Tamarind juice

 I have just drunk a nice twangy glass of Tamarind juice which originated from the Tamarind trees at Green Pastures. Tamarind trees are indigenous from tropical Africa and are widespread in India and the Middle East, but the trees do well in our semi-arid climate. The fruits are light brown pods about 10 or 12 cm long. To make the drink you soak the insides of the pods (a sticky substance) in water and then add sweetener. You mustn't consume too much Tamarind as it is a laxative. Tamarind is on the ingredients list of HP sauce!

Yesterday (September 7th) was Brazil's 201st independence day and for that reason was a public holiday. The main street of Patos always sees festive marches in front of the town hall and the people gather to watch and applaud. This happens all over Brazil. The first independence day that I saw was in 1972. I arrived here on August 3rd and I watched the marches on September 7th in the hot morning sun. I filmed it on my super 8 movie camera. Nowadays the marches take place in the early evening which is much more sensible once the sun has gone down. 

The weekly service at our school in Patos went well on Wednesday night with a good group of older children/adolescents attending. The women's fellowship supported the service. 

Today is Liz's birthday and it's the day on which she catches up with me in age! I praise God for my outstanding wife who is always such a pillar in the work of the Lord. 

Please pray for pastor Rafael who is unwell and has gone to spend a few days with his parents in Soledade. 

A hurricane has hit the extreme south of Brazil this week with very heavy rains and floods killing at least 41 people. Here in the north-east it is terribly dry with increasing heat as the year goes on.