Alegria!



An appointment fell through...while we were in transit...always the difficult part of a mission, but we had a Book of Mormon referral in a nearby town, so that opened up time to also attend a performance of Ana Janeiro on our way back home.  Ana is the wife of the Director of the Archives in Evora.  It was delightful and I loved it as much as the children did! It was held in the Montemor-O-Novo Community Library, (while waiting for the program to begin, grandpa noticed that the library needed a Book of Mormon in the Religion section. We just happened to have one and they seemed happy to receive it).  Before we left, the thoughtful librarian brought us pamphlets about the town, library, and also a map of Montemor-o-Novo.  Later that evening, Ana wrote us a sweet thank you for coming.  


President Santos of the Beja Branch cooking up a feast on Portugal Day!  The activity also included a karioke part and so of course, you know that Grandpa sang:  "Angels among us!"  Such a fun branch with incredible people who just reach out and help each other where they can.  

 

We spent time giving out Book of Mormons to people who had requested a copy as media referrals. A cafe owner in Campo Maior was so appreciative and after our visit we ordered two water bottles, but when grandpa pulled out his euros to pay for the water, Elissandra refused to take money and gave the water to us with a smile.  

It is so nice to meet people who are interested in learning more about Jesus. We shared Exechial 37:15-19 with Hermanda (above) who lives on a Dairy Farm in Rodunho.  She said that she had a professor years ago who told her about that and something about the Americas and she was so thankful to have the Book from the lineage of Joseph to go with her Bible from the lineage of Judah. Her young daughter was making me a mud pie and bringing me little flowers.  The message is so important that oftimes, I can engage with the little ones so Grandpa can share our Testimony.


A highlight this week was to attend our Stake Conference. Elder Engbjrb gave a marvelous talk and we loved meeting him. Elder Teixeira from Cabo Verde is the newest Area Seventy. It was so great to see him again and to hear him speak as well. Vadinho was thrilled to meet Elder Teixera as Guinea-Bissau has close ties and the same creole as Cape Verde. Elder Teixeira was the first Stake President called in Cabo Verde in 2012, when we were serving a mission there.  Such fun memories!   




These last 4 photos are from April 2012 when the first stake was formed in Cabo Verde. Alma 17:2 always catches in my throat and even though our part is so very small...when we meet up again with friends that we love, we feel a portion of how Alma felt.  On one visit to Praia, we received a phone call from President Teixeira inviting us for pizza with he and his sweet wife.  Their countenance explains.


Elder Kopischke (Area President, 1st quorum of the Seventy (Germany), Pres. Teixeira (2nd counselor in Area Pres. from Portugal), in 2012,  just before the meeting with the new Pres.Teixeira of CV 


Grandpa was a counselor to our Mission President Oliveira at that time and now President Oliveira is the First President of The First Temple in Cabo Verde which will be dedicated this coming Sunday, June 19th, 2022!  And with the gracious permission of our wonderful current President Barcellos in our Portugal Mission, we are able to accept President Oliveira's invitation to be in their home for 3 days for the Cabo Verde Temple Dedication...Our cup runneth over...

We Love You fiercely and Forever!  



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