Sunday, 8 November 2026

Bible Bytes (16): Build yourselves up!

"In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires... so build yourselves up in your most holy faith... and keep yourselves in God's love". (Jude 18, 20)

We can't control worldly philosophies and practices, but we can assume responsibility for our own spiritual growth and commitment.

EAB Action Schools

 I have started translating the second semester reports from EAB's Action Schools as these are done in May and November. So far I have sent the reports with photos to Marian at Southampton from our Soledade and Juazeirinho schools, so that's 2 down and 12 to go.

QPR won at home to Lincoln 2 x 1 yesterday and are back up to 8th slot in the Championship and in the play-offs zone again. 😀⚽

I can hear a Southern Wren singing in the garden. 🐦

Last night I led the communion service at Green Pastures and preached on Jesus' anointing by Mary of Bethany in John 12:1-11. It was a lovely service with participations from Nega, Josué, Paulo Silas, Fred, José Vieira and Manoel. Deaconesses Leca and Dodora served the communion and Fabrícia and Fernanda ministered to the children. On the way there I saw a Pigmy Nightjar and heard many Shiny Cowbirds near the meeting hall.

Saturday, 7 November 2026

Forty Degrees

It is extremely dry and hot in Patos today with the official temperature said to be going to reach 40.6 degrees which would be the highest temperature ever in the whole of our state of Paraiba! 🔥

Last night we went to the Patos Business Exposition where our girls' Cultura Inglesa TEFL school had an excellent stand. It was great meeting up with a lot of old friends during the couple of hours we spent there. 

Friday, 6 November 2026

Tody-Flycatcher

I heard a little Common Tody-Flycatcher in our garden this morning which is yellow underneath and black on top. It has an unmistakable call sounding like the winding up of an old watch of many decades ago. I also heard a Great Kiskadee.

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study in Patos and Pastor Murilo brought the study from Matthew 13. Pastor Rafael ministered up the mountain in Teixeira and Deaconess Dodora led the service at the ex-landless settlement in São Mamede. 

Brazil now holds the world record for red cards in a football match! 🟥In a semi-final match of the under-20s championship in Minas Gerais no less than 53 red cards were distributed with 43 players, 8 coaching staff and 2 members of the board! The previous world record was held by Argentina with a mere 36 red cards!

Thursday, 5 November 2026

Bible Bytes (15): He who does good is from God!

"I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well... do not imitate what is evil but what is good". (3 John 1:2,11)

God cares about both our physical and spiritual health. A healthy spiritual lifestyle is shown by our imitation of Christ's goodness.

Bananaquit

We have just had the visit in our front room in Patos of a small yellow little bird called a Bananaquit which has a black longish slightly curved beak. 

I have been working on a 4 to 5-minute video as requested by a church in the UK. This is being done with the help of our 16-year-old granddaughter Beatriz (Bia) who is quite a whizz-kid with this sort of thing. 📹

Today is our eldest grandchild Felipe's 29th birthday. Felipe is the architect of the Patos Shopping Centre doing all the shop fronts and things like that. He is very good at it. His partner Viviane also is an architect. Happy birthday Felipe! 

Wednesday, 4 November 2026

Bible Bytes (14): Don't lose out!

"Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully". (2 John 1:8)

What you have in God is worth fighting for! Remain steadfast and faithfully press on to your eternal crown in Jesus.