October 2019

The month of October got completely away from me.  Happy birthday to Curtis and Halle!

Zone conference this month was held in Portimao - with just the Algarve Zone.  The Elders in Portimao and Lagos organized the lunch with the Zone Leaders from Faro and the Sister Trainers in Loule conducting the meeting.  We (and Elder and Sister Anderson) assisted where we were asked.  

Towards the end of the meeting, Pres. and Sister Fillmore arrived.  Pres. Fillmore discussed with Merl the possibility of us being transferred to Abrantes - if we were willing to accept the move.  Since we love the Algarve and the people here, it will be a hard decision.

 Merl listened to a series of podcasts on "Regrain your Brain."

In correlation with this info, we have stepped up our exercising regiment in our local park.  We get at least a two mile walk each time we go, along with a good physical workout on the machines.  Even if it is late at night in the moonlight.  I have amazed myself in that I can actually do some modified sit ups now. . . something I haven't been able to do for several years (sloppy back).

Wednesday evenings we supported the JAS (Young Single Adults) group that meets in Faro for Institute class.  It is a small group, strong and interactive.  I think they have enjoyed the different foods that we bring for refreshments after class.  Sometimes it is desserts, soups, or sandwiches.  Some of the big hits were deviled eggs, anything with peanut butter, banana chocolate chip bars, and chicken noodle soup.

Piano lessons continue to be both discouraging and highly exciting.  We have seven students at varying levels of commitment.  Merl continues to practice and progress as he is trying to stay ahead of our two students who are advancing well - Daniel da Costa and Felipe Rozenda. . . Emily Rozenda (the oldest at 14) is starting to catch on.  Miguel (9 years) recently decided to play and is doing very well.  We teach these students on Friday evenings in their duplex type houses.  With supportive parents and a little bit of friendly competition, they are progressing.

We have three students on Monday evenings in Albufeira, Risiana and Ronisia Santos and Karina Evora. The desire to learn to play isn't followed up with commitment to practice.  We sometimes have our Sister Missionaries help with their lessons.  Tomas Querales is kind of in the same boat.  During the summer months, we had lessons on Thursday mornings; but as soon as school started, times and days are random as they juggle around with so many schedules.  He lives in Tor.

Our last student is Caio Martins, a young man with a wife (Raquel) and son.  He is really excited about learning to play the piano but recently moved to Lagos - an hour away.  He was going to come to Loule after work once a week for lessons - but he wrecked his motorcycle, and his car isn't dependable on the road any more.  We have gone to Lagos for a few lessons but are trying to locate someone who can help him - especially as we are likely moving in the near future.

We continued to help Nestor Querales with the alfarroba harvest.  We enjoy getting outside and working in the fresh air and visiting with his wife's

 Portuguese relatives.  We work hard for a few hours, filling sacks as fast as we can.  A perk to this work has been the availability of fresh fruit, particularly persimmons, pomegranates, figs.  I have tried out recipes for persimmon cake and fig muffins.

Our missionaries have experienced a variety of health ailments and/or stress and depression issues this fall.  Elder Egbert has been kept busy giving blessings; I make lots of chicken noodle soup; and we spend hours sitting with them in the hospital waiting rooms.

Market day with a trip to Q Ice is almost a weekly routine.

October General Conference was amazing, even if our sessions start at 5:00 and9:00 p.m.  We did have an interesting experience after the first session on Saturday  (ended at 7:00 p.m.)  We were in the foyer at the church when an elderly man entered and asked for the missionaries.  Our Faro Elders had received a phone call from him a bit earlier.  He introduced himself as Dennis Jones,.He is a member of the church and was in town searching for his friend who had offered him a place to live when he retired (offer made years previously).  He had lost the address and the phone number for his friend and had been sleeping at the bus station and traveling back and forth to Sao Bras with no success.

As it ended up, the missionaries plan for a place for him to sleep that night fell through. . . and we were "guilted" into not allowing this poor, old man to sleep (or not sleep) at the bus station again.  So we took him home with us with the plan of finding his friend on Monday.  We gave him a hot shower, an evening meal, and a nice bed.  Sunday we took him back to the church to watch conference again with us.  He is highly educated, knows something about everything, and well versed in the gospel.  He complains of a little dementia and feet problems.  He said he was from British Guiana and had lived and worked in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan - where he met Walter.  Dennis said he would be about 80 years old now.

Monday morning we made arrangments with Eulalio (a former Faro police detective and our landlord) to go to Sao Bras with us to find Walter.  We went to the city and government offices with no luck. . . then to the post office.  It was a miracle (to us), that a lady at the counter knew this family (her daughter was good friends with Walter's daughter).  The bad news was that he had passed away two months ago.  She gave us an approximate address. . . and Dennis was determined to go see his widow and expected her to abide by her husbands invitation.  Long story short, we finally found Walter's wife who was in know position to take someone into her home and turned him away.  Now we have a homeless, friendless, most discouraged man on our hands.

We contacted our Branch President and our self-reliance member for ideas on what resources might be available for him.  Because he was a British citizen, and England has agreements with Portugal, it looked hopeful. 

Tuesday, we and the Faro and Olhao Elders worked at Sister Sykes' property in Sao Bras.  We were there for several hours clearing brush, trimming trees, burning the slash.  After our lunch, Ann asked Merl to give a dedicatory prayer for the property and the vision that she has for it.  

We received word from our self-reliance representative that in order to help Dennis wish social services he needed to submit passport information.  That's when the truth came out when Dennis and Merl went for a long walk to the park.  Dennis is not Dennis, but Detlef - from Germany, not British Guiana.  He has used the assumed name for many years because he hates Germany and the German people.  He said he had no family and would never go back there.  

(Sisters Fjelsted, Hart; Elders Ross, Valdez Taylor, Sales)

While at a District Council meeting with the missionaries, I received a phone call from  from Antonio – a counselor in mission presidency.  He had been in touch with the the previous Branch President  and current Bishop of “Dennis."   Turns out this kind, old man was recently released from prison (first in Japan and then Germany) for drug dealing and pedofilia.  He fled Germany to avoid probation and a church disciplinar council.  He has three siblings there - that he has disowned.

So the next morning, we had a big meeting in our apartment with Giovani (our Branch President, Rui Gorjao (Counselor in the District Presidendcy), and Odilia (self reliance rep).  Dennis's options were to go back to Germany or talk to the German Consolate on the phone for some plea deal. . . he wouldn't talk to anyone from Germany.  So, Giovani took him back to the bus station in Faro.  We sent him off with my copy of “Saints” that he had been reading.  He was sad but thankful for the almost week of refuge with a warm bed, personal bathroom, laundry services, and good food.

A few days later, we learned from his Bishop in Germany, that Portugal sent him back to Germany.  In spite of his past, we were sad for the situation he has found himself in.

After all the drama of the last week, we took a few minutes for ourselves and headed for the beach.  Nothing better than running sand between our toes and soaking in some good October sun.

The middle of October we made our road trip for apartment inspections to Sines, Evora, and Beja.  It is a long day trip, but I never tire of the beautiful scenery.  We spent more time working with the missionaries on Sister Sykes' project and our local apartment inspetions (Olhao, Faro, and Loule).  

We met Bro. and Sis. Goet from the Netherlands at church.  After a nice visit, we were invited to visit them and learn more about Merl's ancestry.  Bro. Goet knew exactly where the "Egbert" side of the family lived back in the 1600's (info from Family Search).  We hope to take them up on their offer.

Piano lessons in Salir – followed by lunch.

We took Sister Collins and Sister Hales to lunch at Dozo.  Transfers are coming up.  I purchase Algarve bookmarks for departing missionaries - need to stock up again.  We learned that both sisters were being transferred and that Elders would be sent back to Loule.  We did a good cleaning and repair job on the ex-sister's apartment so it would be ready for our new Elders - Elder Nichols and Elder Sammons.  

Whether it be visa difficulties or a general lack of missionaries coming our way, the Mission has been closing apartments.  This involves a lot of work with landlords, utility companies, and the office.  We have been spending a lot more time in negotiataions between the office and landlords.  With the number of missions increasing and the work going forth with zeal in other countries, it seems we are doing more with fewer. . . both young and senior missionaries.  We are definitely busier.  

The evening of October 24, we hosted Elder Goff and his parents for the night.  It was good to see Spencer again and meet his family.  We had dinner and good conversation before saying goodnight.  After breakfast, they were on their way north.  It is fun being able to meet former missionaries and their families when they come through. . . and good that we have room to accommodate some of  them.

Over the past year, we have had Sisters come over to shower when they forget to order their gas; this month was the Elders.  We have better water pressure in our apartment, so that may be part of the reason.  

The last Sunday of the month, we had prepared lunch for the missionaries.  When we were all invited to join the Querales family, we loaded up our dinner and took it up to Tor - there is seldom any food left when you feed hungry missionaries.   Elder Sammons and Nichols have been great neighbors.

The city of Loule is always in party mode or hosting cultural events.  The end of October (in the parking lot of our park) we found a wonderful cultural information tent displaying displays and activities from areas of Portugal and different cultures represented here.  We particularly liked the ancient pipe organ demonstrations and wood products made with a foot controled lathe.  

Halloween was pretty uneventful in town with lots of decorations but few celebrations.  There were a few kids in costumes on the street; a bunch of older kidssomehow got intoour apartment building, but we didn't answer the door when they knocked.  I had nothing to give them (not prepared). . . and later thought I could have given them each an apple or a banana.