Kent and Nellie in Portugal

A Sunday afternoon with Rui and Sao Violante, Andrea and Miguel and Kent and Nellie.  I had to include this picture because we had a long, fun afternoon.  Rui served his mission in Boston and Sao in England.

We had a wonderful visit with Kent and Nellie.  We explored our Santarem district and then went to a favorite location in Sintra called Quinta da Regaleira.  They even got the opportunity to see the European cup finals in Lisbon, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.They were at the right place at the right time.

Obidos, Portugal

On the old castle walls in Obidos

Obidos

Stopping for lunch at a beautiful restaurant in Obidos.  There are so many out of the way places to explore in this town.

Nazare

Alcobaca

Foz do Arelho.  There is a little girl in our Branch named Ana.  I showed her pictures of Kent and Nellie and she said, "I am just going to call him Ken...you know like Barbie and Ken."

Quinta da Reglaeira, Sintra

The spiral, sub-terranina staircase at Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra. At the bottom of this staircase is an entry into a tunnel complex where you can choose one of 3 tunnels to other parts of the grounds.

40th Anniversary of the Church in Portugal

On a windswept hill overlooking the Atlantic ocean, 40 years ago, Thomas S. Monson dedicated Portugal on this spot for the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The commemoration plaque is on the big boulder on the left. 

Elder and sister Moreira, (area 70) Elder and Sister Snow, the Church historian, and Elder and Sister Texeira, area Authority.

Elder Snow being presented with a miniature sextant, a symbol of Portugal's influence in navigation and discovery.

President and Sr. Fluckiger at the dedication site

Elder Tyler, Elder Oliveira, Moustaches, and a Bike ride in Peniche

Elder Tyler ended his mission in our District in a beach town called Peniche.  We took Elder Tyler and his companion, Elder Oliveira (from Brazil), on a p-day to Nazare and Alcobaca, which are famous tourists sights  in our district.  Then the a couple of p-days later, our entire district went on a bike ride around Peniche and then ended with lunch and moustaches...you'll see what I mean.

The beach at Nazare

Biking with the Elders and Sisters in Peniche

Sr. Anderson and Sr. Rosemann

l to r:  Elders Oliveira, Tyler, Huntington, Rigby and Sr. Rosemann and Anderson

Elder Tyler's parents had sent him some fake moustaches.  Very funny parents and very funny moustaches.

Sr. Anderson, hands down, the best moustache

Elder Tyler, aarrrggghhh.

Very, very clever.

This is a traditional Portuguese dress.  What you can't see is that this skirt has 7 beautiful layers...one for every day of the week.

Indulge me.  The flying buttresses of Alcobaca Cathedral.  Something about these buttresses built in 1155 is so exciting to me. I am in awe that they are still standing.  This cathedral and monastery are World Heritage sights.

The Missionary Appetite

                                                      A Picture is worth a thousand words!

Tamara

In May, my dear sister Tamara and her husband Alan came.  They had traveled with friends to Israel and Spain and literally stopped by Portugal just to see us.  They were only here 2 days but we had a very special visit and had wonderful time.  We visited the Obidos castle and places in Lisbon.  I had anticipated their visit for months and then it was over all too soon.
                                                    Love you, Tam, and thank you so much.

Baptism of Alexandre Augustinho

In April, Ron had the rare opportunity to baptize and investigator in the Algarve.  Elder Sommer had been asked by the Elders to come with them to teach this man, Alexandre.  Also, about the same time, Ron had organized a soccer game for 2 branches where they had all played together and got to know one another quite well.  That was months ago.  Finally, through more teaching by another set of  Elders and more association with the members, the man was baptized.  And even though we don't live in the Algarve anymore, Alexandre remembered Ron, saw him as a father figure, and asked that Elder Sommer baptize him.