Transfers, Travels, and a Funeral

 Hi kids,

This week was transfers, which is always both stressful and exciting. The missionaries get stressed because they don’t know if they’re staying or going, and only get notified the night before, if they are getting transferred. They were making predictions, but we were all pretty sure that Elder Q was going to be transferred, so we decided to make his last P-day a good one. They wanted to see Régua, so off we went! It has rolling green hills of vineyards and the Douro River runs through it. So beautiful! 

The next day, we went it to the Fernanda’s house for lunch. She prepared a lasagna - Dad’s favorite!  - but then we all realized that she used tuna as the meat - tuna lasagna. Dad was a trooper and got one serving down. She insisted on sending some home with us, so we had about 8 pieces that neither Dad or the elders would eat. I didn’t think it was too bad, but I couldn’t eat that much, so I texted the Pres. Hugo’s wife, Kaline, and asked her if she wanted it. I knew lasagna was her favorite food and that she liked tuna fish. She said “Yes!” So I took it to English class the next night. She was so excited.  😃

Elder Q has a tradition of trading ties when he leaves area, so after lunch he gave Irma Fernanda a tie with his name tag on it. She took told all of us to come back into the spare room. She opened an armoire and told Q to pick out whatever tie he wanted. Then she told Dad and Elder Williams to pick one out too. 

Then she told me to come over and gave me a sweater and two tops. I told her that one of them was too big, but asked if I could give it to the wife of the new family from Brazil and she liked that idea. The more people she can help, the better. We love Irma Fernanda. ❤️

As we were going, she asked if the guys could help move her husband from his chair to their bed. Dad and Elder Q moved him and Dad said he was so light. He’s gotten much weaker. It’s sad. He was a strong guy and had a successful career as a banker. But he had a stroke and can’t speak or use his legs. It was touching to watch them lift him and get him settled in bed. 

That night was English class. It keeps growing. The “originals” have gotten close to each other and we have fun teasing and joking. When I taught about hobbies, the class jock said he liked to work out. When I asked Gabrielle what he liked to do, he said, “Not workout. I like to eat.” Gabrielle tells it like it is and then cracks up and makes us all laugh.  He kisses me hello and goodbye on the cheeks every week.

The next day was District meeting. This was the “week of lasts” so after the meeting, we did the mission tradition of signing each other’s “Tchau books”. These are journals that the missionaries have and when it’s transfers, everybody signs each other books. We didn’t have one, so they signed in my notebook and on a piece of paper for Dad.

Then off to lunch! Elder Alvey was a good sport and rode in the trunk. 😅

Dad started the tradition of getting Burger King milkshakes for dessert - they love it!

We said goodbye and headed back home. They’ve had some terrible wildfires in Portugal because its been so dry the last few years.  The members have been praying for rain. We saw some of the mountains that got burned during our drive. 

From beautiful green hills to charred rocks… :( 

The next day, the elders asked us if we wanted to go to their/our favorite pastelaria, Casa la Pao. They go pretty regularly and have gotten to know the girls that work there. Elder Williams made a big batch of cc cookies to pass out to people, in case he gets transferred, and Casa was one of the drop-offs. The girls were super excited. They’d tried them once and told E. Wms. that the owner, Rosa, loved them and her husband had two. Apparently, he rarely eats sweets, but he made an exception for Elder W’s famous cookies. 

Our “before & after” pictures:  😬

That might, we had the new Brazilian family, the Santos, over for dinner. Juliana is going to the local college in Sept. Fábio, the dad, has a degree in logistics, but they’ve been scrounging for any odd job that they can find because if you don’t have your residency card, then it’s very hard to find work. Fabio just got hired by McDonald’s and they’re really happy about it. Juliana found work as a waitress in a restaurant and works every day from noon to 10:30 pm. It’s hard to be an immigrant - even when you know the language. Triple hard, if you don’t. 

Elder Q being sad. Goofy guy.  He’s actually really excited about his new assignment. 

One last picture with Elder Q: 

The next day was - drumroll please - Transfers! The elders had been predicting for a couple of weeks, and like they thought, we lost Elder Q.  We’ll miss him - he’s an easy-going, good-natured guy and he made us laugh.  Elder Blackhurst in Bragança got transferred too, so we’ve got two new elders. Q’s replacement is Elder Madrid from St. George. We really like him. He’s been here about as long as we have, but he’s already figured things out and is a calm, friendly  guy with a good sense of humor.  Friday, the day of transfers, the branch had a branch council meeting, so the elders came back home on the bus and jumped into the meeting half-way through. These missionaries have to be flexible and roll with whatever’s gong on. Pres. Hugo gave a choice to the council:  do a Zoom meeting or meet in person and have pizza after. They chose pizza. 😅

Sunday, we had the cutest couple visiting the branch. They met on Mutual and got married two weeks ago. He’s from Mexico and a Chemistry professor and she’s a vet from Vila Real, but was working in Spain when they met. He’s found a teaching job in Spain, but it doesn’t start til September, so they’re hanging out here for a month until they move to Spain. 

The next day was FSY (like EFY, but a little different and called For the Strength of Youth now). Pres. Hugo had asked if we could take the two girls to Porto to meet the bus because Anastasia’s mom doesn’t have a car and both of the Cardoso’s work and didn’t want to miss work to drive Kelvia. We said yes, but Anastasia spent the night at the Cardoso’s house, so we wouldn’t have to drive an hour to pick her up in the morning. She brought her suitcase to church and she, and her mom and sister, said their goodbyes after church. I’m guessing it’s prob the first time they’ve been apart since they came here from Ukraine. 

We came home, ate lunch, and got to Zoom with the Riverside ward! When the camera turned on, I got kind of teary. It was so great to see everybody, but it made me a bit homesick. We love our friends and neighbors! ❤️

After the Zoom, I zipped to the church for a song practice. The other two gals were an hour late,  but Chad & Kalie FaceTimed us, so that was fun. Jack showed us his new skills of waving bye bye and blowing kisses. 

Monday we went to Porto! We dropped the girls off at the church. The bus was 2 hours late, so we waited with them. They were both a little nervous, so I said a prayer that they’d be calm and have a good time. 

Anastasia hadn’t played a “real” piano since they fled Ukraine. Dad recorded her playing and sent it to her mom, Nadiia.  Nadiia texted back, “Oh she’s playing again!”  The things we take for granted…

Then Dad and I left and explored the city. We went to the beach to see what it was like.

Found the seafood district for lunch. We knew we were in the right place when we saw all the seagulls flying overhead. 

Alot of restaurants cook the fish outside. 

I tried octopus for the second time. I should’ve gone with the sea bass. 😅 But it was still good and fun to have the “local” food. 

Then we toured the old stock exchange. Every country has a symbol painted around the top of the building. You can see the US symbol on the left side. The roof is a huge, beautiful skylight.

Got gelato.

Rode the tram by the river. 

Got some dinner close by and headed home. I had ordered salmon and asked for “take away” when I couldn’t finish it.  I cut the head off before they boxed it up, but when I looked inside, they had put the head in too. 🤷‍♀️

To be continued….💗