Week 18 April 28 - May 4, 2019

Sunday, April 28, we decided to attend church in Faro.  We arrived right at 10:00 a.m. and didn't see or here anyone.  We opened the door to the chapel and found one of our Sister missionaries speaking.  We later learned that their meeting time had been changed to 9:30 a.m. to accommodate some schedules of members. . . so we were late.  We enjoyed the last half of the meeting and Sunday School class - it was good to meet with the Faro members.   



When we arrived home, we received a call from Sandra Batista inviting us dinner - and asking us to bring a dessert.  What do I have in the house to make a dessert?  I had strawberries and bananas, so I made strawberry lemon shortcake bar cookies and banana chocolate chip cookies.  Meals at the home of the Nestor and Sandra Quarales home is always an adventure.  The traditional appetizer for dinner this time of year is snails. . . the small garden type – the kind we have watched people gathering along the roadsides climbing on plants and old walls. We were all given some in a little bowl – Sister Querales kept refilling her bowl and made a meal of them.  Merl and I reluctantly tried them with a bit of bread to get them down.  Actually edible, a little salty.  The rest of the meal cosisted of  stuffed mushrooms, goat cheese, pasta with meat sauce, and then dessert.  After arriving home, we watched Live Longer Live Better – Episode 4 - Water

Monday:   Merl had a bad night. . . laid in bed this morning and watched Episode 5 of Live Longer, Live Better - cancer.

Mid morning, we walked to the park for exercise and fresh air.  Merl always feel betters when he can get out and do something physical - even when it hurts.  I went to the grocery store to replace things borrowed from sisters yesterday to make cookies (butter and eggs),  I receiveed a phone call from Elder Girrard with further instructions for the Couple Conference on May 14.  I need to make contact with everyone with food assignments and arrange the schedule and sleeping accommodations.  
We made appointments for inspections and took left-over cookies to the Elders. . . ate dinner and worked on blog. Chatted with Hellen on Messenger - she is such a strong, faithful new member who has faced so many challenges and is still grateful for life.

The last day of the month - April 30 - April's birthday.

We filled this Tuesday with four apartment inspections for Sisters Faro,  Faro Elders, Olhao Sisters and Elders.  Our inspections are going much better since we have worked hard to remediate issues and get conditions up to a good standard.  Good job Missionaries!!  


Sister Brown is completing her mission this week.  Her District companions held a little funeral for her after our District Counsel meeting (which was sandwiched in between inspections.

I have loved watching all te different flowering trees this spring.  We don't know what kind of tree this is (across the road from the church), but it is beautiful.

It felt good to finally be home after being out all day with finishing the Faro and Olhao apartment inspections.  It was a full day!

May 1 is a holiday in Portugal celebrating the Day of the Worker (like our Labor Day).  Also, Spring is welcomed with a variety of traditional customs.  We watched a parade in the morning and then got busy.

So, I guess we chose to work on this day and finished our inspections for this transfer.   We had been trying to assist the Faro and Loule Sisters with rides for a division - back and forth with days and times.  Crazy!  Finally had a plan, and then Sister Moulton was sick all night. . . divisions cancelled for today!! 

We visited with Sister Moulton about health issues; side effects of medications, Elders give her a blessing, and we reported all the information to Sister Fillmore. 

Drove to Portimao to work on ceilings; met Elders and Andersons at church to get keys – Branch Labor Day/May Day activity – nice churrasco barbecue. Finished the apartment ceiling – washed dishes and did general cleaning between paint applications,; made two banana cakes for the Elders and Sisters.
(before and after photos of ceililng.


 

Sisters asked if we could stop at their apartment and fix three sets of blinds. Merl is learning a lot about how these blind systems work and are installed. He was able to fix all three. Came home exhausted, napped a little. Merl did his online church payments and and bank transfers – prepared budget for May.

May 2 Thursday We have enjoyed watching the Live Longer, Feel Better series.  We have learned a lot and are implementing several things.  Today's last episode was focused on Head and Heart – creating a harmony between your heart and mind.

Packed a little lunch bag of fruit, nuts, and water – went to Praia Vale do Lobo to walk in the sand and “become one with the earth.” We absorbed the negative electrons by walking barefoot in the sand - and yes, that is Merl with no shoes on!  It was a beautiful day.  

We actually took a nap after we returned from the beach and woke up hungry.  What better way to finish off the day tha a nice dinner at Dozo (the Japanese restaurant with the conveyor belt.  It is such a fun place!

Friday morning started with a walk to the park for exercise and "rejuvenaion."  Merl is still strong and active. . . he just needs to rehabilitate his arm so he can function without paint.  Pain gets really old after a while.

We walked over to Pinga Doce to get some strawberries and spinach.  I saved some strawberries for my salad, and sliced up the rest for a treat for Portuguese/English class tonight.  Strawberry shortcake was a success! 

Stayed up late listening to Women's Conference and the Sister to Sister session.  So grateful for internet and computers to stay in contact with the outside world.


 May 4 Saturday picked up sisters at train station in the morning for a division.  Only a few more days before transfers, so this was the last chance. 

Instead of going to Market today, I just stopped by Mini mercado for potatoes, carrots, onions, butter - things I needed for meal prep for Sunday. After taking a walk in the park, we listened to a podcast on “Living Longer, Feeling Better.

 We took sisters back to Faro and attended a baptism service for Ana Paula and Elisa Gomes. The Olhao Elders have been busy and have been finding success with the Angolan population in Olhao. There little Branch is growing.