Week 13 March 24 - 30

Sunday 24 We enjoy going to church and meeting with the good Saints here in the Algarve. Fortunately, we can communicate with many using both English and Portguese, but we usually have to listen intently to understand a little bit of the talks. Native Brazilians or Americans are easier to follow than the native Portuguese. A member of the District Presidency told us that Elder Anderson (new senior Elder in Portimao) was called to be the second counselor in the Branch Presidency. That was fast – but a very needed calling.

I played for the youth choir practice and didn’t need to rush home today as the missionaries had “farewell” invitations for lunch as transfer notices will be received tonight. We had a nice, relaxing Sunday afternoon before preparing a late diner of Tortilla Casserole, sweet potatoes, green salad and strawberry-pretzel salad. It took forever to find pretzels around here – and no cool whip. The whipped cream I use d kind of separated into the red jello, but it was still good. We do have to improvise on recipes here. We studied and took a nap before the missionaries arrived at 8:30 p.m. for dinner.

Sister Brown’s question for discussion tonight was the difference between faith and hope. Elder Ribeiro had sensitive questions and concerns about skin colors and curses associated with them. He is mostly black with some native Brazilian ancestory. He also has some tattoos from his “previous life” that he is concerned about.

The much anticipated transfer phone call came about 9:30. Elder Payne , after six months with us here in Loule, will be going to the Porto area to serve with his twin brother. We joked about their new area having to put up with double the pain (Payne, get it). Sister Prado will be going to Amada. Elder Ribeiro and Sister Brown will be getting new companions. Other changes in the Faro and Olhao Districts include Sisters Warren and Sonneveld going home and Elder Plummer being transferred.  (Elder Ribeiro, Sister Brown, Sister Prado, Elder Payne  - looking down from our balcony window as the left our apartment. . . two of them will not be returning after tomorrow)

Changes in Portimao – Sister Wilson coming to Olhao, and Elder Barrios going home. We sent everyone home at 10:30. Before going to bed, Merl called Lon Egbert (his physical therapist) to get his input and thoughts about Merl’s shoulder. . . sounds like a torn rotator cuff muscle to him, too. He gave recommendations for exercise, medicine, and length of healing time, etc. We’ll see what happens.

3-25 Monday: The morning started with showers, yesterday’s dishes, and brunch. We have been asked to assist with transporting sister missionaries that will be coming and going tomorrow. Nestor arrived early to pick up our Sisters and take them to the train station. He has a big car and two good arms to carry the suitcases. We will be taking care of the arriving missionaries tomorrow evening.

We took a trial drive to the train station to determine the best route to Faro via N125 from the station. Merl found the route he wanted and then turned off towards the Leroy Mervin store to buy suction safety bars for the Andersons. We looked at closet units and kitchen cabinets as we are gathering ideas and options for our “future home” in Twin Falls. While in the area, we also checked out options at IKEA.

We filled the car up with gas because we will be driving back and forth across the Algarve tomorrow evening. When we arrived home, we went to Vodafone to pay on our internet account and stopped at the pharmacy to purchase a sling for Merl’s arm. Merl scanned his gas report and sent it into the mission office. He read 1 Nephi 4 out loud in Portuguese.

This evening we joined into a family home evening via skype with five other senior couples in Lisbon (Powers, Marriots, Merritts, Garrard, Stewarts). The topic of discussion was how we can all better serve as couples. How can we be more effective? Things we are now considering are possibly starting piano lessons, talking to District Pres. Silva about a YSA class, and working on membership lists. 

 (Foto:  Sister and Elder Girrard, Elder Stewart, Sister Marriot, Sister Stewart, Elder Powers, Elder Marriot, Elder and Sister Merrill)

We listened to political stuff about Trump on the internet. In spite of his weaknesses, Merl feels he is one of the greatest Presidents this country has had. Washington, Lincoln, Kennedy, Reagan, and Trump.  He studied Matthew chapters 13-16.


We have a regular full-size bed in the room we set up as our bedroom.  Due to Merl's injured shoulder (which he can't lay on), we decided to set up another bedroom with a queen bed.  We sloped a sleeping pad on his side of the bed with lots of pillows for supports.  It reminded me of the story of the princess and the pea.  We hope he can get some sleep now.  

3-26  Since our Sisters next door are in Lisbon with transfers, we decided to do some projects in the their apartment – will be a surprise for them when the arrive on Wednesday night. I scrubbed all the walls – years of wear - while Merl patched and repaired holes and took out an old phone line taped to the wall, and did some cleaning.

We picked up new sisters assigned to Faro and Olhao at the train station (Collins and Hoffman). Sister Hoffman will be serving with Sister Larson in Faro; Sister Collins will serve with Sister Carr in Portimao.  The first stop was the train station; then to Faro to drop off Sister Hoffman and pick up Sister Bradley.   We drove to Portimao to drop off Sister Collins and pick up Sister Wilson who will be serving in Olhao with Siser Bradley.  

The Olhao apartment does not have an elevator, so it was quite the chore to get Sister Wilson's luggage up four flights of stairs.  Merl has been banned from carrying suitcases - he thinks his shoulder problem stems from a pop he felt weeks ago when carrying Sister Ngalu's bags.   We finally got home at 10:00 p.m. after seven hours of driviing back and forth across the Algarve.

3-27 Not a good night for Merl – made a bad move in changing positions and really pulled something in his shoulder.

We decided to continue some projects next door as our Loule Sisters won't be home until tonight.  Merl needed more patch product but had thrown the empty container in the trash.  In order to find the same stuff, I retrieved the empty patch caulk tube from the bathroom garbage can at the Sisters.  We also needed to buy hinge replacements for a bath cabinet at the Portimao sisters. While at Leroy Merlins (one of my favorite places now), we also bought white spray paint, stain/varnish, sand paper, and wall patch/filler.

When we arrived home we had to find parking on the street – our parking garage was being washed out and cleaned today. We ended up about three blocks away on a crowded one-way road. I wanted to get started on painting, but couldn’t find the keys I used this morning to enter the Sisters’ apartment. I looked everywhere and finally called the landlady to let us into the apartment hoping that I left the key there. . . no key. She went somewhere and made us a copy. 

I anded and stained kitchen cabinets while Merl removed rust and spray painted the washing machine, patched/repaired edges of bath cabinets, and prepped for painting.

In the evening, we walked back to get our car. I asked Merl if he would check for the “lost” keys in his bag of keys he keeps in the car. I didn’t remember giving him any keys, and he didn’t remember me giving him any. . . but the keys were in his bag. It is rough getting old!

Elder Ribeiro has been sick for a couple of days, so we took him some medications along with some gatorade type drink we found at the grocery store.

3-28 Thursday: 
Merl: Up prep for District meeting.  Kathlyn decided to make cinnamon rolls so she sent me to purchase for powdered sugar,and cream cheese. for the frosting.  Cream cheese wasn't too hard to find, but I walked to three different stores in our area to find powdered sugar - Nice Market (the smallest) had the açucar em pó! 

After the meeting and after eating all the cinnamon rolls, I received a blessing from the Zone leaders - annointing from Elder Nichols and then Elder Mortenson as voice.   (New District:  Elders Nichols, Mortensen, Hernandez, Ribeiro; Sisters Brown, Call, Hoffman, Larson)

 

Then drive to Olhão to meet with Hellen at the park near her place. She is feeling better about the challenges of her life. She and Sister Egbert had a good discussion. Drive home 3:00. Take a nap to 5:00. Grab a bite to eat and then go over to Sisters apartment and finish some painting and repairs. They came home while we were there. Had some discussion with them, then came home. 8:00. Dishes and some computer work – receipts, study, etc. Really, the most important experiences of the day is the discussions and interactions we have with missionaries and members – especially these new members. The rest of this stuff is administrative stuff and support that we give them as part of our callings. For eight hours – the time of this writing, I have had no pain in my shoulder or upper arm since the time of the blessing.  I had been having nerve pain all morning and during the meeting. Elder Mortensen did bless me with 100% recovery – over time and to be patient with the healing process.

3-29 Friday
Merl: I got an early call from the Loule Elders – Elder Nichols put diesel in their gasoline car. They were stranded out on the highway a couple of miles out of town. I called Nestor to get a referral of which tow company to call. He said he had a friend, 365 Dias per Anos Company, and he would call him for us. We met the tow truck, Nestor, and the Elders outside of town along the road and got the car loaded. We then took the Elders to the church. Poor Elder Nichols felt so terrible – saying that somebody’s tithing would be used to take care of his mistake. Kathlyn had packed a couple of ice cream bars for them that they gratefully ate.

The car was being towed to a mechanic shop – another one of Nestor’s friends. We drove there and waited and waited for the tow truck to arrive. Kathlyn finally walked home, but she couldn’t get in – no keys. She walked back to get my apartment keys. . . but I didn’t have them. I gave her the car key to check the car, with no luck. I figured I must have left them at home.

I called Eulalio (our landlord) to see if he had a key to our building and apartment. Fortunately he did and let her in. . . still no keys. He gave her the apartment key to copy and told her where she could get it made. He didn’t think to give her a key to the building to copy.

After the tow truck delivered the Elder’s car and the work had started, I decided to drive home. . l but I couldn’t find the keys to the car. Kathlyn had them in her pocket and had to walk back over to the shop. We drove back to place where the car was towed from hoping that the keys may have fallen out of my pocket. I looked everywhere with no luck.

In the evening, we had to drive to Albufeira to pick up Ermalinda's girls for the Family History night at the church. The meeting consisted of watching the movie "Coco,"  eating popcorn, and having a talk about the importance of Family History bu our two Family History missionaries (Sister Neves and Sister ??). Another trip back to Albufeira to drop of the kids and a drove back home. Checked the deposits and finances. Got to bed at midnight. Not quite the day I had expected.

3-30 Saturday: Merl: Unplugged the Sisters’ tub drain – a big mouse like blob of black hair in the drain. I got it out! Tub drains like a charm. Kathlyn cleaned their back balcon and sanded and spray painted the metal shelves. 

Did some shopping at three different grocery stores to find the right stuff for lunch tomorrow. Walk to the Park and exercise. Study. 130 chapters of scripture this year so far in all four standard works.

The Elder’s car is still not fixed. . . not looking good. Check back on Monday.