FELIZ NATAL!!!


Merry Merry Christmas!  What a Wonderful and Perfect Life we are celebrating and the very reason we are so happy to be in Portugal sharing The Gospel of Jesus Christ!  We Love Him and are Thankful for the many Blessings that He gives to each of us as we Trust Him with all of our Hearts. 

We hope that your Christmas is full of His Joy in the knowing, learning, and discerning of His gifts
 
This is probably my favorite photo of my favorite Missionary Companion!
We are walking the cobblestones daily, 
trying to find people in the branch here in Evora,
and in Elvas, and Borga, and Portalegre, and just yesterday in Beja.
  

Preparing tiny Christmas cards from our branch, we will all add treats and 
go caroling in groups to those who need some smiles at Christmas. 
 (The color printer broke down at Staples, but colored pencils added a bit of color.)

 The car we received had just been in a fender bender a few weeks before we arrived in Portugal, We took it to a shop but they can not fix the bumper etc. until January.  We noticed that driving it has not helped the situation so we are on foot again. The cobblestones are beautiful, but when we return to our apartment at night, I wonder if I can still climb the stairs at times. Ha!  Last night I reminded myself that I am not a pioneer walking in the snow with little ones to take care of. I thought of the gift we had recieved from The very one who we are trying to give our best gifts, time, and thoughts to.

We went on splits with the missionaries after our District meeting.  
Elder Depuydt from France was with us.  Such a thoughtful young man. 
The above photo is of Fabio (in the middle).  We knocked on his door to ask if he knew of a neighbor Antonia and if she still lived in the apartment next door as there had been no response.  He was kind and gave us directions to another door that may be hers, he thought.
Again with no response at the other door, we prepared to go, but the thought about sharing the gospel with Fabio unfolded in our minds and so Grandpa knocked on his door once again.  This time, he asked if Fabio would enjoy hearing a wonderful message.  He said he would and invited the three of us in to their orderly apartment and pulled the chairs out next to their small Christmas tree. The next twenty minutes were the best Christmas gift.  He shared with us that he had met missionaries some years ago and turned them away, but his heart became empty and just the past few days he had asked Heavenly Father to help him find a full heart, he said we were there in answer to his prayer.  It was very tender and he gave such a simple and sweet prayer before we left.  A while later, here he came down the street that we were on to give our young elder his backpack that he had left.  Fabio was looking for us! Update: (Fabio attended church yesterday)  The Beja elders will visit them again because Fabio made an appointment to hear more.
Yesterday, I was asked to give the Spiritual thought at our District mtg. in Beja.  








 

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