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!