Friendships are not coincidences!
A highlight this week was a lesson with Renata. The missionaries taught a beautiful lesson and we love so much when they invite friends and members to read from the scriptures. On Sunday, Renata came to Church for the 2nd time. Keilla, who lives in Ribeira Grande also came and I couldn't wait for them to meet in person for the first time. We had given their info to each other and Keilla who was baptized last week had already texted Renata who is taking the lessons...both are from Brasil and both from different towns on this island and both will soon be moving to Belgium to reunite with their husbands who have work there. They will live only 15 minutes apart in Belgium! Friendships are so important.
(I often wonder how ministering angels work? It seems they must have correlation meetings to plan the puzzle pieces that bless lives here on earth.) We do not believe in coincidences!
A Busy and Wonderful Week. We arrived at the airport at 5 am for a 2 hour flight to Lisbon for an appointment to receive our Portugal Residency Cards. The Office Elders were so good to take us with papers already prepared to receive our documents. Elder and Sister Erickson were kind to show us the ocean walk and with Elder and Sister Seibold, the six of us went to a restaurant for lunch. Just delightful and delicious. We sure love and appreciate the friendships we have made here.
During our day in Lisbon we met a young man from Russia who is moving to Portugal. He loves his friends and home in Russia, but he cannot be represented by his government anymore. As we visited, he shared his sadness about the conditions of the world...and specifically about the current war in Ukraine. He seemed interested as we shared with him that Heavenly Father has a plan for all of His children that gives us a peace that surpasseth understanding and a hope that makes us happy.
We also met a young man from Germany, as we walked around during the day. Both of these travelers gave us their emails so we could send them information about about the restoration. It is such a nice moment when we meet and visit with sincere and thoughtful hearts.
Although we miss so many friends in Evora and Beja on the mainland, and are thankful for technology to continue those friendships, when we looked out of our small framed airplane window as the clouds gave way to our first sightings of the island of Sao Miguel...we felt at home.
Our first 2 and 1/2 weeks have welcomed us as we meet people that we will introduce to you in the coming weeks. There are so many magnificent people and stories here!
The Ponta Delgado Branch hosted an open house so the community could see what the church is about here. We had a few people come and it was fun to welcome them and help show them around. We think the love language on this island is food and we have both made and been invited to meals.
Ahhhhh...I have rambled...but one more amazing thing: Elder Soares is coming to Portugal!!! We are going to Lisbon for a meeting to hear him visit with all Portugal Missionaries. We will hurry back here Saturday after the meeting because Grandpa will pick up 2 groups of members to hear Elder Soares over the internet on Sunday. Others come by cabs or member cars. We want everyone on the island to hear the words of the very first native Portuguese speaking Apostle!!! (The conference Sunday will be broadcast to all of Portugal, the Azores, and Cape Verde).
Make a Wonderful Week! We Miss You.
You are part of our prayers and conversations.
We love you fiercely and forever,
love Grandpa and Grandma
Elder Holland counseled: "I believe we need to speak of and believe in and bear testimony to the ministry of angels more than we sometimes do. They constitute one of God's great methods of witnessing through the veil."
