Categoria: News

I have prepared the wedding ceremony for this Saturday evening at Green Pastures when I will be conducting the wedding of Tarcísio and Maria’s only daughter Jozilene to Antônio. They have two sons neither of whom are married. Tarcísio has even rented a suit for the occasion! Tarcísio is the Green Pastures manager and church leader.


Liz continues in João Pessoa with Lynn, her husband Hutan and their baby Amanda Ivy. Lynn left hospital today but the baby remains in special care where she is making some progress following her premature birth. I sense we might be in for a fairly long haul with all this. We value your prayers.


I have a lot on preparing for the annual Field Conference which starts a fortnight this Friday.


I got in some exercise at Green Pastures this morning. Oh dear how we need rain! In fact there has been a big debate tonight in the Patos Town Council on the regional water crisis with all the reservoirs very low. 

This blog has now passed the 137,500 visits mark (started August 2004) and my Flickr photos have passed the 176,500 visits mark (started October 2009) at https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnmedcraft/

I have prepared the wedding ceremony for this Saturday evening at Green Pastures when I will be conducting the wedding of Tarcísio and Maria’s only daughter Jozilene to Antônio. They have two sons neither of whom are married. Tarcísio has even rented a suit for the occasion! Tarcísio is the Green Pastures manager and church leader.


Liz continues in João Pessoa with Lynn, her husband Hutan and their baby Amanda Ivy. Lynn left hospital today but the baby remains in special care where she is making some progress following her premature birth. I sense we might be in for a fairly long haul with all this. We value your prayers.


I have a lot on preparing for the annual Field Conference which starts a fortnight this Friday.


I got in some exercise at Green Pastures this morning. Oh dear how we need rain! In fact there has been a big debate tonight in the Patos Town Council on the regional water crisis with all the reservoirs very low. 

This blog has now passed the 137,500 visits mark (started August 2004) and my Flickr photos have passed the 176,500 visits mark (started October 2009) at https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnmedcraft/

Amanda Ivy, born on Saturday in João Pessoa to Lynn and Hutan, is progressing well in special care. Being premature the hospital is letting the baby get her lungs up to necessary levels which may take a few days, but the little baby is doing really well now. PTL! Thank you for praying and please don’t stop.


Green Pastures had 5mm of rain last night so again very little but welcome none the less. This takes our total up to 364mm this year which is badly down on what’s needed. On Saturday I will be conducting a wedding at Green Pastures with Tarcísio’s daughter Josilene marrying Antonio at 6pm.

Amanda Ivy, born on Saturday in João Pessoa to Lynn and Hutan, is progressing well in special care. Being premature the hospital is letting the baby get her lungs up to necessary levels which may take a few days, but the little baby is doing really well now. PTL! Thank you for praying and please don’t stop.


Green Pastures had 5mm of rain last night so again very little but welcome none the less. This takes our total up to 364mm this year which is badly down on what’s needed. On Saturday I will be conducting a wedding at Green Pastures with Tarcísio’s daughter Josilene marrying Antonio at 6pm.

The communion service went great last night in Patos and the sermon went fine too. Great to have Philip back.


I was up putting food on the bird table at 5.30am and at 6am Pastor Valdemy phoned me from Caroá to discuss an issue linked to the church there. That is his normal time to phone!


Lynn’s new born daughter seems to be doing well and making progress. I await more concrete news later in the day. Please keep praying.


Today is the first lesson for the class which lost their little friend in the tragic lift accident last week. Sacha is consulting a psychologist this morning as to how to handle the issue with the little children. Please pray.

QPR are now relegated having lost again at the weekend. It’s certainly nothing I am going to lose sleep over, but I am sorry they have never managed to get their act together all season. What is wrong internally it is impossible to tell, but as a leader I sense something is essentially wrong inside the club. I am not saying they could be expected to win all their games, but it has been so bad that one hardly expects them to win anything. I remain top of the QPR prediction league with 3 games to go. 

I will be leading the monthly communion service in the Patos church in a little under two hours time. I will be preaching from Isaiah 40.


Lynn’s new born baby continues in intensive care as she was born premature. Her condition is stable. I will only be able to relax more once the baby is in her mum’s arms and in a normal routine.


I sent out the EAB Nutshell Update today.

I will be leading the monthly communion service in the Patos church in a little under two hours time. I will be preaching from Isaiah 40.


Lynn’s new born baby continues in intensive care as she was born premature. Her condition is stable. I will only be able to relax more once the baby is in her mum’s arms and in a normal routine.


I sent out the EAB Nutshell Update today.

EAB missionary Ben Price’s mother passed away last night in Basingstoke after a long battle with cancer. Our prayers are with Ben and the family.

EAB missionary Ben Price’s mother passed away last night in Basingstoke after a long battle with cancer. Our prayers are with Ben and the family.

Please pray for Amanda Ivy, born today, who has gone straight into special care in an incubator. She was premature and weighed 2.16 kg at birth plus the fact that to get her to João Pessoa for birth brought its difficulties. So please especially pray for the baby. Lynn seems fine.

Please pray for Amanda Ivy, born today, who has gone straight into special care in an incubator. She was premature and weighed 2.16 kg at birth plus the fact that to get her to João Pessoa for birth brought its difficulties. So please especially pray for the baby. Lynn seems fine.

PTL baby Amanda Ivy has just been born. Liz has already heard her crying loud and clear! I have no futher details as yet. PTL! Thank you for praying. Please don’t stop.

PTL baby Amanda Ivy has just been born. Liz has already heard her crying loud and clear! I have no futher details as yet. PTL! Thank you for praying. Please don’t stop.

PTL baby Amanda Ivy has just been born. Liz has already heard her crying loud and clear! I have no futher details as yet. PTL! Thank you for praying. Please don’t stop.

Lynn has just gone into surgery with her husband Hutan in João Pessoa to give birth to their baby daughter by cesarean section. Please keep praying.

Lynn has just gone into surgery with her husband Hutan in João Pessoa to give birth to their baby daughter by cesarean section. Please keep praying.

Lynn is safely in the João Pessoa hospital so we now tensely await further news of the birth of ‘Amanda Ivy’ and of the well-being of Lynn. Please keep praying.

Lynn is safely in the João Pessoa hospital so we now tensely await further news of the birth of ‘Amanda Ivy’ and of the well-being of Lynn. Please keep praying.

Liz has phoned to say they have passed the town of Cajá and are now within half an hour of João Pessoa. We pray for no traffic congestion on entering the capital. The maternity hospital is at action stations for Lynn to be there by 12.30pm (4.30pm UK time). John David, who is about to get his long awaited sister, looks dazed. Bless him. He said to me a few minutes ago: “Grandad, I’m in a state of shock. Everything is happening so fast”! Please keep praying.

Liz has phoned to say they have passed the town of Cajá and are now within half an hour of João Pessoa. We pray for no traffic congestion on entering the capital. The maternity hospital is at action stations for Lynn to be there by 12.30pm (4.30pm UK time). John David, who is about to get his long awaited sister, looks dazed. Bless him. He said to me a few minutes ago: “Grandad, I’m in a state of shock. Everything is happening so fast”! Please keep praying.

Liz has phoned to say they have just passed Campina Grande non-stop on the by-pass so they’re heading straight to João Pessoa as Lynn’s contractions are closer together than they were, but still at tolerable intervals. Hutan is clearly on target for a Formula 1 debut and Liz sounds her usually confident calm self which is the ideal sort of person to have on board in such circumstances. Please keep praying. They are clearly on schedule at this rate for an earlier arrival in João Pessoa than I had envisaged. Perhaps they can make it for 1pm (5pm UK time)?

They are clearly going like the clappers and Liz has just phoned to say they have passed through Soledade so they are half an hour away from Campina Grande. If contractions remain as they are they may go straight ahead to João Pessoa after all so as not to lose precious time. Please keep praying.

They are clearly going like the clappers and Liz has just phoned to say they have passed through Soledade so they are half an hour away from Campina Grande. If contractions remain as they are they may go straight ahead to João Pessoa after all so as not to lose precious time. Please keep praying.

Lynn (see previous 2 posts for the beginning of this story) is for those who don’t know our daughter and she should be at Juazeirinho about now, which is half way between Patos and Campina Grande (depending on traffic). I have learned that the doctor awaiting her in João Pessoa has instructed Lynn to be examined by a doctor in Campina Grande prior to proceeeding to João Pessoa. Lynn has been told where to go. This will delay the journey, but is clearly necessary. Normally on a good day it takes a 2 hour drive to get to Campina Grande from Patos and then about an hour and a half from Campina Grande to João Pessoa. Please keep praying.

If all goes well I can’t see them getting to João Pessoa before 2pm (6pm UK time) at the earliest.

Lynn (see previous 2 posts for the beginning of this story) is for those who don’t know our daughter and she should be at Juazeirinho about now, which is half way between Patos and Campina Grande (depending on traffic). I have learned that the doctor awaiting her in João Pessoa has instructed Lynn to be examined by a doctor in Campina Grande prior to proceeeding to João Pessoa. Lynn has been told where to go. This will delay the journey, but is clearly necessary. Normally on a good day it takes a 2 hour drive to get to Campina Grande from Patos and then about an hour and a half from Campina Grande to João Pessoa. Please keep praying.

If all goes well I can’t see them getting to João Pessoa before 2pm (6pm UK time) at the earliest.

There were a few minutes delay for Lynn leaving Patos but she is now on her way. Her husband is driving, and Liz and an obstetrics nurse are with them as he can do the birth if necessary on the way. Lynn’s waters have broken and she is having 25 minute contractions.


Once things started Lynn went to the Patos Maternity Hospital to be examined by a doctor who immediately said get going as here we can’t handle this case. Nurse Rone from our church was on duty and was sent to accompany the situation. They called by here at home on the way out and the plan now is to try and reach João Pessoa which was the original plan and would be better. However they may have to settle for Campina Grande depending on developments.


Lynn is calm. The preganancy is very high risk pricipally for Lynn. Please pray.

There were a few minutes delay for Lynn leaving Patos but she is now on her way. Her husband is driving, and Liz and an obstetrics nurse are with them as he can do the birth if necessary on the way. Lynn’s waters have broken and she is having 25 minute contractions.


Once things started Lynn went to the Patos Maternity Hospital to be examined by a doctor who immediately said get going as here we can’t handle this case. Nurse Rone from our church was on duty and was sent to accompany the situation. They called by here at home on the way out and the plan now is to try and reach João Pessoa which was the original plan and would be better. However they may have to settle for Campina Grande depending on developments.


Lynn is calm. The preganancy is very high risk pricipally for Lynn. Please pray.

Please pray for our daughter Lynn who has gone into labour ahead of time with a high risk pregnancy and is being rushed to Campina Grande right now.

Please pray for our daughter Lynn who has gone into labour ahead of time with a high risk pregnancy and is being rushed to Campina Grande right now.

The service this evening went great. How good it was to see a young man come back to the Lord who has a bad drink problem. Please remember him in your prayers. The praise was good, the prayer was good and the Bible study went very well. PTL!


Philip is on the second leg of his 3 flights home from India – flying from Paris to São Paulo at the moment. He is utterly exhausted.

The service this evening went great. How good it was to see a young man come back to the Lord who has a bad drink problem. Please remember him in your prayers. The praise was good, the prayer was good and the Bible study went very well. PTL!


Philip is on the second leg of his 3 flights home from India – flying from Paris to São Paulo at the moment. He is utterly exhausted.

The service this evening went great. How good it was to see a young man come back to the Lord who has a bad drink problem. Please remember him in your prayers. The praise was good, the prayer was good and the Bible study went very well. PTL!


Philip is on the second leg of his 3 flights home from India – flying from Paris to São Paulo at the moment. He is utterly exhausted.

The little girl who fell down the lift shaft in Patos (see previous article) was in fact 6 years of age and has tragically died in the Patos Children’s Hospital this evening. Everyone in our neighbourhood is terribly sad and shocked beyond measure. Please pray for the parents who I understand were both Veterinary doctors.

The little girl who fell down the lift shaft in Patos (see previous article) was in fact 6 years of age and has tragically died in the Patos Children’s Hospital this evening. Everyone in our neighbourhood is terribly sad and shocked beyond measure. Please pray for the parents who I understand were both Veterinary doctors.

The little girl who fell down the lift shaft in Patos (see previous article) was in fact 6 years of age and has tragically died in the Patos Children’s Hospital this evening. Everyone in our neighbourhood is terribly sad and shocked beyond measure. Please pray for the parents who I understand were both Veterinary doctors.

We are very sad because a terrible accident has just happened in the lift shaft in Lynn’s apartment building in front of the English school which our girls run. A little girl of about 7 had a lesson this afternoon and then left the school and went to the apartment block to play with her friends. Somehow she fell down the lift shaft from 6 or 7 floors up. Presumably the lift had opened the door at the wrong level and the little girl apparently did not notice. She has just been rushed to hospital in an ambulance literally between life and death. Please pray.

We are very sad because a terrible accident has just happened in the lift shaft in Lynn’s apartment building in front of the English school which our girls run. A little girl of about 7 had a lesson this afternoon and then left the school and went to the apartment block to play with her friends. Somehow she fell down the lift shaft from 6 or 7 floors up. Presumably the lift had opened the door at the wrong level and the little girl apparently did not notice. She has just been rushed to hospital in an ambulance literally between life and death. Please pray.

We are very sad because a terrible accident has just happened in the lift shaft in Lynn’s apartment building in front of the English school which our girls run. A little girl of about 7 had a lesson this afternoon and then left the school and went to the apartment block to play with her friends. Somehow she fell down the lift shaft from 6 or 7 floors up. Presumably the lift had opened the door at the wrong level and the little girl apparently did not notice. She has just been rushed to hospital in an ambulance literally between life and death. Please pray.

I am an avid preparer of sermons. I can’t stand listening to waffle and on the spot ramblings. Hence I am at present preparing a sermon in the book of Isaiah for this coming Sunday in Patos. Such preparation always takes me many hours and even days. 


Sadly the rainy season has come to little at Green Pastures. I was there yesterday to check things over and we have now had 359mm of rain this year (15 inches). We would need at least double this for a reasonable year. Yes – we have prayed and are praying. There is hope of some rain as we go into May, but the main potential rainy season in our region is the first third of the year. Just like in the UK you don’t get snow in July so we don’t get rain in the second half of the year and little in the last two-thirds. This situation reflects on everything – life, nature, churches (people move away to survive) etc. We continue to pray and ask you to continue to pray with us as the thing is that 15 inches just doesn’t fill the reservoirs for later in the year.


It is encouraging the way university professors are increasingly warming to our Green Pastures endeavours. This is both helpful and I learn a lot from them.


I have been handling the usual stream of matters concerning the work with people turning up here in the office to talk to me, discuss things, ask questions + constant emails and phone calls. Liz is equally on the go continually. At times I don’t know how she copes. I also went to the dentist’s yesterday and I’m still breathing!

I am an avid preparer of sermons. I can’t stand listening to waffle and on the spot ramblings. Hence I am at present preparing a sermon in the book of Isaiah for this coming Sunday in Patos. Such preparation always takes me many hours and even days. 


Sadly the rainy season has come to little at Green Pastures. I was there yesterday to check things over and we have now had 359mm of rain this year (15 inches). We would need at least double this for a reasonable year. Yes – we have prayed and are praying. There is hope of some rain as we go into May, but the main potential rainy season in our region is the first third of the year. Just like in the UK you don’t get snow in July so we don’t get rain in the second half of the year and little in the last two-thirds. This situation reflects on everything – life, nature, churches (people move away to survive) etc. We continue to pray and ask you to continue to pray with us as the thing is that 15 inches just doesn’t fill the reservoirs for later in the year.


It is encouraging the way university professors are increasingly warming to our Green Pastures endeavours. This is both helpful and I learn a lot from them.


I have been handling the usual stream of matters concerning the work with people turning up here in the office to talk to me, discuss things, ask questions + constant emails and phone calls. Liz is equally on the go continually. At times I don’t know how she copes. I also went to the dentist’s yesterday and I’m still breathing!

The Sunday night celebration service in the Patos church went off well with a full church as usual. The P&W group did very well. We had one of our pastors in as a visiting speaker and it could have been better. 


Lynn is due to have her baby daughter in about a month’s time so please remember her in prayer. That will be grandchild number 8 for us. Now surprise news for us is that Philip & Gylmara are to have a third child so that will be number 9!


QPR managed to miss scoring from a penalty against West Ham so ended up drawing a match at home they really had to win. Relegation looms larger and larger with 4 games to go, but I continue out in front in the QPR Prediction League by 18 points.

The Sunday night celebration service in the Patos church went off well with a full church as usual. The P&W group did very well. We had one of our pastors in as a visiting speaker and it could have been better. 


Lynn is due to have her baby daughter in about a month’s time so please remember her in prayer. That will be grandchild number 8 for us. Now surprise news for us is that Philip & Gylmara are to have a third child so that will be number 9!


QPR managed to miss scoring from a penalty against West Ham so ended up drawing a match at home they really had to win. Relegation looms larger and larger with 4 games to go, but I continue out in front in the QPR Prediction League by 18 points.

Liz and I travelled to Princesa Isabel’s branch church yesterday in the borough of Maia where I preached at the 9th anniversary service and the P&W group from Patos also ministered beautifully. Liz and I visited 2 rural areas where this branch church is also already reaching out to. We made these visits in the afternoon prior to the service.


It was a very good trip and really blessed of the Lord. It is good to see this work slowly and steadily growing. PTL!


Now we’re back in Patos and will soon be off to lead the evening service. Thanks for all your prayers and support.

Liz and I travelled to Princesa Isabel’s branch church yesterday in the borough of Maia where I preached at the 9th anniversary service and the P&W group from Patos also ministered beautifully. Liz and I visited 2 rural areas where this branch church is also already reaching out to. We made these visits in the afternoon prior to the service.


It was a very good trip and really blessed of the Lord. It is good to see this work slowly and steadily growing. PTL!


Now we’re back in Patos and will soon be off to lead the evening service. Thanks for all your prayers and support.

Our leadership team meeting lasted 7 hours. It was exhausting but very united and positive. We have now entirely prepared the agenda for next month’s Field Conference (we hope) and amply discussed a very wide number of topics. There will be one ordination at the Conference + I will lead the closing celebration and Pastor Wostenes will preach. I will lead the 4 general assemblies too.


We decided to focus on the topic of unity next year and the annual theme will be “Together we are Stronger” and we will use John 17:21 as our core verse. The ACEV year runs from Field Conference to Field Conference. We also discussed the possible formation of the leadership team as from next year when the team will be elected for the following 4 years (2016 – 2020). 


We also defined the programme of the Leadership Conference for November which will be postponed from the usual September date owing to our UK trip. The next 10-day outreach is planned for the State of Ceará.

We also had a discussion on the dangers being faced in the new project which combats domestic violence, drug abuse etc. in a very violent borough in Patos. Much prayer is needed for our team.

Our leadership team meeting lasted 7 hours. It was exhausting but very united and positive. We have now entirely prepared the agenda for next month’s Field Conference (we hope) and amply discussed a very wide number of topics. There will be one ordination at the Conference + I will lead the closing celebration and Pastor Wostenes will preach. I will lead the 4 general assemblies too.


We decided to focus on the topic of unity next year and the annual theme will be “Together we are Stronger” and we will use John 17:21 as our core verse. The ACEV year runs from Field Conference to Field Conference. We also discussed the possible formation of the leadership team as from next year when the team will be elected for the following 4 years (2016 – 2020). 


We also defined the programme of the Leadership Conference for November which will be postponed from the usual September date owing to our UK trip. The next 10-day outreach is planned for the State of Ceará.

We also had a discussion on the dangers being faced in the new project which combats domestic violence, drug abuse etc. in a very violent borough in Patos. Much prayer is needed for our team.

I led the Bible study tonight which went very well. We had 5mm of rain last night at Green Pastures and 9mm today so we are grateful for small mercies.


Please pray for our national leadership team meeting tomorrow to discuss a whole host of topics. May the Lord guide us in every decision.

I led the Bible study tonight which went very well. We had 5mm of rain last night at Green Pastures and 9mm today so we are grateful for small mercies.


Please pray for our national leadership team meeting tomorrow to discuss a whole host of topics. May the Lord guide us in every decision.

Today I have worked flat out preparing my sermon for Saturday when I will be ministering at the Princesa Isabel branch church in the borough of Maia to the south of the town. I was asked to preach on “If God is for us who can be against us”? I am not sure what they are expecting asking for this but I have spent since early this morning working flat out so as to be able to expound what Paul is saying and to get the context I felt I had to give a flying overview of all the earlier chapers. It was hard work but satisfying. May the Lord bless it. The P&W group will also be going on Saturday minus Philip who will be on his way back from India.


Good news today from Ben Price is that his wife’s visa has finally been sorted today so she will be able to join him and the kids in the UK next week. (DV) Ben says his mum’s health is stable.


I worked lots on Monday and Tuesday on the Field Conference to be held next month as we have a preparatory leadership meeting for this on Friday. This is a lot of work. Philip sent me from India the electronic forms the churches have to fill in for the conference so I have sent these to all our church leaders.


The married couples’ ministry had a nice day at Green Pastures yesterday.


I have also been sorting out one or two church problems – not in Patos but in other places. I have also been working on things linked to next January’s 10-day evangelistic outreach.

Today I have worked flat out preparing my sermon for Saturday when I will be ministering at the Princesa Isabel branch church in the borough of Maia to the south of the town. I was asked to preach on “If God is for us who can be against us”? I am not sure what they are expecting asking for this but I have spent since early this morning working flat out so as to be able to expound what Paul is saying and to get the context I felt I had to give a flying overview of all the earlier chapers. It was hard work but satisfying. May the Lord bless it. The P&W group will also be going on Saturday minus Philip who will be on his way back from India.


Good news today from Ben Price is that his wife’s visa has finally been sorted today so she will be able to join him and the kids in the UK next week. (DV) Ben says his mum’s health is stable.


I worked lots on Monday and Tuesday on the Field Conference to be held next month as we have a preparatory leadership meeting for this on Friday. This is a lot of work. Philip sent me from India the electronic forms the churches have to fill in for the conference so I have sent these to all our church leaders.


The married couples’ ministry had a nice day at Green Pastures yesterday.


I have also been sorting out one or two church problems – not in Patos but in other places. I have also been working on things linked to next January’s 10-day evangelistic outreach.