I am shortly off to preach at the Patos church Mother's Day service on "Outstanding Mothers" but prior to this...

Well, to say QPR's survival in the English Football Premiership was a hair raising fantastic experience would be to put it mildly! I was in position prior to kick off and hoped that QPR would play just like they did with a compact defence taking any chances which arose on the counter-attack. I thought we played superbly well and very nearly beat Manchester City having had two chances and scored two goals. Despite losing in stoppage time we survived in the top flight and that was what mattered. I am pleased to see Manchester City as champions as it does make a change.

I just was sickened by the Tevez/Barton incident and knowing Argentinian players I know that Tevez pre-meditated what he did against somebody with a vulnerable temperament. It is a sad aspect of human nature that someone's weakness is always exploited and that is why it is so hard for ex-convicts to get a second chance. I am not excusing Barton for his actions but Tevez provoked everything and managed to get his opponents down to 10 men and yet still we almost beat them. Remember the big cheat with the "hand of god" stunt?

Anyway, we survived and next season will hopefully be a bit calmer!

Liz has been to see Raquel's twin boys and all are doing well. The twins look identical and one weighed about 3.5 and the other about 2.7 kg at birth!

Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 05h10 PM
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TWIN BOYS

Raquel (once an EAB sponsored child) has just given birth to twin boys in the Patos Maternity Hospital. She is the daughter of Pastor Valdemy and Marlene (Caroá) and married to Arnaldo. They live at Tavares.

Is this a sign? i.e. QPR to win 2 x 0!!  After all the mum's name begins with R!!

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 10h11 AM
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LIZ CALLED OUT IN THE NIGHT

Liz was called out in the night as Pastor Valdemy's daughter Raquel (Caroá), who is staying at Deborah's house, started having contractions or the likes. Raquel is having twins on top of a 1 year 4 month baby and is now being operated on at the Patos Maternity Hospital (Cesarean section). Please pray.

Come on Rangers!!!!!!! I love Stoke too!!!!!!!!!! 

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 08h38 AM
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6 MORE GRADUATE

Another graduation service is over taking us up to 67 graduates at the Patos Bible College over 15 years. PTL! The service only started 15 mintes late (a new record for punctuality!) and this was simply because 2 students graduating turned up after kick-off time. The service went alright and the P&W was great. Just the preacher was more long-winded than my mother-in-law and I lost his train of thought on the first bend. He ended up in London and me in Moscow! Anyway we survived and that's another mission accomplished! The church was full and there was good support from the pastors and teachers in town. God is good!

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 11h07 PM
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OFF TO GRADUATION SERVICE

Tomorrow is Mother's Day in Brazil so I have been preparing my sermon for that all day. That is ready to roll.

We are just off to the graduation service (Nº 11) of the Patos Bible College.

Tomorrow is the big do or die day for QPR so am in gear for this and doing my best to think positively! Come on Rangers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 05h53 PM
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CEREMONY LAYOUT

Liz and I spent a good bit of time this morning at the EAB/ACEV Patos church together with pastors Schoeps and Lucena. This was to set up the layout of the church - seating arrangements etc. for the Patos Bible College Graduation and Thanksgiving service to be held there tomorrow evening. We managed to work out things well in the end and all is ready for a 7.30pm start.

I have heard this evening about the death of Jean-Jacques Zbinden (IBTI) who was a lovely brother in Christ and a good friend over the years since my studies at the IBTI in 1969. I am happy Liz and I spent some precious time with him last year whilst we were in the UK. He was always such a gentle loving Christian.

I have been to Green Pastures this afternoon where I had a good meeting with Pastor Wostenes and a brother from the State of São Paulo who came to visit the work of ACEV. Everywhere is looking increasingly scorched as the drought just goes on and on and requests for wells are pouring in from all over the place.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 08h27 PM
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DROUGHT WORSENS

The drought this year, now officially classified as the worst in 30 years, has brought about 170 counties (out of 223) being declared by the State Government as in a "State of Emergency". 2.6 million people in our State alone are affected by the drought. To see donkey and ox carts carrying water everywhere in May is a frightening and pitiful sight because the chance of more rain this year is remote so imagine (if you can) what it will be like in November! Patos is already depending on the pipeline we fought for years ago for 30% of its water. Much livestoke is going to die this year. It is a very sad situation.

Last night's 'Think-Tank' meeting went really well. I wrote up and published the report this morning and am now working on Saturday's graduation service at the Patos Bible College.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 05h06 PM
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BIBLE COLLEGE

The students due to graduate on Saturday all got pass marks last night for their final dissertations so we are ready to roll on Saturday at another graduation service. PTL!

I am feeling very slowly stronger after the virus and am in the process of dispatching the ACEV Brazilian Update at the moment, having worked on it a lot this morning. I have had a long meeting with a pastor today as well as a telephone discussion with two others plus another with a Bible College teacher.

I have had further discussions on the Think-Tank meeting tonight which will discuss a plan of action to fight for the river which runs through Patos and which has been long forgotten by the authorities. Please pray.

One of the early sponsored children at Caroá, Raquel, is staying at our daughter Deborah's house together with her mum. She is due to have twins in about a month's time and was rushed to the Patos maternity hospital to halt a premature birth. This having been done Raquel now needs to staying in Patos for the birth so Deborah has very kindly taken them in.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 12h37 PM
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TODAY HAS BEEN BETTER

Today has been better for me, but I still feel very weak. What a virus this one! Now Philip feels and looks awful and clearly has the same thing. Please pray.

I have worked on a lot of church issues today by email and phone. There have been Bible College things to sort too.

I have just dispatched the latest EAB Diary Update.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 07h03 PM
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HEADACHE GONE

I am glad to report that my headache has finally gone, and although the virus has left me somewhat wobbly and weak, I am on the mend. PTL!

Today I have been sorting out the payment of workers and issues linked to tomorrow night's think-tank meeting and tonight's examination of those graduating on Saturday from the Patos Bible College. The service will be held at the Patos EAB/ACEV church.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 11h53 AM
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VIRUS

As I expected, my blood test showed that I have a virus, but not Dengue Fever which is always the thing one wants ruled out in our part of the world these days. I was 99% certain I didn't have Dengue Fever as I never had any high fever, but this had to be ruled out to be on the safe side. PTL I am feeling a bit brighter as the day goes on so hopefully the virus is wearing off.

I have managed to do a few bits and pieces today linked to the Field Conference which starts on Friday week. I also did a little bit regarding the 'Patos Think-Tank' meeting on Wednesday.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 05h45 PM
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EMPTY ARM

I awoke this morning feeling worse, so I went to the doctor's and have had a blood test and am awaiting results later. Please pray.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 01h55 PM
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BACK IN PATOS

I am back in Patos but unfortunately far from well. I seemed to have some sort of virus with terrible headaches, mild fever and an awful feeling of indisposition. I value your prayers.

With the Patos Bible College graduation this Saturday and the EAB/ACEV Field Conference the next week I sure need to get well soon.

Many thanks for all the blog readers who have now taken us past the 95,000 visits mark.

Pastor Schoeps is leading and preaching in the Patos church tonight with Philip leading the P&W as usual.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 08h03 PM
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RETURNING TO PATOS TOMORROW

Lynn & I continue in Curitiba - a beautiful city full of enormous green parks. It's like being in another country in comparison with the north-east. Lynn is involved in an English teaching conference and I am a sort of body-guard when I'm not off doing bird photography. I reckon I've photographed about 10 new species for me. A funny thing is that I photographed an Egyptian Goose yesterday just like I photographed in the UK in 2010. I don't think it is accepted on to the Brazilian bird list as yet but it's going to have to be sooner or later as I have photographed it, and I'm not the only one I understand!

In Patos all goes well. Liz has been speaking to the EAB/ACEV team being trained to bring awareness to all our churches and to spread love and care to people in their respective towns and villages.

I am not feeling very well this afternoon and evening. I seem to have a sore throat, headache and yuck feeling. Your prayers are valued.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 08h29 PM
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MOTHERS DAY OUTING SUCCESS

About 40 mothers from the EAB/ACEV Patos church enjoyed a lovely day just for them yesterday at Green Pastures. Many commented how they had long never had a day just for themselves like yesterday and all enjoyed it and want a repeat next year!

I wrote, produced and dispatched the EAB Nutshell Update yesterday.

I am shortly off on a journey with daughter Lynn to Curitiba so news may be a bit patchy during the rest of the week.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 09h01 AM
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MUMS GO FARMING!

The EAB/ACEV church decided to celebrate Mothers' Day (2nd Sunday in May in Brazil) in a different way this year. Thus all the church mums have been coached out to Green Pastures today making the most of the public holiday and celebrating Mothers Day a bit early. They were supposed to leave the church at 6.30 am and come back this evening, though I think (surprise surprise!) it was a bit after 7am before they got away. I understand there were going to be fun exercises in the pool this morning followed by lunch cooked by some brothers from the church! What else has been organised I don't know but I know they have organised a good day for everyone.

I, left at home , am thinking of eating some flowers from the front garden for lunch! In the meantime I have produced and dispatched the ACEV Brazilian Update.

Last night our deaf student at the Patos Bible College presented his dissertation quite brilliantly. He received top marks from the examiners. Luiz Carlos is a lovely young man. We praise God for his life and ministry.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 11h30 AM
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