Well

Yesterday we inaugurated a new well at the indigenous indians' reservation of Aldeia Atikun in the county of Carnaubeira da Penha county in the state of Pernambuco. This is another successful well drilled, installed, equipped and functioning for the glory of God and for the benefit of a very needy community.

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and I took the study from Luke 1:5-25. We focused on Zechariah's unbelief as to the fact that he was to be a father in his old age. We questioned and discussed how our reaction would have been in Zechariah's shoes? There ensued a very healthy debate. It was a nice meeting.

Leadership Meeting

On Monday night we held a 2-hour senior leadership meeting online which was a productive meeting. We discussed a serious problem which has arisen at our Princesa Isabel church which has resulted in the pastor there being removed from office. We ask you to please pray for this church and for God's direction as we seek a replacement pastor.

Yesterday the mighty QPR cruised into the third round of the football league cup! QPR drew 1 x 1 with Luton but won 4 x 1 on penalties.

Last night I travelled to the town of Sao Mamede with the Patos men's fellowship to preach the Gospel. I preached on Jesus being the only way and God being the only God. I quoted various scriptures condemning idolatry (an alternative to God!) and quoted other scriptures, saying that everything we do must be for the glory of God. It was a good blessed street service.

Flores

Saturday's visit to our Flores church went very well. We arrived there bang on time at 12 noon and had a lovely lunch with Pastor Nemias, his wife Fátima and their son Isaque. In the afternoon we visited the Saquinho community which is being evangelized by our church. At night I preached to a nearly full church. It was a lovely service. We slept the night in a sort of "hotel" in Princesa Isabel.

Yesterday we held a series of important meetings in Princesa Isabel. First of all we held a meeting of our senior leadership team. Then we made some visits to people from our church. We had lunch in a restaurant prior to 2 meetings of the church members.

We didn't get back to Patos in time for the evening service so our daughter Sacha led and Elaine from the Presbyterian church preached from Luke 17.

Problem

Yesterday Liz and I spent hours on end dealing with a massive problem in the work of the mission. The issue is so sensitive that I can't even hint at what the problem is. I will just say that it is not in our Patos church. I ask everyone to please pray for this massive problem that God may give us wisdom and guidance in these difficult days.

Today Liz and I will be travelling 163 km south west of Patos to minister at our Flores church. We will go up the Teixeira mountain and on to Princesa Isabel from where we will head south over the state border into the state of Pernambuco as far as Flores. I will be preaching at a special thanksgiving service at our church there led by Pastor Nemias (Nehemiah). His wife Fátima does a great job with our little Action School.

Finch

I went for a walk at Green Pastures and saw Pileated Finches, a Burrowing Owl, a flock of Cactus Parakeets, Picui Ground Doves and White-tipped Doves. Along the way I saw umpteen Armadillo's burrows and masses of ant mounds and holes. More Deer tracks have been seen near the lake. I saw Black Jurema trees, Cashew Nut trees and Oiticica trees all in flower.

Tonight I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and I gave the study. First of all we discussed whether Sílvio Santos (a famous Jewish Brazilian TV presenter who died recently) has gone to heaven? I was asked this question by a Christian. We taught that people don't go to heaven because of their nationality. Salvation is available to all through Christ alone. After this we got into the study which was about the genealogies of Jesus in Matthew and Luke. Of special note were the mention of 4 "irregular" women in Mathew 1: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba which point to God's mercy and grace. It was a lovely service. 

Psalm 99

The main service of the week on Sunday night was excellent. I led and our daughter Sacha, who is doing a degree in theology, preached very well on Psalm 99. She followed on after preaching by singing 'Holy forever'. It was a real blessing!

At the weekend Pastor Robério and family (Tavares) travelled to minister at our church in the state of Ceará at the village of Felipe in the county of Saboeiro. It was a time of real blessing. The trip was 360 km each way.

I am working on writing the Christmas play for our drama group to  learn and perform on Christmas Eve. I have written a number of plays over the years. At the moment I am looking for inspiration and need your prayers.

Today is our youngest daughter Sacha's birthday. We wish her a very happy birthday thanking her for all her ministry in church, preaching the word of God, leading the praise and worship and giving us support in everything we do for God.

Walk

I went for my usual Friday afternoon 3 km walk at Green Pastures and saw a beautiful flock of about 30 Brazilian Teal. They were swimming on the lake but took off when they saw me, but kept circling overhead. I also saw a Great Egret, a White-faced Whistling-Duck with 8 young, a White-naped Jay, a Crested Caracara and a Picui Ground-Dove. 

Yesterday QPR earned their first point of the season with a 2 x 2 draw away to Sheffield United, having been two goals down at half time.

Yesterday afternoon we held a pastors and leaders meeting online to discuss a topic linked to our Pastor Frank Dyer School in Patos and all went off smoothly. 

Last night we had a married couples evening at the church. First of all there were some ice-breaking games and then I brought a message on forgiveness. At the end everyone had a snack from the things everyone had taken. It was a nice time of warm fellowship.

Campo Troupial

I saw another beautiful orange 'Campo Troupial' (its name in English) at Green Pastures yesterday. It is a really spectacular bird especially when you see it in the afternoon sunlight like I did.

This week we are in the process of organizing things for the latest ACEV/EAB church being planted in the town of Diamante (Diamond). The rented hall is to be fitted out with 40 chairs, 2 amplified loudspeakers, 1 sound mixer, 2 microphones, 4 fans, 1 water cooler/dispenser and 1 church sign. This is costing 1,742 pounds. Please pray for this church plant. 

EAB/ACEV's Pastor Frank Dyer school has received the top mark in Patos for primary schools from the Ministry of Education. Our congratulations go to head-teacher Gerlania and all her team! This morning Liz and I went to plan the creation of a play area for the children on rented land next to the school. 

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and Rafael brought the study from Amos 8. There were 20 present.

A Date for your Diary

In about two months time EAB will be holding its annual AGM celebration. Please put it in your diary: Saturday, October 19th. There will be a fellowship tea at 6 pm and the celebration service will start at 7 pm. Liz and I will be joining the service via a live online link. The venue will be at the Lighthouse Community Church, Hardley, Southampton, SO45 3NZ. The special speaker will be Pastor David Fiddy of the Rock Community Church at Devizes in Wiltshire. David was recently visiting the work of EAB in Brazil. Please be at this celebration! ✌

Liz went to the Monday night prayer meeting and there were nine there.

Research shows that one in ten Brazilians had their mobile phones stolen in the last 12 months!

Last night I travelled with a team preaching the Gospel in the town of São Mamede. It was a lovely service. At the end 3 women came to me asking for prayer. One asked for prayer for her broken marriage and another asked for prayer for peace in her life.

The mighty QPR marched into the second round of the League Cup yesterday after a 2 x 1 away defeat of Cambridge United.

Old Cow Pen

On Saturday Liz and I drove 150 kms to Curral Velho (Old Cow Pen) to preach at a united evangelical churches' service held in the civic open-air arena. I preached on Luke 15 - Lost on the farm, Lost in the home, Lost in the family. All went well and it was a nice service. We got home to bed at gone midnight.

The English football championship season has started and sadly QPR lost their opening match 3 x 1 at home to West Brom.

We have now rented the meeting hall for our new church plant at Diamante which is 135 km west of Patos. We are now painting it ready to kit it out with chairs etc. for the start of the services. The rent is 90 pounds a month. Please pray for this new church plant.

I led the Father's Day service in Patos last night and preached too. It was a good meeting.

Today's temperature is a high of 36 degrees and a low of 19. As the years go by things get hotter here.

Dengue Fever

Deaths caused by dengue fever (transmitted by the mosquito) in 2024 in Brazil has passed the 5,000 mark which is over 4 times as many as those registered in 2023. Another 2,107 deaths are under investigation.

I am focused on preparing sermons for upcoming journeys to our churches at Curral Velho (Old Cow Pen), Flores (Flowers), Cedro (Cedar), Imaculada (Immaculate), Conceicao (Conception), Teixeira, Juru and Sao Mamede (Saint Mamede). Your prayers are valued for this and for my resident ministry at the church in Patos (Ducks).

On Thursday night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study. The praise was led by Erika, Rogerio and Netinho, and the study was given by pastor Rafael. 'My Bible verses' were read by Espedita, Mada, Dede, Marcio and Romildo. It was a good service.  

The temperature in Patos today shows a high of 34 degrees and a low in the night of 18 degrees. 

Yesterday a turbo-prop plane crashed in the south of Brazil in the state of Sao Paulo killing its 58 passengers and 4 crew.

Yesterday Liz and I went and visited brother Manoel near Green Pastures who has been most unwell recently. We prayed for him and his wife Miriam. They have 8 children, 38 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Last night I went to a public meeting of the Patos town council. The meeting was called to discuss the serious problem of the chopping down of trees and desertification in our semi-arid region. I was asked to go and take part by Town Councillor Jose Gonçalves as I am well known in an our area for my defence of God's creation. It was a good positive meeting. 

Back to the Gym

I got back to exercise in the gym on Tuesday and it felt very good.

To relax I am reading 'The Covent Garden Murder' by my friend and fellow Christian writer Mike Hollow. This is the 8th book in the excellent 'Blitz Detective' series and I have read them all. I highly recommend this series as a Christmas present for someone. Start with the first in the series called 'The Blitz Detective'.

Liz is back to wearing glasses and looks more beautiful than ever! 😎Her glasses are not for reading or distance but they correct double vision in her left eye.

Please pray for Manoel who lives near Green Pastures and was converted years ago as a result of me giving him a lift when he was drunk. This week he has had two convulsions and the doctors are trying to discover what is wrong with him.

Yesterday afternoon Liz and I went visiting the sick. First of all we visited 82-year-old Aina who has a problem with her right leg. We had a nice time of fellowship with her and her family, read the word of God and prayed with her. From there we went to visit 59-year-old Vasti who is recovering from gall bladder surgery and is doing well. We enjoyed a good chat with Vasti too. 

Last night Liz went to the women's fellowship meeting at which 9 were present.

7 Days

I am reading a book called 'Seven days that divide the world: the beginning according to Genesis and Science' by John C. Lennox. John is a professor of Mathematics at Oxford University, has 3 doctorates and is a devout Christian. 

I led Sunday night's communion service in Patos when Bible College graduate Murilo preached an excellent sermon on 'A Call to Discipleship', based on Luke 14:25-35. The church was full and the service was blessed.

Liz went to the Monday night prayer meeting and there were 7 present. Liz says it was a nice meeting.

At the weekend 4 were baptized at our first Joao Pessoa church on the coast. We have 3 churches in Joao Pessoa and this was the first one established there.

Cruz da Menina

On Friday morning we took the Fiddys to the Roman Catholic shrine called the Cruz da Menina (girl's cross) which is a place where people go to pray for healing. The shrine is built around the legend of a girl who died in 1923 at the location of the shrine and to whom are attributed miraculous powers by Catholicism. The place is one of spiritual oppression and we were glad to get out it.

On Friday afternoon I took David Fiddy for a walk at Green Pastures and we saw and photographed a 6-banded Armadillo. 

On Friday night we took the Fiddys to a lesson of Brazilian sign language for the deaf taught by our deaf pastor Luiz Carlos. It was a wonderful and enjoyable night with the very important EAB/ACEV ministry to the profoundly deaf which this year celebrates 30 years of existence. There are over 10 million with impaired hearing in Brazil which includes 2.7 million people who are totally deaf.

This blog has been written uninterrupted for the last 20 years this month. Last month it received 1,635 viewings. 

On Saturday morning Liz gave the Fiddys a guided tour of the Patos general market and vegetable, meat & fish market. They ended up having a coffee at the quite new Patos shopping centre. 

On Saturday afternoon we took the Fiddys to our Sitio Gloria church where Margaret and David sang and David preached. It was the 9th anniversary of the church and it was beautifully organized and blessed.

The Fiddys will be returning to the UK this afternoon and we wish them a good trip!

Matureia

On Wednesday we took the Fiddys for lunch to the Casarao do Jabre which is a restaurant at the foot of the Jabre Peak which is the highest point in our state of Paraiba. We then went to our nearby church and school in Matureia and watched a beautiful display of country dancing by children from the 270 strong action school there. In the evening we saw 6 girls and then 6 boys playing acoustic guitars in the service at which David Fiddy preached on Psalm 121. It was a lovely service and excellent day.

Yesterday morning Liz took the Fiddys to distribute food hampers in the extremely poor borough of Patos called Serrote Liso. All went off well despite it being so difficult to select those who should receive.

Last night was the mid-week prayer and Bible study meeting at which David Fiddy was the speaker, which of course I interpreted as usual. It was a nice meeting with 30 present.