Easter break

We had an Easter mini break from Thursday to Saturday at Green Pastures which was very nice. I enjoyed some good walks in the middle of lovely green pasture and trees and saw and heard dozens of species of birds. I also played some chess. I beat my architect grandson Felipe and drew with his partner Vivi. This morning we had the traditional Easter egg hunt with all the family including Liz's sister Esther and her family. We had heavy rain (18 mm) at the time of the hunt which added to the fun!

For those interested in nature let me give you the English names of the birds I saw at Green Pastures. If you Google these names you can see what they look like. Campo Troupial (orange - saw young in the nest in a lamp shade), Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Solitary Sandpiper (migrates from Canada), Small Egret, Rufous-bellied Thrush (sang lots), Blue-black Grassquit (flies up and down on the spot as it sings), Common Tody-Flycatcher (by its nest which hangs from a twig), Picazuro Pigeon (a lot of these), White-tipped Dove, Picui Ground-Dove, Red-cowled Cardinal (singing a lot at dawn), Caatinga Cacholote (making nests), Squirrel Cuckoo, Guira Cuckoo, Smooth-billed Ani (by its nest), Long-billed Wren, Southern Wren, Brazilian Teal, Spot-backed Puffbird (flew out of its burrow), Rufous-browed Peppershrike (singing profusely and beautifully), Pigmy Owl (singing night and day), Striped Cuckoo, Short-crested Flycatcher, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Cactus Paraqueet (2 nests in ant mounds in Eucalyptus trees). Whilst walking we observed over 100 Brazilian Plum trees that we have planted over the past years in partnership with the federal university forestry engineers.

QPR beat Birmingham 2 x 1 at home yesterday! 😁 They are now 4 places clear of the relegation zone. 👍

I led the Easter service at our Patos school tonight and three teenage boys made commitments to Christ at the end. PTL!

Asphalt

The street where we live in Patos is called 'Avenida Rio Branco' and we live at number 629. Next door to us is our daughters' English School. Streets in towns here start as earth streets, but with time these progress to cobblestone streets made from blocks of granite rock widely available in the region. Our street has been cobblestoned since we bought our house back in 1984 but today our street is finally being asphalted which will be much smoother than cobblestones. We feel quite posh! 😊

I travelled to Sao Mamede on Tuesday to hold the fortnightly service in this town together with the Patos men's fellowship. I preached on 'Jesus the mediator' from 1 Timothy 2:5 and stressed from verse 4 that God, through Jesus, "wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth". It was a good service.

I see that Brazil beat England 1 x 0 at Wembley at the weekend. I didn't watch the game.

At Green Pastures I heard a Pigmy Owl giving its staccato hunting call. As its name suggests it is a tiny owl yet it is a feared hunter of other small birds. Yesterday it rained another 52 mm. PTL!

Big Black Snake

This week we found a 'Caatinga's Black Snake' 2 metres (6 feet) long at Green Pastures. It was found under the bed of our chief cook Linda but anyone in Brazil please don't tell her this! This snake is actually a very positive snake as its main diet is other snakes as it is immune to their poison.

The Brazilian census has shown that our state where we live and work (Paraiba) has the third highest level of illiteracy in Brazil, better only than the other northeastern states of Alagoas and Piaui. It is good to realize that EAB/ACEV's 17 little schools are contributing towards solving this problem and we thank all for their support for our action schools which help over 800 children. Our aim is to have with every church a school, as Martin Luther once proposed.

On Palm Sunday Liz taught the adult class in the Sunday School again in the morning. I led the main service of the week at night and in the service we showed the carnival camp video which we sent to everyone in the UK. Our Bible College student Rayla preached from Matthew 21:1-11. It was a good service.

On Sunday a father called Mateus, who had been backslidden for years, rededicated his life to God. We rejoice and ask you to pray for Mateus. 

BBC Global Minds

I am a member of the BBC's Global Minds listeners and watchers panel and have just replied to a survey concerning the BBC's new mission statement. About once a month they carry out a survey on some topic and it is always a pleasure to do my bit for the BBC. I have been on the panel for as long as I can remember as I used to be on it when I used to listen to the BBC at 3 pm every day on short wave radio! Now we have it on TV and via their website.

On Friday night a team from the Patos church went to the pituresque and tiny village of Picotes in the county of Sao Mamede. They held a blessed service at the home of Olga and her husband Etinho who are members of our church.

I have just received the sad news of the death of Margaret Irish in Australia who was the wife of David Irish for 57 years. They were missionaries to Papua New Guinea for many years. Our thoughts and prayers are with David and all the family who are consolled by the fact that Margaret is with the Lord.

I led the service last night at Green Pastures and Bible College graduate Murilo gave a good message from John 21. Nega sang together with three other sisters followed by Manoel who sang a solo. Sacha led the praise and worship with Lucas on guitar. It was a nice meeting.

Women's Fellowship

Liz took the study at the women's fellowship meeting on Wednesday evening and all went off well. Parallel to this a team held the weekly service at our school in the borough of Jatoba.

I have heard a number of Striped Cuckoos at Green Pastures. Its plaintive call has generated legends that it is a bad omen. I personally love to hear its call.

I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study last night and there was a good number present of 30. Co-pastor Rafael brought the study from Amos 2:1-5. Vasti and Espedita sang solos.

Rogerio

Rogerio is a lovely man aged 42 who many moons ago was a pupil of our Pastor Frank Dyer school in the borough of Jatobá in Patos. Today he is doing a job for us in our garden. He is married and the father of 3 children. 2 of these have been pupils of our school and the third is currently at the school. His 2 older children take part in our adolescents follow-up group at our school.

Orlando is working with Rogerio in our garden today where a wall has fallen down. Orlando is the fruit of our Job Creation project which helped Orlando commence a gardening business kitting him out with tools. Today he is the best gardener in Patos. These two men are the direct result of EAB's practical projects which put God's love in action. Orlando and his son have since been converted. PTL!

We had a busy day yesterday with counselling and meetings. We counselled a young man who stands in need of your prayers. We also had an excellent meeting with our co-pastor Rafael about a variety of church issues including the 12 being prepared for baptism by the month of May.

Our men's fellowship meeting last night went well at the house of my co-pastor Rafael and his wife Rayla.

Cemetery vandalism

One of Patos's three cemeteries was attacked during the night and over 30 tombs were violated and smashed. Many coffins were exposed and even some coffins were opened! Please pray for the culprit to be caught and punished. This did not happen at the cemetery where Liz's parents are buried.

A young woman in our Patos church has just had a traumatic experience with an armed robber forcing his way into her house and robbing mobile phones and other items. Please pray for Fia. 

QPR travelled to Sunderland on Saturday and drew 0 x 0. We remain one point above the relegation zone with eight matches to go to the end of the season. It is going to go down to the wire! You need strong nerves to be a QPR supporter. 😊

I have had good discussions with Pastor Valdemy of our Caroa church. Such contacts are an important part of my work. I also sent a recorded message to the Caroa church via the pastor.

The Sunday services went well. Liz taught the adult class in the morning Sunday school and I led the main service of the week at night with my co-pastor Rafael preaching from Luke 13. Fabio sung a lovely solo.