I've worked with Philip and Liz on the organization of the Carnival Camp which is very near all of a sudden. We were so involved finishing the church building project that it cut our time down for preparation for this. Anyway things are starting to take shape. I have asked Philip to lead the camp like he did when I was ill last year. I will be in an active support role.
Philip and Gylmara will be moving house this coming weekend.
I walked at Green Pastures this morning. The heat was strong very early. There was again lots of wildlife activity preparing for the rains with birds making nests and some already with offsprings. I found a Pygmy Nightjar - so tiny and lovely Minute! Only experience helped us see it as it is so small and so camouflaged.
Once again QPR were slaughtered at the weekend in the FA Cup beaten 3 x 0 at home to a team 2 divisions below them! I think it's 13 years since QPR managed to win a game in the FA Cup! Every time the excuse given is that we're concentrating on the league! Oh well... let's hope so!
I actually couldn't care less about the FA Cup as our team can hardly keep its head above relegation waters in the Premiership so I guess the team felt the same and were not motivated to get stuck in in the FA Cup. Now we're away to Burnley in the Premiership where the most we can dream of must be a draw!
EAB is steadily increasing its number of readers/followers on its exclusively English language facebook page which has regular news snippets, photos and explanations of EAB's vision. Please help us spread the word about this important communications tool by first of all visiting our page https://www.facebook.com/eabrazil and clicking on the word "like".
Once you have done this please share the news of EAB's English language facebook page amongst your friends and contacts on facebook by clicking on "share" near top right on the page and writing a word or two of recommendation like "I recommend" or "this is worth a look at" or the likes, so that your friends understand we are not a load of unknown nutters! (I hope!)
EAB celebrates 77 years of integral mission in the poor and semi-arid north-east of Brazil this year. We believe in saying and doing the Gospel for the glory of God! Please spread the word and thanks for your prayers and support as we start another year of service by God's grace.
We had a full church despite the holiday month meaning many are away. The number was compensated by many visitors including a Baptist pastor and his family from Pombal and another family from far away Porto Velho. For the first time in yonks we had the Prata Conserva family singing all together - all six of them. It was lovely.
I preached on the Mission of the Church and it was really blessed. At the end of the service a deaf couple asked for a prayer of blessing as they got engaged today. Please pray for Adalberto and Jussara (see below)
I have completed today the preparation of my sermon for this Sunday's celebration service in Patos. The subject will be: "The Church's Mission for 2015 and always". The month of January is the big holiday month here (like August in the UK) so many go away whilst others turn up in Patos visiting family and friends - so you never know how full the church will be.
Being holiday month it's that time again when some give up 10 days of their holiday for the 10-day Outreach with a team usually around 60 strong. This year the Outreach will be at Soledade from January 9th to 19th so please note this down to include in your prayers.
Sacha goes off tomorrow for a month's teacher training course in Recife linked to the English Language School - so please pray for her too as it is a very intense course linked to Cambridge. Her daughters will stay with us.
Yesterday we received just 3mm of rain at Green Pastures which is very little, but better than nothing. It's a start to what we hope will be a good rainy season in this first half of the year.
I sort of collapsed into bed last night at 9.45pm after having had just 3 hours sleep the previous night, then driven 4 hours each way to João Pessoa for the Governor's induction to a second 4-year period in office.
This morning I went to Green Pastures and had a good walk (photos below). I found a fantastic place where a Pepper-Frog had spawned in this mound of foam with a 12 inch diameter. Wonderful sight. I observed hyper-activity on the part of all the birds clearly pointing to their expectancy of rain. And sure enough it has now started raining at Green Pastures for the first time in months! PTL!
I am now preparing my sermon for this Sunday in Patos and looking to the Lord for great things. Please pray always.
I am utterly exhausted, but very happy with how everything has gone off over the last 24 hours!
The Watchnight service went great with 3 baptized, lovely P&W, the sermon flowed with impact, the theatre group was superb and we ended with a lovely time round the Lord's table just after midnight. Happy New Year!
I got to bed at 2am and was up at 5am to leave for João Pessoa (4 hour drive) to attend the swearing in of our re-elected State Governor who had sent me an invitation. I am glad I went. He was very appreciative. However talk about tiring! Anyway you can see a photo of the Governor and I below.
