Friday, February 28, 2014

Day 28:
We have finally met the one month mark! It is amazing how fast time flies when you are having fun and staying so busy. Looking back, it doesn't seem like all that long ago I was boarding a plane in Portland and saying goodbye to my family and friends. I'm almost scared to see how fast these next two months go by with all we are cramming in- Porto, Spain, Bethel, and more adventures will fill our next few weeks.
Today was spent on service, scraping up the last few hours we could for the month and working with new ones in the congregation. I allowed myself time in the morning off in order to catch up on some much needed sleep and then enjoy a long jog through the park before afternoon service. The sun was shining on me as I made my way through the greenery and enjoyed the sounds of Portugal. After my jog and a shower, I met Yolanda for service. Yolanda is native to Portugal and has been serving in the English congregation for a couple of months here in Lisbon. When I met her at the arranged place, she had warned me about her territory... we were headed to a very interesting part of the city.
The streets were packed with people and booths. The carnival is in town for the weekend and street vendors made themselves especially available to all of the tourists on this sunny Friday afternoon. As Yolanda and I made our way through Baixa and into Intendente, the scene of the crowd began to change drastically. Where tourists and children once stood in the streets, the corners were now inhabited with young women in questionable garments and of men who seemed to have forgotten the basics of personal hygiene. Shouting and smoke filled the air around us and we tried not to stare at some of the strange things people were doing on the sidewalks. Yolanda hurried me along, warning me that we would not stay here past five and that I should never come after dark to this part of town. Suddenly, I didn't feel so excited for the territory map in my service bag that marked the streets next to Yolanda's.
We worked a few buildings- here that means pressing intercom buttons until somebody responds and (if they are nice enough) unlocks the door to let you in. The buildings we visited today were hostels which meant that many of the residents spoke English and the buildings had a common room for us to leave magazines in. So we left our magazines, spoke with managers, and went about our merry way. As the evening approached, we made our way back to Marques de Pombal. I think in the couple hours we were out we walked a good 7 or so miles up and down the steepest cobblestone hills in Lisbon.
The evening was filled with plans to meet Beatriz for wine and dinner. Of course, as is becoming the norm for us girls in this city, all types of shenanigans took place after dark. From flaming food, to getting sideswiped by trucks, and photo bombing pictures in the metro- it was a wonderful Friday night. I don't think there has been a single day this whole month that has gone by where I haven't laughed until my stomach ached or had some kind of crazy adventure. Day 29- the beginning of our last two months- brings service plans, meeting, and dinner at Tia's!
Today's Positives:
Had some time to enjoy a stroll through the park and think
Got some good and much needed sleep
Had a nice time in service with Yolanda learning more about how to search for interested people in the city 
Enjoyed some traditional Portuguese food and wine with some friends and had a great 
 night out with them as always
Marked our first month as a wonderful month full of accomplishments and promises of even better times to come

Thursday, February 27, 2014

 

 
Day 27:
Today began much like any other, service plans in the morning with a good friend of mine. Audry and I went out, mainly exploring town for the majority of the day. The wind and rain had come back, making us feel more tired than we had in a long time, so we decided to duck and cover and stick to informal witnessing within buildings. We enjoyed our coffee, discussing the daily text, and then we rode the metro underground to the biggest mall in the city. Though there were many tourists, we discovered that the majority had come from neighboring countries within the European borders and did not understand or speak much English. I enjoyed the time with Audry, though, and have missed spending days just the two of us. One of the many things I enjoy about the ministry is being able to work side by side with brothers and sisters who share the same zeal, values, and goals as you do. In my opinion, preaching together provides one of the greatest opportunities to get to know those whom you work with and to develop friendships that will last forever.
After service, the girls and I had invited Crystal out to a local restaurant for dessert and a bit of live jazz music. Makenzie and I had stumbled upon the restaurant out in service the other day and took note of the affair happening tonight at nine thirty. The restaurant, Lost In, is among one of Lisbon's finest and most well known and has acquired high reviews. The white royal pudding with red fruit coulis and the ruby wines were an excellent end to the day. Of course, the music and the company made the evening. We all enjoyed ourselves, sitting and talking over fine wine in a unique esplanade overlooking Lisbon. Doesn't get much better than that.
Day 28 begins with service plans again and wine tasting with our good friend, Beatriz!
Today's Positives:
Had a great day with my best friend, Audry
Was in the company of some beautiful, amazingly spiritual and wonderful girls
Enjoyed great food and even better music in a very non traditional Portuguese environment
Looking forward to tomorrow
 

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Service today with Makenzie
Day 26:
Today started with breakfast and coffee in a local café with Makenzie. Emailing return visits and studying for the meeting, we made the most of our time in the warmth of the building. As afternoon approached, the sun came out to greet us. I don't think I have realized until now how much the weather can affect one's outlook on things and their disposition. Not that we have been particularly down with the cold and rain, but feeling the sun and being in it had us feeling full of vigor and optimism.
We made our way to Baixa, the lower part of the city that is also known as downtown. Baixa is fairly interesting- musicians, bubble blowers, caricaturists, tourists, movies being filmed in the streets- it's amazing what happens in this part of Lisbon. At one point, Makenzie and I were waiting for a cross walk when a man came up behind us and grabbed my leg while saying something that I can only guess as profane in Portuguese. Like I said; interesting place, this Baixa. Throughout the day, we spoke with some tourists, leaving a magazine and some tracts. One of the shop owners, a man from Bangladesh whom Makenzie had spoke with last week, had also accepted some magazines when we spoke with him on the streets. After walking about for a number of hours, we made our way back to the apartment in order to get ready for meeting. After the meeting, we are all feeling excited and anxious for the campaign work to. start in March! Its going to be an amazing experience to be a part of this work here in Lisbon's English congregation. Third service marathon day in a row and I'm feeling so happy to be in bed! Day 27 brings more service and then live music and some food overlooking the city with some friends from the hall. It should be a great day.
Today's Positives:
Got to enjoy some quality study time in a beautiful café with my beautiful friend
Spoke to tourists about the truth
Explored the town without getting lost
Soaked in a healthy dose of vitamin D and enjoyed every moment of it
Had a fun day with Makenzie and I am going to sleep looking forward to tomorrow and the weeks to come!

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

 

sights from the day



 
 
 
Day 25:
Service with Crystal this morning was both informative and encouraging. We started with informal witnessing- talking to people as we made our way toward my territory. Along the way we had spoken to two Nepali speaking people, Crystal has been studying the language for a while now and can hold a conversation well, and we spoke to a return visit of one of the brothers in the English congregation who we ran into on the street. He is a college professor from Bangladesh who is living here in Portugal as a refugee. Four months ago he was forced to flee his country in order to preserve his life... he is the fourth refugee that I have met since my stay here.
Once we got to my territory, Crystal showed me the borders and we walked along the streets getting familiarized with the addresses- seeing as they are written in a different format than I am used to. We went into the shops tucked in the sides of buildings, checking to see if there were any people who spoke English. Many of the shop owners were Nepali, Bengali, Portuguese, or Nigerian and already studying with brothers in the English congregation. It is faith strengthening, though, to see how much interest there is and how responsive people are. Everyone I have talked to has been genuinely appreciative of the Bible and enjoys discussing it and learning from it. It's something I am not used to- never being turned down when I offer tracts to someone, being able to show them a scripture and talk with them- it makes me enjoy being out all day, searching despite the difficulties, because I know that there are people out there waiting and wanting to be found.
Our last stop on my map was a little restaurant on the corner, a Mediterranean café that was new to town and among one of the two or three of its kind in all of Lisbon. The man who owned the shop was also the chef, he came down to greet us from the kitchen and asked if I could come back to talk to him more since the lunch rush was about to hit. So there it is! A return visit, a Turkish man trying to make it in Portugal.
The rest of the day was spent with Makenzie and Audry. We all met up for lunch and enjoyed each others' company before Crystal left for her afternoon appointment. I was happy that I was able to get to know Crystal a little better today, it is nice to have a friend who understands the struggles and who can reassure you that everything you are doing is appreciated by so many people but most of all by Jehovah.
Seven hours in the ministry, a long jog on the cobblestone streets, and family worship brings my day to a beautiful end. Tomorrow is another long day in service followed by meeting. Day 26, I anticipate the spiritual feast!
Today's Positives:
Had the opportunity to talk to and know Crystal more
Found a possible return visit in a Turkish shop
Enjoyed being out in the sunshine all day long
Have officially decided that I haven't laughed or smiled more in my life than I do with these four roommates of mine

Monday, February 24, 2014

convention center in town
 
Santa Maria Hospital
 
In front  of Campo Grande
 
Day 24:
Feeling much better after a good night's rest, Tenesha, Audry, Makenzie and I all made our way out to the universities to search for students in the English program. It's amazing how accustomed we have all become to eavesdropping; listening to conversations around us just to determine whether or not we can understand what people are saying. Most of the time the language is foreign to us,  but every now and again a word spoken in English can catch our attention. One thing we have been trying is smiling and saying, "hello, good morning", or some other greeting to see what kind of reaction we get from people. More often than not, they shoot you an awkward look and keep walking. I like when they smile back, though- even when you can clearly tell that they have no idea what you just said. Today, the university seemed pretty stagnate, but we did talk to some people. 
There was one young man in particular who had been standing at the entrance to the metro station passing out flyers to the students whom I asked if he spoke English. He replied that he only spoke a little but that he was trying to learn. After some small talk about where we were from and how we got to be in Portugal, I offered him a Truth tract. I apologized for not having the tract in his mother tongue, but he was happy to have one in English because he wanted so badly to learn the language in hopes that one day he could go to the states. It was interesting to talk to him, though. Despite his background, he was a fairly zealous and spiritually inclined person- he carries his bible in his backpack wherever he goes and was thrilled to find out that scriptures are cited and quoted in the tract.
From the universities, we headed to the hospital. There have been rumors that in the lower levels of the building exchange students study medicine, so we gave it a shot. Inside the lobby, a man had approached me and said something in Portuguese. When we had told him that we spoke English, he apologized in English and we asked if he knew where we could find the exchange program for medical schooling. He explained that he did not know, but as the conversation progressed we discovered that he was studying with Jehovah's Witnesses in Portuguese and could tell by our literature and attire that we were witnesses when we walked in the building. I appreciated that comment. It goes to show that in all our difficulty searching to identify English speaking people, people often identify us as witnesses first just by looking at us. 
The rest of the day consisted of roaming about town, ears peeled and mouths ready to simply approach someone and ask if they spoke English. Post search work was the usual cooking, cleaning, bonding at home or over a lovely jog in the park. Nothing too exciting, but it made for a wonderful day. Tomorrow I work with Crystal, a sister from North Carolina who has been here in the Lisbon English congregation for nearly a year now. I am very excited and ready for day 25!
Today's Positives:
Had a fun day searching for people
Met a nice guy who was genuinely concerned about the bible and I left him with a tract and the information for the website
It didn't rain on us
Enjoyed parts of the town we haven't yet explored in depth
 

Sunday, February 23, 2014

 


 
Day 23:
Exhausted from last night and a strangely rude and early awakening, I stayed in bed until ten this morning- mostly just laying awake with my thoughts. When I decided I couldn't take the feeling  of wasting the day anymore, I went for a stroll through town. Audry had decided to accompany me for which I was extremely thankful. It's amazing the places you find when you explore with friends.
Looking for a portable cup of coffee seems to be a challenge in the European culture, but our caffeine driven mission lead us to a beautiful botanical garden within the center of Marques de Pombal. The foliage and statues were absolutely amazing and we couldn't have asked for better weather. Vivid green leaves, trickling water, delicate flowers, and chiseled stone all seemed to mesh perfectly in this world within our world. Though the time spent in Estufa Fria- the famous greenhouse we just so happen to stumble upon- was limited, Audry and I enjoyed every second of it and plan to go back sometime soon. I wish I could tell you more about the history of this beautiful garden, but the information was all in Portuguese.
Later in the afternoon I finally got the chance to sit in a café and enjoy coffee the way it should be enjoyed. Studying my watchtower for the meeting tonight, I embraced the moment I had in the quaint little pasteleria. I do know one thing for sure, I am going to miss moments like this when I return to the states.
Today was a slow day. Meeting was at five, which was a refreshing change since the reschedule was made to accommodate some maintenance work that was done to the hall on Saturday. Everybody appreciated the material and Today's watchtower only made us more excited for the upcoming memorial and campaign work. Feeling as run down as I was today, I was especially appreciative of the meeting. Battling myself on whether or not I should go or just stay home and sleep, I gave in and caught the bus with the girls, knowing that my bed would be there when the meeting concluded. It never ceases to amaze me how you can go to meeting feeling tired, slightly in a funk, and run down but leave feeling so refreshed, enlightened, and recharged both spiritually and socially. The friends and their warm hugs and greetings made me forget how tired I was. The night from there was a bit of a lazy one. Rain was pouring viciously as we left the kingdom hall. Everybody ran home and hid under their blankets. The girls and I spent the evening baking cookies, watching Sherlock, and laughing as usual. I must admit that even on the slowest of days, moments with these girls are never dull. Tomorrow, we head to the universities for search work again. Praying that we get some good experiences in day 24.
Today's Positives:
Got to walk in the sunshine with my good friend Audry
Enjoyed a good cup of coffee with no real agenda to rush me from the café or my studies
Made it to the meeting and reaped the blessings of being there and surrounded by The friends and immersed in the spiritual feast
Laughed until it hurt and now my mind is at ease and ready to sleep
 
 

Saturday, February 22, 2014



 
boarding the ferryboat

Preaching to all sorts of peoples

our night out

Day 22:
This has been one of the longest days of my life. Living off the high of yesterday's adventures in Sintra, (and probably buzzed from the nine pm coffee) I did not sleep much at all. Thoughts and visions of the day played through my mind like a movie I couldn't turn off mixed in with thoughts of other things, of course. When my alarm sounded at seven thirty, I was reluctant to get out of bed but happily bounced up in anticipation for our day in service across the river. We caught the ferry at nine thirty and met Tito- a former special pioneer- on the other side of the river in a quaint little town where the field was definitely great and the English workers were definitely few.
For hours we walked and spoke with people in Bengali, Romanian, French, Russian, Portuguese, and English- of course. Tito seemed to know just about every language known to man and was kind enough to teach us phrases in a few of them as we went on. I don't think there was a single person he didn't talk to on our morning out. Being in service with Tito was such a faith strengthening experience. This man has been praying for Bible studies and has over twenty five at the moment. He is one of the most zealous preachers that I have ever met and was so thrilled and thankfully to have us join him today. We, though, felt as though the gratitude should have come strictly on our part because of his building us up and showing us what it means to have the pioneer spirit.
As morning turned to noon and noon faded into half past two, we made our way back across the river to Campolide. We had plans for the evening to prepare for.
Justin is a brother from Australia who has visited 36 different countries- some of which he has seen multiple times- in his life. In his six months being in Portugal, Justin has learned more about the city than some who have lived here for many years of their life and he was kind enough to play tour guide for us tonight. So we saw the town. From the view on the top of a local bar, to some of the top restaurants to visit in Lisbon, we roamed the town for hours. We talked, we laughed, shared life experiences, and just when we were starting to relax we were reminded again of what it means to be a witness 24/7.
Rewind to day 8 of our trip. I recall blogging about my day in service with Beatrice but I do not recall if I had mentioned the young man who sat next to me as we had coffee before the meeting. An exchange student from Germany who had mistaken me for a native Portuguese speaker had asked me, in English, how to order something on the menu. Beatrice was kind enough to step in and help him order, but felt a little uncomfortable when he later sat next to me and tried to strike up a conversation while we ate. About a week later, the girls and I awaited our bus after the meeting when I heard somebody calling to me from across the street. It was the same exchange student from the café, waving at me as him and his friends made their way to the bars. Audry had recognized him from the café as well and at that moment, the girls as my witness, I promised that if I saw him a third time I would leave him something and speak with him about the truth.
We made our way from Cinco, a posh little bar in the heart of the city, to a crepe shop just down the street. Upon turning a quiet little corner in the labyrinth of cobblestone and tile, I saw a very familiar face. I had made a promise, I had to leave him with something. I waved to the exchange student whom I had met in the café once upon a time. He met me with a few German phrases, a greeting in English, and a hug as if we were old friends. I took the opportunity and left him with a tract. I was so happy and in awe at the fact that I saw him for the third time, I forgot to ask his name! I promise, if I see him a fourth time....
So there it is! Day 22 ended with crêpes and a potential yearbook story (you never know if he'll be at the memorial in April), and now I am more than ready to rest for day 23!
Today's Positives:
Spent the morning with a the epitome of the pioneer spirit and has moved me to strive to be more zealous and bold in my ministry
Had an amazing night out with friends and got to experience Lisbon after hours
Made an unexpected return visit

Friday, February 21, 2014

Day 21:
Today's adventures I could write about... but pictures are so much better so I will take you through the day by means of photographs.
 
Went to Sintra with our Bethelite friend, Jonathan, and Nuno
had a traditional pastry called Pastel Feijão (chickpea tart) and some coffee. Best breakfast ever!
 
 
Visited the Palace of Peña. It was so beautiful and ornate. I will post more pictures on facebook tomorrow after service.
 
 


Went for a small hike on the beaches in CasCais to watch the sunset


Finished off the day with a wonderful meal that took us three hours to consume and then we walked CasCais at night by the harbor. There is a lot to say about today and the coming weeks but I am so exhausted and have an early day tomorrow across the river but I promise for more details tomorrow night! Have to rest for day 21! 
 
Today's Positives:
Absolutely Everything

Thursday, February 20, 2014

roomies, laughing and hugging as always


Colombo shopping center lit up at night


 
Day 20:
Today was supposed to be my day off, a day to just sleep in and relax before yet another busy weekend. I woke up early, slapped on my tennis shoes and ran up and down the cobblestone hills. It is strange to realize that Makenzie and I are really the only ones out running here whereas back home it is the norm to pass multiple people pounding the pavement on any given day. I'm beginning to think that maybe that's another cultural difference that gives us- as Casio once stated- the "foreigner aura".
Run complete, showers taken, dressed for service, we still had a few hours to kill before my plans to accompany Fabio on his studies and to support the afternoon field service meeting so I decided to go and sit in a café and just enjoy some time with a good cup of coffee and good company. I am starting to draw the conclusion that everyone should do this at least once a week, European style of course. It's amazing how much you can enjoy an hour with a good friend and a cup of Joe with nothing really to talk about or do except for be in the moment.
Moment over, it was time to ride the bus to the kingdom hall- Audry went with me since public transportation seems to be the best place for interesting things to happen. Of course, not five minutes into the bus ride, our interesting moment came. A group of boys approached us and started speaking Portuguese to me, at which I kindly replied, "falo inlès". It seemed to shock them that I was not Portuguese, but at least one of the four knew how to say more than, "I love Americans" or "hello, darling. I love you". I don't even want to know what they were saying in Portuguese but one had tried to strike conversation, asking where we were from- turning to translate and giggle with his friends. Most annoying bus ride of my life, but we lived through it and laugh about it now.
Service was good despite the strange rain. When Fabio apologized for the weather and the sudden cancellation of two out of the three bible studies, I told him that it was alright because I could sleep soundly knowing that I got to go out and do my best to help somebody because I promised Jehovah that I would. So from that moment on, we focused on the fact that we were out and searching rather than focusing on the rain that seemed to fall sideways and hang in the atmosphere like a light mist soaking every inch of everyone who dared to venture outside. The girls and I are starting to realize that serving in a place where the need is greater isn't all yearbook experiences and making disciples in a matter of minutes as if sheep-like ones are just sitting there waiting for you to arrive. It's hard work- but it is rewarding. In ways, if you aren't careful, it can be discouraging because it is rarely like what you expect. On the other hand, if you focus on how up building it is to be within a congregation of people who live in this territory and who work it every day of their life; people who truly appreciate your support and willingness to help- It makes every day serving with such ones a wonderful day.
After service, I remember getting on the bus and feeling a little down by the time I returned to the apartment. Not necessarily a moment of pessimism, but a moment of a memory that caught me by surprise. So we went out- determined to have a good time. Though we didn't do much more than head to the shopping center for food, we made it fun. Laughing the whole way there, scheduling exciting things to do within the next few weeks, being interrupted on the metro by a crowd of strangers who didn't speak our language but knew enough to pull us in to their group picture and tell us to smile, crashing in one bed fully clothed when we arrived back to the apartment- I am so thankful to have such wonderful friends. Day 21, we are resting up for whatever may come our way!
Today's Positives:
Felt very good about taking the time to go running and to enjoy coffee with Makenzie
Supported my fellow pioneers out in the ministry today
Laughed so much that my stomach will be sore for days
Looking forward to these next few weeks and all that is to come
Feeling happy and blessed to be here- knowing that the many challenges that come with picking up and going halfway across the world to serve in unfamiliar territory where searching can be difficult will only make me stronger and draw me closer to Jehovah

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Day 19:
Seventy days left and we have so much to do yet! The day started out with another attempt at searching the university campuses only this time we brought along our friend, Tia. Tia moved in to the apartment one story above us just a few days after we had arrived. She is a single sister from Tucson, Arizona who has been pioneering since she was baptized in 2001, living her dream to serve where the need is greater. We absolutely loved working with her today- we got to hear her story, get to know her a bit, and encourage each other as we went on about our service morning. The highlight of the morning was definitely when we ran into two Portuguese sisters who had recognized us by the magazines in our hands. They stopped us to chat for a while, though we understand very little of what they had to tell us. All I remember was a slur of Portuguese phrases flying and smiles and embracing and hand gestures that were followed by more embraces and kisses on the cheek-as is custom in the Portuguese culture. Once again we behold how amazing it is to be a part of such a uniquely amazing organization that is uniting strangers from every corner of the earth into one brotherhood.
After searching the campus for a while, Tenesha managed to find one English speaking student from Japan who is in Lisbon until Friday but gladly accepted the magazines. Running into the sisters and finding even one person made getting out of bed feeling feverish and dizzy more than worth it. After service, lunch, and running a few errands in town, Audrey and I decided to go for a walk to explore the opposite side of Rua de Campolide. We were so happy to find a park smack dab in the middle of the freeway. Concrete surrounding grass and enveloped in blue sky- it was a beautiful walk. I remember talking with her about the sun- how awe inspiring it was to see the sun and know that halfway around the world it is shining upon the faces of our family and friends back home. It's truly admirable how vast the universe is and how small you feel when you take the time to ponder something like the sun, or the moon, or the stars.... the wonders of creation. A few miles more and it was time to get ready for our eight o'clock meeting- a time to which none of us have adjusted to yet.
You know that awkward moment when a strange man sits so incredibly close to you on a bus of nothing but empty seats and the whole ride all you do is pray that if something goes down it goes down fast? That was me the whole way to meeting- almost worse than the other night when the bus was so full that I couldn't tell where I stopped and the person next to me began. I don't know why but the bus rides to the kingdom hall are always the most amusing. Another thing I am learning here- besides the perks of public transportation- is that traveling on foot is just as life threatening as riding the bus. It is very common to see pedestrians standing in the middle of a busy street awaiting an opportunity to dart dangerously between speeding cars. The good thing is that we made it to meeting with our lives, without seeing anyone get hurt, and with a few more things to laugh about.
Meeting was so encouraging! To hear about the campaign and to go over some of the statistics from last year was so faith strengthening and made us all excited for the upcoming weeks. It was announced that last year, with 78 publishers in the hall,  (now reduced to about 40 since the recent division of Nepalese and English speaking congregations) some 229 people attended the memorial of Christ's death! Not only that, but it was announced that for the months of April and March, there will be four service meetings a week instead of just two in order to support those who will be expanding their ministry for the memorial season! Talk about answered prayers. We have all been stressing over time and service plans and the anxieties that come with planning your whole week in one night at the meeting. Thank goodness for this season's support and arrangements- we are all feeling relieved and ready to play catch up and to share in a part of this joyous work during the campaign. On that note... I've got a lot of rest to catch up on. Day 20 brings service plans with Fabio and girl's night out!
Today's Positives:
Made a new friend in Tia as we worked the universities
Ran into two lovely Portuguese sisters and felt the love that comes with being part of Jehovah's worldwide organization
Discovered some lovely artwork on guiding sides and got to hang out with Audrey at the park on a sunny day
We are all pumped up for the memorial campaign coming up and for supporting the congregation
I am definitely going to bed feeling better than I did when I woke up
Oh yeah... forgot to mention that we heard from a few friends today and Germany and Portugal Bethel are in our near future

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

 
Marques de Pombal on a sunny day
A lock on the gates at the top of the elevator
The elevator from below
Playing at the park
 
Day 18:
So much sunshine today that we had to take advantage! This morning started out slow as Makenzie and I roamed the streets, groggy and aching from our past few days in the cold and rain. After a while of searching the streets, we decided to hit downtown where the tourist attractions are abundant. We visited the Santa Justa Elevator- a famous landmark of Lisbon. It is said that the Santa Justa was designed by architect Raoul de Mesnier du Ponsard (an apprentice of Gustave Eiffel- creator of the Eiffel tower) as a way to connect the lowest and highest points of the city. A giant elevator in the middle of the street makes complete sense when you see the cobblestone hills, trust me on this one.
Surrounded by French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, and Greek tongues, we rode the elevator to the top listening in hope to find an English speaker. With no such fortune, we enjoyed the view and made our way back down to the streets where we found a café to get some freshly squeezed orange juice and shots of espresso- a combination I do not recommend for those with a weak stomach. As we sat in the café, emailing studies and looking over territory cards, I heard it! The couple at the table next to us were speaking English and they sounded distressed. Quick prayer, literature in hand, I approached them and asked if they were visiting Lisbon or if they lived here. After some small talk with the man from the UK and his girlfriend from Arkansas, I placed with them a set of this month's magazine and I also helped them find a post office! What are the chances that they are only in Portugal for a day as they make their way back to the UK? I was so happy that I actually could help them- in more ways than one. That five minutes I got to talk to someone made the whole day of service worth it.
Of course, you can't work all the time... Makenzie and I decided to go for a little stroll and jog this afternoon. The sunshine on our faces and cobblestone beneath our feet felt so welcoming. Not only did we get a good workout in, but we also stumbled upon a park and got to enjoy the blue skies for a while. From then on, we stayed home to rest and study. Our bodies still have some catching up to do from this weather and the cold, but things are looking up. Tomorrow is another day of search work at the universities and then meeting! Hopefully the sun will greet us on day 19.
Today's Positives:
It was a beautiful and sunny day
Got to preach to someone
Saw the city from the top of a beautifully constructed elevator
Had fun at the park- even though kids were staring at us weird
We are all feeling refreshed and renewed!

Monday, February 17, 2014

in front of the housing units at the university
On the bus, hiding from the rain
 
 
Day 17:
Universities awaited us this morning as we gathered our service supplies and headed out the door. We were all excited to go and check out the territory, maybe even find a few native English speakers among the crowds of college students. Campo Grande- finally arriving at our stop, we hopped off of the bus and split into two groups. As we ventured the campus and observed the norms of college life, all of us were feeling a certain gratitude for the path in life we had chosen and were so thankful to be blessed with the opportunity we have in being here sharing the gift that we possess.
Portuguese, French, Spanish... so many audible conversations buzzed around us, yet we understood none. But we accomplished our goal; we went and familiarized ourselves with our new territory, and just in time for the rain.
Sometimes it is disheartening to see it coming and to leave territory because of it- but this time we decided not to risk letting the rain get us sick like we had last Tuesday. Some of us are still fighting the effects of storm Stephanie and her windy wrath. So we caught our bus home, feeling a little disheartened that we hadn't talked to anyone but we knew that just because we left the campus didn't mean that our search work was done. We found an English speaker on the bus and he took the watchtower and awake! So our day and our efforts were not in vein- bit that they ever are, but we were all so excited to get to find someone.
From then on, we spent the day indoors trying to hide from the cold and the rain. Bible reading, service preparation, looking for medicine in the local shops. The rest of the day we spent focused on our own health- mental, spiritual, and physical. We have some catching up to do. Day 18 is service again! This time we will be mapping out territories and looking on the "yellow pages" for names of foreigners in our assigned territories.

Today's Positives:
Somebody got a watchtower and awake in English today!
We know what to expect when we get to the campus on Wednesday
I got my theraflu, chamomile tea, and ten blankets with me fighting off whatever it is Stephanie gave me!
In some way, we all got in contact with dearly loved friends and family members today that we have been missing ( you know who you are, and hearing from you/being encouraged by you always makes our day better)

Sunday, February 16, 2014

 
 
 
the view from our balcony
 
Day 16:
Somehow our day off had left us more ready for bed than our days of preaching work. It felt so nice to finally sleep in- our wonderful breakfast of French crêpes didn't actually take place until noon. Nutella, bananas, syrup, peanut butter, and friends in pajamas was definitely a great start to the sunny day. After breakfast, we all headed out to the mall, not specifically looking for much more than some vitamin c and a warm place that got us out of the house. We wandered aimlessly for a while and just enjoyed each other's company.
After our time roaming about the shopping center, we received an invitation from our friend Kayla to join her and her roommates for dinner. Something I found out today- in Portuguese culture breakfast usually consists of coffee and a pastry, lunch around twelve is a feast, at five it is custom to have another pastry, and dinner is usually at nine or so in the evening. Lesson learned; never skip lunch thinking you can survive until dinner. We had so much fun, though, with Kayla and her roommates. Kayla herself is native to Brazil and has only been in Portugal for three weeks, whereas her roommates have lived in Portugal for the majority of their lives. All three of them are pioneers trying to learn the English language and doing very well for how short of a period they have been practicing. The rest of the evening was a struggle to communicate that lead most conversations ending in bursts of laughter. Friends and food- perfect way to end any day. Alas, we finally get to sleep again! Day 17 will be our first attempt at searching the campuses for English speaking students- we are all very excited for that.
Today's Positives:
Caught up a little on some much needed sleep
Spent the day with good friends, having good conversation
Met some new friends and had a good time
The sun is starting to stay out for us!
the city at night
 

Saturday, February 15, 2014





Day 15: Remember that one time....
We survived the two week mark and we are all still alive and still happy to be here and still not wanting to murder each other! Three positives for the day right there. Today was actually an interestingly fun day that I am happy to have shared with my roomies. It started as usual- service at ten- only today Audry, Makenzie, Tenesha, and I decided to all go together and scope out the new assignment we were anticipating to get after meeting tonight. We set out with a plan and destination, but as the events of the day unraveled we never did complete the expected execution.
Bus route 736 was supposed to take us where we wanted to go. Six stops from the center point of Marques de Pombal was equivalent to about a fifteen minute bus ride, so we hopped on the bus and kept our eyes peeled for the name of the stop that we had been directed to go. Almost an hour later, we were beginning to realize that words in Portuguese sounded much different to English ears than they looked spelled to an English speaker's eyes. Somehow, we were at the end of the line- miles from home in an unfamiliar and slightly sketchy part of Portugal.
I recall laughing despite how terrified we felt the whole bus ride. The best part was spending all this time with a grumpy bus driver who kicked us off the bus at the end of the line and told us to wait at the bus stop around the corner for bus 736 going back to Marques de Pombal- when not two minutes later the same bus and the same bus driver pulled up to the bus stop across the street to pick us up after we had been ever so "kindly" escorted off the bus. He laughed when we got back on... Anyway, after about two hours of bus rides with crazy traffic and crazier drivers, we walked and talked to people on our way home. From shop owners to professors in the park, we scoped out anyone we could who shared our mother tongue, placing about two magazines in total. It doesn't sound like much, but it was something and we were all thankful for that.
Fast forward to six o'clock, at the kingdom hall. I remember getting there was such a challenge. We were all exhausted and the bus was so packed with people, we felt like sardines in a very small and fast moving can. I'm pretty sure we all got at least a little motion sick, but we made it to meeting and still managed to laugh the whole way there.
Stomachs sore from laughter, worn out from the days' journey, we managed to stay awake and participate in the meeting. Afterward came our own special meeting with an elder and Fabio, who had been coordinating a special assignment to try with those helping the congregation from foreign lands like ourselves. We have officially been assigned to work the university campuses! We have so much research ahead of us, mapping out the housing units and schedules of classes specifically designed for English speaking exchange students. Such exciting news for us, and it got even better from there! Our friend, Jonathan (he had been at the party last Sunday, visiting friends on his weekend as a Bethelite) had contacted us about possibly giving us a tour of Portugal's Bethel this Friday!!!! Of course, it is still only a possibility, but we all did a little jig at the bus stop after meeting. Oh, the post meeting bus stop.... that was interesting.
A lot can happen to you on a Saturday night in Europe when your bus is thirty minutes late. For example, a taxi could almost hit you as it whips up an alley at car chase worthy speeds- Ellie spoke very angry words in Portuguese to the driver in my behalf. Also, you can run into a guy who sat next to you at lunch and tried to strike conversation with you over a week ago- to which I promised Jehovah that if I see him a third time I will leave him with a tract. Or you could meet a sister from California who just so happens to be in Portugal for a few days and somehow she is at your very bus stop. After meeting this sister, you could also get approached by a very strange street vendor who tries to guess your nationality and insists on giving you a bracelet as a gift- didn't get any one of the six of us pegged. Something about Europe is just absolutely, fantastically, crazily wonderful. It's been a fun day, but I am ready to sleep in tomorrow and to eat French crêpes for breakfast, and just goof around with my friends. Day 16- I might sleep right through you.
Today's positives-
Saw most of Lisbon on a very scenic bus ride
Felt reassured, once again, that these next ten weeks are going to be amazing and that the girls who were so strangely thrown in this apartment together were brought together for a reason
I'm pretty sure I will come home with a six pack if I keep laughing so much
Makenzie got a return visit in a souvenir shop
We are all feeling excited to try the universities on Monday
Bethel tour is in the near future!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So many inside jokes were made that will last forever in our hearts and memories 
The sun was out, yet again, and the forecast for tomorrow is promising

Friday, February 14, 2014

Day 14: I feel bad that today wasn't so exciting... we started out with service, our "territory" is there on the upper left. Roaming the streets of Lisbon, Audry and I managed to get lost but it was so much fun! We didn't find many people who spoke English, but I did meet a brother on the bus as we ventured through town. Our only means of communication were gestures we made from across the aisle, pointing at the literature in our hands and smiling at each other because we couldn't understand what it was the other was speaking. Funny how connected people can be despite a certain lack of communication.
After service and a walk through the park, we all crashed. What was supposed to be girls' night out turned into girls' night in. Hitchcock films, rice pudding, pilates, and scaring each other as we got ready for bed. I think our abs were more sore from the laughter than from our 'walrus on the beach' workout moves. It was a fun day- low key, but nice to relax. Hopefully we are all ready for tomorrow... day 15- ministry until we go to meeting at 6. Something good is bound to happen.
 
Today's positives:
Got to explore the city with Audry
Went for a wonderful walk in the park
Didn't have to deal with Valentine's in the city tonight
Enjoyed time with my friends
Turned a creepy movie into a comedy so we will all be able to sleep tonight.... so ready for bed
 
Oh yeah! Almost forgot to mention we start a new type of preaching work tomorrow!!!
 Stay tuned

Thursday, February 13, 2014



Day 13:
"How are you doing, Henry?" Luis had asked as we entered the small business on the far side of town.
"Life is good!" Replied the man as he warmly greeted us with an enthusiastic smile.
"That's what I love about Nigerians- life is always good." Upon hearing Luis' light-hearted comment I have officially decided that from now on I am going to be Nigerian.

Walking down the street singing, "Here Comes the Sun" in the rain with my good friend was a wonderful way to start the day. Feelings of excitement for the ministry had stirred and  intermixed with my anxiety over my plans with Fabio- not that I was nervous to be working on my own with Fabio, but the concept of a sister and brother working together alone was very foreign to me. Culture shock. Fabio knew it too, for all the visitors from the states found it odd, but he and the elders had explained to us that in a hall of such little publishers where service groups are pairs of two in territory that isn't safe for sisters to be unaccompanied by a brother, it was the norm. So I said a little prayer and waited at the meeting point.
Turns out that we had run into a brother, Luis, working lonesome for the morning and invited him to join us. Not that I felt overly uncomfortable with the idea of working alone with a brother, but the third party was nice to have around and I found the morning quite enjoyable. We took the metro through the city, stopping in towns to make return visits and to join Luis on a study of his. We walked the streets, talking to whom we could when we got the chance and visiting store owners whom Luis had found interested in the truth that we had to share. It was interesting to observe the differences in cultures as we spoke to people. For example, I quickly learned that those of Muslim backgrounds would not shake my hand or look at me directly and if I were to ask a question, I was to be answered through the brothers, indirectly. I respected this because I understood why they did it, but it made me very curious as to what other cultures were like- cultures that I often ran into and never really tried to understand.
As we popped in and out of businesses, I soon began to notice a strange sensation upon my skin that also burned my sensitive eyes and made it hard to keep them open wide. A light, almost unfamiliar, had appeared within the sky and engulfed the city streets with a renewed spirit. The sun had come out for us! Just in time for our study with Henry, the sun had come out to grace the world with its presence.
"That's what I love about Nigerians- life is always good"
"I got out of bed this morning, I spoke with my family, the sun is out, I'm smiling- what more could I ask? You want heaven to come down on me now?" I liked Henry. He had a point.
Today's positives:
Stayed out in service until five and enjoyed every second of it
Got to face-time my dad and saw a big smile across his face as he giggled and told me how good it was for him to see me
The sun came out
I found beauty in the heart of the city on top of a hill in an old abandoned house
I am feeling sound in my heart and mind, at peace and settled
I'm in Portugal doing the finest of work with the best of people!
Day 14 promises more service and girl's night out on the town
What else could I ask? For heaven to come down on me?