I am struggling a bit getting my sermon ready for tomorrow in João Pessoa but I hope to finish it soon.

The Patos church is having the internal walls painted so the Bible study was held in the Care Centre last night and all went well. Philip had his birthday cake and duly blew out the "30 Candle" before going to church. See: http://medcraft.fotoblog.uol.com.br

I had a good walk at Green Pastures yesterday afternoon. I have never ever seen so much water there and everyone is feeling the cold at night! Sadly 2 people were killed when their car turned over at high speed and went into the lake that overflows into our Parrot River at the farm. The people were trapped in the car and drowned. 2 others in the car escaped.

The Care Centre is holding another senior citizens morning today and Ivy really loves it. It is clearly her highlight of the week.

Yesterday Liz took some toys to some children from our church who are not part of the Action Child project. The joy on their faces was indiscribable. The Bread of Life project distributed food to the hungry this week and the food bank at the Care Centre is constantly in action.

Congratulations to my niece, Louisa Jones, on her birthday today at High Wycombe!

Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 10h23 AM
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Pound down yet again!

May the Lord help us! The pound is down yet another 2%.   It makes life for the Mission more and more and more difficult! Please pray.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 12h05 PM
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Philip is 30 today!

Our son Philip was born on July 3rd, 1978, in Patos, Paraíba State, north-eastern Brazil. He was educated in Brazilian schools and went to university in Campina Grande where he obtained a good degree in Computer Science before going on to do a Master's Degree in the same field and university.

Philip has always been very involved in ACEV/EAB too, and started playing the guitar as a young lad, which he is very good at. Philip is a "people person" like his Mum. Philip likes talking to people and his leadership stems from this quality. Philip is a member of the EAB & ACEV Boards.

Philip has recently returned from nearly 4 years working in the UK with his wife Gylmara and children Louisa and Lucas. He continues with his professional role as an Internet Software Consultant, with specialization in Content management, but now works from his base in Patos. His spare time is taken up by his family and voluntary work for EAB/ACEV.

Happy birthday Philip! We love you lots! May God bless you and guide you always!

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 11h38 AM
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Down a degree

Temperatures keep falling here and we had 20ºC this morning.

It's being another busy morning with people wanting to talk to me about every subject under the sun. Even though I haven't got time I have to make time to chat through the different issues people want my opinion on.

I finished and sent out the "EAB Nutshell Update" yesterday and also posted the "EAB Snailmail Update" which goes out to people who do not have access to internet every month. If you know of anyone not on our email or snailmail mailing lists then please do let me have their address if you think they would be interested.

I am now busy preparing my sermon on "Obedience" as requested by the João Pessoa church where I will be preaching this Saturday.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 10h19 AM
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Pastor Frank Dyer School excels

We have just received the wonderful news that EAB's Pastor Frank Dyer School has taken second place in a Federal Government appraisal of all the schools in Patos using the IDEB federal indexing system. This is a wonderful recognition of EAB's constant aim for excellence for the glory of God. It is also very important because the evaluation is carried out by totally independent auditors from the federal capital, Brasília, thus eliminating any possibility of corruption or local political interference in the results. The only school that beat us is run by the Lions Club in a nice area of town. Our head-teacher, Gerlânia, is over the moon with the result. The school is linked to the Katriona M. Graham Care Centre.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 06h29 PM
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Feeling the cold

We are all feeling the cold here with temperatures unusually low and ranging from 21ºC to 26ºC.

We are all working flat out on the Celebration preparations for the 19th but I have to prepare to preach in João Pessoa on Saturday also, whereas Philip will be preaching at Maturéia the same day. Philip will be 30 tomorrow!

I managed to produce and send out the ACEV Brazilian weekly update yesterday.

Sandra (Down's syndrome) was examined by a cardiologist yesterday and given the all clear for her eye surgery so now we are waiting for the surgeon to name the day for the operation to be carried out. He now tells us he will give us the date next week.

I will try and do the EAB Nutshell Update now but have to go and check over things at Green Pastures this afternoon as well.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 11h06 AM
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Rain in July!

I cannot remember, in my 36 years here, seeing rain in July! It is quite amazing! We have had a fair old drop of rain today in Patos.

I have been pressing on with a million and one things. I had a long discussion with my vice-chairman, Pastor Wostenes (Campina Grande), and discussed the problems in Patos and the fast approaching 70 year celebration on July 19. I have also checked the translation of part 1 of the DVD being produced by the Campina Grande P&W group. Sacha translates and I put the finishing touches. It is a big job and quite complex.

I have also been working on ACEV's Child & Adolescent protection policy document. This is a very important policy document to cover all our churches and projects.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 12h33 PM
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Two and a half hours

We have just finished a 150 minute leadership meeting discussing the problems we face and are going through at the moment in the Patos church. It was a very good united productive meeting. We spent a lot of time praying together too. We plan to meet again in the same way next week at the same time so value your prayers constantly. The evil one is at work but God is greater.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 10h03 PM
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Sandra (Downs Syndrome)

I am glad to inform all who are praying for Sandra, and especially the group linked to her in Essex, and the London Marathon runner who raised the cash for her eye surgery, that Sandra has been examined by the anaesthestist and was given the go ahead for the double cataract operation. Today she is to be examined by a cardiologist and once he gives the go ahead the date for the surgery will be set.  We may even have the date fixed today. We wait and pray.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 11h41 AM
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Back from Natal

Philip arrived back OK, minus his baggage, and we had a nice time at Natal before driving back to Patos in time for tonight's service. Pastor Gersé preached OK but has a lot to learn. The meeting was alright. That's all I can say for it. The church is clearly messed up by people causing trouble within. We need a lot of prayer please, and have another leadership meeting tomorrow to discuss the situation.

 Escrito por John Philip Medcraft às 12h15 AM
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