The Weekend and Transfer Notices

Saturday, August 25

I have been wanting to make a traditional Portuguese vegetable soup (even if it is still way to hot to eat soup).  I checked out several recipes and found I had all the ingredients, except a leek.  Sounded like a good reason to me to head to the Saturday Market this morning.  I came home with my leek as well as a big slice of winter squash, strawberries, cilantro, tomatoes, and a jar of local honey.  I walked through all the fish aisles again today, but still couldn’t talk myself into buying something.  I think it might be all the eyes looking up at me. . . and for some people here, that’s one of the best bites on the plate.  Just can’t do it.

After shopping and eating a late breakfast, we walked over to the local Campo de Futebol (soccer

field) to watch a jogo de futebol (soccer game) between Loulé and Faro.  Faro is in black in the pictures – and seemed to be the better team today.  It was 95^o at 11:00 this morning and these kids were running their hearts out the whole game.  The footwork and strategic moves were amazing.  We were sitting in seats under a large canopy – I told Merl that I had to imagine we were in a luxurious spa in a sauna to make the heat bearable.  The round-trip walk is about a mile.  We were cooking by the time we got home.

(Foto:  painting on the side of an apartment building close to the soccer field.)


The afternoon plan was to support a district primary activity in Faro.  Candida, one of our Branch members, is the District Primary President.  Instead, we spent the afternoon in Olhão cleaning and working on the Elder’s apartment there.  It had been empty for a while, but it is anticipated that new Elders will be coming on Monday – the next transfer day.  Sister Bower (senior missionary) has been assigned to coordinate the housing inspections; she sent an email requesting that all the apartments be “missionary ready” by Monday evening.  The Olhão apartment needed some major cleaning and lighting/electrical issues taken care of.  So that is what we did this afternoon.

While in Olhao, we received a phone call from the Sisters inviting us to dinner at a recently baptized family’s home.  Noberto and Dolores Maldonado from Equador. They live in Albufeira – one of the tourist capitals of southern Portugal.   We drove to Albufeira around 8:00 p.m. and found the city crowded with tourists, and we finally had to resort to a paid parking garage to find somewhere to park.  We located the apartment on the third floor and were greeted by Dolores.  Noberto found the Elders downstairs and joined us.  The children were working in the family shop on the street in front of their high-rise    apartment.  The family (as do many of the              (Foto:  art piece on a round-about in Albufeira)
families from Equador) import dolls, bracelets,
 etc. and customize them for the tourists. 

Norberto worked for 15 years in Portugal before bringing his family here from Ecuador about a year ago.  During that time, he joined the church; his wife and children joined within this last  few months.  After being apart for that long (except for three months each year), Dolores said it was difficult at first being together all the time.

(Foto:  Merl, Kathlyn with Dolores, Kevin, Melanie, Norberto - taken after church on Sunday)

We had rice, potatoes, roast pork, and a cucumber/tomato/onion/avocado salad (which was delicious.  And the best part was a big pitcher of fresh squeezed orange juice.  After a hot day, that hit the spot.  A little appetizer was a bowl full of home-made corn nuts – large corn kernels, salted and baked in the oven.  We visited after the meal, Elder Heiner gave a message, and then we left to figure out how to get out of the parking lot.  After a failed first attempt, the sisters got some instructions from an attendant, and we were on our way home. 


(Foto:  Bad shot of the same art piece after dark, going fast around the circle)

Sunday, August 26

Happy birthday, Cooper!  We miss you and hope you had a wonderful birthday!!

The Sunday mornings seem to come more frequently than the other days of the week.  We were ready to head out the door by 9:10.  I helped arrange for Sister Mazi to play the piano for most of the Sacrament meetings while they are here on holiday.  Update on the Mazis:  After a facebook post, I received a comment from Cheryl Okleberry (preiously Cheri Calico from Twin Falls) saying they knew the Mazis and what a wonderful family they were.  They had crossed paths in Belgium where the Mazis were living and the Okleberrys were serving a mission a few years ago.  I told Bro. Mazi about this, and he was amazed that we knew someone he knew. . .  His wife also showed me some pictures of them in front of the Idaho Falls Temple when they visited the U.S. in 1997 – red tulips were blooming in front of the temple – the flower of Holland.  Small world!  They also invited us missionaries (Couple, Elders, Sisters) to dinner at their vacation home in Quarteira – next to the beach.  Merl was asked to present the Family Home Evening message.  Should be a lot of fun!

One announcement made from the pulpit was interesting to us.  There will be a series of classes taught on Saturday evenings taught by the Elders’ Quorum President, Nestor Querales.  The topic – The Apocalypse.  The Sisters later said that he is the only one in the area authorized to teach this.  Should be interesting. . . wish I could understand Portuguese better.

Hymn of the Day:  Secreta Oração

 

There are hours of precious peace in which my heart

of the world is spent in secret prayer.

The path that had led us to the heavenly throne

only discovered by secret prayer.

When navigating this sea of despair

my soul comforts itself in secret prayer.

And when you say you walk through temptation,                            The Maldonada Family

To my master I will raise a secret prayer.

(Chorus) I will surrender my heart in secret prayer.

I will gain by these gifts with the communion angels.

I attended the Gospel Principles class today with Merl.  Several of the recent converts were In the class.  The lesson was God’s Plan for Eternal Families.  I felt like the teacher was the perfect teacher for the class – she spoke distinctly (with some animation) and kept the interest of everyone. 

 

Jared and Jairo Ferreira came in late (the sisters had called them and woke them up – but they came).  (Jaiiro - center - is the Branch Mission Leader, Jared is his older brother and is being taught by the missionaries; and Elder Heiner from Burley). 

 Jairo thinks it is funny when he says "I am the brother of Jared."

In Relief Society, “Where Love Is” from the children’s hymnbook was practiced.  I gathered that the RS Sisters will be singing it sometime soon in Sacrament meeting.

After lunch the Sisters had set up an appointment with a member (less/non active) who they thought we could start working with.  We had a good (but tearful) hour with him as he shared his life and problems/concerns with us.  He speaks no English and our Portuguese is so-so; but the spirit was there, and there was enough communication to earn trust and another meeting scheduled on Tuesday.  We pray that we might be of some help to him in his desire to get back on the path.

 

Transfer notices were sent out tonight.  We are SAD to see Sister Madsen leaving (going to Porto) – happy for her but, sad for us.  She has been such a blessing in our lives getting us going here in Loulé.  Sister Kelson will be getting a new companion (Sister Hawes), and I am sure they will be great.  

Loulé Elders and Faro Elders remain intact.  Sister Enders (from Twin Falls) is being transferred.  Four new Elders are coming to Olhão so we will need to make another trip over there to finish a few projects in one of the apartments.

But we will start the P-Day tomorrow by treating the Sisters to a trip to Sand City.