Our Sunday School (for all ages) will be at the normal time this Sunday (31st) at 09:30 am, but our main evening service will not start till 10 pm as it will be the watchnight service running through till about twenty minutes into the New Year. I have spent all day preparing my message. We will celebrate communion just after midnight as we always do and then all the family will come home for supper. A Happy New Year to everyone!
Today I had the pleasant surprise of a visit, together with a present, from Professor Dr Romulo Alves, who is a top biologist at the Federal University in João Pessoa, who has used a number of my photos to illustrate different scientific articles and books, but I had never met him personally. He gave be his latest big book on the snakes of our State of Paraíba.
The press today carries the alarming headline on the front page that Patos, a town of 107,000 population, faces total water supply collapse in February if rains do not fall in abundance between now and then. This is because of the accumulative effect of climate change and low rainfall over years.
Patos's reservoirs are at rock bottom with Jatobá reservoir with just 1.9% left and Farinha reservoir reduced to 2%. Patos has long been enduring water rationing and survives today thanks to the pipepline we fought for 15 years ago. The problem is that the two joint reservoirs which feed the pipeline, Coremas and Mãe Dágua, are down to 4.27% and 3.13% respectively.
Please pray for rain - big rain - abundant rain - monsoon rain in the first month of 2018. The consequences of no rain is unthinkable.
Our thoughts, love and prayers are with Liz's cousin Pearl Skivington together with her son David and daughter Hazel - whose husband/father went to be with the Lord, aged 81, early today. Hazel kindly let us know early. Pearl is the eldest daughter of Liz's Aunt Flo.
Don was a longtime EAB supporter who first invented having the Brazilian flag at EAB AGMs and always provided them. Don was the most positive person imaginable with an amazing cheerful disposition and tireless sense of humour. It is going to be strange not having Don at EAB's 80th celebration next September but of course we praise God that he will be celebrating at a higher level!
I've just got home from another meeting of the Drug Free group which seeks to help folk seeking to get free and stay free from drugs and excessive alcohol and also to help their family members affected by the situation. Tonight we had a lady in whose son has been an alcoholic for years and she was pretty much at her wits end. We listened to her, spoke to her and prayed with her. Please pray for this lady who I cannot name and her son that God might do a miracle of deliverance in his life.
We have put English subtitles on the Christmas Hamper video clip because it has such a beautiful message from such an unexpected source. Below screen to the right click on the 1st box with lines in it to opt for subtitles and then click on the cog to chose subtitles in English. I have watched this dozens of times! It is very moving!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwWpes5uSCI
14 were baptized at the EAB/ACEV church at Campina Grande - Catolé on Christmas Eve. We praise God for these new converts and thank you for your prayers and support in the spreading of the Gospel in NE Brazil.
I must rush as I am busy cooking the Christmas dinner. Of course my vast experience helps things move along fast... but I must get on! 😉
Christmas Eve was thoroughly enjoyed distributing more Christmas Hampers around poor farmstead folk in the Green Pastures region with the help of Tarcísio and Ray.
The Christmas Eve service was wonderful in Patos. The play had great impact. The church was packed beyond capacity. Since then we've had all the family round for supper. Happy Christmas!
