It is very sad. I have been heavily involved in coordinating the bringing in of firefighters and police. I had discussions with the State Governor to ask for his support sending reinforcements and this has happened. Please pray for this tragic situation.
Philip’s 9 year old son Lucas has broken his arm and has gone to João Pessoa to get it put in plaster as it needs a special procedure to get the bone back in place under sedation. His baby brother Luis is covered in an as yet undiagnosed rash.
My virus just doesn’t go away. I keep going but do not feel right. I am now taking a 10-day course of antibiotics. So we value your prayers for one and all here. Tomorrow is the big baptism service!
Continue ReadingThe October 2016 edition of the EAB Magazine ‘In Touch’ – No. 86 – has gone to the printer’s today. Thanks to Marian Rashleigh and Dave Flowers for all their work on this. Watch your doormats because it will soon be on its way!
Continue ReadingThe October 2016 edition of the EAB Magazine ‘In Touch’ – No. 86 – has gone to the printer’s today. Thanks to Marian Rashleigh and Dave Flowers for all their work on this. Watch your doormats because it will soon be on its way!
Continue ReadingWe held a very good Patos church leadership meeting last night and 8 were defined for baptism this coming Sunday plus 2 others who will be received into fellowship. Philip will be doing the baptism.
I have spent all morning today preparing the Bible study for this evening in Patos. So was the money in the fish’s mouth a tongue in cheek comment or for real? You’ll need to get on a plane quick to find out!
We held a very good Patos church leadership meeting last night and 8 were defined for baptism this coming Sunday plus 2 others who will be received into fellowship. Philip will be doing the baptism.
I have spent all morning today preparing the Bible study for this evening in Patos. So was the money in the fish’s mouth a tongue in cheek comment or for real? You’ll need to get on a plane quick to find out!
We held a very good Patos church leadership meeting last night and 8 were defined for baptism this coming Sunday plus 2 others who will be received into fellowship. Philip will be doing the baptism.
I have spent all morning today preparing the Bible study for this evening in Patos. So was the money in the fish’s mouth a tongue in cheek comment or for real? You’ll need to get on a plane quick to find out!
Our Pastor Frank Dyer School in Patos has just received a digital whiteboard (replaces old blackboards) from the Ministry of Education in recognition of our school’s exceptional performance once again this year! We praise God for this recognition. To God be the glory!
Continue ReadingYesterday morning Liz commented to me early that the Patos Town Hall was surrounded by the Federal Police! Slowly the news started emerging that the Patos Mayoress had been removed from her post and the Deputy Mayor has taken up office and sacked the entire previous government! The Mayoress’s daughter was arrested, as was her husband, and her ex-husband, who is a State MP and candidate for Mayor again in Patos, had his candidacy banned! The reason given by the police and press is very simple: corruption.
Liz and I are off to Ibiara and Conceição this afternoon. I will be preaching in the latter place this evening. We value your prayers.
Yesterday morning Liz commented to me early that the Patos Town Hall was surrounded by the Federal Police! Slowly the news started emerging that the Patos Mayoress had been removed from her post and the Deputy Mayor has taken up office and sacked the entire previous government! The Mayoress’s daughter was arrested, as was her husband, and her ex-husband, who is a State MP and candidate for Mayor again in Patos, had his candidacy banned! The reason given by the police and press is very simple: corruption.
Liz and I are off to Ibiara and Conceição this afternoon. I will be preaching in the latter place this evening. We value your prayers.
I’ve prepared my sermon for Saturday at Conceição and I am in the process of preparing another one for Patos on Sunday. Liz and I have also done a fair bit of counselling this week. Please pray for our travels at the weekend + the Patos church band who will also be travelling somewhere else to minister. The Kombi is constantly on the road with different groups and ministries. Liz and I have to have a careful agenda for it so as not to get double bookings.
Tomorrow we are to receive the visit at Green Pastures of Patos’s biggest and best school’s headteacher + a couple of other teachers who want to take young kids there on visits. This is excellent. There is nothing like Green Pastures anywhere in the region so it is really starting to take off!
Continue ReadingI’ve prepared my sermon for Saturday at Conceição and I am in the process of preparing another one for Patos on Sunday. Liz and I have also done a fair bit of counselling this week. Please pray for our travels at the weekend + the Patos church band who will also be travelling somewhere else to minister. The Kombi is constantly on the road with different groups and ministries. Liz and I have to have a careful agenda for it so as not to get double bookings.
Tomorrow we are to receive the visit at Green Pastures of Patos’s biggest and best school’s headteacher + a couple of other teachers who want to take young kids there on visits. This is excellent. There is nothing like Green Pastures anywhere in the region so it is really starting to take off!
Continue Reading
Liz is sweet 16 and never been kissed (+ a bit more) today! We’ve had our traditional family get together and all went off beautifully! Liz is receiving worldwide congratulations for a person much loved by us all.
Liz is sweet 16 and never been kissed (+ a bit more) today! We’ve had our traditional family get together and all went off beautifully! Liz is receiving worldwide congratulations for a person much loved by us all.
It’s quite amazing how many new people are coming into the Patos church to hear the Gospel. We praise God for the constant flow of new faces. Last night was no exeption with university professors and medical doctors part of the audience. PTL! It was a joy to preach the Gospel and have communion. Such are the numbers that we have had to increase the distribution of the bread and the cup from 2 to 3 people doing it as it was taking too long with just 2. The new system worked well yesterday. The P&W was great and the sermon of a “Ban on Snoozing” (Acts 20:1-12) went lovely. This was the 17th sermon in the series on Paul’s missionary journies.
This week we have Independence day on Wednesday and Liz’s birthday on Thursday so it’s going to be a different week. On Saturday I’m preaching at Conceição on Saturday and back in Patos on Sunday. The church band will be at São Vicente do Seridó on Saturday and also back in Patos for the Sunday.
Please pray for one of our pastors who is suffering with depression.
I walked at Green Pastures yesterday morning where all is well despite not one drop of rain for three months as the annual drought bites harder and harder.
Following this Liz and I had an excellent meeting with Pastor Oseias (Itaporanga). His church is going wonderfully well. PTL! However the nearby church at Barra de Oitis continues in deep trouble and we had a long discussion and time of prayer about it. We also discussed the painting of the Ibiara manse and the Conceição and Curral Velho churches.
Later I had a meeting with the Patos Bible College leadership in my advisory role which I now have. The College is going well but needs to improve. We had a long worthwhile discussions.
Tonight I am back to giving the Bible Study in the Patos church.
I walked at Green Pastures yesterday morning where all is well despite not one drop of rain for three months as the annual drought bites harder and harder.
Following this Liz and I had an excellent meeting with Pastor Oseias (Itaporanga). His church is going wonderfully well. PTL! However the nearby church at Barra de Oitis continues in deep trouble and we had a long discussion and time of prayer about it. We also discussed the painting of the Ibiara manse and the Conceição and Curral Velho churches.
Later I had a meeting with the Patos Bible College leadership in my advisory role which I now have. The College is going well but needs to improve. We had a long worthwhile discussions.
Tonight I am back to giving the Bible Study in the Patos church.
Saturday saw Philip, Sacha and the Patos church band travelling over 4 hours to minister at the 11th anniversary service of the EAB/ACEV Juá rural church. All went very well and the service was really blessed. We thank God for such dedicated young people.
Saturday was our grandson Arthur’s 15th birthday so we had the usual cake and soft drinks all together in the afternoon.
Philip led the Sunday service and Bible College teacher Elaine preached. It was an excellent meeting.
Yesterday I received the visit at Green Pastures of an International Christian Consultant Arturo Menezes at Green Pastures. It was a lovely visit. He has just given a good training course at Princesa Isabel for some of our young leaders which went very well. In yesterday’s photo below he is next to me and that is our pastor Lindon Carlos the other side of him.
Saturday saw Philip, Sacha and the Patos church band travelling over 4 hours to minister at the 11th anniversary service of the EAB/ACEV Juá rural church. All went very well and the service was really blessed. We thank God for such dedicated young people.
Saturday was our grandson Arthur’s 15th birthday so we had the usual cake and soft drinks all together in the afternoon.
Philip led the Sunday service and Bible College teacher Elaine preached. It was an excellent meeting.
Yesterday I received the visit at Green Pastures of an International Christian Consultant Arturo Menezes at Green Pastures. It was a lovely visit. He has just given a good training course at Princesa Isabel for some of our young leaders which went very well. In yesterday’s photo below he is next to me and that is our pastor Lindon Carlos the other side of him.
Look at these beautiful owls filmed in the night this week at Green Pastures. I am waiting for confirmation by my specialist friend as to the species, but I think it is a first at Green Pastures, but am not sure. https://www.wevideo.com/view/724344473
Continue ReadingLook at these beautiful owls filmed in the night this week at Green Pastures. I am waiting for confirmation by my specialist friend as to the species, but I think it is a first at Green Pastures, but am not sure. https://www.wevideo.com/view/724344473
Continue ReadingI have a heavy cold which started on Sunday night. I hope it will soon go away!
Yesterday I started preparing my sermon on Acts 20 for this coming Sunday.
This afternoon Liz and I had a very good meeting with Marah Danielle who leads the project to help very poor women in a Patos slum area. We had an in-depth discussion of the serious difficulties the project team is facing with life threats now common. We have decided that the best thing to do would be to no longer run the project in the rented house we have in the community as it is just too dangerous. We are proposing that the project be run at our project centre next to the church. Please pray.
“They got away with it… just” is how the BBC summed up the Rio Olympic Games. I think that about gets it just right. Well done Team GB who did brilliantly to take 2nd place in the medal table.
The service in Patos went great last night as did the live internet transmission of it too. The new Internet provider worked out really well and we had a non-stop transmission of real quality.
I have had university folk at Green Pastures this morning and a meeting with the deaf pastor this afternoon. Liz is still counselling at nearly 10pm.
“They got away with it… just” is how the BBC summed up the Rio Olympic Games. I think that about gets it just right. Well done Team GB who did brilliantly to take 2nd place in the medal table.
The service in Patos went great last night as did the live internet transmission of it too. The new Internet provider worked out really well and we had a non-stop transmission of real quality.
I have had university folk at Green Pastures this morning and a meeting with the deaf pastor this afternoon. Liz is still counselling at nearly 10pm.
This week we changed out Internet server and now have a much better signal to transmit better the Sunday services from our Patos church. Please support this endeavour by watching it LIVE as from 10.30pm (BST) or watch the recording the following day. The broadcast is from the church’s facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Ação-Evangélica-Patos-PB-773650192729931
Through this Internet ministry we are reaching people with the Gospel all over Brazil and the world. Many people contact us from far and wide blessed by the services.
Our youngest daughter is 30 today! May the Lord bless Sacha! We will be having a family meal at her house this evening.
This week we changed out Internet server and now have a much better signal to transmit better the Sunday services from our Patos church. Please support this endeavour by watching it LIVE as from 10.30pm (BST) or watch the recording the following day. The broadcast is from the church’s facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Ação-Evangélica-Patos-PB-773650192729931
Through this Internet ministry we are reaching people with the Gospel all over Brazil and the world. Many people contact us from far and wide blessed by the services.
Our youngest daughter is 30 today! May the Lord bless Sacha! We will be having a family meal at her house this evening.
I hope you like this video message I recorded this morning at Green Pastures for all EAB friends and supporters!
Continue ReadingI hope you like this video message I recorded this morning at Green Pastures for all EAB friends and supporters!
Continue ReadingI have just got in from the Bible study which went very well on Romans 12:3-8. I am feeling steadily better.
Liz has been busy with her counselling work. We now have two new folk to baptize yet this month.
I have been preparing my sermon today on Psalm 84 for Sunday.
I had a good meeting with the candidates for Mayor and Deputy Mayor, Dinaldinho & Bonifácio respectively, this morning. It was very good. That’s the third candidate for mayor that’s visited me in recent weeks. The elections for Mayor and Town Councillors will be on October 2nd.
I have just got in from the Bible study which went very well on Romans 12:3-8. I am feeling steadily better.
Liz has been busy with her counselling work. We now have two new folk to baptize yet this month.
I have been preparing my sermon today on Psalm 84 for Sunday.
I had a good meeting with the candidates for Mayor and Deputy Mayor, Dinaldinho & Bonifácio respectively, this morning. It was very good. That’s the third candidate for mayor that’s visited me in recent weeks. The elections for Mayor and Town Councillors will be on October 2nd.
I have just got in from the Bible study which went very well on Romans 12:3-8. I am feeling steadily better.
Liz has been busy with her counselling work. We now have two new folk to baptize yet this month.
I have been preparing my sermon today on Psalm 84 for Sunday.
I had a good meeting with the candidates for Mayor and Deputy Mayor, Dinaldinho & Bonifácio respectively, this morning. It was very good. That’s the third candidate for mayor that’s visited me in recent weeks. The elections for Mayor and Town Councillors will be on October 2nd.
I see the last 2 years as world public relations disasters for Brazil. The spin-off from such events should be selling an attractive positive image of the country, attracting more tourists, investments etc. However prior to the World Cup I saw people all the time online telling people not to come to Brazil! Now the hostile crowd behaviour in the Olympics basically carries on with the same theme. Some of the Brazilian TV commentators I hear here are disgusting ridiculing the bronze medalists on the podium as “loosers” when a Brazilian had won gold, and shouting at them to “stick it up you”! This of course only incites negative crowd behaviour.
When Brazil won the right to stage these 2 events there was dancing in the streets. Now the sour political and economic climate has changed this. Brazil is essentially focused on football (and not doing well at that anymore) and a few other sports to a lesser extent. There needs to be a whole re-education of the sportculture in Brazil to diversify it, encourage and make possible grass-root participation, and embibe in the Brazilian press and public as a whole (there are good exceptions but not enough) the Olympic spirit.
I see the last 2 years as world public relations disasters for Brazil. The spin-off from such events should be selling an attractive positive image of the country, attracting more tourists, investments etc. However prior to the World Cup I saw people all the time online telling people not to come to Brazil! Now the hostile crowd behaviour in the Olympics basically carries on with the same theme. Some of the Brazilian TV commentators I hear here are disgusting ridiculing the bronze medalists on the podium as “loosers” when a Brazilian had won gold, and shouting at them to “stick it up you”! This of course only incites negative crowd behaviour.
When Brazil won the right to stage these 2 events there was dancing in the streets. Now the sour political and economic climate has changed this. Brazil is essentially focused on football (and not doing well at that anymore) and a few other sports to a lesser extent. There needs to be a whole re-education of the sportculture in Brazil to diversify it, encourage and make possible grass-root participation, and embibe in the Brazilian press and public as a whole (there are good exceptions but not enough) the Olympic spirit.
Philip led the service and preached extremely well last night in Patos. It was a great blessing with 4 decisions for Christ. One blind man, one woman with Down’s syndrome and 2 other people. PTL! I think it expresses a lot about EAB/ACEV with services interpreted for the deaf and a full weekly program for them + one Down’s syndrome member and now another decision + now a blind man. Somehow I think the Church should be just like this.
Continue ReadingPhilip led the service and preached extremely well last night in Patos. It was a great blessing with 4 decisions for Christ. One blind man, one woman with Down’s syndrome and 2 other people. PTL! I think it expresses a lot about EAB/ACEV with services interpreted for the deaf and a full weekly program for them + one Down’s syndrome member and now another decision + now a blind man. Somehow I think the Church should be just like this.
Continue ReadingPhilip led the service and preached extremely well last night in Patos. It was a great blessing with 4 decisions for Christ. One blind man, one woman with Down’s syndrome and 2 other people. PTL! I think it expresses a lot about EAB/ACEV with services interpreted for the deaf and a full weekly program for them + one Down’s syndrome member and now another decision + now a blind man. Somehow I think the Church should be just like this.
Continue ReadingThanks to those who have been praying for my ill health which resulted from intoxication from an MRI contrast injected in my vein on Wednesday. I felt terrible on Thursday and Friday but I am steadily improving today. Philip will take the service tomorrow in Patos to let me get completely over this hitch.
Continue Reading