Don't You Wanna Thank Someone for This?

The last couple of weeks, I've been singing this song from one of our favorite artists (Don't You Wanna Thank Someone?). I've been reminded how much our human hearts are inclined to give thanks. I think at the core of each of us is the desire to thank the one who gives us something. As we've discussed the meaning of Thanksgiving for a Christian we read James 1:17, "Every good and perfect gift comes from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

So this year we have given thanks to the Giver of all good by having meals in our home, writing out specific things for which we are thankful, and lifting up praise in prayer!

6 Things to Love About Portugal/the Portuguese!

The 19th of this month will make 7 months of residency in this beautiful country. As we meet new people and our accent, clothing, and my blue eyes give us away that we aren't Portuguese, we are asked, "Do you like Portugal?" Well, usually locals ask it more like, "You like Portugal, right?" We smile, nod and respond, "Claro que sim!" or for those still learning Portuguese, "Of course!" And yet I have never taken the time to write down what it is about this country that is so likeable. If you look at the pictures, an outdoors-man or a beach bum will automatically fall in love, but Jacob and I aren't really either of those. When we got here, we purposed in our hearts to seek the welfare of this place trusting that in its welfare, we will find ours (Jeremiah 29:7). Especially on the days when homesickness starts to creep in, it's so helpful to remember the specifics as to why we enjoy this place and people so much. So, here are some things that we love/have come to love here!

1. Descançar: This word means "to relax" and they take it seriously! We've had people cancel meet-ups with us because their day had filled up and they no longer had time to just relax. For the first months this was unfathomable! "In America this would never happen!" I kept chanting in my head. At first it was a derogatory statement, but this thing that used to be a frustration has become a point of admiration. I find myself saying, "In America this would never happen!" with more of a jealousy for those in the states that it would happen. I've come to find out that the Portuguese get it. Take some time to relax. Cancel work in the afternoon and keep your blood pressure down!

2. Passear: This word means "to stroll" but unlike it's meaning in English, it can be by foot, car, bike, whatever. The idea is that you start going without a destination and just see where the winds carry you! Crazy right! This is another one where I had thought negatively at the beginning and now I find myself wandering around aimlessly and ENJOYING IT! I've found these times away from technology and hurriedness a welcome retreat with friends, my husband, or by myself. For example, it was during one of these strolls by the river that I found a huge plot of land that becomes overrun by little crabs during low-tide. I also snapped this pic!

3. Cafe Culture: I like coffee, so this has always been a perk for me! But besides the coffee, there is this idea that it's ok, acceptable, and even encouraged to get together with friends, sit as you sip on a coffee with milk, and discuss life for as many hours as your schedule permits before people start calling to ask if you're still alive. This has led to sometimes 6 hour encounters with friends as I've practiced language and gotten to know them! Again, this would never happen in the states where all of our cups are disposable (none are here) and people are too hurried to sit and get to know others for more than the allotted hour slot that Google Calendar automatically puts in. Que chatice.... what a shame!

4. ATMs/Multibanco: This is sheerly a practical perk of living here! We had no idea that a machine could do so many things! Residence can pay their phone, electric, water, rent, and transfer money to another account in addition to the typical duties of an ATM. This has saved time and energy!

5. Língua: The language here is beautiful and interesting to learn. But we have been humbled as so many here ranging from children to middle-aged people know how to speak multiple languages! One of my Portuguese friends is VERY good at English and speaks hints of Italian, German, and French! Foreign language is taught starting at the earliest ages in elementary school, so it has been humbling as we've relied on children to translate for us!!! It's opened our eyes to the benefit of learning language at a young age and how much we want to instill that in a future family.

6. Família: I know in the South families seem to be close, but I would dare to say that the average "close" family in the states would not qualify as close here. It's common for families here (including grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins) to eat lunch together even throughout the week. The kids get picked up from school and everyone goes to grandma's house to eat lunch...every day. The concept of baby-sitter is TOTALLY foreign as family is never too far from hand and they are inherently trustworthy, reliable, and eager to hang out with your kids. To our American minds, we first saw this as unhealthy dependency, but now we are once again jealous of it and committed to fostering closeness when we have a family.

Me and a couple of adopted family members getting ready to tour a Moorish castle! History...just another thing to love! 

I feel like there should be a disclaimer to wrap things up. I am proudly American and love American traditions and customs. This holiday season is/is going to be tough being separated from those traditions and what, to us, is normalcy. Also, there are obviously drawbacks to nearly every one of these "perks" just like any cultural tradition (except for maybe the multibanco!:-)). But, there is a lot to learn from other places/cultures. While it's sometimes challenging to look into another culture through unbiased lenses, I'm finding the benefits to be ever-increasing!

Noite das Bruxas (Halloween)

Noite das Bruxas/Night of the Witches/Halloween is not as widely observed here as in the States. Most kids don't dress up, people our age dress up for parties, and forget about putting a costume on your dog... Here's how we spent our evening/night/morning!

First, we were invited to a dinner party with a family and their neighbors. Before eating we decorated pumpkins. Coloring was safer and cleaner than the alternative! A jack-o-lantern is a foreign concept in every way, so it was fun to explain. We talked about how we are kind of like pumpkins turning into jack-o-lanterns because we are all filled with goop (surprise! This doesn't translate!) and God cleans us, and gives us a light and a purpose.

Dinner was complete with hotdog mummies, eggs with "spiders", cookie fingers, and a jello hand!

Between courses, the 4 younger kids went trick or treating around the apartment complex. This isn't a common thing here, but this group has been doing it for multiple years now, and their neighbors were prepared! They got everything from full un-opened bags of candy to packs of doughnuts to money!

After this, we went home to get ready for the second party of the evening. We were picked up at mid-night and got home around 5 the next morning. We didn't go dressed as anything special, but came home looking like zombies... does that count?

An interesting thing that we discovered is that everyone dresses up as something scary/bloody or a witch. This meant my apron didn't count as a costume, which is not as bad as my American friend who dressed up as a hillbilly a couple of years ago and expected people to think it was funny! These little tastes of the culture can be interesting!

Rejoicing in My Daily Bread

We went to a nearby zoo last Friday. One of the more animated exhibits was this one with some obese lemurs. They had seemingly just been fed and a full plate for colorful fruit was sitting against the back wall. Pieces or bread were scattered on the ground and they could have cared less about them... until one of our colleagues reached out like he was going to take a piece for himself. When he saw the threat of someone stealing the bread, one lemur sprung into action and greedily took the piece of bread away for himself.

After a while, he took the bread up to a perch where he continued to try to chew it apart. It didn't take us long to realize that the bread was harder than a rock, judging by the audible thud it made when he threw it to the ground in disappointment.

That morning, I had been reading in Matthew 6 where Jesus recites the Lord's Prayer as a model for His disciples. It struck me that He prayed for the daily bread and not for a week-long feast. Jesus shows us that we should be praying daily and in those prayers we should focus on what we need for that day and not worried about what is coming. It's wise to plan and in the Proverbs and Psalms, planning is highly spoken of. But, the sin comes when we focus too much attention on our needs far in advance!

I'm reminded of the passage in Proverbs 30:8-9, "Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny You and say, 'Who is the Lord?' or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God." The writer is intentionally praying that he would not be given too much. When we are given everything we ever need in advance of when we need it, we are not taught to rely faithfully on Him. This idea is totally counter-cultural in today's society, and I am sure it would've been in his time as well.

So, that afternoon at the zoo, I made the connection that I am too much like those chunky lemurs. I have the rich blessings that are given new every day (the colorful fruit that was surely fresher than the stale bread), and yet I get jealous when I look around me and see others who have a "success" that I think I need. I join the world in chasing after "stale bread" that offers empty promises and proceed to gnaw on it until I finally give up of exhaustion.

Chapter 6 of Matthew concludes with this, "Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." We continue in our worries like they will accomplish something. Yet, imagine how your life would be different if you lived like Jesus and committed each day to the Lord trusting in His provision. I could stand to take a step back and look at the daily blessings and provisions of God that are given anew every day rather than worrying about tomorrow (while the blessings of today lose their freshness). From now on, I think I will try to be less like those fat lemurs that we saw last week, and more like Jesus!

Viva Portimonense!

A couple of weeks ago, our local soccer team started their 100th season. Sunday, we were able to attend their second home game of the season. The stadium is right down the street from us, nearly within eye-sight of our apartment building. Somehow we got mistaken as visitors and had to sit on the unshaded side of the field (with people cheering for the opposing team)! It's quite the cultural experience. Although, we've been told it is nothing compared to a "real" soccer game in one of the bigger cities. We plan to do that in upcoming months. For right now, this is sufficient for us! We are in the black and white...

There wasn't a 7th-inning stretch or games involving members of the crowd during time-outs, but like all other sports played in front of a large audience, the spectacle provided plenty of opportunity for good old-fashioned people-watching!

The Land of Harry Potter

Last Sunday we had the opportunity to tour around a beautiful city in northern Portugal called Porto. The story is that JK Rowling worked in the city and got a lot of inspiration from it for the Harry Potter series. After touring around and seeing the old feel of the city (not to mention the heavy fog which lended itself toward a magical feeling) we can definitely see where she got it! Enjoy the pictures, and a special shout out to our friend Carla who served as an amazing tour guide!

Porto is the home of Port wine. They use these boats to go into the wine cellars and retrieve the barrels of aged wine.

Listening to the Donkey

I've recently read the story of the prophet Balaam in the book of Numbers. The part about the donkey has always been an awesome distraction for me! However, this time some real truth came out that is worth sharing...

In chapter 22 the king of Moab, Balak, sends for the prophet Balaam. Israel is encamped near his kingdom (Moab), and he has "great dread" after hearing how Israel had defeated a neighboring people, the Amorites. It's apparent that Balaam had a reputation for speaking truth since in verse 6, the King claims that if Balaam curses Israel he might have a chance in defeating them. Balaam's response can teach us quite a bit about following God's lead.

Lesson 1: The elders come to Balaam with a divination fee to persuade the prophet (22:7). But, Balaam waits on the Lord. Balaam told the men to sleep at his place, and he would tell them what God says in the morning. When they awake, the answer is no. The king is displeased, so he sends princes and more gifts to lure Balaam. Again, Balaam tells them to wait. This time, God allows Balaam to follow the men. When faced with an exciting opportunity that offers popularity and/or money what is your first response? It's wise to wait on the Lord! "Wait on the Lord; be strong let your heart take courage..." Psalm 27:14. Balaam knew that the Lord would provide the answer, and that by waiting he could act in confidence that he was doing God's will.

Lesson 2: Balaam tells the men from the start that he will only speak the words that God gives him. This proves to be important later on when God chooses to bless Israel rather than curse. In our relationships, are we clear with others that we choose to obey only God's word? In the midst of gossip or conflict, can we honestly say, "remember how I told you I would only speak in accordance with God's word?" I know for myself, if I were more proactive from the start of relationships, I would have better opportunity to point people toward God in times of frustration.

Lesson 3: If you know the story at all, you know this part... On the road to meet Balak, Balaam's ever-faithful donkey leads him into a field seemingly without reason. Picturing the scene makes me wish it were on film! When Balaam tells the donkey he wishes he had a sword to kill it with, the donkey kindly reminds him that this is not normal behavior! Now, that's ironic. A talking donkey telling his master what normal behavior looks like... God then opens Balaam's eyes to see the sword-bearing angel of the Lord standing in his midst. Has there ever been a time when God has sent someone or a circumstance into your path to help guide you in His will? Your very own talking donkey! I can think of instances in my life where God has allowed someone familiar to point me in the right direction, but my pride has made me stubborn. Because the person or circumstance was familiar to me, I failed to see that the Spirit was active in the situation. Like Balaam I begin to curse correction that God has sent to protect me. It's sometimes hard because our eyes are blinded to the physical presence of Jesus in our lives. But, we are wise to accept correction, "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid." Prov. 12:1

Lesson 4: Balaam arrives, and it's showtime! Time to curse the people of God. Surprise! The task that Balaam was brought to do was not at all the task that God had planned. When Balaam prays, God gives him an oracle of blessing on Israel rather than a curse. This happens often in the life of the Jesus-follower, too. We plan our lives to the best of our ability and bathe every decision in prayer, and often times what we end up doing is totally different than what we plan. But, how awesome is this! It's proof that our God is alive, and He doesn't just put us in places and watch as we stumble through life. No! When we ask for His guidance, the Spirit if faithful to fill us and lead us.  And what happens when Balak gets angry for Balaam's disobedience to his order to curse Israel? Balaam reminds him of the condition set from the beginning, "Did I not tell you, 'All that the LORD says, that I must do'?" (Lesson 2)


Maybe you can identify with me when it comes to being stubborn toward correction or hesitant to wait on the Lord. Maybe not. Maybe you are like Balaam's donkey, trying dearly to steer a loved one off the path they are currently on and toward the Father's best for his/her life. Either way, I think we can learn something about God and ourselves through this unusual story! I'm so thankful that God's word is alive and active today!

Excusing Disobedience

I've heard many people question the authority of God's commands. Mostly, they do this with snide comments regarding the "paralyzing rules" outlined in scripture. They have scoffed at decisions to wait to live together until marriage or to refuse to get drunk at parties. Dare I say that even those claiming to be my brothers and sisters in Christ have done this. Granted they do so silently lest they appear a fraud on Sunday mornings. Please don't misread, I am not innocent of this. My thoughts often wander into sin as I judge and condemn those around me like a reflex from which I later must repent. So, why obey? Why refuse to indulge in the drunken, addicting, lustful, self-promoting thoughts and actions that the rest of the world (and regrettably sometimes the "church") coins as success and freedom?

This morning I read in Leviticus. I grant you that the book is sometimes dry on the surface and holds MANY laws that are now null because of the grace of Christ (praise Him). But over and over in the book it is written "I am the LORD your God". I began to think about the implications held in that phrase. In chapter 18, God tells Israel that they will be brought into different lands where the people have been "vomited out"because they have sinned. He commands that Israel would not do these same things, and with each command is the bookend: I am the LORD your God.

I think of the many times that we have tried to justify our disobedience. I judge because she grossly offended me... I get drunk because it's what my friends and family do... I moved in with my girl/boyfriend to save money on rent. But what our Creator tells us is "I am the LORD your God". And I would argue that if this isn't reason enough for obedience, we aren't totally recognizing who God says and demonstrates Himself to be.

God is (among countless other most excellent attributes) the Author and Perfecter of our faith, creator of all things, giver of good (Ps 107:9), savior to the weak (Ps 109:31), Comforter, Sustainer, Victor in my battles both big and small, and the list continues...

We are given these blessings for the same reason we are called to obedience, because He is our LORD and God.

God, I repent of putting my excuses above your Lordship. I praise you for your perfect character and Your grace which draws me near as your child. You alone deserve my praise and obedience. Amen.

Mundial

The world cup soccer tournament (Mundial in Portuguese) is well underway here. This week, Portugal played US. Our "family away from family" hosted us as we ate conquilhas (a type of clam) and watched the big game. Jacob has a jersey from both teams, so he wore the Portugal one on our walk over (to avoid stares) and during the game, he wore the US one. It got a little rowdy since the US would have won had it not been for the last 10 seconds of added time where Portugal scored to tie.

For supper we had the usual fresh bread and cheese assortment followed by these tiny clams seasoned with coriander and parsley.

The love of Star Wars legos unites even the strongest fans!

I have to brag on our friend who made these lego creations without any pattern or directions (complete with retracting wheels on the plane and a moveable mouth on the whale)! He's awesome!

I'm in the Band!

Several weeks ago, we visited a local arts building. They have dance, music, and art classes there. From what we understand, it is ran by the city. We met with the director of the band (we call him maestro...partly because we can't seem to remember his first name) who was enthusiastic about adding a new member. On the second practice I learned that our next performance would be in a week. So, last Tuesday, with the help of my sweet friend in this picture, I found a uniform that fits well. The only thing I was missing was the hat ("chapéu" in Portuguese)... we can't have everything, right?! ;-)

Our concert started at around 9:30 and lasted for 2 hours. There was also a choir and a small folk ensemble from the local college campus. As the choir (comprised mostly of elderly people) sang I wished like everything that I could bottle up the moment. I wish I could show you just how passionate, caring, and tender this community really is. What a privilege and gift to be able to play alongside them! I'm thankful and amazed at how God knew about this ensemble before we got here even though we didn't. I'm grateful that He gives gifts and magnificent opportunities to use them!

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." James 1:17

American Football in Portugal

This past weekend, we went to a football tournament in Lisbon, the capitol. There were 3 teams including us. After a 3 hour bus ride, we arrived. In many ways, the games here remind me of those held in my hometown. Everyone knows everyone, proud mothers make their presence known in a way that is endearing to us but probably embarrassing to the subject, and there is lots of junk food. The differences are numerous, though. In most "regulation" games, the soccer goals are made into impromptu goal-posts as large pvc pipes are strapped on either side (after all this is a soccer field that dresses up as a football field). In general, everyone is very calm and relaxed. I look like the enthusiastic fan, and if you know me, that's a stretch! There's only one team in the league that has official cheerleaders (with pom poms, skorts, and big bows). So, it's much quieter! :-)

The field size is smaller by about 30 yards or so (because a soccer field is shorter than a football field). I was never part of the football community until now, so I don't know if this is a similarity or difference, but it is SUCH a family! I feel like I have new brothers, sisters, aunts, and uncles now, and it is sweet. I've never been much of a fan of sports, but I could get use to this!

Plus, at the end of the tournament, the American Ambassador to Portugal showed up! Jacob accidentally got his picture taken with him! haha (Notice this is not a picture from me but from a professional. I can't take any credit!)

Eating in the Algarve

This season of the year is known for the hunting of caracois (pronounced something like "cada-coy-sh"). A couple from this area invited us out to have some authentic Portuguese food...

Along with snails, we tried a cold vinegar octopus salad, conch, and fish eggs. They also hunt what look like little clams. Those were the best!

The proper way to eat them is with a toothpick...or just slurping!

We topped off the meal with soft-serve ice cream on the marina! Yummy food and great company!

Remembering the Holocaust

Last Monday we were invited to participate in a memorial service at a Jewish cemetery in nearby Faro. It was eye-opening for us since, as far as we know, we've never personally met or listened to direct descendants of survivors or survivors themselves. It was sweet to listen to the beautiful Jewish hymns and the unified desire for peace and restoration.

Notice the olive tree in the background. Someone estimated it to be a couple hundred years old. It reminds me of the reference Paul makes to the Jewish race and the olive tree in the book of Romans.

The tombs were not just from the Holocaust period. The earliest one was from the 1800s.

The number 5657 refers to the Jewish calendar year.

Choosing Which Promise to Believe

A few months ago, we heard someone explain to us that temptation is simply Satan making promises to us. We are often too near-sighted to realize just how hallow and meaningless they are. Instead, we place that momentary promise over the eternal ones of our Father and act on our fleshly instinct. Here's an example...

This week we start language study on Wednesday. This is a HUGE answer to prayer! We will be meeting with a tutor in our home on a weekly basis. The goal is to learn Portuguese well enough to have real, meaningful conversations with the people around us--one step closer to making this city our "home".  But, even yesterday temptation struck as I muddled through ordering at a fast-food restaurant. As people cut in front of me and effortlessly ordered, I was flooded with the false promises of Satan. "You will take forever to learn this language...You can't even order your lunch...Why even try to learn when so many people around you speak English? You've never done well with learning language before, just let someone else do the speaking for you." All of these are lies, and I know that. But, how easy is it to listen to the promises of ease and comfort that Satan uses to tempt us!

So, instead of trusting in the promises of The Deceiver, I trust in the promises of my Redeemer. "My flesh and my heart may fail but GOD IS THE STRENGTH OF MY HEART AND MY PORTION FOREVER" (Psalm 73:26). For me, it's less like IF my heart and flesh fail and more like when... But, the promise is there. Satan's promises never keep, and yet here God's promise doesn't end with my failure, but His sufficiency in the midst of my failure.

I've started underlining and copying down the promises that I encounter in scripture. When Satan tempts me to trust in his promises, I look to the promises of God that are incomparably more steadfast and sure.

The ultimate promise Satan makes (to Adam in the garden, to Jesus in the wilderness, to the lost person searching for purpose) is that we are OK without God's provision for our sinfulness. But, sweet friend, do not be deceived. This promise may seem to last for a day, month or even years, but it too is false. When we die, if you have trusted in this promise you will be accountable for your sin before our righteous creator and live out the promise you believed--eternal separation from God. But, God's promises endure that if you believe in your heart and confess with you mouth that Jesus is Lord, He rescues you (Romans 10:9-10). Your penalty is paid, and you are free from the imprisonment of the promises of Satan.

So, what promises of Satan are you trusting? What promises does God make that trump these false promises?

Portimão Museum

Last week we got to visit the local museum that tells the history of Portimão, the popular industries of its past, and it also has a portion dedicated to a gallery. Here are some pics of one of the coolest parts...

The museum is located in an old sardine factory. The museum had examples of packaging, a video of old clips of the process, and these life-size mannequins posed in the different phases of processing.

These days most of the sardines used in Portimão come from Spain... Tourism has seemed to replaced the sardine industry. Many of the old factory buildings are still in existence along the marina, but are instead used as restaurants.

Settling in to Our New Home

We arrived to our new home last Saturday evening. Some of the differences are quite apparent, especially on the domestic side of things...

Laundry
No one has dryers here, and we had expected that. We had also expected a smaller machine. Our apartment has a laundry area (seen below). Our washer has 12 settings (all labeled in Portuguese of course). Our first attempt at running it resulted in steamy windows, a hot machine, and, at least 4 hours later, a manual shut-off before the cycle had completed. This didn't seem normal-and it wasn't. After some counsel, we ran it again with similar results. Finally yesterday, a repair man informed us that of the 12 settings, we should only use 3 of them. Even then, there was over-heating. Hopefully the issue will be resolved today.







Grocery Shopping

The location of our apartment is GREAT! We are literally right across the street from a shopping center that includes a large grocery store.

Like our Kroger, Continente has its own shopper's reward card.

We noticed they love yogurt (the picture shows about half of their stock), and they don't care too much for peanut butter (notice the price in euros for a container half the size of our regular size in the US). The shopping plaza is 3 stories tall with a parking garage below. They have escalators for the shopping carts that lead down to the cars!

Walking Culture
A couple of days ago, we had some free time in the afternoon, so we went for a walk. It is very common to walk instead of ride. Our apartment is about a 30 min. walk to the beach. Here are some sights from our 4 hour walk...

 Much more to follow as we adjust to a new way of life!