Poisoning

A terrible case of poisoning occurred in the northeastern state of Piaui on New Year's Day with 4 people from the same family killed after eating a plate of poisoned beans and rice. 5 others from the same family were taken to hospital and 4 of these have recovered. Police have detected the type of poison used and have arrested the step-father for murder.

I have had a lovely surprise visit from Joca who I hadn't seen for 40 years! He used to be a member of our church in Patos, but he has re-married and lives in Imaculada. He used to play for the church football team and scored an historic winning goal against the Presbyterian church in 1973!

Liz and I had an excellent meeting with our youth leaders Rayla, Murilo and Ray planning for the first half of 2025 with evangelistic outreach in town squares, youth rally, youth outing at Green Pastures and youth conference at Green Pastures too. Please pray for our youth!

Liz has just taken a cot to a little family that is expecting twins shortly. The cot was donated by a teacher from our daughters' English school. Liz has also brought a whole load of roll-up mattresses to lend to our team going to the special 10-day evangelistic outreach at Itaporanga, as everyone will sleep on the floor whilst there.

2 lorries have turned over this week on the Teixeira Mountain road (just south of Patos), which is very steep and has very sharp bends. One was laden with dried milk and the other with maize and soya beans, and their brakes couldn't cope. The problem is usually trying to come down the mountain too fast. I have driven up and down this steep road so many times over the years and I know what it's like.