Another Castle

Last week for P-day we took Sister Magosso and Sister Andrew (from Boise) to Silves Castle and to Sagres.  They have had little opportunity to see any of this beautiful country and it is always nice to see things through their eyes.  It was our 7th trip to Silves Castle and we have one more coming up when Elder and Sister Broaderick visit us for Thanksgiving.

We also had the opportunity to move some sisters and Elders.  There was an emergency transfer because of a stalking situation so we had to move the elders to the Sisters apartment and vice versa because the Elders had room for 2 extra beds. We now have four sisters in that apartment.
We're went to Lisbon on Thursday in preparation to get our residency renewed on Friday.  After that The Hoffmans took us to several wonderful spots to see the sights.  We also had a meeting with Sister Tavares to help plan the Festa de Natal or Christmas Party.  Last year she did it all by herself and didn't want to do that again so we convinced her that with 4 Casals (couples) it should be fairly easy if we simplified some.  So we planned it all out and made assignments.  My assignment:  2 cookies per missionary 148 of them.  I have been madly baking.  I decided on chocolate chip but ;instead of making individual cookies I made them into bar cookies.  I only had to bake 18 pans that way.  As of now I have 3 or 4 to go (I lost count) but that can wait until after Thanksgiving.  Also got some good news, President Tavares is sending us to the Azores Dec 10.  Going on Saturday and coming home on Tuesday.  We have to buy carry ones because you can't take big suitcases.  I understand it is beautiful and am so grateful we will get to see it after all.

The Light of Christ Shines On Us All

We have been very busy the last couple of weeks and that's the way we like it.  If Gale doesn't have enough to do he is like a caged tiger.  Every time a missionary calls with something broken I am so glad cause it makes Gale happy.

   Sunday was our District conference (like Stake Conference) Gale was released from the District Presidency which meant I got to bear my testimony, in Portuguese of course.  I think I surprised President and Sister Tavares,.  They were quite tickled.  I have given several talks and born my testimony many times but they have never been present. It has been so hard.  I think it is like trying to move a mountain with a teaspoon. I have to say in these winding up weeks I am not as driven to learn Portuguese as I was before but I continue to add vocabulary, why not.  I still have to give one more, off the cuff talk at my final zone meeting titled " My mission was a success because....."  I'm still trying to figure that one out.  We had many people in the Algarve District come up to us and tell us how much they loved us and how much they will miss us.  There were even some tears.  As I sat on the stand after my testimony I looked at all these lovely people just like I do back home in Shoshone and wish I could tell each one of them how much I love them for many different reasons. My Portuguese just isn't good enough for all the thoughts I need but they don't seem to care.  One lady said" What am I going to do without you telling your husband how beautiful I am" There were many other lovely expressions of love. My cheeks were sore from being kissed so many times and I was exhausted after church but it was wonderful.  And you know what?  Next week my husband gets to sit with me in church.  I never minded it at home but here it was very lonely sitting alone many times.  I am starting to get our apartment ready for the new couple who will come the end of February.  I am just writing a list of all the unique and quirky things about this apartment.  I hope they love it like we did.  We found out that the lady who we rent the apartment from has come to church two times. Yeah.  She had some financial reversals during the downturn and truly works every waking hour but we have called her and emailed her and a couple of months ago we went to visit her so this was very good news.

Last night we went to a baptism of a very special man.  He had decided to be baptized and wanted to surprise his wife so he arranged the whole thing on their wedding anniversary and had her called in to a meeting and when she arrived there he was standing dressed in white.On the way to the meeting we were called and asked to give the talks on the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  So, a little nervous I stood at the pulpit and gave my heartfelt feelings.  After the meeting the mans Father, not a member, came up to me and thanked me for my talk and said that my Portuguese was excellent and that as I spoke he could see a light glowing all around me.  Now that was exciting.  I can see he and his wife getting baptized also in the future.  

Today we go to Lisbon to renew our residency.  It seems silly when we just have 50 more days but it is the law and we always comply with the law.  Thanks to all of you at home for all your support, both financial and spiritual.  We have felt the love of the Lord and know that each of us is important to him.  All for now, Mom, Kathleen, Sister Roberts  

Letter from Blake

Dear grandma,

I need to ask you some questions for scouts.

What was life like when you were growing up?

What did you like to play when you were a child?

How did you do in school?  Did you like school?

Hope your mission is going good.  I miss you!

Love,

Blake

My Dearest Blake

I am so glad that you are involved in Scouts.  It teaches so many good things. Now for the answers to your questions:

When I grew up there were absolutely no electronics.  Our television was screen was about the size of an iPad, though the cabinet was the size of a large dresser, and it was in Black and White.  Walt Disneys "Wonderful World of Color was the first TV show that used color and it was very exciting.  Our telephone had a rotary dial (you put y our finger in the hole of the number you wanted and pushed it around in a circle - then the next number.  Also we had a "party line" which meant that my brother and I could listen in on other people's conversations though we did not know who the people were.  One of my favorite activities as a child was roller skating.  Not at a rink with shoe skates, but on the sidewalks around the block my house was on.  The skates had a "key" which fit into a rod that tightened the clamps that held the skates on to your shoes.  The skates had four wheels.  I skated around the blocks near my house for hours, only coming home for meals.  I knew every crack and raised concrete sidewalk on my block and how to avoid the ones that would make me fall.  Also there was an alley behind our garage.  An alley is a kind of road that goes between the backs of the houses on the block.  That is where the garbage truck came to pick up our garbage.  Anyway there was a small plot of dirt there where my brother and I used to dig and makes roads and tunnels with some of the neighbor kids.  Sometimes we would play kick ball in the street.  The manhole cover was home plate, a tree was first base another manhole cover was second and a fire hydrant was third.  We used a rubber ball and the pitcher rolled it to home plate and you kicked it as hard as you could then ran.

I liked school but it was very hard for me because I was so shy.  I still am shy but I know that being shy keeps you from doing things that you want to do so I try to be brave.  Being shy also makes you a target for bully's.  Bullying isn't a new thing it was around when I was a kid too.  I was a pretty good student.  I remember having a lot of trouble with multiplication tables and fractions but got through them finally.  I always did better with creative things like art and writing stories.  Some of my stories were good enough that some of the kids accused me of copying them from a book.  I never did!  Because of my parents many problems I spent a lot of time alone and was a lonely child.  I had a couple of good friends that lived nearby but children at that time did not spend as much time with friends as they do now. I am very grateful that my children have turned out to be such good parents.  My grandchildren are very lucky to have such good parents.  All different but all good.  Well, that should more than answer your questions - always remember I love you. Gramma Kathee

Our Area

Beautiful Cobblestones

 I took some pictures of the cobblestones for you.  These are all layed by hand.  The worker has a small pick with a flat end on one end and he cuts each stone to fit the pattern or space.  These are not all old.  many of them have been re done while we have been here.  This craft is not lost.  All over Portugal the sidewalks and plazas and walkways have beautiful designs .  All the side walks in Loule have designs in them except for the narrow 1ft to 18 inch sidewalks.  Mellonee asked my why they don´t have weeds growing in them and I wondered that too but I found out they regularly spray them and have seen a few places on the outskirts of town where there have been a few weeds.  Anyway I thought you would enjoy these photos.  

Miguel

We have had some wonderful spiritual experiences during our time here.  Let me tell you about Miguel. He is a member but had a relationship with a young woman, Suzette, who became pregnant. he was drinking quite heavily at the time and she refused to marry him and left to Lisbon to have her baby.  She listened to the missionary lessons and became a member of the church.  She wanted Yara, her daughter, to have a relationship with her father so she came back to Loule and got a job here.  Miguel took the *cure* before she returned at a local hospital.  Which is basically getting dried out and having some counselling.  He became active again and after a bit received his full priesthood blessings again.  he thought that they would get married  but Suzette wasn´t convinced of his committment to not drinking and refused.  They had some trouble  others got involved and Miguel began drinking again.  At the beginning We visited him in his apartment and talked to him and helped him make the decision to get dry.  We visited him again this time and he was more committed but it was very hard.  He was shaky and craving alcohol.  He had a rough time.  We got him back to the hospital and they dryed him out again.  This time he went to the library and found a copy of the Book of Mormon.  He told us it was his rock.  He had never read the whole thing before.  He spent all his free time reading this book and grew to love it.  It gave him peace and strength to overcome a great trial. We have been meeting with him often and giving him gospel lessons and helping him any way we can.  He is currently out of work but we are hoping that soon he will have work again.  When he gets the alcohol totally under control he will stop smoking.  The branch President has offered him a calling as soon as he gets this under control.  People here so desire to have a calling. Everyone does not have one.  We are so lucky to have met Miguel and if he were the only reason we came here it was so worth it. Have a blessed week and be thankful for your blessings.  Please continue to pray for my cousin Sues daughter Susann.  She has had some setbacks and is still in danger.  Thanks MOM

Bryson and Kelsey

So, we were fortunate enough to have Bryson and his girlfriend Kelsey come to stay with us this week and we took a little time off to tour with them. We drove over to Seville and rode a horse drawn carriage through the city to get an overview of all the magnificent architecture and beautiful gardens.  Seville used to be the capitol of Spain so it had much grandeur.  While we were at the castle which is now a overnment building Bryson took the opportunity to propose to Kelsey on a beautiful porcelan covered bridge with the palace in the back ground.  He had given us a heads up so we got lots and lots of pictures.  We have always had a wonderful connection to Bryson and are so grateful that he let us be a part of this exciting moment.  Oh and by the way she said yes!  She is a darling girl and we feel like we have known and loved her forever.  I know Mellonee and Daren are excited to have her as a Bonus daughter as well. While they were here we went to Faro for General Conference and they got to meet lots of the missionaries and also some of the members.  Bryson looked across the room and recognized one of the Sister Missionaries from home.  He had even been in her home as her sisters home teacher. For me General Conference is always a strengthening event.  There was one talk that spoke to me personally and I will be working onthat for the next six months until we have another conference.  Just so you know, I love the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It makes my life beautiful here (not always easy) and it will lead to most wonderful things in the future.  Bending our will to the Lords is hard because only he can see the future.  But after he gave us so much it is the best thing we can do to show our love for him.  I love you all Sister Roberts