Week 30 July 21 - 27

Sunday Jul 21 church, played piano listed to Joseph Smith the Prophet (Madsen).

We participated in aTemple Musical Devotional in Faro – planned by a recent convert. Talks, testimonies, songs – last minute asked to play prelude and accompany hymns. . . as well as some of the groups and soloists.  Always surprises!  Another returned missionary had been working with a couple of groups and played for them. Our eight  missionaries performed Um por Um (One by One) and did pretty good after just one quick practice earlier in the week. It was a nice program.

Monday Jul 22 Walked to park and stopped to watch six of our Algarve missionaries playing tennis and soccer tennis. It was getting really hot really fast today. Walked up to the exercise equipment so Merl could stretch out his
arm. It was too hot for me – I stayed in the shade. Stopped by the health food store on the way home and bought a package of Spirulina powder. Now have to figure out how to use it.

Downloaded and sorted pictures – made lists of projects in apartments around the area and made shopping list.

We went to Leroy Merlin for supplies for apartments.  As we returned home, Merl dropped off along the way to go by Q Ice for my weekly (missed last week) scoop of the best gelado in town.   Unfortunately, it was closed. . had to settle for a scoop around the corner – good, but not “the best.”

Tue Jul 23 Trip to Shamwari Vascao to meet Helena.  She is a friend of our friend, Ann Skyes.  She is originally from Zimbabwe and is in the middle of her African project outdoor getaway for underprivileged children – along with RV camp.  It was a beautiful drive north of Tavira along the border of Spain.  The nearest city is Alcotim. 

The land that she bought looks like a typical Africa lanscape.  We were met there by Elders Payne and Eriksson.  They also brought Bruno Freira from Olhao to help with a work project - clearing cut down branches and trees from the hillside down to the road.  While they worked, we visited with Helena and had a tour in her big, old truck.  She has a vision of something wonderful and is working hard to create a beautiful retreat.  






We prepared a lunch – glad I took bread, cheese, ham slices. . .We had a good gospel discussion with her - she has read the Gospel Principles manual and had some good questions.  She asked us to return again to answer more questionss.  We then drove to Alcotim a small town with a beautiful view of the river separating Portugal and Spain.  It was a late afternoon drive home.

Wed 24  We listened to 'Joseph Smith, the Prophet'  in the morning. Went to Olhao to work at apartments – a very challenging day with a paint fiasco of trying to match orange paint (unsuccessfully).  We purchased some rubber tubing to reroute water dripping from the air conditioner onto the balcony - causing a lot of damage.  

We made a stop at the Olhao Elders' apartment to fix a shower bracket and finished up what we could do tonight and planned to pick up the sisters at 8:30 on our way home. Part way there, got a message of a change of plans. Went home and fixed a quick dinner before picking up the sisters in Querteira at 9:30. Sister Hales was complaining of her leg hurting when she walks. Tossed some muscle rub down from our window for her to try.

Jul 25 piano lesson for Tomas Querales in Tor. Devising a plan to assist Natasha to prepare to play hymns for Sacrament meeting. F Drove around the city of Tor on our way home.  I spent most of the after noon trying to find beginning music for new students to offer something additional tothe  lesson book.  Phone call from Sister Barajas reporting that Sister George was very ill with assumed food poisoning – I always give those calls to Merl.  He gave her some advice and checked back with her during the day. Somewhat better, not getting worse.

Went to Leroy Merlin to purchase new blind slats for the Olhao apartment. Worked on the blinds and fixing shower bracket – clean grout and starting mold. Paint. Elders came home from Lisbon about the time we were finishing. Elder Eriksson was successfully in getting his driver’s license.

Little grocery shopping on the way home. Main street blocked off and lots of traffic. Really hot and humid today, but a good, cool breeze came up in the evening. We could hear music on the street somewhere and ventured out late to enjoy the breeze. Found that today starts the four-day Loule International Jazz festival. Didn’t paraticularly care for the music tonight. A local bar and pizza joint on the plaza was having their own music for their patrons. . . loud, but better. Home again and ready for bed.  It was a very restless night until about 2:00 a.m. when the music stopped.  There are definitely advantages and disadvantagaes to living right in the center of town where everything happens. . . . all the time.

July 26 Fri. Reading/studying

Noonish. . . Walked to China store to get music note paper. Found simple songs to copy. Today was piano lessons at 5:00 in Salir. 4 lessons – Emily and Filipe, Daniel and Beatriz.

July 27 Sat  Went to pay internet bill – early. The system was down for repair, so we can’t pay until next week.  I made deviled eggs for baptism this morning, and we took the sisters over early to prepare. Andreia  Silva was baptized today by Joao Pacheco.  I played the piano. After her baptism, Andrea told her conversion story.  She is from Brazil and has some family who are members; but she wasn't interested until recently, after moving to Portugal. 

After arriving home, we learned that the Marriotts will be coming to spend the night with us before their meeting with Young Single Adult leaders after church tomorrow. (Jovens Adulto Solitario = JAS).  Sister Marriott was in the General Young Women's Presidency and Elder Marriott was a mission president in Brazil.  They are a fun (interesting) couple.  

Cleaned house and made a batch of banana bread. Marriotts arrived at 6:00 – visited, had dinner – cabbage soup with taco meatthat they brought, bread and cheese. Merl and Elder Marriott went to Albufeira to pick up our Sisters. I had nice visit with Sister Marriott while they were gone.  We were all ready for bed tonight.