And finally ... Bags, Baptisms and Batatas

I write this final entry back on this side of the big water.  The flights back home were smooth and uneventful, which is a very good thing!  Even as one can nap on the plane, a day flight seems quite long!!!  It is good to be home again and the past two weeks in Portugal almost seem like a dream.  Did the days really happen?  Yes!!!  They did!

A farewell coffee at the airport



As I reflect on the time spent in Portugal, there are so many things I think back on and would like to write about but my journey has come to an end - for now.  I want to look back and share a couple of final thoughts.  Being able to travel to Portugal and spend time with friends there is one for which I am so grateful!  Grateful to God and grateful to my husband.  Thank you, R! 

A wonderful lunch with the best of friends the day before leaving

(M, R, P & J, R and O)

Now, Bags, Baptisms and Batatas (potatoes)

Once again I was reminded of the custom of the Portuguese people to deliver and carry everything in a bag.  What kind of bag?  A simple plastic bag from Continente or a beautiful bag from the nicest store - whatever
you take with you or give to someone, goes into a bag.

Waiting with her bag

What an unforgettable time it was standing in the pouring rain and five young people being baptised in the ocean.  Our feet were freezing cold, but our hearts were full.  Hearts given to the Lord and joy filled all in attendance. 

Baptism in the Sea

Every meal, with the exception of breakfast was served with a huge pile of french fries, homemade potato chips or boiled potatoes.  Fish was prepared and delivered to the table, head and tail included, surrounded by boiled potatoes.  Beef, chicken and pork arrive at the table with either a large pile of french fries or chips. 

Pork, Rice (with some veggies mixed in) and Batatas

As I close this chapter of writing and my time of travel, I want to share with you some final pictures I took as I looked around me each day.... Um coração a cada dia (A heart each day.) 

in a window

on a tiny grave

in a rug

on a sign

with coffee - Mmmmm!

announcing a visitor on the door

on the dining room table in the evening

in a village square

on a public wall

Thank you for coming on this journey with me.  I have enjoyed sharing it with you...

Portugal, March 2013

Until next time.....  Blessings!



Pessoas ricos em Portugal!

= Rich people in Portugal

I want to tell you about two people in our lives we love dearly, our dear friends O and M.  They have lived here for nearly 25 years and have poured their lives into the lives of countless people.  IF they would be paid for the number of hours given, they would be some of the richest people on earth. 

O & M have become the experienced, wise, elder and infinitely loving couple that so many rely upon for help, advice and counsel.  Their home has been open and they have served so many meals that one cannot even begin to count.  (M is an absolutely amazing cook and baker; I learn something new each time I am here with her and working beside her.)  They raised their three children here in Portugal, and now each have made homes in the US.  They have two grandchildren in the US who love them dearly and look forward to "seeing" grandpa and grandma each week via skype.  Time is spent in the US as needed and as they visit the many churches and people who help support the ministry here.  But Portugal is their home.

We are grateful for the opportunity to be here and share in their lives as often as we have been able.  R and I have been coming to Portugal for nearly 10 years and have had the privilege of attending three of the Portuguese churches began many years ago.  R's Portuguese has become very melhor (better), me, Eu falo mal Muito portugueses (I speak very bad Portuguese.)  He is now my translator for which I am so glad!  These two weekends we have been here, we have visited two of the four bodies of believers that meet weekly - Massama and Loures (two different towns/areas.)  I shared with you the baptism we were able to be a part of (see previous post.) 

Now I would like to share with you a glimpse of the amazing work God has done in the body of these believers.  The changes and growth we have witnessed over the past years is almost too hard to put into words...  Please bear with me.

As with any new ministry and culture, other than your own, beginnings are quite difficult and often discouraging.  How do you fit in? How do you incorporate into the culture?  How do you BECOME part of the culture instead of trying to change it?  How do you gain the trust of people you are trying to get to know?  How do you simply love the people?  How do you understand the people?  Etc. 

My observations over the years...  Numbers in the church are of no consequence, because in the final analysis it is the quality of the people within the church body.  It is the hearts of the people and their love for God that counts.  We have seen a love and commitment to God grow within the hearts of so many over the years.  We have come to know people instead of simply hearing of them in a newsletter.  We see the smiles of the people that recognize us and we of course recognize them.  Beijos (kisses on each cheek when greeting) are now followed by an American hug.  Certainly, and with joy we can say that numbers have increased, but more importantly, the joy, love and fellowship within these bodies is overflowing! 

Eating together is definitely an important element within the bodies.  Coffee and a small snack after each service is a given.  But we have experienced two almoçars (lunches) with the Massama church, about ten kilometers from the older Loures Church.  Oh my, let me simply say that the abundance of food is not a problem!!!  And the sobremesas (desserts) are not only to die for but dangerous in the fact that you really need to taste each one!?!  The ladies are generous in sharing food with the body.  Setting up all the tables and chairs also is a must as much fellowship happens there.  After all the food and dessert, then coffee and tea is drank with more conversation.  And here is a key point that we in North America and elsewhere should learn from the churches in Portugal: Time is really not important when the body is together.  (Last week for the baptism and lunch, see previous post, we finished clean up after 5+ hours!)  The richness of conversations and community that develops with the investment of time has become abundant and obvious to us.

Singing, oh the singing!  It is a beautiful worship to God.  I am at a loss of words as it touches my heart beyond words I can write.  I wish I could "bottle" it and take it with me.  (I did record a song but don't quite know how to retrieve and hear it again!?!?  Hmmm, me and technology have a love/hate relationship, maybe God will grant me some understanding of these things when I am in heaven, but then I won't have to worry about it!)  And this richness of worship appears to be a reflection of not only the youth but in the diversity of cultures and backgrounds within Portugal...the many different groups here from Europe, Africa, Asia, South America and North America  seem to draw strength and uniqueness in worship from this diversity rather than seeking to classify it and separate it.

O & M have overseen an incredible ministry here as it has grown.  I know they have seen the struggles, felt the frustrations, but also know the joy that is in the hearts of so many.  The other night over dinner R reflected that currently the churches, ministries and groups that they shepherd here is in the range of 300+ people! Amazing! They have lived here longer than they have lived anywhere else.  They are more Portuguese than they know. 

The people here LOVE them dearly.  The people come for advice, ranging from spiritual, life, financial and assistance but even help in them in directions or getting out of being locked in or out when the key won't work!  The people share their lives with O & M.  It is authentic and amazing.

Special visitor/speaker from Canada teaching on baptism

Teaching and encouraging the leadership

Prayer among the leaders

Centro Evangelico (the Loures Church - blue sign)

Worship in the Loures Church

Pastor M - Loures Church

We love O & M.  We ask advice and learn much.  We are grateful for our friendship!!!

Hmmmm, I think they just might be the richest people in the world!!!

O & M

 

Please pray for Portugal!

 

 

Four Tourists in Castelo Novo

And yes, I mean ONLY four tourists in Castelo Novo!!!  Castelo Novo is uma pequeno aldeia (a small village) nestled against a mountain range covered with rocks/stones/boulders but with a wonderful spring of clear water bubbling from the mountain that has brought life to the people there for over 1,000 years.  Even now the water continues to flow from the spring down small troughs and pipes as it feeds into a river at the bottom of the village.  Population -- 300 residents, 4 tourists, at least the day we were there.  One restaurant, one meat market, one 8x10 museum, two churches, two inns/B&B's, no school, no shops, no commerce and one cafe (attached to the restaurant, same owners.) No fake tourist cheesiness!!!

Have you been to Carmel California?  I have always loved the charm of this coastal village, but think Carmel 1,000 years old without the shops, traffic and status.  That will give you a minuscule glimpse of this special place.  Even then it cannot compare...

We arrived in Castelo Novo before dusk and drove through the village to find our B&B, a place R found online.  It was rated quite high, so we felt good about staying.  We began to wonder and become nervous as we couldn't find the street and drove in several circles down the narrow streets, (O had to fold in the mirrors on the van at one point to pass through the buildings on the sides of the street.)  Finally we arrived at our 'home' for the night.  We were warmly greeted by Dona Maria at the front door.  She brought us into her office and turned on the light.  After quite lengthy introductions and visit, she wanted to show us HER casa, which was now to be our casa. 

She and her husband live in a four story building she grew up in that was once an artist's home.  We stood inside the room where the household wine had been pressed, bottled and stored, then inside the garage, now a lounge area of this large home.  The inside of her home had been remodeled and updated.  The stones walls were beautiful and throughout the home were new wood floors.  She and her husband live on the second floor as is the wonderful comfortable living room with a fireplace on one end and the breakfast "room" on the other end.  She rents out four rooms, we each had a room on the fourth floor.  This entire floor had been redone in a very modern architectural style, but furnished with antique furniture which added the warmth and character that literally oozed from everywhere you looked. 

She asked us what time we would like dinner as she needed to call the restaurant down the hill to open its doors and prepare dinner for us... just us!  At the appointed time, we met her downstairs and she walked us to the front door of the restaurant.  We had a choice of four entrees, which were on a hand written menu, that  included soup, salad, main dish, dessert and coffee in what was a meticulously clean and inviting room.   Needless to say, our meal was very tasty!  The owner gave us a tour of the restaurant after dinner, which turned out to be quite large.  When asked if it was ever full, she told us 'of course, every Sunday'  as they slow cook a large Sunday meal consisting of the specialty - about 50 pounds of slow cooked goat!!!  Mmmmm!?!?!  It was a very charming place.

After making our way back up the hill after dark to the home in which we were staying, we spent some time in the upstairs living room.  Dona Maria brought out four small crystal dessert wine glasses and left us a decanter of what looked like a dessert port wine.  We poured a glass and tasted it... oh my, what an incredible flavor!  It was a cherry flavored port wine.  We enjoyed a glass in front of the fireplace, very quaint and very warm as it was quite cold outside.  The rooms were very quiet until we realized the church bells chimed each hour well into the night.  Only in a small village...

In the morning a breakfast for a king was set before us.  The table was formal and absolutely beautifully set with linens, which the town was known to produce many years ago.  The food was simple, but the bread was hot and the variety of jams were excellent.  Dona Maria appeared during breakfast to ask if the meal was satisfactory, she had in her hands and set on the table before us, a blue flowered bag.  Out of the bag she pulled a bottle of this wonderful cherry port dessert wine.  It was not for sale as her husband and a friend made it themselves and bottled it.  She gave us a bottle as a gift.  What a way to begin a day.  After packing up and loading the car, goodbyes were said.  We walked through the small town completely built of stone!  Up at the top of the hill we found the source of the fresh water that flowed down through the streets.  Everywhere one looked, a picture could be taken.  This place was so amazing.  A few locals appeared as they opened their windows and greeted us warmly.  (They were probably amazed and amused that there were so many tourists in town all at one time!?!) 

As we drove out of town and looked back, the aldeia looked so small, yet so beautiful with its red tile roofs and castle walls which stood proudly against the mountain. The way we figured it, the aldeia and Dona Maria actually PAID us to stay in Castelo Novo with a unique and unforgettable experience!

This place took us back in time, yet provided us the comforts of today in the B & B, the unique tastes of the interior of Portugal and wonderful memories made with dear friends. 

Come to Castelo Novo...

The Casa in which we stayed.  Our room was on fourth floor, top right.

The view from our bedroom window - the village and valley.

The  charming restaurant that opened to prepare and serve us dinner.

Time in front of the fireplace

Breakfast room

"To a fun day ahead..."

Breakfast

Houses built upon the rocks

The fresh spring at the top of the hill

A view from the castle...

Every door is of different dimensions, whatever fit...

The village square

More houses built on stone

Narrow stone roads

Four tourists in Castelo Novo

Stone wash basin

Until next time... Castelo Novo