Friday, October 27, 2006
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
