Today being the 497th anniversary of the Reformation I should think it ought to be celebrated big time in 2017.
My day was good, long, tiring but worthwhile. A group of 20 evangelical leaders from the neighbouring State of Pernambuco asked to come for the day and learn from my experience of 42 years of Integral Mission in this region so as to see what then can learn and apply where they live and work. As things usually happen here, they turned up late, but once here all went very well. I shared with them experiences from over the years of all shapes, sizes and sorts. I pray that the Lord will bless them in the pratical application, within their context, of the Christian principles we discussed.
Early this morning I popped out quickly to Green Pastures to pay the workers and bring the week's vegetables in. I was encouraged by the fact that at the Woman's Rock our worker Pipa has put in some tree branches into the watering hole there. He had done this off his own back so that birds could get down to the water better. How encouraging to see that I am slowly getting through to people and changing their attitudes regarding caring for nature.
Now I must polish up my sermon for tomorrow night in Princesa Isabel.
Friday, 31 October 2014
Thursday, 30 October 2014
Enough to keep you out of mischief!
My schedule from today through the weekend is:
Today: Try and finish the EAB Nutshell Update I have started and dispatch it / Get a bird song I recorded yesterday at Green Pastures identified by a professional ornithologist in Recife / Prepare Bible study and give it tonight in Patos.
Friday: 10am - Give a talk to about 25 pastors coming from Pernambuco State to learn about community involvement & think-tanks & continue discussions after lunch.
Saturday: Travel up the mountains to Princesa Isabel (2 hour drive) and preach in the anniversary service to be held in the open-air infront of the church there.
Sunday: Lead the service back in Patos in the evening.
I value your prayers, and so does Liz who is exhausted and rushed off her feet too as she continues to coordinate the final stages of the Patos church refurbishment project. The ceiling looks beautiful now.
Today: Try and finish the EAB Nutshell Update I have started and dispatch it / Get a bird song I recorded yesterday at Green Pastures identified by a professional ornithologist in Recife / Prepare Bible study and give it tonight in Patos.
Friday: 10am - Give a talk to about 25 pastors coming from Pernambuco State to learn about community involvement & think-tanks & continue discussions after lunch.
Saturday: Travel up the mountains to Princesa Isabel (2 hour drive) and preach in the anniversary service to be held in the open-air infront of the church there.
Sunday: Lead the service back in Patos in the evening.
I value your prayers, and so does Liz who is exhausted and rushed off her feet too as she continues to coordinate the final stages of the Patos church refurbishment project. The ceiling looks beautiful now.
Wednesday, 29 October 2014
A Ducky Day!
This morning I was up at 5am and at Green Pastures by 7am. It's funny how things go but the other day I had a Woodpecker day and photographed 3 new species on the same day. Today was a Duck day. I photographed a pair of Muscovy Ducks flying and a load of Southern Pochard Ducks swimming plus masses of Grebes and Moorhens.
Once back from Green Pastures I went to my doctor's with all by blood test results and was given 10 out of 10 + blood pressure spot on as well as weight. My visits to the doctor have now been reduced from every 2 months to every 3 months. PTL!
I have now just received a phone call inviting me to speak at the Inter-varsity student Conference on November 14th at Pombal so that's yet another speaking engagement for next month which is pretty full including one trip to Princesa Isabel and two to Campina Grande.
Once back from Green Pastures I went to my doctor's with all by blood test results and was given 10 out of 10 + blood pressure spot on as well as weight. My visits to the doctor have now been reduced from every 2 months to every 3 months. PTL!
I have now just received a phone call inviting me to speak at the Inter-varsity student Conference on November 14th at Pombal so that's yet another speaking engagement for next month which is pretty full including one trip to Princesa Isabel and two to Campina Grande.
Tuesday, 28 October 2014
Great Action Child Meeting
A 5 hour meeting of the part of the EAB/ACEV leadership linked to the Action Child Programme has just ended in perfect harmony and inspired vision for the future, with a lovely working lunch. Thank you for praying.
From left to right those present were: Flávia Marques (Social worker and the programmes coordinator for our projects), Pastor João George and his wife Jacilene (Teaching specialists), Liz and myself (overall Chair people), Pastor Wostenes (executive Director of our projects) and Gerlânia (Head Teacher of our Patos School and Pedagogical specialist).
The wonderful spirit in the meeting was tremendous! The commitment of these guys to helping desperately poor kids out of the poverty rut often brought tears to my eyes. We put together in 5 hours (although we've been thinking and praying about this for months) a draft new programme minute for Action Child in a way we have never been so organised before. I cannot publish these details as yet because the team will now write up all the notes into a complete document, circulate them via email for all to correct and adjust, prior to the production of the final document. I will then share this with the EAB UK Board and Action Child Team hopefully in November so as to be in place for its launch as from the beginning of 2015.
In January 2015 all the Action Child teachers and coordinators will have a workshop so as to make sure everyone is on the same page and ready to move forward together in 2015 and beyond for the glory of God!
From left to right those present were: Flávia Marques (Social worker and the programmes coordinator for our projects), Pastor João George and his wife Jacilene (Teaching specialists), Liz and myself (overall Chair people), Pastor Wostenes (executive Director of our projects) and Gerlânia (Head Teacher of our Patos School and Pedagogical specialist).
The wonderful spirit in the meeting was tremendous! The commitment of these guys to helping desperately poor kids out of the poverty rut often brought tears to my eyes. We put together in 5 hours (although we've been thinking and praying about this for months) a draft new programme minute for Action Child in a way we have never been so organised before. I cannot publish these details as yet because the team will now write up all the notes into a complete document, circulate them via email for all to correct and adjust, prior to the production of the final document. I will then share this with the EAB UK Board and Action Child Team hopefully in November so as to be in place for its launch as from the beginning of 2015.
In January 2015 all the Action Child teachers and coordinators will have a workshop so as to make sure everyone is on the same page and ready to move forward together in 2015 and beyond for the glory of God!
Action Child Day
Today is a very important day for the EAB/ACEV Action Child Project as project leaders gather at our headquarters in Patos for a day of metings to discuss the future shape and format of this project. Pastor Wostenes is coming from Campina Grande as is Social Worker Flávia. Then there will be João George and Jacilene from Imaculada and Liz, me and Gerlânia from Patos. Please pray for this important day of meetings.
All the Action Child report packages have been sent to the UK office now. Well done Sacha for doing a very difficult job. Thanks also to the UK team for their corresponding input.
All the Action Child report packages have been sent to the UK office now. Well done Sacha for doing a very difficult job. Thanks also to the UK team for their corresponding input.
Monday, 27 October 2014
QPR Win!
For the second time this season QPR win... I think! The internet link has been terrible and I was getting an occasional score line on Twitter. Marian Rashleigh emailed to tell me Rangers had scored the second! Thank you Marian!
Yes - I now have confirmation that QPR have beaten Aston Villa 2 x 0 via an email from Marian! Oh yes! Wonderful! Rangers are now off the bottom of the Premiership! Great stuff!
Yes - I now have confirmation that QPR have beaten Aston Villa 2 x 0 via an email from Marian! Oh yes! Wonderful! Rangers are now off the bottom of the Premiership! Great stuff!
QPR are in the lead
QPR are 1 x 0 up against Aston Villa at half-time which is exactly what I forecast. It's not on TV and the internet is slower than a cart horse and I can't get radio commentary, but I do know we just have our nose in front with a goal from Austin. If the Southampton mantle has come down upon QPR we have 7 to go in the second half. I forecast a 3 x 1 win for Rangers. We shall see!
This blog has today reached the 131,000 visits mark. Many thanks.
I am fed up seeing all the squabbling and nastiness on the internet over the elections. It is sickening.
This blog has today reached the 131,000 visits mark. Many thanks.
I am fed up seeing all the squabbling and nastiness on the internet over the elections. It is sickening.
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