Spring in bloom

 

 

Day 56:

Still exhausted, but happy, the majority of the day seemed to pass by in a blur. I remember my Bible reading being the first few Psalms today- written like poetry. I also remember studying a bit for meeting tomorrow and doing a little more for personal study. Besides that, I know at one point we all sat down and talked about future plans for the remainder of the trip and I took Meghan to look for a few things at the mall. Malls here in Portugal are cultural staples and are conveniently placed around most corners.

Catching our train to CasCais

 

Tonight, we went to CasCais to meet Jonathan for Thai food and discussions of traveling plans. Though it was cold, the beach was still beautiful. Jonathan and Akemi both have told me now that people here often get ill. Between the drastic weather changes, the rain, and the humidity that leaves things constantly damp, it is inevitable. Although our spirits are eager, our flesh is weak- so to speak. As much as we want to be out all the time, we are wearing out fast these days. Nothing a little sleep can't fix! We have too much to do to be sick anymore.

 

Sand Castle on the beach

On a Nepali study with Akemi

Feeling sick, but still happy to ring some
doorbells in the ministry

Day 55:

Not that I am superstitious, but I should have known that rainclouds are an indication that the day might be a bit dreary. Head aching, I was determined not to let anything stop me from going out in service- I really want to talk to somebody about Jehovah.

When I left for the service meeting, the sky was clear but the wind was enough to chill you to the bone. Having made previous arrangements with Akemi- a special pioneer from Japan who has been serving here in Lisbon English with her husband, Andre, for a year- we were set with return visits for the afternoon. Her return visits were all in Anjos, a part of town that doesn't have the best of reputations when it comes to safety and cleanliness, and they all just so happen to be Nepali speaking women. When I realized this meant I wouldn't get to actually speak to anybody or comprehend the actual studies, my heart sank a little. Focusing on the positive- the good news is a universal language and I was there to support Akemi and be good, up building company which made me feel very usual and happy to be there. I had never had Nepali food, but today I got a taste of some sort of fusion type cuisine. Known for their hospitality, the woman we were studying with eagerly places plates of food in front of us. From Nepali "pickles" to curried spaghetti noodles with ketchup (she called it Italian food)- Akemi and I hesitantly picked at our plates for fear of giving offense. Besides, it was the gesture that counts and we were both extremely flattered by the woman's desire to take care of us.

After an hour or so, we said our goodbyes to the sweet Nepali woman and headed off to the next study. It turns out  the woman was not able to study this afternoon so we decided to sit in a café and do search work online. By this time it was pouring rain- "Abril de mil águas" (April of a thousand waters) is what they coin the term here in Portugal.

This is where the evening gets interesting. Sitting in the café Akemi's bag was snatched from her side making her the fourth victim from the hall of robbery since Audry's fiasco a few weeks ago. After cancelling cards and awaiting her husbands arrival to the café, I said my goodbye to Akemi and Andre and headed back to the apartment. One side puddle soaking later, I sat on the bus with the sub. C.O. and his wife (they live in the apartment two floors below us). We talked the whole way to Campolide, small talk mainly, but as we stood at their apartment door I suddenly felt much better about the rainclouds, the headache, the theft, and the fact that I was drenched with nasty street water. The sister said her apologies as we departed- "Sorry things have been so rough for you guys"- she said as she stood in the arch of her doorway.

"It's alright. We are still smiling and I've never been happier". Her and her husband laughed and I went upstairs, smiling because it was true. When you focus on the positives, the "Mil Águas" of the rainclouds above you don't seem to soak you so badly.

Today's Positives:

I went out in service with one of the nicest sisters and got to meet one of the most hospitable of people

Not only did I get to support Akemi in the ministry, but I also got to stay and help her when she needed me- I feel good about that

I had a wonderful bus ride with the elder and his lovely wife

We now have dinner guests for this Sunday and I am super excited to put some pointers I learned about hospitality to good practice for them

Tomorrow we might go out to dinner with some Bethelite friends and on Saturday we have been invited to a group outing!

 

Inside looking out

 

Day 54:

I suppose if you're going to get sick you might as well do it in a country where medicine is dirt cheap, prescriptions rarely exist, and pharmacies are around every corner. Though the sun was out, I felt the cold in my bones as the chills ran through my whole body. I am happy to report that I rested- this is rare for me, even when I am feeling under the weather. With Makenzie being miserably sick, I didn't want to risk pushing myself and being ill for more than the necessary amount of time I need to get over this. Overall, it was a good day.

I stayed in the apartment and drank tea and ate soup and studied and watched movies. Reading seemed like the most favorable of things to do, but with a headache it just doesn't always work out so well. Although, I did stumble upon Hebrews 11:6 today in my attempt to read and I found it extremely fitting. Looking back on this past year, I will say that faith has gotten me where I am now and I have never been happier. What's even better is that, looking forward, I know that if I keep having faith in Jehovah and base my decisions on that faith- I will look back in another year (even in 35 days from now) and be able to say the same. I don't know what tomorrow will bring, but I do know that I have faith that if I put Jehovah first, He will reward me with something great. I never imagined that I would be serving where the need is great in an apartment in Europe with amazing, spiritual girls.... but here I am. I'm excited to see what else Jehovah has in store for the future and where He will guide me next.

Movie watching isn't too exciting but when you're in Europe I guess crazy things just happen no matter what you do. The doorbell rang sometime around 7:30- Ellie was leaving so she saw the two men on the staircase and they left their flyer under the door for us to read. Not ten minutes after Ellie had left, the doorbell rang again. Looking out the peephole, I saw two men in uniform and assumed it was the police again paying us some visit for some reason or another. I opened the door. It wasn't the police. Two men stood there, trying to sell me a security system. They were holding the same flyer that they had slid under the door when Ellie had left. They were young, probably in their late twenties, and they didn't seem to take their job very seriously. After realizing that we weren't interested in purchasing a security system for a house we would only be in for a few more days, the two boys resorted to asking us out for sinks- leaving another flyer and pointing out in a blunt manner where we could find their contact information on the flyer. After a few moments of insisting that we weren't beer drinkers or interested in going out with them, we said good evening and closed the door. Closed, locked, chained the door as they kept trying to persuade us on the other side. For big, thick, wooden doors, you sure can hear a lot of what goes on on the other side. After we were sure they had gone, Makenzie, Meghan, and I had ourselves a pretty good laugh. So that was our excitement for the day. From then on it was movies, showers, tea, medication and blankets. Viva la Vida.

Today's Positives:

Study, meditation, and reflection were achieved to some degree and I am feeling good about life and the future

All us sickies got some much needed rest today

Got to watch a few food movies from the past that made us laugh and feel a bit better

With all this rest we can't be out for too much longer

Day 53:
Campaign work today was an exciting venture. Not only did we have a fresh territory downtown, but we got to show Meghan the sights along the way. From the fountains, to the statues, the lookout in Principe Real, to the tiny alleyways- we walked the streets and preached along the way.

 

It's really exciting to have somebody here that we get to tour around. I feel like a tour guide in ways and often have to remind myself that I am a but of a tourist too. My family would be so proud of me for being able to get around a European town without getting lost (even the girls are shocked at times when I make it home after a walk by myself). Once you walk the streets enough, you start to realize that this whole place is just one big circle with hills that collide together at a central point. From Marques de Pombal you can get anywhere. Not to say I am an expert- every time I leave the apartment I find something new- but I am excited that I'm becoming familiar with my surroundings.

After service we made our way back to the apartment to check on Makenzie. She is still sick and stuck in bed. I had some time to kill before my study this evening, so I whipped up some lentil soup for Makenzie and made tacos and rice and beans for my other roommates before I headed out for round two of ministry plans today. As evening fell, the temperature dropped drastically. Thankfully, Ellie and I were headed to a study inside a warm building with Sophie; a 16 year old girl whose family came from Africa. While she read, I could tell that Sophie struggled with English- at one point I worried if she understood the language well enough to grasp the message we were sharing. Then she spoke about what she read. It amazed me how much she could know and how excited it made her, despite the slight language barrier. Studying with Sophie made me so excited for her and so excited to conduct a study of my own someday with somebody as progressive and honest hearted as Sophie.
Today's Positives:
went out in service with Audry and Meghan
was able to tour Meghan around and show her some cool places
discovered a few new places to try before we leave Portugal
Makenzie is starting to feel better
spent some time with Ellie- always a positive :)
Had an amazing study with a bright bible student
 

Day 52:

I lied. We didn't really run around the town today. Instead, we went and picked up Meghan from the airport early this morning! We quickly learned that Monday morning is not good for metros and buses seeing as everyone and their mother takes public transportation at the same time. Crowds of people and unsanitary public transportation aside; Audry, Meghan, and I made it back to Campolide safely.

For the rest of the day, my three roommates slept while I studied and cleaned and made brownies... I think I am beginning to go stir crazy but I feel better knowing they are getting rest that is much needed and that I avoid the rain at the expense of a few extra hours of looking over bible based literature and trying my hand at learning a few phrases in new languages. When Ellie arrived from work, I was so grateful that she asked to go on a run with me. It has been a long while since my running shoes have touched cobblestone- what with my minor leg problem from a few runs ago and the fact that we have been tour guides and pioneers with hardly any free time. I love being so busy, though.

 

At the end of the day, I got my running around town in- literally. We ran to places that were new to us. Places where gypsies hide under bridges and the sun sets over the hills of grass hidden somewhere deep within a concrete jungle. So we end the day with a movie together and some more Bible reading. Tomorrow we try our hand at the campaign work!

Today's Positives:

I took full advantage of the opportunity to get some studying accomplished

Meghan has arrived safely!

I went on my first run in a while and it felt amazing- I didn't want it to end

Makenzie got some good rest so she can feel better and get over this cold faster

Campaign work tomorrow!!!!

 

 Day 51:

Escaping only for a morning stroll and a run to fetch soup, today was a cave day. With Makenzie ill and the weather less warm than it has been in a while, we all spent the day in the apartment watching movies and various episodes of shows from our childhood. It was a good day for our studying, a good day to make apple pie, and a good day to recoup and prepare for picking up Meghan from the airport in the morning. Tomorrow we will be back to running around like usual. For tonight, we crawl in our beds and rest.

 

Today's Positives:

Had a nostalgic day with my favorite childhood shows

Started studying chapter five of the Bible Teach book in review for the upcoming memorial

Tried my best to help poor Makenzie feel better

Got the day to just rest- which I am really bad at

  

 

Avocado Juice with brunch in between dress shops

 

 

 

 Day 50:

I felt ecstatic when Connie invited us to go wedding dress shopping with her this morning. In girl code, this is a pretty big deal- the only people who really go wedding dress shopping with you are your female relatives, your future in-law female relatives, and your closest friends. Not saying that Connie doesn't have friends closer than us, but it was a privilege to be invited by her. It made us feel so welcomed and special and loved.

Something about spring is very romantic, I suppose. I am starting to notice that 55% (roughly guesstimating) of the people I know are either beginning to date or getting married or having a baby. 40% (again with the rough figures) are already married. The remaining 5%, well we are in this apartment together or hanging out on a Friday night with Vegemite or movies. Do we feel lonely being single- not one bit. Having each other for support and being so busy with the work we are doing leaves no time to be lonely. I am really happy for Connie, though. I'm happy for Connie, and Tia, and Ayssa, and all my other friends who have recently found love. It makes me happy to see them happy.

After a morning of sunshine, avocado juice, and various types of fabrics in 12 or so different shades of white, Ellie and I went out in the ministry together. We visited some return visits and talked to people on the streets when we could. Our last stop before meeting was one of Ellie's studies. It was a house full of people but we were here to focus on the children. Between the Watchtower study and the children who so eagerly sat in laps and sang along with videos from the society's website, I can't help but appreciate youth and how love for God and truth can grow and develop in such a tender age. It makes me appreciate more those around me who are younger than I am. It also makes me realize that you should never underestimate those around you- not even by their age- because you never know what is in a person's heart. Looking at the faces of the children as they smiled at the vides and our study, I couldn't help but imagine what one day they might become.

 

Today's Positives:

I had a wonderful time with Ellie and Connie and am so glad that I got to help Connie and be with her in her search for a dress

The sun was shining for our morning out

Some guy on the street gave us flowers

We had a wonderful time out in service and seeing the joy on the faces of the children made my day

The meeting was so refreshing, as usual

I get to sleep in tomorrow!