Wednesday, December 06, 2006
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…
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…
# posted by Andrew and Cora @ 6:13:00 am 
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We are also trying to plant a church! Not an easy job here either... if you have time for a visit, any or all of you we'd be delighted to see you, I know shropshire's a bit out of the way though.... Graham and Caroline have our address if you don't. Best wishes for your flight and safe return to the UK and happy reunion with Becky and Tom.
Love Clive and Ruth
Love Clive and Ruth
# posted by 
: 7:46 am
: 7:46 am
Hello Andrew, i will write in português.
Fiquei muito feliz em conhê-lo no encontro da Fé Reformada em Goiania, você é muito gente boa. Realmente gostaria de ter mais tempo pra poder conversar sobre várias coisas, falar sobre fotografia, tomar umas aulas sobre como utilizar a máquina fotográfica(lembra-se, nossas máquinas são idênticas), falar um pouco sobre exposição bíblica, aprender um pouco, mas infelizemente não foi possível, de qualquer forma foi um prazer sem descrição poder falar com você. É muito bom saber que existem pessoas como você na linha de frente.
Deus o abençõe muito, e que você continue a expor a palavra Dele da forma como têm feito ao longo desses anos você é uma benção.
C/ Fraternal amor.
Alexsandro
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Fiquei muito feliz em conhê-lo no encontro da Fé Reformada em Goiania, você é muito gente boa. Realmente gostaria de ter mais tempo pra poder conversar sobre várias coisas, falar sobre fotografia, tomar umas aulas sobre como utilizar a máquina fotográfica(lembra-se, nossas máquinas são idênticas), falar um pouco sobre exposição bíblica, aprender um pouco, mas infelizemente não foi possível, de qualquer forma foi um prazer sem descrição poder falar com você. É muito bom saber que existem pessoas como você na linha de frente.
Deus o abençõe muito, e que você continue a expor a palavra Dele da forma como têm feito ao longo desses anos você é uma benção.
C/ Fraternal amor.
Alexsandro
# posted by : 2:01 pm
: 2:01 pm << Home
