breakfast at the French bakery

walking through the gardens was exhausting

Gloria and Claudia

Days 85 and 86:

Sorry for the conjoined post but the days are literally stringing together as we try to prepare for our departure. Feeling slightly overwhelmed by our 'to-do' list, our thoughts on going back home, and our leaving, we all are beyond worn out. Although we are enjoying our last few adventures in Europe for this trip, we are all ready to be home and sleeping in our own beds.

Yesterday we spent the day in service and in meeting. With it being the special talk, we prepared all day- studying, sending out more invitations, and getting ourselves ready. The talk finally arrived and all I really remember was that our whole row had teary eyes. With the theme, "Why Does a Loving God Permit Wickedness", we all knew this would happen.

Staying at the kingdom hall an hour and a half after the meeting, we all said our goodbyes seeing as it was our last meeting in Portugal for who knows how long. Home late and exhausted, we fell asleep and rested for our adventurous day 86. Museums and 'barbecues' awaited us.

Early in the morning, we met Claudia and Gloria for coffee and a trip to the Museum of Natural Sciences. With weather as beautiful as it was, we all agreed to venture through the botanical gardens and butterfly garden. It was so much fun to be with these two lovely sisters. One of the best parts is- in six months they will be back in Oregon so we never really have to say goodbye.

In the afternoon, we all piled into cars of friends from the hall and headed on our merry way to the beach. Stopping for a Portuguese barbecue (pork and rice) along the way, we had the opportunity to meet some friends from the Portuguese hall. Even though the language barrier proved to be a challenge, we all had a lot of fun and laughed as we spent the evening in the sand, brought together by our mutual faith. Just goes to show that Jehovah's Organization is truly a worldwide brotherhood.

Positives:

The special talk was so heart warming and touching- and the hall was packed

Spent the evening after meeting making memories with my campolide roommates in the mall, having fun

Walked through the beautiful gardens with five amazingly beautiful and spiritual women

Spent the afternoon on an amazing beach, making new friends

Yara and Neomi- going to miss them

our group on the beach