39 new missionaries, 2 new families + Primary program

Sunday, November 27th was the Primary program in Vila Real with 10 children! Later this same night was when the transfer notices occurred. There are 39 new missionaries (28 elders & 11 sisters) arriving and 8 leaving. This will be about a  20% increase in the total number of missionaries. We now have 182 young elders/sisters & 6 senior couples (2 senior couples arrived this week also).

Kim, delivered Advent calendars to the primary children. Only 8 are in this photo.

Ricardo is the pianist and the woman on the left with red hair is Isabel Pereira the  Porto stake Primary President. She drove an hour to attend the meeting.

On Monday, November 28th we went on the waterfall hike with the missionaries as tomorrow Elder Madrid is being transferred. 

As a result of all the rain the waterfalls are much larger.

After the hike we stopped at a bakery!

On Monday, November 28th about 10:30PM we said a final goodbye to Elder Madrid and Elder Worley who are both being transferred to other areas.

On Monday, November 28th we had dinner with Michael & Adrialie Lima. This is their daughter Giovana one of the keyboard recipients.

This new couple has just arrived from Brazil and are friends with the Limas. They have a married son, daughter in law and 2 other children currently waiting in Lisbon for them to locate an apartment for the 7 of them.

On Tuesday, November 29th another family of seven arrived from Argentina. They are seated closest to the ping pong table.

Frozen cookie dough makes excellent cookies!

Seminary on Thursday, December 1st with 2 new students! Romina Caro age 17 (front right) and her brother Benjamin Caro age 14 (front left). Their family of 7 just arrived this week from Argentina.

On Thursday, December 1st we met the new missionary. Elder Barbosa Figueiredo he began his mission this week. He is in the middle of this photo. His parents are both from Portugal but he has lived his entire life in England and speaks English with a British accent and is learning Portuguese. 

Photo of the 39 new missionaries with President & Sister Barcellos.

Cleaning the baptismal font.

This week 2 new couples also arrived. This is E/S Toby & Debbie Osborn. They served in Mozambique just before us and came to our home to advise us of the conditions there and what to bring. They have been assigned to the Island of Terceira where the Bremners previously served.

This is E/S Neldon & Diana Demke. They have been assigned to Abrantes. Interestingly, Diana is the sister of Toby in the above photo. 

Thursday, December 1st is Independence Day in Portugal. As a result of this holiday most people do not have to work. Ricardo and Eveline Cardosa invited us to lunch and Ricardo prepared this delicious meal.

                           SCRIPTURE POWER

“I would that ye should” This phrase appears fifty (50) times in The Book of Mormon, (13 times by King Benjamin) but never occurs in any of the other scriptures. There is most often great counsel immediately after this phrase. 

Appears that Lehi modified this phrase somewhat: “wherefore, my sons, I would that ye would remember, yea, I would that ye would hearken unto my words.” (2 Ne. 1:12) (see also Alma 34:31; 38:10)

Also Moroni as he begins his final chapter modifies the phrase to: “I would that they should” (Moroni 10:1) 

Examples:

 

Nephi: “Therefore, I would that ye should know, that after the Lord had shown so many marvelous things unto my father, Lehi, yea, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, behold he went forth among the people, and began to prophesy” (1 Ne. 1:18)

 

“I would that ye should consider that the things which have been written upon the plates of brass are true;” (1 Ne. 22:30)

 

Lehi to his sons: And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life” (2 Ne. 2:28)

 

Lehi to the children of Laman: “I would that ye should give ear unto my words.” (2 Ne. 4:3)

King Benjamin: “My sons, I would that ye should remember that were it not for these plates, which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God.” (Mosiah 1:3)

“O my sons, I would that ye should remember that these sayings are true, and also that these records are true.” (Mosiah 1:6)

“And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to search them diligently, that ye may profit thereby; and I would that ye should keep the commandments of God, that ye may prosper in the land” (Mosiah 1:7)

 

“I would that ye should do as ye have hitherto done. As ye have kept my commandments, and also the commandments of my father, and have prospered, and have been kept from falling into the hands of your enemies, even so if ye shall keep the commandments of my son” (Mosiah 2:31)

 

“I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness,” (Mosiah 4:11) 

 

“I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath,” (Mosiah 4:26)

 

“I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ” (Mosiah 5:8)

 

“I would that ye should remember also, that this is the name that I said I should give unto you that never should be blotted out, except it be through transgression” (Mosiah 5:11)

 

“I would that ye should remember to retain the name written always in your hearts” (Mosiah 5:12)

 

“I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his” (Mosiah 5:15)

 

“And now Abinadi said unto them: I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people.” (Mosiah 15:1)

 

Alma to the people in Gideon: “I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times;” (Alma 7:23) 

 

Alma to the poor Zoramites: “I would that ye should remember, that God is merciful unto all who believe on his name; therefore he desireth, in the first place, that ye should believe, yea, even on his word.” (Alma 32:22)

 

Alma to Helaman: “I would that ye should do as I have done, in remembering the captivity of our fathers” (Alma 36:2) 

 

Alma to Shiblon: “And now my son, Shiblon, I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions,” (Alma 38:5) “I would that ye should continue to teach” (Alma 38:10)

 

Alma to Corianton: “Now my son, I would that ye should repent and forsake your sins, and go no more after the lusts of your eyes, but cross yourself in all these things;” (Alma 39:9)

 

Moroni to Zerahemnah: “I would that ye should understand that this is done unto us because of our religion and our faith in Christ.” (Alma 44:3)

 

Helaman to his sons: “Therefore, my sons, I would that ye should do that which is good” (Hel. 5:7)

 

Jesus: “Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.” (3 Ne. 12:48)  “Verily, verily, I say that I would that ye should do alms unto the poor; but take heed that ye do not your alms before men to be seen of them;” (3 Ne. 13:1)

 

“And now it came to pass that when Jesus had said these words he said unto them again, after he had expounded all the scriptures unto them which they had received, he said unto them: Behold, other scriptures I would that ye should write, that ye have not.” (3 Ne. 23:6)

 

Mormon: Therefore, I would that ye should behold that the Lord truly did teach the people, for the space of three days;” (3 Ne. 26:13)