banhocheiroso

2008-02-25T05:21:00.004-04:00

Arrival in the UK

We have much to praise God for. The last days in Brazil were excellent. A "surprise" party for us the night before we left turned into an extended time for testimonies of what the Lord had done over the last years. A large number of people spoke, for between 2 to 5 minutes each. We were amazed and overwhelmed by the consistency and depth of people's words, and so thankful for what God has done in the Peregrinos. Our journey began with a send-off at the airport - never the easiest of moments, with high emotions and no time or space for the words that might actually do justice to it all. But we left - seeing the group still in the observation area even as we took off for São Paulo.

At São Paulo a problem with our airline's seating arrangements, already evident at check-in in Florianópolis, became clearer as we boarded the big Airbus, to find passengers milling about in a confusion of divided families and general mayhem. We kept quiet and sweet... in hope. And hope did not disappoint, as the steward arrived, telling us, in the tones normally reserved for bad medical news, that we were being upgraded to business class. We replied, in an appropriately quiet manner, stiff-upper-lipped, blitz-spirited and with clear echoes of Captain Oates, that we were prepared to go along with his suggestion. We managed to enjoy the journey very much.

On arrival we were met by parentals (2), progeny (1, male) and Caroline Nicholls, and after a cup of tea in Starbucks (not known for its tea, but not so bad) we had an uneventful journey home to Haywards Heath.

We are very grateful for the provision of a car for our stay: an Astra, property of Bob and Veronica Campen from Cuckfield, which they are keeping on for us having just bought another car. This is an ENORMOUS help in what will be by no means an easy year financially.

Our first Sunday back at HHEFC felt very "normal". We had a visiting preacher, Mark Lawrence of Dunstable, who opened up 1 Thess 2, morning and evening. The songs particularly, as ever, drew our attention, with the mix of doctrinal depth and passion which we miss so much.

It was Tom's 21st though. Hard to believe that our youngest is so old. But then, it will be a year of "hard to believe." Hard to believe - Cora graduated from WEST after 6 years hard work, our Silver Wedding, both our children married. Pray for us regarding the emotional ride ahead.

Back home in Florianópolis, we are thankful to hear good things of the first weekend since we left. Please remember Taybar especially, as he settles into the rhythm of preaching, teaching and pastoral care.

2008-02-19T05:34:00.008-04:00

Bye bye Brazil

We are in that final phase again - the big pack. Except that this time it is for six months. And with evaluations and medicals and everything to get through in order to come back. Six months of church visiting, ministry in Holland, Tom's twenty-first, Cora's dissertation, our Silver Wedding, the EMA, three graduations, Bec and Aidan's wedding, the Carey Family Conference, Tom and Emily's wedding...

In addition to thinking about all of the above for the UK pack Taybar and Patty will be living in the flat for the next 6 months, and we need to leave it in good order for them. And we are looking to move to another place soon after our return, so havce actually started some general house packing, in order to leave them more space too.

Our final Sunday here was excellent, with church lunch, baptisms and evening meeting with the Lord's Supper. The whole Peregrinos family seemed to be there (actually not all - some were far away... São Paulo, Los Angeles, Argentina, Chile, the UK) but we had record numbers for each part of the day. Thank you for praying. Andrew preached on Mark 7 and 8 - on the sovereignty of Christ to open blind eyes and deaf ears, and lead us to recognise him in his sufficiency to save. Great freedom. New people are turning up all the time, and we are very grateful for the signs of God's blessing.

All of this makes for this leaving being the most emotionally difficult yet. It is very hard - and yet we are desperate to see our children and wider family and church in the UK. What a strange life, to have your heart so firmly linked to two places.

Tonight there is a "surprise" farewell party, and tomorrow we fly. So much to do... We will try to get back to the blogging rhythm in the UK.

Singing with Taybar, Giovanna, Timóteo and Lídia after the three were baptised.

Further photos of the final days here are visible here.

Peregrinos' Carnival Retreat
Carnival fell early this year, and we havd a long weekend near the beach at Rio Vermelho, in the North of the island. We sought to brng new members up to speed with our basis and vision as a church by looking at the four aspects of church life visible in Acts 2:42. The days were hectic, made challenging by blocked toilets, and by a number of serious pastoral issues that were "uindergoing treatment" throughout the days. God was very good, and the event was an immense refreshment and moment of orientation.

Photos of the retreat can be seen here,
here
and here.

IPL
It was a joy to be involved in the ABU (UCCF) national leaders' training event in January. We spent two weeks with them, out of a three week conference, and believe that a key avenue for future ministry has been opned up for us. We are booked to return next year, and to be involved in the staff-workers' conference in October.

Photos of the IPL can be seen here.

2007-12-18T14:14:00.004-04:00

Crossing the road - we see very few seriously big spiders - this was the first in all these years in South Brazil. But it is impressive when you can spot a spider while driving at speed. We stopped and went back to take a photo. Alex, an English friend of ours, drove over one the other day. He said that, as well as the shock of being able to clearly see its legs while driving at 80 mph, there was a distinct double thump as his tyres squashed it.

Visitors

Glenn and Winifred Every-Clayton, at Praia Brava, Florianópolis

When we moved to Haywards Heath in 1987 we needed to come up to speed with the missionaries that the church already supported. One couple with whom we always got on well were Glenn and Winifred, who work in Recife, up in the North-East. We have stayed in touch with them over the years, but have seen less of each other since we came to live in Brazil than when we were in England. However, they recently come down to Santa Catarina for a conference, and we met up for a day in Florianópolis.

Visitors Urbano, Ruth and Samuel Vitalino on Joaquina beach

Samuel Vitalino, of Recife, now pastoring in Teresina, Piauí, has become a great friend over the last years. His visit to attend a family wedding was a real encouragement, especially his stunning preaching in Lamentations. Always a joy to see him and his family; on this occasion represented by mother and brother.

Baptisms
We have recently had a baptism, of Amanda, and hope to have another soon, of Giovanna, and possibly another person. Please pray for these new additions to the church.

Amanda

Amanda's baptism

Giovanna

Os Peregrinos

The day Taybar and Patty arrived and were received as members in a church assembly.

IBE - Graduation

IBE had its third graduation for Bachelors students in December. Andrew was invited to be "paraninfo" - the teacher who comes alongside as a friend and guide, and who speaks at the graduation service. It has not been an easy period at IBE, but these invitations are always an immense privilege and responsability. The students specifically asked for a "sermon" - they got Mark 12 - the coin and the resurrection. On te one hand, agianst pharisasim, we need a spirituality that knows how to give to God what is God's AND to Caesar what is Caesar's. On the other hand, facing the liberal threat (in the college too) we need to know and trust the scriptures and the power of God.

ABU

The year ended for the ABU group with a party at Victor's flat, with Secret Santas and all. A good time was had by all.

ABUB /IPL National Training for Student Leaders and Staff Workers, Vitória, Espírito Santo.
We have both been invited to participate in the UCCF /IFES equivalent organization’s countrywide leadership training programme this month. Because of its strategic importance, we decided to go for two weeks of the 3 week programme. Please pray that we may be used through this event to equip student leaders, who will be from all parts of Brazil, to communicate the gospel with doctrinal soundness and cultural relevance. Pray especially that where the ABU groups are weak and currently ineffective, there will be increased confidence to evangelise their contemporaries. The vast majority of so-called evangelical churches in this country do not have a clue how to relate the gospel message to the lives of students who are bombarded with socialist, especially Marxist philosophies in almost all disciplines. We repeat our request for you to pray that church leaders will wake up to this responsibility.

2007-10-30T08:39:00.000-04:00

Recordings

For those who happen to speak Portuguese, recordings of ministry at the Peregrinos can now be downloaded via links here.

This includes the tail end of Andrew's ministry on Abraham in Genesis, a series by other preachers on Philippians, and Andrew's current sequence in Mark. There are also a few one-offs.

2007-10-29T07:59:00.000-04:00

Taybar

Yesterday morning we had a good decision-making meeting. Discussion was wide ranging and intense, the church being unanimous with respect to the desirability of having Taybar working with us, but with a great deal of nervousness about the "how." As a church we have a limited income, being mainly non-salaried students, and what we receive is not enough to support a pastor, especially with high rent values, and the likely need to also hire a place for the church to meet. We have, however built up a reasonable reserve over the last months, so are looking to invite Taybar and Patty for a fixed period, set by the cost of rental and size of income/reserve, with the situation being constantly reviewed as (we hope) our income rises.

The decision yesterday, therefore, was a faith-stretching one. Those of us who tend in a more "hard-realism" direction find the situation very stressful. But we are sure that this step is crucial. Not least, the involvement of a Brazilian (and a very culturally-aware Brazilian at that) in the leadership of the church will help to protect us from the accusation that our "oddness" (as a Bible-teaching, conservative-evangelical church) is down to the presence of British missionaries.

Thank you for praying for us and with us at this important time. Rejoice in a good decision, well taken. Please pray on for the many key questions that must now be resolved. In particular, the difference of a few hundred reais on the rent of a flat will be critical: we need a miracle on this one!

2007-10-26T06:26:00.000-04:00

The Peregrinos

This Sunday morning we have a meeting planned to consider inviting Taybar as a member of the pastoral team. There is not much more that needs to be said here - please pray for a good discussion and a solid consensus. The biggest issues are practical ones - we are a little church still, with many non-earners - can we support a worker?

The other major matter that still faces us is where to meet. The chapel is still undergoing repairs, and the university authorities are talking about charging - and charging a lot - when it reopens. Meanwhile, we generally do not know where we will be on a week to week basis. The possible cost of hiring the chapel obviously has implications for the support of a pastor too.

We have had a good week with Tom and Emily - although we wish it were two or more!

2007-10-23T06:54:00.000-04:00

Tom and Emily's Visit

This week we have our Tom and his girlfriend Emily with us. The time is short, but we are making the most of it: Andew has taken his two nights at IBE as holiday, and we are being lazy and touristy. Please pray for a good time. There are photos from the week here.

As Emily does not speak Portuguese, Tom helped her on Sunday by typing the sermon into English. The result is not a perfect text for publication, but perhaps it is worth including on the Blog, to give a flavour of current ministry. Thanks Tom! On Sundays we are in Mark, having just got the parables, in chapter 4.

Mark 4:1-34

I want to start by speaking about disappointment. I was very pleased with what Marquito said earlier in leading the meeting because it’s exactly the way I want to deal with this passage. We all experience disappointment in one way or another. The circumstances of life aren’t what we wanted. Sometimes disappointment comes in a target that wasn’t reached; we wanted to do something, but the years go by, time goes by and the chance is gone. Or we start in a new direction and suddenly the dreams aren’t realised. I know that in terms of our conversations with each other, many of them are to do with disappointment; people who feel frustrated or disappointed. Frustrated because things aren’t turning out the way we’d like.

This is part of being human. We dream a lot and we lose out a lot. We always have dreams, expectations, but since the fall in Eden we have the curse of disappointment. Obviously, the biggest disappointment, is the end of life. Death comes to us all - life cannot deliver. However sweet your life may be, it has to come to an end.

But even before the end we are doomed to disappointment. The thorns and thistles and sweat and pain of a cursed world haunt us all our days. Nothing is easy, nothing lasts, nothing is perfect.

And that comes down to personal relationships too. Because of the sin in all of us, any relationship will always disappoint. We can’t find in any one person – boyfriend/spouse etc – everything we’d want to find.

What a positive start for a sermon! Very suitable for an Englishman this weekend – rugby, Formula 1. etc.

What does the Bible tell us though? Jesus is the son of God, who entered this world of disappointment. In a way, he also experienced disappointment: friends who let him down (as the three disciples did who couldn’t even back him once by praying in Gethsemane), rejection, mistrust and betrayal. He was even confronted by a type of fame that didn’t help in his ministry – as we’ve already seen in Mark. His fame grew but this fame got in the way of his ministry. He was beset in this sense by “disappointments.”

Finally, and most shockingly: Jesus was a disappointment. Jesus didn’t disappoint by sinning, but by the fact that he didn’t fulfil expectations and desires of the people around him. He disappointed them e.g. Chapter 1 when there was a crowd wanting to be healed, and the disciples were all very excited, he said ‘I came to preach the Word in other places.’ This clearly left the crowd disappointed. The perspectives of Jesus didn’t fit with the expectations of the people.

At the same time he disappointed the religious leaders – they were expecting a great Messiah, who would get rid of the Roman invaders from the country. He didn’t deliver. Even worse, he ended up having dinner with prostitutes, tax collectors and the worst kind of people. This disappointed ‘more qualified’ people as to his understanding of the word.

So Jesus disappointed. But we can say more: Jesus can disappoint us as readers of Mark. This is a shock, isn’t it? It seems almost heresy. But here we are in Chapter 4 and there’s already a problem. Why?

Because in Chapter 1 Jesus has authority which is absolute. He can speak the word, call someone, and in this way, penetrate the heart of a human being. He speaks, and they follow immediately! And we’ve already said: not everyone can do this. If you try it, you’ll have problems. Because we don’t have this authority, but Jesus does have this authority, as we see in Chapter 1. He speaks and lives are transformed. So for me the big question at the end of Chapter 3, when even his own family are saying he’s crazy, and the religious leaders are saying he’s possessed, we have to ask “What’s going on?” How can this authoritative figure have so much opposition? Already in Chapter 3 there are people saying we want to kill him.

It’s into this disappointment that Jesus teaches the parables. I am trying in this introduction to put this all into context… because our method so often is to take the parables out of context. The correct context for them is rejection. And this is very important to remember. The response of Jesus to the rejection of the ‘experts’ is to teach the parables – to help us.

I want to give a general panorama of the parables in Mark. What Jesus gives us in this chapter is a vision of history – a vision of God’s plan in the sweep of history. The first parable is the key to understand all the others (v13). I thuink that we need to read Jesus' words in that way. What he’s saying isn’t ‘Well, this one’s easy, so if you can’t even get this one you won’t have a chance with the others!’ but ‘The others all have themes that relate back to this one’.

What Jesus says in the parable of the sower is something very natural and normal. It’s just what happens every time a sower does his work. Maybe it happened because a sower was working near Jesus at the time he was speaking – who knows. What’s the first thing that happens when a sower works? The birds come. And there’s always that part of the field which has been walked on, where the seed can’t get down into the soil, and a bird swoops and the seed’s gone. So it’s all pretty normal.

And there are other parts of the field which have rocks underneath, and the soil is warmer because of them, and the seed doesn’t get into the soil that far and so it grows very quickly - at least, a shoot appears above ground very fast. But this soil’s fatal, of course – more sun arrives and the plant has no way to get a root down to get water, so the plant which grew so quickly dies just as quickly.

The third thing – fields have ditches, for drainage or irrigation. Either way, they are always really green, lots of water, lots of good nutrients in the soil – so lots of things grow very well. So the seed grows well, but so do the weeds and the thorns. And they just out compete the seed, and finally choke the growth of the seed.

And the fourth thing – the end of the process of sowing – the harvest.

So Jesus is saying this is all pretty normal. This is something you see every year, this exact situation and sequence. There isn’t anything wrong with the sower or the seed in this because this happens every time. No problem with the seed or the sower – completely normal! No one says ‘Ahh.. must be a problem with the seed, or with the sower.’

The situation also shows there’s an implicit order in events. The first thing to happen is that the birds come. The second thing is that there is quick growth which dies away. The third thing is a stronger growth which is suffocated. And the fourth thing is the genuine crop. And Jesus applies all this to the preaching of the Word.

So what’s he saying? He’s saying we expect mixed results in the short term. Don’t worry, don’t go mad over the fact that ministry is being rejected, or that there is a mixed reaction. Don’t be shocked that there are people who love or hate what is being said. Jesus is saying that his target is a long-term one. The farmer who says ‘Oh, look! There are already some shoots in my field!’ and thinks that that is the end of the story has lost sight of the long-term goal. The mature farmer says ‘I’m waiting for the harvest.’

So Jesus says there will be mixed results. But he also says the long-term target is going to happen without doubt. It’s definite. In v8 30 times is the biggest harvest imaginable in Jesus’ day, so 60 or 100 times is a ridiculous number, way outside the imagination. And this is what he brings out in the other parables in the passage.

The arrival of the kingdom of God is INEVITABLE. V26-29. See what Jesus is emphasising? He’s speaking about the kingdom of God as something inevitable, almost automatic! As soon as the seed is in the ground, the process of the harvest is under way. The moment when someone sows the word, inevitably, the harvest will come. Doesn’t even matter what the sower does afterwards – he can be nervous or relaxed, but it’ll still happen.

Sometimes the church in its evangelism resorts to saying, in effect, ‘The Kingdom of God NEEDS YOU!’ Jesus is saying the opposite: the kingdom of God doesn’t need you. The kingdom will come, and Jesus will be the King of all things, as we’ve seen in Revelation 5. That will happen whether you get on board or not.

Ironically, that is the real argument for getting on board. Not because the kingdom NEEDS you, but because it WILL come. Who wants to come to that great day as an outsider, acknowledging Jesus by compulsion, and not with joy?

The kingdom also is coming in glory. The last parable says this. V30 – mustard seed. Jesus says ‘don’t get scared because the kingdom looks small. It might look worthless, but inside the seed there is the biggest plant in the garden.’ The fact that the kingdom looks small at any moment says nothing about the long-term.

The long-term is guaranteed and glorious.

And see how this fits into Jesus’ life at that point. Just because he’s getting rejected by so many influential people doesn’t mean everything’s gone wrong. He says, “It is normal! It is natural! It was to be expected!”

What Jesus says here is a biblical vision. The girls have been studying Daniel, and have probably already noticed that this vision in the parables is totally at one with his vision. He speaks of a great kingdom that will rise during the Roman era, that will come (gradually but inexorably) to dominate the world, and to which ultimately every other kingdom must show allegiance and submission. So the kingdom of God of these parables is prophesied in the OT.

The kingdom has begun with the coming of Jesus - and yet is still to come. We speak about the ‘now’ and the ‘not yet’. The kingdom is here, the kingdom is yet to come. And because of this, the world still disappoints us. Because we’re still not in the complete kingdom, and that’s why we wait eagerly for the finished work.

The kingdom may look small and weak to us. In fact - it often does. that is God's way. Sometimes it is like a grain of mustard. Look at the cross of Jesus. There is the ultimate expression of the mustard grain! All the plans, all the kingdom of God, diminished to one dead man on a cross – the hope of the world and the glory of God focussed down to and dependent on one dead body. That is crushing disappointment. But there is the seed. At exactly that moment, the seed of salvation and Kingdom glory is planted.

Whenever the church has gone after glory and power, it has lost the kingdom. And whenever the church has been content with the "grain of mustard seed" public image, it has been mighty. God doesn't work by the great structures and the power-plays - he works through the simplicity and apparent weakness of the word - and so brings his kingdom, his harvest, in.

I want to try and apply this to us. Those who have ears to hear, let them hear! Those who have ears to hear will invest in the kingdom of God. Those who think in terms of what they can get: career, person, car, house, etc, will end up disappointed. But those who put their trust Christ and in the coming kingdom of God will not be disappointed. Nothing can take it away from us.

The point for today is: Bury the disappointments of this life in the certainty that the kingdom to come is guaranteed and glorious. The hurts and pain, the missed chances and people who let us down. Our own self-hate and disillusion, Spend your time, effort and thought working for God in the future, and let God take care of your present. (Sometimes we say the opposite – worry about today, not about tomorrow, and that is Biblical, but actually there is no contradiction – we are to look for eternity.)

Look to the eternal goal. It is guaranteed, and glorious. It is the goal worth striving for.

So go for it! Because that is what Jesus did. He fixed his eyes on the great eternal glory, and he bore with patience the time for "mustard seeds." If that’s what he did for us, how much more should we strive to do the same for him.

2007-10-11T16:59:00.000-04:00

Day off - 10 October 2007

Having not had a proper day off for a while, we were almost too tired to get much out of this one. However, we went for a walk on Barra beach. Having been for walks when we went looking for whales, and seen none, this time we went to a beach where they don't often show, and there is no high viewpoint to see them from - and we saw a family group. See photos here.

2007-10-11T14:18:00.000-04:00

Nick McQuaker's visit

Nick McQuaker, one of the pastors at our home church, Haywards Heath Evangelical Free Church, came to visit for 11 days or so. It has been a long time since he was here - so much has happened - and it was really good to receive him into a very different situation from the one he saw last time. God really blessed his visit, in terms of personal communion, and ministry to the gathered church, in one form or another.

The Peregrinos Church Retreat - and questions of future leadership

The church at the retreat - 7 people who were present for at least part of the time didn't make it for this photo.

Nick ministered on Exodus 3/4; 14 and 19:1-6. His expositions were exceptional - just what we needed to hear, individually and corporately. Andrew did the interpreting - a new experience, and one which, although very exhausting, was surprisingly satisfying.

Taybar and Patty were also with us. The church is considering Taybar as a possible pastor in harness with Andrew. He is currently working as an auxiliary pastor in Blumenau, being particularly involved with a centre for drug rehabilitation. He would like to be teaching and preaching more, and the church here likes his approach and thoughtful expositions. He ministered on Friday night on Ephesians - Paul's prayer at the end of the chapter. On Saturday morning, after Nick's first exposition, Taybar opened up Daniel 1 - very clear and penetrating applications to the culture and life of the congregation. On the Saturday night we had an interview with the couple, which went a long way to building understanding and clearing the ground for a decision on a possible call to Taybar. Please pray on for this matter!

Taybar and Patty

Much volleyball on Saturday afternoon.

Testing the waters - a good walk on Campeche beach

Other photos of the retreat are available here
Yet more available here

Visit to Belo Horizonte

Nick's time in Brasil was divided between the days spent here in Florianópolis and a visit to BH, to be with and work with Rodrigo and Lívia. Andrew went too, doing the interpreting for a two-day workshop on Zechariah (immensely tiring - the most exhausting work I have ever done). Nick then preached on the Sunday at First Presbyterian, while Andrew preached four messages on Ephesians for the second anniversary of the Pampulha Presbyterian Church.

Nick with the group of pastors gathered for two days intensive training on preaching Zechariah.

Nick chatting with a number of Brazilian men of letters in a Belo Horizonte square. They didn't seem to be able to get a word in edgeways!

Sunday morning - 8.30 breakfast with Pampulha Presbyterian Church

Young people from First Presbyterian present as a group on Saturday night.

More photos of the visit to BH here

More workers for Floripa?

As well as the news concerning Taybar and Patty above, we need to share the following. Graham and Tina Nash have encountered difficulties in their thinking about whether and how to join us in Floripa, mainly due to the educational needs of their girls. Please pray that they will come to a godly decision for their family, and glorify God whether in Brazil or in England.

Another possibility in the long term (2-3 years) has come up. Mary Brown, a history student from UCL, has spent six weeks with the Peregrinos. She has been in the country before, and can already get by in Portuguese. She came to Maranata Bible Institute (Paraná) with us, attended Andrew’s classes at IBE, Cora’s Bible studies on OT prophets, Bible Studies on Mark at the University and the “Micro-Regional” meeting of the ABUB in Blumenau. She is seriously thinking and praying about supporting student work in South Brazil as a Staff Worker after graduating, and we hope and pray that this may come about. The University scene in southern Brazil so needs godly, theologically balanced workers! So please pray about this. She is on the right in the picture.

A more immediate possibility of help comes in the shape of Malcolm and Dana Philips, (on left of picture) both from the USA. They are coming to work in Floripa, where their desire is to work principally with students. Some Peregrinos have been helping Malcolm and Dana with language study, and they have been spending time with us, (talking theology and cooking), attending our church meetings on Fridays and Sundays, and “hanging out” with our students. They have also hosted the meetings of the church (the university chapel being closed for repair) during their time here. They are both theologically trained, with particular interest in apologetics, evangelism and (in Malcolm's case) the biblical languages. After completing their short stay (6 weeks or so) they have returned to the US for their final training and orientation programme with the International Missions Board of the Southern Baptists, by whom they have been accepted to serve as missionaries. Please pray for them as they pursue the goal of returning to work here from early January 2008.

2007-09-11T07:15:00.000-04:00

Catching up

We are trying to get the blog up to date after a very long gap! Please excuse the delay. There is something about the process of changing countries, the resultant emotional turmoil and quase depression, that seems to make blogging very difficult. But we know that people are praying for us, and that we need to keep you all posted with information. So here goes.

Following the changes to blogger that have made picture posting more difficult, we are just popping a few photos into the text, to break it up and keep it lively, but will give links to facebook albums that have more pictures. That way the picture gluttons can get their fill, and those who just want text will not be deluged with pixels.

Visit to the UK - July August 2007

The visit to the UK was the most preplanned and busy we have ever had. It seems that every moment had already been defined before we even left Brazil, although we managed to do a few spontaneous things. It was broken up into three main bits: the Cornhill International Summer School (Andrew) and the Apologetics for Leadership Course run by the Christian heritage Centre in Cambridge (Cora); the Carey Family Conference, and a week at home in Haywards Heath as a family.

The main event at a personal level was Bec's engagement to Aidan Severs. We spent time with Aidan and his family at Christmas and again on this trip. All of us are very pleased!

Tom is going out with Emily Runciman, and she came to stay for some of our last week in England. We had a good time.

Separation from our children doesn't get any easier, but we are thankful for all that the Lord is doing in their lives. Here is a picture of the current shape of the family, as at Carey 2007.

Andrew, Tom, Emily, Aidan, Bec, Cora

General UK visit pics here.

More here

The Cornhill International Summer School

Bible Study group - each man represents a different country

Cornhill paid a large proportion of Andrew's ticket to the UK, in order for him to participate in this excellent event. Among 70 odd students, over 33 countries were represented - by far the most international gathering I have ever attended. The dominant continent was Africa, with Europe, Asia and Australia following, and the Americas crawling in a poor fifth. It was a great privilege to get to know brothers from so many countries, and to learn something of their work. What a time of opportunity and challenge we are living in!

While at Cornhill, Andrew stayed in Denmark Hill at Barbara Arscott's house. In a happy coincidence, ex-Grovies Ian and Heather Thompson (Christian Focus Publications, Scotland) and David and Ruth Jones (Presbyterian Church planting, Tasmania) were also staying in South London. It was strange and wonderful to be together again, in this photo with Barbara, Annie Ashton, and Adrian and Ruth Butler. What a privilege is friendship, and how good to be part of God's great family!

The Carey Family Conference

Carey this year was a very good one, that just seemed to fly by. Mark Troughton from York Evangelical Church was the main speaker, bring a series of studies on Conflict Resolution in the church. We both contributed: Andrew preached on the death of Sarah, and we led seminars on Music in the Church (Andrew) and a Biblical Theology of Nations. (Cora)

More Carey Family Conference Pics here

Back home to Florianópolis: at Sambaqui
(Photo: Mary Brown)

Yachts at Santo Antônio de Lisboa, looking towards the bridges.

Mary Brown

A University friend of Tom's, Mary Brown, is visiting us for 6 weeks. (Actually she arrived nearly a week before we got back from the UK - a little challenge to stretch her Portuguese!) Mary did the Apologetics course in Cambridge with Cora, which was a good way to get to know each other before the time in Brazil. Her visit has been a delight to us, and to others with whom she has come into contact. The younger Peregrinos have made strong friendships with Mary, and we hope and pray that she may be able to come back. The University scene in southern Brazil so needs godly, theologically balanced workers!

Visit to Maranata, end of August

We went with Mary to Maranata - the first time we have done two visits to the same year-group. It was good to work with students that I had already got to know in May, and even more encouraging to see thir progress. Maranata is as lovely in its surroundings as ever, and going through a time of recovery and development after a stormy period.

Micro-Regional Conference of the ABUB in Blumenau

Our local university CU having joined ABU (the Brazilian UCCF) we got roped-in to participate in a regional conference in Blumenau. It would seem that such ministry may begin to open up as a significant part of our lives in the future: please pray for wisdom and strength in this important work.

More photos of the ABU conference here.

IBE

IBE - Homiletics I class, with half the group young Peregrinos.
Front row from left: Demerval, Aimoré, Lara, Mary, Bernardo
Back row: Wladimir, Rogério, Rodrigo, Eric, Solomon

At IBE this semester Andrew is teaching Homiletics (Mondays) to a group composed in large part of young Peregrinos. On Tuesdays he is with a mixed-year IBE group looking at the general letters.

Peregrinos

We have returned to a sense of spiritual battle in the church. There are a number of issues that we need to address, and a number of people who are going through times of challenge and temptation. It is SO hard to get the agenda of decision-making and planning for the future up to speed.

We have also returned to find that we are losing some people. André and Josi have not been in membership long, and they arrived already knowing that they could be called at any time to move to the North of the state. However, they had already been waiting two years for the summons, and it is a blow to lose them so soon. In addition, Josi's brother Fábio, who was baptised in July, will move with them. André is now undergoing a period of training in Rio, before the definite move to São Francisco do Sul or Joinville. Please pray that they may find a good church in the new town: we already have some contacts.

On the positive side, Lara has now come into membership, and we have other visitors. We are currently unable to use the University Chapel, as it is undergoing (much needed) repairs. We may well have to pay for the use of the premises on our return. For the moment we are meeting in a house owned by the Southern Baptist Mission (IMB) and presently occupied by our friends Malcolm and Dana Philips, a young couple who we met earlier in the year who are considering service in Brazil, specifically in Florianópolis. Their friendship, hospitality and theological sanity have meant a lot to us in recent days.

We are also in the process of considering a possible pastor for the church: Taybar, whose wedding photos can be seen under September of last year. But there is so much to sort out! Please pray for us.

Cora's Girls' Bible study

Front, on floor, from left: Elisa, Kari, Dana Philips
Back, on sofa or standing: Cora, Patty, Fran, Roberta, Lara, Giovanna, Mary

More photos of Peregrinos' events and friends here

2007-07-08T22:44:00.000-04:00

An excellent Sunday

A really good Sunday - a constructive members' meeting in the morning, and a good meeting in the afternoon. Evangelistic preaching from Acts 16 - paving the way for a series in Philippians while we are away.

Church membership reached 27 today.

2007-07-07T08:23:00.000-04:00

Meeting for Peregrinos Church Members

We have an important meeting for members of the church tomorrow morning, to deal with a number of matters, including an application for membership, but also to give time for the first airing of some possible directions for future leadership and pastoral care of the church. Please pray - we meet from 9.00 in the morning.

Recycling caterpillar marks the composting area in the park

2007-07-06T18:04:00.000-04:00

Baptism of Fábio and Roberta

Questions for Confessional answers: Fábio before.

Roberta after: a moment before praying for her, still in the pool.

The two are received into membership at the Lord's Table: Elisa prays for Roberta before André prays for Fábio.

Last Sunday was a wonderful day. The baptisms were held at a neighbouring Baptist church in the afternoon, and all went well. Alex even managed to get the water comfortably tepid - all three of those who were to get wet were a bit concerned on this point. The sermon was from Acts 17 - the four great moments in history: Creation, Judgement, Cross/Resurrection and Now. Baptism is a gift from God to make a particular "Now" very memorable as the moment of application of a seal of his gospel to us. We said the Nicene Creed together, prayed, and baptised the two young people.

The evening (5 o'clock) meeting went even better. A good number, an exposition of 1 Cor11, and the Lord's Supper. Plus the two new members. Thank you for praying!

Photos thanks to Alex.

2007-06-29T09:34:00.000-04:00

Baptism of Roberta and Fábio

This Sunday (1st June) we will be baptising Roberta and Fábio, God willing. Given the temperature at this time of the year, we are glad that it wil not occur in lake, sea, river or swimming pool, but in the heated baptistry of a local church.

Both young people are from Roman Catholic families. Fábio's sister, Josi, is already a member of the church, having been an Evangelical Christian for some years. Roberta is the first in her immediate family to join an Evangelical Church. She came to a full faith in Christ while doing confirmation in the RC Church, and has had a two year pilgrimage to this point. Please pray for the two of them, and for others who may come to the meeting.

Visit from Ronaldo Pernambuco

The Peregrino who peregrinates more than any other is Ronaldo Pernambuco. He made a very significant contribution to the life of the church in 2005 to 2006, and then left us for Monte Verde, São Paulo. He is now about to go to the UK, to do the EMF course at Welwyn. He came down for a week, while we were in Maranhão, and in the short time made an impact on those who have only arrived since he left. Solid in theology, catholic in spirit, always warm, encouraging and wise, he is a real blessing to us. We hope and pray that his time at Guessens will be really useful, preparing him for ministry back home in Brazil. It would be no bad thing if he ended up moving back here to Florianópolis!

2007-06-26T10:17:00.000-04:00

Help! It has been ages! Much travel, much busyness here at home – we have not been out of contact so long for ages. Sorry!

We have much to report.

Please note that, because of technical difficulties in posting photos in the Blog, this time there are albums of photos in Facebook, and links in order to see them. We hope that this does not inconvenience regular readers! In order to make comments on the photos, it is necessary to me a member of Facebook, but this is not hard, and can be useful!

Peregrinos

Things continue to progress well. Roberta will be baptised this Sunday, God willing. It is great to see someone being baptised who has such a clear understanding of the gospel – her pilgrimage from a serious Roman Catholic background, leaving no theological stone unturned, has made her a sharp-minded and strong young Christian. The general atmosphere in the church is good, with a good level of fellowship between the older, long term members, and the new arrivals. And more new arrivals are older now!

We went with a group of the youngies to the Festa do Pinhão in Lages - an interesting event, which is supposed to celebrate gaúcho culture. We had a good time, anyway!

Goiânia - The Colloquium Conference

The Colloquium conference was very good! It is the one event in the annual calendar where we go to receive - just to hear the Word consistently ministered. Jerram Barrs and Hans Bayer spoke in a tremendously helpful and challenging way. Hans on Mark 8 and 9 took us to depths of insight into God’s grace that we had never glimpsed before. Jerram’s talks on culture were exactly what we who work in Brazil needed to hear. All was full of grace and life and warmth – Christianity with a human face indeed.

Hans’ wife Susan came too, and fellowship with this couple was excellent. Both were converted through the Schaeffers in the early 70s, and together with Jerram brought something of the flavour of L’Abri from that period to life for us. Our dream is to see a ministry in Florianópolis along these lines, and we were spurred on by our conversatyions with the Bayers and with Jerram. One remark of Susan's was of particular value: she said that the Schaeffers prayed that the Lord would send those who were genuinely seeking and keep out those who would damage the work - and then received with open arms all who who arrived at the door. This practical prayerfulness and prayerful practicality seems to me to express the very essence of faith and was a great encouragement to us.

We were accompanied on the trip by Taybar, Patty’s husband, and had excellent fellowship with him.

Photos of the Colloquium conference here.

Belem

The MICEB was a wonderful experience for us, on many levels. It was the fortieth anniversary of the mission, with major decisions to take. What a privilege to minister the word on such an occasion.

MICEB is a joint mission that brings together Christian workers from Canada, Germany, Switzerland, the UK and the USA. The main fields are with the indigenous people, the river people, street kids, church planting and theological education. Missionaries are spread out through the states of Amazonas, Pará, Maranhão and Piauí. (This is an area considerably bigger than Western Europe.) The conference is an annual event, and for most people, the only chance to see one another.

The conference takes place at Mosqueiro, a beach resort on the Amazon a little outside Belem. The Amazon never ceases to amaze. (If you look at the photos, just remember - that is NOT the sea - it is fresh water!)

During our time in Belem we visited the Benevides rubbish tip where Lynne McLeavy is working with the community that lives on and off the rubbish. An eye-opener – we have been in poorer housing, but we have probably not seen poorer people with more serious health problems. At the same time, a community full of life and with a certain spirit and humour that belies the situation. A very heavy rain shower while we were there meant that we took shelter with one family, and were there when the lights failed. This was a good thing – it is good to receive hospitality, and the chat with the children was great.

Photos of the MICEB conference here.

Photos of the Benevides tip here.

São Luis and the Lençois Maranhenses.

After Belem we took a few days off for a rest, and also to see our friend Emílio in Sao Luis. It was the first time we had met face to face. Emílio is a Peruvian, working at a preacher-training course very much along the lines of our own work. I spent a happy afternoon in conversation with him. His photo is in the last link listed below.

From São Luis we went to Barreirinhos to see the Lençois Maranhenses – a huge area of sand dunes with a high water table, leading to the formation (in the rainy season) of limpid pools and lakes. The experience is quite unlike anything we have even seen – land and water-scapes with an other-worldly, even computer-generated quality. A trip on the Preguiça (Sloth) River was also wonderful. It is very strange to be on a big river (by British standards) and to see NO evidence whatsoever of pollution throughout a day – not a single bottle or plastic bag.

We were much blessed in the provision of friends on the holiday - another couple a little older than us, and a mother and daughter. We got on very well, with similar interests and rhythm of enjoying the days. We hope we may stay in touch - it would be good to pray for this. Teresa and Roseanne are traditional Catholics; Arcélio and Adenil neo-pentecostals.

All in all we had a good time. He return to Florianópolis was a little spoiled by the on-going airport problem – an air-traffic controllers’ work to rule sparked off by the Gol crash last year. However, we got home in time to see most of the folks who had had prayer meeting in our home. It is good to be back with the Peregrines.

Photos of the Lençois here.

Photos of the day on the river and the Little Lençois here.

General images from São Luis and Barreirinhos and region here.

2007-05-28T17:50:00.000-04:00

Colloquium Conference - Goiânia - 30 May - 2 June

Tomorrow, God willing, we will go to the second Colloquium conference. Traveling with us is Taybar, Patty's husband, (photo here) who is one of the pastors of the National Baptist Church in Blumenau. We leave by plane in the morning, returning the following Monday.

The event this year has two speakers: Hans Bayer and Jerram Barrs, a German and a Brit, both on the staff at Covenant Seminary, St Louis. Dr. Bayer will be opening up the discipleship teaching in Mark while Jerram Barrs will be dealing with Christianity and Culture. For more information (in Portuguese only, I am afraid!) please see the conference website.

Our involvemnt with Colloquium is an important part of our lives, and in this case, especially, a chance to be fed and to have fellowship with many who are on a similar road, without the load of ministry which normally takes us to conferences. The exception will be the Sunday: Andrew may well end up speaking somewhere in the morning, and is booked to preach at Filadelfia National Baptist Church in the evening meeting. (He spoke there on a Wednesday last year: see photos.)

We are looking forward to getting to know Taybar better, but ask for prayer for Patty, who will be home alone for a week.

2007-05-26T12:13:00.000-04:00

The Peregrinos

The last weeks have been amazingly busy and exciting in the church. We have several people asking for baptism, and more asking for membership. In fact the total coming into membership in these few months may well exceed the membership at the start of the year. But even better than this has been the constant stream of clear signs of God’s working in the lives of many who are coming along. The Word keeps speaking, people keep growing. The pastoral burden is very great – with the issues that the preaching and teaching raise, personal problems and the “processing” of new arrivals asking to be involved. But the encouragement outweighs the burden. Thank you for your prayers for us.

Snowy Egret

It isn't often possible to get this close, but this egret was very patient, while fishing by the pond in the park. The lethal nature of the weaponry - bill and claws - is impressive close up.

Lodgers
Oone change over the last few months has been that we have had some long-term guests with us. This has changed the dynamic of our home, and in good ways. We are thankful to God for the chance to help, and be helped by, our lodgers.

Nicole

Nicole arrived for a job interview, and then came back having been successful. Sister of an old friend, we have enjoyed getting to know her, and, trying to help her through a tumultuous time in her life. At times she is the absentee lodger, but then at times we are the absentee landlords, given that we all have long work trips to make. But when we are all here, we get on well.

Eric

For the last three weeks Eric has been living with us, in the "slot" that used to be Andrew's study, while he, Bernardo and André finalised the paperwork for a shared flat. Today he moved out. We will miss him.

2007-05-17T10:59:00.000-04:00

Andrew's trip to Belem - 10-14 May 2007

My visit to the Marambaia Presbyterian Church was a delight - no surprise there, given the excellent few days we spent with the same congregation last July. This church, and its sisters in Belem, has a lovely combination of solid doctrine, seriousness regarding the kingdom, fervent, joyful praise and a sense of fun and relaxedness.

I spoke on Ephesians, viewing the book as an appeal not to return to the magic or spiritist practices of the past. This approach not only makes sense of so much in the book, in the way of odd vocabulary (mystery, celestial realms, principalities and powers etc.) and thus (incidentally) defending pauline authorship, but it is also a very resonant reading in our context in Brazil. The titles were: The Eternal Plan (chap 1), The Supernatural Transformation (chap 2:1-4) The Ideal Community (chaps 2 - 6) and The Spiritual Battle (chaps 4 - 6). The response was most encouraging.

The soldier was guarding the plane at Marabá, site of the world's largest iron mine. I am not sure why we needed quite such lethal looking weaponry.

The bridge at Marabá

Rain forest coming in to Belem

Belem

Arrival - the Ver-o-Peso market, ships of all sizes, and the runway.

Groups at the Marambaia Presbyterian Church

Pastor Joesley and Telma, Pedro, Ana-Paula and Ana-Carolina

Evening congregation

Group for expository ministry traning, on the Saturday

Stall working on Mothers' Day Gifts, in a Belem shopping centre.

In one of Belem's excellent markets...

A shrimp man - the hat was donned especially for the photo.

Brazil nuts...

with...

and without their cases. The cannon-ball-like fruit that contain the nuts are heavy and hard: the Belem botanical gardens has a wonderful sign near a massive Brazil Nut tree - Caution, Dangerous Fruit! In Brazil the Brazil Nut is the Castanha do Pará - named after the state where it is most common, whose capital is Belem.

At left, Uxi. Have forgotten the name of the fruit on the right.

Pupunha

In its natural state...

and cooked.. water and salt and a little butter. Nutty and delicious!

An older part of the market

Cacau - chocolate!

Cupuaçu - the king of tropical fruit. For me, cupuaçu is one of the world's greatest flavours. I had some every day in Belem - and brought back frozen pulp and two fruits, plus sweets and biscuits. However, we need to get some perspective on this "exotic" thing...

On Wednesday night I made up a cupuaçu milk-shake to have with my tea. Then salami from Lages, and bread, cheese and ham. Then what?? Must be bread and jam. I opened a jar of Tollerton Post Office Homemade Blackcurrant Jam. What an exotic, amazing taste! If I had been born up the Amazon, with Cupuaçu, Graviola, Uxi, Bacuri, Murici, Açaí, Araça and all the rest, strawberries, blackcurrants and apples would be fascinating. Exotic doesn't mean better, just different!

Wire mousetraps

Poultry and song bird shop

Flying home...

A child's paper kite stuck to the side of our airbus delayed our take-off from Marabá on the return trip to Florianópolis, via Brasília.

2007-05-09T10:27:00.000-04:00

We always enjoy product names which have an odd ring to them. Dunga dog food, Flesh orangeade, Fly guaraná drink and Slight potato snacks have now been joined by Batmilk. All, of course, pale into insignificance beside the wonderfully named ladies' hairdressers we saw once in Manaus: Moustache.

2007-05-07T06:37:00.000-04:00

Canto das Aranhas, Praia de Moçambique, Saturday 5 May 2007

On Saturday Andrew went with some young Peregrinos to this beach, where we have never been before, towards the North of the island. Breathtaking! It was the weekly surf school for poor local kids run by Surfers for Christ and Calvary Chapel, who are planting a church on the island.

ABU Floripa Thursday 3rd may 2007
The old MEUNI is now ABU - the IFES/UCCF-linked Brazilian association of Christian Unions - and has a number of new faces. This semester they are studying the Minor Prophets on Thursdays and Mark's gospel on Tuesdays, with Andrew's help in preparation.

2007-05-02T13:29:00.000-04:00

A Igreja dos Peregrinos

Things are moving on so fast that we feel we must give a rapid and general update on the church. Please read and pray for the following...

Meetings in the University Chapel
Meeting at the Chapel on Sundays from 5.00 to 7.00 pm has been a great relief after a year of moving furniture around every Sunday to accommodate everyone. We have really been enjoying singing ‘properly’ again, with no worries about neighbours, and the very “live” chapel acoustic amplifying our voices. We use a simple accompaniment of acoustic guitar and a ‘shaker’. Things could be better: a maracatu practice occurs most Sundays at the same time in the acoustic shell the other side of the campus square. The main effect of this is the reverberation of the vast bass drum, which creates a sense of “worship in a war zone.” But we are getting used to it. The attention to the preaching has been really good. Pray that the Word preached will be effective for the glory of God.

Numerical growth
Meeting at the Chapel has given us plenty of room for expansion! We are now numbering more than 40 on most Sundays. And it has not only been Sunday: a great encouragement recently was seeing 17 at a Friday prayer meeting. This still takes place in our apartment. Although some members are being slow to catch on, we are really trying to emphasise the necessity of prayer as the centre of all preaching, evangelism and community life. Pray that we might know the Spirit inspiring us to pray more.
This numerical growth is being felt at the level of church membership. We now have a good group of people in the process of integration into the church - a group numbering almost as many as are currently members. Most are young, but among them some with great gifts and a degree of proven experience.

Growth in understanding the gospel of Jesus Christ
We rejoice how personal conversations and formal bible studies have been used by the Holy Spirit to help people come into a first or clearer understanding of the gospel. It is very hard to describe the doctrinal vagueness of the faith of many converted people – the distinction between first understanding or clearer understanding can be very blurred. We are becoming used to the phrase, “I was converted today!” Recently, someone was describing how she had been baptized after becoming convicted that there is a God and she should live a better life, but without mentioning the name of Jesus once in her testimony! The past, present and eschatological significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection had never been explained to her at all. Another young woman had been taught that a public prayer of ‘decision’ (ref: Rom. 10: 9,10) is required to become a Christian, so if in our church we don’t require this, how can anyone become or be known to be a Christian? It took a long time to show her that it is what one actually believes about Jesus – i.e. the content of the public confession - that is essential and of the utmost importance. Others struggle with the obvious deceptions of so-called ‘miracle workers’ and false prophets, unable to break free emotionally from loyalty-ties to family or friends who are completely taken in and test nothing from a Biblical perspective. Pray for many more to understand the message of Christ.

In the words of one young man who has been a member for a year: “The preaching on Easter Sunday about the resurrected Jesus coming as judge (from Acts 17) was a big shock to me. I realize I need to understand the gospel better and read more.” So he is starting with How to Read the Bible for all it’s Worth. Others have been borrowing, and appreciating, books from our growing lending library of Portuguese Christian books. The Soul of Science, showing how Christians had pioneered early science, recently proved illuminating to two chemistry students. A student historian watching a video on the Reformation commented that she had been taught in history that the Waldensians were a heretical sect. Fascinated by the Protestant perspective on them and Luther, she has borrowed Bettenson’s Documents of the Christian Church to delve further into church history.

The library has recently grown significantly with the arrival of eight boxes of excellent books from Belem. With the closure of the Evening Bible School there, Graham Nash sent us the books he himself had purchased to boost that library, and we are now inheriting them. André Costa has been doing a thorough job of cataloguing the two collections, so that they can be used together without confusion. We are not talking vast numbers of books - perhaps still less than 1000 - but the quality of the collection is high, with repeat copies of many key volumes.

Growth in spiritual depth
Numbers and intellectual progress are not the only focus. We rejoice in signs of spiritual seriousness, and yet still feel how flimsy everything is. Please pray for deep roots, for hearts as well as minds filled with the knowledge of the love of God in Christ.

The beginnings of an evangelistic rhythm
We are just starting to see regular attenders who are not Christians, and are starting to put in place occasional meetings in order to explain the gospel especially for such people. This is a VERY welcome development, and needs to go further. Please pray for a fervent spirit of prayer for this element of church life, and for people to be called, encouraged and trained up to take this work forward.

Leadership
The pressing need of the Peregrinos is for leadership and a stabilizing structure as we move towards the point next year when we will have a long period out of Brazil. We still experience some frustration in terms of willingness to see the need for leadership, and to really commit to the basic responsibilities of membership. We are certainly being sanctified in terms of patience, forbearance, humility and love and dependence on the Lord! On the other hand, there are signs of hope, and as the church grows, some are starting to carry the weight. Please pray that there might be some adequate leadership in place by the end of this year, well before we begin an extended time in the UK in 2008.

Please remember how young this church is. Not all are students, but even a good number of the non-students are only in their early twenties. Anyone over 25 is automatically a mature role model! This is exciting and scary. We need to be developing an in-depth leadership, with training and investment in the younger people built in.

2007-05-02T10:50:00.000-04:00

Visit to the Maranata Bible Institute, 23-27 April

After a period of terrific battles involving a very unpleasant court case, Maranata is emerging into a sunny period. This visit was my happiest and best for some time, and was the first of a new pattern: two visits per year, one in each semester, each time with third year students. This group is a good one - a wide range of church backgrounds, but with very cohesive friendship between them, and a good level of intelligent interraction in the classroom. A great week.

Maranata people

The third year group - sadly missing João Victor - doctor's appointment.

Classroom photo of entire group.

I had never noticed the cactus by the washing line before, although it certainly didn't grow up overnight.

Interesting being at Maranata in late April - different butterflies and spiders in the Autumn.

2007-05-02T09:47:00.000-04:00

A few snippets of life...

Solomon on his birthday with Kari. She is an old friend of ours, but newly arrived at the Peregrinos.

Popping into the park with Kari for her to chat with Cora, Andrew looked after Caio, who decided that the small plastic chair was best used on the climbing frame. Talk about Lord Muck!

Alfredo Wagner - about 90 minutes drive inland.

Santa Catarina countryside

Bug in the park

City scapes with self-portraits

Just occasionally we offer a taxi-service - this time for Eric, who managed to get a very cheap offer with Gol to São Paulo for a visit home. It was his first flight, so I tried to make a decent record.

Monkeys in the park

Birds and Bees

Patty with Cora for a pancake fry - celebrating Timóteo's birthday.

2007-04-17T11:33:00.000-04:00

Mila

A chapter closes for us today, with Mila's departure for Indaiatuba, São Paulo, her family home. Mila was one of the first three students to arrive in the Peregrinos last year (together with Elisa and Eric) and she has now graduated as a nurse. She is the first that we are losing. She has no job to go to, but it will still work out better economically for her to live with her mum. Please pray for her for employment, and for her to find a Bible-teaching church. There is a chance that, if she does not get a job, she may return to Florianópolis to do a Master's course, in some specialist area of nursing. We are tempted to ask for prayer for this result!

Mila, with final year dissertation.

Mila is a quiet girl, who will make an excellent nurse. She is no drama queen, her presence making itself felt through a calm helpfulness together with a consistent faithfulness in the church. It has only been as we have come towards the end of her time here that we have realised just how important she has become to us all, and what a big gap she will leave. Quiet people can be like that!

2007-04-17T11:17:00.000-04:00

Easter Retreat 2007

The retreat was, in the end, a great success. Instead of being the moment for strategic reflection for which we had hoped, it turned into a time of Gospel preaching, calling us all back to the basics. Andrew spoke on Sin (Eph 2:1-3), and then three messages on the cross: the Cross and Expiation (John 19), the Cross as the Mainspring of Sanctification (various passages) and the Cross and Christian Experience (Romans 5:1-11). The immediate impact was good: the retreat being a time of great joy, many laughs and of earnest reflection and heartfelt praise. Please pray for long-term fruit!

For those who are gluttons for punishment, there are the usual mountains of photos here, but we include a few on this blog.

Part of the group on the beach, prior to a touch rugby game.

Study time: looking at passages that use the Cross as moral example. This photo is what it is ALL about!

Touch rugby - with surfers!

A Cora curry - enjoyed by all! Food is an important part of the retiro - a big task for Cora to organize, but very much (and verbally) appreciated.

2007-04-04T23:22:00.000-04:00

Peregrinos Easter Retreat

This weekend we have the main annual retreat of the Peregrinos. Sadly Graham and Tina Nash will not be with us as planned, as Tina's Dad is ill after a stroke and the family are in / going to England. However, we should have a good number. We are mystified and dissappointed by the absence of some longstanding members - in some cases inevitable, but not all. On the other hand, the young crowd are very enthusiastic and we are looking forward to it.

We are VERY tired - not having really recovered from illness and travelling, and find the fact that the organizational and pastoral weight of the weekend falls entirely on us quite alarming. Please pray for strength.

To have some idea of the unpleasant surroundings in which the retreat will take place, please see our retreats' blog, bottom half of the page, here.

Please pray!

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday meeting at the Chapel will be especially evangelistic, and breaking the Genesis sequence. Please pray for visitors, and for the preacher - Andrew.

2007-04-04T13:15:00.000-04:00

Rafael and Greyce's Wedding

The wedding was a wonderful time at so many levels:

It gave some idea of what an eastern multi-day wedding can be like, with special lunches for three days in a row, including with the Bride and Groom present the day after the wedding. Much music and drink flowing, great sense of occasion and of hospitality.

It was a great chance to preach the gospel - formally, in the service itself, and informally, in many very good conversations. The 11 hour van journey with a mixed Christian and non-Christian group was a great opportunity.

The wedding itself was stunning - elegant, expensive, and yet also simple. The cost of a similar event in the UK doesn't bear thinking about. 170 guests: mountains of food, a number of animals slaughtered, beautiful decorations, excellent music, and a huge team of people working to make it all happen. And Andrew didn't get into any major tensions with the wedding coordenator, which is always a risk!

Finally, travelling with our "adopted children" was enormous fun. Cora was not at all well during the weekend: much love and care was shown her. We actually stopped on the way home at Elisa's parents' place in Lages - the van went on, and we spent the night there, coming home by bus on Monday afternoon. Great chance to get to know this couple whose daughters we have come to love so much.

Wind farm seen on route to wedding - one of very few in Brazil.

The town of São Lourenço do Oeste - beautifully laid out, calm and tranquil. About the size of Haywards Heath.

The RC church in the town centre.

Massive shield bug that dropped in to the rehearsal.

All dressed up - the University friends - a good number from the Peregrinos.

Corks popping - Bride, Groom and parents

The happy - radiant - couple.

Rafa sang to Greyce with great joy, passion, romanticism, and the occasional right note. Eric accompanied on guitar.

Cake and chocolates - one thing that didn't go perfectly - candles beneath the glass table caused a general softening and resultant avalanche of the cake.

Dancing the night away

The morning after - not so dressed up - Rafa and Greyce and most of the University group - at least those who were not too much the worse for wear to appear in a morning photo! (Thankfully, basically the Christians!)

Part of Sunday lunch - around 30 - 40 present.

The lunatics are on the bus...
Part of the group in the minibus - 8 hours to Lages.

The lunatics are in the lounge...
A stop in Lages at Elisa's parents', before the three hour run home. We stopped here, and were grateful.

2007-04-04T12:51:00.000-04:00

Gold linings

While stuck in an appalling traffic jam to get over the bridge last week (left home at 4.55, arrived at 6.10 - 10 miles) I took photos of some nice stormy clouds.

Training at the Baptist Retreat Centre

Thank you for praying for what turned out to be a hard-working but very happy couple of days. The retreat is at the edge of a hill covered in Atlantic rain forest - the wildlife is excellent.

Woodland, garden and open-land butterflies are different from one another here just as much as in England. We rarely enter woodland - and I had never seen the solid blue (morpho? papillo?) species here - or never alive - they are very common in glass cases, sadly. It was a pity not to get a better photo - the wings full extended in a shaft of forest-filtered sun are one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen.

I noticed that this guy was of the type that patrols constantly, but always returns to the same stem for a quick rest. So... focus on the stem...

The "new group" - Introduction to Theology. A good lot - from all over Santa Catarina. Bright and keen - and with a good basis in the Old Gospel.

The "Old Group." Biblical Theology. Again from a wide area, some very able students. I really enjoyed teaching them.

2007-03-22T11:12:00.000-04:00

Next Week...

On Sunday we will be continuing in the Chapel with Genesis 20 - Abraham lies again regarding Sarah.

On Monday and Tuesday Andrew will be giving modules in Biblical Theology and Introduction to Theology to local Baptist pastors at the Baptist Campground just outside of town. Tuesday will be especially heavy as he will then go immediatey to IBE to teach (three hours) of Biblical Theology - Deuteronomy.

Cora has her girl's class on Wednesday - Andrew at IBE.

On Friday we will travel with Rafael to São Lourenço do Oeste (about 10 hours) for his and Greyce's wedding on the Saturday - rehearsal Friday night, so we leave early.

Renato should be preaching here on Sunday night, while we all return.

Time off...

A morning walk in the park after heavy rain made for some autumn fruitfulness and autumn dampness pictures.

For the first time this year, we made it to the beach... Daniela

First Peregrinos' meeting at the University Chapel...

There were thirty five of us in all - just short of the record of thirty seven. The text was possibly the least likely for the celebration of the first moment in a new building - Gen 19, under the title, "The Destruction of Lot". (Think about it...!) We wanted to maintain maximum continuity with the meeting in our home, so simply to continue in the series seemed the best way. The general feeling was that we have entered a new era as a church, and that the scope for impact and growth is very wide. Please pray on. The meeting is at 5 p.m, if you happen to be in the area...

2007-03-16T16:45:00.000-04:00

Peregrinos' News

The Chapel - Federal University of Santa Catarina

After months of thinking that the possibility of using this building for our meetings was dead in the water, all of a sudden things have moved, and we will be starting at 5 o'clock this Sunday, God willing. This is without the need to pay - so we will be saving around 40 pounds per week on the cost of renting the restaurant we were looking at.

We also have the space for Thursday nights, and are looking at doing occasional evangelistic talks, in partnership with the MEUNI students' group.

Give thanks with us for this excellent provision!

2007-03-13T12:03:00.000-04:00

IBE - Wednesday - Introduction to Theology

This group is all new to me, and represents a wide range of denominations, with relatively few Baptists. There is a correspondingly broad range of theological positions. It is also the first ever class I have had at IBE with no women: this changes the dynamic considerably. Please pray for a useful semester with them.

2007-03-10T09:14:00.000-04:00

Rafa and Greyce Wedding - Part 1

Rafa and Greyce's Civil ceremony took place on Thursday at the Maria Alice Cartório in neighbouring Trindade. We know the place very well - many visits with documents to be notarised for our visa applications, and more recently and happily, Kito and Anna's civil ceremony. This time we had a party in our own party room, with friends and colleagues from work and university, as well as friends from church. The couple asked Andrew to speak from the Bible: this is the first time that I will have had to prepare two distinct messages for one wedding! We are obviously going to charge them double...

A second ceremony will take place at Greyce's home town, São Lourenço do Oeste, in the far west of the state, on 31 March. A good number of the church will be going - a bit of an adventure for us as we have never been so far "in" to Santa Catarina. It will be around 10 hours by car. Greyce's family are all non-evangelicals - please pray especially for the preaching of the gospel on that day.

2007-03-07T08:33:00.000-04:00

Mário and Isabel
Our little church is out of the ordinary in a number of ways. For the number of members we have a very unusual number of weddings, of rugby players or ex-rugby players, and of non-Brazilians. Mário and Isabel are from Chile, married in January, after Mário had already done the first year of his Master's course here in Acoustic Engineering. Isabel is now getting into the language, with help from Cora, and is for the first time experiencing an Evangelical Church. Please pray for them both at this important period in their lives.

2007-03-05T08:39:00.000-04:00

Joinville - CEFORM Homiletics module - 3,4 March 2007
Joinville - the largest city and industrial hub of Santa Catarina, the size of Manchester, with a big wrought iron works, and the home to TVR cars in South America, Joinville is very green and pretty. This view of part of the south of the city does not show the bigger industrial area to the north, but even there, the factories have been built since the beginnings of ecological consciousness, and are heavily greenified.

Andrew left Floripa at 6.30 a.m. on Saturday to be in Joinville for class with the Renewed Baptists from 8.30. With a break for lunch, the day went on to nearly 7 in the evning, and then again four hours on Sunday morning. An excellent group - mainly charismatic Baptists with a few Lutherans. Once again it is striking how much easier it is for us to relate to the Renewed Baptists than the main Baptist Convention in Santa Catarina - talk of predestination does not raise hackles, but rather thanksgiving.

The Class

Sílvio, Meire, Gabriel and Camila, with whom I stayed. The oldest daughter, Juliana, is not pictured. This Lutheran family, converted in the charismatic renewal, are caught up in a huge ecclesiastical battle in Brazilian lutheranism, and are on the point of leaving for the Renewed Baptists. Interestingly, one sticking point is baptism, but underlying this is the clear preaching of the real gospel.

The moon turned to blood.
While in Joinville the full eclipse of the moon occurred. After 100 or so attempts, squeezing the camera onto lamp-posts and other street furniture for the one second exposure, I finally managed this one, on a spiked gate.

2007-02-26T06:36:00.000-04:00

Peregrinos
Please pray for the provision of space for us as a church. We have just taken the decision NOT to hire a room in the next neighbourhood, for a number of reasons – cost, inflexibility of the space, and distance from our natural catchment area. But the good news is that as we talked about it last night, it was clear that there is a real urgency in the church now to get out of the apartment. Last night there were 27 of us, with around 7 regulars not present. We have no room for growth. Anyone who arrives late either has nowhere to sit or has to do an embarrassing swap with someone already present. And people want to grow. Kito and I are chasing up some possibilities TODAY. Please join us in the fight, by praying!

IBE
Andrew returns to being a classrom teacher this week. Tuesdays - Old Testament Theology - continuing with last semester's Wednesday class. Wednesdays - Introduction to Theology - a new group. Please pray for this ministry - for a real hunger for the Word, not just qualifications.

2007-02-24T14:07:00.000-04:00

Carnival retreat - First Presbyterian Church, Belo Horizonte

As expected, a return visit to Belo Horizonte for Carnaval was a great joy. Andrew went on his own, for two days teaching the younger pastors, then an evening with the adolescents, before the marathon of Exodus in 8 sessions at the young people's retreat. All events went well - though the numbers were low with the pastors' training. The retreat was a pure joy - enormous fun combined with enormous seriousness. It would appear that two young people were converted, and others understood certain truths and felt the impact of the book of Exodus in a new way. Much pastoral work was done. What a great group, in a great church! Very thankful to God for an excellent visit.

One real pleasure of the trip was to meet Carlos Galvão. A member of the group at First Presbyterian, he is a keen photographer, and we swapped files at the end of the retreat. A significant number of the photos here are his - especially of the games (all of collage) and of the show (all but one). Thank you Carlos!

Queuing for lunch - churrasco!

Washing up - you all do your own plate, unless on a punishment duty - this lot were as their faces show!

Deep conversations

Recovery from the late nights and massive teaching sessions

Shoulder massage - alternative technique for recovery

Praise

Prayer in pairs - prior to the morning meetings, reading a relevant passage related to the stretch of Exodus under consideration

Bees on, and in, Coke can.

Carlos Galvão - a typical pose

Looning around

Retreat Concert - Short, sharp, and of a high standard...

... until the geriatric rocker at the end.

2007-02-24T10:54:00.000-04:00

Silly Games

Football Crazy

Boys

Girls

Boys and Girls These pictures do not ALL represent romantic attachments!

Fancy Dress party on the final night

And so - the bus home - Pássaro Livre is Freebird - Lynyrd Skynyrd, anyone?

Exhausted punters on the bus

While in Belo Horizonte, before the retreat, and afterwards for lunch, Andrew stayed with our friends Hildemar and Marise, and their four boys Hildemar Neto, Paulo, Mateus and Daniel. It was VERY good to be with them. Enough said.

On arrival after after the retreat the boys immediately besieged Vinícius and Isabela's car, in which I had arrrived. "Tem um morcego na piscina!" - "There is a bat by the pool." We all trooped to see - and here it is. Young, small, and probably with some kind of problem.

Self-portrait talking with Daniel in Confins airport, Belo Horizonte.

Another flying thing, on the way home - a Gol 737-800, alongside us, a little higher, for many miles. Our Airbus (we had just been told) was at 38 000 ft. I have never seen this before. Is it right??? Recent events in Brazil make you nervous!

2007-02-12T06:29:00.000-04:00

Peregrinos, Sunday 11 Feb 2007

Not a massive meeting yesterday, but a good one, with several new faces. Two non-christian guys, and two newly christian girls. Andrew will go to Belo Horizonte this week, and many others will be away too, for Carnaval, with some going to the Trindade Presbyterian Church's youth retreat. Marquito will preach here to a reduced group. After that, the year will really, finally, get underway, with our return to Genesis.

2007-02-12T06:23:00.000-04:00

Strange fruit

Thankfully not in the Billy Holiday sense! While house hunting, we looked a a property which had a graviola tree in the back garden. Not a common sight in the wouth - but a definite plus for this house. Now where is one with a cupuaçu tree?

2007-02-12T06:12:00.000-04:00

Magnificent sunset with rainbow, seen from our flat on 6 Feb

Rainbows that do the big sweep of the heavens are not so common here as in Britain - the sun goes down too fast. This one, happening at sunset, with a violent tropical squall was wonderful. We were not the only ones to photograph it.

2007-02-05T10:05:00.000-04:00

Prayer Requests/Dates for the First Half of 2007

Here is a list of needs and events for the next few months...

Peregrinos: the key decision about place to meet. This is still live, and seems to have dragged on. We also need to see some structure and form to leadership and decision-making, with a really solid structure for teaching and leadership in place before we have a longer period in the UK in 2008. Much teaching and training to be done!

Young Women’s Bible Study: Cora’s studies with the young women resuming in early February: Bible overview (Creation to New Creation) following on from Genesis 1-11.

IBE: Andrew will be teaching Biblical Theology II and Introduction to Theology on Tuesdays and Wednesdays this semester, beginning in March.

Here is a list of journey dates as known:

February 14-21: Belo Horizonte for Carnival retreat – two days training with the younger pastors, followed by Exodus in 8 sessions with the 18-35 group from First Presbyterian. Andrew is going alone this time, while Cora works on assignments for 3 ETCW modules.

March – dates to be confirmed: To Novo Hamburgo in Rio Grande do Sul for a Church weekend and preacher training.

April – dates to be confirmed: To Maranata Bible Institute, Paraná, to teach on exposition. We are moving up to two weeks a year at Maranata.

May – first week: Colloquium Conference in Goiânia, with Jerram Barrs and Hans Bayer

May 11-14: Belem, Pará – Marambaia Presbyterian Church weekend, with preacher training.

June 12-17: Belem, Pará – MICEB mission conference

July: Training the Trainers – Proclamation Trust training event in London

2007-02-05T09:32:00.000-04:00

Greyce's Baptism - 4 February 2007

The first major church event after our return was Greyce's baptism. Historic not just for her but for all of us - we are rather stronger on weddings than baptisms, this being the first. Greyce herself will be marrying Rafael next month, God willing, and we would value prayers for them as a couple.
Her Christian growth under the word has been remarkable, and we expect great things of this couple in the long term, by God's grace.

Kito and Anna outside their home - 3 February

We are very conscious that many have prayed for Marquito and Anna through the last months. After their wedding they lived for a short period in a flat at the North of the island, owned by family, but it was not in any way a suitable location with Anna working in Agronômica. Then, while we were in the UK, they were in our flat - a useful arrangement for all parties. Just as we came back, this little rented house came back on the market. They had fallen in love with it some time ago but were beaten to it by another girl, who has suddenly left. Kito and Anna moved in last week and are blissfully happy in their new home. The house is delightful - perfect in itself, and in a quiet and beautiful neighbourhood, about 15 minutes walk from us. We are all thankful and happy with them!

2007-02-03T13:50:00.000-04:00

Back to Brazil

The time with family and friends was extremely good. Coming back to Brazil was harder. Leaving Tom was especially difficult. (Bec had already left us, heading up to Birmingham two weeks before our departure.) As ever, some aspects of the reality start to bite, even from the plane, as we see the "periphery" of Guarulhos, on our flight south.

We had adjusted climatically more than we had thought, and our first week back was marked by real problems with the temperature, including pains in the legs and badly swollen ankles and feet.

However, after a few days, and some good meetings with the church, we can see why we are here, and are glad to get on with it again. Please pray for us, as ever! Thank you!

2007-02-03T13:40:00.000-04:00

Time in Europe, Christmas and New Year 2006-7

We reached the end of the year tired out, and were glad to have a longer period to see family and friends and recharge in the UK. Here are a few photos of highlights...

Kew Gardens

Andrew went to Kew. What a place! When you live in the UK you don't value what you have.

Mum's Birthday...

...Carol King with husband, children, their spouses, grandchildren, and the odd boyfriend.

2007-02-03T12:47:00.000-04:00

Visit to Yorkshire

We love Yorkshire and we love our friends in Yorkshire.

The statue is of J B Priestley, outside the Museum of Photogaphy, Film and TV in Bradford. Any captions?

The grave is for an RAF crew, whose bomber ploughed into the hillside near Uffington White Horse.

Purvs Corner is in Haworth, home of the Brontës.

Haworth Church

The board of Incumbents is of interest. The fiddling around (and negative descriptions) in the Puritan era, and the presence of William Grimshaw in the list make this place fascinating, even before arriving at the Brontë surname.

Saltaire

This "ideal" town, an exercise in Non-conformist, philanthropic capitalism, is an amazing place to visit. Titus Salt - man of big vision, or just big ego? Or the mixture that we all are?

People

What we really want to be in England for is not places.

Paddington Station

Victorian Grandeur and Tranquility

2007-02-03T07:18:00.000-04:00

Visit to Holland 27-29 January 2007

Kees and Lidia van Kraalingen outside their home in Barendrecht

Kees and Lidia have become dear friends through the Carey Family Conference. Kees has already visited us in Florianópolis while on a Unilever business trip to Brazil. As a couple they are constant in support and prayerful interest. Now it was our turn to visit. We had less than three full days, but how rewarding they were! Total refreshment!

Saturday afternoon in Delft

The New Church

We found the interiors of the Delft churches intensely moving. We feel we have known them for years, through the Dutch masters, but it is another thing to see the application of the reformation to these ancient buildings. Medieval cathedrals are linear affairs, to awe the people, and keep them far from God. They are simply not designed to place simply pews in a horseshoe around the pulpit, font and table. But that is what these good brothers did. Everything is visible in the furniture: the Word controls and defines the sacraments; the people gather around the Word; there is no "sanctuary", nor special pews for special people. From king to kitchen maid, all must hear the voice of the living God - and leave the building to walk in communion with Him throughout the week.

The experience of visiting Delft led to my first sermon on the return to Brazil: Heb 10:19-23, with reference to John 4:19-24. Slides of Delft, and of the Dutch paintings of the 17th century illustrated the application. Under the rule of the real gospel, little dogs and children can play in what used to be the "sanctuary." But on the other hand, for the first time in art, daily life (be it of the rich making music, a kitchen maid pouring milk, or an astronomer with his globe) is seen as sacred and worthy of record. Under the gospel Word we trust in Christ, draw near to God, and live every minute to please him! Nothing remains outside - the (John 4) debate about sacred and secular is no more, for all is holy!

How we need to recover such reformation spirituality in Brazil! Having heard a neo-pentecostal pastor describing how each part of the church building, moving towards the "altar", is more holy and has more of God's presence, it is tempting to despair. But what God did in 16th century, catholic Europe, he can do again in 21st century, "evangelical" Latin America. Of course, the irony is in the word, "evangelical."

The Milkmaid - Vermeer van Delft c1658

The Old Church

Sunday Morning Papendrecht Independent Baptist Church

Kees and Lidia's church was a real joy to visit. Serious and sober, yet non-traditional and certainly not sombre, around 350 gather each Lord's Day in a large secondary schol. In locale and numbers it reminded us a lot of our dear friends at Bedford.

Here one can sense the rich heritage in the Dutch reformed tradition, wedded to to a willingness to break out of what is in general an appalling strait-jacket. We loved it. Andrew preached, with great liberty, from Psalm 24. Kees interpreted. The sad news is that there are very few such churches in the Netherlands. May God raise up more!

Sunday Afternoon Walk - Cold, Wind, Cloud, Sun and Windmills

Bridge near Rotterdam

The Dutch make and eat cheese

Monday: Amsterdam

2007-02-02T11:23:00.000-04:00

Our last two days saw snow in the South East - excellent!

2006-12-10T13:35:00.000-04:00

Journey to the UK 8 - 10 Dec 2006

We left Floripa at 3 in the afternoon, with the long flight for the UK only due to leave at 11.45. However, what might have been a purgatorial stop-over turned into a delightful interlude through the kindness and hospitality of Welerson and Débora Duarte and their family, who live in Guarulhos, where Welerson has been pastoring the Third Conservative Presbyterian Church for the last 8 years. He is about to move to São Bernardo do Campo, to be Director of the denominational seminary.

Welerson and Débora Duarte, Vinícius, Virgínia, Vitória and Vitor. We hadn't seen this family for 5 years, which made a few hours in their home between flying in and flying out of São Paulo all the sweeter.

Flying TAM over the Bay of Biscay in an A330: our most uncomfortable ever flight. The red carpet may be magic: the seats certainly aren't. We miss Varig's MD11s! Still, we were only delayed by an hour or two, and we arrived safely.

Welcome party at Heathrow airport: Bec flanked by Aidan (boyfriend) and Naomi (auntie (pregnant)) What a joy to see these faces.

Haywards Heath Evangelical Free Church Sunday morning meeting: Graham Nicholls and Peter Leyshon-Jones on the platform. Our first Sunday back was an excellent day, with fine expositions from Matthew 8 and Job 38-40. Meanwhile, back home in the Peregrinos, Geraldo kicked off the series in James: by all accounts a good start.

Walking home from church on Sunday morning, with Rodrigo and Lívia (from Belo Horizonte - currently doing Cornhill. Photo expertly taken by Thomas King.

Indoor cricket: Tom fielding

2006-12-06T06:13:00.000-04:00

Year End

So – we come to the end of another semester. With relief and gratitude. On Sunday we had a church lunch with a discussion in the afternoon, which was in general positive, although rather lacked the kind of concrete conclusions to which the chairman should have guided the members. The evening meeting saw a number of visitors: the largest congregation for some time.

Last night Andrew met with the older men from the church who will teach through James over the next two months. (Older means 27-40!)Perhaps the best “preparation meeting” we have ever had, with lively conversation over the text and its relevance to our lives today. I would have to say that some of the force of James, especially regarding rich and poor, only makes sense once you are in a country like this one. Anna also came to the meeting, as she hopes to do some parallel work with the youngsters while the main teaching is happening.

Tonight is the last class in Biblical Theology. What a good semester: now comes the crunch, receiving work to mark in the holidays. But it has been so encouraging to see people’s thinking shifting each week.

On Friday we will fly TAM to the UK for the first time. We leave Floripa at 3 in the afternoon, with 7 hours to spend in São Paulo airport before getting the midnight plane to Heathrow. It is possible that we may see old friends Welerson and Débora at the airport: we hope so.

In the UK we intend to rest. There will be some work to do, but we are trying not to get too busy. This year has been very draining, and we need to think seriously about the pace of life over the coming twelve months. Andrew has been in 14 Brazilian states in 2006: given that each one is the size of a European country, this gives some impression of the scale of our travels. At the same time we have been trying to conduct a regular seminary teaching ministry, Cora has been in a tough phase of her theology course, and we have been trying to plant a church. How we need strength!

Thank you so much for your prayers and notes of support. The consciousness of the prayers of God’s people spurs us on in what at times seems a very hard battle. I love the fact that, when we pray, we are not “supporting from behind the scenes” but we are struggling right in the front line, side by side, engaged in the conflict. Think about Rom 15:30 for this idea…

2006-12-01T22:06:00.000-04:00

Encontro da Fé Reformada - Goiânia - 2006

This year's conference was a real party. Perhaps through preaching less and listening more, Andrew got a lot out of it. Hearing Iain Murray four times was the highlight: soft-spoken, balanced, sane, evangelical - it was so good to be with Iain and Jean again. It was also a good conference for the sense of close cooperation and friendship with Mauro and Jôer, for the chance to hear and meet Ricardo Barbosa for the first time, for wonderful fellowship with Débora and Gil, with whom we stayed, for a flight on a light plane, for an excellent meeting of the Council of Colloquium - we are thankful for every bit. Thank you for your prayers.

The journey out was also interesting - striking views flying into São Paulo. Sorry for all the aerial shots, but we know some people like them!

The port of Santos - two cruise ships just visible down below.

The Bandeirantes memorial at the start of the motorway of the same name, São Paulo.

A rain shower falling exactly on the city centre of Goiânia as our plane comes in.

Fine modern architecture in Goiânia. The Cultural Centre. Oscar Niemeyer at his curvy - and spiky - best.

Not so fine architecture in Goiânia. How the other half live. There are not many slums in the city, but some are pretty rough. We don't often post this kind of photo - but we need to remember and remind each other of this side of life. Gil and Débora's church, at Jaó, does some work here.

The only caterpillar I have ever seen eating grass. Just didn't know they did. Why aren't there more grass-specific caterpillars? These guys were common round Gil's house.

Some friends of ours live in Goiânia but have a farm in Mato Grosso, 8 hours drive away. A light plane saves much time, and Jacó took Andrew for a quick flight round the city. First time ever in a single engined plane. At bottom right: Jacó and son, Marco Aurélio.

Connecting the First Presbyterian Church to its school, this is possibly the only zebra crossing in Brazil that consistently works. Cars stop. Not quite sure why. Given the general standard of driving in Goiania it is tempting to think that it is miraculous.

Friday Night Conference Congregation

Conference speakers: Andrew, Ricardo Barbosa, Iain Murray, Mauro Meister, Joer Correa Batista

Saturday lunchtime was the first meeting of the Council of Colloquium, of which Andrew is glad to be a member. An excellent lunch at Luciano and Luciene's home, and an excellent round the table conversation led by Luciano. Visit the Colloquium site (in Portuguese) here.

Gil, in one of his less lucid moments. Now everyone will be able to undestand why we have such a good friendship.

Débora and Cora

End of stay: Gil and Débora, Iain and Jean Murray, and Cora, just before the Murrays left for the airport.

2006-11-21T14:57:00.000-04:00

16 - 20th November 2006 - Igreja Batista Maranata, Novo Hamburgo, Rio Grande do Sul

This visit went very well. I missed Cora, the weather was off-putting, but the sense of God speaking through the ministry was powerful. On the final night it would seem that a Uruguayan lady who has been attending the church was clearly converted. This was a brief visit to take anniversary services, but with a view to establishing a strategic contact. This seems likely to happen in the New Year.

Photos from a bus window

A view from the bridge.

Rice fields and mountains, Santa Catarina

Rice fields and mountains, Rio Grande do Sul.

Young gaúchas

A Tourist Trip into Porto Alegre

Inside the municipal market, Porto Alegre.

The flag of Rio Grande do Sul: state pride stronger here than anywhere else in Brazil.

Sausage - with and without pepper.

Erva mate. Chimarrão is one of the defining marks of the gaúcho culture.

Devotees of an Afro-brazilian religion

The gasometer, Porto Alegre

Gramado - Chocolate Capital of Brazil

A foggy, rainy, miserable day in Gramado - the Swiss-style building is quite typical: in this case the town cinema, home to a major film festival. As well as chocolate, cheese and wine feature large in the shops.

Gecko on my bedroom ceiling. We rarely get them in our flat, so it has been a while since I tried for a photo of one.

My hosts for the weekend: Pastor Humberto, Jonadan, Benaia and Brenda

The Maranata Baptist Church and school

Randy and Cindy Richner and their children. We first met Randy and Cindy in 1998, when we visited Brazil with Les White. We have only met once since, as couples. However, their friendship and fellowship mean a lot, and we are at last close to getting some regular contact and mutual support going.

Tiago and Emily giving their testimonies to the church. This couple are about to get married and then baptised: their testimony was clear, profound and wonderful to hear.

Roberto, head of the Maranata School, and his family.

Saturday Night Congregation. Randy Richner's maternal grandfather is visible near the front: Pastor Stähl has been a missionary in Brazil since 1939. It is a privilege to know him and have fellowship with him.

2006-11-21T13:05:00.000-04:00

Spring walks in the park

Jacarandá. If this tree in full bloom doesn't gladden the heart, then what can, at least in the natural world.

I always think of fungus as an autumnal phenomenon. This magnificent specimen is in full sub-tropical spring.

Monkey and nut.

2006-11-15T14:41:00.000-04:00

Visit to Novo Hamburgo, Rio Grande do Sul 16 - 20 Nov 2006

After nearly seven years in Brazil, Andrew will at last be visiting the only Brazilian state to the South of Santa Catarina. Our friends from Rio Grande do Sul marvel that it has taken so long to get to know the best part of the country. (The State has made odd noises about independence, and certainly has a distinct culture and tradition. It is a bit like Yorkshire, perhaps.) Catarinenses have marvelled at how wonderfully our life has been preserved through seven years. We shall see.

The invitation is to be the speaker for the weekend at the Maranata Baptist Church, Novo Hamburgo, just north of Porto Alegre, the state capital. It will be the Anniversary "conference" of the church, which is involved in running a Bible School. We therefore hope that this visit will pave the way for more strategic opportunities in the future. One special aspect is that some of our very first contacts in Brazil, Randy and Cindy Richner, work in the same grouping of churches, and we should meet up.

The journey will be about five hours by bus to Porto Alegre, and then a car back up to Novo Hamburgo. Andrew is going alone this time, leaving Cora to forge on with her degree studies. Please pray for safety for us both, profitable work and fellowship, and God's blessing on the ministry of the Word.

Encontro da Fé Reformada, Goiânia 22-25 Nov 2006

From next Wednesday (22) to the following Monday (27) we will be in Goiânia, God willing, for the Encounter of the Reformed Faith. This year Iain Murray is the main speaker, on the theme of the Holy Spirit. Andew has to give two papers on the Spirit in Acts 2, the second one closing the conference. The full programme is available, in portuguese, here. It will be very good to spend time with Iain and Jean again.

Air travel has been very problematic here over the last few weeks as air traffic controllers have been struggling to get their industry back to the legal standards for numbers of flights being monitored by each operator. We sympathise with their goals, want safe flights, and also want to arrive on time on the Wednesday! Please pray for our journeys.

Renato and Néia

Please pray for Renato as he preaches the two Sundays that Andrew is away from the church.

2006-11-15T14:37:00.000-04:00

That's my King!

We were encouraged by this short film.

2006-11-15T13:18:00.000-04:00

Marquito and Anna Silvia's wedding

Marcos Fernandes Pereira Raccioppi and Anna Silvia Tosin have at last got married. This day was one of the happiest and best in our years here. We have been through all kinds of moments with this couple and the bonds of friendship have become very strong. Now they are married, and we rejoice with them, and pray for God's blessing on their future.

The wedding and period leading up to it was significant in the amount of contact with the two families, for which we are very thankful. May God use this for his gracious purposes.

Andrew preached picking up two key points from the Pharisees' and Saducees'questions in Mark 10 and 12: Marriage is for Life and Marriage is not for Ever. The presence of many spiritist-leaning people made the second point sensitive, and it provoked some interesting conversations after the service.

This wedding was also significant for us as a church. Although Daniel and Priscila last December were both attending Peregrinos, this is the first time that two long-standing members have married one another. We are expecting some more weddings though, so watch this space!

Windblown and happy

Elisa and Mila: two of our various adopted children

Peregrinos suffering in the cold wind while hoping for the Bride and Groom to come for a photo on the beach.

Kito and Anna with Solomon, who sang, impromptu, at the wedding.

Anna and her sisters. (Sounds like a film title...)

The Registry Office on Friday 10 November. The legal part was done here, with a sumptious high tea at Kito's mother's place afterwards.

There are more photos here.

2006-11-15T08:19:00.000-04:00

Graham and Tina Nash

From 3rd to 7th Nov Graham and Tina Nash from Belem / UFM / Chessington were with us here in Floripa. The weather was for the most part dull and rainy, not lending itself to showing visitors the delights of the island, but we made up for that with some very good conversations. Graham preached to the Peregrinos on the Sunday (David and Abigail) and he and Tina also spent time with a number of the younger members on the Saturday night. (For a write-up and photos of our visit to Graham and Tina’s home in July, see here.)

The purpose of this visit was to talk about the possibility of working together in the future. Graham and Tina are coming to the end of their first term with UFM, and will spend, God willing, a year or so in the UK, from mid 2007 to mid 2008. On their return to Brazil, they intend to recommence in a different area, and are considering the possibility of coming to Florianópolis.

For some time we have been at our limit in terms of juggling the different aspects of ministry here. Between church, IBE and national ministry, it is all too easy to do nothing well. The solution for the church must be the recognition of other leaders, and especially the provision of someone else alongside Andrew as a regular preacher and teacher. But even with such a person in place, development of the training ministry would still be precarious. Any consistent course for Bible Teachers needs a very consistent presence: we are loath to jettison the rhythm of travelling ministry, but know that such ministry disturbs the flow of teaching, even in the IBE. A desire to have a more clearly Biblically oriented course for preachers and teachers makes more man-power and urgent need.

Graham has been leading and teaching at the Evening Bible School of MICEB in Belem. He and Tina are from Chessington Evangelical Church – which very kindly supports us too! So far as we can see, we are highly compatible and complementary, without being clones! We are therefore considering the possibility of Graham and Tina moving down south, with the goal of establishing a course specifically aimed at equipping Bible teachers. Nothing is presumed about how such a course would be structured or hosted, but it we believe that it is a vision worth consideration.

For Graham and Tina the move would involve a significant cultural shift, as well as very different weather! The largest challenge for them is probably the question of their three girls’ schooling: Chloe, Shona and Anna have been at AVA, an English language school in Belem. (Chloe has recently started NorthStar for GCSEs, the Internet school our own children used.) There is no English school in Floripa – the nearest being in Curitiba, 4 hours away. And NorthStar does not yet offer A-levels. This issue is a key matter for the family, and we would all value your prayers for them as they think this over.

God willing, all five will visit at Easter for a bit of holiday, for the girls to see Florianópolis, and for the family to look at some practical issues in more detail. Please pray for all involved in this important matter.

2006-10-27T14:39:00.000-04:00

Peregrinos

Just to say that we are still meeting in our home. The numbers have settled down to 25-30 people, and we have got used to the crush. The University Chapel issue has gone quiet. The end of the year is approaching, when our numbers will drop very low anyway, so we may be looking at a relaunch towards a larger place in February or March. But the spirit of the folks is very good, and we are seeing significant progress in people's lives. Cora's Wednesday night study with the young women is a particular blessing in terms of fellowship and the excellent questions from the group. Please give thanks for this wonderful year.

2006-10-27T07:48:00.000-04:00

Independent Baptist Congregation, Serraria 26 October 2006

Last night Andrew preached at the little church in the Serraria, a neighbourhood on the continent, on the outskirts of the city. Alexandre, a former IBE student is pastoring, and it was good to see him, Andressa, their children and other old friends from the Independent Baptists. The denomination is classical pentecostal, and Alexandre's style is very much in keeping with that. However, unusually in that context, he is committed to consecutive exposition, and his understanding of the gospel is decidedly calvinistic. I miss him and the rest of his class at IBE! There are some photos of the inauguration of the congregation here. They meet in a rented garage.

2006-10-27T07:47:00.000-04:00

Epson S4 Data Projector

Prior to our visit to Maranata, we managed to buy a projector. Last year the expository ministry course there was given with Powerpoint, and we felt that it was important (and would make life far easier) to do the same this year. Of course, once again, having the projector, many things become easier or possible. In Homiletics the analysis of textual variants in the passage we were studying to preach becomes far easier with the computer. In Biblical Theology it is just so much easier to be able to talk while putting clear and legible text on the screen at the same time. And in the church, our home-made hymnbooks are once again obsolete.

Some dear friends and long-time supporters have offered to help with the cost of the projector amd we are very grateful.

2006-10-24T23:32:00.000-04:00

Cora's Birthday Lunch, North Eastern Restaurant, Córrego Grande

Cora´s birthday came and went while we are at Maranata, but we celebrated with Peregrinos and friends on our return, lunching just five minutes from home at the North Eastern. A good time was had by all.

2006-10-24T23:27:00.000-04:00

Visit to the Maranata Bible Institute 16 - 20 October 2006

Once again it was time to visit Maranata - the fourth oppportunity to work on Biblical Exposition with the third year students. This year was a particularly stimulating one: the material has been honed over the years, and this group of students was particularly lively. It was important visit, too, in terms of fellowship with staff and students, and given that it had been a full year since the last time, there was much catching up to do.

This year we went by bus - the exhaustion levels before leaving were just too high to think of driving, so we snoozed happily through the four hours to Curitiba, had a good lunch, and then snoozed again for the six hours to Marilândia do Sul. We are including a few photos of the journey to give an idea: Brazilian bus travel is pretty civilized, and service stations compare well with British ones.

In the Florianópolis bus station. Geraldo from the Peregrinos caught the same bus, and can be seen talking to Cora in this picture. Easier than "Where's Wally?"

On the Catarinense bus to Curitiba.

A change of buses and lunch in Curitiba - taxis seen from the window of the bus station restaurant

With a few hours still to go, a late afternoon snack stop in Paraná.

This year's group of third year students. A lively bunch, with much humour, which, thankfuly, came under control by the end of the week. Simone, Cláudia, Vânia, Ricardo, Rafael, Manoel, Cléuson, Jorge, Renato and Andreilson

Trees

The computer room. The machines are old (three of them being ours, passed on to Maranata when we replaced them in 2005) but they work, they are on-line and the school has entered a new era. This is very good to see.

Visiting in October means that we are always at Maranata for the season of these large and rather incompetent brown or black beetles. They come, they manage to get upside down, they are eaten by toads. What sort of a life is that?

Califórnia Evangelical Church

Califórnia is a small town about 15 minutes by car from Maranata, where Jaiderson and Alexandra have been working over the time that they have taught at the Institute. We have followed the Evangelical Church of California through a good part of its history, and it was a great joy to see the interior of the building now finished - and so well done. Bright and pleasant, modern and functional, but still attractive without being fussy (I am tempted to say private without being insular!) the building is a great tool to reach the community. This is now by far the largest evangelical cghurch in this tiny town, and going on strongly. What gladdens our hearts most is that the evangelistic and pastoral methodology is totally solid: teach the Word, teach the Word, teach the Word. The living and praying church that meets here is one of the healthiest we know: may it continue so.

A jewel of a beetle

A birds' nest in an old radio in Jaiderson's garage. I love the use of wire as part of the nest.

Ricardo and Rosana. As it must be in a small community with a good number of single men and women, "namoro" ("going out") is tightly controlled. Permission needs to be granted by the Director, and relationships have to develop in fairly public spaces.

Kitchen crew

Gilsomar and Fabiana and their friend Vânia, who came over for the week to do the exposition course. She is from the Second Baptist church of Assis, São Paulo, about 130 miles from Maranata, where Gilsomar is pastoring at the weekends. This is a significant change for him and for Fabiana, and for Maranata.

Faces of Maranata 1

Faces of Maranata 2

And so, the long journey home. One bus this time, leaving at around 10.30 p.m. from Califórnia, where Luis, the Bus Station manager has been converted together with his family, and is part of the Evangelical Church. He busy our tickets, deals with our luggage and a group from the church send us on our way. The first person we see as we get on the bus is a girl we knew at Vida Nova, who has now married a guy from Maringá, Paraná! We chat at the breaks, finally waking up at around 8 a.m. at a service station only 20 minutes from the centre of Florianópolis. A comfortable, and profitable, journey home.

2006-10-24T23:06:00.000-04:00

Chá de Panela da Anna Sílvia - Anna Silvia's Saucepan Tea
Saturday 14 October 2006

What Brits don't do at all, and what Americans call a Bridal Shower, is a Saucepan Tea here. Anna Sílvia (top right, opening present)is due to marry Marquito on 11 November, and a few weeks before the big day a number of female friends got together for present-giving, food and talk. A friend of ours once commented on such occasions, "Chá, Chá, Chato!" which very happily translates as, "Tea, Tea, Tedious!" and at their worst the long reminiscences and rather immature jokes are rather wearing. But not so at other "Chás", including this one: deep talk, heart to heart, with a group of close friends is wholesome and helpful. Cora enjoyed it no end, as did the bride to be.

2006-10-24T21:06:00.000-04:00

Carlinhos Veiga and Band in the Municipal Market, Florianopolis
Saturday 14 October 2006

We first met Carlinhos in Brasília last year, when Andrew preached in the Presbyterian Church of Brasilia, which happened to be the occasion of Carlinhos' last Sunday there, as the congregation he had planted was being organized as a church that same night. Cora went along to the formation of the North Lake Presbyterian Church with the recognition of Carlinhos as its Pastor.

But even before that we already enjoyed Carlinhos' music. Our friends Jairo and Sheila of Goiânia had introduced us to his work, even giving us a CD. Subsequent to the Brasília trip, Carlinhos himself gave us the rest of the oeuvre. With his recent visit to Floripa, courtesy of the Trindade Presbyterian Church, we at last had a chance to hear him live. Commitments on Friday night (Peregrinos) and Saturday night (Anna's Chá and Andrew preaching to a youth rally in Barreiros) meant that we were only able to get along on the Saturday lunchtime. Even then not for the whole time. But it was well worth it.

In a country (and world?) where Evangelical music basically means worship songs, and worships songs mean "all the good news, none of the bad, put in the most anodyne way and set to middle of the road and lively but non-descript tunes" Carlinhos is very refreshing. Instead of singing about the gospel from a superficial perspective, he sings about everything from a gospel perspective. He sings Brazilian roots folk music – north-eastern and centre-west rhythms, with songs about all aspects of life. Much of his music is a celebration of brazilianness, sung as a Christian Brazilian. He sings about fruits and sea food, about trees and flowers. He has a song about how to teach your children about sex. He has a pentateucal genealogy set to a samba. He is a great musician, with a very good band. We would listen to him even if he were not a Christian – but we are so glad that he is. Keep up the good work, mate!

2006-10-24T15:13:00.000-04:00

7th October 2006: Teresina to Florianópolis: An eventful trip home

My return journey from Teresina was an interesting one. When I bought the ticket there had been some humming and hoing about which flight to get back – 7.00 in the morning or 3 in the afternoon. In the end I went for the morning, hoping to be home for the best part of the afternoon.

I rose early on the Saturday morning, and Maely took me to the airport. Check-in seemed to be progressing normally when the guy told me that there was a problem with my flight from Brasília southwards. After some delay for phone calls I was told that there was an overbook, and I could not get on the Brasília flight. I had various choices: fly now and spend a large part of the day in a hotel either in São Paulo or Brasília, getting home at 10.30, or wait till the afternoon flight, and get home at 10.30. Given the good fellowship of the Seminary, I opted to hang around.

I was not pleased, but not particularly fed up either, with the situation. I had a good chat with Cora, and enjoyed a final morning of the humour fellowship at the Seminary. Then an uneventful flight to Brasília, where I had a two hour wait.

I was a bit peckish on arrival in Brasilia, so headed to the food court. Suddenly I became aware of someone calling my name: Ederson and Kalisandra, ex-students of the Maranata Bible Institute, and now pastoring in the interior of Goiás state. They were on their way to Tefé to see her parents: a long bus ride to Brasília, a plane to Manaus and then three days by boat. It was Ederson’s first chance to see his in-laws, although they have already seen their granddaughter, Abigail. We had a good conversation over a snack, catching up after 2 years. (This couple have actually been in our home in Florianópolis, having dropped in while on their honeymoon, the only Maranata contacts ever to come here!)

This encouraged me no end. The Lord new I would meet them – it was worth missing that flight. I caught my flight to Florianópolis a happy man.

Next to me were two teachers from the Federal University in Manaus. At first I thought them a couple, and then realised they were simply colleagues from the same University who happened to be going to Florianópolis, for separate events. The lady, a nursing instructor, was just asking me what I did, when the man said – “You’re Andrew King, aren’t you?” He is a teacher of Quantum Mechanics at the University, and a member of Cidade Nova Presbyterian Church, the church we know best in Manaus. He had seen me at three Encounters of the Reformed faith, although we had never spoken.

Sandra, the nursing instructor, a spiritualist-leaning catholic (like so many Brazilians) was slightly bemused by these reformed evangelicals who have “freaky coincidences” too. The conversation was really good, and the time shot by. Having discovered that Kelsom had been a staff worker for ABU, the Brazilian UCCF, I asked him if he could address our students while he was at his scientific conference. This he did, on the Tuesday night, and it was a great help to all who came.

So God is in control right down to the details. He always is of course – we don’t need such coincidences to know that. But all the same, moments like these make you stop and think, and give thanks.

Ederson and Kalisandra and their little girl, Abigail.

Kelsom, in our home, where he stayed on the Thursday night of his week in Floripa.

2006-10-24T08:41:00.000-04:00

Visit to the Theological Seminary of the North East, Teresina, Piauí
2-7 October 2006

This long awaited visit, for the Seminary’s “Theological Week” (what week isn’t, in a seminary?) turned out be one of the highlights of the year. The combination of the great good humour of students and staff, hospitality, humanness, and seriousness in handling the things of God, made this week very special. I hope that more contacts will be forthcoming!

The STNE is a new school, only three years old, although using the campus and buildings of a Korean Presbyterian Bible Institute founded (I believe) in the sixties. Our friend Ronildo from Aracaju had already indicated my name as a possible help with homiletics, but it took until this year, and the growing friendship with Paulo Brasil, to make the visit a reality.

The Theological week is a chance for former students to return for fellowship and a refresher course, as well as a moment of concentrated teaching in one particular area for the student body. It was particularly pleasing that one former student, Ciro, whom I had met in Belem in July at the "narratives" event travelled all the way down to Teresina for this week: 20 hours on the bus.

Each day had a four hour morning session, with a 30 minute interval. Without air conditioning, and with temperatures reaching 44oC on two days of the week, it was quite wearing, but not as bad as I had feared. Teresina may be the hottest state capital in Brasil, but Manaus at 36 is harder to bear than here at 44!

What was especially pleasing about the teaching content of the visit was the request for theology, rather than methodology. “Please teach us the theology of preaching.” While so many just want method, hints and tips, and languish for lack of a basic understanding of what we are doing when we open the Word, this group took the theological under-girding of the Ministry of the Word very seriously. I thus felt able to give some material on method without feeling pressured.

I was able to give the larger part of my basic homiletics course in three mornings, taking the last morning to preach three sermons on the trot, all of them related to the Ministry of the Word in some way. All are in some way personal manifestos: many banhocheiroso readers will recognise the texts: 1 Peter 1:22 – 2:3; Mark 6:30-44 and Psalm 2. On the Wednesday night I preached in town, at the Central Presbyterian Church.

The week was exceptionally tiring, partly because it was so enjoyable that I threw myself at it with all my strength, with long talks with students and staff completing the work begun in the lecture hall. Only when I found that it took more than a week to recover did I realise just how tough it had been. Perhaps the heat was more fearsome than I had recognised!

Flying from Goiânia to Teresina, I stop (as ever) in Brasília. Flying out, the superb bridge over the main lake is worth seeing. A nervous day to fly, following the Gol disaster of the weekend.

Teresina - Capital of Piauí, the poorest state in Brazil. Coming in by plane it is obvious that there are no slums as such, but that the bulk of the housing is very poor.

The Theological Seminary of the North East.

A Google Earth photo of the seminary, with coordinates.

Teresina Cathedral - the steps covered with candles at night, for a major feast, it seems more innocuous by day. North Eastern Catholicism is strong stuff.

Street and river scenes in Teresina

Teresina sits by the river Parnaíba which divides it from the neighbouring city of Timon, in Maranhão state. This magificent steel bridge provides one crossing point.

The state government buildings, Teresina.

Mangoes

My entire time in the seminary was dominated by the smell of mangoes - mangoes of all types and varieties. I brought home as many manga rosa as I could - the smell filling the plane and then our flat. The Koreans who built the seminary beleived in planting good fruit trees!

Cajus

What we know as the cashew nut hangs below the juicy fruit, yellow when ripe, which makes an excllent drink. The nut has to be roasted to rid it of a caustic oil before eating.

Students, plus one fiance and one baby!

The Rev Maely, Director of the Seminary, being chaired and cheered by a group of students. Maely is a truly remarkable man, and one of a kind: brilliant, pretty much compulsive obsessive, monkish (in an ecclesiastical sense and for similarity to Monk in the TV series), wonderfully open in relationships and greatly loved by the students, he is the most humble, least pompous seminary director I could imagine. To be honest, I spent most of my time in Teresina without realizing that he was the director. His grasp of the facts of church history is encyclopaedic: I referred at one point in my lectures to the period that Calvin spent out of Geneva, and he was immediately ready with the exact dates. Doctrinally solid, and catholic in spirit, he will be a good contact in years to come, God willing. For me, he was the revelation of the trip.

Football crazy - both present students and ex-students playing hard and long.

Students gathering for the all-important "Novela das 6" (Six O'Clock Soap). This reminded me so much of LTS, where our Free Church student, Murdo, used to announce the start of Neighbours by singing the them in a Wee Free unaccompanied Psalms style.

Children of church families. The Presbyterian Church that has its building in the Seminary grounds is still pastored by one of the Korean missionaries who founded the seminary.

Scenes of the seminary, including building works at the far end of the site.

Our first contact in Teresina, Paulo Brasil, and his wife Eudalia. We had good fellowship this year in Pernambuco (June) and Ceará (July) and it was good to meet Eudália (sadly without the presence of Cora) and enjoy good food and conversation. Paulo has a deep commitment to Biblical theology, a great sense of fun, and is becoming a very dear friend. Please pray for them as they face major decisions regarding his possible doctorate in the USA.

Paulo and Eudália's two excellent sons, Davi and Paulo.

The Central Presbyterian Church, currently pastored by Paulo Brasil. I preached here on the Wednesday evening.

Compulsory music class in the seminary. I pity the poor girl who has to cope with this lot!

Spider

The queue for juice and biscuits at morning break.

Theological debates at break time 1

Theological debates at break time 2

The main lecture hall filling up again after the morning break.

The entire group, gathered for a photo at the end of the Theological Week.

2006-10-24T06:26:00.000-04:00

Visit to Jaó Presbyterian Congregation, Goiânia 29 Sept - 2 Oct 2006

This rapid visit to Goiânia was a great joy. Gil and Débora, as we have said before, have been consistent encouragers and catalysts of our ministry in their region, and we were pleased and privileged to visit the church for this special occasion: one year meeting as a congregation.

Andrew preached from Acts 2, as he will have to do on the next Goiânia visit too, but with a different audience and theological focus in mind. This time there were four addresses: The Community of the Spirit; The Community of the Word of Christ; The Community of Teaching and Fellowship; The Community of the Lord’s Supper and Prayer. Basically it was Acts 2:42 with an extended introduction to get us in context.

The day we flew was strange. We went with Bec and Tom to São Paulo, where we parted in the baggage reclaim hall of Congonhas airport. On arrival in Goiânia we heard the tragic news that a Gol plane had gone missing in Amazonia. The rest of the weekend, and the following week, the country followed the news intensely, it even eclipsed the election weekend frenzy. The countries worst ever aviation accident took the lives of a number of relatives and friends of friends: in a country where flying is so important, the community that actually flies is still of a size that makes such links inevitable. On the Monday, during a plane change in Brasília, Andrew saw one group of relatives: haggard and grey, arm in arm, shepherded through the airport by orange clad Gol staff, whose faces were as shocked and miserable as the relatives.

The accident occurred when a Brazilian made Embraer Legacy jet collided with the Gol 737-800, damaging it sufficiently to cause catastrophic failure. The Legacy lost a wing tip and a piece of its tail, but managed a successful landing at a military base. Whatever the final verdict regarding the cause of the accident (and at this point it would seem to be culpable negligence on the part of the US pilot of the Legacy) the accident was odd in one respect: both planes were brand new. Mid-air collisions are blissfully rare: for a collision to involve two planes in their first month of service, one on it’s delivery run, is very strange.

High Society: While changing planes in São Paulo (and saying "Goodbye" to Bec and Tom) we see the Presidential 737 - not for the first time, but for the first time with the chance to take a photo.

Jaó is a middle class neighbourhood with pleasant, leafy roads and some spectacular ornamental trees and plants, like these "Peacock's Tails."

Sombreiro tree - like the wonderfully-named Jabuticaba, the fruits grow straight from the woody trunk and branches.

Cide, Marli, their three children and her Dad: our hosts for the weekend. We had a very good time.

On Saturday morning we went meat shopping for Sunday lunch. I am impressed with the business, run by a family from the Vila Nova Presbyterian church. The shop is tiny, and buzzing with custom, fresh add sun-dried meats flying out of the place. A butcher takes a breather, sharpening his blade outside the shop.

Waiting for mum to buy the meat.

Campaigning on the Saturday afternoon before Election Day (Sunday.)

The old bakery used as a church building by the Jaó Presbyterian Congregation.

Finishing touches to the paint work.

Magnificent food and fellowship on Sunday afternoon.

Gil and Andrew, on the final night.

At the Saturday evening meeting

Gil and Débora

Gil with Sunday evening musicans

Sunday Evening Congregation

2006-09-29T06:34:00.000-04:00

General Elections this weekend

A herd of cars supporting one of the candidates for state governor leaves Canasvieiras on a tour of the island. Please pray for this election, and especially for the Presidential race. For BBC news on the election please look here.

2006-09-27T09:12:00.000-04:00

Some matters for praise and prayer

Praise for a great time with Bec and Tom - some of the happiest weeks we have spent together in years. We seem to be finally settling into the rhythm of this living apart thing, they are getting into a good frame of mind about Brazil, and - probably the key factor - they (we all?!) are growing up. Bec got much better after her initial illness, although has suffered from asthma throughout the trip.

The evening on postmodernism went well, with a fruitful discussion. Thank you for praying. Tom and Bec both still speak excellent Portuguese, with a far better accent than their parents, and yet needing occasional help with vocabulary. It is a slightly odd situation, and not without its humour.

Photos from Bec and Tom's time with us.
Bec had her twenty first here: hence the formal, dressed-up, shots.

Travels
This weekend (29 Sept - 2 Oct) we are going to the first anniversary of the Presbyterian Church of Jaó, a suburb of Goiânia, Goiás. (764 miles away, as the crow flies.) Four moments of teaching will focus on Acts 2: Friday and Saturday nights, and Sunday morning and evening. I don't normally "do" anniversaries without a "strategic" element in a seminary or something, but this is a special case. The Pastor at Jaó is our first contact in Goiânia: Gil, and his wife Débora. (Old photo here:) Through his enthusiasm, having heard the one sermon I preached when Conrad Mbewe was taken ill in 1998, (available here - though site in renovation.) led to the most fruitful regional "centre" we have, with opportunities for teaching and training in various denominations in Goiânia and outside the city and state. The recent trip to the interior of Bahia would be one example of a Gil spin-off. Gil has been a top encourager since 1998, praying for us and putting opportunities in our way. We want to encourage him by showing willing for the first anniv of the new church.

Map with Florianópolis, Goiânia, Teresina and The Maranata Bible Institute all marked.

From Goiânia Cora will return home alone, taking up her studies and work with the girls on Wednesday nights. I will go on to Teresina, Piauí, (1606 miles from home, as the fly crows) for the first time, to do an intensive week at the new Presb seminary there - a workshop on expository preaching. (2-7 Oct) I am a bit nervous, as ever, going somewhere new, and also because of the weather. We are still in sweaters down here: Teresina is the hottest state capital in Brazil, with a daily maximum which averages over 40.

The other main ministry trip this month is to the Maranata Seminary (16-21 Oct) - an annual fixture, (see here) and a key commitment for us. We will both be teaching. Maranata has been having a very hard time: please pray that we might be an encouragement to all.

Car
We take this opportunity to thank those who have contributed to our car fund, which has reached about 5000 pounds, well on the way to the figure we need. We praise God for your generosity.

Projector
The data projector (a generous gift from a friend) stopped functioning some months ago, and we have been without one for presentations. This makes a real difference to our teaching, and to musical flexibility in the church. The bulb is no longer available either from England or Brazil, and a new projector bought here could cost 1300 pounds or more. Please pray that we will soon be able to find a suitable replacement: we are aware that this is a capital issue at the same time as the car, but it is even more urgent.

2006-09-14T08:06:00.000-04:00

Bec and Tom's Visit
Our children are here, and will be until 29 September, God willing. It was eight months to the day since we last saw Tom that we picked them up from the airport here: Bec had left for Birmingham a few days earlier in January. It is the longest time we have been apart, and it has not been easy. We are now together and – as ever – talking, a lot.

Bec is actually not too well. She arrived with what we thought was just jet-lag, but she is running a temperature and has recurring headaches. We have had to delay our departure for Marquito´s family's beach house for her to rest up here. Please pray for a quick recovery.

Next week, on Thursday 21 September, we are exploiting the presence of Bec and Tom to have an evening for students on Postmodernism in the Universities – a general chat about the shifts taking place in European and Brazilian Universities and how Christians need to handle them. Tom will open the subject up, and then we will have an open debate. A good number of MEUNI people have already expressed interest: please pray for a good evening.

The University Chapel
We are still not in the Chapel, and may not be. Are the building repairs taking place there due to last one week or six months? Why are existing users being told one week, and new users six months? WHAT IS GOING ON?

In the meantime, we are still in the flat. The last two weeks have had low congregations, with many people travelling for the end of semester break. (This should have happened in June/July, but the need to catch up with professors' strikes means that everything is running late: situation normal.) Even so, a low Sunday can still mean 20 people, and with a number of visitors threatening to come this coming Sunday, we may be in for a Sardines' Service.

We will be in Genesis 14, God Willing. This chapter which deals with the theme of a war fought by the people of God will need careful handling in the Brazilian situation. It is striking how this cultural difference affects preaching: war is a relatively easy metaphor to use in the UK, but here it is an area for great care. (And perhaps should be in bellicose England?!)

2006-09-11T22:18:00.000-04:00

Taybar and Patty's Wedding

Thank you for your prayers: the journey to and from Lages went well, the wedding itself was a great celebration, and we were back in time for a good Peregrinos meeting. The only glitch in the day was that Bec and Tom were delayed at Congonhas airport, São Paulo, and arrived over an hour late. Given their state of tiredness and ours this did not help, but we still talked till late once we got home with them.

The photo showing money being counted has to do with a tradition at Brazilian weddings. The groom's tie is sold off, in pieces, to the men, and the women put money in one of the bride's shoes. In this way is the honeymoon sponsored! On this occasion the guests came up with just over 700 reais; a sizeable sum. The informal portrait was taken on the way back to Florianópolis: we provided the nuptial taxi.

There are more photos of the wedding here.

2006-09-08T10:52:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow, God willing, we will go to Lages for the wedding of Patty and Taybar. Patty is Elisa's big sister; Taybar is one of the pastors at the Renewed Baptist Church, Blumenau. The two sisters started to come to the Peregrinos back in April, and Elisa was the first new member in the period of growth we have experienced. We already knew Taybar a little through MEUNI, but the friendship and contact has grown, leading to Andrew's involvement in the CEFORM, which Taybar runs. Taybar ministered the word to the Peregrinos in July. The girls have been a great encouragement to us over the year, and we look forward to Patty's wedding, although not to losing her!

Lages is the furthest inland we have ever been in Santa Catarina; even so, only 3 hours drive. We are taking Mila and Vinícius, and returning with Elisa and the happy couple! Please pray for the wedding, and for safe journeys for all guests. We plan to stay overnight, returning for the Peregrinos' meeting (Genesis 13), and, afterwards, to pick up Bec and Tom at Florianópolis airport.

Taybar and Patrícia

Patty and Taybar with Greyse and Rafael, also regulars at the Peregrinos.

Patty (2nd from left) with her three flat mates: Evelyn (Adventist Church) and Mila and Elisa who are both members of the Peregrinos.

2006-09-06T13:51:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is Republic day - a Public Holiday throughout Brazil. The school next door took a moment this morning to sing the national anthem. The flags are of Santa Catarina, Brazil and Colégio Energia respectively. I guess a British school wouldn't dream of doing something like this, and a US school would have the kids much more smartly to attention and not taking the mick!

Leo, a student who lives just a couple of blocks from us, car-shares with me for my two evenings each week at IBE. One of the plusses is that I can take pictures while driving, which is often a desire, because we go at sunset time. The above picture is a view back to the houses of the Prainha, above the tunnels. And below, the bridge.

2006-09-02T18:36:00.000-04:00

Tuti's Sixtieth Birthday Lunch

Today our dear friend Tuti celebrated sixty years in style, with a lunch for family and friends at a hotel restaurant at the north of the island. This lady is a pillar of the Baptist community in the city, a real friend, a constant encouragement, who loves the old gospel and the old Book. She was part of our English group at the First Baptist Church, has attended Andrew's classes at IBE and takes a lively interest in the Peregrinos, albeit from outside!

Her birthday lunch was a fitting occasion. From the reading of a good humoured piece on the great change that a sixtieth birthday brings, to Tuti's recital of a poem learnt as a teenager about thankfulness for life, to the singing of a classic hymn on grace, (those present managing solid harmony with no rehearsal whatsoever) - here was the mix of humour, energy, naturalness and spirituality that we associate with this gracious lady. May God bless her and her family!

Tuti and husband Sadi are among the regular Brazilian visitors to this blog, mainly for the photos, though they both read and speak English very well. We therefore include a collage as an extra birthday present: photos from a walk in the park: the life of spring making its presence felt as August draws to a close.

Tuti and Sadi

Photos from an end of August walk in the park

There is still an autumnal feel in the shot of the hummingbird at bottom left, and in the soft Paineira tree down, floating on the pond at the top right. But the other pictures show the incredible vigour of the subtropical spring, with new growth evident everywhere, including in the massed caterpillars swarmed down a branch and into a silk-sewn leaf nest for mutual protection. This species reacts to loud noises with a coordinated, convulsive movement of the little black horns, giving the impression of a much larger creature in rapid movement.

2006-09-02T18:03:00.000-04:00

Duck on post. Did it fly up? Is it stuck? Is it laughing at us?

2006-09-01T14:29:00.000-04:00

We went shopping at Havan for the first time, to buy a present for Taybar and Patty's wedding. Havan is a large shop just beside the express-way that links the island's bridges to the BR101 north-south motorway. It sells lots of things. This strange figure stands in front of the pseudo-classical portico. 27°35'46.59"S 48°36'1.57"W

2006-08-29T15:07:00.000-04:00

The Chapel, Federal University of Santa Catarina

We are passing through an important moment in the life of the Peregrinos, with the possible use of the University Chapel. A slot has opened up between 5 and 7 on Sundays: not perfect, especially in the heat of summer, but it would be a good base. And once in there, a slot at a better time might open up.

Please pray for this: we have had no joy in finding a larger home which would suit as a church base, and the numbers in the flat each Sunday are quite difficult. There is no room for growth, quite apart from the potential annoyance to neighbours.

The move will change things for us, there is no doubt. Instead of the homeliness and freedom to go on chatting in our present set-up, we would have to vacate the building by 7.00 for Adventists to do their Sunday school. Our prayer meeting on Fridays would continue at home, but we will probably need to make some changes to the programme and specific efforts not to end up "formalised" in Sundays. The snack after the meeting is a vital part of our church life!

The move will also imply work in terms of moving stuff around each Sunday, more organisation and preparation of the programme, and a certain change to teaching style, simply because of the very different physical space.

This is all not yet certain. Matters need to be sorted with the UFSC authorities. Please pray for all of these things.

The chapel seats around 300, but with this efficient seating layout it feels adequately filled with far fewer. There are some drawbacks, but we feel that it could well be an excellent provision in order to launch a far more aggressive proclamation and presence in the University area.

2006-08-29T10:54:00.000-04:00

Visit to Eduardo Luis Magalhães, Bahia

Our visit to Bahia was very intense and tiring, and a great joy and success. The travelling went well, with good fellowship in Brasília on both the outward and homeward journeys. We nearly missed the plane home because Andrew thought we were going via São Paulo, and not Curitiba, but this is the fruit of preacher's tiredness, a night of bus travel and advancing years, and the Lord saw to it that we made it home!

The church put us up in a hotel, which was convenient and pleasant, and did not diminish the fellowship and friendship with many from the church.

The ministry went well. The two sessions with the pastors were reasonably well attended, with men coming from all the churches of the Presbytery, and some baptists and other denominations from the town being represented.

In the anniversary meetings, Andew tried to emphasise the centrality of the word in the life of the church. He preached two old favourites and a brand new one - abourt par for the course! The oldies were Psalm 100 and the Grass Sermon, and the new one was an overview of Romans, starting with the question, "Why did Paul write this book?"

The town itself was very interesting. It was the church's 7th anniversary, and the town is the same age, under this name. Seven years ago it was a tiny community, but now has 40 000 inhabitants. The reason is money: massive investment in mechanised agriculture, principally by Southern Brazilians from Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul. One result is a strange apartheid in the town: the incoming southerners have the money and their own lifestyle. They have a Lutheran church. They tend to go to the same restaurants and bars. They are apparently more closed to the gospel. They are also in general white and more European than the locals. We have never seen a situation quite like it in this country.

What was exciting to see was the sense of development and progress. Other Brazilian towns have unpaved roads because there is no money or investment. Luis Eduardo Magalhães has few paved roads because everything has been built so recently and fast that there has been no time to get everything sorted. The massive silos, warehouses and lorries bear witness to the sheer quantity of soya, coffee and other products coming out of the surrounding land. And this despite the fact that for the last three years growth has slowed because the weakness of the dollar has reduced the exporting farmers’ profits.

The Presbyterian Church, Luis Eduardo Magalhães, seen from space. The building has a car park on the left, with the pastor's home adjacent on the right.

The Catholic Church in the town centre.

The scrubby natural vegetation around Luis Eduardo Magalhães, before clearing for farming, has many examples of the magnificent Ipê tree, the national tree of Brazil. It is just SO yellow!

People in the town.

Flat land. Big skies.

Very often we see the huge irrigation circles as we fly over the centre of the country. This time we were on the ground, and able to appreciate the scale close up. Eleven towers carry the pipes, each tower individually powered to irrigate a circle covering around 140 hectares.

Everything in the town seems to be related to large scale agriculture, or to the maintenance of the machines that do the work.

Lorries. The sheer scale of the agricultural output of the region came home to us when we told that this was totally "off-peak" lorry traffic.

Country Road

Town Road

Kids in the street. But not street kids. Eduardo Luis Magalhães has some unemployment, mainly due to manual labourers who have migrated in, having heard of the big farming money in the area, only to discover that all is so mechanised there are not many jobs. But of homelessness and urban poverty there is none.

Acaba Vida Waterfall

On the Saturday morning (with an afternoon and evening of teaching ahead) we did the mad thing and drove an hour out of town to the Acaba Vida water fall. The falls are stunning: the company and kindness of Mauriso and Ester no less so.

Acaba Vida means "End Life".

Mauriso arrived ready to get wet. We did not. The main point of waterfalls in Brazil is to jump into the water (above or below the falls, it seems!) preferably with the benefit of jungle vines.

A true jungle explorer.

I last saw this species on the Argentinian side of the Iguaçu falls with my sister Naomi - and we didn't get a very satisfactory photo. It still isn't perfect, but it gives some idea of the amazingly coloured and shaped butterfly.

On Saturday night, after the afternoon session for pastors and the evening anniversary meeting, we went out for a "Rodízio de Pizza." This means that you pay a flat rate, and the waiters just keep bringing the food. The waiters at this particular place have a fine line in patter, working hard to "sell" as much as they can. This may not be appear to be in the best interests of the proprietors, but it is hugely entertaining, and everyone speaks of this "service" as being one of the attractants, so the owners do all right in the end. As well as giving us the good stuff, this particular guy spoke with excellent humour of the not so good. On arriving with some lasanha which had clearely been out of the oven for a while. "Lasanhã deliciosa - é um semi novo!" Delicious lasanhã - nearly new.

Ministry at the Presbyterian Church, Luis Eduardo Magalhães.

Pastor José Hugo and his wife Adriana. We met for the first time during the weekend: empathy and friendship came fast. I hope it is not long till we meet again.

The pastors from the presbytery who came together for the anniversary, the teaching on exposition, and for a presbytery meeting. It is worthwhile making the most of the time together: some had travelled more than 400 miles.

Morning congregation

People at the church.

Sunday evening congregation.

No church anniversary would be complete without cake: Pastor Hugo with a bunch of the church's many children.

Mauriso, Ester and their four excellent daughters. This couple showed us so much love, generosity and encouragement.

The Long Journey Home

We got the bus at 11.00 at night, getting into Brasília at 6.00 a.m. Andrew slept quite a bit: basically though getting on the bus in a state of total exhaustion. It's the only way!

Brasília bus station, 6:00 a.m.

Isaías e Talita. Isaías, an Independent (Charismatic) Baptist Theologian met us at the bus station and opened his home to us: a great breakfast and welcome shower! It was the first time we had met Talita, his wife.

A TAM airbus melts on the runway at Brasília airport.

Flying into Curitiba, prior to changing planes for Florianópolis, we passed the Botanical Gardens and Palm House, modelled on Kew.

2006-08-18T15:45:00.000-04:00

First Posts on Trip to Luis Eduardo Magalhães

Our journey was as tiring as expected, but good. After only about three hours' sleep we travelled through the day, with a long break in Brasília for an excellent lunch. The bus trip was a typical Brazilian bus trip: a break every two hours for a leg stretch and snack. Intermittent sleep. Then you wake up, and you are there.

Large reservoir seen on the flight in to Brasília.

Tesselated floor of the shopping centre where we lunched in Brasília.

We had lunch with Charles Grimm (red striped shirt) who is one of the mainstays of internet-based fellowship in Brazil. We have only met the once, but can say that we value a strong friendship with him. The tall guy at the back, Isaías Lobão, we have also met in real life, at the Reformed Baptist Congress in June. The other three - Dilsilei, Helder and Anamim - we only know via the e-mail group "Cristãos Reformados" and it was a real joy to meet and talk, a lot.

As soon as we drove up to the Hotel where we are staying, we just loved the name! Anything so close to the Paranoia Hotel has to be worth a photo. But Fawlty Towers it is not: a simple, clean, family run hotel, where we have started our stay very comfortably.

We had heard that the region has seen a great deal of investment from the South of the country: this chimarrão with thermos flask is the proof. The owners of the hotel are Gaúchos, from Rio Grande do Sul, south of Santa Catarina.

Bismarck, one of the deacons of the church here, at the big lathe in the family metalwork shop. We were talking in the bus on the way here, as we passed through the huge agricultural area that is northern Goiás, how Brazil is a country that makes things, grows things, or services the machines of the people who make and grow things. That is absolutely the reality in Luis Eduardo Magalhães, and in the Presbyterian Church here.

2006-08-17T11:09:00.000-04:00

Luis Eduardo Magalhães

If anyone should happen to look in, please remember us on this brief and intense ministry trip to Bahia. See below for more details! I write in Brasília airport, using the open wireless network, prior to lunch with a bunch of people who we have only got to know over the internet, prior to getting the bus.

2006-08-14T17:44:00.000-04:00

Fathers' Day

Fathers' day card from the younger Peregrinos.

Fathers' Day (and other such "days") fall on different dates in Brazil than in the UK. In general such moments are less commercialised and more highly valued for family gatherings and displays of affection. This year, Andrew received a card from the younger members of the Peregrinos.

Printed text:

You are our king
Today and Always
Happy Fathers' Day! (Note unsubtle pun on English surname - quite deliberate)

Written text:

Dear ANDREW
With love... that is not fluffy! (Reference to my constant moaning on about woolly concepts of love in evangelical life.)

A keepsake from your PEREGRINOS children August 2006

The feeling is mutual!

2006-08-13T17:04:00.000-04:00

The MEUNI Bible Study Leaders' Training day.

An excellent day, with 8 students from a variety of churches, eager to get to grips with Mark's Gospel. Thank you for praying.

Elisa and Bernardo, during the washing up at the end of the MEUNI leaders' training day. Amongst the young in Brazil there is much talk of the New Man, who helps with household chores, etc.

2006-08-13T16:19:00.000-04:00

Winter Walks: 1

We like to walk in the park across the road every day if we can. If the school beside our flat is the biggest drawback of the location, the park is the greatest blessing. Winter here means being comfortable in long trousers, and sometimes having to wear several layers of woolies, but not every day. In the park it means a mellowing of the colours, and a kind of autumnal feel, but here is no general leaf fall, and butterflies and small birds are still common.

Looking back down the path in the park. At this point we are looking straight towards our road, with its ranks of blocks of flats. The restrictions that have limited them all to five storeys are very welcome!

Flower of the Pata de Vaca - Cow's foot - which I believe is the largest plant of the pea family.

2006-08-13T16:15:00.000-04:00

Winter Walks: 2

It is good to get out and do a proper walk occasionally. A couple of Saturdays ago we did the trail from Solidão - near Marquito's beach house - to the foot of the island. We relaxed over it - about five hours of fresh air, wildlife and stunning views. No whales though: we must go back later this month.

The start of the trail - from Solidão to Saquinho.

Saquinho - a village reachable only by narrow path or boat, and then only when wind and wave are right. The green roof at the end of the village is a bar where we stopped on the way back: - the owner, born and raised there, is seen at the end of this sequence.

Just hangin' out. These caterpillars seen by the side of the path in woodland were probably about to moult, given that they clearly had not eaten all day.

Other islands seen through the trees as we came near the end of the island.

Cora, at the end point of our walk, the southern tip of the island.

Andrew

Owner of the small wayside bar at Saquinho. He is preparing sugar cane for the horse to eat: the horse being the means of bringing beer, soft drinks and food for the bar to operate.

2006-08-06T13:22:00.000-04:00

Matters for prayer, as of 5 August 2006

We value your prayers for the following weekly events, special events and general needs...

1 The Regular Week:

Sunday Morning
Peregrinos – Fairly frequent meetings to consider our doctrine and practice, and to take decisions about direction and membership.

Sunday Evening
Peregrinos – Main meeting, about to restart expositions in Genesis, from the call of Abram. Andrew generally teaches when here: Cora works with the children.

Monday
Can we make this a day off this semester? Please pray!

Tuesday evening
IBE – Andrew – Homiletics II

Wednesday evening
IBE – Andrew – Biblical Theology (a key course – pray that it may be greatly blessed)
Peregrinos – Women’s Bible study – Cora

Thursday lunchtime
MEUNI –Christian Group at the Federal University
Andrew has for some time taught once a month at MEUNI, but is currently speaking every week, Thursday lunchtimes, giving some basic training on how to study the Bible.

Thursday evening

Peregrinos/MEUNI – We are starting to use Thursday night as “evangelism night”, with one regular monthly feature already in place: Popcorn and DVD. This involves watching a film and talking about it, with the Christian perspective being woven in.

Friday evening
Peregrinos – Meeting for Prayer

2 Special events coming up in August:

Saturday, 12 August MEUNI
Andrew is due to meet with the MEUNI Bible Study Group leaders, for a crash course in the early chapters of Mark.

17 – 21 August. Visit to Luis Eduardo Magalhães

Anniversary services at the Presbyterian Church and ministers’ refresher course in Luis Eduardo Magalhães, Bahia State. (12° 5'28"S 45°48'24"W). A complex journey will involve flying to Brasília and then an eight hour bus ride. The town is tiny – only 21 000 people, but it is hoped that leaders from many churches in this remote interior region will come together.

26, 27 August CEFORM, Renewed Baptist Church, Saco dos Limões, Florianópolis

On 29-30 July Andrew gave a first, one-and-a-half day module in this training programme, rune by the Renewed Baptists in the state. He is teaching Systematic theology, and last time dealt with the Doctrine of God. In August he is due to deal with the doctrine of Man, and Christology.

3 Other needs:

Peregrinos
The matter of a place is a real issue now. We are considering a house move, back to a house from a flat, so as to have a larger space, and less potential troubles with neighbours over noise. We also have a possibility of using the University Chapel, from 5 – 7 on Sundays. There are many factors involved. Please pray fro wisdom and unity in the Church.

2006-08-02T16:01:00.000-04:00

21 - 23 July - Peregrinos Winter Retreat

Because of growth in numbers we moved the venue for our retreat this time from the beach house at Pântano do Sul to the JOCUM (YWAM) base in Forquilhinhas, a bairro the other side of the BR101 motorway, in São José. Geraldo, Simone and Letícia were going to be away on holiday, but we still felt that the move was necessary. Unfortunately, the University decided at the last moment to move a week of holiday, so our event, planned to occur when all the students were here, ended up losing folks who needed to grab the chance to see their parents and siblings. However, although the numbers were not enormous, the spirit was good, and the presence of 10 from Blumenau swelled the group. The JOCUM centre was a success, the food especially being most impressive, for the price, (11 pounds per head for the weekend!) and their spirit and warmth was great. One girl, Mayá, who was with us at IBE and who has visited the Peregrinos several times is now with JOCUM, and it was great to see her especially.

Our aim was to integrate those who are recently arrived into the group, and the retreat worked well in his respect, for those who were present! Andrew spoke on three areas of key doctrine: foundational, non-negotiable issues which, while held by many evangelicals, are not so often held high. The difference is critical. We want to be a church based on:

1 The authority of the Bible - and especially the active authority of the Bible. That is to say that the doctrine of Inspiration, for instance, in 1 Timothy 3 and 4, is not simply a shibboleth for our theology books and doctrinal basis, but a glowing conviction that through the Bible God speaks, that as we read, study, teach and preach this book, his authority is manifest, changing lives and guiding his people. We must therefore make sure that the teaching of the word occupies a central place in our church life.

2 The sovereignty of God over all things. We believe in the sovereign God, who reigns in our lives, and we trace our own personal salvation to his eternal loving plan, and not to our own "free will." But we also uphold thoroughly human responsibility to acknowledge and obey this sovereign God, in repentance and faith, in the vigorous proclamation of his message and in personal holiness. Sovereignty is not simply a doctrinal shibboleth: we must bow before the Living God.

3 The Cross-work of Jesus Christ. Andrew applied this as central in three areas:

i) Personal salvation - that real Christianity is not about self-help, but grace, grounded in the atonement that Jesus achieved at the cross.

ii) Prayer and adoration - that we come into the presence of God only through the work of Christ. In an evangelical world which is very Roman in its dependence on aesthetics to create the atmosphere where we “feel the presence of God”, we need to rediscover the fact that we approach the throne by faith in the Christ who died to open the new and living way.

iii) Sanctification - that the cross of Christ is the basis for Christian growth, and in several senses. On the one hand He broke the guilt and power of sin, doing something to us and in us. On the other hand his cross is the measure of a life of love, and it is the great motivator for such a life. These connections are practically never made in the contemporary evangelical scene, and were news to the newcomers at the retreat.

We must constantly return to the basics of the Gospel, the Cross of Christ, in our church-life, if we are to be faithful and to grow.

After each session the two churches split up to talk and pray over the application of the teaching in our local scene. These sessions were good – a real encouragement.

For copious supplies of further photos of the retreat, please see the Peregrinos' Retiros Blog.

2006-07-29T14:09:00.000-04:00

Encontros da Fé Reformada

The long awaited trip to Fortalez and São Luis came round at last. The overall theme was Sanctification: A Biblical Imperative. Andrew had to deal with Preaching and Sanctification. The other main speaker at both the conferences was Conrad Mbewe from Lusaka, Zambia. Other speakers only did one conference: Paulo Brasil and Valdeci Santos in Fortaleza, and Hermistem Lopes and Mauro Meister in São Luis. Valdeci and Mauro interpreted Conrad's expositions from Romans 6.

Our total flights added up to around 4100 miles as the crow flies. The section between São Luis and Belem was probably a further 3-400 miles by car over rough roads. It took 20 hours.

Part 1:Fortaleza

The first leg of the Encontro da Fé Reformada was in Fortaleza.

Fortaleza is a modern city, well-run, and with a solid economy based on tourism. The sea is always warm, the sun nearly always shines, the humidity level is lowish, making the heat bearable, and their are BIG beaches. The conference put us up in a hotel near the beach; from the balcony we took the photos of the people walking on the beach at dawn, a hat-seller chatting with a sunglasses man, and another hotel going up across the street.

A bit of local biology.

Pastor Ilmar, of the Renascença Presbyterian Church, São Luis. Ilmar is short, quiet, unassuming, steady, focussed and strong. He gets things done, and yet has no interest in the limelight when they are done. We have never seen a pastor here spend so little time at the microphone in a conference. He was the stimulating force behind the two Encontros in the North-East. We met at the Encontro in Manaus several years ago, when he first spoke of plans to do something similar in his region, and, sure enough, he saw the thing through.

Pastor Ilmar with the preaching team: Valdeci, Paulo, Conrad, Andrew

Various people at the conference: preachers in action: book table.

Pastor Ilmar with Edinildo and Jónatas, the two local pastors who organized the event.

The ever humorous Pastor Edinildo.

Views of the conference, one morning and on the final evening.

2006-07-29T00:32:00.000-04:00

Part 2: São Luis

The flight from Fortaleza to São Luis.

The one hour flight passes over the city of Fortaleza - almost our last sight being the breakwater where we had been for a walk on our first day. We also had a good view of the Lençois Maranhenses - the Sheets of Maranhão - one of the largest areas of sea-side sand dunes in the world, covering an area far larger than London. On the way in, the coast and then the island on which São Luis is built come into view.

2006-07-29T00:31:00.000-04:00

São Luis, Maranhão

Clockwise from top:
the view out to sea from the old town:
the lagoon, a can of Jesus Guaraná - a very pink experience:
lights at night on one of the outlying beaches:
new block of flats under construction, in the rain.

Guaraná Jesus is an institution in Maranhão. The recipe was invented by a local man whose name was Jesus. He took the basic Guaraná of all of Brazil, a fizzy, light brown concoction, sometimes flavoured with a little real guaraná fruit from the Amazon, swapped the caramel colouring for a luminous pink, and added a bit of cinnamon or clove or both. Interesting. Despite some apparently machiavelian efforts by a well-known, North American, manufacturer of a sickly brown fizzy substance to overturn the sickly pink substance, Jesus remains the local champion. Speak not against it in São Luis.

In portuguese, a common way to offer a drink or food is to say, "Do you accept a Coke?" or whatever. "Do you accept Jesus?" is thus a common question in São Luis, giving rise to strange conversations, especially amongst reformed preachers and theologians. Conrad Mbewe likes Jesus very much.

One of the things that makes São Luis very photogenic is that the sun sets in the sea. Andrew, quite frankly, went mad with his camera.

The Lion Palace, São Luis.

We stayed in a flat near the church where the conference was held, the home of Antônio Fernando and Raquel, and their son, the adorable Miguel. It was good to be with a family, and we were extremely well looked after. Thank you all!

2006-07-29T00:23:00.000-04:00

The Encontro da Fé Reformada, São Luis

The conference went well, not least for the chance to tune up the material that had already been preached in Fortaleza. Good fellowship, and Conrad's ministry was at its best.

At both Encontros Conrad opened up Romans 6:1-14 – “The Cross and Resurrection of Jesus in our Sanctification.” What was striking was the degree to which he reorganized his material between the two conferences. His preaching was good in Fortaleza, but was extraordinary in São Luis. We felt that his simple, profound and startling explanation of the final verses of the passage was one of the most joy-provoking, life-challenging things we have heard in ages. We were not alone. Given that the preaching is in English, with Portuguese interpretation, we can heartily recommend these expositions to anyone in either language.

Mauro Meister gave some clear papers on “The Law and Sanctification”, and interpreted for Conrad. He has grown as an interpreter in the time we have known him: tremendously sure-footed. Hermistem was to speak on “Sanctification in the life of the pastor”: unfortunately after the excellent treatment of the theme by Valdeci in Fortaleza, his talks seemed rather formless and void.

At both conferences, Andrew dealt with the same themes, although, like Conrad, he re-jigged the material considerably between the two moments. He had three talks to deal with the theme, “Preaching and Sanctification.” The first, on Colossians 1 and 2, dealt with Paul’s handling of a church where false paths and promises for a deeper life were on offer: he taught the Christ-centred word, with all his strength. The second talk was a historical paper, on Luther and Sanctification. How did Luther deal with the prevailing confusion of his day with regard to good works, and especially so with some of the antinomian tendencies that arose in the wake of his rediscovery of justification? He taught the word systematically. Finally, in 1 Peter 1 and 2, we looked at a passage which is in itself a call to sanctification, but includes the sublime section of 1:23 – 2:3 on the nature of the Word as a basis for our pursuit of holiness.

Conference evening congregation.

2006-07-29T00:20:00.000-04:00

Bequimão AICEB church

Andrew preached here on Sunday night, 9 July. Pastor Franky and his fiancé, Mirla, are at top left. A great guy: another good new contact.

The twin boys with their parents in the centre top photo are delightful. I asked their names: John Wesley and Russell Shedd. (Russell Shedd is the best known and loved Bible teacher in Brazil, a conservative baptist of great godliness and commitment to the Bible.)

2006-07-29T00:17:00.000-04:00

A bit of tourism...

In the town centre by day.

One of the nicest parts of the trip was simply hanging out with Conrad. The friendship gets better every time. Top left: Conrad, Raquel, Cora.

The largest collection of colonial houses in Brazil has the typical tiles of the period, imported from Portugal.

People in São Luis - Cora with Raquel, our hostess, at top right.

São Luis is one of the most musical cities in Brazil - being known especially for reggae. The old town at night pulsates with Latin and Carribean rhythms.

2006-07-29T00:10:00.000-04:00

Projeto ‘Fora das Ruas’

One of the best things about being in São Luis was being able to see Mez and Miriam McConnell and the work they are doing. They joined UFM on the same day as we did, back in 1998, and we have been good friends ever since those frightening interviews!

Mez and Miriam’s project has a base in the bairro J Lima, an “invaded” neighbourhood where people have been living for fifteen years without the area being recognised by the local government. Roads are poor; there are no “normal” facilities, and very little work. At night, the area is dangerous. Mez and Miriam’s involvement started with a burden for street kids, but the work is now really a church plant, with regular meetings, and a wide-ranging ministry including adult-literacy and training in basic ways to make a living. Work is underway to build a home for children with the gravest problems.

For those who are interested, please see something of the history and vision for this work on Mez and Miriam´s blog, here.

Mez and Miriam McConnell, Keziah and Lydia

A tree in the grounds of the project whose name escapes me but whose flowers are unforgettable.

Flowers on the roof of the building that may one day be the library. (I think.)

The excellent site that Mez and Miriam have as a base for the project: in estate agentese, it "has possibilities".

Junior, the leader of the street kids work, and his daughter.

Roads and buildings in the immediate area around the project. The wattle and daub style thatched mud huts are more common in Maranhão than in any other state.

The heart of the work: Miriam leads a Bible Study for women.

British team led by Pete Nye (UFM Worldwide) helping build the new home block.

Women's jewelry class: note the time of prayer before the class begins. Not all who come are believers

Neighbouring family. The day we visited, a film crew had come over to make up a video about the work. As well as filming activies on the site, Mez took them around the local streets, and did a short interview with this lady, about the effect of the project in her life and in the life of her family. Three of her children are seen here.

Lads from the project: volleyball in and immediately after the rain.

2006-07-28T11:42:00.000-04:00

Part 3: Belem

Images of the journey from São Luis to Belem.

A distance comparable to London to Inverness, but across some pretty difficult roads. Graham drove all the way: 20 hours. Six of us were crammed into his wagon, though the A/C made it more than bearable. Good fellowship, and for us southern softies, a bit of an adventure.

So much of the North is bicycle country. Most of these shots were taken in one town - Miranda do Norte - on our journey to Belem.

Graham Nash at our lunch break on the journey. Graham works in a similar ministry to ourselves: teaching at an evening Bible school, the IBN, with an emphasis on Biblical Exposition. He has been in Brazil for three years, getting really thrown in at the deep end with the IBN, leading it after only six months. He came over to the conference in São Luis with three others from Belem, and was thus able to give us a lift back in his capacious car.

Belem - Bethlehem - the great city at the mouth of the Amazon. With one road in and out, but a lot of river to play with, Belem is big, packed with people, vibrant, exciting, disturbing, hot, often sticky, and elegant in a rather decadent way. We had a not very good time here in 1998: 2006 more than made up for it.

Graham and Tina Nash's home.

2006-07-28T11:31:00.000-04:00

A bit of tourism in the town centre:
around the famous Ver-o-peso (see/check the weight) market

When we were in Belem in 1998, there was an attempted robbery of one member of our group right here in the centre. Together with other negative factors in that visit, it left us, and especially some members of the family, with a very bad set of memories of Belem. It was important to go back to the Ver-o-peso and get it right!

In the Ver-o-peso itself - purely a fish market.

Having brought fish to the market, there is time for a shipboard haircut. Do vultures eat human hair?

Other products in the markets around the Ver-o-peso. The hanging bottles are potions associated with spiritism - Candomblé. Viagra Natural speaks for itself.

Banho cheiroso. A mix of all kinds of attractive herbs and spices, which can bring sucess in your business deals. We were not fully aware of this propensity when we chose the name for our blog. Should we abandon the name, or cast the demons out of blogspot?

A genuine charlatan. This man, just outside the market, is selling a remedy that cures everything. Even while with a customer, he maintains his patter through the microphone. We did not buy.

2006-07-28T11:15:00.000-04:00

Ministry on Old Testament Narratives with the IBN
Our ministry goal in going to Belem was to work with Graham Nash, doing a workshop and a sequence of preaching meetings focussed on Old Testament narratives. One purpose of this was simply to boost the Bible School Ministry, especially putting it more on the map with the Presbyterians, who are our main contacts in most parts of the country, and who already knew Andrew from our visit in 1998.

The event was organised as an intensive morning on the nuts and bolts of understanding narrative, and three evening preaching rallies at which Andrew spoke.

Training Day on Old Testament Narratives, Marambaia Presbyterian Church, Belem. Graham led an excellent morning of studies, while Andrew took photos.

The evening congregation at the Marambaia Presbyterian church. Andrew opened up three OT narratives: Josiah (2 Chron 23) David and Goliath (1 Sam 17) and Wrestling Jacob (Gen 32). The Presbyterians that we know in Belem have a delightful simplicity, doctrinal rigour and emotional warmth combined in their meetings. It is not hard to teach and preach among them!

These four men and a number of others who came to the evening sessions were part of the group from Belem which Andrew met at the FIEL conference in 1997, and again when he preached at the Central Presbyterian Chuch in Belem in 1998. In 1997, their four day bus journey was spoiled by an armed robbery en route: of the four here all were robbed, one being badly beaten and another arriving in the South East with absolutely nothing - his suitcase gone. Their warmth and enthusiasm at the time made a big impression, and the renewal of fellowship was a delight. Especially given that we can now communicate without an interpreter!

2006-07-28T10:32:00.000-04:00

UFMers in Belem

It was good to see other UFM colleagues, involved in work with street kids. Clockwise: Shirley: Lynne and Kelly: Danny and Sheila with Stephanie and Lucas: Cora and Maureen. Living so far away, we have only seen one of these colleagues before in Brazil: Lynne McLeavy, in 1998.

The Nash Family

At the end of the marathon, Belem meant ministry opportunities, moments with other colleagues, sightseeing, exotic fruits and foods, and a chance to bury some ghosts from the past, amongst other things. But simply the best bit was time with the Nash family: Graham and Tina, missionaries from Chessington Evangelical Church, also with UFM Worldwide, with their three girls Chloe, Shona and Anna. Long talks, craziness, the joy of being with colleagues who tick the same way theologically and culturally: God really blessed us through this family. Thank you for having us, Nashes!

2006-07-28T10:28:00.000-04:00

The Amazon.

Leaving Belem by plane, the immediate stretches of water visible from the city itself, and which are certainly as wide as any river in Europe, are seen for what they are; narrow channels cutting between islands. The scale and majesty of the river defies the imagination. Marajó, the largest river island in the world, sits in the mouth, just above Belem. It is bigger than Switzerland. Macapá, the city on the other side of the river, is further from Belem than Manchester is from London.

2006-07-05T13:16:00.000-04:00

Fortaleza - São Luis - Belem - 3-20 July

We are sorry for the lack of thorough written reports and prayer requests over the last few weeks, but life has been more hectic than ever. Please accept our apologies.

We are currently in the heat of Fortaleza, on the North coast of Brazil, for the first of two "Encontros da Fé Reformada", here and in São Luis, Maranhão. Andrew is preaching alongside Conrad Mbewe from Zambia at each event, in each case with two different Brazilian preachers. The theme is Santification, and Andrew is dealing with "Preaching and Santification." Conrad is arriving late because of as visa problem, so we have had to work the programme around. Please pray for him as he arrives at 3 tomorrow morning, to preach twice tomorrow and twice on Friday.

From São Luis we travel on to Belem, for a few days preaching and training alongside UFM colleagues Graham and Tia Nash, before returning to Floripa on the 20th.

We will go back immediately for our church retreat - 21-23 July, at which Andrew will be preaching. Pray that this wil be a most worthwhile time of "gelling" of new and older members.

We urgently need prayer for all of this: please accept our apologies for not having asked earlier!

2006-06-30T22:27:00.000-04:00

Group gathered at Kari's flat to watch Brazil versus Ghana. Most are from MEUNI, except for Marcel, on the right, who is not at the university, but is a regular with the Peregrinos.

2006-06-30T22:25:00.000-04:00

Saturday 24th June 2006 - Missionary Conference Itapema

Andrew was invited to participate in a weekend conference on missions at Itapema Presbyterian Church. This is the largest Presbyterian church in the southern two states of Brazil. Gathering around 500 in a town of 20 000, it is totally outside the norm for the region, and is striking for the fact that this strength is built on a conservative theology and resolutely "traditional" practice. It was important to meet the two pastors, Josiel and Samuel, and we hope that the link will be productive in the long term.

The promontory of Bombinas and Mariscal, near to Itapema. Pastor Josiel took us out for after lunch to climb the hill at the end - a wonderful afternoon.

View of the promontory from the hill top.

Rafael Costa and his girlfriend Bruna, who came to the missions conference. Rafa is a friend whom we had not seen for a LONG time: to spend an afternoon together was a real treat.