Lisbon - The Sequel

 There were times when we thought it wouldn't actually happen, but...

On March 2, 2022, we were set apart for this return mission to the Lisbon Temple by President Hales.

(We're official. We're on 'the board'.)

The next day we met up with Kay and Larry - AKA - Elder and Sister Brown.

And we were off on our new adventure.

Now, from this point it all gets kind of blurry. 😕

4445 nautical miles 

10 hours 11 minutes in the air

not counting our layover in Amsterdam

and a

 7 hour time difference

 did a real number on these

 senior missionaries!

But - we did it!

So these are the things that have kept us busy in this first week of 

'Lisbon - The Sequel': 

First, we made a quick stop at the temple.

Lots of hugs, fist bumps, and smiles.

I must say that returning after these two years feels a little bit like coming out of a coma -

or being Rip Van Winkle. Not a lot has changed. The apartment is pretty much the way we left it. Our old stomping grounds are still familiar. Pingo Doce (our neighborhood grocery store) stills smells like bacalhau.

However, one major difference is the new paving of our path through the park to the temple. It used to be gravel and when the rained you could get pretty muddy.

 So - YAY!

Speaking of the temple, because it had just opened, everything was done in Brazilian Portuguese. But now, after two years, they have switched to European Portuguese which is exceedingly more difficult - for me, anyway. 

Another learning curve, I suppose.

We had Sunday dinner with the other two American couples.

Wayne and Margo Wilcox, Sonia and Wilson Duffle, Larry and Kay, and the Grandpa.

This is our new 'best friend' -

We used the Viagem card last time. We would reload it as needed - which is another way of saying, "all the time". But this little guy only costs 20 euros a month and you can use it

on ALL forms of transportation. Who knew?! (Wilson did!)

With that little card in hand, we headed out and about. 

This week's adventure took us to Jerónimos Monastery.

The construction of the monastery and church began on 6 January 1501, and was completed 100 years later. It withstood the 1755 Lisbon earthquake without much damage. It's located near the Tagus river in the parish of Belém.

The monastery actually replaced a church formerly existing in the same place. That former church was where Vasco da Gama and his men spent the night in prayer before departing on their expedition to India in 1497. You world history buffs will remember that he was a Portuguese explorer and the first European to reach India by sea, thus linking Europe and Asia by an ocean route, connecting the Atlantic and the Indian oceans and therefore, the West and the Orient. 

So it just makes sense that Vasco is also buried here.👍

 

The Archaeology Museum is located in the west wing of Jeronimos Monastery.

It's not very big but if you like Egyptian mummies and antique gold jewelry it was okay. (That is not a high recommendation from this blogger, hope ya know.)

But...while we were already in the neighborhood...

A ★★★★★ rating, for sure!

This first week was also filled with a lot of shopping, walking, frustration, remembrances, and 'oh yeahs'.

I just can't wait to see what these next twelve months have to offer.

Stay tuned...because who knows?!

Our address here is:

Av. Capitão Salgueiro Maia, 20

R/c C

1885-094 Moscavide

Lisboa, Portugal

The Ooma phone number is:

801-829-6682

(This is mainly for David. 😁)

And, of course, you can always text us!

801-388-9019

801-388-9017

A Month Unlike Any Other

It seems only fitting that I should document this past month somewhere. 

After our two weeks of quarantine, we became 'shelter at homers' - which is not much different, except that you can leave home periodically for groceries, mail, walks, drives - but mostly you're pretty isolated from the world. 
We are now living in our own version of 'Groundhog Day'.

Since a picture is 'worth a thousand words', I'll save myself the bother of writing those words and just post the pictures. 😁
(These thoughts and pictures occur randomly - which is pretty much how I have been coping! Ha)


We were released from our mission - via ZOOM - two weeks after getting home. 






Games, puzzles, and chocolate have kept us going!



One night we were even 'egged' and TPd'.

We survived a snowstorm and an earthquake.




We have truly enjoyed our Sunday Family Devotionals!!




General Conference was just what President Nelson said it would be - unforgettable!

Wonderful talks, a new symbol, Solemn Assembly with Hosanna Shout, a proclamation in honor of the 200th anniversary of Joseph Smith’s First Vision, titled “The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World," and eight new temples.


We participated in a worldwide fast on Good Friday.


We celebrated Easter as we had never done before.
(Who stays home on Easter Sunday, anyway!?)


We did venture up to Logan for haircuts last week. Thanks, Sandy!!


Did I mention that we have been putting together A LOT of puzzles?!

We actually brought this one home with us from Portugal. 


How true!


So...
Covid-19 (Coronavirus)
My observations from Quarantine 2020 (thus far)... 
We are slowing down!!!
We are being refined, taught, and tutored and we are learning things that could not have been taught any other way.
All schools are closed and homeschooling has commenced, more or less.
We've been told to self-distance. In fact tape has been  placed of the floors in grocery stores to help distance shoppers (6 ft) from each other.
But social distancing doesn't mean social isolation! So we are doing more phone calls and Messaging.
Non-essential stores and businesses are closed. (Oh, thank heaven for Amazon!!)
Parks, trails, and entire cities are locked up.
Entire sports seasons have been cancelled - as well as concerts, festivals, entertainment events, weddings, family celebrations, holiday gatherings, churches, and temples.
We are not supposed to socialize with anyone outside our own homes.
There is a shortage of masks, gowns, and gloves for our front-line workers.
There are not enough ventilators for the critically ill.
Shelves in the grocery stores are bare. 
You can't find TP, hand sanitizer, paper towels.
There are daily updates updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths.
Barely anyone is on the roads. They say that we are getting 3 weeks to a gallon of gas!
People are wearing masks and gloves outside. 
Each person in the USA was issued a $1200 stimulus check.
Facebook is alive with postings of how we are coping, surviving, learning from, and connecting with each other. I am so impressed!!
It's amazing how quickly God has unified all of His children!!
WOW!

They say history repeats itself. This poem is very applicable to our situation today. Hopefully, we can learn from it as well. 



So...
I'm not sure if there is an end in sight at this time, but...
For now all we can do is...
Hang in there...
Have faith...
STAY HOME!!

Até Nos Encontrarmos Novamente (Until We Meet Again)

It's hard to put into words the events (and feelings) of this past week. 

One day, it's 'same ole, same ole', and the next thing we know, it's, "Because of the Coronavirus, all American Senior Couples serving in Europe will be returning to the United States ASAP."

Brother Alves brought us the word from President Coelho and President Fillmore.

What to do next?

Our little world had turned upside down.

We still had our assignments at the temple for one more day. We had to pack, give stuff away, say our good-byes, repack, use up our metro passes (ha), spend all our Euros, and so much more!

I think the hardest part was not being able to say good-by to all our friends. It felt so incomplete. 

Anyway...

This puzzle didn't get completed.

Filipa stopped by - and took lots of food off our hands. 

Good-by to our dear little temple. We sure do love you! Our time here ended way too soon!

Lisboa!

You are truly one of my favorite cities - ever!!

We were supposed to be packing for our 'little jaunt' (a journey taken for pleasure) to Paris, Switzerland, and Spain during our temple closure - not to return to the United States!

Nevertheless, on the morning of Sunday, March 15, we found ourselves headed to the airport - not to Paris, as planned, but to New York City.

Last chance for a tin of bacalhau, sardines, octopus, ...

At the airport we met up with some of the other 20 American couples (plus some Sisters) leaving Portugal.

Sister Brown, Sister Marriott, and Sister McClellan used the layover time at JFK wisely by eating salads from Wendy's. 

And so, 5,116 miles and 18 hours later, we arrived in SLC.

Kimberly and her children were there to pick us up. (Keeping their distance, of course.)

Home Again, Home Again!

Thanks to Kristy and Kimberly, we have plenty to eat.

And how is our two week quarantine working for us, you may ask?

 

Four days and counting...

Lastly...

Our granddaughter, Emma, received her mission call this week. She will serve in the SLC Temple Square ASL Mission.

Beginning May 20, 2020.

The Work of the Lord continues!✌

So, that was the week that was. 

What the future holds, we know not. 

In these times of uncertainty, I am thankful for a living prophet to guide and direct us as we come unto Christ. 

We love you, President Nelson!