May 28, 29

We worked up by the castle on Thursday.   It is interesting to see so many people visiting Lisbon from all over the world.  They say not alot of people come from the US, but many people from Great Britain, sso you do hear English.   The shops we spoke in today were Bengali men.  Our partner Debra is learning Bengali and can greet them and ask a question in their language and they respond to that and listen closer.  There is one man I will make a RV on in the next week.  We had an earlier day as we were tired.
On Fri, our sightseeing day we went to Belem.  It is only a 20 minute train ride or a longer bus...we went by train.  I
Here is the pink palace, but we got no pictures because we didn't go in.  It is the home of the president and some of it was open but we chose not to go.  Our first stop was the museum of the coaches and has horse and mule drawn carriages from I think the oldest was 1600's.  Some were so ornate it was mind boggling.  The 1 pic I enclose was made for pope Clement V, I think.  The art work is amazing.   Also will put in a picture of the museum ceiling.  It was definitely worth going to see.
Next we saw the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos.  It was commissioned by Manuel 1 in around1501, after Vasco da Gama's return from his historic voyage.   It was financed by a "pepper money", a tax on spices, precious stones and gold.  They monastary was cared for by the Order of St Jerome until 1834, when all relifious orders were disbanded.
It is truly the most beautiful work of architectural design I have seen.  A sister said you think that's old wait for Italy!
We were exhausted when done and will have to return to see the other things Belem has to offer.  We had a beautiful meal with wine.  I ordered veal chops (I know, baby cow right...but it was already dead) because I have never eaten them.  Delicious!  Claudia had the salmon again (I need for her to be more adventurous in her palate or how am I going to sample all thats offered), but it was the best salmon we have eaten.  Our sightseeing Fridays have been so enjoyable, and there are so many things to see!
Another absolutely beautiful day in Portugal!

May 26, 27, 28

It has been a busy 3 days.  On Monday we packed all of our things and cleaned Justins house top to bottom.
The move went smoothly.  We thought it would be too much to move in one load in young Andre's car, so we made one trip by taxi so he would not have to make 2.  He called us naughty sisters...it's funny when they use a word that is technically right but perhaps the context is off.  Anyway he is so sweet and been so helpful to us.  We decided to eat at the little restaurant below the apt because we had been speaking to the owner for weeks and told him we would stop in to eat.  Claudia had pork chops with rice in a spicy barbecue sauce...pretty good.  I had a traditional Portuguese dish that is crumbled bread in a sauce with shrimp.  It was probably made well, but not something I would order again. I kind of got hung up on the consistency of it.he wanted us to have dessert and recommended the choc mousse.   Delicious!  So he told us to call him 2 days in advance and he will make his special 3 choc mousse.  It takes 2 days to make...we said we would call, anyway the move went well and we are settled at Reuben and Marieka's house.  It is very nice.  They left Tues to serve a cong in Porto and another cong, I forget.  Will be home in 2 weeks, then we have c.o.
Tues I worked in the ministry all day with 2 different sisters in a very poor part of the city.  It was sad because the houses were literally fallimg apart.  We spoke to a family from Pakistan, very nice but not interested.
Today we had a beautiful call. It was Claudia's door...a woman from Chima who has been her 2 weeks with her son.  She asked us in, offered us coffee, and listened with rapt attention.  She will turn it over to the Chinese group here although she speaks good English.
Tonight I gave a talk on the school.  I was surprised I wasn't too nervous.  Well it is late and I am tired.  I include some pics of our new digs. Hope all
of you are well.
Another beautiful day in Portugal.

May 24, 25

We had a beautiful 2 day circuit assembly this weekend.   It is so encouraging to see where ever you go in the world the same spiritual food is being dispensed.  Many of the ones on the program english is not their native tongue.  They worked so hard to prepare their parts, it is truly humbling.  The co and do both spoke good English,  but also not their native tongue.  We enjoyed it very much and met many from other congs.  There were Hindi publishers there also as they do not have a circuit. Many young sisters wore beautiful native dress.
For dinner Sat were went to a steak house.  We were so excited they had baked potatoes with sour cream.  We have not found sour cream in the stores.  Our friend Crystal went to south of Portugal and found me some cranberry juice, but otherwise have not found that either.
Sat night was the European finals soccor match here in Lisbon.  There were so many people on the metro I don't think another soul could have squeezed on.  So much noise it was impossible to think.  So glad our metro was going the other direction.
Tried to pack up some of the house Sun evening as we move on Mon.  A young brother Andre offered to help us move our bags.  Others asked to help us clean.  We assured them we have cleaned an apt before and we were not too old to do so.  They are a lovely group of young people!
Another beautiful weekend in Portugal.

May 21, 22, 23

I went in service on Wed and Thurs.  Claudia and I went on Wed and we tried to make my rv, but just like in Oregon you can't find them home. We witnessed some on the metro and traveled out to Columbo for more Guacamole!   On Thurs I went with Andre for the afternoon.  I changed my mind about going with the brothers.  I am followimg Claudia's lead and if they are young enough to be my kid or grandkid then I will go.  Andre is 28, and the husband to Akemi, who I told you about earlier.  We went on a few calls, one I had given to him of a Nepali man.  We then went on one of his bible students, another Nepali man in a fruit and vege store.  It made me think of Gail at Plaid Pantry because you have to work it in between customers.  He didn't understand what Jehovah's being merciful meant so Andre looked it up in Nepali so he would understand.  That worked.  He was young and certainly willing to listen.
Today we went sightseeing on the trolley cars.  They go to different areas of the city that we had yet to see.  I am including some pictures of our day around town.  We ate down by the city gate and splurged having wine with lunch.  Claudia found a dress for the circuit assembly this weekend.  I will take a picture later.  Got something for lunch for this weekend and headed home.
Another beautiful day in Portugal.

May 20

Today it was raining.  Woke me in the night, coming down pretty hard.  My service partner Akemi phoned to give me a way out, but I told her I was used to the rain...I am from Oregon you know!  She and her husbamd Andre are with the English congregation, but were assigned as special pioneers to the Nepali group.  The group is part of this cong.  She is Japanese and after pioneering for 3 or 4 yrs she helped a Portuguese group in Japan,  where she met her husband who had come for a visit.  They worked in Malaysia for a few yrs. going in and out of Nepal to witness. They came to Portugal for a visit with Andre's family and saw the need here and stayed.  There is a large population of Nepali people here and that is the work we did today, searching for Nepali.   She said they are in the little fruit and vege shops usually, but they also do other work.  When they come here they buy a shop from a cousin or some relative who has had it for a yr.  You don't have to pay taxes for one yr, so they sell the shop, and hopefully get one better.  We only found one young man, but he was very nice.
We headed for a study, but because it was raining the shop didn't open until later.
We went to lunch at a place most of the pioneers frequent.   It is healthy and cheap.  I told her to order for me, because I can't read the menu item.  A small plate with brown rice, and heaped with salad...1.60 euros.  Delicious, healthy (vegetarian), and great price.  Perfect pioneer lunch.
We made one more call and I met Claudia at the mall.  I finally got a phone too as it will be so much easier to keep in touch.
My nose and forehead are peeling, just in time for the circuit assembly this weekend!  Of course. 
Claudia got some groceries and then home.  She made a wonderful pasta and fresh vege dish.  I'm spoiled. Another beautiful day in Portugal.

This is Claudia :)   I just wanted to say hello to everyone there. Gloria has been filling you in on our time here nicely. I just thought I would add my impressions of the people here.
     Many of the younger generation seem aloof and cool. They will not make eye contact and if you meet them on the street they you are the one who will have to make room to get by. It is a symptom of the World they live in. I am sure one on one it would be different as we have found out. They are physically a beautiful people and perhaps that adds to that air. I think every other one could be on a magazine cover.
   On the other hand, the older ones I find delightful. If you greet them they readily reply and if you touch their hand they will repond in like manner. They will chat freely even if you tell them you only speak english... doesnt seem to matter. It makes me smile. I just nod and smile like I am following every thing they say. It grieves me that I cannot communicate with them. When they talk on the street or cafe you would think they were arguing but no, they are just talking.  Very expressive people.
   In the elevator the other day there were about 10 of us and an old man was trying to push the button to go. Nothing happened.  He did it again, nothing happened.  So someone from the back reaches over and
Pushes it. Then all 10 start a discussion on this whole affair  . Everyone had an opinion.  Cracks be up.
    Same thing on the bus we were on. The driver was calling out a stop over and over and the man standing by him looks at me and says something. Then the older woman behind me taps me on the shoulder and says something.  I tell her I speak English.  She nods and yells that to the bus driver. Then she starts telling the people seated around us that we only speak english.  They are all talking and nodding. It was so cute. And truthfully, I was just glad because I thought when they were talking to me it was because when I got on I kept scanning my card and it wouldnt work so I just ignored it and went and sat down. I was afraid I was caught and they were going to throw me off the bus. :( 
        All said, I find I am humbled beyond words by the friends in the congregation.  I feel like instead of coming to help them they are helping me.  Their sacrifice is so evident when you see the effort it takes to prepare for the meeting in English,  their own study as well as the parts they have in the meetings.  To see a bother of whom english is a second language conduct a study with a Nepali man that english is not his native tongue,  and when you see them working hard to relay information and to understand it is awe inspiring. It is holy spirit in action. It is a gift from Jehovah.
May Jehovah bless your day with good  and have a joyful heart!

May 17, 18, 19

We met for service this Sat morning and we both worked with Christina.  She and her husband Nicco came here to work for 7 months with the English cong. They will be going home next week.  She seems to be pretty homesick for her family, so I think she is happy about it.  We worked for about 5 hrs and took a rest and headed back to the mtg.  It was a beautiful Wt wasn't it?  Comforting.
On Sun our young friends Noami and Yara (fleshly sisters) took us to the ocean.  It is about 1/2 hr by train and then a 20 min walk.  I burned my legs and my face. I was sitting in the shade, but my feet and legs weren't.   Sometimes I can't believe I do some things.
We stayed most of the day and it was very relaxing.
Today, Monday,  Claudia and I went together in the ministry.  We didn't speak to many people, but did cover some territory.  We decided to find this Nepali restaurant we were told about, easy to find and delicious.   We had chicken maumau..steamed dumplings with dipping sauce, curry and , sweet and sour.  Also had basmati rice with prawns that had a yougurt sauce you could add.  It was delicious, but spicier than I usually eat.
Another beautiful day in Portugal.

May 16

Forgot pictures!

May 14 -16

I am starting to feel better.  Not well, but better.  On Wed I stayed home and rested as Brooke and Claudia instructed me to do and I am sure it helped.  Wed night we had a wonderful mtg.  The singing is so loud and I plan on videoing it tomorrow.  Is that a word videoing?  So Wed was pretty uneventful.
Thurs my service partner was Linda.  I told you about her before...she and her husband special pioneered in Cape Verde.  They told the story of when the JW's were first recognized by the govt in the 1980's every religion was given the same amount of time to talk about something.  Since Cape Verde had a very young population the branch asked Ben and Linda to use the YPA bk. Ben would narrate and Linda and some others acted out the different scenarios from the book.  It gave a great witness and many listened to the truth.
Thurs aft I took the recycling down the hill to these large bins.  They are for everyone in the neighborhood.  A lg truck lifts them up and then the bottom opens and in the recycling goes.  The bins must be 4 ft across and 5 ft high, and there are 5 or 6 of them.  Then I went to the vege mkt.  Every time we go we say we will buy just a little, and then buy 3 bags.  Brought it all home so we had salad, fruit salad and barbecue chicken made in the neighborhood.  It is said to be the best in Lisbon and I think this is the 4th time we got some.
In the evening we did something that made me very excited!  We booked flights and rooms for Venice and Rome! We will fly to Venice June 16 and be there 4 nights, then take a train to Rome where we will be 5 nights.  I have always wanted to see Venice.
Today we went to a mall we heard about and it is pretty much the same as any mall in the US but with Portuguese words.  The best thing was we found a place named Guacamole,  and yes, BURRITOS!  Except for maybe some of the salmon we have eaten, the best taste yet.  Everything is good here andmom you should see my freckles!  You would think I was 12 again.  I love you all.  And so ends another beautiful day in Portugal.

May

May 12, 13

On Mon I met this beautiful young sister for field service...9:30 in the morning.  We met in my territory and walked to the street we were to work.  I knew I wasn't feeling my best, but an hour into it I was very ill again and had to go home.  Elisabeth, the young sister who was born the same year as Brooke, practically carried me home.  It's not that I needed to be carried home, but she wouldn't let go of me until she had me inside the apt.  The Portuguese are a very caring people and if you are older they are very protective.  I was thankful that I had scheduled a dr appt for Tues.  We went to see Minnie Freudenthal...what a name!
She was educated in the US so spoke good English.   We got her name from the US embassy website.  We had no idea where we were going so took a taxi.  She was very helpful and this they did a culture of my urine so they can treat it better.  I got more prescriptions,  so hopefully I will begin to feel better.  We walked to the metro station and went home.
Once we got home Claudia said "you won't believe this but I think I have a bladder infection!"  We called Minnie back and she told her to take the same medication.  I didn't know we were that simpatico!
Hope we will both be feeling better soon.

May 10, 11

On Sat. we met for service and I had arrangements with a single sister named Sarah.  She is one of the first sisters we met when we arrived.  She is 40 yrs old and shared with me that she has a man friend who lives in Bahrain and they have been dating via skype.  They met two yrs ago at the convention and are talking marriage, but it is very difficult to bring him here legally, and the job market is so poor it would be difficult for him to find work.  She applied for a US green card in 2012 and has not been selected yet.  They would both like to come to the US as he has family there, but I shared that the job market is not that good there.  She is very sweet.  I turned her on to Starbucks. She had never been so she got tea as she doesn't drink coffee, but next time she said she would try a mocha....I feel so evil.  I drink it so seldom at home because of the price, but it is the only place you can get american coffee...so I am hooked til I come home.
We had alot of visitors at our mtg. Sat eve...from Greece, Switzerland, Norway and one other place.  I forgot.   So even tho cong is not large usually we have quite a few.  We comment alot because I think some hesitate because they are still learning english, and if the subject is deep they are worried they don't have good grasp of it.  They are a very loving cong...kiss on each cheek from sis and some bro or a handshake and they try to get to each person in attendance.  Teaches me to widen out.
Today I cooked a roast with carrots, potatoes,  and onions.  Claudia made cole slaw and fruit salad.  We bought fresh bread at the bakery and I made garlic butter.  You should have seen us lugging those groceries up our hill then the stairs.  We had an ikea bag between us along with 5 litres of water.  Talk about aerobic exercise!
We invited an elder and his wife and their 2 children for lunch.  Ben, Linda, Claudia and Daniel.  Such a sweet, loving family.  Claudia is 18 and taking some extra schooling and Daniel is 13.  The parents were special pioneers before they had children and just have led such interesting lives.  They were the only JW in Cape Verde when they began and just the 2 at mtg and they would invite others to a talk he would give.  We really enjoyed our afternoon.
We went for a walk in the evening for an hour, and now I am going to bed.  Today was the first day I really got homesick for mom and the kids.  I always get weepy on May 11 and miss Ron like crazy but all in all it was another beautiful day in Portugal.

May 7, 8

Yesterday we were in service on the metro and found a few peo9le to talk to, and then we spent some time in the square at Baixa.  I was able to speak to at least 3 different people and had some nice conversations.  I left a Wt. with a nice young woman attending school here.
We have a mtg for service on Thurs aft.  Most who come already have partners.  They go out by twos and sometimes are scheduled a month out.  Bro and sis go out together...just 2...and I was worried that I would be assigned with a bro.  We have tried to explain to the elders that this is not done in the US and one elder felt we had been stifled by our elders into thinking this was wrong.  Can you imagine what Ron would have thought of my going out in the ministry alone with a bro?
So, of course I was assigned to the beautiful young brother and I felt I had to say I wouldn't be comfortable with that.  The bro were so sweet  and said no problem.  This is somethimg I will really have to think deeply about.  We certainly are not imputing bad motive but it is so foreign to us.
Today we went to visit the castle of St. Jorge.  It was built by the Moors in the mid 11th century and was occupied by royalty for many centuries.  It makes you wonder about the people who lived there, loved there and died there.
We went to lunch with Crystal, but the fish was overcooked so we were disappointed, but then we got gelato and were happy again.
There was what we think was a sausage festival in the square with cheese , wine and sausage from different regions Portugal.   They have blood sausage here so we didn't sample any.
We picked up some groceries and climbed the hill.  Another beautiful day in Portugal.

May 6

We didn't go too early for service today. We did mostly street and metro witnessing. We met several people in the city from the cruise ships.  There were 3 Cunard cruises in town, all the queens. Mary, Elizabeth and Victoria were at dock.  My partner Neomi said she had never seen the city so crowded.  I met her in the afternoon and Claudia went home.  She said we would walk to the docks to work the ships.  We were next to a metro station!  We walked for 1 hour, at least 2 miles and where did we end up?  YES, right next to a metro station!  We were looking for the workers from the ship but it was getting close to time for them to leave so most of them were running for the ship.  I was able to share literature with 2 young men.  When we left I asked if she planned on taking the metro home (I was no  matter what) and she agreed we should.  I got home about 5:30 and anxiously awaited bed time.  Another beautiful Portugal day.

May 5

We worked the metro for awhile this morning...always enjoy that.  I am a real people watcher and there are plenty of people to watch. Every day we see beggers on the street, almost every corner.  On the metro there are several blind beggers that walk back and forth thru the trains with their hand or cup out.   Portugal apparently does not have a good social services program in place...so they beg.  We are also often entertained.  There was a man with a broom stick and a knife making pretty good rythm.  A man plays the accordian with a dog on his shoulder, saw a man yesterday with a white rat on his shoulder.  Of course these have their cups out also...in the case of the dog, he carries theirs in his teeth.
We went quite a distance yesterday to find a return visit that McKenzie gave us before she left.  NH of course, whats new right?  Now we can find it on our own so will try later in the week.
We came home and fixed a wonderful salad and took a walk in the evening.  By chance we stumbled across a paint store that Claudia needed to repair a spot she splashed a lg glass of wine over.  She stumbled....BEFORE she drank any wine...and the glass wemt flying and everything cleaned  up well but the large purple spot on the wall!
This mornimg she will try to match paint.
Another beautiful Portugal day.

May 3 ,4

The weekend went very well despite it being very warm. We started service at home with writing emails to interested ones.  We meet at the KH at 10 so that seems a little late to begin, 10:30 maybe.  Claudia and I worked together in our territory and rang alot of bells but only found a few at home...just like home.  Usually there is an intercom so any conversation takes place over that.  Those without intercoms tho will often buzz you in...a man did on Sat.  Top floor of course.  We got to the floor  below him and he leans over the railing to see what we want and I say "faala englesh"(I think loosely translated do you follow english or understand).  He points to a door down to the door beside me so I knock and have a nice conversation with a Catholic man.  I was able to quote Lord's prayer.
On our metro ride I had a conversation with a young Norwegian man.  He is here on a work study for mechanical engineering and was on his way to the beach.  He did not know the magazines but when I told about them he accepted the Awake.  We went home for a few hrs before mtg to rest.
On the way to mtg I had a very nice conversation with a Portuguese woman who was out of work and very concerned about the future.  I gave her the tract about that and shared Rev 21 and she said she would like to learn more.  She gave me her name and phone number which I will have to give to the Portuguese cong but I will follow up some.  Another beautiful day in Portugal.
Sun we stayed in for most the morn, did some cleaning and we to bottom of hill for some veges, fresh bread, and choc cake.  We had company for lunch and we made a chicken salad, and fruit salad.  We invited Andre and A'Kimee who are a young special pioneer couple who are  assigned to get the Nepali group going.  He is Portuguese and he met her when he visited Japan for an intn'l convention...been married 5 yrs.  They worked in Malaysia with Nepali there for over a yr I think.  Wonderful couple.  Nice visit.  After they left we took another walk, played cribbage and read.  Another beautiful day in Portugal.

Apr. 30

Yesterday just didn't go too well. I still didn't feel too good and Claudia was exhausted.  We went in the ministry because in had an appointment so we made our way to the meeting place and the sister had to cancel.  She was turning over a return visit as she is heading bback to the states and we really want a potential bible study.  She sent us directions so we will endeavor to find her on Fri.
Claudia tried to take money out of the bank and wasn't able to get any so she worried that she got her pin wrong and then when we got home
She found the money was taken out of her acct so she paniced a bit and then worried would she find someone who could understand her problem.  Went to the bank today and they did it to lots of people and will correct the acct.
We just walked today and had lunch out and it was beautiful.  Mtg tonight and we get home after 10:30 usually.  I think we both feel better today.
Tomorrow we will be out in the ministry.

May 1

Today in Lisbon it is a holiday.  I think kind of like Labor Day in the states.  We met for field service and Crystal and I went to her territory and we talked to several people.  Many Nepal people live in that area and most speak some English.  I offered  for a Nepali man to choose which tract he we like to read ( tracts in Nepalise) and he said all of them, so I left 4 tracts with him.  I now have a very few return visits.
We came back to central Lisbon to make a return visit and there were huge crowds where we were trying to go and there was some kind of protest over unemployment.  Then a huge parade of marchers came thru and we had trouble crossing the street to where we were going.
Finally we weaved our way thru and came to the RV in a little shop but the boss was in so we couldn't study.
We had invited Crystal to have dinner with us last week not thinking about being in the ministry...Claudia didn't get back until 6:30, so we took her out.  We planned to go for this barbecue chicken at the bottom of our hill (said to be the best in the city) but they were closed for the holiday, so we found a little restaurant in the neighborhood where we could sit outside.  There is a small restautant on EVERY corner and some in between.  An old Portuguese couple had this place and like most places post on a paper towel, in a window, the specials for the day.  Salmon...sounds good..only 1 left.  Claudia had that and I got the dorado (fish) and Crystal got pork.  They are never real clear on what kind of meat you are getting as beef can be any kind of animal meat. My fish comes out w head on, smiling at me with teeth showing
And its a little disconcerting but delicious.  From the time we got to the cafe until almost the time we left we were entertained by the couple arguing loudly in Portuguese.
Crystal came up to visit for awhile and we made plans for the circuit assembly later in the month.
Another beautiful day in Portugal.