Tuesday, August 29, 2006
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.
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.
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.
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.
Friday, August 18, 2006
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.
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.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
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.
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.
Monday, August 14, 2006
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!
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!
Sunday, August 13, 2006
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
