Week 10 - March 3 - 9

March 3

Sunday: We decided to attend meetings in Portimao today because President and Sister Fillmore were going to be there. . . and we thought it would be a good idea to check on the Elders we had moved into the couple’s apartment. We renewed some acquaintances in the Branch and enjoyed talking with President and Sister Fillmore and the missionaries. We met the new Sister missionary, Sister Carr.

We drove home to the opening day of the Carnival in Loule.  It goes for three days. We knew that it was going to be a big deal, being the biggest, longest running Carnival celebration in Portugal (100 year history). (normal street photo)

The streets were backed up or blocked off as far away as the church. I didn’t want to get caught in all that traffic, so I tried different routes around the other side of the city. Streets were either all one way or didn’t go where we needed to go. I found a road that went up the hillside and wound all around going higher and higher through nice homes and eventually turned into a dirt road. The GPS directed us to another dirt road that we followed across the top of the hill and joined another road going down past Nestor’s home on the hill. We weren’t lost anymore. As we entered Loule, from the North side, we found our street blocked off. Because we have a parking garage, the GNR (police) let us through to get to our apartment. It had actually been a nice drive.

We fixed dinner and then took a short nap. The rest of the evening was spent studying and talking with Curt and Anna. We have designated Sunday evening (9:00 our time) to go over the mail and any other developments that we need to be aware of. We appreciate his help!

Monday. I (Merl) have a sore throat – started last night. Gargled with salt water four times since last night. It is working. As the morning progressed, the sore throat started to go away. Breakfast. . . I’ve been loading my body with veggies this last week or so. I chop onion, carrot, broccoli, cauliflower, leek, celery; place all into a frying pan with oil and butter, salt pepper and a little water. Steam. Then scramble 3-4 eggs and dump in on top, mix, add a little cheese and have myself a big vegetable omelet. For lunch sometimes I do the same thing with the vegetables, then dump a can of soup on top and have fresh vegetable whatever soup. It’s all good.

Study, finances, read, Portuguese practice, walk up through the Carnival part of town before it opened for today and came back home. Carnival does not attract me, but Kathlyn is much more curious about the activities. I guess I’m boring sometimes. It rained most of the afternoon, but the crowds still came with their umbrellas and rain ponchos.  Three days of hoopla and noise is not my favorite thing.

Tuesday morning we drove to Olhao.to deliver a package to the Sisters, pamphlets to the Elders, and veggies to Hellen.   Hellen is required to lose weight before she can have the breast cancer surgery; and, with very limited funds, she is not able to eat the way she needs. We also stopped at Aldis in Faro looking for chocolate for the zone conference tomorrow.  The senior couples are in charge of the lunch and to also provide the chocolate for the afternoon “wake up” break.  Aldi had nothing suitable, but we later found candy at Jumbo.  At home, we packaged the chocolate bars (three per person) and loaded the car for tomorrow.  We need to leave early so we got everything ready tonight. I called Curtis about the rent, deposits, apartment repairs, etc. I also called Aaron and asked him to check out a couple of issues at the duplex.   It rained all night.

Wednesday we were up at 6:00 a.m. and on the road to Setúbal by 7:00 a.m. with the Sisters (who slept most of the way). Lots of rain and some sunshine along the way with a rainbow or two. We arrived in Setúbal by 9:05. We planned out the serving and eating areas for lunch before the zone conference started at 10:00. We sat through part of conference before sneaking out to set up the tables and chairs with one of the local members that came to help. Lunch was served at 12:45 - lasagna, salad, potato chips, apple, roll and a drink. There was enough food and not much to spare- so all was good. We helped the caterer clean up a bit before going back into the conference.  

The afternoon portion of the conference was focused on the use of new smartphones distributed today. These phones can be an amazing missionary tool if used correctly. Before the meeting closed, the missionaries who are going home in two weeks shared their testimonies.

 Our zone will be losing three – Elder Barrios, Sister Sonneveld, Sister Warren). We later helped put the chairs and tables back to where they belonged – with the help of some of the Elders. The Garrards came to help during the lunch time which was nice. Chocolate break went well and the supply distribution had a problem – the office Elders forgot to bring the Algarve box. 

stayed at the church to wait for the suppies and sent the missionaries on their way (via bus and train). We will deliver their supplies to them later. We drove home between 6:00 and 8:00. I dozed off just a bit while Sister Egbert fixed dinner; and we ate at 10:00 pm.

 Thursday, we stayed home all day, except for a jaunt up to the  park to work out on the exercise machines.  Kathlyn is still not on top of her cold and spends a lot of time resting.  

I dyed my cargo pants that Sister Egbert spilled some bleach on some time ago. They are darker now! Studied scriptures, and a bunch of other computer stuff.

Friday we stayed home in the morning. In the afternoon we made a trip to deliver mission supplies to the Faro and Olhao missionaries. We also did some grocery shopping for Hellen and visited with her. She is still waiting on several different government agencies to get direction on housing and medical care.   We asked the Sisters (Sonneveld and Bradley) if they would contact the Relief Society President in the branch to find ways to assist Hellen through all of this. 

We talked with Brian and learned that his family was all recovering from a nasty sickness but otherwise doing well in their new home. Talked with Curtis about getting the Costco certificates cashed and deposited.

Saturday morning I received a phone call from the Faro Zone leaders (Elders Mortinsen and Plummer)  asking me to look outside our window. They were looking up and waving. . . but didn’t know how to get to our apartment. They had come to Loule to participate with the missionaries here in a Family History campaign on the street near the fountain. I invited them in while we got ourselves ready for the day. I prepared and fed them my famous vegetable omelet that I often for myself often.

We joined four sets of missionaries on the street and took pictures of their setup and the interactions with people. Kathlyn and I went to the market for veggies for dinner tomorrow. Then took the missionaries (Sister Trainers and Zone Leaders) back to Faro.

We later returned to Faro for the 4:00 baptisms of Nelson and Ermenijldo Mendes. They were taught by Elders Weber and Harper in Olhao. There was a special spirit particularly as Nelson was baptized. His humility and gratitude was evident. On the way back, Kathlyn requested we take a detour to drive past the big soccer stadium that we pass everytime we come or go to Faro or IKEA. We were then even more adventurous by taking an unknown route home that took us up and through the communities on the hillside above the stadium. We wound in and out of neighborhoods and agriculture areas and eventually found our way back to Loulé via the road by the large Continente Mercado north of Loule. It was a pretty drive.

Lunch tomorrow is a baked potato bar, so Kathlyn made a pot of chili and prepared the toppings for the potatoes. I cleaned and prepared the front room and table. I have started reading the Book of Mormon again and finished reading the 1st Nephi again.

(photo:  Elder Harper, Ermenijldo Mendes, Nelson Mendes, Elder Weber)