I've decided that getting lost in a town about which you have no clue, with no map, looking for a slum with hardly any recollection of how to get there, in jeans, with a bag, in 20ºC heat, is pretty mental. I walked around Ermesinde for about 2 1/2 hours searching for what I think is a small slum. I didn't find it (although, I may have found it, but it wasn't a slum, in which case my whole idea is shot...), but I was in the right area! It was a very frustrating experience! Knowing that there was a train at 12.22, and not another until 14.30, and the time then being 11.30, I decided to try and get back. I retraced my steps, and it was all going fine on the way back (the way there had consisted of going round in a huge circle before realising I was on totally the wrong road, plus me trying to take several short cuts thinking I knew where I was going when I really didn't...) until I ended up at a railway station 2 stops down the line! Not sure how I managed that, but at least I had gone in the direction back to Porto Sao Bento, and I guess it saved me some travelling.... HA!
I felt a bit gutted I hadn't found this slum, although if there isn't one, then that's actually really good news. The rest of my day was spent in Porto. I wanted to go to the beach, via the riverside. Decided to walk down to the river, but ended up several hundred feet above it on the Ponte D. Luis I (the bridge drawed by the same bloke who done the Eiffel Tower in that French town, innit...). This is pretty cool, as the trains go along the middle, and you walk right next to them, with just bollards between you and the track. They go really slowly, and you walk across the tracks like a level crossing, no problem, to be on both sides of the bridge. Took some time to walk across the bridge which goes into Gaia on t'other side do Rio Duoro. Where the bridge meets land on both sides, the houses are old and rough, falling apart, and slum-like, although made of concrete, so it's not like Africa or what have you. It's tough though. Walked a bit in Gaia, but not much since I really wanted to be down by the river, so after almost getting lost walking around some backstreets (I get distracted easily, and thought I saw something, so tried to get to it, but didn't...) I headed back across the bridge and decided to get the bus to the beach like the tourist info lady had advised about, ooh, 2 hours before... The bus, it must be said, was rammed. I saw a notice that said 36 seated passengers and 49 standing. We were certainly meeting that, and most likely exceeding it (both there and back)! Heavy traffic along the river meant it took a while to get to the beach, and it was very warm, so I got off the bus before we reached the big beaches. Fortunately for me, we'd reached the first of the beaches, in a place called Foz, and so I grabbed a spot between somw big rocks as the waves came rushing into my little cove to greet me, lapping at my seat, refreshing me with their spray. It was delightful. I wanted to strip down to my European swimming trunks, but only had a few minutes to enjoy before I had to catch the bus back to Sao Bento to meet Mar and Joanna. Also, the hundreds upon thousands of passers by just a few metres behind me on the walkway stopped me from getting naked there and then. Probably for the best - it is still February, after all (despite the 20º heat. Have I already mentioned that?)
Caught the bus back (which took the best part of an hour) and had a drink with Mar and Joanna, before getting to Mar's car and driving home. A long day (it is now 11 o'clock, and I woke at 6.45am to a gorgeous sunrise over the mountains. I think I'll do that some more) and tomorrow we've got more cementing followed by some fun at the carnaval! My A1 is alreaded loaded with a nice Kodak Professional BW400C film, so look out for some snaps from there...
Before I go, I've been told some people are having trouble commenting on my posts. I'm not sure what the problem is, but if you haven't already, try clicking on 'comentários' at the bottom of each post, and that should enable you to 'enviar comentário'. If not, then let me know and I'll see what the problem is.
Blessings to you all!
Aid xxx
Sunday 22 February 2009
Saturday 21 February 2009
Dreams, cement, sunshine and discipline.
What a week! Tuesday was a day, especially. It all started on Monday...
Mar came home from Spain. Good to have her back. She gave Susy and I the 411 tonight, all about how we're here to serve, they want to give us enough to do, we're here to leave our mark with the children, it's not easy, we can't be spending all our time on computers and such like, separated from the children. It was good to hear - gentle but firm, just what I needed. I have a real weakness for spending countless hours doing nothing on the computer. The first week and a half here was good for me as I kept to a discipline of being with the children in the afternoon/evening, then having time to myself and God. Then Mar went away, and left me her computer. I was becoming comfortable, and that's not why I'm here. So, it was a gentle but firm reminder, and so I've kept off the computer for this week (also, having Mar back means she is using her computer, so I don't really have the opportunity to do so...) I told her how I've been feeling as well - that I realised I was getting comfortable, but also that I felt I wasn't being given enough to do, and I thought some of the ways things were done were a bit weird. Like how the children are treated/disciplined - not necessarily the way I've been brought up or the way I would do things. I have to remember that they have been here for 10 years doing things, so they do know how to handle the situation... I can have some say in things, though.
Monday itself was spent re-cobbling a path up to the volleyball court. This blog should also be being written on a shiny new Acer laptop, which I was going to buy for 99€ on Monday! However, I then discovered it was 99€ for the first month, followed by 36 months of 36€ instalments. So, more like 1400€.
For the rest of this week, we've been surfacing a new football pitch/all weather sports thing, because the people who first did the cement layer didn't do it very well so it's uneven so there are places where water collects. Next we're putting down astro turf. It's all been mixing cement and to and froing with 'barrows of the stuff. Heavy, heavy work, but a good opportunity to 'go to the gym' haha! It has also been REALLY hot here (probably aided by the fact that we've been working hard...), and I keep forgetting that it's still February! I got sunburnt on my nose, so freckles are on their way. Wicked dan. Sr Jorge (the guy doing the surfacing) apparently said I'm very good at mixing cement. That's quite cool. The pitch has been basically funded through donations, including 23000€ from a transport company whom we don't really know! Not quite sure how they found out about the Refuge - maybe through the internet or something - but they had money and said 'We'll give you this towards the end of the building work' so it's being used for the final bit, I think. Awesome!
I had such a weird dream the other night. Dom, Josh and I were swimming in the sea and we had an umbrella. We were all praying, and a storm came, we cried out to God and a lightning bolt hit the umbrella and it was taken up to the sky, just like in a sci-fi film or something. Then, I was at an house party and some clouds came over. I had the most incredible sensation of excitement and anticipation knowing the God was about to speak - I was going to hear Him! I was standing outside in the mud, when the mud infront of me bulged as if there was somebody underneath. Then I heard Him say, 'Joshua, son of Jaybel [or jezebel or something, I can't quite remember], tunnelled between the Israelites and the Ephralites.' And I heard the number 'twenty two'. I mean, what on earth does that mean?! I read Joshua 22, which was actually really good, but nowt about tunnlling, so I read every verse 22 in both Joshua and Judges, and there was still nothing. Very,. very odd. I was so convinced it was a dream from God - I can even remember thinking at the time 'I must remember this because it is God speaking to me'.
I've been feeling culture shock this week. I never wanted it to come, but I guess I always knew it would. It's not the greatest thing. 1 Peter is continuing to invade my quiet times (which have been far more regular this week :)). In particular, 1 Peter 4 v8 is great: 'continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins' - transgenerational forgiveness, anyone? Naomi also told me to read 1 Peter 1 vv 3-9 which I'd read before but hadn't been back to it for a few weeks. It was bang on target to tackle me how I'm feeling right now.
Wednesdayday afternoon, we listened to Vivaldi's 'Spring' with the kids (then some Beethoven on Thursday) and we had to draw what we imagined listening to it. I drew a chap and a lass walking under a big tree. He wore tails, she wore a petticoat and held a parasol. Miguel saw it and was amazed, so took it to Loida who showed everyone and they were all like 'Wooooow!' and now Miguel has kept it. Then in the evening Jorge asked me to draw him a tree. How funny.
I've also been given a timetable to work with the kids - Monday to Wednesday evenings I spend an hour with the older kids individually doing English, because they're all doing badly at school, apparently. Then I spend 45 minutes doing sport with Jorge (and I guess anyone else who wants to join) because he needs to get fitter. It's good to have some direction.
We're going to Coimbra on Sunday, which should be fun, and on Monday there's a carnaval which we're all getting dressed up for and going to! Very exciting! The kids have gone off to a camp today until Tuesday, so we don't have anything to do here. It0s really nice to have a big break...
Até logo! x
Mar came home from Spain. Good to have her back. She gave Susy and I the 411 tonight, all about how we're here to serve, they want to give us enough to do, we're here to leave our mark with the children, it's not easy, we can't be spending all our time on computers and such like, separated from the children. It was good to hear - gentle but firm, just what I needed. I have a real weakness for spending countless hours doing nothing on the computer. The first week and a half here was good for me as I kept to a discipline of being with the children in the afternoon/evening, then having time to myself and God. Then Mar went away, and left me her computer. I was becoming comfortable, and that's not why I'm here. So, it was a gentle but firm reminder, and so I've kept off the computer for this week (also, having Mar back means she is using her computer, so I don't really have the opportunity to do so...) I told her how I've been feeling as well - that I realised I was getting comfortable, but also that I felt I wasn't being given enough to do, and I thought some of the ways things were done were a bit weird. Like how the children are treated/disciplined - not necessarily the way I've been brought up or the way I would do things. I have to remember that they have been here for 10 years doing things, so they do know how to handle the situation... I can have some say in things, though.
Monday itself was spent re-cobbling a path up to the volleyball court. This blog should also be being written on a shiny new Acer laptop, which I was going to buy for 99€ on Monday! However, I then discovered it was 99€ for the first month, followed by 36 months of 36€ instalments. So, more like 1400€.
For the rest of this week, we've been surfacing a new football pitch/all weather sports thing, because the people who first did the cement layer didn't do it very well so it's uneven so there are places where water collects. Next we're putting down astro turf. It's all been mixing cement and to and froing with 'barrows of the stuff. Heavy, heavy work, but a good opportunity to 'go to the gym' haha! It has also been REALLY hot here (probably aided by the fact that we've been working hard...), and I keep forgetting that it's still February! I got sunburnt on my nose, so freckles are on their way. Wicked dan. Sr Jorge (the guy doing the surfacing) apparently said I'm very good at mixing cement. That's quite cool. The pitch has been basically funded through donations, including 23000€ from a transport company whom we don't really know! Not quite sure how they found out about the Refuge - maybe through the internet or something - but they had money and said 'We'll give you this towards the end of the building work' so it's being used for the final bit, I think. Awesome!
I had such a weird dream the other night. Dom, Josh and I were swimming in the sea and we had an umbrella. We were all praying, and a storm came, we cried out to God and a lightning bolt hit the umbrella and it was taken up to the sky, just like in a sci-fi film or something. Then, I was at an house party and some clouds came over. I had the most incredible sensation of excitement and anticipation knowing the God was about to speak - I was going to hear Him! I was standing outside in the mud, when the mud infront of me bulged as if there was somebody underneath. Then I heard Him say, 'Joshua, son of Jaybel [or jezebel or something, I can't quite remember], tunnelled between the Israelites and the Ephralites.' And I heard the number 'twenty two'. I mean, what on earth does that mean?! I read Joshua 22, which was actually really good, but nowt about tunnlling, so I read every verse 22 in both Joshua and Judges, and there was still nothing. Very,. very odd. I was so convinced it was a dream from God - I can even remember thinking at the time 'I must remember this because it is God speaking to me'.
I've been feeling culture shock this week. I never wanted it to come, but I guess I always knew it would. It's not the greatest thing. 1 Peter is continuing to invade my quiet times (which have been far more regular this week :)). In particular, 1 Peter 4 v8 is great: 'continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins' - transgenerational forgiveness, anyone? Naomi also told me to read 1 Peter 1 vv 3-9 which I'd read before but hadn't been back to it for a few weeks. It was bang on target to tackle me how I'm feeling right now.
Wednesdayday afternoon, we listened to Vivaldi's 'Spring' with the kids (then some Beethoven on Thursday) and we had to draw what we imagined listening to it. I drew a chap and a lass walking under a big tree. He wore tails, she wore a petticoat and held a parasol. Miguel saw it and was amazed, so took it to Loida who showed everyone and they were all like 'Wooooow!' and now Miguel has kept it. Then in the evening Jorge asked me to draw him a tree. How funny.
I've also been given a timetable to work with the kids - Monday to Wednesday evenings I spend an hour with the older kids individually doing English, because they're all doing badly at school, apparently. Then I spend 45 minutes doing sport with Jorge (and I guess anyone else who wants to join) because he needs to get fitter. It's good to have some direction.
We're going to Coimbra on Sunday, which should be fun, and on Monday there's a carnaval which we're all getting dressed up for and going to! Very exciting! The kids have gone off to a camp today until Tuesday, so we don't have anything to do here. It0s really nice to have a big break...
Até logo! x
Sunday 15 February 2009
Sunday traffic and a wrong turning.
Susy put it succinctly: 'Today no our day.' No, Susy, it hasn't been.
We attempted to go to church. The train leaves from at 16.16, it takes 20 minutes to get to Penafiel on a normal day, and we left at 15.30 precisely.
We missed the train by a minute.
That's what happens when the entire North of Portugal decides to drive slowly along the N106 all at the same time. Sheesh.
After the ensuing deliberation over whether to brave the Auto-Estrada A4 direct to Porto, or to wait for an hour at the deserted station for the next train, which would consequently mean we would arrive at church just as it finishes (como a semana passada), we decided to just go home and enjoy the sunshine. I wanted to stop by at Staples to check out the laptop in this mental deal they've got on. I took the wrong turning, and ended up going along some fast road to goodness-knows-where. We managed to turn around after about a kilometre, so it wasn't too bad. The Staples turning was only a couple of yards down the road we'd previously been going along. Idiota!
I also forgot to mention, on Wednesday I crawled over Mar's roof, de- and re-tiling it, to try to fix the leak. However, due to the gorgeous, blue sky, hot sun, warm air days we've been having all week and are predicted to have next week as well, I haven't been able to see whether what I've done has actually had an effect on the problem...
Come on, what d'you say we get into our pjs and hit they hay, eh?
We attempted to go to church. The train leaves from at 16.16, it takes 20 minutes to get to Penafiel on a normal day, and we left at 15.30 precisely.
We missed the train by a minute.
That's what happens when the entire North of Portugal decides to drive slowly along the N106 all at the same time. Sheesh.
After the ensuing deliberation over whether to brave the Auto-Estrada A4 direct to Porto, or to wait for an hour at the deserted station for the next train, which would consequently mean we would arrive at church just as it finishes (como a semana passada), we decided to just go home and enjoy the sunshine. I wanted to stop by at Staples to check out the laptop in this mental deal they've got on. I took the wrong turning, and ended up going along some fast road to goodness-knows-where. We managed to turn around after about a kilometre, so it wasn't too bad. The Staples turning was only a couple of yards down the road we'd previously been going along. Idiota!
I also forgot to mention, on Wednesday I crawled over Mar's roof, de- and re-tiling it, to try to fix the leak. However, due to the gorgeous, blue sky, hot sun, warm air days we've been having all week and are predicted to have next week as well, I haven't been able to see whether what I've done has actually had an effect on the problem...
Come on, what d'you say we get into our pjs and hit they hay, eh?
When they said 10am, they sure meant it.
We missed the play. All because of writing the post below. They left at 10am, I'm pretty sure I posted below just before 10, then we rushed out of the house at 10.02, and they'd gone. Apparently they sounded the horn to warn us, but we didn't hear it. So, we drove to Penafiel in the hope of getting a train and meeting them in Porto. But the play started at 11.30 and the next train was 11.15. So we tried to drive, and it soon turned out we'd be too late, so now we're here.
Real shame. Pointless driving around, and it's such a beautiful day - could've been doing something better. It can be quite stressful, driving here. Appreciate how well behaved most people are on British roads...
Let's go and enjoy the sunshine, instead.
Real shame. Pointless driving around, and it's such a beautiful day - could've been doing something better. It can be quite stressful, driving here. Appreciate how well behaved most people are on British roads...
Let's go and enjoy the sunshine, instead.
Wednesday was Goto's birthday. He's now 17. Unfortunately for him, you have to be 18 to drive... shame.
***
So, I've now been here for three and a half weeks, and it's a great place to be. What's more, this week has been absolutely beautiful, with no rain at all! One morning we had some low clouds and mist and stuff, but they lifted pretty quickly. In its place, we've had warm sunshine, bright blue skies and temperatures of around 15/16ºC! Compared to Britain's snow-temperatures, I think it's positively baking.
I finished my ground digging work on Monday, as far as I can tell, but it has yet to be tested to see whether I have actually succeeded in levelling it out. I have now moved on to recobbling a path way that leads up to the volleyball and football pitches - the edge stones have all come out of place. So that's quite exciting. Also, this week, I've been putting edging stones back in around the driveways, and I also had to fill this massive hole in the corner of the volleyball court. It was really deep - like, I could stand up in it I reckon! (No, unfortunately, I didn't try...) I just had to get rubble from round the back and put it into the hole and then put sand over the top. Manual labour. Brilliant.
There's an English speaking church in Porto, and so on Sunday I went along to their service. I've been conversing with Bill and Tina, the couple who open their house each week. They seem like a lovely community, and very welcoming. I also went to a party their last night (Saturday 14th) for Bill's 60th, which was good to go to as I met some more of the community and was able to just hang out. Also, going on the train there is marvellous. 4€30 return, and it takes about an hour and a half. The only trouble is one of the changes which is a ridiculous half an hour for a ride which takes 1 minute. (In fact, you can walk it in 20 mins, but since the only time I've done it has been at night, I decided not to risk getting lost this time...)
I must admit, I've been a little lax with my quiet times this week. Mar has been away on conferences in Spain, and left me her computer. Whilst this is very nice, and quite useful as I've been trying to organise trips to see my family, it is also very distracting. And I am easily distracted. So, I've got to keep my discipline up. Having said that, 1 Peter is a very encouraging letter. It's all about hope, trust, and love. Chapter 1 v 19 says, 'We put our trust in God through Christ. And, since God raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory, we can put our hope and faith confidently in him.' (I've been trying to decide, and I think that 'him' at the end refers to Jesus Christ...) I've also finished 'The Shaping of Things to Come' - if you still haven't read it, go and start reading it! - and am now going through 'The Younger Evangelicals' by Robert E Webber. It's quite a good way to follow on from 'The Shaping' since it is pushing for Christians to stop thinking of themselves as higher than everyone else, and live the lives we're meant to live!
This has been a bit of a sporadic entry, and I'm not sure why, since I've been doing a fair bit since my last entry a week and a half ago. So, sorry about that. There's been trips down to the river by Susy and me, which has been beautiful, especially just at dusk when the sun lights up the clouds with soft pinks and yellows, reflecting in a mirror-still river flowing past newly created walkways and ancient Roman bridges, drawing small blue fishing boats along as they come home from the big city...
Also, asking how much it costs to develop a film, and to then get a response which seems to go into the intricacies of how films are developed, when you don't speak any Portuguese, is quite funny, and a little confusing. As far as I could tell, it would cost 10€ at a shop near here, plus a free roll. I think I'll shop around...
Today, we're off to the Theatre with the kids! It's extremely exciting, and I have no idea what we're going to see.
Até breve, amigos!
***
So, I've now been here for three and a half weeks, and it's a great place to be. What's more, this week has been absolutely beautiful, with no rain at all! One morning we had some low clouds and mist and stuff, but they lifted pretty quickly. In its place, we've had warm sunshine, bright blue skies and temperatures of around 15/16ºC! Compared to Britain's snow-temperatures, I think it's positively baking.
I finished my ground digging work on Monday, as far as I can tell, but it has yet to be tested to see whether I have actually succeeded in levelling it out. I have now moved on to recobbling a path way that leads up to the volleyball and football pitches - the edge stones have all come out of place. So that's quite exciting. Also, this week, I've been putting edging stones back in around the driveways, and I also had to fill this massive hole in the corner of the volleyball court. It was really deep - like, I could stand up in it I reckon! (No, unfortunately, I didn't try...) I just had to get rubble from round the back and put it into the hole and then put sand over the top. Manual labour. Brilliant.
There's an English speaking church in Porto, and so on Sunday I went along to their service. I've been conversing with Bill and Tina, the couple who open their house each week. They seem like a lovely community, and very welcoming. I also went to a party their last night (Saturday 14th) for Bill's 60th, which was good to go to as I met some more of the community and was able to just hang out. Also, going on the train there is marvellous. 4€30 return, and it takes about an hour and a half. The only trouble is one of the changes which is a ridiculous half an hour for a ride which takes 1 minute. (In fact, you can walk it in 20 mins, but since the only time I've done it has been at night, I decided not to risk getting lost this time...)
I must admit, I've been a little lax with my quiet times this week. Mar has been away on conferences in Spain, and left me her computer. Whilst this is very nice, and quite useful as I've been trying to organise trips to see my family, it is also very distracting. And I am easily distracted. So, I've got to keep my discipline up. Having said that, 1 Peter is a very encouraging letter. It's all about hope, trust, and love. Chapter 1 v 19 says, 'We put our trust in God through Christ. And, since God raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory, we can put our hope and faith confidently in him.' (I've been trying to decide, and I think that 'him' at the end refers to Jesus Christ...) I've also finished 'The Shaping of Things to Come' - if you still haven't read it, go and start reading it! - and am now going through 'The Younger Evangelicals' by Robert E Webber. It's quite a good way to follow on from 'The Shaping' since it is pushing for Christians to stop thinking of themselves as higher than everyone else, and live the lives we're meant to live!
This has been a bit of a sporadic entry, and I'm not sure why, since I've been doing a fair bit since my last entry a week and a half ago. So, sorry about that. There's been trips down to the river by Susy and me, which has been beautiful, especially just at dusk when the sun lights up the clouds with soft pinks and yellows, reflecting in a mirror-still river flowing past newly created walkways and ancient Roman bridges, drawing small blue fishing boats along as they come home from the big city...
Also, asking how much it costs to develop a film, and to then get a response which seems to go into the intricacies of how films are developed, when you don't speak any Portuguese, is quite funny, and a little confusing. As far as I could tell, it would cost 10€ at a shop near here, plus a free roll. I think I'll shop around...
Today, we're off to the Theatre with the kids! It's extremely exciting, and I have no idea what we're going to see.
Até breve, amigos!
Tuesday 3 February 2009
Lets Get to Work...
2009 is the 400th anniversary of the Baptist Church, I discovered on Sunday.
'Sabia que a primeira igreja baptista, no mundo, foi constituída em Amesterdao, na Holanda, em 1609? Este ano vamos, pois, celebrar o 4º Centenário dos baptistas no mundo.' (This is a little note on the newsletter of the church we went to on Sunday - Rubén (for those who don't know, he's the director at the orphanage) gave a little presentation. It is the church of Joel and Carina (a great couple who work at the orphanage).)
***
So, Saturday was a day off. And it didn't rain! Amazing. Mar (she's so great) took Rosa (her friend who came on Wednesday) and I to Guimaraes - 'Aqui nasceu Portugal' ('Here was born Portugal) - for a day out. We went to the castle there, and then to a big church and around some of the beautiful little streets with delightful cobbled alleys and little shops selling the most exciting stuff, and some of the most delicious pastries I've ever tasted! We also went to a fairtrade shop and then to the restaurant above it for dinner, which was fantastic. Typical Portuguese food, with native Northern Portuguese wine! Very exciting!
(Talk about Health and Safety - there's no handrail anywhere in sight and that's about a 50ft drop onto hard boulders!)
Sunday, as I said, we went to church in Porto. I didn't understand a lot of what was happening (although, we did read 1 Corinthians 11 before having communion, which was funny because we'd just done that in Boilerroom before I left...), and it was funny going to such an 'attractional' church off the back of reading 'The Shaping of things to Come'. It doesn't half change my views on things! Then, back home, it was a very relaxing day, with not a lot happening. We did Sunday School for the children, on Acts 16, and had some dinner. Then, in the evening, I DROVE! Sério! Very odd, being on the other side of the road - once I turned out of a turning and instinctively went on the left until Rosa screamed 'No Aidan the other side!' Haha, it was very exciting. Very few cars around, though, so it was fine. It's good to be able to drive, because then when Mar is away susy and I will be able to go places on our day off. Just need to practice a bit first... Then at 11pm, Mar, Rosa, susy and I went to Porto (there by 11.30. Not bad) for Rut's birthday party. Had the most delicious cake - Bolo do Bolangia or something. Mm mm mmm.
So, having gone to bed at 2am, I woke at 9am, had a shower, had breakfast, and then Rubén gave me my instructions for the day. Finally it has stopped raining, so I am able at last to work outside! at the front of the Refuge is a place for the children to play, with a big ol' tree in the middle. Unfortunately, this part has slightly sunk, so all the water collects there. So, my job has been to make the driveway bit lower by digging up the ground and putting the dirt where the children play so that it is higher up. My goodness. Muito trabajo! Forget the gym - if you want to build muscles, just do this! It's slow, hot work. And annoying, because digging one place then makes the bit next to it higher, so you have to dig that bit, then the next, then the next, and so on. Grr.
Yes, that is a pick-axe. Playing with the big boys, now.
'Big Guy coming through!'
I couldn't help it... it was very hot work.
And today I hit a pipe. Whoops! But we're getting there...
I must be careful though, because yesterday I worked so hard that I was too tired in the evening to play with the kids. They're so excitable and cheeky, and I was wiped out. So, I need to take it easier.
Rosa went home today. And now it's raining again. So... yeah, that's Canelas for you!
If everyone could keep praying for me to get to grips with the language, that would be great. I was trying to help Goto with some of his English homework yesterday, but whenever he came to an English word he didn't know, he'd ask me what it was. Sometimes I knew, other times I tried to guess and managed to get it by practically performing the word, and then other times I had no clue. I felt pretty useless, and it was very frustrating. It's been a relaxing weekend, and so far this week has been really hard work!
I'm still on the listen for God's call and what He is directing me to out here. On Friday Mar told me that she sometimes volunteers with the Sally Army in Porto, helping the homeless at night. She asked if I'd like to do that sometimes. I said '¡Si! ¡Claro!' So maybe that's a way in there...
Blessings and love to you all. It's really great to know I've got such great friends back home, wanting to know about what I'm up to and praying for me. I'll try to post again soon...
In Him.
Aidan xxx
'Sabia que a primeira igreja baptista, no mundo, foi constituída em Amesterdao, na Holanda, em 1609? Este ano vamos, pois, celebrar o 4º Centenário dos baptistas no mundo.' (This is a little note on the newsletter of the church we went to on Sunday - Rubén (for those who don't know, he's the director at the orphanage) gave a little presentation. It is the church of Joel and Carina (a great couple who work at the orphanage).)
***
So, Saturday was a day off. And it didn't rain! Amazing. Mar (she's so great) took Rosa (her friend who came on Wednesday) and I to Guimaraes - 'Aqui nasceu Portugal' ('Here was born Portugal) - for a day out. We went to the castle there, and then to a big church and around some of the beautiful little streets with delightful cobbled alleys and little shops selling the most exciting stuff, and some of the most delicious pastries I've ever tasted! We also went to a fairtrade shop and then to the restaurant above it for dinner, which was fantastic. Typical Portuguese food, with native Northern Portuguese wine! Very exciting!
(Talk about Health and Safety - there's no handrail anywhere in sight and that's about a 50ft drop onto hard boulders!)Sunday, as I said, we went to church in Porto. I didn't understand a lot of what was happening (although, we did read 1 Corinthians 11 before having communion, which was funny because we'd just done that in Boilerroom before I left...), and it was funny going to such an 'attractional' church off the back of reading 'The Shaping of things to Come'. It doesn't half change my views on things! Then, back home, it was a very relaxing day, with not a lot happening. We did Sunday School for the children, on Acts 16, and had some dinner. Then, in the evening, I DROVE! Sério! Very odd, being on the other side of the road - once I turned out of a turning and instinctively went on the left until Rosa screamed 'No Aidan the other side!' Haha, it was very exciting. Very few cars around, though, so it was fine. It's good to be able to drive, because then when Mar is away susy and I will be able to go places on our day off. Just need to practice a bit first... Then at 11pm, Mar, Rosa, susy and I went to Porto (there by 11.30. Not bad) for Rut's birthday party. Had the most delicious cake - Bolo do Bolangia or something. Mm mm mmm.
So, having gone to bed at 2am, I woke at 9am, had a shower, had breakfast, and then Rubén gave me my instructions for the day. Finally it has stopped raining, so I am able at last to work outside! at the front of the Refuge is a place for the children to play, with a big ol' tree in the middle. Unfortunately, this part has slightly sunk, so all the water collects there. So, my job has been to make the driveway bit lower by digging up the ground and putting the dirt where the children play so that it is higher up. My goodness. Muito trabajo! Forget the gym - if you want to build muscles, just do this! It's slow, hot work. And annoying, because digging one place then makes the bit next to it higher, so you have to dig that bit, then the next, then the next, and so on. Grr.
Yes, that is a pick-axe. Playing with the big boys, now.
'Big Guy coming through!'
I couldn't help it... it was very hot work.I must be careful though, because yesterday I worked so hard that I was too tired in the evening to play with the kids. They're so excitable and cheeky, and I was wiped out. So, I need to take it easier.
Rosa went home today. And now it's raining again. So... yeah, that's Canelas for you!
If everyone could keep praying for me to get to grips with the language, that would be great. I was trying to help Goto with some of his English homework yesterday, but whenever he came to an English word he didn't know, he'd ask me what it was. Sometimes I knew, other times I tried to guess and managed to get it by practically performing the word, and then other times I had no clue. I felt pretty useless, and it was very frustrating. It's been a relaxing weekend, and so far this week has been really hard work!
I'm still on the listen for God's call and what He is directing me to out here. On Friday Mar told me that she sometimes volunteers with the Sally Army in Porto, helping the homeless at night. She asked if I'd like to do that sometimes. I said '¡Si! ¡Claro!' So maybe that's a way in there...
Blessings and love to you all. It's really great to know I've got such great friends back home, wanting to know about what I'm up to and praying for me. I'll try to post again soon...
In Him.
Aidan xxx
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