We love attending zone conferences and mission leader council meetings.  Sister Leal is all heart - and we all feel here deep love and goodness.   President Leal is an exceptional teacher and trainer.  He speaks with clarity and power - I can listen to him for hours on end and never tire - he speaks in such a thoughtful, balanced, and compelling way.  He teaches missionaries to work hard and work smart.  And they rise to his high expectations.  Because of their diligence and faith, they exude a goodness  that is palpable.   A few of "favorite" missionaries are shown below - but there are many more!

...but you can't take the farm out of the boy".   

We were thrilled to receive visits from our siblings during the best time of year to come to Portugal - in the spring!

We were VERY happy to welcome the arrival of spring.  The flowering trees and gardens are simply lovely!

 Most days, the temperature ranges from the low 40s to low 50s.  And rain, lots of rain.  Not the slow and steady Seattle-type rain.  Here, we do it North-Atlantic style:  cloudbursts and gusty winds;  the rain comes down in sheets, then moderates, then comes again with a vengeance.  We've experienced several hail storms too - one day there was upwards of an inch of hail on the road! 

Wow, we absolutely loved the holiday season here in Portugal!  It was a filled with beauty, love and laughter.  So let's start with our Thanksgiving celebrations....

We recently were invited to attend an interfaith event in Porto, which included short prestations by leaders from these faith communities:  Jewish, Buddhist, Islam, Catholic, Bahai, Latter-day Saint, and HIndu.  

Our hometown of Barcelos  is famous for its rooster (aka Galo de Barcelos).  Here is a quick rundown of the legend that makes the "galo" famous throughout Portugal:

The Portuguese people clearly love festivals - there seems to always one going on nearby during the summer months!  In this blog, I'll do my best to give you a taste of these wonderful gatherings.  I'll also update you on some of of our activities, including introducing wonderful new friends.  Plus, I'll share something about Portugues hospitality and honesty.  Happy reading!

There is so much to report on - I have trouble keeping up with all the people and activities we are involved with.  But let's just jump right in!

We're just about to hit our three-month mark here in Portugal.  We love it here - and time is flying by!  In this post, we want to share some our daily life - the people we meet with, the places we go, 

The Festa das Cruzes (Festival of the Crosses) is an annual community event spanning five days here in Barcelos. It is held soon after Easter and combines religious and community elements.