 |
| Trip home from Ikea w/furniture, Linn on Gary´s lap |
We live on the 5th floor of a commercial building in one of the business centers of Lisboa. In this 10 story building there are many businesses (consultants, lawyers, etc.) and 3 families (we are one of them). Our apartment is large including 3 bathrooms, 4 bedrooms (or library/offices), a wonderful kitchen, big dining room and large living room. We also have two enclosed porches for hanging laundry. Due to the size of the apartment we volunteered to share it with another couple (Casal) from Huntsville, Utah; Gary and Linn, Lund. We share the rent and expenses and it works out great.....as long as we don´t get tired of each other and try throwing each other off the enclosed porch to the roof below. Why are we telling you all of this....because the circumstances and experiences of the 200 missionaries in Portugal are so different and yet in many ways, so similar, that we decided to look more closely at the "Portugal Team".
 |
| Eileen next to Elder Rocha and Elder Caussé at mission conference in Miratejo |
One of our favorite experiences has been getting together with the other missionaries and sharing experiences with each other. It is so fascinating to meet so many unselfish and motivated people that love to serve, love representing Jesus Christ and have a single goal of helping the Portuguese people enjoy more happy and peaceful lives. The single missioinaries live a spartan life with no TV, Wii, video games, radios, etc.and use all their spare change for travel and basic necessities. We have attended quite a few missionary conferences where training and instruction takes place. The single missionaries have until 5pm on Monday set aside to do laundry, cleaning, shopping and such (also fun things like volleyball, ultimate frisbee, basketball, etc.) The other six days are dedicated to missionary proselyting and/or service work. We work at the Employment Center on Monday´s so we do the non-missionary stuff at other times. Many nights we find ourselves working until 8:30 or 9:00pm working on projects, studying or visiting local families. Comparing notes with the other married couples, it averages just over $3,000 per month to live and travel here so paying for the mission requires each couple to have at least $55,000 set aside to pay for the 18 month mission. Working with so many people that pay there own way and smile every second about it is amazing. One of our special treats was a visit from Elder Gerald Caussé, originally from Paris, France but now living in Frankfurt, Germany with his family. He came for three days to instruct the missionaries from the Açores and Algarve to Lisboa. He was so kind, wise and loving that we enjoyed every minute of his visit.
 |
| Eileen with Sister Almeda and Perez |
Sister missionaries have always been exceptionally fun to work with. It may be unique to Portugal but the Sister missioinaries smile all the time and lift everyone they are around. We helped two sisters move south of Lisbon into an apartment that had Elders (young men) living there. We hauled 4 large suitcases and some smaller cases and it filled the car along with the four of us (2 sisters and us). The Elders were transferred so fast that they decided to leave without really cleaning up. As a token of their embarrassment they left two large chocolate bars for the sisters. As is typical, Sister Perez and Sister McCrery just smiled and got to work cleaning up.
 |
| Sister McCrery and Perez looking at food left by Elders |
