New Senior Missionary Couples in Portugal

New missionary couples in Portugal.  The Markhams (on our right), the Jeffers and the Ransoms (seated).  Elder Markham is from Long Beach, CA, our home town and grew up in the Long Beach 10 ward.  The Jeffers and Markhams were visa waiters originally going to Brazil.  After 10 months of waiting, they chose to come to the original Portuguese speaking country.  The Ransoms are the long awaited office couple.  Many hands make light work.

Farewell Algarve!

We have lived in Olhao but worked in the entire Algarve for 10 months, and we have loved the people, the oranges, the sun, the honey, the countryside, the old castles and ruins, the fish, the cobblestones and on and on.  This past weekend we had 2 wonderful farewell parties, the first in our home branch at Tavira on Friday and the second in Faro with the members from Faro, Olhao and Loule.  We will miss these wonderful saints and think about them always.

 

Tavira Branch

Ron and Jose Gonsalves, his counselor

With Mara Martins Silva, my first visiting teaching companion, before I could speak Portuguese.

With Jose Monteiro, a silver medal Olympic athlete from Portugal.

Con minha amiga, Alda.

Suzel, our Relief Society president, her daughter, Patricia, Marko and Mara.

Surprise party in Faro with members from Olhao, Faro and Loule.  Thank you so much!

Lindsey and Lance for Christmas

Last summer, feeling a little homesick, we decided that we would give ourselves (and Lindsey and Lance) a Christmas present.  So we flew these two to Portugal for 10 days.  So fun.

Lindsey in Caldas da Rainha, our new area of missionary service starting the end of January.

At Nazare on a big surf day 25', but not as big as it can get here.  This is where a surfer set the record for riding the biggest wave, at around 100'.

At Obidos Castle near Caldas da Rainha, Portugal.

Obidos Castle

Lindsey and Ron found this restaurant down a quiet street.  It was built in the 1700's.  Such history.

The lord of the manor

At Sagres, at the tip of the Europeon continent.

Chillin' in the Tavira branch president's office.

At Faro castle and town center

In Tavira

When in Lisbon you must have Pasteis de Belem, the famous pastry of Portugal. They are so good.  A custard tart that is a cut above your usual tart.  Add a very rich, dark hot chocolate and you will have satisfied customers.  (since 1837, based on a recipe developed by monksfrom the 18 century.)  You can't go wrong with that pedigree.

At Quinta e Palacio da Regaleira near Sintra.

With the underground tunnels, stone revolving doors, secret staircases and all we consulted the map a lot.

The University at Coimbra, founded in 1290,  is one of the oldest, continually used universities in the world.

At the Olhao farmers market.

Exploring downtown Olhao

Christmas morning. Yes, Ron did wear his white shirt on Christmas morning, but we had been up for hours before these two rolled out of bed to open their stockings,  and let's just say that he has a very limited wardrobe.

They both got Portugal t-shirts, what did you expect?

Sagres, land's end.

We are moving...to Caldas da Rainha

In November we found out that we were being reassigned to a new area, Caldas da Rainha, which is about 60k north of Lisbon.  We started apartment hunting right away.  As we explored the city we grew more and more excited.   We leave Tavira branch, the Algarve and all our wonderful friends and memories  with sadness as we begin this new mission chapter.  We will officially move to Caldas on January 27, 2014.  Here are some first impression pictures. 

Caldas has one of the best farmer's markets in the area.  We are so lucky.

Olhao Capela Open House, December 6, 2013

 President Miranda, Olhao branch president, was a key figure in the successful Olhao Chapel open house.  He is such a wonderful man and worked so hard to get this building ready for the special day.

Sr. Brand and Sr. Rosemond from the Loule branch came to help at the Olhao open house.  They both have great voices and they sang Christmas carols in the front of the building as people walked by. They also sang in the multi-branch choir.  It was my pleasure to accompany them singing What Child is This for our mission Christmas CD. 

Elder Moeller from Tavira Branch talking to people as they passed by the new chapel.  Over 160 street contacts were made that day with many people listening to the first discussion and many other people signing up to receive the missionaries in their home to hear the gospel message.

President Sommer was in charge of the openhouse.  He got everyone organized, gave assignments, checked up on assignments, had meetings, had banners and hand-out cards printed and wrote the program for the musical program that night. It was a very rewarding day. 

Entry furniture.

Matt and Laura: an early Christmas visit.

Matt and Laura came for a visit the end of November around Thanksgiving, in fact, we picked them up from the airport on Thanksgiving day.  We had beautiful weather to enjoy Sintra before we headed south to our home in Olhao.  Not only did we visit many fun places, but we also were able to go to church together and to choir practice and Branch family night.  I wish that I had taken a picture of the Loule choir that they sang with and the family night.  We had such a good time when they came.  They had planned to come sometime late in 2014 but Laura announced that she is pregnant with number 6 due in April so they had to come now.  We are so excited for the newest Sommer baby.

Monserrate

At Castelo dos Mouros on the Sintra mountain.

In the Algarve we took them to one of our favorite places, Lagos.

At Palacio Da Pena at Sintra.

Monserrate interiors.