First Impressions of Lisboa

It has been a month since I have posted because we just got our internet connection at our home in Olhao.  So here goes a month's worth of pictures starting with the Mission Home in Lisboa.

Seating area in the Living Room 

Living room from the opposite direction.

Dining Room

                  The last picture is of the large kitchen where a ton of food prep goes on.
Sr. Fluckiger is a wonderful hostess.  When missionaries come and go she and her cook make many, many pans of lasagna, bread and brownies among many other great things.  In the picture you can see Paula Rose, Bro. Henry and the back of Sr. Fluckiger's head.



More sights of Lisboa.  The Romans came first and built their magnificent aquaducts.  The freeway goes right underneath this one.

                       This is a fort at the entry to the Lisbon harbor.  Its twin is across the river.

This sidewalk is made of individual tiles.  Every city and town in the country has sidewalks of different design.  They are painstakingly laid each piece at a time by some men who are on their knees all day long.  I really appreciate the work and beauty of the sidewalks of Portugal.

This huge monument is dedicated to the Portuguese explorers and sailors and principally Henry the Navigator who's story is told in the book 1423.

 (or maybe it was 1421, I get them mixed up)

The large cathedral is a backdrop for this city scene with more beautiful sidewalks.  This sidewalk is cut granite and shows the travels of the Portuguese explorers to lands then unknown.

Our President and his wife.

                               President and Sr. Fluckiger at the mission home in Lisbon.  
         The Fluckigers are from Dallas, Texas.  They have 5 children and many grandchildren.  They have treated us with every kindness, good meals, and plenty of rest.  We look forward to work under their direction for the next two years.  We feel very fortunate to be here.
          There are only 4 missionary couples in Portugal.  More couples are greatly needed.  President  Fluckiger would love for you to come to Portugal.  We have been told time and time again how valuable senior couples are to the work here.  Please come and serve with us.  Remember, with God nothing is impossible.                  

MTC and Beyond

Our beloved, enduring, patient and pretty tutor at the MTC and on Skype, Natalia Noltemeyer.  Thank you, Natalia.... we will keep you posted on our Portuguese progress.

Paige, Lindsey, Sommer and Mossi met us at the Salt Lake City airport for one last goodbye.

We are official

Even though my blogs are out of sync, this was a meaningful day for us and I want to record it.

We arrived at the MTC in the morning.  The instructions said between 10-11 am.   Paige and Eric and family drove us to Provo.  When we drove up the kind gentlemen took us into the main lobby where the first thing we did was get our missionary name tags.  I started crying, of course.  It was a great moment.  Then back to the car and a short ride to the senior entrance.  After a quick goodbye to  Paige and family, we were whisked into missionary life.  Our senior accommodations at the MTC are excellent.  My bed here is better than my bed at home.  The meals are carb-packed, and I am glad that I am leaving soon so I won't gain the Freshman Fifteen, but honestly I can see how it happens.  That is all for tonight.  We are so tired.  We get up very early, work all day, go to bed too late, and start all over again the next day.  I love it.

Claremont reunion in Kaysville

Paige and Eric hosted a reunion and farewell for us at their home in Kaysville. Our family and many friends who used to live in Claremont came to wish us well.  My only regret was that I kept forgetting to take pictures, so this represents but a few.

Where in the World?

The map at the MTC is huge.  It is fun to watch all the excitement as missionaries take their  pictures pointing to their assigned missions, just like we are doing.  There are about 35 couples and single sisters in our senior missionary group.  Some are going to the states, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, England, Germany and Hungary.  The lady going to Hungary signed up to go on a visitor's center mission, but they called her and asked if she would go to Hungary instead to take the place of a lady who is coming home due to illness.  She doesn't speak Hungarian, but it happens that all of her mother's family comes from there.  She is about 70 years old and spunky.  Another lady in our district went to the same high school that I did in Long Beach, and took from the same piano teacher!  Small, wonderful world.

Largest Wave

Maybe someday Ron and I will have to time to go to Nazare and see the big surf.  Largest Wave