Hospital visit

Liz and I went to the Patos General Hospital to visit our worker Fabio who was injured in a motorbike accident. His hand/arm is broken and in plaster and his knee is heavily bandaged having been ripped open in the accident. The 2 girls that were also on the bike were fortunate to be unscathed as they didn't even have crash helmets on!

We have received news from Peter & Marion Miles of the death of Pastor Ray Westbook, aged 88 years, who was the pastor at our old church Peniel Chapel for many years. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of our dear brother.

On Tuesday night I travelled with the Patos Men's Fellowship to the town of Sao Mamede where I preached the Gospel from 1 Peter 1:1-9 in a street service which gathered between 40 and 50 people. It was a good service.

On Wednesday afternoon Liz and I had an excellent meeting with our social worker Marah Danielle about the Action Schools project and the 'young at heart' encounters. It was a really productive meeting in which we defined problems and sought solutions.

Liz went to the Wednesday evening women's fellowship meeting and it went well with 10 present. Liz also had a difficult counselling session with a woman but I can't give her name.

Motorbike accident

Fabio is one of our young leaders who leads the Travessia and Fonseca little churches. When he was a child he was one of the EAB sponsored children. Well, he has been injured in a motorbike accident when he was taking his sister and her friend on his bike! The excesses of youth! 3 on a motorbike is a bit much! Fabio was sent to the general hospital in Patos where he is being treat for a fractured hand and badly damaged knee. Please pray for Fabio.

On Sunday night I led the service in Patos and Rafael preached on Mark 9. It was a good service.

Liz and I have renewed our Brazilian drivers licenses this week.

I so enjoy my friendships with the little children in church. Last night little Samuel (his Dad is our keyboard player) came up to me after the service and gave me one of his sweets! Samuel "helps" me in the Bible studies by writing on the flip chart to give me a hand! Little Moses (whose Dad drills wells) came up to me after church last night (as he always does) and extended his hand to me greeting me with the grace and peace of the Lord! The lovely little girl identical twins (whose Dad is a policeman) both gave me enormous hugs after church last night! And so it goes on... "of such is the kingdom of heaven".

Liz has just been visiting an 80-year-old lady called Graça with Deaconess Deborah Maria. The lady was very lonely and thoroughly enjoyed the visit which was really blessed.

Green Pastures

I went for a walk at Green Pastures and saw and heard a variety of birds: Many Picui Ground Doves, Caatinga Cacholotes, Burrowing Owl, Red-cowled Cardinals, Striped Cuckoos, Chalk-browed Mockingbirds, Smooth-billed Anis.

I have proof read EAB's InTouch magazine #101 and it looks very good. Our thanks to Dave Flowers and Marian Rashleigh for all their good work. In this edition topics include: 60+ Movement, Pink & Blue, Tavares Outreach, Baptismal, Carnival Camp, Bathroom project, Ministry to the Deaf, Donkeys and Sheep. You should receive this magazine in early May. Please read it and then pass it on to someone who might enjoy it.

Our pastor Gerse at our first Princesa Isabel church has had the blow of his car catching fire. Please pray for him. The car is a mess, probably a write-off and it wasn't insured.

I have just driven back a little over two and a half hours after having preached at our Princesa Isabel church in the borough of Baixa last night. This is our second church in that town which celebrated its 19th anniversary. I preached on the faithfulness of God from Psalm 89. It was a lovely service. We slept the night at Princesa Isabel in a "hotel" which was pretty basic to put it mildly!

QPR beat Preston 1 x 0 at home yesterday which was excellent! However we are still not guaranteed survival in the Championship. 

Women

Liz has been at the Women's Fellowship meeting which she says went well. Deborah Maria led and Rebeca spoke. They also had a good time of prayer together.

Liz and I have been involved in a good counselling session with a couple who I will not name. 

I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study last night and the praise was led by Marina and Rogerio on keyboard. Rafael brought the study from Amos 2. It was a good service.

Counselling

Liz has been involved in some counselling of a young person with relationship issues. I can't mention the name or go into details.

I have been doing sermon preparation for the annual general pastors' conference next month. Your prayers are valued.

Liz and I had our bi-annual blood tests today so I've been walking round all day with an empty arm! We get our results online and everything that has come through to date is fine. 😊

I went to the Men's Fellowship meeting last night which was led by school teacher Claudivan with Rafael coordinating the reflection in God's Word. Only 7 went but it was a nice time of fellowship around God's Word.

Toilets

The difficult selection process for three more toilet/shower units to be built at Barra de Oitis has been completed and the building materials have been delivered this week. 81-year-old Maria de Lourdes is finally going to get her very first bathroom and she is thrilled! There are no less than 21 people living in her 4-room house, including children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, so the loo will be well used! The second toilet/shower unit will be shared by the 3 families of Maria Jose, Camila and Francisco benefitting a total of 17 people. The third will go to Maria Luciene and family benefitting 6 more people.

Saturday was a youth day at Green Pastures with a time of sport and leisure for our youth. They stayed for the evening service there at which one of them, Ray, was the speaker.

The young at heart group enjoyed their morning on Friday of ocupational therapy and fellowship. We have received various messages of thanks from them.

QPR lost at Hull 3 x 0 on Saturday and are now 3 points and 3 places above the delegation zone with 3 matches to go to the end of the season.

Liz has just made me an avocado pear smoothy. Absolutely delicious!

Liz and I have been to a tragic wake of a young man aged 35 who was murdered last night by a policeman. The deceased's mother Salete is a member of our church. The murder took place as part of a dispute over a girlfriend. The wake was very emotion charged. Please pray for Salete.

I led last night's service and Bible College graduate Murilo preached on 'being holy' from 1 Peter 1. He was excellent

Marathon

Jose Joel and Rafael with their 2 little sons were thrilled to receive a sheep last week as part of EAB's 4-Legs project. They live in the Sitio Genipapo in Santana de Mangueira County. As well as being a farm labourer Jose is a marathon runner like EAB chairman Roy Dyer. Perhaps we could set up a race between ACEV's Jose and EAB's Roy?! 😉

The time is fast approaching for the annual Cadnam Methodist Church Concert in the New Forest in aid of EAB. It will be held on the last Saturday of the month (April 27th) at 7 pm. Tickets cost 10 pounds. Phone 01794 323279 for reservations and details. The concert will have a fine musical programme with some very good musicians. Our son Philip will be taking part. Our thanks go to Howard & Hillary Babey for all their work put into organizing this event.

On Thursday Liz and I held an excellent two and a half hour meeting with Pastor Wostenes and his wife Gleydice. Pastor Wostenes is the deputy chair of ACEV. We had a wide ranging discussion in preparation for next month's general conference of all our pastors and leaders. I will be preaching at the Conference. Please pray.