Tuesday, April 17, 2007
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!
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!
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.
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.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
