Day 79:

The car ride to Porto was definitely a fun one. Not knowing what to expect, we sat in the car half asleep. Upon our arrival, we stopped in to see the local Kingdom Hall. We waited for the meeting to end and visited with the brothers and sisters in the English Congregation for a while. The congregation was only 23 publishers and in desperate need for help. One couple that we met, the Ramirez family, had just moved in from New York. The husband, a former CO, had definitely made us feel the best we had felt in a long time when he told us how proud he was of us and how happy we were making Jehovah in being here. Definite highlight of the day.

After having lunch with some friends in the Porto English congregation, we headed out to tour the city. Walking the streets, we made our way to the wine cellars (we are in Porto... we had to see the Port Cellars). We spent the majority of our day on a wine tasting and tour, it was such a beautiful way to spend the day.

In the evening, we made our way to the beach and watched the water, enjoying each others' company before we made our way back. The three hour car ride was fun as well. We spent the whole time blasting music, exhausted form our trip to Porto, Portugal.

Today's Positives:

Saw a new part of Portugal

Had fun meeting some new friends related to us in faith

Were surprisingly encouraged by a couple from New York

Toured the beautiful wine cellars

Spent the entire day with friends and no real agenda  

 

 

 

 

Day 78:

Full day in service but I don't really remember it.... followed by getting kicked out of meeting for having a pale face, blue lips, and a fever. At least I got to go try and save lives and then rested a bit :)

Today's Positives:

I had a good time supporting my friends out in service

We saw some beautiful places while preaching in the sunshine

I learned that the kingdom hall is filled with people who love and care for me and made me go home and take medicine and drink tea and sleep

Tomorrow is a new day and I am hoping to get to go to Porto on a road trip with the girls

Day 77:

Leaving the house feeling like you could drop at any second isn't the most fun way to spend a Friday morning- or any morning for that fact. But I was happy to go out in service and to spend the morning in the sun with Meghan. We made our way through downtown, searching for people to speak to. Most were tourists from countries in Europe. Everywhere we turned we heard mixtures of French and German, Portuguese and Spanish, and some English. Everyone seemed in a hurry, though, searching for places and things and people in their tourist attempt to cram every possible cobblestone into their weekend in Portugal.

After a while of searching, we stopped in a café for a pick me up. Between the macchiato and the lemon meringue tart- I would have to say that I helped Meghan have a good morning. Mission complete, we packed up to leave the café. The lady behind the counter asked if I read in Portuguese. Slightly confused, I asked her what she meant. Pointing to the magazines in my hand, I finally understood why she got the impression that I read Portuguese. I spent a few minutes telling her about our volunteer work here and how we were searching for English speaking people to share some good news with but I carried magazines in multiple languages (Bengali, Portuguese, Nepali) just in case we found someone who was interested. After she accepted the magazines that I offered her, Meghan and I headed home. From there, I finally got to collapse. Sick again, I stayed in bed and studied the rest of the day away. All together, it's been a wonderful day.

Today's Positives:

Shared the truth with somebody

Spent the morning in the sun with Meghan

Studied a lot about Jehovah's great love for us and his purpose for creation and for love

Rested in hopes that I can feel better for a trip to Porto on Sunday

Day 76:

We started out with informal witnessing today, searching for those who speak English in parks- seeing as the weather was amazing and everyone was out. Everybody was feeling tired and worn out. Poor Audry and her infected bug bite, Makenzie has been feeling sick... everybody is involved in some sort of struggle but that doesn't surprise us. We knew coming into this that putting Jehovah first means things will only get harder in certain ways (2 Timothy 3:12). Despite the struggles of life, we have not lost our joy! Better yet, we are all here to support each other- even if it means dropping everything and dragging ourselves to the beach midday.

Seventy two and not a cloud in sight. We spent the rest of the day relaxing on the beach, meditating and reflecting on all that Jehovah has provided and all that he will continue to carry us through when we rely on him. It was just what we needed.

 

 

Today's Positives:
Sunshine, sand, sisters

 

Portuguese Snail on a Portuguese Flower outside

 

Day 75:

Spring time means spring cleaning. Major cleaning for those who just got a new apartment that had to be ready in a matter of hours for two traveling sisters to move into. Audry and I awoke at the crack of dawn, something the Portuguese typically don't do, to meet Tia. This past Sunday she had signed a contract for an apartment that she had hoped to move into by the end of the month when the utilities and electricity would be running and a stove was installed. Long story short- Claudia and Gloria (the two sisters from Oregon who are serving for six months in Lisbon English- had come with no arranged place to stay besides the hotel they booked for the first week. They'd been searching for an apartment but nothing had been found by the time they had to be out of the hotel. So what do they do? They pray and rely on Jehovah and so everything in their power to come up with a solution. This is where Tia and her empty apartment come in. It just so happens that with a few phone calls and a couple answered prayers the utilities were on, water running, stove installed, ready for move in this morning! The Portuguese now believe in miracles.

So we cleaned the morning away. The three of us scrubbed and talked, it w's actually a lot of fun. I really enjoy Tia's company- she is so nurturing and fun and full of zeal and love for Jehovah. Time goes by and Audrey begins to feel her arm getting worse from yet another bug bite... urgent care in Portugal swallowed up our afternoon. A doctor's visit, many euros, and some prescribed antibiotics will cure her infected arm right up! Post cleaning, urgent care portion the of the day brought us to meeting. Worn out and groggy, we made it to the end feeling so much better than we had before. We all came back to Campolide with smiles on our faces and schedules filled with friends for the remainder of our time here in Portugal.

Moral of the story- Urgent Care can come in many forms. Whether it is a physical healing, or an emotional pick me up being surrounded by those who encourage you and renew your spirit, or a spiritual type of care that one receives from Jehovah and his loving organization- when you throw your anxieties on Jehovah, don't be surprised when things work out to be quite alright.

Matthew 6:25-34; 1 Peter 5:7

 

 

 

Day 74:

There isn't much to say about today. Not much more than today was yet another reminder of how blessed I am. Every day is filled with love and laughter and beauty because every day is filled with Jehovah and the amazing friends that share my love for him. Each day I wake up to these wonderful people who struggle so hard just to make it through the day but somehow (with help from Jehovah and from each other) we say goodnight with smiles on our faces. 

Today's Positives:

Ellie

Audry

Makenzie

Meghan

Ellie from Washington

Tenesha

Every other beautiful person I have been blessed to meet on this journey

 

 

Love them with all my heart- always will

Day 73:

"For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life" –John 3:16

Today was the most important day of the year- the memorial of Christ's death. Service these past few weeks has been preparation for tonight; inviting as many people as possible to observe this memorial occasion. It was amazing to see the ratio of those in attendance (3 visitors for every publisher) between the English and the Nepali gatherings. It was also awe-inspiring to see two men in particular attend. Not half an hour before the memorial, Ellie and I had stood in front of the venue, handing out invitations when one man asked if he could have another for his friend- and here they were. Lesson learned- everyone deserves a chance because people might just surprise you.

The whole day was a beautiful reminder of all that Jehovah and his son, Jesus, have done for us. We go about each day in our imperfect state, we make mistakes, we are born with sin, we suffer, we die- but we have been offered a hope. The most precious gift of all, the ransom sacrifice, was offered to all mankind because of Jehovah's love for us- each and every one of us. I don't think words could ever describe the gratitude or the awe that I feel for such a gift.

Today's Positives:

Got a few more invitations out today

Had a good day out in service

Attended the English and the Nepali memorial

Out of the 43 publishers, 130 attended the memorial tonight

I have been immersed in the company of those who have faith in and appreciation for the most precious gift of all