Categoria: News

It was Mother’s Day in Brazil (and so many other places in the world yesterday) so we had a nice Sunday lunch with most of the family, though Philip is away on business in Holland for a week. In the evening we had a nice service and I preached on Psalm 37:1-11 focusing it on mothers. The service was broadcast live via facebook and many people watched in Brazil, USA and Europe. There were some difficulties with the transmission with it getting stuck about 15 times and we will continue experimenting on Sunday nights, without advertising the fact, until we can figure out how we can overcome the problems we had yesterday. We are not sure if they are resultant from our local internet provider or facebook. My nephew Ben is good at these sort of things and he is taking care of this matter. Ben married a girl from Patos and lives here. They are members of the Patos church. If you watched the service yesterday at all please let us have your feedback. It was nice for Liz to be able to watch the service at home in bed recovering from her accident.


Over the weekend I dispatched the latest EAB Nutshell Update. It was also the 9th anniversary service of the EAB/ACEV church at Tavares.


Please pray for the folk of the Plantation Project at Imaculada who lost their community leader killed in a road accident on Saturday together with her mother. 


Political uproar continues in Brazil. Please pray for the very tense situation.

My photographs on Flickr have now passed the 300,000 viewings mark. https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnmedcraft/

Liz’s orthopaedic specialist visited her this evening and spent a nice time chatting to us. He pointed out that the scan showed a small improvement in her fracture but that it was definitely looking like a 3-month recovery job which is not sensible to try and rush. However Liz, as from tomorrow, can start to sit for periods of time in a wheelchair rather than just stay in bed, and she can sit up more in bed. So it’s a case of patience and caution – steady does it. He will consider starting Liz on physiotherapy in a couple of week’s time or so. Thanks for your prayers everyone and please keep praying.

I have just got in from the mid-week Bible study which went off very well. It was a blessed and participative service. Numbers are down mid-week with so many people ill, but it was a lovely meeting anyway.


Liz gets the result of her CT scan of her fractured pelvis tomorrow. We hold our breath and pray.

I have just got in from the mid-week Bible study which went off very well. It was a blessed and participative service. Numbers are down mid-week with so many people ill, but it was a lovely meeting anyway.


Liz gets the result of her CT scan of her fractured pelvis tomorrow. We hold our breath and pray.

This Sunday night at 18:30 (Patos time) and 22:30 (UK time) the Patos church service will be live streamed on Facebook by my nephew Ben Levermore at www.facebook.com/benlevermore . Do not miss this wherever you are!

This Sunday night at 18:30 (Patos time) and 22:30 (UK time) the Patos church service will be live streamed on Facebook by my nephew Ben Levermore at www.facebook.com/benlevermore . Do not miss this wherever you are!

This Sunday night at 18:30 (Patos time) and 22:30 (UK time) the Patos church service will be live streamed on Facebook by my nephew Ben Levermore at www.facebook.com/benlevermore . Do not miss this wherever you are!

Liz was 7 in this photo in front of her Aunty Gwen who has just passed
into the presence of the Lord aged 95 at her home in Fawley, Hants,
England. She wants to say how much she loved her Aunt and praises God
for her long Christian life.

The Bible study went fine on Thursday. Tonight we have another special youth meeting with out excellent Campina Grande church band coming. Tomorrow we will hold the Communion service and also present certificates to the latest 9 people who have completed their one-year basic sign-language course for ministry to the deaf. 


Liz continues to be alright and looks forward to having her CT scan next week on her fratured pelvis which will show if she will from then on be able to use a wheelchair and no longer be confined to bed. She should receive the result by Friday so please pray.

The Bible study went fine on Thursday. Tonight we have another special youth meeting with out excellent Campina Grande church band coming. Tomorrow we will hold the Communion service and also present certificates to the latest 9 people who have completed their one-year basic sign-language course for ministry to the deaf. 


Liz continues to be alright and looks forward to having her CT scan next week on her fratured pelvis which will show if she will from then on be able to use a wheelchair and no longer be confined to bed. She should receive the result by Friday so please pray.

Sunday went very well. I invited one of the soon-to-be probationary pastors from João Pessoa to preach and he was excellent. The service was very good.


Liz and I did a long counselling session today at her bedside. Liz is very good at counselling and doing it together worked great. I have been working a lot more linked to next month’s Field Conference. Prayers are valued.


We have had no more rain. It is a concern for everyone.

Sunday went very well. I invited one of the soon-to-be probationary pastors from João Pessoa to preach and he was excellent. The service was very good.


Liz and I did a long counselling session today at her bedside. Liz is very good at counselling and doing it together worked great. I have been working a lot more linked to next month’s Field Conference. Prayers are valued.


We have had no more rain. It is a concern for everyone.

Sunday went very well. I invited one of the soon-to-be probationary pastors from João Pessoa to preach and he was excellent. The service was very good.


Liz and I did a long counselling session today at her bedside. Liz is very good at counselling and doing it together worked great. I have been working a lot more linked to next month’s Field Conference. Prayers are valued.


We have had no more rain. It is a concern for everyone.

Today’s 9-hour marathon meeting of the Brazilian leadership was very tiring but very harmonious, positive and productive. The meeting was in preparation for the Field Conference next month. A vast amount of topics were discussed as the agenda for the Conference was prepared. We also interviewed 5 ministerial candidates who all will be presented at the Conference for probationary status, subject to the Conference’s approval, and one minister will be ordained.


A lot of discussion went into the formation of the new leadership team for the next 4 years which will be elected at the Field Conference with probably 10 members, 4 of whom are new to the Board. Please pray for all the decisions to be taken at the Conference. May God’s will be done.

Today’s 9-hour marathon meeting of the Brazilian leadership was very tiring but very harmonious, positive and productive. The meeting was in preparation for the Field Conference next month. A vast amount of topics were discussed as the agenda for the Conference was prepared. We also interviewed 5 ministerial candidates who all will be presented at the Conference for probationary status, subject to the Conference’s approval, and one minister will be ordained.


A lot of discussion went into the formation of the new leadership team for the next 4 years which will be elected at the Field Conference with probably 10 members, 4 of whom are new to the Board. Please pray for all the decisions to be taken at the Conference. May God’s will be done.

Sadly Brazil is missing great opportunities to portray a good image to attract tourism and commerce as the Olympic Games approach, just as happened two years ago with the World Cup. As with the World Cup no doubt everyone will wake up at the last minute, but then it will be too late as it was two years ago. Two incredible national marketing opportunities are being lost. 

Here nobody talks about the Olympic Games. All that you hear about is politics with the nation bitterly divided and utter hatred being expressed constantly on social media. It is all very sad as the on-going battle to impeach the President charges on. Please pray for Brazil.

Sadly Brazil is missing great opportunities to portray a good image to attract tourism and commerce as the Olympic Games approach, just as happened two years ago with the World Cup. As with the World Cup no doubt everyone will wake up at the last minute, but then it will be too late as it was two years ago. Two incredible national marketing opportunities are being lost. 

Here nobody talks about the Olympic Games. All that you hear about is politics with the nation bitterly divided and utter hatred being expressed constantly on social media. It is all very sad as the on-going battle to impeach the President charges on. Please pray for Brazil.

Sadly Brazil is missing great opportunities to portray a good image to attract tourism and commerce as the Olympic Games approach, just as happened two years ago with the World Cup. As with the World Cup no doubt everyone will wake up at the last minute, but then it will be too late as it was two years ago. Two incredible national marketing opportunities are being lost. 

Here nobody talks about the Olympic Games. All that you hear about is politics with the nation bitterly divided and utter hatred being expressed constantly on social media. It is all very sad as the on-going battle to impeach the President charges on. Please pray for Brazil.

Liz gets lots of visitors as she’s well loved. She’s now in to her third week in bed recovering from her accident and keeping busy to try and avoid boredome. Of course just being in the same position 24×7 is pretty awful. She has her next CT scan on May 5th so we hope and pray she will be able to sit and use a wheelchair after that.


Tonight is Bible Study night so I’m ready for this. On Saturday we have an all day general leadership meeting preparing for the annual field conference on May 20-21 at Matureia up in the mountains. Please pray for this very important leadership meeting.

Liz gets lots of visitors as she’s well loved. She’s now in to her third week in bed recovering from her accident and keeping busy to try and avoid boredome. Of course just being in the same position 24×7 is pretty awful. She has her next CT scan on May 5th so we hope and pray she will be able to sit and use a wheelchair after that.


Tonight is Bible Study night so I’m ready for this. On Saturday we have an all day general leadership meeting preparing for the annual field conference on May 20-21 at Matureia up in the mountains. Please pray for this very important leadership meeting.

Our Patos church teenagers meet every Tuesday night for prayer and this week they gathered round Liz’s bed to pray for her recovery. It was a lovely gesture. Praise God for teens who pray!

On Sunday the service and sermon all went off really well. We consecrated a new deaconess and a new deacon also in the service. It was a real blessing.


Over the weekend we had more decent showers at Green Pastures with 3 mm on Saturday, 4 mm on Sunday and 9 mm last night. This takes us to a total in this rainy season to 603 mm (25 inches) which is good. We just need some more heavy rain between now and next month to fill up reservoirs and lakes, but the rains we are getting are great for the more than 5,000 tree seedlings we have planted.

Last night’s Bible study went very well which covered the healing of a blind man in two stages (Mark 8) as opposed to a similar story in the previous chapter in one stage. We then started on the major confession of Peter as reported in the 3 synoptics. Prior to this we heard 3 short words from 2 young people and an older man. It was a lovely service.


Numbers were down at the service owing to more rain – which is a problem we love! It rained just over an inch at Green Pastures (28 mm). This takes us to a total this rainy season of 24 and a half inches of rain – but we need a lot more. Reservoirs in Paraíba State are only at a 15.7% level of capacity. Please continue to pray.

Last night’s Bible study went very well which covered the healing of a blind man in two stages (Mark 8) as opposed to a similar story in the previous chapter in one stage. We then started on the major confession of Peter as reported in the 3 synoptics. Prior to this we heard 3 short words from 2 young people and an older man. It was a lovely service.


Numbers were down at the service owing to more rain – which is a problem we love! It rained just over an inch at Green Pastures (28 mm). This takes us to a total this rainy season of 24 and a half inches of rain – but we need a lot more. Reservoirs in Paraíba State are only at a 15.7% level of capacity. Please continue to pray.

Oh how important sleep is, and last night Liz had a good night so that meant so did I! Liz is now into her second week post-accident and is doing OK. We will only know where she is with the fractured pelvis after a month on about May 8th after another CT Scan. If things are going well then she may be allowed to sit and move around the house a bit with a wheelchair in month 2. 


We’re needing more rain here badly. Please pray.

I have just had my second session of physiotherapy on my back, neck and shoulder to relieve the muscular side-effects of the Zica virus. So far so good. I feel the sessions are helping. PTL!


Liz has had a better day and medicational side-effects have eased a lot. Hopefully both of us should get a better night’s sleep tonight.


I have been doing more work on EAB’s Action Child programme and on the Annual Field Conference to be held next month. Your prayers are valued.

I have just had my second session of physiotherapy on my back, neck and shoulder to relieve the muscular side-effects of the Zica virus. So far so good. I feel the sessions are helping. PTL!


Liz has had a better day and medicational side-effects have eased a lot. Hopefully both of us should get a better night’s sleep tonight.


I have been doing more work on EAB’s Action Child programme and on the Annual Field Conference to be held next month. Your prayers are valued.

I had a long meeting with ACEV Vice-Chairman Pastor Wostenes from Campina Grande yesterday in my office. It went on till about 11pm and involved Liz at times (by us going into the bedroom) and was a good discussion on a variety of aspects of the work here around the churches and projects. There was one major problem to solve and I felt we sorted that.


Liz didn’t have such a good night last night and so nor did I as a consequence. Hopefully now she has finished her course of very strong medication she was on she will feel better as the day goes on. Your prayers contine to be valued a lot. The accident was a week today and she is free from pain without pain killers. She is sticking to her bedrest rigorously with never the left foot going to the ground.

I had a long meeting with ACEV Vice-Chairman Pastor Wostenes from Campina Grande yesterday in my office. It went on till about 11pm and involved Liz at times (by us going into the bedroom) and was a good discussion on a variety of aspects of the work here around the churches and projects. There was one major problem to solve and I felt we sorted that.


Liz didn’t have such a good night last night and so nor did I as a consequence. Hopefully now she has finished her course of very strong medication she was on she will feel better as the day goes on. Your prayers contine to be valued a lot. The accident was a week today and she is free from pain without pain killers. She is sticking to her bedrest rigorously with never the left foot going to the ground.

I preached on Paul in Athens yesterday. It was a really good service despite a lot away ill. 3 people expressed their desire to follow the Lord at the end. PTL!


Last night was not a good one for Liz and I as the strong medication she is on is having side-effects and the medicaion will be reduced today. It was a long hard night! Your prayers are valued.

I preached on Paul in Athens yesterday. It was a really good service despite a lot away ill. 3 people expressed their desire to follow the Lord at the end. PTL!


Last night was not a good one for Liz and I as the strong medication she is on is having side-effects and the medicaion will be reduced today. It was a long hard night! Your prayers are valued.

Liz’s orthopaedic specialist has just called and says that Liz must move her left leg as little as possible in the first week after the accident and no left foot to the ground for a long time to come. It must be total bed rest for the first month and then Liz will have another CT scan to see how it’s going prior to moving to a wheelchair stage. He reckons that if Liz sticks to the rules (as I know she will) she will be back to normal in 3 months. Only time will tell, he said, how the heal works out inside the hip. We can but trust and pray.

Liz’s orthopaedic specialist has just called and says that Liz must move her left leg as little as possible in the first week after the accident and no left foot to the ground for a long time to come. It must be total bed rest for the first month and then Liz will have another CT scan to see how it’s going prior to moving to a wheelchair stage. He reckons that if Liz sticks to the rules (as I know she will) she will be back to normal in 3 months. Only time will tell, he said, how the heal works out inside the hip. We can but trust and pray.

After her accident on Wednesday a CT Scan revealed a
fracture of the left acetabulum cavity of the pelvis, plus muscular and
articulation damage. The good news is that surgery should not be
necessary. The not so good news is that Liz will be stuck imobilized on a
bed for a long period of weeks. Your continued prayers are valued.

Liz continues to be her usual positive self answering 2 phones at once on the bed and receiving visitors like Madame Tussuad’s! 

After her accident on Wednesday a CT Scan revealed a
fracture of the left acetabulum cavity of the pelvis, plus muscular and
articulation damage. The good news is that surgery should not be
necessary. The not so good news is that Liz will be stuck imobilized on a
bed for a long period of weeks. Your continued prayers are valued.

Liz continues to be her usual positive self answering 2 phones at once on the bed and receiving visitors like Madame Tussuad’s! 

After her accident on Wednesday a CT Scan revealed a
fracture of the left acetabulum cavity of the pelvis, plus muscular and
articulation damage. The good news is that surgery should not be
necessary. The not so good news is that Liz will be stuck imobilized on a
bed for a long period of weeks. Your continued prayers are valued.

Liz continues to be her usual positive self answering 2 phones at once on the bed and receiving visitors like Madame Tussuad’s! 

EAB/ACEV’s Bee keeping project progresses well in the Tavares area where
we have just held a training course for local community leaders and
farm workers. Honey is giving them a new means of income. Thank you for
supporting this project.

Later in the day a second orthopedic specialist was called in to Liz as by then she was out of the immediate initial crisis and had the pain controlled by strong medication and could be examined more thoroughly. This revealed a small fracture in the left hip which holds the upper leg joint. She is going to have a more refined scan done tomorrow to define this more precisely. Hopefully it will not require surgery, but we will only know this with the scan. If she doesn’t need surgery she will have to have 3 weeks in bed, 3 weeks sitting and 3 weeks with a crutch so a long haul to recovery of at least 9 weeks. We value your prayers.

Liz was knocked down in the Patos town centre this afternoon by a pick-up truck which jumped the red lights and caught her on a pedestian crossing. We praise God that Liz has apparently not broken anything, though she is in a lot of pain with a dislocated left leg/hip. She has been medicated and is in hospital in observation. Please pray.

Liz was knocked down in the Patos town centre this afternoon by a pick-up truck which jumped the red lights and caught her on a pedestian crossing. We praise God that Liz has apparently not broken anything, though she is in a lot of pain with a dislocated left leg/hip. She has been medicated and is in hospital in observation. Please pray.

Liz was knocked down in the Patos town centre this afternoon by a pick-up truck which jumped the red lights and caught her on a pedestian crossing. We praise God that Liz has apparently not broken anything, though she is in a lot of pain with a dislocated left leg/hip. She has been medicated and is in hospital in observation. Please pray.