Job 15 (summary): Eliphaz returns

Now Job's 'friend' or 'comforter' Eliphaz returns to goad him. Eliphaz says that Job's words are empty and that he is a bag of wind! He says Job's words are useless and without value, and that Job's own words condemn him and testify against himself. He asks Job who he thinks he is because he is not the owner of wisdom and the wisdom of the aged back Eliphaz and friends' point of view. He asks how Job can speak to God the way he does? "What is man that he could be pure"? asks Eliphaz. If God doesn't even trust the angels how much less would he trust man? Eliphaz says that distress and anguish come to man because "he shakes his fist at God and vaunts himself against the almighty". Man might be fat but he will end up living in ruins and his wealth will not endure". Eliphaz tells Job to stop trying to deceive himself because "the company of the godless will be barren".

Job 14 (summary): Job bemoans the fragility of Life

Job now continues by decrying the brevity and frailty of human life being just a "few days", "full of trouble", "like a fleeting shadow" that does not endure. Job says man's days are determined by God and his months are numbered. He compares human life to that of a tree saying that a tree can sprout from the stump after being felled, whereas with a man "he breathes his last and is no more". Thus man is worse off than a tree. Job wishes God would hide him in the grave until his anger had passed! Job imagines that God could seal his offences in a bag and cover his sin. For Job declares to have lost hope, just feeling pain as he mourns. 

Hair cut

I had my hair cut for 2026 yesterday morning at 7:30 am! It was this early because my hairdresser cuts my hair at our home before going to his shop. I can't stand my hair long so I hope you like it? 👨

Our final service of the year will be tonight at 7:30 pm and will be a thanksgiving service for 2025 with multiple short words from folk interspersed with singing items. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Please pray for our 10-day evangelistic outreach at Soledade from January 9th to 18th which will have a team of 130 mainly young people drawn from our churches. 43 come from our Campina Grande region, 41 from the Imaculada region, 29 from the Patos region, 10 from our Itaporanga region and 7 from our João Pessoa region. Part of this team will be Amy Gough coming from Southampton, England. May the Lord give us much fruit.

Francisco saw 3 Jaguarundi Wild Cats at Green Pastures yesterday. Wildlife is attracted by our watering troughs and they are easy to see because there are no leaves on the trees at all with the catastrophic drought.

Job 13 (summary): Job continues

Here Job continues to stand up to his friends who are no more the owner of truth than he is. Job calls his friends "worthless physicians" and tells them that they should not put words into God's mouth. For his friends' maxims are ashes and their defences are clay. Job insists that he wants to speak to God. For his faith in God is steadfast and he says "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him". And Job insists that once he can present his case to God he will be vindicated. Job asks God what he has done wrong and what sins he has committed? He also suggests that his friends would be wiser to keep quiet!

John Simpson

I have just read an excellent article on the BBC website written by John Simpson who is one of their most experienced and competent journalists. The article is entitled "I've reported on 40 wars but I've never seen a year like 2025". The article is in my view accurate, frightening and well worth reading.

QPR lost their last game of the year 2 x 1 away to West Brom, so end 2025 in 9th place in the 24 team Championship.

Liz went to the prayer meeting last night and practiced to sing with the ladies in our New Year's Eve service tomorrow. I continued to prepare a sermon on King Hezekiah. 

2 more have been baptized. This time at our church at Juru where Pastor Esequias is the pastor.

Last Sunday

I led the last Sunday service of the year last night and our daughter Sacha preached on "Hitherto has the Lord helped us" from 1 Samuel 7. It was a good service.

An awful road accident in the north-eastern state of Bahia, where we have a church, left 11 dead. The head-on collision was caused by irresponsible overtaking and there were 8 people in one of the cars!

I have just eaten some delicious red mombins. 😋

3 were baptized at our Água Grande church and 2 were baptized at our Juazeirinho church yesterday. Then 2 made decisions for Christ at the Sítio Mumbassa in the municipality of Flores in the state of Pernambuco. All glory be to God! We are ending the year well!

School Christmas Service

Last night I led the Pastor Frank Dyer School Christmas service together with the inauguration of the new school playground. Liz (Frank's daughter) opened in prayer, we had a Christmas choreography and a short Christmas play. I then preached the Biblical Christmas gospel before we gave certificates to the mothers who had done our cookery course, and then we gave presents to the children. It was a lovely service after which we served a snack to one and all. There were about 350 people present.

I have finished reading the 9th book in the Blitz Detective series called 'The Soho Murder' by Mike Hollow. It was another most relaxing and enjoyable read and I now look forward to the sequel. I send my congratulations to Detective Inspector John Jago for cracking another nut! 

Boxing Day

With the temperature at 37 degrees it hardly seemed like Boxing Day yesterday!

QPR drew away to Portsmouth 1 x 1 yesterday and continue close to the play-offs. 

I went to Green Pastures and saw Picui Ground-Doves, Black Headed Vultures and Caatinga Cacholotes. A large deer was sighted yesterday morning drinking from one of our drinking troughs maintained for wild animals. A number of rust-coloured wild cats have been observed too, together with a small spotted wild cat and many foxes.

Someone asked me if I believe in extra-terrestrial creatures? Well I believe in the incarnation. I believe that the Son of God was born of a virgin at Bethlehem. I believe that God became flesh. So yes... I believe in extra-terrestrial beings coming to earth. That is the whole point of the Christmas message!

Christmas Day

Christmas day was a nice relaxed family day with all the family, except Philip and family of course who are in England, eating Christmas lunch together. We even had Christmas pudding courtesy of Marian! See our Christmas day family photo below.

Please pray for Pastor Phil Watkins of the Bristol Ivy Church who is spending the Christmas period in hospital with serious health problems. 

The Psalmist said in 139:14 - "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made". How true that is! Our heart pumps our blood round our arteries and veins. Our brain controls everything and our variety of organs exercise different functions. And to think that one day we will have resurrected and glorious bodies forever with the Lord!

Son of Promise

Last night I led the traditional Christmas Eve service which had as its main feature a one hour play which I wrote called "Son of Promise". The play starts with Isaac the son of promise of Abraham and Sarah. Then comes the birth of Jesus the son of promise and the play closes with the words of Paul in Galatians 4:28 that we in Christ are the "Children of Promise". The service ended with us giving gifts to the children.

Once home from church we had a family Christmas Eve supper together which was very nice.

Christmas Presents

I gave Liz a bouquet of flowers for her Christmas present and she gave me a chocolate panatone cake of which I have already eaten half! 💞

I have done my Pilates and aquarobics so am fit for Christmas! 🏃Everything in Brazil focuses on Christmas Eve with a special supper after the service in church. However having dual nationalities we also follow the British tradition of the special turkey lunch on Christmas Day! 😋

Last night I travelled to the town of São Mamede with the Patos Men's Fellowship to take part in another street service there to which between 40 and 50 people gathered to hear the Gospel. School teacher Claudivan led the service and Pastor Rafael preached a Christmas message from John 3:16. It was a good service with Rebeca working with the children during the sermon. After the service Sister Maricó served soup to everyone.

Brazil's President Lula has decreed that "Gospel culture be officially recognized as a national manifestation". This is a positive recognition of the evangelical church's strength in Brazil.

Playground

Liz and I visited our Pastor Frank Dyer School and saw all the preparations for the official opening of our new playground this Saturday together with the school's Christmas service. The playground looks lovely.

Speed bumps are an epidemic in Brazil! Whereas in Switzerland they don't exist and in the UK they hardly exist, here in Brazil they are everywhere. Speed bumps here are speed walls or mountains and are ridiculous.

Last night we had a shower of rain in Patos but not at Green Pastures. Showers change nothing here, but at least they are a sign of hope. 

15 baptized

Yesterday I baptized 10 in a lovely service at Green Pastures and Pastor Rafael helped me. 7 were from the Patos church, 1 was from our congregation of São Mamede, 1 was from the ex-landless settlement of NS Aparecida II, and 1 was from the Green Pastures church. Marina and Rogaciano led the worship and Pastor Rafael brought a brief word on baptism. After the baptismal service we had a delicious fellowship breakfast together. It was an excellent morning. 

5 were also baptized at our Princesa Isabel church yesterday. PTL!

Last night I led the service which was blessed by the deaf choir and a lovely Christmas choreography. Pastor Rafael preached on 'Mary's song' from Luke 1. The praise was led by Sacha and Rogério. It was a good service.

4 Decisions

A team led by Pastor Rafael held a meeting in the Rua do Meio street in Patos last night and 4 decisions of commitment to Christ were made at the end. The street is known for drugs and murders. Please pray for those who made decisions and for the monthly services we are now going to hold in this street. All glory be to God for the faithful evangelism of this street by sister Iara for years, and for the more recent evangelism there by Roberto Tiburtino and his wife Nenem. 

The water crisis gets increasingly worse here and the Farinha reservoir is down to 1% of its capacity with masses of fish floating dead on its surface. Please pray for rain!

Last night we went to take the Green Pastures Church's Christmas service. Deaconess Josinete went with us and both her and Liz brought short words to the church. Liz also read a lovely Christmas poem. I led the service and preached on the Christmas story going through prophecies from Isaiah and the New Testament virgin birth narratives from Matthew and Luke. The children also had a special dance participation in the service which was excellent.

When we go into a community with a project we don't just land by parachute and drill a well or build a toilet. First of all we hold community meetings to get to know the people and to hear what their needs are. We listen to the people and respect them. We also hold educational community meetings such as to teach people to care for the environment and not throw rubbish in any old place. We have seen real transformations as a result of this. Then we always hold a thanksgiving inauguration service where we clearly preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When EAB/ACEV drill a well they take 2 types of water to the community!

Job 12 (summary): Job retaliates

Job now refutes his friends' "wisdom" and ensues on a strong attack of their arguments during 3 chapters, insisting that he is in no way inferior to them. Job points out that true wisdom and power belongs to God who controls all creation. He seems to say that his friends' logic of 'sin produces suffering' is not always the case as many wicked men have been allowed to live happy lives by God. Job clearly showed that he did not share his friends' simplistic world view. (Life is not black and white... it is coloured!) Job knew he was a righteous man yet he had become a laughing-stock to his friends. Job clearly argued that he was righteous but the just don't always prosper and the wicked weren't always punished. Job showed that he didn't understand why some things happened, but he trusted in God nevertheless. Job closes the chapter showing that he was well aware of God's greatness despite being bewildered by his current suffering.

Road Sweepers

Our church at São Vicente do Seridó, about a 2-hour drive east of Patos, is led by Missionary Nenem Guimarães, and she and her flock have just made a beautiful Christian gesture in the town. They organized a delicious and plentiful Christmas breakfast for all the road sweepers who absolutely loved it and said nothing like it had ever happened to them. (I should just explain to overseas readers that the term 'missionary' is used in ACEV to define ordained workers who are not officially pastors, though in effect they are!)

I went to Green Pastures and had a nice visit with our 3 donkeys: King Solomon, Queen of Sheba and Merrylegs II. They are well and nice and plump despite the drought. I saw White-naped Jays and Chalk-browed Mockingbirds whilst there. A small flock of Red-legged Seriemas came to drink water at our water fountain and 2 males got in a big fight over the females making a terrific din!

I have started a short course online on Philosophy taught by Dr. Luiz Felipe Pondé who is a professor at São Paulo University (USP).

Job 11 (summary): Zophar replies

Now is the turn for Job's third friend or comforter to comment on Job's predicament. His name is Zophar, (and with friends like the 3 "comforters" who needs enemies?) Zophar accuses Job of idle talk and mockery, and that Job's hidden sin was the cause of his suffering. Nevertheless Zophar says that Job should be grateful because God was even letting him off from a lot! Zophar points to God's mysteries as fathomless being longer than the earth and wider than the sea, and God recognizes deceitful men. The only solution, Zophar says, is for Job to put away his sin and allow no evil to dwell in his tent! For if Job puts his life right before God things will change and "life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning". However he says that "the eyes of the wicked will fail" and "their hope will become a dying gasp"!

Christmas Hampers

Liz is very busy distributing Christmas food hampers to the poor as we always do every Christmas time.

I led last night's mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and Dr Murilo gave the study on 1 John 2:1-17. It was a good service with a nice time of prayer and praise together.

Job 10 (summary): Job's lament continues

 Job now continues to struggle to come to terms with why on earth he is experiencing such horrific suffering. Job starts this chapter saying he loathes his very life and begs of God that he tells him what charges he has against him. He asks God if it gives him pleasure to oppress him? Job says that God seems to be searching for his faults and probing for sin even though he knows that he is not guilty. Job accuses God of stalking him like a lion and displaying his awesome power against him. Job says he wished he'd never been born, but he just hoped for a little bit of joy before death.

Online Meeting

Yesterday we held a further online meeting of our senior leadership team to discuss an important issue which I can't mention here. The meeting went very well. We value your prayers.

Yesterday I had my ears syringed for the second time in 4 months and it's nice to be able to hear better. I think I should set up a wax factory!

Liz has popped out to Green Pastures to take bottled drinking water ready for the crowd on Sunday morning for the baptism of 11. After the 8 am baptism we always hold a church fellowship breakfast together. 

Get-together

Last night I took part in the Men's Fellowship's end-of-year get-together which was held at the 'Coreto II' open-air restaurant where we all ate pizza and played 2 games of bingo. The first game was won by Gilmarco and the second by Isaque. It was a lovely evening of fun and fellowship.

Thanksgiving Service

Yesterday we watched online the thanksgiving service for the life of the ex-chairman of the EAB Board of Trustees, Bob Dalton, who is with the Lord aged 90. I had known Bob all my life as he was a frequent visitor to my home in North Kensington when I was a child. I was present at his farewell to Brazil at a train station when he came here as a missionary. Bob visited us twice in northeast Brazil where he ministered amongst us. We thank God for every memory of Bob. The service was lovely with the Gospel clearly and carefully presented. Our thanks go to Marian Rashleigh who went to represent EAB.

Half of December has gone and still no signs of rain here. December is the month that we can get early rains before they start in earnest in January. Please pray for rain which is needed desperately. I'm dreaming of a WET Christmas!

Job 9 (summary): Job replies to Bildad

 In this and the following chapter Job replies to Bildad exclaiming "how can a mortal be righteous before God"? For Job recognizes that God's wisdom is profound and his power is vast. With beautiful poetry Job finds himself at a loss to discuss with God his predicament because God is almighty moving mountains, shaking the earth, controlling the sun and the stars. How can I dispute with God, asks Job? How can I find words to argue with God? Even if I was innocent, says Job, I could only plead with God for mercy. Job found himself snookered because he didn't understand what had brought such terrible suffering on him, he was not aware of any hidden sin, yet there seemed that no resource existed to sort out his dilemma. In despair he exclaims that "even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me". And Job's further bewilderment is expressed when he says that God "destroys the blameless and the wicked"! He goes on to say how he dreads all his suffering and sees no way to prove his innocence. If only, Job sighs, there was someone to arbitrate between him and God!

Job 8 (summary): Bildad

Now comes Job's second friend or comforter called Bildad and he poured on the agony too insisting with Job, as had Eliphaz, that all his suffering was a result of hidden sin. Bildad states bluntly that Job's children had received their penalty from a just God and Job's only way forward was to plead with God and change his ways to purity and uprightness. Bildad insinuates that Job had forgotten God and was trusting in fragile spiders' webs. For clearly God never rejects a blameless man, Bildad affirms, so clearly Job is declared guilty!

Cantata

Last night I both led the service and preached on Gideon from Judges 6 - 8, but the central feature of the service was the 'Coral Adoração' (Adoration Choir) from our Campina Grande Catolé church which presented a wonderful Christmas Cantata called 'God with us' which lasted about 45 minutes and it was very good. The choir's conductor Gideão is a professional musician and music teacher and this makes the difference. The church was packed to capacity.

It was good to see in church a recently bereaved family. It was also good to see a new deaf couple in church who have just moved to Patos from São Mamede attracted by our deaf ministry.

6 were baptized at Soledade yesterday. PTL!

Nest

We have found a nest in our garden on a cactus plant which is about the size of a large fist but it has a small entrance. We will keep observing it to see of which species it is, but I suspect it is that of the Southern House Wren (Troglodytes musculus) which lays 3 to 6 reddish eggs.

Sadly QPR lost away to Middlesbrough 3 x 1 yesterday. 😞

Somebody kindly presented me with my ancestry DNA test whilst I was in England and I have now received the results. These show that my ancestral roots are 31% in northern Wales & northwestern England, 28% southeastern England and northwestern Europe, 17% central Scotland and northern Ireland, 11% west midlands, 8% southern Wales, 2% east midlands, 2% northeast England, and 1% Ireland.

I had last night off from my usual Saturday night preaching at the Green Pastures church because they held their Christmas party with a lovely time of fellowship and food being had by one and all. So I had time to relax reading 3 more chapters of Mike Hollow's book 'The Soho Murder'. I've now read 32 of the 45 chapters and it's very good.

Happy birthday to our daughter Lynn! May God richly bless you.

Job 7 (summary): Job continues to reply

 Job now continues to struggle to understand his horrific suffering saying that he feels like a slave who endures nights of misery tossing and turning. His "body is clothed with worms and scabs", and he thinks about death. Job complains in the bitterness of his soul that he would prefer to be strangled to death! Job says that he despises his life because his days have no meaning. Job asks God in what way has he sinned because he feels like he is God's target who has become a burden to God. Job asks God why he does not pardon and forgive him?

Job 6 (summary): Job replies

In chapters 6 and 7 Job replies to Eliphaz expressing his extreme anguish and misery that he is experiencing, saying that the arrows of God's poison are in him. Job rejects Eliphaz's criticism as saltless food or the flavourless white of an egg! Job then repeats his desire to end his life in the light of his extreme suffering. He expresses his frailty faced with such overwhelming adversity, and says that not even his friends stick with him and are like dried up streams in the drought! Job's friends, like Eliphaz, "have proved to be of no help" because they imagine dreadful things and are afraid. Job tell his friends to "show me where I have been wrong" and their arguments prove nothing and are very hurtful. He accuses Eliphaz of treating "the words of a despairing man as wind". Job says bluntly that he is righteous and wouldn't lie to anyone's face! He says that his integrity is at stake and tells Eliphaz to reconsider his arguments and not be unjust.

Job 5 (summary): Eliphaz continues

Here Eliphaz continues with his theory that hidden sin is bringing its consequences to Job's life. Eliphaz insinuates that Job is a fool for not realizing and admitting that what Job is going through is from God as a result of hidden sin because "hardship does not spring from the soil, nor does trouble sprout from the ground". Eliphaz proposes that Job should "appeal to God" and lay before him his cause. He says he should "not despise the discipline of the Almighty" because he will wound but also will heal, God will ransom from famine and save from the sword in battle. In other words Eliphaz says that God will do all this for Job and give him more children making his "descendants like the grass of the earth" if he puts right that which is necessary in Job's life.

Southern Wren

 I have just heard the Southern Wren singing in our garden for the first time since we returned from the UK just over a month ago.

Our worker Missionary Guilherme Santos has been ministering in our Diamante church to where he will be moving permanently next month. Please pray for Guilherme.

Last night I led the Christmas service at the senior citizens complex called "Cidade Madura" (Mature City) on the south side of Patos. There were about 60 people present. Speakers were Liz, Adriana, Romildo, Claudia and Pastor Rafael and music and song came from Sacha, Rogaciano, Letícia and Vasti. It was an excellent service.

Job 4 (summary): Eliphaz

This chapter and the next contain the first speech by Job's friend or comforter Eliphaz. Eliphaz insinuates that Job's suffering is a result of hidden sin. For "should not your piety be your confidence and your blameless ways your hope?" For the innocent do not perish, Eliphaz says, nor are the upright destroyed. But those who sow trouble reap what they sow! Eliphaz even cites some sort of vision where a spirit questions human piety before God saying "Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his maker?" For human sinners "are crushed more readily that a moth!

Senior Leadership Meeting

Yesterday afternoon we held an on-line meeting of our senior leadership team which lasted an hour and a quarter and was very good. We discussed a problem and a couple of more minor issues. We value your prayers.

Yesterday I continued my keep fit endeavours with Pilates in the morning and Aquarobics in the afternoon. 🏃

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and Pastor Rafael gave the study on the Great Day of the Lord in Zephaniah 1:14-18. The praise was led by Rogério and Rogaciano.

Yesterday was a difficult day bidding farewell to David Shearing. It was he that invited Liz to travel to London in October 1966 which led to Liz and I first meeting. David was such a faithful supporter of EAB and always proposed that the minutes were correct at the trustees board meetings. He was a lovely brother!

Amy Gough

A young Bible College student from Southampton, Amy Gough, will be joining us next month for just over 2 weeks with the focus on participation in this year's 10-day evangelistic outreach at Soledade. She will also be visiting Barra de Oitis, Diamante, Vazante, Caroá, Manaira, Princesa Isabel, Juru, Tavares, Imaculada, Matureia, Teixeira and Green Pastures, ending up with a day on the beach. 😎

Yesterday we had our second doses of the vaccination against Shingles. I understand that in the UK the Shingles vaccination is only one dose, but here it is two with one before we went to Europe and the other now.

This morning we had the sad duty to watch our dear friend David Shearing's funeral service in Southampton online via YouTube. There was a good crowd present. David was a faithful servant of God till the end, aged 88, and was at the EAB AGM on October 25th of which he was a trustee. We had a long chat on that day.

Job 3 (summary): Job Speaks

After 7 days silence Job cursed the day of his birth. Job poetically struggles here to come to terms with his horrific suffering. Job wished that the light of his birth become darkness. He curses the joy of birth calling on the monster of the deep Leviathan to be roused in its place. Job wished that his mother's womb had been closed, or that he had been still born, or that he had died soon after birth. Job lamented the knees that had nursed him and the breasts that had fed him. Job asks why those who long to die are not allowed to and talks of the joy of reaching the grave! Job says his groans pour out like water and that what he most feared had come upon him and he had no peace.

São Mamede

Last night I travelled with the Patos Men's Fellowship to the town of São Mamede where I preached on Mark 4:21-25 and 'The Lamp on a Stand'. Chief of the police and deacon Esau led the service which was very good with about 40 people hearing the Gospel in the middle of the street.

Last night QPR beat Birmingham 2 x 1 at home and find themselves in the playoffs section of the Championship! 😎

Tomorrow will be the funeral of our dear brother and EAB Committee member David Shearing at the Millbrook Christian Centre, Southampton at 12 noon. The service will be streamed live at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7InN3MrkrlA

David Irish

It was lovely to receive David Irish's Christmas letter from Australia. Our good friend David was a missionary with his late wife Margaret in Papua New Guinea for many years and went back there this year. Next year he will be going to Zimbabwe to visit his brother Peter. David has a special place in our hearts as it was he who arranged the lunch for Liz at my house on Good Friday, 1967 when our courtship started.

I am now posting my news daily here on my blog, and no longer every other day as previously, so as to keep news shorter.

2 armed men stole 8 engravings by French artist Matisse and 5 from Brazilian artist Portinari from a library in São Paulo. The value of the works stolen is said to be "incalculable".

Our granddaughter Louisa and her husband Tiago have flown to England to spend Christmas with Louisa's family.

3 were baptized at the weekend from our Tavares church and 5 were baptized from our Belém church.

Please pray for our little church at Travessia where the local catholic priest is threatening people with a ban on christenings and the likes if they attend services at our church. Please pray for Pastor Francinaldo who ministers there every fortnight.

Our dear brother Bob Dalton's funeral will be on December 15th. The committal will be at 10:30 am at Bowstridge Lane Cemetery, Chalfont St Giles, HP8 4RB. The thanksgiving service will be at 1 pm at the Heathervale Baptist Church, Heathervale Road, New Haw, Surrey, KT15 3NW. Afterwards at the Foxhills, Stonehill Road, Ottershaw, KT16 0EL.

An acted poem

I led last night's communion service in Patos together with my co-pastor Rafael. 7 members of our drama group presented a text written by Thyago Nóbrega of our Campina Grande Catolé church in colloquial country bumkin Portuguese telling the Christmas story from beginning to end. It was very good. Then came the sermon from lawyer Murilo which was on 'The Branch from Jesse' (Isaiah 11) which was very good. Parallel to this our children had a special Christmas Feast which went really well too.

QPR

The glorious QPR won a glorious victory at home against West Brom 3 x 1 yesterday! 😄And I see Scotland's first game in next year's World Cup will be against Brazil! May the best team win!

Last night I both led and preached at the weekly Green Pastures service where there were some people present from the town of São Mamede as well as the regular locals. Sister Nega led the worship very well. I preached on 'Life through the Son' from John 5:16-30. It was a good service. I brought milk home afterwards as we buy fresh milk from a local farmer who is a Christian. 

I loved the Christmas decorations that the Green Pastures church put up. Especially nice is a dead tree from the drought which they have decorated beautifully. It looks really good. 

Well inauguration

Yesterday was a good but tiring day as we drove 4 hours for a well inauguration at Água Grande in the municipality of Santana de Mangueira, and then drove 4 hours home again. We were surprised to see 2 sets of traffic lights now installed in the Princesa Isabel high street on the way, saw the potholes had been fixed between there and Manaira, and saw some amazing mirabolic Christmas decorations at São José de Princesa the likes we have never seen!

Pastor Robério led the inauguration and thanksgiving service for the well and I preached. Pastors Valdemy and Francinaldo also gave short words of greeting as did Liz too and local leader Sandra Nogueira. It was a lovely service which ended with us all joining hands around the well's water tower as I made a prayer of thanks, dedication and consecration. Then the local folk served cake and pop drink to one and all.

Empty arm

I have an empty arm having done routine blood tests yesterday! (The joke will be appreciated for those who remember Hancock's Half Hour on BBC radio & TV from 1954 to 1960) We have routine blood tests 2 or 3 times a year and I am glad to say that my glucose levels are good and my potassium & sodium levels (which were the problem when I was ill 3 or 4 years ago) are perfect. I am grateful to God.

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study and lawyer Murilo started a new series of studies on the First Epistle of John. Yesterday Murilo did an introduction and chapter 1. It was very good.

Webinar

Yesterday I took part in an LST - London School of Theology 'Faith seeking understanding webinar' on the topic of 'Christianity and Nationhood' (flags, immigration & patriotism). It was a very interesting event started by a dialogue between David Holborn and Nick Spencer and then with added contributions from Sunil Chandy.

Liz and I had an important counselling session with a sister from our church which ended with a time of prayer.

Good news from England is that Liz's cousin Joyce Sims had surgery for a heart valve replacement on Monday and she is already home and fine! PTL! Now PLEASE rest Joyce!

A racoon in the USA got into an off-license and drunk alcohol so much that it was found passed out on the floor! 

Our worker at Imaculada Antonio Gelsheuchter is home after open heart surgery for a triple bypass and thanks everyone for their prayers. 

Men's Fellowship

Last night the Men's Fellowship met in Patos and the meeting was led by Chief of Police Esau. It was a good meeting. I brought the word on Hebrews 10:19-25 on the topic of Fellowship. We also discussed the purchase of land at Ipueira to build a little church there. We discussed as well the setting up of a team to operate the church fire extinguishers if they were ever needed and we also discussed the end of year party for our fellowship group.

Another young man is going to drug rehab near João Pessoa this week as part of our drug recuperation work. Please pray for this young man who can't be named.

Job 2 (résumé): Job's second test

On another day the angels and Satan had an encounter with God and God remarked to Satan about Job's uprightness despite all he had just gone through. Satan retorted that Job was so resolute because his own flesh and blood was untouched and that if Job was subject to physical suffering he would curse God. So the Lord handed Job over to Satan to torment him physically as long as he didn't kill him. Then Satan afflicted Job with a mass of sores from head to toe. Job's wife suggested that he curse God and die, but Job rejected this and remained without sin. Then Job's 3 friends or comforters, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, went to visit Job and were devastated by what they found and wept out loud at the sight of Job's suffering. The friends stayed with him for 7 days and remained in total silence in respect for Job's catastrophic suffering.

Big Water

On Friday we will be travelling to Água Grande (Big Water) where I will be preaching at the inauguration service of the new well drilled and equipped for the community. Água Grande is about a 4 hour drive south-west of where we live in Patos and is in the municipality of Santana de Mangueira. It is in the region of our Caroá, Mandacaru, Pinheira and Manaira churches. The well produces 1,000 litres of water per hour and attends 134 very needy people.

Sadly a man was killed in João Pessoa after climbing into the lions' enclosure at the zoo! I have just learnt that the man had mental problems so that is very sad.

We are listening to beautiful Christmas Carols sung by the choir of King's College, Cambridge. I love these carols and this choir! How about you?

I have now finished my résumé of the 17th book of the Bible, Esther, so I've now covered 36.7% of the Bible's chapters. I now move on to Job, with 42 chapters, and Psalms with 150 chapters. When I finish these next 2 books I'll be over the half way point of the whole Bible.

Job 1 (résumé): Prologue

The book of Job is a book about suffering. The suffering of a righteous man who loses wealth, family and health at the hand of Satan, permitted by God. There ensues long discussions of the predicament involving Job's friends and comforters, and eventually his life is restored.

Chapter 1 initially tells us about Job in the land of Uz who was blameless before God. He was wealthy and blessed with 7 sons, 3 daughters, 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 donkeys and many servants. He was the greatest man of the east.

One day God pointed out Job to Satan as someone who was upright shunning evil. Satan retorted that Job was so perfect because he had everything going for him, but if his good fortune changed he would soon curse God. So Satan left God's presence.

Then a series of catastrophes overtook Job and he lost his oxen, donkeys, sheep, camels and sons and daughters! Yet Job reacted with worship saying that the Lord giveth and takes away so praise be given to the name of the Lord.

Esther 10 (résumé): The greatness of Mordecai

 King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout the empire with Mordecai firmly his second in command. Mordecai was preeminent amongst the Jews and highly esteemed by them "because he worked for the good of the people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews".

Esther 9 (résumé): Triumph of the Jews

On exactly the day planned for decimating the Jews under Haman's evil plan the pro-Jewish decree from King Xerxes came into force and completely turned the table in favour of the Jews. Thus the Jews assembled in their respective cities and attacked them that had been seeking their destruction. The governors and king's administrators helped the Jews for fear of the power of Mordecai. In the capital Susa the Jews killed 500 men as well as the 10 sons of Haman who were hanged, and the following day the Jews killed another 300 enemies. Around the provinces the Jews killed 75,000 people but they took no plunder. Then the Jews held a day of feasting and joy after 2 days of killings and this day became a day of giving gifts to one another. So Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews getting them to celebrate annually on the 14th and 15th day of the 12th month remembering how on these days their mourning had turned into celebration. This festival came to be known as Purim and was confirmed by Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai in a second letter with absolute authority.

The Lamb that was slain

Our daughter Sacha, who graduates with a degree in theology later this month, preached a wonderful sermon on 'the Lamb that was slain' and Revelation 5 last night in Patos. All glory be to God! The church was full and it was a lovely service.

Yesterday Pastor Antonio and Pastor Robério baptized 4 new converts in the Felipe, Saboeiro church in the state of Ceará. We rejoice!

Please pray for my brother-in-law Laurence Levermore, aged 80, who has been taken into hospital in High Wycombe. 🙏

This blog was read 10,138 times during the month of November. Our thanks go to one and all.

Esther 8 (résumé): The King's edict on behalf of the Jews

 King Xerxes gave the estate of the hanged Haman to Queen Esther and she made her cousin Mordecai overseer over it, and the King gave him his signet ring. Then again Esther interceded on behalf of her Jewish fellow countrymen and the king authorized the writing of a decree on behalf of the Jews which could be signed and sealed with the king's signet ring which Mordecai now had. Thus the king's edict granted the Jews right to assemble and protect themselves, being able to kill in self defense if necessary, and the couriers rushed the edict to all sectors of the kingdom. And Mordecai left the king's presence wearing royal garments and there was great rejoicing in Jewish communities far and wide including the capital city of Susa.

Jumble Sale

Yesterday morning Liz was up bright and early and she left at 7 am to go and run a jumble sale with the sisters of the Patos church which raised £140 for the church and blessed many people with access to good clothes cheap and with dignity. 

Last night I preached on the 'Pool of Bethesda Healing' from John 5:1-15 showing that Jesus was greater than the local legend and that he is greater in us than anything else. The service was the weekly service at Green Pastures and it was very good with a good crowd present.

Sadly QPR lost away to Norwich 3 x 1 yesterday. 😒 However Philip is happy because his team Flamengo (from Rio de Janeiro) beat Palmeiras (from São Paulo) 1 x 0 in the final of the Copa dos Libertadores which is the South American Cup, equivalent to the European Champions League.

Esther 7 (résumé): Haman hanged

 King Xerxes and Haman went to dine with Queen Esther and the king asked her what her petition was. She replied that her request was for her people the Jews to be spared as they were threatened with annihilation by the evil Haman. The king was furious and got up and left his wine so Haman approached the queen to beg clemency and the King was even more angry and accused him of trying to molest the queen! Then one of the eunuchs informed the king of the gallows Haman had erected to hang Mordecai, and the King had Haman hung there.  

Esther 6 (résumé): Mordecai honoured

One night the king couldn't sleep so he requested the reading of the records of his reign and came across the incident when Mordecai saved his life by warning him of a planned assassination attempt. The king then realized that nothing had been done to reward Mordecai so he told his attendant to call in whoever was present in the court and it was Haman. The king asked Haman what he suggested should be done for someone who he delighted to honour? Haman, thinking it was for himself, proposed that the man be paraded through the city on a royal house in royal robes. The king accepted the suggestion and ordered Haman to go and lad Mordecai through the city in the way he had suggested, and Haman was devastated! Then the king's eunuchs arrived to take Haman to Queen Esther's banquet.

Esther 5 (résumé): Esther's request to the King

On the third day of fasting and praying Esther adorned her royal robes and went to see the King who received her warmly extending to her the gold sceptre. When the King enquired as to what she wanted she invited him and Haman to a banquet the next day. Haman was thrilled by the invitation and boasted to his family and friends about it and his wealth and his sons. However he was still angry when he saw Mordecai unwilling to bow before him and he ordered the building of a gallows to hang Mordecai on. 

Esther 4 (résumé): Mordecai persuades Esther to help

When Mordecai heard about the antisemitic edict he was devastated and he put on sackcloth and ashes and mourned and wept together with all the Jews. Esther tried to get him to wear normal clothes, but he refused, and she was perplexed when she learnt of the edict. Mordecai asked Esther to go to the King and intercede for her people, but she was reticent to do this as going to the king without being summoned was punishable with death. Mordecai pleaded with Esther not to remain silent and said that who knows if she hadn't come to royal position for such a time as this. So Esther asked everyone to fast and pray and after 3 days she said she would risk all and go and speak to the king.

Esther 3 (résumé): Haman's plot to destroy the Jews

Now King Xerxes gave Haman a seat of honour higher that all the other nobles and all the royal officials knelt before him paying him honour as commanded by the king, but Mordecai refuse to comply. When Haman heard about this he was enraged and thus plotted to not only kill Mordecai in revenge, but to irradicate all his people, the Jews, in the Persian empire. Haman proposed this annihilation on a specific day in the 12th month chosen by lot. Thus the King gave his backing to Haman's plot so that on the 13th day of the 12th month all Jews would be slaughtered and the edict was published and became law. 

Esther 2 (résumé): Esther made Queen

When eventually the King calmed down from the Vashti escapade it was decided to search for a new queen. The King appointed commissioners to go in search of beautiful girls who would join the King's harem and the one most pleasing to the king would be crowned queen. Among the virgins brought to the palace, and put under the responsibility of the chief eunuch Hegai, was Esther who was a Jewish orphan brought up by her cousin Mordecai, and she was outstandingly beautiful. Esther found immediate favour with Hegai and he immediately provided her with beauty treatments and special food, gave her 7 maids and moved her to the best place in the harem. However Esther did not reveal he nationality. Then all the girls went through a staggering 12 months of beauty treatment! When Esther went to King Xerxes she was selected as his favourite and was crowned queen. The King then held a large celebratory banquet with all his nobles and officials present. Then Mordecai overheard a plot to kill the King and he told Esther about it and she reported it to the king. Upon discovering the veracity of the matter the 2 officials were hanged.

Christmas Party

Liz went yesterday afternoon to the 'Young at Heart' 60+ group's Christmas Party which was held at the 'La Doçura' restaurant which means sweetness. A lovely time of food and fellowship was had by one and all.

Early every morning at Green Pastures Francisco puts out ground maize on the 2 bird tables near the meeting hall. This "bird breakfast" attracts a wide variety of birds like Red-cowled Cardinals, White-naped Jays, Campo Troupials, Pileated Finches, Red-legged Seriemas, Caatinga Cacholotes, Rufous-bellied Thrushes etc. There are three times the number of species of birds in Brazil than there are in the UK.

The principal threat to the native wildlife of wild cats, foxes, giant lizards, armadillos etc. are wild feral dogs and wild feral cats. These are a worse danger than poachers and hunters. There are 30 million stray feral dogs and cats in Brazil!

Bible College Graduation

 Yesterday it took us 3 hours and 20 minutes to drive to Campina Grande for this year's graduation service at our Bible College which saw 13 students graduate. We arrived with 10 minutes to spare and it was a lovely ceremony at which I was one of the speakers. After the service we had a look round the improvements on the church building before staying the night at Pastor Wostenes' house. After breakfast this morning it took us 3 hours to drive home tired but rejoicing.

Teixeira

Yesterday we received the visit of our leaders up in the mountains at Teixeira who are Pastor Maésio and his wife Fia. Teixeira is only 30 km from Patos but it takes quite a while to get there owing to many hairpin bends and an extremely steep climb. We had a good discussion on the church there. It was a blessing.

I am pleased to have concluded my résumé of the book of Nehemiah chapter by chapter. This is the 16th book of the Bible completed, with a total of 426 chapters, which is almost 36% of the Bible. Now it's on to the 10 chapters of Esther.

We are off back to Campina Grande this afternoon for the graduation service of our SETEBRAE Bible College at which I will be speaking. After the service we will be having a meeting with Pastor Wostenes and his wife Gleydice. We will then stay there for the night returning to Patos in the morning. Our granddaughters Alice and Bia will be going with us as they are good friends with assistant pastor Jânio's daughters. 

The mighty QPR beat Blackburn away 1 x 0 last night and are now bang in the middle of the Championship table in 12th position and only 2 points off the play-offs. 😀

Esther 1 (résumé): Queen Vashti deposed

This book, set in the post exilic period, tells the story of Esther, and her cousin Mordecai, who rose to be queen of the Persian empire. For though the exile was history yet many Jews remained in Persia. Fascinatingly not once does the book mention God, yet divine guidance and intervention is plain to be seen. The author of the book in unknown.

Esther chapter 1 describes the opulent reign of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) of Persia who was in his third year when he spent 180 days displaying his vast wealth, with banquets lasting 7 days! In the enclosed garden of the King's palace there were couches of gold and silver on pavements of marble, and wine was served abundantly in gold goblets. Parallel to all this Queen Vashti gave banquets for the women in the royal palace. However one day King Xerxes called Queen Vashti to present herself so that he could show off her beauty, but she refused, and this made the King furious.

Hence the King consulted his nobles as to what to do with Vashti who had humiliatingly disobeyed him which was a terribly bad example and precedent before all his kingdom. The decision was to depose and banish Queen Vashti making way for a new queen, and setting an exemplary measure to show "that every man should be ruler over his own household". 

Nehemiah 13 (résumé): Nehemiah's final reforms

Upon reading the Law the people realized that Ammonites and Moabites should not be admitted into the assembly of God so they excluded from Israel all foreigners. Then while Nehemiah was away back with the king of Babylon, Eliashib the priest was given a room in the temple. When Nehemiah returned he was most upset by the news of the foreigner Tobiah haven been given a room in the temple and he threw out his belongings, purified the room and put the equipment and stores back in their rightful place. Nehemiah also discovered that the Levites were not being cared for correctly and he rebuked the officials and asked why the house of God was being neglected? This corrected the tithe-giving blip. However then Nehemiah noticed that people were working on the sabbath and engaging in commerce which he severely reprimanded. He locked the doors on the sabbath to enforce the keeping of the sabbath. Nehemiah also condemned the intermarriage occurring in Judah and he even beat up some men over the topic and pulled out their hair! Nehemiah closes his book asking God to remember him for his work.

Nehemiah 12 (résumé): Priests, Levites & the dedication of the wall

The first part of this chapter lists the priests and Levites that returned from the Babylonian exile with Zerubbabel. The lists serve to legitimize the religious life of the restored Jerusalem and Judah.

Then came the great celebration of the dedication of the rebuilt walls of Jerusalem. The Levites sang songs of thanksgiving to the sound of cymbals, harps and lyres. The priests and Levites purified themselves and the people, the gates and the wall. The leaders went up on the wall and 2 large choirs were organized. Some priests sounded trumpets and great sacrifices were offered in gratitude to God and as an expression of the people's joy. Then people were appointed to take care of the storerooms to take care of the annual tithes of the people for the sustenance of the priests and Levites.

Fera School

Last night I led and preached at a thanksgiving service of year 9 students of the FERA school in Patos. These students were concluding High School and came to church at the request of the school to give thanks to God. The church was packed out with the students and their parents who all heard the Gospel loud and clear. It was a lovely service.

Parallel to this the Patos Men's Fellowship travelled to the town of São Mamede to hold another street service there. This also was blessed of God with a good crowd present.

The Christmas lights up in Patos are quite spectacular this year. Congratulations to who designed the beautiful display and a big well done to the Town Council for a great job done! Our Christmas lights at home are in the process of going up yesterday and today.🎅🎄

Nehemiah 11 (résumé): The new residents of Jerusalem

 Now that the walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt the repopulation of the city was organized on top of the leaders and priests who were already there. 10% of the people were chosen to live in Jerusalem by casting lots. The 90% remaining lived in the widespread towns of Judah with part being of the descendants of Judah, some from the descendants of Benjamin plus priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers and people in general. The lists of names of the people involved in this reorganization of the population of Jerusalem and Judah is laid out in this chapter.

Nehemiah 10 (résumé): The sealed pact of the People

Having confessed and repented of their sins in the previous chapter, chapter 10 relates the written pact which the Israelites sealed as a binding agreement of faithfulness to the Lord. Starting with the governor Nehemiah, then the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants, nobles and people in general they sealed their pact of faithfulness before God. They promised not to permit inter-racial marriage or to allow commerce on the sabbath, and they vowed to provide for the temple through their tithes and offerings. For the people vowed: "We will not neglect the house of our God".

Christmas & New Year Services

 As always December is a happy time of Christmas celebrations and this year will be as follows: 5 - Inauguration of Well at Água Grande with me preaching / 7 - Christmas Poem with Murilo preaching / 12 - Christmas service at Old People's Assisted Living Community / 14 - Campina Grande Choir to sing a cantata with me preaching / 19 - Christmas service in the Rua do Meio / 21 - Baptism of 9 in the morning and Choreography and Deaf Choir at night with Pastor Rafael preaching / 24 - The main Christmas play 'Son of Promise' / 27 - Inauguration of the new playground with Christmas service at the Pastor Frank Dyer School / 28 - Sacha preaching in the final Sunday of 2025 / 31 - Last service of the year with multiple 5-minute slots for the church members to take part. I will blow a hooter for whoever goes over 5 minutes!

Yesterday I spent the day preparing my message for tonight when a High School will come to church for a thanksgiving service for them having finished year 9 and can go on to college. These are wonderful opportunities to preach the Gospel to a large number of students. I also prepared my message for our Campina Grande Bible College graduation on Thursday.

I have just received an email from a sister in Christ at Verwood in Dorset who is to be baptized on December 7th aged 83! Glory be to God!

Sunday service

I took part in an online meeting of the Christian environmental organization 'A Rocha'. 2 of its leaders João Martinez and Júlio Reis conducted the meeting from Rio de Janeiro though they are based in the UK. I think that the conclusion of the meeting was that 'A Rocha' will not resume its previous activities in Brazil, although organizations like Green Pastures will remain as "friends of A Rocha", but I might be wrong.

I led the main service of the week last night in Patos and Pastor Rafael preached on Psalm 133. Most of our musicians were away so we just had Rogaciano on acoustic guitar and Sacha and Fabio on vocals.

Campina Grande

Yesterday we drove 2 and a half hours east of Patos to Campina Grande. We arrived at Pastor Wostenes' house before 4 pm where we had a good meeting discussing different aspects of the work. We then had a meal before going to preach at the church's 57th anniversary meeting which was held in the road in front of the church with a proper stage and hundreds of people present. It was a wonderful service really blessed of the Lord. We travelled back to Patos after the service and got home at 1 am tired but rejoicing.

QPR beat Hull 3 x 2 yesterday at home, twice coming back from behind.

Drought

The drought here is catastrophic. I have just returned from Green Pastures and the only thing green is the name. Everything is grey, wilted and dismal. Plants and trees are dying right, left and centre. Our lake has been bone dry for months. The Farinha reservoir for Patos is down to 2% of its capacity and the Jatobá reservoir is down to 13%. The reservoir in Coremas from where the pipeline comes to Patos, for which we fought years ago, is down to 30%. In the borough where we live water rationing means we are totally without water on Tuesdays and Fridays.

With the drought birds are more difficult to see. Today I saw and heard Chalk-browed Mocking Birds, Roadside Hawks, Caatinga Cacholotes and Red-legged Seriemas. I also saw lots of burrows of 6-banded Armadillos.

Oasis

Our architect grandson Felipe, and his architect partner Viviane, have flown to São Paulo to see the UK band Oasis on Saturday night. The concert will be in the Morumbi Football Stadium which has a normal capacity for 66,000 people.

I have finished translating 15 of the 16 EAB Action Child reports and sent them to Marian. The remaining school is late sending the report to me. I have also sent Marian 2 child sponsors letters and am awaiting the others to reach me in the office. Marian has put together a report for EAB Action School and Child sponsors and is sending it out. Anybody who would like to see this report please let me know.

A serious fire broke out in the COP30 Climate Conference in Belém, north Brazil, and has disrupted the closing proceedings.

Nehemiah 9 (résumé): The Israelites confess their sins

This chapter is a long detailed confession of sin by the people, confession for the sins of their ancestors, and praise to God. Initially the people fasted wearing sackcloth with dust on their heads, confessing their sins and that of their fathers. They read the book of the Law for a quarter of the day and confessed and worshiped for another quarter. Then some Levites told them to stand up and praise the Lord.

Then the people praised and exalted God as the sovereign giver of life. God is praised too as the God of Abram and as the God who delivered his people from Egypt. God is also worshiped as the giver of the Law and as the provider of food and water in the wilderness. They then confessed the stiff-neckedness of their forefathers but recognized the gracious forgiving compassion of God. God's compassion is exalted during 40 years in the desert. God is praised for giving his people Canaan and they ate to the full and were well nourished. Yet Israel confessed disobedience and rebellion, the killing of the prophets and blasphemy. However God heard their cry for help and compassion from heaven. Despite God's mercy they again practiced evil and God warned them to return to the Law, but as the people ignored God he had turned them over to neighbouring peoples. But the justice of God in everything was recognized together with God's faithfulness, and Israel despite this strayed far from God. Thus it is confessed that because of their disobedience  the Jews today are slaves in their own land. So the people made a binding agreement before God to change their wicked ways.

World Cup

With Brazil, England and Scotland qualified for the World Cup Finals I forecast that these teams will make it to the semifinals! 😀🏆

We have had further pastoral encounters and counselling sessions. We value your prayers. It's non-stop. I am also working on the EAB Action Schools and Action Child reports for this second half of 2025 reminding you that the school year in Brazil is the same as the calendar year. I am in the process of translating all the reports and sending them to Marian. So far I have done 7 of the 16 schools and 1 child's letter.

Our daughter Lynn and her husband Hutan have gone to João Pessoa to take part in a 5 km road race on a coastal route. They are certainly keeping fit!

Pastoral Meeting

We have had a very good meeting with Pastor Oseias and his wife Lucia who lead our Itaporanga church. How good it is to share together about the work of the Lord and live in His forgiveness, grace and blessing.

I have just returned to my sessions of aquarobics which is wonderful physical exercise to add to my Pilates.

Last night we held a Patos Church Council meeting. We approved the names of the 9 to be baptized next month and we approved the names of those from our church who will be part of the team at January's 10-day Outreach at Soledade. We also discussed the change of church cleaner as Linda, who has been doing it for 32 years, cannot cope anymore after suffering a mild stroke. It was also decided to hold a women's conference next March and it was also discussed improvements for work with the youth including a youth workshop next year. The meeting was full and productive.

Cultura Inglesa TEFL School

Last night we took part in the inauguration of a branch of our daughters' English Language teaching school called 'Cultura Inglesa'. The branch school is in the prestigious Patos Shopping Centre where it will be on the front line of the town's commercial and social activities especially favoured by the youth. The architects for the branch school were our grandson Felipe and his partner Vivi who did a brilliant job. The inauguration was animated by 2 mascots with one as a Buckingham Palace guard and the other as an English policeman! Many doctor friends were there together with directors of different schools, military authorities and many other friends. It was a lovely evening.

Nehemiah 8 (résumé): Ezra reads the Law

In the 7th month the people assembled in the square in front of the Water Gate and they told Ezra to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses. So Ezra read it aloud from day break to noon and the people listened attentively. Ezra stood on a high wooden platform so that all the people could see him and Ezra praised the Lord and all the people said amen and bowed down and worshipped. Then many Levites read the Law to the people and explained it to them. The people wept but Nehemiah, Ezra and the Levites told them to stop crying and to go and enjoy this day which was sacred to the Lord because "the joy of the Lord is your strength". So the people celebrated with great joy because now they understood the words of the Law. And the people came to realize that they were in the 7th month when the Festival of Booths was to be celebrated so they went out and gathered branches to make booths and celebrated the Festival with great joy. So on each day of the Festival of Booths Ezra read from the Book of the Law of Moses and there was great celebration.

3 Baptized

3 men were baptized by Pastor Esequias at our Juru church about a 2-hour drive west of Patos on Saturday. Praise God!🙌

Last night I led the service in Patos and I preached too on Psalm 116 especially verse 12: "How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me?" I also dedicated 2 lovely baby girls. First it was 2-month-old Milena and then it was 4-month-old Thayla. I gave the babies their first children's Bibles as I always do at dedications. It was a lovely service with a full church.

Science Show

Liz and I went to see our granddaughter Beatriz's scientific demonstration at her CCREI school, which is run by nuns. Bia and her classmates explained the positive affects AI is having on astronomical studies. From there we visited an agricultural show in the centre of Patos where Sacha and her husband Biba were selling homemade shortbread and where 2 brothers from church, Romildo and Eduardo, were selling chickens.

Thanks to all who write comments at the bottom of this blog, but don't forget that if you don't put your name to it I have no way of knowing who wrote it. Please put your name!

I have just got home from leading and preaching at the Saturday night service at Green Pastures. It was a lovely service with about 30 local farmers and their children present. It is great to see Manoel (got converted through me giving him a lift home when he was drunk) and Miriam's family coming more. They have 8 children, 32 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren! Fabrícia and Fernanda are doing a great work with the children at church. I preached on John 4:27-54 talking about the Samaritan woman evangelist, the Samaritan revival and Jesus' second miracle.

I have just been informed that David Shearing's funeral service will be held at Millbrook Christian Centre, 51A Wimpson Lane, Southampton, SO51 6AB at 12:00 noon on Thursday, 11th December. This will be followed by cremation at 14:00 at the Test Valley Crematorium.

Mid-week service

I led the Thursday night mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study. Erika, Rogaciano and Netinho led the praise; Vasti and Espedita sang solos and Pastor Rafael brought the Bible study on Zephaniah 1:1-6. The context of Zephaniah's prophecy is that it was during the reign of King Josiah of Judah (2 Kings 22 and 23) which was a period of rampant paganism, idolatry and corruption which Josiah worked to reform. 

I went to Green Pastures and saw some White-naped Jays and a Crested Caracara. 

Today is Liz and I's 56th wedding anniversary. We were married at the Millbrook Christian Centre in Southampton by Pastor Winston Shearing, assisted by Pastor Albert Mundy, Pastor Reuben Gunter and Pastor Jack Dyer. Other pastors present were Pastor Frank Dyer, who gave away the bride, and Pastor Colin Whittaker whose wife Hazel sang a solo. Our 4 sisters were the bridesmaids and my life-long friend Peter Miles was the best man. We have much to praise God for with 4 wonderful children and 9 amazing grandchildren. God is good! I gave Liz a bouquet of roses this morning and tea in bed! She is a fabulous wife!🌹

The Brazilian airplane manufacturer EMBRAER is promoting its small Super Tucano plane as a 'drone killer', for the European market, in the light of the Russian drone threat. The Brazilian plane is much cheaper to run for this job rather than using big military planes.

With the Lord

I have just received the sad news of the passing of our dear brother Bob Dalton whom we visited in Woking 11 days ago. Bob had been chair of the EAB Board of Trustees and a fervent supporter of EAB. He is with the Lord which is far better. Bob was 90 years of age. We send our condolences to his sons Ian and Marcus and all the family at this sad time. May God really comfort you.

Pastor Frank Dyer

 Liz's father Frank Dyer was a faithful missionary and pastor here in northeast Brazil from 1949 to 1987 when he went to be with the Lord. However prior to his service here he served his country valiantly in WW2 and received the DCM - Distinguished Conduct Medal from the hand of King George VI for his service in Africa and Italy, especially for his bravery in Italy when the British Army received air cover from the Brazilian air force. We knew Frank had received the medal but we had never seen the official report of how he received it and we certainly didn't know all the heroic details. So it was with immense joy that we thanked Marian Rashleigh for having gone to the Rifle Brigade's museum in Winchester whilst we were in the UK and unearthed, with the help of historians, the original document which I will now relate to you word for word. The capital letters are as they are in the original document.

"FRANK DYER - For gallantry and devotion to duty during the attack on TOSSIGNANO 0823.

At 0600 hrs on 14 Dec 44 L/CORPORAL DYER'S Platoon was ordered to seize a house on the southern side of TOSSIGNANO to relieve pressure on C Coy 2 RB being counter-attacked in the Western end of the village. The entry into the house was forced and the platoon established on the ground floor which consisted of only one room.

At first light the enemy counter attacked and the Bren Gunner covering the street was killed. L/CORPORAL DYER immediately manned the Bren gun and was himself hit in the leg almost at once. He refused attention and continued to fire the Bren with such good effect that the attack was temporarily stopped.

Later the house was attacked with bazookas, the ceiling blown in and the room set on fire with petrol so that the platoon was free to withdraw down the hill. L/CORPORAL DYER with his pl comd and Rfn Alldridge covered this withdrawal engaging the enemy at very short range.

Under cover of some rocks at the foot of the hill L/CORPORAL DYER tended 3 wounded men and then on his own initiative crossed 200 yards of open ground under observed MG and mortar fire to get help from the Coy HQ at Pt. 222. Smoke was put down but more men were hit near pt 222 while crossing the open ground. Seeing this L/CORPORAL DYER improvised a red cross flag from a white handkerchief and the blood of a wounded man and repeatedly went forward in the face of heavy MG and Mortar fire each time helping back a wounded man.

Finally as a result of L/CORPORAL DYER'S determined and courageous efforts the enemy recognized the red cross flag and it was possible for stretcher bearers to collect the remaining wounded who would otherwise have spent the day lying in the open exposed to enemy fire. Altogether 12 wounded were brought in, and L/CORPORAL DYER continued for 3 hours to bring in and help tend the wounded.

L/CORPORAL DYER'S gallantry was of the highest order and there is no doubt that by his determination and disregard for himself, he saved the lives of several men of his platoon.

GRANTED AN IMMEDIATE DCM

H. R. Alexander - Field Marshal"

PS: I know that this is a long document but I feel that many will find it interesting. Liz certainly had a father to be proud of and I thank God for having served in EAB/ACEV for 15 years under his leadership. If you write a comment please don't forget to put your name.

Pilates

I'm back to Pilates as physical exercise is very important. I missed Pilates while I was in Europe. I have just had a good hour's session and thoroughly enjoyed it. I do it twice a week.

Snakes at Green Pastures have killed 2 African Love Birds and 1 Peacock. The snakes are very cunning waiting by the water bowls to attack when the birds come to drink.

On Tuesday afternoon I visited our Pastor Frank Dyer School in the borough of Jatobá on the south side of the River Espinharas in Patos. Work is going well on the construction of a playground for the children and should be finished by the end of the month. The school is going well in general.

Another thing I'm back to is couscous. Our main meal is eaten around midday in Brazil and in the evening we eat something light, like couscous, which is cooked ground maize mixed with scrambled egg, chopped coriander and chopped tomato. Delicious before I went out to preach in the town of São Mamede.

A man is being taken to the drug-rehab on Saturday. He is a middle-aged policeman who has got hooked on heavy drugs. His daughter contacted us asking for help. Please pray for this man whom of course I can't name.

On Tuesday evening I went with the Patos Men's Fellowship to the town of São Mamede. I preached on 'being welcomed to the family of God' (Mark 3:31-35) and 'welcoming the word of God' (Mark 4:1-20). Chief of the Police Esaú led the service which blocked off the street with nearly 50 people gathered to hear the Gospel. 

Yesterday Pastor Valdemy was sworn in as a Councillor for the municipality of Manaira. He is pastor of our church at Caroá in the Manaira municipality. This is the second time Valdemy has been a councillor there. Please pray for our brother as he takes on this added responsibility. 

The critical drought situation in Patos and surrounding region means that as from next Monday water rationing will be imposed by the water board. Each borough will be without water for 2 days a week. Please pray for rain! 🌂☔☂☁⛈

Yesterday the 'Life Squad' (Pastor Rafael, Roberto Tiburtino and Iara) evangelized the Men's prison and 3 men made commitments to Christ. Please pray that they be truly converted.

Last night I ate Brazilian cassava tapioca pancake with an egg and curd cheese. 😋

Driving

Now I'm back in Brazil I'm back to driving after nearly 3 months being driven by Philip, Marian and Jean in the UK. Liz reminded me to make sure I drove on the right side of the road! What surprised me on the way to church was that the Christmas lights are already up and look very nice too. 

I led the service in church on Sunday. The church was full and we were given a very warm welcome back. There was a welcome banner outside the church too and we were given a welcome gift by the church. It was a lovely night and I noticed it was 31 degrees as I left church a little before 9 pm.

Phew! I am very happy to tell you that I have just had my haircut for the first time since August! What a relief! I hope you like it? 👨

I have scheduled us preachers in Patos, which are me, Sacha, Murilo and Pastor Rafael, up to the end of January 2026.

You should have received the EAB magazine 'InTouch' edition #104 by post by now, or it will be arriving any day. You will see the Christmas gift list as well which will now function with ecards. Please send your donations to the EAB treasurer and send us the email addresses of the people you want us to send Christmas cards to by email.

I see that it is 12 degrees in Basingstoke and raining, and here it is 36 degrees and extremely dry. Please pray for rain for the interior of northeast Brazil as the situation here with the worst drought in 10 years is desperate. The Green Pastures wells are almost completely dry as underground water levels have collapsed. Please pray! "I'm dreaming of a WET Christmas"!

There is a fascinating article on the BBC website about the fight to preserve the endangered Amazon pink river Dolphins. The international COP 30 environmental event is happening this week in Brazil and Prince William is here.

Yesterday I went for a walk at Green Pastures with Francisco who runs the day to day side of things there, sees off would-be poachers, feeds the donkeys, pony, cockatiels, rabbits and guinea pigs which  we have there for the children's events and camps, and waters the plants. The drought is devastating! The worst for 10 years. One well has dried up and the other is drastically reduced. I saw the gaggle of 4 geese, with one on its nest, plus the 3 peacocks and 1 Guinea Fowl. I also saw Picui Ground Doves and Chalk-browed Mocking Birds. 

Back in Patos!

To recap on our travels we got up at 5:30 am on Friday morning, had a shower and breakfast (my last Weetabix for 3 years!) and Philip took us to Heathrow seeing us safely checked in. The first flight to Lisbon was fine, and more or less on time, giving us 1 and three-quarter hours to get our second flight to Recife. I watched 4 films on this flight to help cope with the boredom, and we arrived on time in Brazil at 10 pm (1 am UK time). Our baggage all turned up and a taxi paid by the hotel took us there. The culture shock with the taxi driver was instant as he drove us as if he was in today's Brazilian grand prix! After a good night's sleep, thanks to air-conditioning, Clayton arrived in his car to bring us to Patos. We left Recife around 11 am and got home at 6 pm (9 pm UK time). Hence the total travelling time from start to finish was 39 hours with 2 road trips and 2 flights with a sleep in between.

We got back to Patos with our girls and grandchildren awaiting us and had a lovely time chatting about everything. The church had kindly made a 'welcome back' banner for us and the church 'welcome team' gave us a present of Brazilian sweets. It is lovely to be back and later today I will be leading the Sunday service, and young lawyer and theologian Murilo will preach the word. We ended up last night eating pizza with the family in a joyful time of reunion. 

One lovely surprise for us when we got home was that our children had had the front of the house painted for us whilst we were away! It was a wonderful surprise!

The Pope's firm stance for Jesus this week is causing quite a stir here. The 'Folha de São Paulo' newspaper (which I read every day) had the following headline yesterday: "Jesus, and not the Virgin Mary, saved the world, says the Vatican". This is what EAB/ACEV has been preaching here for 87 years!

6 people have been killed in southern Brazil and 750 injured by a tornado in southern Brazil in the town of Rio Bonito do Iguaçu. The tornado destroyed many houses and vehicles. 

We have just received a beautiful breakfast basket from the church with every fruit, bread, yogurt etc. imaginable! Thank you very much brothers and sisters! It is 33 degrees rising to 36. 😎

Names in Brazil

The latest Brazilian census shows that 32 people in Brazil are called Batman, 31 are called Sh_t, 36 are called Madonna and 2,443 boys are called Neymar! However the most popular names in Brazil are Maria (Mary) and José (Joseph). 

I have just had an invitation from the Christian Environmental organization 'A Rocha' asking me for my cooperation in re-launching the organization in Brazil. Green Pastures is already in partnership with the organization. We will have a meeting on November 24th with A Rocha.

I am very pleased to learn that our 4 geese at Green Pastures have started laying eggs and have so far laid 3 eggs.

The relative humidity of the air in Patos is down to 12% which is extremely low and desperately dry. The ideal level is between 30% and 60%. The drought in Patos is biting hard and the deep-bore wells at Green Pastures are in trouble again! Please pray for rain.

Oh dear! QPR lost the third game on the run on Wednesday losing at home to Southampton 2 x 1. 😖

We are back in Brazil! 😀Our second flight from Lisbon to Recife arrived on time at 10 pm (1 am UK time) and all our baggage arrived safely. We will now sleep in the Ibis airport hotel (it's now 3 am UK time!) and Clayton from the Patos church will take us to Patos in the morning.

Nehemiah 7 (résumé): List of exiles who returned

After the walls of Jerusalem were completed and the gates were put in place Nehemiah put his brother Hanani in charge of the city and made Hananiah the commander of the citadel because he was a man of integrity who feared God more than most. He then organized the gate keepers and the times for opening the gates. Nehemiah then noted how few exiles had returned from Babylonian exile so he decided to register all the families according to their genealogical records and the chapter lists all the men of Israel now present in Jerusalem which totalled 42,360 plus 7,337 slaves, 245 singers, 736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels and 6,720 donkeys. Men who claimed to be priests but could not prove it from their records were discarded. Then the people contributed gold, silver, bowls and priests garments, and the rest of the Israelites settled in their own towns.

Nehemiah 6 (résumé): Further opposition to the rebuilding

Now Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem and the other enemies of the Jews schemed against Nehemiah when they learnt of the excellent progress in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem so they tried to arrange a meeting with Nehemiah to do him harm. Nehemiah saw through their evil scheming and repeatedly turned down invitations. With the fifth invitation they sent a letter accusing him of planning a revolt and that he would soon be declared king! Nehemiah rejected their accusations telling them they were inventing stories. Then one day Shemaiah suggested that Nehemiah should hide from danger in the temple, but Nehemiah said no to this too, and the wall was rebuilt after 52 days work. When the surrounding nations heard this they were afraid because they realized God was with them. However Tobiah continued in opposition to Nehemiah and sent him intimidating letters.

Nehemiah 5 (résumé): Nehemiah helps the poor

Now there was a famine and the poor came to Nehemiah in their vulnerable situation saying that they were being exploited by the nobles who were charging them interest upon loans which was contrary to the law, taking their children into slavery and they were being forced to mortgage their fields in order to pay their debts. In other words for many who had returned from exile in Babylon their lot had not improved! When Nehemiah heard this outcry of charges he confronted the nobles and told them straight that what they were doing was not right and he told them to stop charging interest and to return the confiscated fields and vineyards. The nobles agreed to do this, so Nehemiah summoned the priests to make the nobles and officials take an oath to fulfill their promise. Then during the 12 years that Nehemiah was governor he did not use all his food allowance so as not to be a burden on the people as previous governors had been. 

Bob Dalton

Bob Dalton in Woking was once the chairman of the EAB Board of Trustees and today he is 90-years-of-age, so Marian Rashleigh kindly drove us there to pay him a visit before we return to Brazil on Friday. It was lovely to see him for the first time in years together with his son Ian and his carer Madu. He greeted us in Portuguese when we arrived as he was a missionary in south Brazil many years ago and had visited us twice in north-east Brazil. Bob was sleepy at first but after a while Liz's person-to-person techniques came into their own and she had Bob responding well as she told him about the work of EAB/ACEV. It was beautiful and we certainly felt it had been a really worthwhile visit. We prayed together to end up our visit. God bless you Bob!

A terrible road accident occurred on Monday on the road we will be travelling on at the end of the week between Campina Grande and Soledade. The accident involved 2 lorries and 4 cars and killed 6 people in one of the cars and gravely injured a 7th person in the same car. The fatal victims were all from the town of Juazeirinho where we have a church. 8 other people are in hospital recovering.

Yesterday we took a train to London to go and see the new musical "Paddington" at the Savoy Theatre for which my sister Jean kindly gave us tickets. The musical is good, but not brilliant. The music is good but not inspired with the best song being "marmalade"! There are some good dance sequences especially the part with the Buckingham Palace guards dancing. It was a lovely evening out.

This will be my last post on this UK/Switzerland tour as we fly back to Brazil on Friday. We value your prayers. My next post here will be in Brazil.

Last 2025 tour service

Yesterday was our final service on this 2025 euro trip and we spoke to a full Christ Church Chineham in what was a lovely multi-national service full of the joy of the Lord. Pastor Jonathan led the service and my sister and music teacher Jean led the worship aided by Philip on guitar and band.

The EAB souvenirs, to work as prayer reminders, ran out as we finished the last service of this tour. The timing was perfect and we again send thanks to Liz's brother Sam in Switzerland who made and gave all the hundreds of items. 

With our trip coming to a close and with our return flights to Brazil this Friday, November 7th, we thank everyone who has made this ministry tour such a success and blessing. Thanks to all the pastors, missionary secretaries, friends and family for their kindness and welcome. This was the best trip ever for which we praise the Lord!

When we got out of the service the sad news reached us of the home calling of EAB member of the Board of Trustees David Shearing ages 88. David had been in the EAB Board meeting last Saturday week and I spent a long time talking to David at the EAB tea and celebration. David was one year old when EAB/ACEV was founded and his father Winston Shearing was EAB's first home superintendent. David will be sorely missed, but he is with the Lord which is far better. Our prayers are with all the family.

Nehemiah was a man of prayer

The book of Nehemiah shows that Nehemiah was a man of vision, initiative and courage, but above all else he was a man of prayer. The book has more prayers than chapters with 14 prayers in its 13 chapters. May we all follow his example!

Yesterday Liz went to Winchester with Philip, Gylmara, the boys and Marian to visit the Rifleman's Museum in Winchester as Pastor Frank Dyer (Liz's father) was a rifleman in the second world war.  He received a DCM (Distinguished Conduct Medal) from the hand of the King for his extreme bravery and courage in the Battle of Tossignano in Italy in 1944. In this battle Pastor Frank was shot, but survived, and saved various fellow soldiers' lives carrying them to safety under fire over a period of 3 hours. It is interesting to know that in this battle the British army received air cover from the Brazilian Air Force!

Today I travelled to London with Philip and Lucas to watch QPR play Ipswich. It is the first time I have seen my team play for 7 years. Sadly QPR lost 4 x 1. 😓

Last month this blog was visited and read 9,231 times. Thanks to one and all!

Nehemiah 4 (résumé): Opposition to the rebuilding

The opponents of the Jews, Sanballat and Tobiah, ridiculed the Jews' building endeavors saying that the walls were so fragile that just a fox could break them down! Nehemiah didn't argue with them. He prayed asking God to turn their insults back on their own heads, and the building continued with the walls now reaching the half-way stage. In the light of this the opponents of God's people plotted to attack them so Nehemiah prayed and posted guards day and night. In the light of possible imminent attacks half the men worked and half the men guarded. Then too men worked with one hand but had a weapon in the other hand, but nothing could stop the Jews progressing with their building work for the glory of God.

Nehemiah 3 (résumé): The building of the Wall

This chapter relates how the re-building of the wall of Jerusalem was organized with different groups made responsible for different sections of the wall. This was team work with everyone doing their part for the benefit of all and for the glory of God. Thus sections such as the Sheep Gate, the Fish Gate, the Jeshanah Gate, the Valley Gate, The Dung Gate, the Fountain Gate, the Water Gate, the Horse Gate and the Inspection Gate and their respective sections of wall were divided between all the workers available and committed to the task.

Nehemiah 2 (résumé): Artaxerxes send Nehemiah to Jerusalem

In the 20th year of the reign of Artaxerxes Nehemiah was serving the king with wine when the king noticed that Nehemiah was low in spirit and asked him what was the matter. Nehemiah said that he was sad because his homeland's capital city of Jerusalem was in ruins and the gates had been burnt down. He then plucked up courage and asked the king to send him to Jerusalem to rebuild it. He asked for covering letters to guarantee him safe passage and to give him the supplies necessary for the building work, and God answered Nehemiah's prayers and the king granted his requests. However Sanballat and Tobiah, regional officials, were opposed to all this.

But Nehemiah therefore went to Jerusalem with King Artaxerxes' blessing and after being there 3 days he set out on a secret mission of appraisal of the precise situation of the city, but he told nobody of his plans at this stage. When he had a complete understanding of the situation Nehemiah approached the priests, nobles and officials of Israel calling them to join him in rebuilding the walls and telling them how God was with him in giving him the backing of the king, and the Jews agreed with Nehemiah's plan. But when Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem heard this news they mocked and ridiculed them suggesting that in fact they were conjuring up a rebellion. Nehemiah rejected their criticism saying that God would give them success in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. 

Pastor Frank Dyer

Frank Dyer served with EAB/ACEV between 1949 and 1987. Our school in Patos bears his name as does a street in Patos. Now we have just been informed that a street in the state capital of João Pessoa has also been named after him. ACEV also has a street named after it in the town of Tavares and Albert Mundy, EAB/ACEV's founder, also has a street named after him in Patos. All glory be to God for these recognitions of the service of these men of God.

On Tuesday there was a staggering battle between the police and the Red Command organized crime gang in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro which killed 132 and saw 81 arrested. The gang even attacked the police with small bombs dropped from drones! However my friend Pastor Antonio Carlos Costa of Rio de Janeiro says that the crux of the problem in the favelas is social and dealing with this is what will best solve the problem.

On Wednesday we had a lovely video meeting with Peter and Corinne White of Billericay Baptist Church catching up with their news and sharing our news with them.

I have finished the résumé of the 15th book of the Bible, Ezra, which means I have now covered nearly 35% of the chapters of the Bible with 413 chapters done out of 1,189. Now on to Nehemiah. 

Yesterday we made a nice visit to by nurse sister Joy at High Wycombe and had lunch with her. We then went with her to visit her 80-year-old husband Laurence who is in a care home with dementia. We were sad to see the condition he is in but happy to see him laughing a lot. He clearly recognized Philip and spoke his name but I am not sure if he recognized Liz and I. It was good to see that he is being well cared for.

Liz has given me an early Christmas present! It is an absolutely beautiful calendar! It is a QPR calendar! 😀

Destruction of the Amazon rain forest is at its third lowest level in history it has just been revealed. The minister of the environment Marina Silva is an evangelical Christian.

Nehemiah 1 (résumé): Nehemiah's prayer

The book of Nehemiah may well have been originally one book together with Ezra as it covers the same historical period when the Jews were returning to Jerusalem from their Babylonian exile. Nehemiah was an Israelite in Persia who led the re-building of Jerusalem's walls and led the spiritual renewal of God's people. He was cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. 

Nehemiah learns of the sorry situation in which Jerusalem finds itself with its walls broken down and its gates burnt. He learns that the survivors of the exile are in great trouble and disgrace. Nehemiah mourned, fasted and prayed about the situation because above all else Nehemiah was a man of prayer. Nehemiah therefore confessed his own sin and that of the people. He acknowledged their disobedience and wickedness. But he beseeched God's mercy and help as he is about to intercede with the king on behalf of Jerusalem and its people.

Ezra 10 (résumé): The people's confession of sin

As Ezra prayed and confessed sin in tears the people gathered round him weeping also. Then Shekaniah proposed a covenant to Ezra saying that the Israelites should divorce all foreign women sending them away with their children. And as Ezra considered this in mourning he spent a period in a total fast without food or water. Then everyone was summoned to Jerusalem and Ezra declared that Shekaniah was right and all foreign women and children were to be sent away. The book then closes listing all the 113 men who had fallen into the sin of inter-racial marriage.