Almost Christmas

We had a wonderful Sunday where I understood almost the whole lesson. Don´t get too excited cause the next one I understood nothing.  It isn´t easy but Dad thinks that I am making progress.  I tell him I will probably have a breakthrough about month 18 then go home.  Hahaha. Anyway this is the hardest thing I have ever done and I do get discouraged but I will continue to work hard at it and I know that when the time is right I will have this ____ language down at least a little.
We went to Lisbon on Monday night and stayed in the mission home overnight so we could attend the Mission conference on Tuesday.  It was also the Christmas party and was alot of fun with 127 missionaries.  What a beautiful bunch of young people they are.  We each brought a gift to exchange and stood in circles.  Sisters in a small circle in the middle and Elders ina larger circle and we sang Jingle Bells as we passed the gifts.  Elder Roberts got a plastic bird in a cage that chirps when you turn it on.  I got perfume.  Interesting though we gave a bunch of pens and these great crayola scripture markers and the Elder that got the markers came up to us and thanked us.  I don´t know how he knew since the gifts were anonymous but he was so excited - it was cute.  Our local missionaries have been hinting about Christmas dinner but I haven´t decided yet whether I am going to do that or not.  Probably will.
Elder Roberts got the opportunity to go out on the street with the Elders and set up a table to give away pass along cards and Books of Mormon.  He was so excited.  We have been working with a little girl - 22 - who loves the church.  When they  taught her the law of chastity she was worried because of her boyfriend but the elders explained about being washed clean at baptism and also about the Lords wonderfull forgiveness each week when we take the sacrament.  She loves the gospel and was excited to know that she could be married in the temple for Time as well as eternity.  However, the boyfriend who is in Lisbon wants nothing to do with religion.  So weĺl see how this plays out. I gave up a boyfriend to become a member of the Church but I was only 16.

Best news this week -They fixed our electricity.  Sunday after being in our frigid chapel (no heat at all) we came home and I bundled up on the couch with a cape and hat, my robe, slippers and a blanket to read scriptures.  Dad took a picture and sent it to the office Elders telling them I had asked how much a plane ticket home was.  He got a call back in 5 minutes.  Long story short the electric company came flipped a switch ( it took him 3 minutes or less) and we now have heat.
Oh for the talent show at the Christmas party Dad was a rock and roll snowman.  He was great - pictures to follow.
Well I have to get back to this language study.  I love you all, keep the prayers coming  Love MOM with Dad

I got a new calling

Thanks so much for the email.  I love that you get to go to the temple  what a blessing  we sure miss that  we cant go to Madriď as it is out of the country but there are many great bleßings here.  I love the people in our little branch.  They sing like it is a prayer and it always touches my heart even when I cant understand all the words. I got called to the nursery   1 baby about a year, her mom is a new convert so they ànt her to be able to hear the lessons.  She is a beautiful little girl with dark curly hair and I am excited about it.  I got to help with a lesson for a nepalese couple the other night and it was a great feeling.  They are brand new investigators so i got to teach them how to pray  yeah!  I hpoe you and Rick are planning a misson whenwe return. They make lots of concessions for senior missonaries including naps if you nèd them which I did a few times in the beginning .  WE SURE LOVE YOU GUYS   Kathee  Sister Roberts

Castelo Silves

Yesterday for our P-Day we took the Elders and Sisters to see an old Castle in Silves.  It dates to 1000 ad and was quite interesting.  It sits on a hill, of course and is  surrounded by the town.  It originally had acres of land inside and had it´s own gardens nd orchards.  The giant cistern supplied water for the whole town below.  It has a beautiful view of the town below.  We could walk right on the top of the wall andlook out over the town.

There were little slots for shooting arrows 

and drain holes for water runoff.

It was amazing to see stones that had scrapemarks made by some craftsman so long ago, and think of those people trying to guard their lives from the invading forces.  To us it looks impenatrible but of course it wasn´t. It´s kind of like how we continue to put safeguards in our life but if we don´t trust the Lord they won´t do us any good.

The Sisters and Elders had a great time. One Sister jumped up on the wall for a picture and Gale had to order her to get down.

There was an outdoor sculpture display that the kids loved.

Dad had fun with the elders

out front with the giant statue of a knight

There was a quiet spot that we found for a good pic

Happy Thanksgiving

So after years of spending at least the entire day before Thanksgiving in the kitchen I was looking forward to having Pizza or Pasta or whatever.  But, since we found this wonderful Talho (tal-yo) (Butcher) Dad decided we should have a turkey and the rest.  So since one of the Elders here is Americn we invited them too.  Then at District meeting one of the cute sisters asked what we were doing or Thanksgiving and I felt so bad that I invited the other missionaries from our district.  So we will be eight for Thanksgiving dinner and yes I spent the whole day in the kitchen.  That

being said I should tell you why.  Our apartment has electricity problems. You can't use the oven at the sametime as: the heater, the washer, the blender, the microwave, the hairdryer, OR the stove top.  So,it takes a long long time to cook dinner for eight one item at a time.  We will be having Turkey (cooking it at the Elders apartment across the street) (Couldn´t cook it in the Elders Apt as their stove had no markings on the knob for temperature) Mashed Potatoes, and gravy, Raspberry Jello salad, Rolls, Broccoli casserole, and pumpkin, lemon, pecan, and apple pie. But...I am not doing the dishes!

The neck came with the Turkey

GUESS WHO DID THE DISHES!

Me

Com Frio

We have a little problem with the main breaker. If we turn any two things on it trips. That means that if Dad is in the shower and tries to dry his hair while I am cooking breakfast it trips the breaker, and all the lights go out and Dad has to run to the living room in the dark and turn the breaker back on.  There are no central heaters in apartments and they are all heated with small plug in space heaters.  If we forget and try to use the Microwave to make hot cocoa because we´re cold it trips the breaker.  This morning I was cooking breakfast for the elders who stayed with us last night and the stove went off three times for different reasons.  I am very thankful that I brought two sets of long johns and wish I had more warm clothes.  This climate is crazy.  Hot like çDallas then Cold like Michigan.  I told your dad if you are looking longingly at snow boots and thinking that they would make good house slippers you are really cold.  When I first asked a lady from Loule how cold it gets in the winter she told me she wears t shirts all winter.  Last week at church she had on leggings, boots, a t shirt, a sweater and  then put on a coat!  There is no coat rack at church because everyone just leaves their coat on.  We don´t have to worry about the heat coming on in the summer or the air conditioning coming on in the winter, like at home,  cause we don´t have any air or heat.  As soon as we get some time we are going to shop for some warmer clothes.

Everyones Conversion is Different

Everyone conversion story is different but the common denominator is the testimony of the Holy Ghost.

When I was about 7 years old there appeared in my neighborhood a large banner advertising  Vacation Bible School.  It was presented by the Baptist Church and my mother let me go as she herself was a Baptist though I had never known that before.  I attended every Saturday morning for six weeks and was taught by a sweet young woman named Joyce.  She had a flannel board and told wonderful stories of Jesus and Moses and Adam and Eve.  My favorite was of Moses in the bulrushes with his sister watching him.  At the end of the six weeks Joyce gave me my own bible.  I have had it for years and because of that experience was awakened to the Lord and his love for us.  

   When my school offered a Release Time Program I went to the Episcopal Church a couple of times but it didn't give me the warm feeling I was seeking. Yes after learning about Jesus I was actually seeking Him.  My neighbor Elsie Galyon, Richards Mother, suggested I go to Primary and one of my friends Cheo Stroy invited me I went and started this wonderful journey.  

   My home was not always the most cheerful place and there was alot of fighting so to be in this wonderful atmosphere was so soothing. I really appreciated the way the husbands and wives loved each other and said so openly in praising words.  I felt the Holy Ghost though I didn't know what it was.  There was even an incident where one of the non member girls got in a physical fight with one of the member girls and as they pulled them apart her mother said, I don't know why we have to have these non members here anyway.  I was hurt to be lumped in with the violent girl but I loved Primary too much to quit.  So I finished Primary in my home ward then moved to the ward all my school friends attended.  They didn't keep records as accurately as they do now so no one knew that I wasn't a member.  I participated in all the Mutual activities and loved them.  My mother wouldn't let me go to seminary and I could only attend one meeting on Sunday but I still went when I could.
   It had always bothered me that anyone could start a church or that some men at colleges could say who could or couldn't preach the Gospel.  Who gave them the authority? Well, God gave Joseph Smith the authority and I knew it.
   When I was fifteen I asked my mom if I could be baptised and she told me that I was too young to make that kind of a decision.  So when I was sixteen I told her that I wanted to be baptised and if she wouldn't sign the consent that I would forge her name and do it secretly.  She relented and allowed me to be baptised.  I remember coming out of the water and seeing her scowl across the room but at least she was there.   Later in the dressing room I vowed to be so good and never sin again. hahaha
A couple of weeks later I remembered that and felt so bad because of course I had sinned.  I was really grateful to learn that every Sunday we can be forgiven of our sins and re do our baptism and be clean again   That God knew we would need alot of help to continue to be worthy.  I am so Grateful  for the teachings of the church and the wonderful life that I have had and the love I have had in my life by living the gospel

Olive harvest

Last week the Elders  Wilson , Sousa and I went out to a grove of olive trees with Sister Odelia to help her harvest olives. I have always wondered what the garden of Gethsemane might have looked like and this is what I pictured. As you can see from the photos below some of these trees are very old. Odelia said that some of them were over 300 years old and still producing olives. She said it was a shame but the new trees of today only produce for about 20 years.
We first picked up all the good olives under the tree that were on the ground and then laid these large mesh blankets out all around the tree. Then we took sticks with little children´s plastic rakes fastened to the end of them and hooked a branch and then shook it like crazy to knock all the olives out of it. Then we took the rakes and raked all the ones that didn´t come out one or two at a time until the bottom part of the tree was cleaned then I climbed up into the tree and shook and raked until we had all the  olives  onto the mesh blankets. then we sat down and proceeded to pick the olives from the leaves and stems that were mixed in with them and put them into buckets and then into sacks. Four of us worked for about 7 hours and  Odelia said she would get 5 liters of olive oil from what we had done that day. Harvesting olives is hard work.
    As I was working that day I kept thinking here I am I Portugal out in the middle of no where in a beautiful grove of olive trees. What a marvelous blessing and opportunity. And then I began to reflect, I wonder if this is anything like the garden of Gethsemane where the Lord and Savior suffer in such agony for the wrongs, the hurts, the injustices, the sickness and heart ache of the world for each of His brothers and sisters. I had the wonderful feeling of peace and tranquility that came over me and the spirit whispered it was much like this. So I bowed my head and in silent prayer gave thanks to my Father in Heaven for the sacred gift of the atonement. But today as we look around at the people of the world and try to talk to them about the gospel I find that they are like the children of Israel when they were infested with poisonous snakes and Moses lifted up a brass serpent and all they had to do was look upon it and many refused and perished from snake bite. As we work here in Portugal to try to bring people to just look and see, but just like the children of Israel they refuse to even let us talk to them. And then we find some one willing to listen and watch as the light of the gospel changes their life for the better.
Today is Sunday and we had district conference and after I had the privilege of ordaining of these those found souls to the Melchizedek Priesthood and have him give me a great big hug and say thank you. and then all the turn downs and leave me alone and I  don´t want anything from you are worth it. What a sacred blessing to be here and do this work. Love Elder / Sister Roberts

´´

Nanook strikes again!

For the past two or three weeks I have been really cold.  I have been going to bed in increasingly more clothes (long johns- top and bottoms socks a nightgown and a big fuzzy bathrobe) and waking up in the night with actual shivvers.  I thought that I was running a low grade fever but it kept coming back.  I had lots of sleepless nights where I had to take a hot shower to be able to get back to sleep.  One night I even went to bed in my big fleecy robe.  Dad said that it was like cuddling a bear.  We usually don't open our bedroom curtains as there are apartments right across from us and we like it dark but the other day as I was mopping the floor I moved the curtains and the window was open about 8 inches to accommodate the air conditioner that we were only using as fan noise. It came with a blocker that fits in the window but dad hadn't put it in in the rush of moving.  That night I moved to another bedroom with the small space heater and slept for the first time in a couple of weeks.  Needless to say Dad found the blocker and taped it in.  In the mean time we bought an electric mattress cover.  It was waiting for u s in Lisbon when we got there and last night I slept like an angel floating on a warm cloud.  Dad slept better too - go figure!

Albufeira (Al-boo-fay-ra) FLOOD

This beautiful little city was struck by a flood yesterday.  The water was up to the tops of cars and a river of mud came down the hill.  Several of our branch members live there and a couple of them own lojas (stores) that were hit by the mud.  One of these members is from Equador.  He comes here in the summer for festa (? party but not quite as it lasts all summer long) season.  He and some others play music at night.  When he opened his store others told him he would never make it unless he opened it on Sunday.  But being a very faithful member he kept it closed on Sunday.  These musicians sometimes don't finishwork until 3 or 4 in the morning but still make it to church every week. They call them Lemanitas (lamenites) So the church has mobelized and gathered all the missionaries from the Algarve (our district) to go today and help the members and any others they can.  Gale is there but  I stayed home because we didn't know what we would find.  I will cook a warm meal for our missionaries and any others who could stay with us.  If the situation is anything but shoveling mud I will go with hiim tomorrow. I truly enjoyed the beautiful rain as it turned everything here that was brown a beaiutiful green.  Like Idaho in the spring. But now I am hoping that we don't get any more in Albufeira.

 Just received these photos from Elder Sousa and thought it would be good to add them to the blog
so you could see what it was like and I could remember later.

 The above picture we helped these people who are not members in this store. First we had to pick up all the mucd covered items that were on the floor and we missed apicture of the 15 bags that are to my right. We then shovel about twenty five wheel barresl of mud and hauled it out to the middle of the street.

 The stock from this members store was in this basement and it was total flooded. We hauled all the items out of the there after they pumped the water. then we shoveled buckets of mud for a 5 hours the next day and then we bucketed the rest of the water that they couldnºt pump out. Iºm sure I walked up and down the theses stairs at least 100 times that day.

 These are Items that came out of the basement that were now trash and that was about 1-3 of all we took out.

I didnºt get quite as dirty as Elder Wilson as you can see.

Architecture

So we ARE in Europe and  would expect some great architecture and we do have it.  I just wanted to share a few of the pictures I have taken.  One of the most beautiful things  here are the  doors.  Even on tiny apartments or houses the doors are beautiful. Some  of the newer ones look like  ours but most are very pretty

View from our balcony in Olhao.











Balconies are everywhere.  Even if they are tiny almost every apartment has a balcony.  The rod iron or woodwork is amazing. I wish my pictures did them justice

These cubes and also little balls are all over.  they keep people from parking on the sidewalk or walkways.  Reminded me of Target.

Quandry

Well Kathleen is having her lesson right now and we are in Loule and I left the  papers I was working on in the apartment in Olhao. I will be so glad when we can move since they haven't decided to release me yet. I made a list of the  active members in the branch and there are approximately 35, 7 of those are youth under 17.
   I am trying to decide on who should be the primary president as the district took mine the first sunday we were here. She is an amazing membber and I can see why they would want her but it not easy to decide who to replace her with since I only know a few. I've asked a couple of the leaders for suggestions but can't seem to get settled on a name. One of the suggestions was to move the current young woman president to the primary and call her counselor as the new young women president. Well that would mean that I would have a 19 year old young men president and and 18 year old young woman president. They are however both amazing young people. The young womans mother said this would be a great training for her when she goes on her mission at 19.

TEACHING THE GOSPEL

'Thought while you're mom was getting ready for her lesson I would do a little blog about and experience we are having with a family where the dad is a member but doesn't want anything to do with the church right now. He has a 15 year old son who has expressed interest in learning about the church. I have gone with the elder there three times to visit them. The first time we talked mostly with the dad and he told us he just really wasn't interested in the church anymore. The second time we visited with them I told the dad that I loved the relationship he has with his son and that the Lord really needed someone like him to work with the young men in the branch. He hesitated for a minute and then said the he really wouldn't be interested. So The elders taught the son about the need for prophets and the first vision and then introduced the Book of Mormon. They marked some passages for him and for the dad and asked them to read them. When we returned two days later the dad had read and had a question but couldn't find the passage so he said it didn't matter and left the room. The boy Miguel Botelho said he had read one verse and that was all. The elders asked him if he had prayed about it and he said. no. So the elders talked more about the importance of the Book of Mormon and ask him if he would read. He said he would. We knelt in prayer and he prayed a short sweet prayer.
We returned last Friday and the dad said high and went into the kitchen. The mom Helda does sewing for people in her home and the living room is her work shop so she said she was sorry but she had to work and hoped that would be ok.  So we asked Miguel if he had read and prayed and he said no. So the elders and I and he read together about the appearance of Christ in the Americas and discussed certain things. There are two verses back to back that say we have to become as little children. I stopped them and asked Miguel what he thought that meant. He said that we needed to be humble. I said that was right but it meant we need to  be teachable like little children also. I then  said when our children were little  they always said why this why that until I would finally say no more whys for today. At this point the mother laughed and I realized she had been listening. (she is a devout practicing Catholic and the first visit told us our churches were the same). We then went on taking turns reading and when we finished I asked Miguel what he thought and he said he really liked the part about becoming like little children. The elders then talked to him about his feelings and how if he felt things were right he would need to decide to get baptized. At this point he said he didn't think so he just wanted to learn about the church. So I looked at him and said" Miguel you remind me of a man who. on a very dark night wants to see to the other side of the street and right beside him is a large light that will light up the whole area and all he has to do is turn  the  switch, but he doesn't."   He just keeps staring across the street not seeing anything. I then  told him the scripture in 2 Timothy that says in the last days men will be "ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth". I looked him in the eyes and said, "Miguel these men are like the man on the street with the light that he doesn't turn on and that is what you are doing. There is a difference between learning and knowing. Anyone can learn but those who know have to do something.  You need to turn on the light and how do you do that?" He said read the book and pray and I said. " that's right." We then asked the mom if she would stop sewing while we had a prayer. We asked Miguel if we could kneel and he said yes and  His mom left the sewing table and knelt with us. Miguel asked me to  pray and so I did.
So we go back to visit them tomorrow night and I hope the mom has some sewing to do because I have prepared a little lesson on the sealing power.
     For those of you who read this would you please pray for this family. That the mother will listen and  be touched by the spirit and  Miguel will read and pray about the Book of Mormon.
Love you all and am so grateful to be here and serve our Heavenly Father.      

New Apartment

We are finally here in Loule' (low-lay) The apartment is great.  It has three bedrooms and two bathrooms ,a kitchen and a large living room (about the size of my living room at home).  It has been newly updated so it's all good.  The kitchen has very limited cupboard space so I had to do some creative organizing.  One of the elders helped us haul groceries up after we did a large shopping trip and laughed at the cupboards and told us his kitchen was twice as big.  Anyway I used dishpans on one of the lower shelves to contain stuff and was able to get everything in.  One of the things that is different is the size of the cupboard doors.  They are two of the ones at home and swing out over and past the edge of the counter.  If you leave them open don't bend over and raise up. Gale is sporting a huge bump on the head cause I had the cupboard open and he bent over to get groceries out of the large bag on the floor and raised up.  It hurts so bad.  The Master bathroom is tiny.  It was tiny before they squoze in a tiny shower.  You have to go in sideways past the sink.  Everything is shiny and new, including the tiny shower that dad wears for a few minutes every morning.  The other bathroom is roomy with a tub/shower.  The repairman came yesterday to fix a curtain rod and hang a mirror in the bedroom so I could dry my hair as there are no outlets in the bathroom.  He and dad figured out how to put an outlet in each bathroom for the waterpic and toothbrushes. We can't use the hairdryer when any and I mean any other appliance is on or it flips the main breaker and your standing in the dark.  In 5 days dad gets indoor parking.  There is a parking space that goes with this apartment but since the apartment was empty it was rented but their lease is up in 5 days.   Gale is so excited to always have a parking spot and not have to park on the sidewalk (1/2 on and 1/2 off) or three blocks away, since parking on the main street is 1 Euro per hour (about $1.25)
  Gale  is currently working on getting the Branch list straightened out so we can have names with addresses so we can go visit the "less-actives."
We got our voda-phone running yesterday but the internet wasn't supposed to be totally up until today but today it didn't work so we have to go back and talk to them.  I make all the appointments for local missionaries with doctors through the insurance  company in Russiia  by e-mail so it is a pain to have to go to  the church  to send the email then go back to get their answer then go back to get the appointment then go back to get a guarantee of payment.  So it will be nice too have that capability with  us alll the time.

Conference

Twice a year I look forward to General Conference whether it is with some of my children, and grandchildren or the two of us alone in the quiet of our family room.  This year was no different in that respect, however I was a little concerned over the language since I cannot always ( actually seldom) understand what is going on in Sacrament, Sunday School, and Relief Society.  Then Dad thought of a plan.  I would sit with him and watch conference on my ipad with the ear plugs in.  I wouldn't bother anyone and I could actually understand the words of the Prophets and apostles.  I was excited to go and I greeted everyone with the usual kisses.  We got there a bit early so I could get plugged in so to speak.  I got to listen to the first two talks and everything was going great when the site crashed. The stream in the chapel is satellite so it was there but my ipad couldn't pick up anything. I sat there so disappointed that I couldn't help  my eyes watering profusely.  Dad felt horrible but he was having his own struggles trying to understand.  After a few minutes I left and went to another room closer to the server but to no avail.  Conference ended and we went to the Centro Commerical  (Mall) for dinner at Pizza Hut.  I voiced my frustration as did Dad and we both laughed and he reminded me how far I had come with the language and I truly had been blessed with the gift of tongues but I wasn't done yet.  The Pizza was great (better than at home)  We had two hours until conference started again at 9pm so we walked around the mall, and I bought a book bag to carry all my study supplies.  Then, we went back to the Faro Chapel for conference.  I  found out the Sisters were setting up for an investigator who only speaks English so went to join him.  He was a very nice young man from Napal.   The sisters left us in this little office and we couldn't get the TV to connect to the stream so we used my ipad  and  it worked at least for part of the session- GRR!  So, we visited for the rest of the time.  He told me a bit of his story and I got to bear testimony to him of the  truthfulness   of the Gospel.  I told him that God didn't take away our problems he just gave us the strength to be able to endure them.  He is a light in a dark world.  And that EVERYONE needs the gospel in their lives if they want to be truly happy.  I think  he will get baptized if he can stop smoking.  The cigarette packages here have a large sign on the front of them and in big bold letters it says "Causes Death"

NO LEFT TURN really means No Left Turn!!

So if you make an illegal left turn in Portugal you get a really buff policia at your car window.  Yes, Dad is a lawbreaker.  He made a left turn into a parking lot and got a tap on the window.  Uh! Oh!
So he talks humbly to the officer who was about to let him off when his partner sees that the insurance sticker on the window expired in March.  UH OO!  So a riot van with three other officers pulls up behind the car and they tell Dad he can't drive anywhere without insurance.  Dad is frantically calling the Mission office and finally gets a missionary who doesn't know much but tells dad he will find out.  So while, we are waiting the two missionary sisters have to go to the train since we are obviously not going to be able to deliver them to the city they need to be in for interviews with the President of the Mission.  The Police have called in the car and their records don't show insurance for the car.  Then Dad finally gets a call back from the Mission office stating that the car does have insurance but in the confusion of splitting the mission and transfers the documentation had been left in the file.  We needed to get the email with the certificate but couldn't get into the church since the sisters with the keys left on the train.  Finally they give Dad permission to go to a local internet cafe to get the email and print the copy and take it to the policia.  The police were very nice the whole time and Dad actually enjoyed that part of it. And boy were they muscley.
Dad asked them about their training and they told him they take a physical test and if they don't pass they are out.  Then they take another type of test and if they don't pass they can never try again.  It appears to be a pretty good job.  One of the officers tapped Dad on his Missionary badge and said " I guess this means that I won't get into heaven."  Dad laughed and told him oh yes you will,  you'll just have to repent a little. All in a days work here in the Mission Field.

ESPANHA

We have visited several towns in our many travels; mostly just driven through them. But, from Lisboa   to Olhao and lots of other places we kept seeing the signs for ESPANHA.  The other day Dad said, "one of these days we're going to have to drive over and see Espanha." he mentioned it a couple of times.  We both thought it must be a pretty good sized city since the name on all of the signs were all in capitol letters. Yesterday Dad was looking at a map of the Algarve district because the missionaries in Loule' have asked us to choose a couple of streets for them to concentrate on.  We have maps of three cities and have been going over them looking for places for the missionaries to tract. Suddenly dad noticed the border between Spain and Portugal.  Espanha is Spain!  We both took Spanish but it didn't register.  I wonder what the mission President would think of two of his missionaries bipping over to Spain on a whim.  Hmmm........

Big Blog

Well  you're mom is having her Portugues lesson so I thought I would do a little or maybe a big blog.

So I  need a new young woman president because I called the old one to be the primary president because the district took my primary president. I had also prayed about a new young woman president and decided on a sister but then found out the she and her husband go back to their home land for the winter and are only here from April to October to work and make money because of the tourist season. Well I thought great my inspiration was no good but then remember that I had asked the Lord if she could be the young woman president and not if she would be. So I'm back to the drawing board. Also found out that there are 3 other families that go home for the winter and they have good active sisters that could serve. So I took the names of all the sisters that are active and crossed out the ones that have callings  because I don't want to  upset another organization. That left me with 4 sisters one is 81, one is 86, one doesn't have a strong enough testimony to be here each week and the other one is 71. So Pres. Tavares said to make a list of the inactive sisters in the age range that could be the new young woman president and then meet with my branch counsel and ask them about the sisters on the list so I could find out some about them and then go out and visit the ones I can find and when the Lord indicates to me the one that should be the new president to tell her the Lord and the young women of the branch  need here and extend the call. If she drinks coffee tell here she has to quit  again and the first thing she should teach the young  women is about the word of wisdom. He then said he would pray for the Lord to help me find her. So I've made my list and will present it to the branch  counsel on Sunday and then go out and try to find her.

    Monday we took the two elders Elder Batista and Elder Cabral over to a little area called Pera (pear in english) to see this magnificent 10 acre site of absolutely wonderful sand sculptures that are as large or larger than a dump truck. They tear them down every year and then invite artists from all over the world to come and sculpt to the theme of the year. this year was great musical artists and movie actors. There were several that you're mom and I knew and could recognize like Liza manelli, Nick Jagger, Elvis, the Beatles, Michael Jackson, Ray charles and a bunch od disney Charactures. All it was fabulous.

   We then went to the beach for a couple of hours and then had lunch at the restaurant that sits up above the beach where we could watch the ocean and enjoy some good food. 

   On the way home we went through Faro (flair in english) where we walked through this magnificent catholic cathedral and then around back where 

we entered a chapel made of human skulls and bones that is 61 feet long 36feet wid and 20 feet tall. A monk in the early 16th century gathered the bones of 5,000 of his fellow monks from chapels all around the area to build this in hopes that it would make pople stop and think about what lies at the end of life and what they are doing with theirs.  Over the doe is the saying WE BONES THAT ARE HERE, FOR YOURS AWAIT.

Then inside is the following poem

Where are you going in such a hurry traveler?

Stop do not proceed

You have no greater concern

than this one that on which you focus you sight

Recall how many have passed from this world

Reflect on your similar end

There is good reason to reflect

If only all did the same

Ponder, you so influenced by fate

Among the many concerns of the world 

So little do you reflect on death

If by chance you glance at this place 

Stop for the sake of the journey

The more you pause, the further you will be

As I stood there and reflect with you mom about the quiet sanctity of that place it made us really realize once again what a blessing it is to have the gospel in out lives with the understanding of death that it brings. 

  thats all for this time Love to all Elder and Sister Roberts      

Dads Blog

well it looks like it's my turn for the blog. Things are going pretty well here in Portugal. I am finally able to understand almost everything unless they start talking about there work or something like that. This past Sunday was a little better also I wasn't quite as nervous but still managed to forget to get the names of the hymns and so I just looked up and said the opening hymn will be number 53. I didn't have to speak this week so that was good because it would have been off the cuff because I didn't have time last week to prepare anything.
      So I called the present young woman president to be the new primary president and then found out that the sister that I felt good about being the new young woman president leaves with her husband to go home to their native land for the winter and is only here to work in the summer. So at first I thought that the inspiration was off but then realized it was could she serve not would she serve and she could so I felt better. I have taken the ward list of active sisters and checked off the ones that have callings and that leaves two sisters one that doesn't have the testimony yet to be there every week and the other who is 71 years old.
   So Sunday night I received a call from the mission president and explained this to him and with complete sincerity he said I will pray for you to find one. Fast and pray and look at the inactive sister list and make a list of the ones you feel good about, then talk to you branch counsel about them and then go out and visit them and when you come to the one the Lords wants as the young woman president tell her the Lord needs her and the young women need her and if she drinks coffee tell her she needs to quit again and then teach the young women not to use coffee. So I have made my list and now I will visit with the branch counsel and see what they have to say and then more fast and pray then out to find her.

NO!

Last night we got to our apartment building and a little lady we have previously talked to was there.  Gale helped her up the stairs to the elevator carrying her bag and opened the door for her.  When we were in the elevator she asked Gale if he spoke Portuguese ( though we had spoken to her extensively before) He said yes and a bit. She then looked at me and said, " and you don't" to which I said Nao, and Gale proceeded to tell her I was learning.  She then looked up at him and said, "yes she says Nao very well! So I have been here almost 2 months and I can say No very well!  I can actually speak but when they speak back to me I have no idea what they just said, so I am working on understanding.  Tomorrow is Sunday and I will have 4-5 hours to listen.

P-p-p-p--Pday

So, we wanted to see a little bit of the country and we were inspired by the bridge.  For my birthday we went to Loule' to the marina and took a day cruise.  We got to ride for 3 hours in a beautiful sailboat along the Portuguese coast.  It is totally different than Olhao.  Now we know why people from all over Europe come here to vacation.  The cliffs along the coastline were amazing.  There were giant hotels on the cliffs and stairs and in one case an elevator with a tunnel down to white beach.  It is protected  and the waves are small.  The water wasn't terribly cold and was fairly clear (not like Hawaii but clear)  When we got to our destination they loaded us into smaller boats (rubber rafts actually).  They had stairs down and helped this old lady into the boat.  We sat on the edge and motored to the caves.  One of them went clear through to the top of the cliff and we could see birds resting there.  We were dropped off at the beach for the day.  It was a beautiful day.  Unbrellas were provided and we got to enjoy watching all the other people swim.  We were planning the half day tour but it was on Tuesday so we took the long one even though we weren't totally prepared.  They served us salad (Tomatos, cucumbers, and onions) grilled chicken, pork and fish.  with melon for dessert.  It was all good.  Meat here isn't very tender. so it's like eating steak jerky sometimes.  Then they loaded us up on the boat and took us home.  A totally relaxing day.  We took two sisters with us and they loved it as much as we did.  But, the Elders got wind of it and are a bit jealous so we're trying to find an appropriate Pday to take them on.  The boat had a little too much skin involved for Elders.  Best Birthday I've had in a long time.Heavenly Fathers Creations are amazing.  Just looking at the ocean and not seeing anything beyond makes me feel humble.  I can't imagine the Jaredites getting into those little barges and floating away.  What great faith they posessed.  I love the Book of Mormon.

and the little one said "roll over"

After Mellonee was born we rented a new apartment that was unfurnished and decided to buy a good bed.  We were going to be extravagant and buy a queen sized bed while we were at it.  When we looked at beds the salesman mentioned that if we were renting we might want to consider a King sized bed because the box springs were in two pieces and could sometimes fit where a large queen boxed spring could not.  So, we have had a King sized bed ever since. One of our concerns with coming on a mission was how the heck we were going to be able to sleep on a double bed when we couldn't even sleep on the queen sized beds our kids always furnished us.  Well, we had a queen sized bed at the MTC and it was a little small but really OK.  But when we walked into this first apartment and looked at the double bed we just looked at each other and smiled.  The truth of the matter is that it has really, for the most part been fine. However, night before last I was facing in and went to tiurn over and found that my butt was hanging over the bed and I needed to turn the other way to stay IN the bed.  The next morning Dad told me that I had touched him and he went to turn over and ended up on the floor.  So there's a picture for you!
We call it an 8 hour bed.  After 8 hours you hurt so much you have to get up!

Tight and Tighter

Well Sister Roberts is in the middle of her first Portuguese lesson this  week so I am here at the church and  have checked email and sent things off to folks and down loaded the things  that she needs for the  Introduction to Family History that we are having for the Olhao branch this Saturday.
  Thought I would do a little blog about our trip to inspect the Elders and sisters apartment in Portamao and Lagos last week. Portamao was not a problem. We found the church alright and went to a very well prepared and presented district meeting. the spirit of the 2 Elders and the 2 sisters that are there was really amazing. Their apartments were clean with the  exception of a couple of small places. Yes  we are assigned to inspect the apartment of 12 missionaries.  To make sure they are clean and no mold has taken over in the bathroom and kitchen.
   Now for the crazy part. We went to Lagos and the gps took us, up this narrow and I mean narrow street with the mirrors of the car about 6 inches to a foot from the cars on one side and the  walls of the building on the  other side. It kept trying to get me to turn right but ever street had the one way sign that said right was wrong. This is a hilly city right on the ocean and it has a gorgeous beach right by the main highway that is 4 lanes that goes around the city. Anyway back to the tale; finally I made a left trun and it took us back down by the beach where we had started. I pulled over and  called one of the Elders and he laid a map of the city on his kitchen table and  then  proceeded to tell us how to get close to their apartments. We went up a street by a church that turned into a tourist street where they walked down the road and occasionally stepped out of the way for the cars to pass. In any other city in Portugal the cars would have honked and run over them. The elder kept trying to get me to turn right again but each street was a one way the wrong way. Finally after 8 such streets there was one where I could turn left and  here we get the how narrow the streets are.. I literally had to start to turn, back up a little and finish the  turn into the narrowest street I've had the pleasure to drive on in Portugal. No cars parked on either side with  a narrow 1 foot cobble stone side walk,  Either side had  of course buildings right up from them and my mirrors were hanging over the side walk 6". We finally made it to a wide part where 4 streets met and there was a small parking area. I wish Sister Roberts had gotten some pictures but she was hanging on and white knuckled the whole time.
  And now for a missionary experience not that that wasn't but this is more on a spiritual nature.  After our service project which Sister Roberts blogged about she could hardly move the next day So I went out  with  the  Elders to visit a 14 year old member that moved here a few weeks ago from
Faro. He  lives with  his aunt who is  not  enamored about the  church and  so we meet with him and  his  14 year old uncle between floors of and apartment house. We had a prayer and then the  Elders gave him a short lesson and had him read a couple of scriptures which he understood and explained and then I ask him why he joined the church. He said he had an older man who was a friend when he lived in Faro and because he was a member of the church and he liked how he lived   He became interested and was baptized. He is a Deacon> I  asked him if he  wanted  to come to church  and  he  said yes and but he didn't know anybody so I told him that the Elders would come by on Sunday morning to get him and he said great. We forgot to tell him 9:00 am  so when the  Elders showed up he wasn't ready but said he would be next week.
     The next day we went to visit and inactive sister who went inactive because when she moved here 20 years ago there wasn't a branch here and she could't afford the bus trip back to Faro. So she stared to attend the Universal church. There was a very dark feeling in the home so we ask here if  we could dedicate her home for her and she said she would like that. Luckily the elders had spoken with me about her before the visit so I  had looked up how  to dedicate a home in Portuguese. So we dedicated the home and  right at the end of the dedication there was a sweet feeling of peace that entered. We then explained to her that part of the blessing was keeping the commandments and that she needed to return to church. She said she would be at church Sunday morning. She came and told the Elders that it was the first peaceful nights sleep she had had in months. What a marvelous thing is the authority of the  Priesthood of God. In case there be any doubt let me close with my testimony that  The church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true church on the face of the earth and it was restored because a boy of 14 years, even Joseph Smith, went to a grove and asked a simple question. Which of all the churches of his day was true and  he received an  answer and the world has not been the same since. I am  grateful for the  Lord and Savior Jesus  Christ and His magnificent atonement for us  all.
Love to all, Elder And Sister Roberts
Ps. My first Sunday conducting was scary but it turned  out  ok. The district took my primary president so Pres. Querales the district president and I are praying about who the Lord wants to fill that vacancy.  Have a great week. A mission  is marvelous. Everyone who can should go.

It looks like sailboats doesn't it?

It's actually a beautiful bridge outside of Lisboa.

Harvesting Carob

These are Carob pods, and they are very valuable.  For a sevice project yesterday we helped our District Mission President harvest some of his Carob.  Right in the middle of Loule is about 30 acres that you don't  even see from  the city.  He has about 400 Carob trees in this area.  Well he actually helps the aged owner to harvest these and they share in the profit.  We took 3 sets of missionaries and  ourselves and worked about 6  hours scooting on  our butts and  bending over to pick these things up by hand. We finished about 7 or 8 trees.  They harvest from  May until  November.  This is backbreaking work.  Today I can  feel every muscle in my body. They use the fiber and the seeds.  You might remember a certain lady in  Carey who didn't use chocolate and  only used Carob. The whole time I was doing this I kept thinking of  better ways to do this.  Not sure any of  them would work but if I had to do this for more than 1 day I would certainly be trying.  Presidente Corrales taught the missionaries gospel precepts while we were doing this.  It was good for them.  He  has a  wonderful conversion  story.  I hope to get a picture of him  and his wife and include his story.

Unplanned

Well, I  had planned to use the time  Dad  has  to be in the Loule chapel to up date  the blog and  add some pictures but apparently I  am  too dumb or the computer is.  I can  find the pics  in Picassa, I can see them and the name of the album but when I try to get them in  Blogger they tell me I am imagining  it and they don't  exist. I know I don't kn ow everything about computers, who does, but I get so frustrated when I know that something can be done and I can't figure out how to  do it.  Let's see.  I think I am the one who uploaded the last pictures but suddenly I have no skill. So apparently you will have to see all  our boring  pictures ( cause 2 year old  pics  will  be boring) when  we  get home.

Vitoria

My portuguest tutor is named Vitoria. She lives in or about Provo and is just an amazing woman.  You know how sometimes you meet someone for the first time and you are just drawn to them.  Like I was with Tauna Fell.  Well, Vitoria is one of those wonderful people.  She translates for the devotionals at the MTC voluntarily.  She tutors lots of missionaries going to Brazil or Portugal.  She has sunshine in her soul and unlike my last tutor I can't wait to talk to her each week.  A little about her.  She was a mission presidents wife at a young age.  She had three little boys and remembers the white marble floors in the mission home. She didn't have any help with cooking and cleaning.   Her husband was a Bishop, Stake Pres, Mission Pres. and a Seventy so she knows what it is to sit alone at church and she wouldn't have had it any other way. She, like all of us is getting a little bit older,  and has a few medical problems but they don't stop her from smiling all the time.  I am so grateful for this woman my life and when we come home I am going to Provo to give her a big hug. She has my blog address and I hope she doesn't mind this post.

Courage

So, I can give a pass along card to anyone.  I can bear my testimony in Portuguese. But have my hair done by a stranger who I can't communjicate with!  Whoa.  Yes I did.  Gale had his hair cut and she did a pretty decent job so I thought I would give it a try.  But color can be so tricky ( yes, I'm not a natural blonde, anymore) I could just picture myself looking like some of the ladies on the street with orange hair - all frizzy.  So we went in and arranged the appointment and Dad came with me.  The beauty shop was immaculate and very pretty.  Dad left for a couple of minutes to get something and I was so nervous but she actually did a very good job.  The color was perfect and the cut was great. But, dad found out how long it really takes to get your hair done.  He says next time he will leave me and go study somewhere else.  I'm OK with that- now. I tipped her 5 Euros but was later told tipping is not done in Portugal. But, I have noticed that it is occasionally done in Portugal though only small amounts like the change left over from your bill.  Live and learn.

Who would have thought

Well you're mom always does the blog but she is having her lesson today and so  I thought maybe I would take a turn.
   Yesterday we had to go to Faro again for the same sister we dealt with the first week. She had a follow up appointment. The doctor gave her enough prescriptions for another year to treat her problem. She leaves the mission in a week and the mission Presidents wife said we could purchase 3 months worth but the rest would be up to her family. So we went to a pharmacy and they only had half the prescriptions. I bought them and then we went to another pharmacy for the other part. Then she told me that the first prescription was a generic one that she had taken before and she couldn't take it it made her sick. The second pharmacy had the other half in the  kind she could take so we bought it and then returned to the first pharmacy to take the  other back. they didn't have the kind she could take but they did take the first one back without a problem. So back to the second pharmacy and they had the other half in the kind she could take.  Today we get a call from the mission home and she  has a growth on her ear that she said the last mission presidents wife said the church would take care of. so we have to get her an appointment next week, her last week so here we go again.
  Now for the reason that I am blogging. When we went to  Lisbon this past Monday to register for our (Stay in the country card) I really don't know what they call it we stayed at the mission home and had the opportunity to converse with the mission  president, President Tavares about out area and some concerns he had. He mentioned that the president of the branch in a town (Loule (low lay)) was moving and they were discussing names of brother to call and they were having trouble deciding because they didn't feel there  were anyone quite ready. Then we went on to discuss other areas in out zone. The next morning we went to the government office that is in a large mall and stood in line for 4 1/2 hours so we could sign 2 sheets of paper and get a strip of paper that says we are now legal to stay in Portugal. Our real card will arrive at the mission  home in three weeks and then we will go back to Lisbon (Lisboa) to get it. Then we had to wait around till 5:30 so I could have my eyes check so when, we go back I can trade my Idaho drivers license for a Portuguese one. Yep can,t carry both if you're staying in the country for more than 3 months. So how long will  the line be next time. So then we had an elder with us that we had to take to his area Beja and it is about an 1 1/2 out of our way coming home. So needless to say when we got to Beja (    his companion is going home because of sickness so now there are three of them working together in Beja) His companions were at a visit teaching a lesson so we had to wait another 1/2 hour for them because elders can't be left alone. Then we headed home arriving at midnight and the gps took us off the high way and through yes Estoi where the castle is and all the tiny narrow streets in the dark and of course I took a wrong turn and that  is a big mistake in Protugal because then you have a 2 kilometer detour to get back on the right road. We finally made it home at 12:30 am and colapsed into bed. Nope we didn't get up at our ususal 7am that morning.
  So yesterday the President of the district Pres. Querales called me and wanted me to meet with him and  the departing branch president and said he had some things they needed to go over with me. This meeting  took place after our trip to the pharmacy. The meeting started with " I have spoken with President Tavares again and I am now calling you to be the president of the Loule branch starting this Sunday. Yep you got it don't know anyone there and they certainly don't know me and I still don't understand Portugues Portuguese very well so OUR  NAME IN THE TEMPLE AND AN EXTRA DOSE OF PRAYERS IS MY REQUEST FROM ALL WHO READ THIS. And as they say in the cartoons th th thats all folks.  Love Elder and Sister Roberts

Gettingall our Ducks in a row

We took another flying trip to Lisboa on Monday to get our residency card.  We stayed all night in the Mission home and went to thegovernment office early the next morning and stood in line for 4 hours.  We had to be photographed again and we finally got our number.  But, we get the card later.  Gale then had to go down and stand in line for another hour to get his drivers license.  They talked to the guy and he had to have a sight, and hearing test before he can get that.  So we waited around the Mission office until 5:30 for that appointment.  Now when he comes back to Lisbon that is at least out of the way.  Lisbon isn't a little jaunt either, it's 3 hours from here.  After all that we picked up a small freezer from some other missionaries who were transfered to the Azores. Loaded it in our car along with a Missionary returning to his district and took the long way around to deliver him then get home about 12:30.  What a day!  PS:

Corrected address:  Avenida de Republica #73  6Esq

                                 8700-308

                                 Olhao, Algarve,

                                 Portugal

Love you all.  Dad is getting to be a very good Portuguese driver.  He handles those roundabouts with ease.  In Portugal the shotgun driver is the co-driver since some of the lights can't be seen by the driver.  Also, it takes two .MOM

Tiny Miracles

Monday we took the sister missionaries to the Palacia de Estoi in  Faro.  We drove up and down  tiny little streets until  we thought maybe  we had found it.  Gale gor out to go to the door and  see but came back  and said, "Nope, but if I need  propane I can get it there."  so we continued on and did find the  beautiful  Palace on the top of a  hill with acres  of trees and orchards all around it.  We went in the glass doors and there was a georgeous ornate table and a reception desk.  Gale asked if this was the  palace  and the man said Yes.  He didn't  direct us or anything so we just started walking and looking at  several of the rooms with ornate paintings on the ceilings  etc.  We went outside to the garden.  The sisters went down the staircase to the lower level and took lots of pictures with some of the amazing statuary and the ornamental plants.  I stayed at the top of the  stairs while  Gale went down to see the view.  As I was standing there a tiny bird flew right next to me and slammed into the  plexiglass rail.  I  was horrified of course.  Gale looked up and saw my distress and asked what was wrong.  I couldn't help but watch as this little bird curled up his feet and breathed slower and  slower.  I thought of how the Lord says that not a sparrow falls that he doesn't know about it, and I asked him to save this little  bird.  I kept watching him breath less and less then I couldn't stand it any more so I went back inside.  When Gale came up I asked him if he had seen the sweet little bird.  He said no. Wondering how he  could have missed him  we walked outside and there  he was standing up.  He walked around for a bit then flew away.  Small miracles are the best!

Palacio de Estoi

Ceiling Panel

Gardens

Ceiling Panel

Stairs to the garden

This made me so sad

What!

This made my whole  day