Dinner at Tia and Antonio's

Last coffee morning in Europe



My last favorite pastry in Europe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Days 87 and 88:

The anticipation is killing us!!! Literally. I don't remember the last time we were all so tired and slightly nauseous, the stress is hitting us hard. It's really interesting to realize what an out of body experience these last few days are... one moment we are laughing and the next we cry, we can't sleep, we are so busy. Packing, cleaning, saying goodbye. All the while our heads are bobbing up and down, fighting off exhaustion and our minds are somewhere in the clouds. Everyone can see it. Everyone here is well traveled and knows what we are going through. It's the pre jet lagged, saying goodbye is too hard to handle, I can't believe it is over, state of being.

We have been stuck in this state all week. Most of our time has been devoted to the many errands we have to complete. Taxis, packing,  last minute souvenirs, etc. After our work is complete, we hit the town and relive some of our favorite Lisbon moments, visiting our favorite spots with our favorite people. Then we end the days with our goodbye dinners and friends. There are so many people here that we will miss so much! Saying goodbye is never easy- but at least we know that in Jehovah's Organization it is only a see you later. We will forever be connected with our new friends, no matter where in the world we are.

Today and Yesterday's Positives:

We enjoyed reliving our favorite memories while making new ones

We spent our last few days with our great new friends

The sun is out, we are all happy, we are all packed and ready for safe travels

so we are all tired and sad... but we had a great last night in Lisbon together

 

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

 

 

 

 

Getting Ready for our Guests

 

Day 84:

 

As we near the end of our trip, all of us try to fit in the little things that we always meant to do while here. For example, we started the day out by inviting Tia and Antonio and Tia's mother over for a crêpe party. I think crêpes are definitely one tradition we adopted here that we will be taking home with us. I will say that, if we could, friends like Tia and Antonio and Tia's mother that we adopted while here would also be brought home with us. After the morning of breakfast and friends, the girls and I got to cleaning and studying. This past week has been like some sort of limbo for us. Stuck between being here and going home, our cleanliness around the apartment has suffered a bit.

In the evening, we all decided that we would try our hand at going to see a movie in the theatre while in Europe. It's amazing how TV series and movies all release weeks earlier here than they do in the states. We also learned that movies, Portuguese subtitles included, take intermissions exactly half way through the film. That was a surprise to us as we all had a little panic attack when the movie just shut off in the middle of our watching it. As the night ended, we all headed back home ready for bed and the remainder of our trip. Tomorrow is the special talk and a going away barbecue.

Today's Positives:

Got some cleaning done around the apartment

Had a wonderful time with our friends and our breakfast party

We spent the evening out together and, as always, had fun exploring new things and places

Hanging out at the theatre

NIght out on the town

 

Day 83:

Service day with my friends :) today, my

Post will be short and sweet. We did service all day with the exception of a run to the American embassy that almost ended in a trip to Morocco to avoid deportation. Afterward, we crashed!!!! Immigration laws are exhausting

Today's Positives:

Nobody got kicked out of the country

It was a beautiful day

 



Lunch Break

 



Makenzie giving her first (and last) assignment in Lisbon English Congregation

 



My friends Susan and Beatriz giving the #3 part

 

Day 82:

As our last weeknight meeting approached, we all left the apartment prepared to be a big part of it. Going out in service from ten to five thirty was only the beginning of our spiritual day. Looking back, this trip has taught me so much about the field and the work we do- what it means to truly sacrifice self to serve Jehovah. Yes, everyone is tired. Yes, everyone is sick. Yes, everyone gets scared or nervous. Even the special pioneer missionaries.  But, yes, we have Jehovah backing us up.

After service, we met at the hall for meeting at seven thirty. Makenzie and my good friend Susan Decker had the number two and three parts in the school this evening and they did a wonderful job. I think between seeing them on stage and getting all pumped up for the upcoming campaign and convention, tonight was one of my favorite meetings yet.

Today's Positives:

Had a good day out in service

The sun was out and it was warm
Had a nice picnic at the view point with some of the brothers and sisters

 

Breakfast



Going for a walk in the cool night's refreshing breeze



 

Typical for here- outside kiosk, projector with the 'soccer' game, and an espresso at nine thirty 

 

 

Day 81:

This morning we were invited to Ruben and Merieke's place for breakfast. After having them over for dinner not too long ago, I feel as though being around the sub CO/Coordinating Elder in the hall and his wife didn't seem so overwhelming. We laughed and joked and talked about our time here and our futures while we ate muffins and fruit and sipped on champagne and tea on the patio. It was a wonderful morning.

By the end of our visit with the lovely couple, our hearts and stomachs were full and we were ready to face the day. Service in the afternoon followed by an evening stroll through town filled the rest of day 81. Overall, we crawl into our beds feeling loved and supported by each other, by our spiritual family, and (most important) by Jehovah.

Today's Positives:

Had one more gathering with the Romero couple before our departure home

Had a spiritually up building day with wonderful friends

Went for a walk and felt refreshed afterward, saying goodbye to some of our favorite places

Day 80:

Walking to our secret spot up on the hill overlooking the city was a good way to start the day. Somehow it seems the days go by slower, almost like being stuck in a limbo between Portugal and home. Somehow we aren't really fully in either place at the moment. As sad as we are to leave, we spend most of our last few days talking about all we have to look forward to when we return to our families and friends. We know, though, that after some time our conversations will be filled with all the things we miss about Portugal. Things like our walks to this spot. Things like the congregation, the statues, the espresso, the old buildings, and (believe it or not) even the cobblestone.

Most of all- I am going to miss living with these amazing girls. Each one so different in their experience and their backgrounds and their personalities, but so similar in our goals and our love for Jehovah. Today, we strolled leisurely through the city and just enjoyed it before going to the apartment and studying. All the while, just enjoying our time together- as always.

Today's Positives:

The sun stayed out all day for us

We spent the day together

We are in Portugal

We had a lot of fun doing a lot of nothing