Walk

I enjoyed my customary Friday afternoon walk at Green Pastures walking with Francisco who takes care of the place on a day-to-day basis. Whilst there I observed a Neotropic Cormorant, a Great Egret and a Southern Lapwing at the lake. I also saw a Grey-necked Wood-Rail which ran across the trail in front of us. It is rarely seen. I also saw a bright rust coloured Caatinga Cacholote and a beautiful orange Campo Troupial.

On Thursday night I stayed up late to watch the Biden/Trump USA presidential debate and was very sorry to see how embarassingly frail and at times incoherent was President Biden. Trump was his usual arrogant self, but I hate to admit that he won the debate.

We have just got back on a 3-hour drive from Manaira in the extreme west of Paraiba State where I preached at a special thanksgiving of our church there. The service was to thank God for the church's revamp which is beautiful and attracting many non-Christians to come and hear the Gospel. We drove there yesterday afternoon and had a meal with the pastor Francinaldo and his wife Carla before the service. We stayed with them last night. The church was packed out last night and there is a lovely spirit among all the church folk.

Spectacles

Liz has been to Joao Pessoa this week to see an eye specialist and the result is that she will be returning to wearing glasses. I rather like this as when I first met her 58 years ago she was wearing glasses! 😘

Last night I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study. It was a blessing.

On Wednesday Great Lumley Evangelical Church held their sponsored toddle with their Tiny Church in the local park and it was a real success! They had lovely Brazilian warm weather for the event which has raised 150 pounds so far for sheep in the EAB 4-Legs project. Congratulations to the church team for their initiative!

Men's Fellowship

I enjoyed taking part in the Men's Fellowship last night. We had a good discussion on the Lord's prayer which was really blessed.

Yesterday afternoon I went for a good walk at Green Pastures. I took with me a lovely cactus plant and planted it in Marian Rashleigh's rockery. The round cactus plant is about 30 cm in diameter and 30 to 40 cm high. Gardiner Orlando noticed it being thrown out by a well-off family so got it for us! I also took a roll of plastic pipe for watering purposes as we're in the dry season now, and I took the Cockatoo to our little aviary there as we couldn't find its owner.

Whilst walking at Green Pastures I saw/heard the following birds: Red-legged Seriema, Striated Heron, Campo Troupial, Greater Ani, White-tipped Dove and Picui Ground-Dove.

I am glad to tell you that it was in fact 4 teenagers who made commitments to Christ during the Youth Camp and not 3 as I had said in an earlier post. One was a young man whom we paid his way to go (money well spent!) and the other 3 were from our Patos school. PTL!

Paraiba Cup Final

Our under-15 boys football team of our Juru church youth project has reached the final of the Paraiba Cup! This is the third year in a row that they have reached the final, having won it in 2022 and been runners-up last year. Local pastor Esequias (Ezekiel) does a great job sharing the Gospel with the lads and keeping them off the streets with healthy sport. The final is in two legs with the first at home in Juru and the second away at Agua Branca. Watch this space!

I am reading a book by C. S. Lewis called 'God in the Dock: essays on theology and ethics.' I am reading it in Portuguese.

The Youth Camp at Green Pastures is finishing today and has been very blessed. On Saturday Betania from Campina Grande preached and yesterday our daughter Sacha preached. There were 3 decisions for Christ at the camp.

Yesterday one young man was baptized at our Itaporanga church.

This morning a very tame Cockatoo (not a wild native bird here) appeared in our back garden looking very thirsty. It probably was scared by last night's fireworks and somehow left its home. We are protecting it from cats whilst we try and find its owner. We also had a tree frog inside our water filter this morning. Liz has set it free and washed the filter.

I have made the bed two days running and am utterly exhausted! 😫

Last night I led the main service of the week and our daughter Sacha preached very well from Matthew 11:28-30. Numbers were down as many were away at the youth camp and others were at family gatherings celebrating St. John's Day.

100 mobile phones stolen

On the first night (of 5) of the late night (all night!) St. John's festival over 100 mobile phones were stolen by a gang amongst the enormous crowd. Our grandson John David was one of those robbed. He was surrounded by men who forced him to hand over his phone.

On Thursday night we had a special youth service with participations from Leticia, Julia, Leo, Bianca, Davi and Murilo. It was a nice service.

A youth camp started yesterday at Green Pastures and will run until Monday afternoon. I preached at it last night in the opening service on Colossians 1:15-16. There are 80 young people taking part in the camp. 17 are teenagers from our Patos school which is lovely to see. One youth there is from Ibiara, another from Teixeira and 2 others are from Campina Grande. The rest are from the Patos church. It was a lovely opening service to the camp and after the service they all played bingo!  

Coral snake

Another snake was seen at Green Pastures yesterday as well as the Rattlesnake last Friday. This time it was a non-venomous Coral snake (Oxyrhopus trigeminus). It was right alongside the meeting hall.

Liz and I have been to visit a family whose father recently came back to the Lord. He was out but his wife was at home. We had a nice chat, caught up with all the family news and read the Bible and prayed with her. We learnt that the husband is firm in the faith and going on with God.

On Tuesday night I travelled with two vehicle loads of folk from the Patos Men's Fellowship to the town of Sao Mamede where I led the street service. Many gathered to hear the Gospel and those who took part were Fabio, Rafael, Paulo Silas, Josue, Dodora, Rebeca and Dede. It was a lovely service. 

Please pray for our deacon and chief of the police Colonel Esau who has the great responsibility this week to police the St. John's Festival with an estimated participation of between 70,000 and 80,000 people. Each night the festival starts about 11 pm and goes through the night till dawn with the enormous crowd crammed into a confined area called the 'terreiro do forro'.

Sunday

Our Sunday services went well. In the morning is Sunday School for all ages and much less go to this than in the evening when we had a church full to capacity. In the UK I notice that it is the opposite with many more in the morning services than at night. I led the evening service and associate pastor Rafael preached from Acts 9. A lovely moment in the service was when all the children came to the front to sing, with 4 of them doing the song in sign language for the deaf. Then they gave us pastors (me, associate pastor Rafael and deaf pastor Luiz Carlos) a little present (a pen with our name on it) commemorating Pastors' Day.

Yesterday I spent time dealing with a number of issues with different pastors. I also prepared a new sermon with an overview of Genesis 1-3 called 'In the beginning... God'. It will cover 5 points: God created heaven and earth, God created man and woman, the Satanic deception, the fall, and pointers to hope in Genesis 3:15.