Tony Couch Grass

Just indulge me on this post.  I love the grasses here.  Beautiful Tony Couch grass.  Tony Couch is a watercolor teacher and painter who happens to make the most beautiful grass out of the left over paint on the bottom of his palette.  Anyway, this post is for Bobbie Thorne who has an original Tony Couch painting hanging above her fireplace and yes, there is grass in that picture and this must be what he was looking at when he painted grass.

Lagos Group

A few months ago 2 Elders assigned to Lagos prayed to find out how many members the Lord wanted in Lagos.  The Lord said double what you have now.  So, they went to work and within 2 months we had to move them from their old, smaller place below to the new, double the size building pictured at the bottom. The Lord had a plan for Lagos Group and soon they will be a Branch.

Elder Ca...and Elder McLean

 New Chapel.

A Lisbon Super Market

This is one of the larger markets in Lisbon.  It is a chain market like we have in the states, kind of Stater Brothers on steroids.  The first three pictures are just cheese.  Wonderful cheeses here with such variety that I have never seen before.  We don't appreciate cheese in the States like they do here.

Just Olive Oil....and you thought that I was taking a picture of the wine section.  Nope.

I had to take more pictures of fish.  How many can you name?  This is an incredible selection.  On Saturday afternoons the barbques start cranking up around here and you can smell the fish and coals.   Luckily it doesn't take fish long to cook.  I hope that someone invites us to a fish fry before our mission is over.

 The Fish displays are beautiful...

And finally,  this is bacalhau, the famous dried, salted Cod of Portugal.  You step one foot into the markets and the smell hits you in the nose.  You do get used to it.  These things are as stiff as a board.  I haven't gotten anyone to show me how to cook it yet, but I have tasted it. Tons and tons of dried cod.  They say that they have a different recipe for Cod for every day of the year.

The Mercado

Once a month is market day in Tavira.  We put up a table and started handing out Books of Mormon, DVDs and pass along cards.  The missionaries in the picture below talk to people as they pass by.

                  Elder Sommer stayed by the table and talked to people as their curiosity brought them closer.
                                                            Elder Sommer is my hero.
No one took a Book of Mormon that day.  I couldn't help but think how sad it was that so many passed by                                                               such a precious Book.  If they only knew...

Mother's Day

Mother's Day this year was quite different from years past.  To give me a special treat Ron took me to this beautiful spot in Tavira, (where our Branch is located) for a really nice dinner.  These pictures were all taken while seated right  at our table while eating our fish dinner.  Portuguese food is very simple, but very tasty.  Great Mother's Day! 

Lagos

This is Lagos, Portugal.  These rock formations can been seen 

by walking down this long stairway, or...

you can take a boat ride all around them. 

This is one of the most beautiful spots in the Algarve.

Transfers

Tavira Branch- r-l:   Elders Judd, Richards and Sommer and Sr. Sommer,  March 2013-May2013.  Elder Judd is being transferred to Gaia which is in the Porto area of the mission.  Success to you Elder Judd!