Ciao Portugal!

My time in Lisbon, Portugal has been lovely! I stayed with my dear friends, Jonathan and Traci, who live here full time. Spending time with them and their daughters, Katie (2 ½ years old) and Carly (8 months), was my main reason for coming to Portugal for the week before meeting up with Debbie for the rest of the trip.

Don't believe that furrowed brow on Carly. She and I were best buds this week.

Traci and I met at Biola when we were RA floor partners in Alpha, and living daily life together has always been one of my favorite parts of our friendship. It’s just fun to figure things out together and we make a great team. Our duo had a chance to be back in action this week because my time here coincided with a short term missions team from Traci and Jonathan’s church in California. At first, we thought the timing of my trip was not ideal because of the busyness involved with the missions trip, but it really turned out well. I loved getting to jump in and help with the girls (potty training can be so exciting!) and we prepared a few meals for the team as well. Traci just kept walking around saying ‘I’m so glad you’re here’, which is a phrase that I never get tired of, no matter where I am. =)

It was encouraging to learn more about the church plant that is just in its earliest stage in a new community in Lisbon. Although I hear regular up-dates on what T & J’s ministry is up to, it was definitely cool to be here for the week with a team of people that are helping them jump start contacts in the target community. May the Lord continue to move in the hearts of the Portuguese people so that they might be ready to receive the Gospel!

We did have some time to see a few sights in Lisbon- a couple that I’d gone to on my first visit 3 years ago, and some new spots as well. It is really a great city! And even with running after two little kids, my time here in my friends’ home has been quite restful. I feel ready to take on all the fun that Debbie and I have planned for the next few weeks.

The town of Sintra, just outside of Lisbon. Yep, that's a Moorish castle up there. It's old.

Debs and I are meeting up in London tomorrow and then heading straight to Paris on the Chunnel. Please pray that we’re able to find each other in Heathrow Airport. We have a good plan (and a good back-up plan if necessary), but it’s a little tricky since we’re so used to relying on cell phones and neither of us have one here. We’ll let you know how we do!