Bethlehem

Yesterday Liz and I travelled to Belém (Bethlehem), in the County of Tavares, to officially inaugurate the new EAB/ACEV market garden, and hold a thanksgiving service. The journey took us 2 and a half hours to get there and 3 hours to get home. The last half hour of the journey to Belém was hair raising as the authorities are in the process of making the earth road into a tarmac one. The road was extremely dangerous, but we made it! Coming back on the dangerous section was unbelievably complicated.

The new market garden has only been set up for 3 months, but it is already producing vegetables for sale and Fernando and Sandra (owners) are so grateful. They have already planted 90 fruit trees as well as vegetables. These market gardens are real oases in the desert. 

The thanksgiving service was held outdoors near Fernando and Sandra's house. Some of the youth were there from our Tavares' church with keyboard and acoustic guitar. The praise and worship was lovely. Liz did the Bible reading from Luke 2 and I preached the Gospel. Please pray for Fernando and Sandra to be converted. They are attending our services at the Belém church. After I preached we distributed Bibles to those who didn't have one. After the service Sandra served us all with Munguzá which is typical local dish based on maize. It was lovely. 

Whilst we were away at Belém our Patos men's fellowship led a special thanksgiving service for this year's army recruits. The service was led by our deacon Lieutenant Colonel Esaú and our Bible College student Murilo preached the Gospel. I am told it was a lovely service and that Murilo spoke especially well. It is very encouraging seeing a lot of young Bible College students getting increasingly involved in Christian service.

I today have had an online meeting with Pastor Wostenes and his wife Gleydice (Campina Grande). They held a church business meeting last night at our Soledade church to discuss the way forward once their pastor Ângelo leaves. It was unanimously agreed that pastor Angelo will leave a month earlier than planned on November 30th. The church will then be under a temporary leadership period to revitalize the church led by Wostenes, Gleydice, Liz and I, with support from pastors Umbirajara and Hamilton. After some months, with the church in a better state, the induction of a new pastor will take place. Please pray.