From Portugal With Love

Christmas was wonderful for us this year!  We were invited to our stake president’s home on Christmas Eve and literally had a grand feast-more food than you can imagine for 17 people.  We ate about 9:00 PM and then sang and two young girls read the Christmas story from the Bible.  They sent us home with more food and some small gifts.  It was an enjoyable evening.  They stay up until midnight and then open all their gifts.   We were also able to talk to Erick and Gregg and their families on Skype that day.

Christmas day we went to Elder and Sister Johnson’s large apartment where we had a wonderful meal again with all of the senior couples in our mission, Pres. and Sister Fluckiger, and the office missionaries.  I took zucchini bread, cinnamon rolls and my Rocky Road candy that I always like to make at this time of the year.  We went early to help out and Elder Henry, along with some of the young Elders, washed the dishes after we ate.  We enjoyed our time with this group.  Then we returned home and were able to talk on Skype with the rest of our children and grandchildren.  What a blessing Skype is for all senior missionary couples!

We only had two days in the office this week, because of Christmas and a missionary conference on Thursday with Elder and Sister Teixeira.  It was a great conference.  Elder and Sister Teixeira had presided over the Brazil Sao Paulo South Mission during the time we served in Florianopolis, and now he is our Area President.  He and his wife are from Portugal and speak quite a few languages.  We really enjoyed their training and being able to visit with them.  Since I sat next to her for pictures, I was able to enjoy a nice conversation with her.  They live in Germany at the present time.

On Saturday Elders Staples and Fausett asked us to take them to Costa de Caparica along with their supplies, stop at the church to borrow a table and some chairs, and then to take them to the center of town where there are usually many booths on Saturday.  We did this, and since it had rained some in the morning, there were no other booths that day and they didn’t have a lot of success.  But they did get a contact they thought had some promise.  There is also a very sharp young couple from France who are planning to get married soon and then baptized.  They have been to church and we like them very much.  His name is Helder—pronounced  “Elder” in Portuguese.

Tomorrow will probably be a quiet day at the office because many of the Church employees have been out for the holidays.  There was actually a temple excursion which started from here on Christmas day in the afternoon.  It is my turn again to give a spiritual thought at our devotional tomorrow.  I am going to talk about gratitude this time.

We are excited for the start of a New Year, with new goals and new opportunities to improve.  May  the new year bring blessings of health, happiness and desires to serve the Lord to our many friends and family.  WE LOVE YOU!  Abracos!

At Costa de Caparica Beach

Elders Staples and Fausett

Nativity at the Catholic Church