Week 35 August 25 - 31

 Aug 26      Cooper's birthday today!  The big 8!!


 Organized around the house a bit. Loaded up the car with supplies to finish the projects at the Olhao apartment. Worked hard, up and down stairs. . . Met with the land lady at 1:30. She said we were five star renters – leaving the apartment better than we found it. Now just have to figure out how to get the big stuff down five flights of stairs – washing machine, big floor air conditioner, queen mattress. Some of the soft stuff, we dropped down the middle of the circular stair cases.


Some men trimming up the palm trees along the road.  You can't see the guy up dropping things out of the top (on the left).



Rushed to Continent to pick up bread and stuff for sandwiches on the bus tomorrow. Then a trip to Albufeira for two piano lessons. As soon as we walked in the door, Ermelinda pointed out a broken blind – she had bought replacement cord but needed help installing.it . . I gave 2 lessons while Merl worked on the blinds.  He was successful but came away with several scratches on his hands - poor installation in the first place.

Invited to stay for a late dinner. Karina (one of the students) works in a hotel restaurant – loves to cook. She ade a big pot of noodles and mixed in big shrimp in a creamy sauce - it was delicious. The family eats the whole shrimp – meat, shell, heads, eyeballs. . .  the family from Cabo Verde. Ermilinda served us homemade yogurt and honey before dinner and fresh papaya for dessert. Great family!

As we were driving away, Merl said that was a great 49^th anniversary dinner (tomorrow). We will actually be in Lisbon at the temple open house tomorrow.  Great way to start our 50^th year of marriage.

Aug 27 Tue     Happy anniversary to us!

Packed a lunch for the trip and walked to the church to catch the bus at 8:00. The ar is packed full of stuff from Olhao. 

The bus was full of our good branch members – stopped in Albufeira to pick up a group and then in Messines to pick up a mother and son (who we didn’t know). Sister Ermalinda brought a container of yogurt and honey and several cookies for us – her favorite from Cabo Verde (too dry and hard to eat). Kind of a fun ride for Merl – he is always driving and pays close attention to the road. This was his first time to relax and enjoy the scenery of Portugal. Stopped halfway for a lunch/potty break. 

Arrived about 11:30 – checked our bag in at the “cloak room” and met Sister Kelson and her companion. Sister Kelson was the first Sister we met on the mission – she and Sister Madsen had the key to our apartment and let us in. She goes home in a month – my how she has grown. Love her! She and her companion were our “group host” in the pre tour presentation.

It was great to see so many of the Portuguese members actively serving in all capacities of the open house.  The Young Men (as young as 10) were helping with parking and giving directions.  Many young people helped with white booties and pushing wheel chairs.   of the temple Assisted Alice



The temple was beautiful!  Our tour guide through the temple was Pres. Manuel Silva, our previous District President in the Algarve.  As we were all sitting in a sealing room, he asked Merl and I to express some of our feelings.  In Portuguese, I told them that on this very day, 49 years ago, we were kneeling at an altar in a temple in Idaho as we were married for time and eternity.  What a sacred, special experience.  Merl spoke briefly about the importance of the covenants we make in the temple and how it helps us get through all the little stuff - stay focused on our eternal goals.

We visited the cultural hall of the Stake Center to view the displays and visit with the Sister Missionaries working there.  There were several displays of the materials used in the temple (fabrics, woods, marble, tiles, stained glass).  Impressive!  We stopped by the Annex to visit with the Marriotts who were taking care of meals for the Sisters.  Merl took the liberty of sitting in the formal chairs as they had been moved from the VIP area.  The Prime Minister of Portugal will be visiting in just a few days.

Our bus ride home was uneventful - except for two phone calls from a couple of missionaries.  Elder Phillips (from Idaho now in Beja) called to say his urine was red and didn't know what to do.  I handed the phone to Merl - I like to give him the medical questions.  They talked through the symptoms, pains. . . nothing.  My first question was "have you been eating beets?"  Bingo!  He ate a lot of beets yesterday.  Problem solved.  The second call was from Elder Ross in Olhao.  He sliced his thumb through the nail, and it was bleeding badly.  Merl got this call, too.  Not seeing it, we contacted Sister Fillmore who recommended that he go to the hospital for probable stitches.  

The bus arrived back to the church about 8:00 p.m.  We walked home and called Elder Ross.  They had been sitting in the hospital for a few hours with now assistance.  He was classified as a non-emergency case.  Merl gathered up some first aid supplies, and we drove to the Faro hospital to take care of his finger.  It wasn't as bad as we thought it might be, so we bandaged it and sent him home.  

Wed Aug 28    District Counsel  today so we had to empty all the Olhao apartment stuff out of the car. before giving the sisters a ride to Faro.  We took a table to the Loule Elders apartment.  Made little snacks (cucumber with cream cheese, turkey and olive on crackers; and banana with peanut butter and kiwi; and pineapple upside down cake (left overs).  The missionaries will eat anything and are grateful for it!

We watched a nice video on missionary stuff with Brent Nielsen and Pres. Uchtdorf.

Merl's response to "What does the scripture mean that says, "Salvataion is free?"  Is salvation by works or by grace?"  Romans 3:22-24; 2 Nephi 2:4.  

We are being saved from all the consequences that were brought about by the choice of Adam and Eve to partake of the forbidden fruit which brought about the fall

First, by partaking of the fruit, physical death came upon all men, and secondly, Adam and Eve were removed from the Garden of Eden and from the presence of God. This is called Spiritual Death and this also came upon all men. These consequences came upon all men as a result of Adam and Eve’s choices and not by our individual choices. Therefore, both consequences (deaths) were also removed from all men through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ paid for the sins of all men, thus satisfying the law of Justice and thereby invoking the law of mercy to overcome the spiritual death brought about by Adam and Eve. This allows all men, after this life, to return to the presence of God – but that return is for the purpose of being judged. And how will we be judged? – by our works and the desires and intentions of our hearts – based now on our own choices.

Physical Death is overcome completely for all mankind through the power of the resurrection brought about by Jesus Christ who had power over death – He being the first to be resurrected.

These two deaths are both overcome by the Grace and mercy of God through, and because of the Atonement of His Son, lest any man should boast. None of us can do anything to earn or deserve this salvation or redemption. It is a free gift to all mankind.

We ate a little lunch, changed our clothes and drive a few blocks to a huge orchard/treed area to help the Querales family harvest "Alfaarroba pods"  (carob) from 2:00 to 8:30. The Sisters assisted for a couple of hours, too.

 The land and trees are owned by aged cousins of Sandra.  Proceeds are split between the families.  It is rather mindless work, relaxing in a way.  Reminded me of potato harvest where we would fill up baskets with potatoes and dump them in big gunny sacks.  Similar, we are picking up black pods (reminded us of the locust tree pods) in buckets, crawling around on the ground as others are knocking the pods out of the tree with long sticks.    We worked hard and had a tour of the property.  There were may variaties of trees (alfarroba, almond, persimmon, citrus, pomegranate, fig, and others).  Most of the trees are old and in bad condition - mosty due to lack of water and trimming.  The family shared watermelon, fresh figs, and slices of maracuja.. .  The evening was pleasant after a hot day of work. 

Called Pres. Texeira for info on disposing of a washing machine. Elders will help us get it down five flights of stairs tomorrow.  There is an agency that will pick it up for recycling.  

Thurs Aug 29    First task for today was a 10:30 piano  lesson with Thomas.  Then off to Olhao to remove the washing machine, water heater, space heater, and air conditioner.  We  asked the Olhao Elders for some assistance - and they were a blessing (Elders Eriksson and Ross).  It didn't take too long to get the job done.  We repaid the favor by taking them to Maxi Pizza - had the biggest pizzas I have ever seen - and they were actually really good.  We can't say that about many of the pizzas here.  When we arrived back at the apartment, we found two young Cigano boys (gypsies) with their horse and cart loading up as much of the stuff as they could carry.  All the left was the washer.  They waved at us as they left.

We spent a few hours this afternoon at the alfarroba (pronounced Alfahoba).  Today, Nestor used tarp/nets spread out under the trees this time, much easier picking.  Then back to Olhaot to meet with the landlady to determine if there were any issues with the apartment that needed to be fixed or compensation made by the Mission).




We took a late night walk around the city to check out all the preparations being made for Branca Noite.  This is held on August 31 to celebrate or say goodbye to the summer.  It is a huge event - amazing.

Fri Aug 30   Paid internet bill and caught up on a few things, laundry, dishes, organization.  It was 100 degrees F today - stifling!  One more trip back to Olhao – patched holes in tile, final cleaning, put new lock on mail box, missionaries came to move washing maching to trash area for gov. pickup . Rushed back to Loule for piano lessons at church with Tomas and Daniel.  Tonight was also a youth activity - Jared taught the youth his style of dancing along with Andreia Silva teaching some line dancing.

A dinner of rice, chicken/mushroom stroganoff, salad/tomatoes and ice cream was served.  We then helped clean the church for Sunday.

The night wasn't over yet.  One more trip to Olhao to remove several pieces of furniture that the landlady didn't want.   After the activity, Merl, Ricardo and Kelma Rodrigues went ahead to meet missionaries and Bruno at the apartment.  They helped carry the furniture down the five flights of stairs – sofa hide-a-bed, dining table, wardrobe, mattress.  I went with Sandra to pick up the big truck up in the field where we have been picking alfarrobas. Nice visit with Sandra on the drive over. . . there isn’t much that I think she has never done.  We arrived and the truck was loaded quickly. One leg of the table was broken – we took it home to repair. . Ricardo and Kelma left with Sandra to drop off the furniture to a new family from Brazil  – who came with nothing. Not members yet, but interested.  Ricardo kept the wardrobe for their house.  Some damage was done, so Merl will be fixing that.

It had been a long day and we went to bed exhausted again tonight.

Saturday, Aug 31 Cooper baptism - we so miss participating in these special occasions.  Love this family photo.

Picked up a mission mattress from the church (Sandra dropped it off there). Went to olhao to sign end of contract papers and take meter readings.

Sisters asked us to go with them to Clayton and Bruna Oliveira – where the furniture was delivered last night.  We had a hard time finding them up a steep, narrow road behind a nice home – tiny apartment with almost nothing. . . but the furniture we sent.  We had a good visit with Clayton (Bruna was at work) and his two young boys, Miguel and Lucas (5 and 3). We bore our testimonies of the Book of Mormon – on the spur of the moment. The discussion went well. . . nice family.

Stopped in Almancil on the way home to pick up a few groceries at the British store – and a box of ice cream bars to eat on the way home.

Went to Tor for a piano lesson with Caio – a perfectionist who gets discouraged easily. He has worked hard with the flash cards and has memorized the placement of notes on the staff. He wants to play everything without looking at his hands, like he sees the professional pianist do. . . He and Raquel will be moving to Lagos soon, but we will continue with lessons. Just outside their kitchen window is the most beautiful view of the mountains and valleys – along with a nice fruit orchard. I picked grapes and figs. . . Brazilians love to eat snacks and visit whenever they have company. We were there until about 9:00 and rushed home to walk around the city streets (along with thousands of other people) celebrating the end of the summer holidays, August 31 – Branca Noite (White Night).

Band shells and concert stages set up all over the city center area – right where we live. We had to park several blocks away as the roads were all closed. We changed into our white clothes and joined the crowd. This little city knows how to party and draw the crowds. We have watched the preparations taking place all week long. Every tree, sign, pole. . . all wrapped in white fabric, big white spot lights installed everywhere, false white ceiling hung along the road in front of us. . . beautiful!

We enjoyed the music (some of it), sights, people . . . went to bed at midnight – closing up the house tight to keep out the sound – party and concerts went until 3:00 a.m.