A Sweet Week...
Elise was baptized by her Father, (President Samuel) of our Evora Branch.
Our font in Evora is a plastic material stretched over a styrofoam type base...like a hot tub really.
We love this sweet family and all of the work they do to help the Evora Branch.
Sister Barcellos gave a wonderful talk about Angels (She definitely is one!) at our Zone Conference in Setubel on Tuesday. She has a wonderful way of inspiring all of us!
President Barcellos is a dynamic leader and makes us all want to work even more to teach with our hearts as we share the Great News of the Restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ. We can feel their great love for Our Savior. President and Sister Barcellos and their family are loved by all the missionaries...including us.
We were able to go to the Temple in Lisbon the next day for a Sisters' Conference and a Session at the Temple (with the couple missionairies in Portugal and on the Azores). So fun to meet some of the new couples that we haven't met before. Such wonderful, dedicated people from so many backgrounds and such varied and great personalities. Just a beautiful day!.
Sister Barcellos made The Sisters' Conference extra special in every way. She is beautiful and everything she touches is the same way!
Hercinio is out of town for work during the summer, so Grandpa sends him messages and also sent a message to the ward that he lives in to let them know of this wonderful man. Yesterday, after church we received a note from Hercinio and this photo with the Bishop of the Cacem ward in Lisbon. Made our spirits smile.
Note: I was able to help translate at the Sisters' conference for the senior sisters that do not know the Portuguese just yet. I was telling them what the power point said, what Sister Barcellos was saying, and trying to keep up with both. Amazing how Heavenly Father helps us in the details. Then on Sunday, our translator was not at church for Relief Society and so I got to translate the Portuguese to English for our Teacher and the English to Portuguese for our class discussions and questions and answers along the way. I really do stand all amazed especially because generally speaking...I am not a Math or Foreign Language type person. The thought of either makes me want to run. I think The Boy Scout Drives were easier...Ha! (well, I could just pay for the whole neighborhood and be done without asking for money!) just kidding...(sorta). I am thankful for the gift of the beautitul Portuguese language and for the treasure of meeting people who are patient with me as I yearn to know them.
We Love you all and will work extra this week so we don't miss our family reunion too much! (Well, yeah. We will be super homesick this week, but that's how it should be and...is.) You will have such a great time together!!! Sending tons of love, hugs, and we'll plan a time to zoom with you so we can see and talk and hug from here. Just makes us so happy. This will be another great week knowing that you are all together. Take lots of photos. Love, Grandpa and Grandma