Week 29 July 14 - 20

July 14 Sunday Church of Sunday Natasha played opening prelude, I played for Sacrament mtg. Ercilene Soaraes was confirmed by George (Equadorian)

We were visitig with members after church when a caravan of trucks started down the street honking and blowing their horns.  Hundreds of trucks!  We learned that this is a semi annual event during of conference of truckers in Portugal.  They drive the full length of the country – hundreds of trucks – going through the towns, narrow streets. . . it was a loud colorful event.

For lunch we had salmon patties, mixed vegetables, fruit salad. As we were leaving for a birthday party in the park, Miquel called and wanted to talk to Merl. I went to the park to help Candida while Merl stayed to talk.

Elias Gorjao was celebrating his third birthday in the park. What the fanfare for a little boy! Lots of people, wonderful food, games for the kids, visiting for the adults - from 5:00 to 9:00.  I helped

Candida set up and prepare for their guests. I later learned from Merl that Miguel is still struggling with his smoking habit and wants desperately to be able to go to the temple in Lisbon – get a recommend. Merl gave him a blessing – then he came to the birthday party and had a visit with Pres. Giovanni.  Pres. said we should see Miguel in church on Sunday. . .

We enjoyed the party and then took a walk around the park.  When we returned, we helpe clean and walk home back through the last day of the Fair of the Artisans.  The music was extra loud and not as many people were there as the last four nights.  We have a funeral tomorrow.

July 15 Monday I was asked to play the piano for the funeral for Maria Pires.  She was a good friend of Candida Gorjoa and not a member of the church.  Merl and I arrived at the church and let the funeral home people in.  We had to call to find a key to open the front glass doors for the casket.  So we sat in the chapel practicing some prelude music with an open casket by ourselves.  Fortunately, a covering was over her face.  The funeral was to start at 11:00, and the first person arrived at 10:45 (Candida). I played prelude until close to noon.  Prelude lasted much longer than the funeral which consisted of an opening nd closing song with one prepared talk and a few friends comments. The casket remained open through the funeral, and people would pick up the veil and look at her, and then replace the veil.  Kind of eery - but we were glad to help.

Scheduled inspections in the afternoon. . . learned that there was water leaking out of the kitchen light in the Faro Elder’s apartment. Went over to investigate and to contact property manager. They were prompt and worked hard to resolve the problem. Turned out to be a bathroom sink pipe from the apartment above.  

July 16 Tues District Counsel in Faro. Merl gave a short lesson on the five most important things we need to know and hang on to: There is s a God, who is our father. Jesus Christ lived and is our brother. Joseph Smith was a prophet. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church of God. The Book of Mormon is True. If we don’t have a sure testimony of these things, we will not stand. Practiced a special song – Um por Um (one by one) that our area missionaries will be singing for a temple devotional on Sunday.  Prepared a cake roll with bananas and ice cream for a treat. Since the Elders are out of town, we stopped by their apartment to empty the water bucket and check on apartment.

Merl spent the afternoon working  on putting the dining room chair back together for the Sines' Elders.  

In the evening, we picked up the Sisters in Quarteira,

July 17 Weds Inspection of Faro Sister’s apartment. AKI to purchase stain, paint for Olhao and light strips for Faro Elders. Call from Paula Texeira (property manager) asking if water was still dripping in the Elders' apartment. Checked and it was. They will follow up.

Drove to Olhao to inspect Elders’ apartment. Looked good. Merl figured out how to get into blind box and figured a way to hopefully put it back together. Gave them a box of ice cream bars for the clean apartment treat. Spent four hours at the Olhao Sisters’ closed apartment - sanding and painting walls, staining all the doors, wiping down corners, degreasing.

Home – catch up on a few things. Followed up with Viseu Elders on visiting Helena. . . will assign to Olhao. Checked on self reliance procedures for helping an investigator with a job search. Nice dinner – mashed potatoes, salmon, broccoli/carrots, salad. Read scriptures .

July 18 Thurs Met Ann Sykes this morning at the corner cafe to visit about her Yurt project and happenings in her life. Unclogged shower drain at Sisters.  We took red chair cushions tothe Elders'  Loule apartment and brought back an extra study table for the sisters.  Scheduled our first piao lessons for tomorrow evening in Salir with Emily  and Daniel da Costa   Practiced song for devotional on Sunday. Merl studied FAVA Feista do Ambiente e Vegan do Algarve Next to park - vegan products and foods, natural things Noisy band until almost midnight.

Fri trip to Salir for piano lessons for Emily Rozendo and Daniel da Costa. GPS took us into town again narrow streets,and we were lost, going in circles.  No such address in town. Pres. Giuvanni talked us to the right place – no where near town – nice area out in the country. The two families actually live in the same building, kind of like a duplex. Both kids initially were able to understand and work through the first 21 pages. Next Friday we start notes by name, not by finger number.  This is usually a challenging concept. Sister Sandra Batista arrived to work on some things with Polianna.  We learned that Seminary Graduation is in Loule tomorrow – volunteered to help.  

Drove back into town as we had seen signs of a festival when we were wandering around town - Salir no Tempo – Festifal De Artes Medievais – Zona Historica. Had to park a distance away, and we decided to pay the 3 EU entrance fee and enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of the festival. Saw an Ecuadorian member family with their booth with items to sell. Lots of artisan crafts and foods; displays, reinactments of the time period, and music of medevial times

 Based on the historical re-creation of the Reconquest period and the struggles between Christians and Moors in the struggle for the territory, Salir no Tempo transforms the mountain village of Salir into a stage of experiences of return to the past where music, dance, performing arts, animation itinerant, rábulas and stories, expositions or gastronomy are some of the components of this medieval celebration.

The re-creation of the medieval market, based on products from that time, where several merchants will be present with their traditional products stalls such as honey, cork, basketry or nuts, and craftsmen with their crafts, are also part of this scenario, as well as the gastronomic part, highlighting the recreation of a medieval kitchen.

We walked around the top of the castle wall and down through the narrow streets of Salir.  It was a beautiful night to enjoy the sounds of the celebration.  

Saturday – I decided to forgo the market today.   We unlocked the church for Emanuel to do his part of the weekly chapel cleaningwhile I practiced "One by One" which will be performed by the missionaries tomorrow evening.

Listened to first CD of Joseph Smith by Truman Madsen. The more we study and learn about him, we recognize more fully the greatness of that man in fulfilling the calling he had been given.

At 3:00 we went to the church to “glue flowers.” Turned into a full evening – helping set up the chapel for seminary graduation, helping prepare the food and decorating. We made 15 lapel flowers for the boys and 15 flower hair clips for the girls who attended seminary this year.  

 After awarding the certificates, a meal was prepared for everyone – sandwiches, fruit, chicken, vegan sandwiches and salad, cake (best thing I have eaten for months). 




Then the music and fun began. Ice breaker Two games: All girls were taken to the hall where they took off one of their shoes and placed them in a large bag. Then the bag was taken back into the chapel (cultural hall) where each boy chose a shoe out of the bag (without looking). Then the girls returned and found the boy with their shoes – they danced together. After a while, the boys were taken out – the girls each chose a piece of paper with an animal on it. The boys then returned and started to make animal noises. The girls had to find the boy making the animal sound they had picked. Then then danced together with a big noodle with a heart to bop someone to change partners. Fun to watch -

The party started at 5:00 and ended after 9:00. Then we helped clean up, do dishes, put chairs back in the chapel, mop floors, etc . . Late night and we were worn out. Merl had to send in gas receipts and PC card expenditures tonight - it was a late one for him.