Here we go!

I'll be leaving at midday today to go to Tavares County in the mountains where we will inaugurate another new well - this time for another ex-slave community at Arara. I will sleep the night at Princesa Isabel.

Tomorrow morning I have a trouble-shooting meeting at Princesa Isabel. Oh boy! I worked 40 years with Pastor Manoel Jorge without a hitch, but now he's gone to glory... crumbs!

In the afternoon I will travel on a long journey to Ceará where on Sunday we will baptize 12 (I think) and I will preach at the communion service. I will be back in Patos on Monday.

On Tuesday we will have another new well inauguration in São Mamede County so it's non-stop!

Another church situation is presenting problems too so I have to sort this out as well. Help! Please pray for us at this time.

Rare Tree found at Green Pastures

Yesterday we received at Green Pastures the second university professor now working with us there, and what an afternoon it was. We walked in a southerly direction along the dry river bed and after a while the professor shouted: "Look at this! You've got a Vitex Gardneriana Tree! Why didn't you tell me"! I explained that I was only learning at that very minute what the tree is, and this morning I have discovered we have lots more of them!

The thing is that when you have a jungle-like environment with lots of trees of all shapes and sizes then many species can be hidden in the entangled branches, twigs and leaves. It needs an expert to turn up and spot and distinguish things. I am over the moon! What is more the tree is producing seeds now and when they turn black they are ready for picking. I will now collect the seeds and pass them on to the university to produce seedlings so as to propagate the species.

Now I have just received a phone call from someone wanting some leaves from the tree (she saw the photo I posted on facebook) because they are a herbal medication prescribed by a doctor for her kidneys! So it's all happening! She has been sending to get the leaves from a great distance until now.

However not all is joy and problems in one of our churches are giving me a real headache and I ask for prayers for wisdom and tact in dealing with the whole situation.

It's raining Professors - Aleluia!

I have just received word from another university professor, other than the one already involved with research at Green Pastures, that she wants to go there with me this afternoon and view the land with a view to helping us plant lots (I mean LOTS) of trees there in the coming rainy season hopefully fairly early in 2015. This is an interesting development as this professor is responsible for the production of native tree seedlings at the university. Watch this space.

Liz and I watched some of Paul McCartney's live concert in São Paulo last night on TV. It was brilliant and very moving at times. A great musician and what life for 71!

I have just taken the plunge in the QPR prediction league for this Saturday at home to Leicester as follows: 1 x 0 at half time + 2 x 1 at full time with goals from Austin and Barton. I was severely tempted to opt for a draw, but looking at Leicester's season decided to take a chance with a win. Let's hope I'm right as we sure need it!

I have already exchanged emails with Philip in India this morning and had discussions with someone regarding housing for the poor. I have also lined up some counselling for a deaf person with our deaf pastor.

Memory stick Ministry

I was surprised last week when Tarcísio, who leads EAB's Green Pastures church, asked me to start sending them recorded teaching on a memory stick, of about 15 minutes in length, for him to play to the church leading on to possible group discussion! Modern technology is out in the sticks alright and I have just recorded my first message for this which lasted just over 11 minutes. We shall see how this develops!

I also had a message from a young man in our Imaculada church who is very hungry for the things of God. He told me that he had got someone (I don't know who) to record my Sunday sermon in Patos and that he had already heard it and been greatly blessed by it. So praise the Lord again!

Then there are a constant stream of people who send me questions via private messages on facebook. Sometimes these are Biblical questions about passages they don't understand and sometimes they have problems in their lives or families and ask for advice. I never ever sort of suggested this but it is just happening so PTL! "By all means save some" comes to mind.

I guess it would be nice to be able to set something up on the internet for both preaching and teaching and communicating in general either via audio or video. I have no idea how I could actually start this, but we shall see. I value your prayers.

I continue in 2nd place

I continue in 2nd place in the QPR prediction league as I predicted a 0 x 0 scoreline at half-time on Saturday and won 5 points for that. Now comes Leicester at home which we all say is a "must win" - but will we? I'll decide to go for a win or a draw in the next couple of days. http://qprtillidie-predictionleague.webnode.com/table/

I have worked all morning on a project report and completed that. PTL! I have a bit of a cold today which is a nuisance.

Where's Father Christmas?

This morning has been a difficult one with no signs of any presents whatsoever from Father Christmas! What is this world coming to?

Then I heard his factory was on strike... and then I saw a note on facebook to say that the reindeer had come out on strike in sympathy! (Memories of Arthur Scargill's days!)

Then I woke up... and realized it's the 25th of November and not December! What a gigantic relief!

Orange Insect

I popped out to Green Pastures late afternoon and photographed a beautiful orange insect catching an ant.

I discussed with Tarcísio the special end of year service I am going to conduct at Green Pastures on December 20th when I'll be dedicating 5 children and baptizing 8 adults (at the latest count).

I got back to Patos to face yet more problems at the Princesa Isabel church. Oh Lord! Please pray.