Food for Thought...
During our missions, when we travel we always take peanuts (almonds when we have them) and water.
It is our go to meal when we are on our way.
A surprise luncheon after church for Rebeca who begins her mission to Sao Paulo Norte. Ines (on the right) will miss her friend so much, but she leaves for her mission soon. She will serve in England.
A fun day preparing for Elder Soares visit and preparing 180 sack lunches with other senior missionaries in Portugal.
It is always a blessing to be with our inspired Mission President Barcellos. He is a kind and loving leader. A teaching moment for us as a missionary returns to his mother's hug.
A professor from BYU, served a mission here in Portugal years ago. He chose to come to Sao Miguel; a peaceful island where he could write his book. His daughter Hanna, made friends with Julia (middle above) and soon the two families became friends. Before leaving, the professor and his family gave Julia's family a Book of Mormon. Julia loves to attend church. It was so fun to visit with this family. The father, Miguel, called the meeting to order by asking for a prayer. They have been reading The Book of Mormon intermittingly. Julia is almost 16 and has permission to be baptized when she is 18.
We wrote an email to the professor and thanked him for his family and their testimonies. What an inspiration they are to us and the young missionaries who are teaching Julia's family here. We shared this photo with them and was happy to receive a gracious reply...plus! They will be coming for a week in October and have already rented a van so they can bring Julia's family to church with them!
Our new elder here in Ribeira Grande is Elder Rolim from Brasil.
He and Elder Phelps shared a good message with Sister Guiomar Vieiga.
We enjoyed visiting members like Ana Margarida and her son Mario this week. As we were about to leave she took me into her kitchen and opened a package of cookies and took a few out to hand to me and she gave me a hug.
More food and celebration at Ines' 22nd Birthday Party. She lives with her granddmother, Augusta, who made her Birthday cake.
More records to correct and addresses and stories to discover.
At times, I have struggled with the time it takes to procur, make, take, partake, stir and bake. I never really thought about it when we were raising our children. I loved to make 2-3 meals a day for 9 hungry hearts then...but we were all in the same kitchen and could be together before, during, and after the preparations and meal. But on a Mission? There are so many important things to do and there is not much time to do it all. My heart needs to expand to include Martha's part as I would choose to spend my time looking into the eyes of people and learning their stories and to me, for 2 short years, a soup of the week and peanuts should do, right?
But, I find that often the love language of people begins with food. Really! Is this my part so many miles from my grandchildren as I cut up vegetables? I received a clear message when our (long waited for) crockpot arrived. One crockpot will feed all of the young adults in our branch for now.
(Without going into careful detail)...many years ago, I was visiting a Nez Pierce Indian friend in a care center in Grangeville, (she was our neighbor on the Clear Water river in Kooskia). During our last visit she had confided that she was choosing a name for me. (Members of her tribe used to bring their children to her to receive their names). Anyway, the day came when she looked up at me from her bed and explained the name she had chosen for me: "White Swan".
I am always in awe at how personally and kindly we are taught and reprimanded when we kneel to ask and understand our part better. And the European food is delicious! (but, I do not have to eat octopus!)
For me, food always seemed like getting clothes for Christmas...it was something you had to have... but a book, a thoughtful note, a beautiful scripture, a laminated thought on a 3 by 5 card, a desk, a nice pen, was a real gift. Those are the gifts I love. However, today as we took some chicken noodle soup to a sick young missionary, I felt that it was a real gift from my heart and I enjoyed making it.
Earlier this week, as I was getting some eggs and wandering to the oatmeal part of a small store very close to our apartment, thinking about here and home and wanting to get it all right...(you know those moments) I looked up and there in front of me was another love note. Alfarroba. I stood there and blinked back a tear or two...yes, Heavenly Father knows me, knows where I am, and sometimes food expresses love. I can do this!
I just learned this: (The carob tree is native to the Mediterranean region and the Middle East.
Portugal is the largest producer of carob, followed by Italy and Morocco).
We fly to Lisbon in the morning for a zone conference in Coimbra. Will be there one night then back.
What great experiences we have and important things we learn on a Mission...
Live a Thankful week! Whatere thou art, act well thy part. We Love you so very Much!
