I stayed in bed till 8am, had a shower and breakfast, and got ready for my morning engagement where I was to speak and ask God's blessing on the Patos General Hospital extension inaugurated today. Upon viewing the extension today I can only say that it's more like a revolution than an extension. Dr. Paula's seven months as director has absolutely turned the place upside down for the better. It is fantastic! Patos now has a proper modern A&E section after decades of grubby dingy rooms where the hospital received people. Congratulations Dr. Paula! Liz and I were shocked by the finished product today. Your dedicated life to helping the poor gives glory to God!

Well... Dr. Paula tipped me off to not arrive on time for the inauguration, and this was providential as it gave me time to prepare better what I was going to say. When she phoned to say it was time I was ready to roll. I went up on stage as Dr. Paula was explaining all the work done and exactly what was being inaugurated. I was told that I was next. I was announced and stepped forward to the microphone stood right beside the State Governor (remember the battle over the water pipeline years ago?) and a lady MP. I looked the Governor in the eye and got his attention and started:

"Mr. Governor. Discrimination is something that unfortunately the Brazilian Evangelical Church is well used to. (The Governor swallowed. He wasn't expecting this. I kept eye-ball contact) There was a time when they wouldn't even let us bury our dead in public cemeteries and our churches were not allowed to look like churches, but by law were obliged to appear to be warehouses.

Yes Mr. Governor, we know what discrimination is, and we receive the news of the recent Vatican/Brazil accord as an outrageous example of further religious discrimination in this country.

What could be better then for us to see today a big step taken in non-discrimination in the field of public health for the poor in Patos. For we always observed the terrible discrimination in this hospital just because the patient was poor! (The Governor was now smiling)

So we congratulate you today for all that is being inaugurated. Today, Mr. Governor, you are decreeing the end to discrimination of the poor in this place. We support this. We applaud this! May God bless you!" (I then led a prayer asking God's blessing upon the hospital, its staff, patients, the government etc.) My prayer ended as follows:

"We beseech your blessing, Oh Lord, on these new installations at this hospital today and on those who work here and who are adopting a new attitude to the poor. We ask this in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns for ever - amen".

This was on TV, radio and all the written press journalists were there too. You could here a pin drop.

This was followed by the MP's short speech and the Mayor's... and then came the final speech from the Governor himself. Having recognised all those present we turned round and asked, "Is Pastor John still here"? He then invited me to stand beside him and went on to say how important my words had been and his speech proceeded to develop further my short speech earlier and the Paparazzi were clicking away and having a field day! For normally it's the priests that have the role of blessing new buildings and throwing "holy" water all over the place in the bargain... but here is an evangelical pastor having done it with a speech thrown in which the Governor is supporting! Amazing morning! The Governor gave me a big hug and thanked me!

Everyone clapped and the Governor left the stage and everyone followed. Liz was there to now go with me and we followed the entourage to the unveiling of the official plaque at a distance. Lo and behold the Master of Cerimonies started calling for me as the "Governor wanted me to unveil the plaque with him"!

It was an exceptional morning for the evangelical community in Patos. It was a morning that glorified God. Thank you for praying. It was an opportune day for us to reach the 56,000 mark on this blog. Thank you to everyone.

Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 07h01 PM
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THAT WAS THE WEDDING THAT WAS!

Pastor Valdemy's idea to have a celebration service and wedding all in one didn't really work at Caroá last night. We ended up with neither one thing or the other, exacerbated by some other factors as I will explain. We started on time (the only miracle of the night) and after a couple of worship songs had a string of short words from different pastors as they like to do here. Then Pastor Lindon Carlos was called upon to preach. When he finished it was over to me to do the wedding.

Right... well I stood ready to start and after a long wait two couples officially walked in as witnesses of the wedding and stood at the front. The next pause was muuuuuch longer. I could see the groom and the bride's father, Pastor Valdemy, stood outside talking but nobody else appeared and nothing else happened. I started filling in by telling stories about Liz and I's 40th wedding and things like this... but still no bride.

Well... it so happens that the problem was not with the bride but with her in-laws. They are evangelical Christians of a radical pentecostal group (we sure get them here!) called the Congregação Cristã do Brasil (Christian Congregation of Brazil) which is of Italian origins and founded in 1909 in Brazil. They refuse to mix with any other evangelical groups and I really don't know why they bothered to come. The mother point blank refused to enter our church (our inferiority was evident to her no doubt) and the father eventually walked up the aisle with the groom (swearing he would never set foot in the place again)!

OK - we had a wedding and the bride soon appeared with her poor Dad, who was looking pretty distraught to put it mildly. I pressed on with the wedding, got the groom to kiss the bride twice at the end as the first kiss was pathetic, gave the blessing... amen. Lo and behold, as the couple turned to walk out of the church down the ailse loads of the people just got up and walked out in front of them! Oh Lord!

There was cake for all with soft drinks and we hit the road about 9.45pm. I got to bed at 2.30am. It had been a weekend I will noy forget in a hurry.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 06h09 PM
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7 BAPTIZED AT CAROÁ

I've had a great day at Caroá. This included a visit to Umburana well and church and a baptismal service at Caroá which saw 5 young men baptized and 2 young women. 5 were from the new church plant at Mandacaru, 1 from Olho Daguinha and one from Caroá. PTL!

Now crowds beyond belief are gathering for the last great service of this Caroá 26th anniversary celebration which will include me marrying Raquel, Pastor Valdemy's youngest daughter at 19, to a 34 year old brother from Tavares. Pastor Lindon Carlos from Imaculada will preach tonight. How we are going to fit everyone and everything in I have no idea! We have decided to head for home tonight in the light of the things I have to do tomorrow morning in Patos. Your prayers are valued for everything.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 07h47 PM
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DEPUTY MAYOR CAME TO SERVICE

The service went well this evening at Caroá and it was a pleasant surprise to see the Deputy Mayor turn up. He seems to like to hear me preach as he once came to the Manaíra church too and said that's why he came. We first got to know each other at the ceremony at which I was given the freedom of Manaíra.

The service had a lovely spirit with lovely spots with the children, youth, women and men having singing slots. The church was full but tomorrow will be explosively full as people gather on the Sunday from all over. Pastor Gersé will be leading and speaking in Patos.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 11h15 PM
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DIRECT FROM CAROÁ

I spent this morning finishing off my message for tonight and the wedding ceremony for tomorrow. Having gobbled down a quick meal I left Patos with Policeman/deacon João Batista, Deaconess Josinete, HIV Team member Márcia and 16 year old Maílson who is in Caroá for the first time. He was very excited to come. We arrived at Caroá about 5.30pm and will be having the opening service of Caroá's 26th anniversary shortly. Your prayers are valued.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 07h09 PM
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MINISTERS' FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST

The Ministers' fellowship breakfast went from 8 to 10am this morning and was very good with a leading Campina Grande pastor visiting us. Ever since then I have been working hectically in the office, catching up on all sorts of matters including Uruguay and the Patos Bible College. Please pray for Betânia who is ill on the border with Brazil. I have an idea a lot is to do with all the stress she is under.

I have just received the results from the nationwide bird photography and sound recording competitions I entered. I am thrilled to have obtained 11th place from the whole of Brazil in the photography section and 10th in the sound recording section. Wow! Quite amazing!  My professional ornithologist friend has identified 7 new species so far from my photography earlier this week in Rio Grande do Norte State. I thus far have identified, photographed and/or recorded 162 species.

Tomorrow I am off to Caroá for the weekend to minister God's Word and do the wedding of Raquel - Pr. Valdemy's daughter and one of our early sponsored children. I must be back in Patos for 10am on Monday as Dr. Paula insists I be present for the inuaguration of the Patos General Hospital extension to do the prayer of blessing at the event where the State Governor will be the main attraction.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 10h40 PM
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PASTORAL TEAM MEETING

Marian Rashleigh left Brazil about 2am this morning and must be back in sunny Southampton by now. Her visit to the work of EAB was most worthwhile, helpful and encouraging. Liz and I drove back to Patos this morning and got home, via Green Pastures, at 2.15pm. We had a quick meal and sleep and were in a pastoral leadership meeting by 4pm which went very well.

I have now gone through my emails and sent off my photographs of birds, taken whilst in Rio Grande do Norte state, to my ornithologist friend in Recife. There are a possible 21 new species awaiting identification and verification!

I am off to an inter-denominational ministers' breakfast at 8am in the morning so I had better get off to bed.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 11h59 PM
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NOW IN NATAL

We are now in Natal from where Marian`s flight back to the UK leaves in a few hours time. We left Barra de Cunhaú where we were at about 3pm. This morning we visited a Prawn/Shrimp farm and a great beach. It has been a wonderful break.

Liz and I will be sleeping in Natal tonight and returning to Patos in the morning.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 08h59 PM
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NATURE RESERVE

We`ve had a fantastic day at a nature reserve at Pipa, not far from Natal, which belongs to an English friend called David Hassett. It is the most outstanding place of its kind I have ever visited. Fantastic scences of the Pipa beach from the cliffs and 15 trails to walk in surviving rain forest. I photographed lots of birds plus alligator and turtles. Wonderful!

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 07h54 PM
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EXOTIC BEACH

Marian, Liz and myself had lunch in Campina Grande (Chinese) after having visited Marian`s brother`s sponsored EAB Action Child. Very sad to see the lad`s mother less half a leg which was amputated in May after a hit and run driver ran over her. Despite security cameras having caught everything the poor woman has never received a penny nor has anything happened to the driver! On the other hand it was a joy to see the family`s joy at the gift of bunk beds being given them by the sponsor which means some no longer sleep on the floor.

We arrived on the beach at a fabulous place and hotel about 5.30pm. It is out of this world. Marian is kindly treating to these few days here as a 40th wedding anniversary present.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 10h39 PM
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THANKSGIVING SERVICE

Our 40th wedding anniversary thanksgiving service went off very well last night in the Patos Church. PTL!  The church was packed to capacity with a number of special visitors for the occasion. They presented us with some kind gifts and some spoke alusive to our 40 years. All spoke very well but our daughter Deborah excelled. Then Gleydice from Campina Grande preached a really good Gospel message and we were pleased with the feedback later as some non-Christians were clearly touched. After the service there were cake and soft drinks for all making a nice evening of fellowship.

We are now preparing to drive to Campina Grande for Marian to meet her brother Ken's sponsored EAB Action Child Joedson. We will then drive on to Rio Grande do Norte State this afternoon.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 08h57 AM
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THE 40 YEAR DIFFERENCE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was how we looked on this date 40 years ago!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is us 40 years on!  You can see that Liz is wearing better!

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 01h37 PM
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40th ANNIVERSARY MEAL

Here's a 40th wedding anniversary celebration meal photo taken by Philip last night. Sacha is in the right corner.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 01h28 PM
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40th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Liz and I met in London in October 1966, we got engaged on Christmas day 1967, and married on November 15th, 1969. We had hoped to go to Majorca for our honeymoon, but couldn't afford that, so we went to North Devon instead!  Our wedding took place at the Millbrook Christian Centre in Southampton and the reception was held at the Cotswold's Hotel in the same town. We were having a look through our album this morning. From there we travelled to Yeovil in Somerset where we spent our first night together. My zip went on my suit trousers just as I walked into the hotel  and the cleaner barged into our room early the following morning  but we didn't care.

We stayed at Landkey, near Barnstaple, with Dick and Mary Joy, and were greeted with an apple pie bed on the first night there! We fixed their bed the next night!  We spent a wonderful fortnight there and, as you would expect, had the beaches to ourselves!

We came to Brazil on August 3rd, 1972, with our 4 month old baby Deborah and here we have been ever since. Last night's lovely celebration meal at the Alguidar Restaurant gathered 4 children, 6 grandchildren, son-in-laws, daughter-in-law and mother-in-law + Marian. We have come a long way!  This morning I had a special breakfast delivered for Liz, we have received a bouquet of flowers from our friends Lilian (Companheira) and Jânio, received congratulations emails from Michael Rollo and Keith & Mary Dyer, MSN message from Joy and my Mum, and received cards from the church where we were married, plus Jenny Shearing, Ken Rashleigh, Marian and the Tuesday Care Centre Craft group in Patos.

This evening we will have the thanksgiving service in the Patos church followed by a cake and soft drinks for one and all. Gleydice is coming from Campina Grande to preach. Then tomorrow we (Marian, Liz and I) travel to Rio Grande do Norte for a few days on the beach. Marian flies out on Wednesday night and Liz and I will come back to Patos on Thursday.

In the meantime I have been busy sorting out issues linked to the Uruguay Project and setting all the details up for a team arriving tomorrow from ITN Channel 4 News who are coming to do a report on drought, climate change etc. in north-eastern Brazil similar to what Sky TV did last year. There is never a dull moment here!

Ooops! I nearly forgot to congratulate Brazil on their easy victory over England yesterday in football. It's a pity England were missing so many first team players as they would have made a game of it perhaps. As it was it was so one sided that I nearly went to sleep.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 10h40 AM
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39 YEARS 364 DAYS

Tomorrow is Liz and I's 40th wedding anniversary so we will be going out for a family meal this evening, together with Marian, and tomorrow evening there will be a thanksgiving service in the Patos church with refreshments for all after that. Time certainly flies by and we have so much to thank God for concerning the past 40 years. 4 lovely children, 6 gorgeous grandchildren and worthwhile lives lived together for God and our fellow man. However we will never forget Johnny, the little boy we lost in 1975. (Any parents know that it is impossible to forget) But it is above all a weekend of rejoicing and gratitude.  PTL!

Many thanks to Sam & Gertie in Switzerland for their lovely anniversary e-card just received.

Liz, Deborah and Ivy have just phoned from João Pessoa to say Sabrina's 15th birthday went off lovely and they got to bed at 2.40am. They will be returning to Patos this afternoon.

Please pray for my dear Mum whose health is deteriorating. My sisters are keeping me in touch with the situation regularly. Please pray for my sister Joy who is unwell and my niece Lisa who is far from well too. Thank you for praying for Louisa here whose fever has subsided.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 10h43 AM
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SENIOR CITIZENS

Marian spoke for the second and final time on this visit to the senior citizens at the Care Centre this morning. Everyone clearly enjoyed it and they all ended up with bracelets made of potatoes! I am not joking! The only thing is the way they are made you would never know that potatoes were involved. They are quite beautiful.

My morning was exhausting with so many people to see me, a long telephone meeting with Pastor Wostenes, and so much to do with the deadline "now"! Oh boy! After lunch Liz, Deborah and Ivy travelled to João Pessoa for Esther's daughter, Sabrina's 15th birthday party. By what I hear it sounds like it is going to be an extremely posh affair. They will be coming back tomorrow.

I have worked on a new project proposal this afternoon with Marian.

Please pray for Louisa who has an URTI and a fever of 40ºC. Poor kid. She is pretty rough. Bless her.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 06h39 PM
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ARTS & CRAFTS

I went with Liz and Marian up the mountain to Imaculada this morning and arrived there at 9.30am. We visited the Action School and Playground and saw the new little school building which has started to be built. Then we went to visit the wonderful Arts & Crafts shop before having lunch with the pastor and his wife. Arriving back in Patos this afternoon I got into further Uruguay matters which took me up to the evening trip to the farm for the service at which Marian spoke. It went very well. It has been another very full day.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 10h40 PM
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BIBLE COLLEGE

Marian spoke very well to the Patos Bible College tonight and Sacha interpreted. I was there for part one and then had to go on to a "think tank" meeting.

This morning Marian went with Tarcísio and me around the farm and on a neighbouring farm. You can see a giant lizard and a vulture we met up with on: http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnmedcraft

I have been in discussions on the Uruguay Project late tonight. It has been a 3-way discussion between Wales, Brazil, and Uruguay. We value your prayers.

Liz, me and Marian are off to Imaculada in the morning.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 12h50 AM
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MAGAZINE

I had a visit from the editor of a very up-market magazine in Paraíba yesterday morning who invited me to write a monthly article. I agreed and was then asked to produce the first article as soon as possible. Hence much of my day yesterday was taken up doing this and by late afternoon I dispatched it. It's all work but these are opportunities to a mass readership that can't be missed. I believe the invitation has come about as a result of my government "Green Award" as the editor asked me to focus on the environment in my articles. I think it is so important that Christian leaders are seen to care about such issues.

The EAB magaine, "InTouch", edition 77, is now finalized and going to the printers tomorrow. Many thanks to our editor, Peter White, for another excellent job done voluntarily for EAB. The new edition will be on the EAB website at www.eabrazil.com very soon and has as its core theme the evangelistic work done by EAB. I hope you like the cover picture!  

I have had an excellent meeting with Marian this morning discussing some possible new project funding options. We will continue working on this throughout the week. Marian Rashleigh is the Chairperson of EAB's Furscom (Fund-raising sub-committee) so it is great to have this time to discuss things personally with her.

Last night Sacha asked me to call in to her house with her and just as well we went! For their little puppy had somehow got itself into a little plastic pool they have for Alice and would have drowned had we not arrived before it tired too much from keeping its nose out of the water. Sacha's husband was out at work. We took the puppy to Vet Deborah to be blown dry and checked over. All is well!

 

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 12h26 PM
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EXCELLENT SERVICE

Marian Rashleigh spoke superbly last night in the Patos church. Sometimes interpreted messages can drag a bit but this was dynamic and to the point. Her message was followed by two lovely songs from Sacha with her husband Biba on the drums. Then I preached the final message. A great evening! PTL!

We have a busy week infront of us. Marian will be visiting the EAB Patos School and a child that was featured on InTouch edition 71's cover. Tomorrow she will be working with a Crafts group at the Care Centre in the afternoon and speaking to the Rotary Club in the evening. On Wednesday we will be climbing a small mountain near Green Pastures farm in the morning and then she will be speaking to the Patos Bible College at night. On Thursday Liz and I will be taking Marian to Imaculada to visit projects there in the day time and Marian will be speaking at the Green Pastures church in the evening. On Friday Marian will be working with the Senior Citizens group at the Care Centre again.

On Saturday evening we will be having a family meal, with Marian too of course, to celebrate Liz and I's 40th wedding anniversary which actually is on Sunday, 15th. On Sunday itself we will be holding a special evangelistic thanksgiving service for our 40 years together and Gleydice from Campina Grande (the one who leads the singing on the DVDs sold in the UK) will be the speaker.

So please do pray for the week we have ahead of us. May God be glorified and many reached through all the activities.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 09h05 AM
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PREPARED

I have prepared my message for this evening all morning. Marian Rashleigh is going to bring a challenging message to the church first, with the help of some missions photographs via powerpoint, and then I am going to bring part two applying the challenge to the specifics of our context. We are looking forward to a great service and value your prayers.

Liz drove to Sunday School this morning of which she is the coordinator.

Pastor Gersé and his wife Sandra had to go to Passagem this morning as we received a call for help there. We don't know what the problem is as yet. Please pray anyway.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 01h14 PM
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