Categoria: News

I went to Green Pastures and saw a Spotted Nothura, many Red-Cowled Cardinals, Guira Cuckoos, Picui Ground-Doves, Smooth-billed Anis and Caatinga Cacholotes. This year’s produce of 4 peacocks has been reduced to 1 by predators 🐺. There were still 3 at Easter. Our Cockatiels’ offspring have also been reduced from 2 to 1, but they have now laid more eggs. 🐤

Congratulations to our school at Matureia, where I was on Wednesday, for having received an award for excellency from the town council. They also have received a ‘best of the year’ award as chosen by the general public.🏆All glory be to God! Our school there has 253 pupils. 

The wanderer returns! Our grandson Arthur returned yesterday from his latest international adventure having visited Panama, USA, Japan, South Korea and Peru! I wonder where he’ll be going next year? His final flight from Brasília to Recife was cancelled because of a fight between a passenger and a member of the crew, so Arthur had an annoying and tiring delay to a later flight. Not to worry as Arthur is a lawyer and will sue the airline for the delay!

Yesterday afternoon the senior leadership of the mission held an excellent 2-hour online meeting in preparation for the general conference to be held in Itaporanga on the 23rd and 24th of May. First of all we discussed the conference celebration which Pastor Wostenes will lead and at which I will preach on the ‘Year of Jubilee’. We then discussed the agenda of subjects to be dealt with in the 4 business sessions of the conference. It was an excellent meeting. Please pray for our general conference.

What a wife I have! I have just eaten 7 pancakes! 😋

Today is mother’s day in Brazil and I send a happy mother’s day to all mums!

I went to Green Pastures and saw a Spotted Nothura, many Red-Cowled Cardinals, Guira Cuckoos, Picui Ground-Doves, Smooth-billed Anis and Caatinga Cacholotes. This year’s produce of 4 peacocks has been reduced to 1 by predators 🐺. There were still 3 at Easter. Our Cockatiels’ offspring have also been reduced from 2 to 1, but they have now laid more eggs. 🐤

Congratulations to our school at Matureia, where I was on Wednesday, for having received an award for excellency from the town council. They also have received a ‘best of the year’ award as chosen by the general public.🏆All glory be to God! Our school there has 253 pupils. 

The wanderer returns! Our grandson Arthur returned yesterday from his latest international adventure having visited Panama, USA, Japan, South Korea and Peru! I wonder where he’ll be going next year? His final flight from Brasília to Recife was cancelled because of a fight between a passenger and a member of the crew, so Arthur had an annoying and tiring delay to a later flight. Not to worry as Arthur is a lawyer and will sue the airline for the delay!

Yesterday afternoon the senior leadership of the mission held an excellent 2-hour online meeting in preparation for the general conference to be held in Itaporanga on the 23rd and 24th of May. First of all we discussed the conference celebration which Pastor Wostenes will lead and at which I will preach on the ‘Year of Jubilee’. We then discussed the agenda of subjects to be dealt with in the 4 business sessions of the conference. It was an excellent meeting. Please pray for our general conference.

What a wife I have! I have just eaten 7 pancakes! 😋

Today is mother’s day in Brazil and I send a happy mother’s day to all mums!

On Wednesday I drove up the Teixeira Mountain to the town of Matureia where we have a church and school. On the way up the mountain I had to negotiate getting past an enormous broken down lorry which was blocking the road on a sharp bend. At the church I enjoyed good fellowship with the local pastor Renilson and his wife Getiane. I visited the school, which has 260 pupils, as the children were enjoying lovely tropical fruit: melon, banana, water melon and paw-paw, so I joined them!😋I enjoyed hearing Getiane speaking to the school assembly tactfully explaining to the children how to avoid abusive touches and teaching them to tell their mum or their teacher if anyone is abusively bothering them. It was a very good talk, fruit of her wide experience working with children. I was impressed.

From the school I drove a further 15 km to visit a market garden project run by the church piano accordionist called Gilsandro at the Bom Conselho Community. It was so good to see how well his market garden is doing with lettuce, coriander, spring onions, bananas (hundreds of them!), passion fruit and a great number of paw-paw drawing my attention. He told me how simple things like a wheel barrow, which he received as part of the project, is so helpful because he collects manure from neighbouring small-holdings to put on his plants. He thanked a lot for the piping for irrigation, the tools, shading netting etc. which the project gave him. He told me too of the contract he has with the main Matureia ‘Souza’ supermarket to supply fruit and vegetables every day as he has produce ready for market.

Our grandson Arthur is on his way back to Brazil from Japan and has made the 12 hour flight from Tokyo to Los Angeles where he now is. ✈

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and Pastor Rafael brought the study on Micah 6:1-8. It was a good service.

Last night too our son Philip attended his graduation ceremony online with the FTSA Bible College, and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology. He concluded the course in December but the graduation ceremony was only now. We give our warmest congratulations to Philip for having achieved this award of a degree officially recognized by the Brazilian Ministry of Education. (MEC)

On Wednesday I drove up the Teixeira Mountain to the town of Matureia where we have a church and school. On the way up the mountain I had to negotiate getting past an enormous broken down lorry which was blocking the road on a sharp bend. At the church I enjoyed good fellowship with the local pastor Renilson and his wife Getiane. I visited the school, which has 260 pupils, as the children were enjoying lovely tropical fruit: melon, banana, water melon and paw-paw, so I joined them!😋I enjoyed hearing Getiane speaking to the school assembly tactfully explaining to the children how to avoid abusive touches and teaching them to tell their mum or their teacher if anyone is abusively bothering them. It was a very good talk, fruit of her wide experience working with children. I was impressed.

From the school I drove a further 15 km to visit a market garden project run by the church piano accordionist called Gilsandro at the Bom Conselho Community. It was so good to see how well his market garden is doing with lettuce, coriander, spring onions, bananas (hundreds of them!), passion fruit and a great number of paw-paw drawing my attention. He told me how simple things like a wheel barrow, which he received as part of the project, is so helpful because he collects manure from neighbouring small-holdings to put on his plants. He thanked a lot for the piping for irrigation, the tools, shading netting etc. which the project gave him. He told me too of the contract he has with the main Matureia ‘Souza’ supermarket to supply fruit and vegetables every day as he has produce ready for market.

Our grandson Arthur is on his way back to Brazil from Japan and has made the 12 hour flight from Tokyo to Los Angeles where he now is. ✈

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and Pastor Rafael brought the study on Micah 6:1-8. It was a good service.

Last night too our son Philip attended his graduation ceremony online with the FTSA Bible College, and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology. He concluded the course in December but the graduation ceremony was only now. We give our warmest congratulations to Philip for having achieved this award of a degree officially recognized by the Brazilian Ministry of Education. (MEC)

We are in the month of May when the rains normally are petering out, but sadly this year’s rainy season has never got going and here we are with just 469 mm this year after 4 months. We need a minimum of 700 mm and ideally 1,000 mm so as to get us through the second half of the year when it doesn’t rain. Please pray!

I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and co-pastor Rafael gave the study from the 5th chapter of Micah. Dedé led the praise and worship.

116-year-old football loving Brazilian nun Inah Canabarra Lucas died this week in Porto Alegre in the south of Brazil. She has now been replaced as the world’s oldest person by a 115-year-old lady in Surrey, England.

Yesterday was our granddaughter Amanda Ivy’s 10th birthday and we met together to sing happy birthday to her at 6 pm. Amanda is a lovely beautiful Christian young lady.

Last night we took part in a Patos leadership meeting and had a good discussion about the work of the Lord. The Patos church has 216 members and 88 not yet baptized Christians, including children.

The men’s retreat is in progress at Green Pastures with 80 men from the Campina Grande Catolé church. It is happening from Friday to Sunday. 

Our 23-year-old grandson Arthur has flown from Japan and is now in South Korea. ✈

We are in the month of May when the rains normally are petering out, but sadly this year’s rainy season has never got going and here we are with just 469 mm this year after 4 months. We need a minimum of 700 mm and ideally 1,000 mm so as to get us through the second half of the year when it doesn’t rain. Please pray!

I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and co-pastor Rafael gave the study from the 5th chapter of Micah. Dedé led the praise and worship.

116-year-old football loving Brazilian nun Inah Canabarra Lucas died this week in Porto Alegre in the south of Brazil. She has now been replaced as the world’s oldest person by a 115-year-old lady in Surrey, England.

Yesterday was our granddaughter Amanda Ivy’s 10th birthday and we met together to sing happy birthday to her at 6 pm. Amanda is a lovely beautiful Christian young lady.

Last night we took part in a Patos leadership meeting and had a good discussion about the work of the Lord. The Patos church has 216 members and 88 not yet baptized Christians, including children.

The men’s retreat is in progress at Green Pastures with 80 men from the Campina Grande Catolé church. It is happening from Friday to Sunday. 

Our 23-year-old grandson Arthur has flown from Japan and is now in South Korea. ✈

 On Tuesday evening we held an excellent meeting of the leaders of the various ministries of the Patos church. We heard from the leaders of the following ministries: children, adolescents, youth, women, men, seniors, praise & worship, deaf, Christians in action, married couples,  and visitation. It was a good time of sharing together praising for the blessings and discussing where things can improve.

I have been having important discussions with Deacons Dedé and Esau regarding the church at the town of Ipueira in the State of Rio Grande do Norte regarding our plans for expansion of the little church there. Please pray for this work. 

Our 15-year-old granddaughter Beatriz (Bia) has won the under-17 feminine Table Tennis Championship for the second year running. Bia is champion of Patos and a further 25 municipalities of the interior sertão. Well done Bia!

Our grandson Arthur has visited Mount Fuji in Japan and was fortunate to get a very clear day so as to get an excellent view of the volcanic mountain.

Yesterday our Life Squad evangelized the Patos Men’s Prison and 3 prisoners made commitments to Christ. The Life Squad yesterday had 2 participants: Pastor Rafael and Roberto Tiburtino. Please pray for the life squad evangelizing the prison every Wednesday afternoon.

Last month this blog was read 2,218 times.

Yesterday a school from São Mamede took a group of students to Green Pastures for a nature lesson to inspire them to study harder. They really enjoyed their visit. May God bless them.

 On Tuesday evening we held an excellent meeting of the leaders of the various ministries of the Patos church. We heard from the leaders of the following ministries: children, adolescents, youth, women, men, seniors, praise & worship, deaf, Christians in action, married couples,  and visitation. It was a good time of sharing together praising for the blessings and discussing where things can improve.

I have been having important discussions with Deacons Dedé and Esau regarding the church at the town of Ipueira in the State of Rio Grande do Norte regarding our plans for expansion of the little church there. Please pray for this work. 

Our 15-year-old granddaughter Beatriz (Bia) has won the under-17 feminine Table Tennis Championship for the second year running. Bia is champion of Patos and a further 25 municipalities of the interior sertão. Well done Bia!

Our grandson Arthur has visited Mount Fuji in Japan and was fortunate to get a very clear day so as to get an excellent view of the volcanic mountain.

Yesterday our Life Squad evangelized the Patos Men’s Prison and 3 prisoners made commitments to Christ. The Life Squad yesterday had 2 participants: Pastor Rafael and Roberto Tiburtino. Please pray for the life squad evangelizing the prison every Wednesday afternoon.

Last month this blog was read 2,218 times.

Yesterday a school from São Mamede took a group of students to Green Pastures for a nature lesson to inspire them to study harder. They really enjoyed their visit. May God bless them.

Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem and made an historical discourse to them on the eve of his death at 110 years of age. He reminded them of how he had called Abraham and then his descendants Isaac, Jacob and Esau. He recalled how Jacob had gone down to Egypt with his sons and how God eventually delivered them from Egypt and brought them victorious through the desert to Canaan. Then God gave the victory at Jericho and successive places. So Joshua says that Israel must fear the Lord and serve him with faithfulness, throwing away all pagan gods. For Joshua says that all Israelites must make up their minds who they will serve because “as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord”! The people answered assuring Joshua that they “too will serve the Lord, because he is our God”! Joshua stressed that they couldn’t play around with God, but the people repeatedly assured him of their commitment to the Lord. So it was that at Shechem the people renewed their covenant with God. Then Joshua died and was buried at Timnath Serah.

Time passed and Joshua was over 100 years old so he spoke to the elders, leaders, judges and officials with words of farewell. He reminded them of all that God had done for them and given them and assured them that the Lord would yet drive out the remaining Canaanites from the Land. He told them that they must be strong and careful to obey all that was written in the Book of the Law of Moses, and never get involved with the nations that remained among them taking care to steer clear of their gods. For God would severely judge Israel if they violated the covenant of the Lord their God. 

Time passed and Joshua was over 100 years old so he spoke to the elders, leaders, judges and officials with words of farewell. He reminded them of all that God had done for them and given them and assured them that the Lord would yet drive out the remaining Canaanites from the Land. He told them that they must be strong and careful to obey all that was written in the Book of the Law of Moses, and never get involved with the nations that remained among them taking care to steer clear of their gods. For God would severely judge Israel if they violated the covenant of the Lord their God. 

The two and a half tribes of Israel that had opted to settle on the east side of the Jordan, as agreed with Moses, had fulfilled their promise to fight on the side of the other tribes during the conquest of Canaan. Now that they had fulfilled their mission Joshua told them that they were free to return to their families and develop their livelihoods. So on the way east the Reubenites, the Gadites and half the tribe of Manasseh built a very large altar near the Jordan as a witness of their unity with the whole of Israel. However the 9 and a half tribes misunderstood this gesture and it almost led to civil war! For the western tribes understood the altar to have pagan connotations, or to be a rival altar to that of the tabernacle, and were horrified and aghast. It was only when the eastern tribes clarified the matter and assured them of their commitment to the Lord that Phineas the priest praised God, accepted the explanation and the altar was given the name as a witness between the eastern and western tribes. 

The two and a half tribes of Israel that had opted to settle on the east side of the Jordan, as agreed with Moses, had fulfilled their promise to fight on the side of the other tribes during the conquest of Canaan. Now that they had fulfilled their mission Joshua told them that they were free to return to their families and develop their livelihoods. So on the way east the Reubenites, the Gadites and half the tribe of Manasseh built a very large altar near the Jordan as a witness of their unity with the whole of Israel. However the 9 and a half tribes misunderstood this gesture and it almost led to civil war! For the western tribes understood the altar to have pagan connotations, or to be a rival altar to that of the tabernacle, and were horrified and aghast. It was only when the eastern tribes clarified the matter and assured them of their commitment to the Lord that Phineas the priest praised God, accepted the explanation and the altar was given the name as a witness between the eastern and western tribes. 

The two and a half tribes of Israel that had opted to settle on the east side of the Jordan, as agreed with Moses, had fulfilled their promise to fight on the side of the other tribes during the conquest of Canaan. Now that they had fulfilled their mission Joshua told them that they were free to return to their families and develop their livelihoods. So on the way east the Reubenites, the Gadites and half the tribe of Manasseh built a very large altar near the Jordan as a witness of their unity with the whole of Israel. However the 9 and a half tribes misunderstood this gesture and it almost led to civil war! For the western tribes understood the altar to have pagan connotations, or to be a rival altar to that of the tabernacle, and were horrified and aghast. It was only when the eastern tribes clarified the matter and assured them of their commitment to the Lord that Phineas the priest praised God, accepted the explanation and the altar was given the name as a witness between the eastern and western tribes. 

Now it was the turn of the Levites to receive their towns with the surrounding pasture lands as had been promised to them through Moses. The Levites solicited this from Eleazar the high priest. So it was that they received a total of 48 towns as follows: The family of Aaron received 13 out of the lands of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin; The family of Kohath received 10 out of the lands of Ephraim, Dan and Manasseh; The family of Gershon received 13 out of the lands of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and Manasseh; The family of Merari received 12 out of the lands of Reuben, Gad and Zebulom; and the 6 cities of refuge were included in the Levites’ inheritance. 

Joshua 21 concludes by stating that whilst conquering Canaan God gave the victory over all Israel’s enemies, and “Not one of the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.”

Now it was the turn of the Levites to receive their towns with the surrounding pasture lands as had been promised to them through Moses. The Levites solicited this from Eleazar the high priest. So it was that they received a total of 48 towns as follows: The family of Aaron received 13 out of the lands of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin; The family of Kohath received 10 out of the lands of Ephraim, Dan and Manasseh; The family of Gershon received 13 out of the lands of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and Manasseh; The family of Merari received 12 out of the lands of Reuben, Gad and Zebulom; and the 6 cities of refuge were included in the Levites’ inheritance. 

Joshua 21 concludes by stating that whilst conquering Canaan God gave the victory over all Israel’s enemies, and “Not one of the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.”

Now it was the turn of the Levites to receive their towns with the surrounding pasture lands as had been promised to them through Moses. The Levites solicited this from Eleazar the high priest. So it was that they received a total of 48 towns as follows: The family of Aaron received 13 out of the lands of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin; The family of Kohath received 10 out of the lands of Ephraim, Dan and Manasseh; The family of Gershon received 13 out of the lands of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and Manasseh; The family of Merari received 12 out of the lands of Reuben, Gad and Zebulom; and the 6 cities of refuge were included in the Levites’ inheritance. 

Joshua 21 concludes by stating that whilst conquering Canaan God gave the victory over all Israel’s enemies, and “Not one of the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.”

It impresses me how often the topic of cities of refuge or asylum for those guilty of manslaughter occur in the early books of the Bible. I can only presume that manslaughter was prevalent at the time! For as in Numbers 35:6, 9-34; Deuteronomy 4:41-43; Deuteronomy 19:1-13, so Joshua 20 is devoted to this matter. 

Joshua again summarizes the designation of 6 cities as cities of refuge or asylum where those who killed somebody accidentally would be safeguarded against the “avenger of blood” who would be a relative of the deceased who was authorized to seek retribution. The designated cities were Kedesh, Shechem, Hebron, Ramoth, Golan and Bezer. These cities offered a safe haven for those guilty of manslaughter. 

It impresses me how often the topic of cities of refuge or asylum for those guilty of manslaughter occur in the early books of the Bible. I can only presume that manslaughter was prevalent at the time! For as in Numbers 35:6, 9-34; Deuteronomy 4:41-43; Deuteronomy 19:1-13, so Joshua 20 is devoted to this matter. 

Joshua again summarizes the designation of 6 cities as cities of refuge or asylum where those who killed somebody accidentally would be safeguarded against the “avenger of blood” who would be a relative of the deceased who was authorized to seek retribution. The designated cities were Kedesh, Shechem, Hebron, Ramoth, Golan and Bezer. These cities offered a safe haven for those guilty of manslaughter. 

It impresses me how often the topic of cities of refuge or asylum for those guilty of manslaughter occur in the early books of the Bible. I can only presume that manslaughter was prevalent at the time! For as in Numbers 35:6, 9-34; Deuteronomy 4:41-43; Deuteronomy 19:1-13, so Joshua 20 is devoted to this matter. 

Joshua again summarizes the designation of 6 cities as cities of refuge or asylum where those who killed somebody accidentally would be safeguarded against the “avenger of blood” who would be a relative of the deceased who was authorized to seek retribution. The designated cities were Kedesh, Shechem, Hebron, Ramoth, Golan and Bezer. These cities offered a safe haven for those guilty of manslaughter. 

This chapter describes the land given to the remaining tribes of Israel: Simeon, Zebulon, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and Dan.  Simeon’s land was taken from a share of Judah because Judah’s land was more than they needed. Zebulon had the privilege of having Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, within its territory, in the region of Galilee. Issachar included cities along the border with Zebulon. Asher’s land went from Tyre to Canaan’s northern border. Naphtali had land in northern Canaan and Dan’s land included the city of Beth-shan. 

Finally after all the land distribution the Israelites gave Joshua the town of Timnath Serah in the hills Ephraim. Joshua re-built the city and dwelt there in his personal inheritance. Thus ended the dividing of the land.    

This chapter describes the land given to the remaining tribes of Israel: Simeon, Zebulon, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and Dan.  Simeon’s land was taken from a share of Judah because Judah’s land was more than they needed. Zebulon had the privilege of having Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, within its territory, in the region of Galilee. Issachar included cities along the border with Zebulon. Asher’s land went from Tyre to Canaan’s northern border. Naphtali had land in northern Canaan and Dan’s land included the city of Beth-shan. 

Finally after all the land distribution the Israelites gave Joshua the town of Timnath Serah in the hills Ephraim. Joshua re-built the city and dwelt there in his personal inheritance. Thus ended the dividing of the land.    

Initially in this chapter Joshua addresses the 7 tribes that had not yet received land in Canaan and he seemed to be a bit impatient with these tribes. He ordered each tribe to appoint 3 men to conduct a survey of the land writing its description town by town in 7 parts. Then Joshua cast lots and distributed the land to each tribe.

Then comes a detailed description of the land, boundaries and cities for the tribe of Benjamin. Their land included Jericho and Jerusalem.  

Initially in this chapter Joshua addresses the 7 tribes that had not yet received land in Canaan and he seemed to be a bit impatient with these tribes. He ordered each tribe to appoint 3 men to conduct a survey of the land writing its description town by town in 7 parts. Then Joshua cast lots and distributed the land to each tribe.

Then comes a detailed description of the land, boundaries and cities for the tribe of Benjamin. Their land included Jericho and Jerusalem.  

Yesterday Liz and I went back to our school on the south side of Patos to inspect the building work being done there to construct a play and sports area 23 metres long by 18 metres wide. There will also be a sand pit 23 metres long by 5 metres wide. It will be lovely for the children and they are very excited about this new play area. 

At Green Pastures we have finished preparing the football pitch for the men’s retreat from May 2nd to 4th and for the youth conference from June 20th to 22nd. We have in fact created 2 pitches with one for 11 a side and the other for 6 a side.

I have just eaten watermelon for my morning snack.

Our social action projects team is very busy and needs your prayers as it works on more wells, market gardens, toilet/shower units, 4-Legs hair sheep and goats and 2-Wings chicken runs. Please pray. 

We have had made 10 more beds for the Green Pastures camps, retreats and conferences.

Our 23-year-old grandson Arthur has flown from João Pessoa to Rio de Janeiro and from there to Panama. He then took a 7-hour flight up the west coast of the United States to Los Angeles where he is spending 3 days seeing Hollywood and other sights. God bless you Arthur!

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and we sang happy birthday to my co-pastor Rafael on his 35th birthday. It is wonderful to see what God has done in Rafael’s life as he was a rough diamond who used to pick fights for the fun of it! Now he preaches the Gospel!

Tomorrow Cadnam Methodist Church will be holding their annual music concert in aid of EAB starting at 7 pm. Please support this event if you can. Our son Philip and family will be taking part.

Yesterday Liz and I went back to our school on the south side of Patos to inspect the building work being done there to construct a play and sports area 23 metres long by 18 metres wide. There will also be a sand pit 23 metres long by 5 metres wide. It will be lovely for the children and they are very excited about this new play area. 

At Green Pastures we have finished preparing the football pitch for the men’s retreat from May 2nd to 4th and for the youth conference from June 20th to 22nd. We have in fact created 2 pitches with one for 11 a side and the other for 6 a side.

I have just eaten watermelon for my morning snack.

Our social action projects team is very busy and needs your prayers as it works on more wells, market gardens, toilet/shower units, 4-Legs hair sheep and goats and 2-Wings chicken runs. Please pray. 

We have had made 10 more beds for the Green Pastures camps, retreats and conferences.

Our 23-year-old grandson Arthur has flown from João Pessoa to Rio de Janeiro and from there to Panama. He then took a 7-hour flight up the west coast of the United States to Los Angeles where he is spending 3 days seeing Hollywood and other sights. God bless you Arthur!

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and we sang happy birthday to my co-pastor Rafael on his 35th birthday. It is wonderful to see what God has done in Rafael’s life as he was a rough diamond who used to pick fights for the fun of it! Now he preaches the Gospel!

Tomorrow Cadnam Methodist Church will be holding their annual music concert in aid of EAB starting at 7 pm. Please support this event if you can. Our son Philip and family will be taking part.

Brazil is the 5th largest country in the world with over 8.5 million square km. This is 35 times the size of the United Kingdom. Russia is the largest with 17 million square km, Canada is second with 9.9 million square km, The USA comes third with 9.8 million square km and China is fourth with 9.5 million square km.

Our globe trotting lawyer grandson Arthur is at it again! He left Patos yesterday before flying from João Pessoa to Rio de Janeiro, then up to Panama, then up to Los Angeles (where he will spend 4 days) before flying over the Pacific Ocean to Tokyo in Japan (where he will spend 9 days) and also to Seoul in South Korea (where he will spend 2 days). He will be back in Patos on May 10th, returning via Lima, Peru and the Brazilian capital Brasília. Have a great trip Arthur! ✈

On Sunday night it rained 25 mm at Green Pastures.

QPR had a sad Easter Monday losing at home to Swansea 2 x 1. 

Last night I travelled with the Patos Men’s Fellowship to lead the street service, with about 40 people attending, in the town of São Mamede. Words of greetings were brought by Rebeca, Dodora and Dedé and co-pastor Rafael brought the main message. One woman made a commitment to Christ in the middle of the service without any appeal being made. It was a lovely service. 

Whilst I travelled Liz was back in Patos doing a marathon counselling session. Liz is an excellent patient listener with wise advice. Please remember Liz’s ministry in your prayers.

Brazil is the 5th largest country in the world with over 8.5 million square km. This is 35 times the size of the United Kingdom. Russia is the largest with 17 million square km, Canada is second with 9.9 million square km, The USA comes third with 9.8 million square km and China is fourth with 9.5 million square km.

Our globe trotting lawyer grandson Arthur is at it again! He left Patos yesterday before flying from João Pessoa to Rio de Janeiro, then up to Panama, then up to Los Angeles (where he will spend 4 days) before flying over the Pacific Ocean to Tokyo in Japan (where he will spend 9 days) and also to Seoul in South Korea (where he will spend 2 days). He will be back in Patos on May 10th, returning via Lima, Peru and the Brazilian capital Brasília. Have a great trip Arthur! ✈

On Sunday night it rained 25 mm at Green Pastures.

QPR had a sad Easter Monday losing at home to Swansea 2 x 1. 

Last night I travelled with the Patos Men’s Fellowship to lead the street service, with about 40 people attending, in the town of São Mamede. Words of greetings were brought by Rebeca, Dodora and Dedé and co-pastor Rafael brought the main message. One woman made a commitment to Christ in the middle of the service without any appeal being made. It was a lovely service. 

Whilst I travelled Liz was back in Patos doing a marathon counselling session. Liz is an excellent patient listener with wise advice. Please remember Liz’s ministry in your prayers.

This chapter picks up the continuation of the story of the allotment of the land for the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh describing their respective borders. Land was allotted to all the people of Manasseh including the daughters of Zelophahad, as had been guaranteed in Numbers 27, because there was no male heir in the family. As too in the previous chapter it is commented that the Israelites fail to drive out all the Canaanites who ended up co-habiting with God’s people as slaves. Ephraim and Manasseh requested extra land owing to their large population under the blessing of God, also taking into account the difficulty that they had in driving out the Canaanites from the hill country. So Joshua challenges the tribes to clear the forests and trust God to help them drive out the Canaanites.

This chapter picks up the continuation of the story of the allotment of the land for the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh describing their respective borders. Land was allotted to all the people of Manasseh including the daughters of Zelophahad, as had been guaranteed in Numbers 27, because there was no male heir in the family. As too in the previous chapter it is commented that the Israelites fail to drive out all the Canaanites who ended up co-habiting with God’s people as slaves. Ephraim and Manasseh requested extra land owing to their large population under the blessing of God, also taking into account the difficulty that they had in driving out the Canaanites from the hill country. So Joshua challenges the tribes to clear the forests and trust God to help them drive out the Canaanites.

On Easter Sunday morning we held our annual fellowship breakfast in the Patos church. First we had breakfast then we sung 4 resurrection hymns and had a Biblical reflection on Matthew 28 by assistant pastor Rafael. Finally we drew three names out of a hat to give them Easter eggs. It was a lovely morning. Our first João Pessoa church also held an Easter Sunday breakfast. 

Last night’s Resurrection service was excellent. The drama group did a 20 minute play called ‘He lives’ which was very good. This came before the sermon by young lawyer and Bible College graduate Murilo which was very good indeed.

QPR won away to Preston 2 x 1.

On Easter Sunday morning we held our annual fellowship breakfast in the Patos church. First we had breakfast then we sung 4 resurrection hymns and had a Biblical reflection on Matthew 28 by assistant pastor Rafael. Finally we drew three names out of a hat to give them Easter eggs. It was a lovely morning. Our first João Pessoa church also held an Easter Sunday breakfast. 

Last night’s Resurrection service was excellent. The drama group did a 20 minute play called ‘He lives’ which was very good. This came before the sermon by young lawyer and Bible College graduate Murilo which was very good indeed.

QPR won away to Preston 2 x 1.

Liz and I have had a lovely few days with the family at Green Pastures celebrating the 58th anniversary of our relationship as we started going out together on Good Friday 1967. We first met in London in October 1966 (the year England won the football world cup). We then met again in Southampton in January 1967. We started going out together on Good Friday 1967 when Liz and her brother Sam came to our house in North Kensington for lunch, after a service at Peniel Chapel where their father Pastor Frank Dyer had preached. In the afternoon I took them in my Dad’s Ford Zephyr to see Buckingham Palace, Regents Park and London Zoo. On the Easter Monday Liz came again to London for the Elim special service at the Royal Albert Hall, after which bidding her and her cousin Jose farewell by the coach I gave Liz a gentle kiss on the forehead! 😘

This morning we had great fun hunting the Easter eggs at Green Pastures. All went off beautifully. I also read 23 chapters of ‘The Murder Game’ by Tom Hindle and played and won 6 games of chess. We visited a couple, Julio and Joana, who we baptized at the Carnival Camp. It was lovely to chat with them and pray with them too. This couple got married one day after us!

This chapter describes the land given to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh who were the descendants of Joseph. The land was located between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea and included the area from Jericho up to Bethel and extended to the boundary of the Japhletites. The text tells us that the Israelites failed to drive out all the Canaanites living in Gezer, so they made them do forced labour. This was problematic because God had specifically banned the Canaanites from remaining in the land as seen in Deuteronomy 20:16-18. 

This chapter describes the boundaries of the land given to the tribe of Judah, which was distributed by lot to its people clan by clan. The chapter also gives an extensive list of the cities in this land. 

Within Judah’s territory was Hebron, as previously seen, which was given to Caleb in fulfillment of Moses’ promise 45 years earlier. The text describes how Caleb drove out the inhabitants from the land and how he offered his daughter Acsah in marriage to whoever captured Kiriath Sepher. The victor turned out to be Othniel who was the son of Caleb’s brother, so they married and Caleb gave her springs of water with land in the Negev. 

At the end of the chapter it is noted that Judah could not dislodge the Jebusites from Jerusalem so in this case the people of Judah had to co-habit with them.