Boy...Oh Boy!

One of the things that Dad was happy about when going on a mission was being released from the Stake Presidency.  Not because he didn't enjoy it but it is such a big responsbility.  In any case It was so nice to sit with him in Sacrament meeting and all.  Then we came here and he was put in the Branch Presidency.  The branch was really struggling.  With little priesthood and some leaders that were used to doing everything.  He made a few changes and sort of got things rolling in the right direction.  Also we have visited members with the missionaries and many of them are excited about missionary work and sharing the wonderful gift that they have inthe gospel with everyone else.  The missionaries are currently teaching about ten people and families.  We are not very far from Loule´becoming a ward.
So, at our zone conference Presidente Tavares told Gale that he needed to talk to him, his wife made the cutting across your neck sign.  Gulp.  I was afraid we were going to be moved to either Lisbon or back to Olhão to help straighten up that branch but no.  Dad has been called as the second counsellor in the Zone Presidency (Which is the equivelent of a Stake Presidency.)  President Tavares said they really needed us in Lisbon but they needed us more here.  We thought that our stake was spread out but this is farther apart with no wards, only branches.  I cried a minute,selfishly, thinking I would be alone again but Dad reassured me that I will go with him to most of the Sunday meetings.  Whew... He will have other meetings but that is OK.  We get to be in on the Algarve getting it's first Stake sometime in the near future.  And we still get to do missionary work here in LOULÉ.  We don't have to move.  I will be released from nurseryso I will be free to go with dad to the various locations for Sunday meetings and I will have to give talks more but I can do all that.  He is overwhelmed mostly because of the language but the Zone President speaks English so that will help him some.Well, that is our news for this week... gulp...Excited to have Abby and Rob and the girls come. 
  Oh I almost forgot, I had to have some moles removed at my bra line.  Not frozen out but cut out,,ouch, It was an interesting experience, and not very modest but it is done and i survived.  Very little pain and I am happy to have it overwith.  Love you all my wonderful family and think of you every day.   MOM

Many Blessings

well, Dad had a wonderful birthday this past Saturday.  He got calls from all of the local Elders and Sisters with songs from all.  Also got lovely emails from grandchildren  singing - we so enjoyed those over and over.  Thanks for remembering all.  I also received a sweet gift from a wonderful woman in our branch (candida senteo) She gave a talk in our socidade de socorro (Relief society) on making due with the things we had and she showed some things that she made including this darling doll made from old clothes and yarn and wire.  After the meeting she gave it to me telling it was her and so I would never forget her.  I love it and I will never forget her faith and steadfastness in living gospel principles even when things are tough.  her husband left her with two little kids.  She came to Loulé and was nurtured and helped and she supports herself and her children.  They are strong and the daughter is getting ready to go on a mission.
This week was exciting also.  We had 6 investigators at church.  Our Elder Thomas and companions have worked very hard and it is finally starting to pay off, however, Elder Thomas was just transferred.  We will miss him. but he is leaving a legacy for others to follow.  I guess that is what we do isn't it. we asked him if there was anyplace he would like to go for Pday before he left and he asked to go to the Chinese buffet in Faro. We've taken him there before so it was fun to do it again.  
  I also made cakes for one Elder and one Sister and delivered them this week.  Sister Conrad has only been here 6 weeks and she was so touched that we would make her a cake and deliver it with a birthday song.  So fun.  Elder Haws lives across the street but he was tickled too (yes he is related Tyler Haws the BYU basketball player  cousin, and his dad is the news anchor for KSL) Cute boy and very talented on the piano. The Elders here are getting a car so we won't get to drive them as much which we have enjoyed
We had another small miracle last night.  Dad drove into the "dungeon" AKA our underground parking place.  It is very dark and to mee Freddy Kruger lurks in the shadows somewhere but it is so wonderful to have a place to park.  Anyway dad oft times speeds in a bit and pulls right to one isle then backs up to the other isle and finally backs into our assigned place.  Sometimes he backs up quite fast but last night he didn't.  I am his co pilot and always watch out for things too.  I was lookingin the rear view side mirror and dad was looking on the other side when suddenly there was a car parked to our right.  I gasped, looked at Gale and said "Did you see that car?"  His eyes got big as saucers and he said " No, no".  Hearts pounding we continued to back into our place.  The car was still stopped there waiting for someone and had no idea how lucky we all were.  We both said a prayer of gratitude for sweet blessings.

A letter from Mom

Hi to my favorite Missionaries,

 Thinking about you tonight and about 72 years ago when we were bless with a cute little brown eyed baby boy. Thinking of the joy he brought into our lives. Grateful the loving and humble man he is today. Wishing you a special and Happy Birthday on Saturday. I didn't send a card, it takes to long for it to get there.

I really enjoy hearing about your mission and all the things you are able to do, you are blessing all of us.

It was a sunny nice day here today. We still have quite a bit of snow on the ground and are thankful for the moisture we have received this winter, the mountains are covered with snow. I had lunch today with Gwen and DeVeaux, it is always nice to visit with them.  Then I have new Visiting Teachers, they came today and visited for awhile, Necia McDonald and Debbie King.  Rick and Nancy are in the temple today. We had Dacia and her children here last week and that was nice. Lorraine called me today and she said the Chemo isn't helping Dave and Dr.Manning says he is dying. I feel so sorry for Marvin and Sally, I call them and don't know what else do. We are into the election and Donald Trump is a head of everyone on the Republican side. It is a sad time for our nation.

I will close sending love and prayers your way.

ILY Mom 

Empty Planner

Most days we get up and have only a few things on our planning list to do.  These, for me include scripture study and portuguese study. But, a couple of hours into the day we are fully booked.  Friday it looked like we were free for most of the day then we got a call from a Sister in Olhão who was throwing up ˋgreenˋ The throwing up
didn´t bother me as much as the color.  So we rushed over to Olhão and took her to Faro to the emergency room.  Itś really more like an urgent care facility though it does handle emergencies also. We waited there for four hours while they had her in the back.  They gave her an iv to hydrate her and  did a blood test.  Then they sent her home.  She had been sick for a couple of days but we had to be sure it was more than the flu. Anyway we took her home, went and bought her some water, and drove home.  All in all a busy day sitting at the hospital.  The next day she was much better and was out working again.  Sometimes itś a call from the Elders for a ride somewhere far away and sometimes it is helping teach an investigator but we always end up filling the whole day.
We have one investigator who has taken the lessons before but
can´t quite commit.  We have asked her to pray but she canºt quite bring herself to do it.  How do you find answers to spiritual things without praying? Sometimes I think we resist praying because we  are afraid to find out because it will mean we have to take an action that we are also afraid of. 
I bore my testimony today in Sacrament meeting, yes, in Portuguese.  I can speak but I have a hard time carrying on a conversation because my understanding is at times so poor.  I know this is a struggle but without the help of the Lord I am afraid I would know nothing in Portuguese.There are miracles in our lives every day but often we fail to recognise them. 
Just the other day we went to help a member clean a house to be able to rent it. Our car had had a couple of hiccups starting but Dad thought nothing of it.  While waiting to follow the lady to her house our battery died.  We connected to the ladys car and got ours started.  When we got ready to leave the house after getting it all cleaned the car was again dead.  It was a Saturday, which meant that everything closed at lunchtime. One of the men there told us where to go in Loulé to get a new battery.  We were afraid that the shop would be closed and as we pulled up they were closing.  One of the men left but the other, an older gentleman, helped Dad get a new battery put in the car.  Our Apartment is several miles from the Chapel and would have been very difficult for me to walk to the church.  It was a great blessing that the first man was there and could tell us exactly where to go to get a battery, that the man in the shop was willing to stay late to help us, and it was also a blessing that the car didn´t die the night before when we had stopped on a dark road to admire the stars. I love the little everyday blessings because it reminds me that the Lord is mindful of me and my needs and he loves each one of us.