Apr. 28

I have not been feeling well this last week and I kept trying to treat myself w cranberry and other things.  Went in service and was just dragging so I decided I had to see a dr.  Well in Portugal you can't just go to a dr (that you are not an est. Patient of) , you must go to the ER.  So once again our dear Crystal came and rescued us and took us to the public hospital.  We said "oh just show us where it is, we'll be okay".  I am so thankful that she didn't listen.  She described it as a zoo and that was an understatement! 
We walk in the doors and there are probably 100 people milling around with no seeming order to anything.  Crystal asked one person where we should go and as we went that way they turned us around and sent us back to the place we had been.  They spoke very little English and we all know how much Portuguese I speak!  The halls were lined with stretchers from ambulances...at one time I saw 5 or 6 lined up with ambulance drivers telling jokes loudly, lined up with their charges.
First I got registered and you pay just for that...20 euros plus.  After a wait you see a triage nurse who evaluates you.  Then we waited probably 3 hrs to see the dr.  He was very nice and spoke some English.   After he examined me I gave a urine sample and waited another hr while they tested it and then went in to see the dr again.  He gave me a prescription on a piece of paper that he said was not official until I took it back out to the zoo and had it stamped.  Very official now!
The bank machine was out of money and they only take cash so we pooled together enough money  ( 115 euros and 1 euro for urine test!).
Had enough left over to get antibiotics, about 12 euros w the pain pill he gave me.  We were there around 4 hr 15 minutes and I thought you would have spent that much time in the US so there must have been some order behind the chaos.  Crystal very calmly left us to keep her next appt. for service.  What a gem!

Apr. 27

I am behind a couple days...I got so tired these last few days and not feeling my best.  Yesterday we went in the ministry and I worked the ships again.  I spoke to a few people, mostly men who work on the ship.  I spoke to a man from Mumbai India who said he reads the Wt and Awake every chance he gets, but yet acted as if we believed the same...both Christians.  It always surprises me that they read the mags but don't get it.
We had quite a large group for the special talk and Wt...many visitors and persons of interesr.  There was a family from California who used to live in Coos Bay and knew Amy and Bob Johnson...small world.
One of the girls from Oregon is Rom Cowan's neice.
We went to the museum today and the botanical gardens.  Not a lot in bloom yet but pretty.
Walked all day again and then had to climb the 300 steps up the hill and 60 steps to the 3rdfloor.  Soon I will have buns of steel!

Apr 24

We went in the ministry for the day.  In the morn we started at Starbuck, but I'm thinking we are there too much whe
N the girl behind the counter called me by name!  I did witness to a young man who also works there, but not in today.  We were very tired so  were moving very slow.  At 2:30 on Thurs there is an aft field service mtg...only one during the week so we are making an effort to support it.  People make an arrangement w 1 other pub. And they go out together.  Often 1 bro w 1 sis...I told the bro. Who assigned himself to me that I was not comfortable w that and he said okay, but I know it will continue to happen.  We are not sure how to handle that.  I keep thinking Ron would never have allowed that!
In the afternoon we were w A'kime, a sister from Japan who married a Portuguese bro.  They are special pioneers and are helping the Nepali group.  A beautiful young couple.
We went to bed early because we were exhausted.

Apr 23

We got up early to work in the ministry.  At 9 we started in search work on the internet.  Claudia and I have a territory and have a web page to find names of those that live there, and we try to find names that don't sound Portuguese.   We look for English,  Nepali, Bengali, anything foreign.   Then we met up w Crystal at the docks to work the cruise ship that was in.  We are not to approach passengers, but crew members from all over the world come out for shore leave.  I left a mag w a young woman.   1st mag I have placed here.  We had lunch...tuna sandwich w beets and corn. ?.different but tasty.
We came home for a couple hrs. And then left at 5 to meet bro Teto.  He had an rv but got lost...nice to know the locals can get lost too...so we walked for over an hr to get there.  He was nh but the bro got a phone number and was able to contact him and make an appt.
Mtg at 7:30 and then home at about 10.  Long day...counted 360 steps to climb the steep hill to our apt...that includes the 60 stairs we climb in our bldg.
Ever been too tired to sleep?  I was last night and had charlie horses in my thighs...wonder why?

Apr 22

Forgot the picture of tea and cribbage

Apr 21

We slept in a bit then explored the neighborhood.   We found a kind of Sat mkt on Mon for vegetables.   We cleaned the apt some and fixed a filling meal of veges. Pasta and wine, what could be better.  We still have to go and pick up that darned Ikea stuff from the other apt and haul it back here .  We will have to return some of it this week.  The hill to get to this apt is about as steep as the 1st hill to the KH.  I will have to take a picture later.

Apr 22
Dear Crystal went with us to return the things to Ikea...we really would not have been able to accomplish some of these things with out her.  She is 35 and single.  She teaches English on the computer.  She worked with a Portuguese cong in the states and moved here 3 or 4 yrs ago.  She is a lovely young woman.  We got home late and fell into bed.
This morn we went to our territory and worked.  The territory has some contacts on it for people who speak English,  but for most that is not their native tongue.  Many are Nepali or Bengali so we carry that lit as well as Hindi.  Today we spoke to all of these.  I was not feeling well and felt I was getting a bladder infection so we looked for cranberry juice...YES, said the woman that is cranberry juice...NO, said I as I took a big swig.  Using the translator we discovered it was currant or gooseberry syrup.  Any ideas on use of gooseberry syrup?  We went to the "farmacia" and asked for cranberry pills...yes they had them and I already feel better.  I napped for over an hour and that helped.  We played cribbage and I had a choc muffin as Claudia ate hers earlier, and mint tea.
Tomorrow we are working w Andre and his wife Susan...they are special pioneers and very helpful.  In the evening we are mtg Br. Tito to work for an hr before mtg.  The day will be busy.  Write again soon.  G

April 20

These last 3 days have been exhausting but I think I learned some valuable lessons.  1) Don't fall into the trap that I better take that extra whatever just because my suitcase is not yet up to the full allowable weight.  You may just have to lug that up to the 3rd floor then take it down...then up to the 5th floor and take it down...then up to the 3rd floor and soon take it down.  The place we go next is only 1 flight of steps!  Yeah!
2) When you think you know the way don't believe it.
3) If you think you can go all day in the ministry and be awake for the 6:15 talk and Wt don't believe it.  Actually we did not go to sleep...the speaker Fabio (really cute ...fyi for the young sisters) said we were very attentive as many around us were asleep.
4)  Don't go shopping at Ikea and lugging everything back in the bus, then metro, then bus, then walking down 3 sets of city steps and up 10 floors unless you are really sure you need them because you may just have to reverse the process.
We are into the apt that Justin, an Australian bro is loaning us for a month, and we are able to do laundry and sit and have a glass of wine with the window open and feel the cool breeze.  The most relaxed we have been since in Lisbon.  We can stay here until May 27 and then we are actually going back to the bldg we just left, but on the 1st floor.  The couple that live there are sub circuit overseers and will be serving some cong and going to intn'l convention in Maryland and then staying for the annual mtg.  They will be in and out part of the time we are in their place and we will share.  They come back from NY 3 days after we go home.
Our plan for tomorrow is DO NOTHING!

April 18

Yesterday you were told of our day wandering around lost. Well, we just want to tell you that that day pales in comparision to today.
   It started out going in service with Audrey,  a lovely young sister. We worked her territoy and it was really quite interesting. From there we met Crystal, another sisrer who volunteered to take us to Ikea. We were pleased with our purchases and excited to take them to where we would be staying. We were exhausted from a lack of sleep due to their late hours, peoples frolicking in the street at all hours, and being in the path of jumbo jet landing in the nearby airport. We got back to where Tia is staying now and where we have been and packed our bags quickly with the idea of heading to where we would be staying for a few weeks. We rushed because by this time the hour was getting late and it would be dark soon. We carried our bags down 5 flights of stairs went out side and drug our luggage across the cobblestone streets for several blocks to the bus which took us to the Metro, again we dragged our luggage down several flights of steps to get on the subway train. We got off the subway carried our bags up several flights of stairs and caught another bus. We missed our stop so backtracked and had to go down another flight of stairs. We reached our new "home", got in and into the elevator ( before that Gloria talked to a lovely gal at a mini market who was nepali and now has a return visit.) Went up to the apartment ( on the 10th floor) and do you think we could get that open!!!  NO! The key wouldn't work. We had trouble earlier, and that should have been a sign. But no.... we tried and tried and decided that it wasn't going to work. Our only option was to 1) get a taxi and
Come back here or get a hotel near by. We opted for a hotel. All this time we are in the lobby of the apartment building and a woman comes down the elevator. We asked her if she speaks english ( IT IS always the first question), and she did. She graciously helped us out by calling us a taxi. We placed a tract with her and so by this time we figure we have 14 hours in, just kidding.
    We get in the taxi and asked to be taken to a nearby hotel. He was kind enough to take us to a nice, but reasonable one. He leaves us there,  we go in looking like  street people and ask for a room. Well, yes you guessed it, they asked if we had a reservation of which we didn't, and of course they were all booked up as were the motels near by, easter weekend. So here it is 9:30 and we again have to call a taxi and well, we end up where we started, dragging our luggage up five flights of stairs. So, here we are sitting here eating outdated Cheetos and drinking wine.  We think we deserve it. Signed Claudia and Gloria

April 17

The morning started with such promise.  We would go to the metro and witness and go back to the place we got the phone to ask a question.  As we left Tia's apt we wrote down streets and directions so we could find our way back...didn't work!  We took a 2 hr detour that probably added 3 miles on to our journey.  I know we saw the same bldg from at least 3 different vantage points.  There are NO city blocks.  One rd may run for a few hundred ft, turn a corner and become another rd...each with different names.  Not all rds...or rua da whatever...are on the map and the streets are narrow with tall bldgs so it is hard to tell which way N or S is...very confusing.  However we did arrive back here still in an upright posistion, which I was not sure if we could accomplish.  My feet are killing me but I keep thinking I am burning calories so something positive came from the adventure.  The brothers are taking a bed out to the place we are going to be staying this evening so we may move out there tomorrow.  We we will also take a trip to Ikea to get a few necessary things..
The picture of me was as our morning began...the after pictures were just too gruesome to post!

Apr 16

Today we moved out of the hotel.  A sister kindly offered us to stay in her new apt.  We cleaned the apt today but could not get a bed there for tonight so we came back to where she has been staying.  The sis is Tia and she is 41 yrs old and is from Tucson Az.  She came to the intn'l conv in Lisbon last year and met Antonio a Portuguese bro to whom she is now engaged.  They are getting married in June so the apt is for the 2 of them.  Some of the others in the cong brought some towels and linens for us.  We have mtg tonight at 7:30 so I should get ready.  You probably recognized that yesterdays post was dated wrong...it should have been Apr 15.
We are having a late meal w Tia and Antonio after meeting. He brought soup...now to bed.  Good night

April 13

We had Memorial last night at a hotel.  There were 107 people there and 31 nationalities.  Alot of people there who were visiting Lisbon and came from English speaking countries.  A young man sat next to me from Oslo...wanted to know if I knew the Wheeler family as they were from Oregon.  They must think Oregon is a very small place.  There was a sister visiting from Dubai...she is originally from Michigan.   She works for an airline in Dubai.  She told us at the english circuit assembly  there were 800 in attendance.  The witnessing work is all informal done often in jeans and a polo shirt and carrying a Starbucks coffee.  They do not witness to any Muslims as this could cause problems.
The napali group was having Memorial after us but I have not heard how many attended.
Today Claudia and I are going out to witness on the street and on the metro.  We will listen for English and try to strike up a conversation.  We are at Starbucks right now and a man sat down who spoke English.  Did not want to visit...from Florida and is in from a cruise ship.
Will let you know how our day went later.
Today we will also incorporate apt hunting today.  Miguel from remax has a line on a few for us to look at later.
Off we go!
4:30pm     We were able to speak to many people today on the metro and in the shops.  A young nepali couple were on the metro and said they were searching for bible truth.  Claudia gave them the invite to the special talk and they said they would come but were unsure of the location so we got their phone number and the young brother who works with the nepali...Andre and his wife are special pioneers...will contact them.  I spoke to a man from Ireland who was w his grandson and gave him a tract and pionted out the website, telling about the videos for children.  2 young men from Kenya who spoke little English,  we gave the invite and showed the web site that the could get in French.   A shopkeeper from Bangladesh also accepted the invite to the special talk.  Sometimes at home we could go allow morning and never find anyone at home.  Very encouraging.
No success on apts.  A sister said we could crash w her for a few days so may do that. 

Ministry in Lisbon April 13

We met at KH and there were 38 of us who met.  They divided us into 3 groups.  They put Claudia and I in different groups.  Panic time. How would we meet up?  Trust in Jehovah and everything worked out fine.  My group had Alfama area which is up in the hills.  When you work around a block here it is huge and you go up the hill and then down the hill and then up the hill.  I could hardly walk when we got back to our room and I forgot wr had mtg on Sat evening so out we went 1/2 hr later to walk up the hill again but we cheated and took the tram.  When we walked it yesterday morning I counted 410 steps straight up hill.
My group was Ben and Linda Vega.  He is Portuguese and was a special pioneer when he was young in Cape Verde where he met Linda.  I also worked with a young pio named Naomi. PICTURE INCLUDED. 
Today we went to find the place where Memorial will be held tomorrow.  It is in a hotel just a few metro stops from us.  We are also trying to find an apt...time is running out.
Will try to write more tomorrowl

Apr 11

We must have walked 5 or 6 miles today.  Much of it uphill!  We got our metro so we can now take the subway, trams, or buses.  For 42 euros you can ride for 30 days unlimited.  We still plan on walking much of the time even up the steep hills to KH.  It is really good for us.  We meet at the KH tomorrow for service at 10...it is special for the invitation work...they encouraged everyone to come.  We haven't been given a territory yet because of the invite work.
We decided to book our room for 2 more days so until the 15th.  We need to start looking for rooms that will be permanant.  One thing at a time.
Will let you know tomorrow how service goes w a territory...we have only done informal so far.

April 10

Service today with Jasmine, McKenzie,  Megan,  and Audrey.  These girls are from Beaverton and have been here for 2 1/2 months and leave Apr 30.  They helped us toget our metro cards today.  We can pick them up tomorrow and they are good for a month.  We started in the ministry this , morn and worked til about 5 and I only left one invitation.   I understand  Faiths search work now.  Surprisingly English is not the most  heard foreign lang I heard.  I heard alot of french and maybe Scandinavian.   The shopkeepers speak some English so that is who we tried to talk to.
You should see the hill we have to walk up to go to KH...I think  Claudia put a picture on instagram.  It feels really good to get back to our room.  We walked all day...maybe 3 or more miles.  I should be in shape in no time!

Apr. 9

We were in bed by 9 last night because  we were so tired.  No trouble going to sleep but apparently everyone else on our street didn't feel the need.  1:30 am and people are still out in the street laughing and talking and having a good time.
This morning we met up with 2 young sisters,  Crystal and Debra.  We walked to the KH together so we could find the way tonight for the mtf...at 8pm.   I think people like to do things late.  Mtg for service tomorrow is 10:30.  People are up all night in the street so of course you can't go early.
We went to a very small restaurant on our street for an early dinner.  The man spoke little English and showed us what was on the menu...grilled fish or fried fish.  We sat at a table and waited to order and waited and wondered???  Soon he comes out with 2 meals...grilled fish...just what we wanted.  How did he do that?  It was very good.  Chandre?  Not sure what fish that is!
I took a little nap, prepared for mtg and we will leave in an hr.  Better get ready.
Here is the picture I forgot of Claudia yesterday, too.

Towers for lunch w/Joel and Annie

We spent all morning trying to rejuggle our suitcases and felt victorious when done.  However going thru security I lost my hair gel:(  and we all know how imp my hair gel is?  I can only hope there are people in Portugal who have wild hair.
We had a nice visit w/ Joel and Annie over lunch and a coffee.  Lunch was fish and brussel sprouts.  With bread pudding for dessert (Ron loved my bread pudding!)  There were many visitors for lunch and we met friends from all over.  Isn't the brotherhood wonderful!  We never meet a stranger.
We are now waiting at the gate forour flight to London and then we connect to Portugal.  Next time I write I will be in Europe.

Just Claudia,
  It was shock and awe our packing techniques., especially Gloria, shes a master now.
    We are going to attempt to bring  a bag on carry on but we may
be laying in the isle with back injuries trying to get them in the overhead bin, but we shall not be thwarted!
Jehovah has gotten us this far ;) . Portugal here we come!

Finally Portugal

So we finally boarded the plane for Heathrow...our first stop!  No it wasn't to be.  We sat at the gate for over an hour because of some missing paper work   needless to say we missed our connection for Lisbon and had to sit in the airport for 9 hours.  To see how it left us freeling see accompaning picture of Claudia!  We finally arrived at about 7pm.  I know now why you should pack light...you will havrbto carry your 50 lb bag up the stairs?  The neighborhood is just what I thought it would be.  The architecture is beautiful so sorry if I take pictures of bldgs. Like Ron and Shelly did of food.  Love you all and now I am going to pass out.

Claudia-
   We made it! Tomorrow our goal is to find the kingdom hall and get our bearings. At the airport I realized we were the ones who sounded like foreigners. Although other than new york I dont think I have heard so many different tongues. We exchanged our dollars to euros and should have waited, but live and learn. The area we are is so Europe and our room is very simple but clean. I made a mistake in the reservation and said we were coming on the seventh because uts when we left NY, but forgot we were not getting in until the 8th. Oh, my this little man caring for, the desk didn't know what to do. He kept pointing to the paper saying no show, canceled, but no worry, it's okay, yes dont you worry its ok. Very cute. He really wanted to please. They do, NOTHING on computer, there are pzpers everywhere with notes of nthis and that. I made sure I had it in writing than we payed.
      We went for a brief walk and when we got back he had  map out to show this and that, so, sweet. He pointed out some good resturants and said they had good wine, then sort of said well, ifmyiunlike it. I'm thinking he thought he maymhad offended us both imshowee him the bottle we just bought and he was so happy. Thats all for, now!

Great food at Damascus Gate

We went to Bay Ridge congregation this morn.  Harold and Lillian whom we met doing street witnessing invited us.  We took the bus and only walked about 4 blocks all together.  The congregation wss very friendly...several Bethelites in the cong.  What a blessing.  The wt conductor was Br. Robert Alexander a bethelite.  He has come and visited at Woodburn as guest speaker and knows ones from the Lisbon english cong.  They were all very welcoming.
After we stopped at Damascus Gate on 5th and 68th.  Just a small place but great food.  Plus the owner insisted on giving us a ride w delivery man...he deli ered us before he delivered the food.  I tried to get a picture of a poster but it didn't turn out...it offered "CPR upon request".  I decided to get that next time!
We are now doing laundry and tomorrow e are having lunch at Bethel before we head to the airport...Portugal he we come

Apr 4 2014

Today we took the tour at the MET...the woman and the seed. It really showed the counterfiet woman and seed, and how Jehovah protected the linage of the seed.  We toured the assyrian and egyptian exhibits and how they tried to do away w God's people down thru the centuries.   Our tour guide, Alan Mitchell really helped us to understand the history involved?

NYC

I fell asleep last night...so to con't Apr
We talked to Joie about our trip to Portugal and our witnessing there.  She seemed to know alot about the bible.  We had a good flight and arrived in NY right on time.  One driver wanted to take us to Brooklyn for $100...declined the offer.  Took yellow cab for $53.  Of course we could have lost everything because sweet Claudia thinks just because a guy wears sloppyvlue sweat pants and a black jacket he must be an airline employee!  As he took off w our luggage on a cart we had to run to keep up.  Life is an education.  Had dinner up the street...pork chop and yellow rice.  Good?  Well it was filling.  Exhausted and in bed...local time...7pm.

The adventure begins

APR 2 2014
The last 3 wks have been crazy...Ronny and Caitlin's wedding...garage sale...moving out of the house.  Everything left is now in Ron's study.  Simplify!

The adventure begins..to airport at 5:15 am.  Ron, Kelly and the kids were late and I really wanted to see them...made Claudia practically have a heart attack but I made it back in time for them to close the door on my behind.  We had a nice seat mate...a woman named  Joey who was going to meet her husband in Barcelona.