Feliz Pascoa!

So, I have now been back in Portugal for nigh on two weeks. And I haven't blogged once. Apologies.

Naomi has also been over for a splendid 10 days. Excuse me while I gush over her. She is amazingly wonderful and fun, a top girl with a top mind; interesting and beautiful; a lovely voice; a heart full of love for all the children here. And they all love her back. Everyone does. Just to see her would have been enough - we spent 10 days praying and laughing and sharing and discussing and traveling and so much else - but to see her looking after, caring, and loving these children made my love for her grow far beyond before and overflow dramatically. She has such a heart for God, and such a yearning to serve Him and look after those He loves. She really is something else.

We spent the first few days in the orphanage - it was nice and sunny so afternoons were spent under the sun on the grass, reading books, playing guitars and singing, and learning Spanish. She helped Susy and I figure out a few games and activities to keep the children - who are of course all on Easter Holidays (Pascoa) - nicely occupied. However, most of them thought it was far more fun to treat me as if I had an unbreakable neck and was, in fact, a horse. Whoopee.

At the weekend I took Naomi over to Porto to show her the city, the ups and downs, the touristy things and those things breaking God's heart and mine. We went to the Câmara Municipal (parliament building) and photos were taken, before going on to an art exhibition of films, which was very odd but very exciting, and then we walked through some lovely streets to the incredible tea shop (as in, proper tea shop, like Starbucks but for tea from all around the world) where we had Lemon tea from Russia and the richest and most delicious Mango Cake ever... In the evening, a stroll down to Casa Vila de Gaia to find a nice restaurant turned into a hunt for a veggie meal consisting of something other than simply an omelette. It was difficult, but finally we found somewhere doing a splendid vegetable tagliatelle. Taken with some beautiful Old Tawny Port, this was a delightful dinner. Since our food was finished before out Port, we decided to down the remaining half glass we both had. Interesting and enjoyable effects - happiness ensued. The next day, despite the clouds, we decided to venture down to the beach. A good choice. It wasn't too chilly, but perhaps it would have been nice for Mr Sun to appear. Nevertheless, we went undeterred to stand on the striking and dramatic rocks dotted all along the beach upon which the waves were softly splashing, until the much larger crash which encountered upon the very rock Naomi stood on. She got soaked, and it was funny. While I laughed, she changed into her bikini, hoping her clothes would dry. They didn't. But she had to put them back on anyway for the bus ride back to the centre, from where we jumped on a train to Ajuda for to go to church. Lisa and Byron Borden were there, they told me about the church. Unfortunately, we had to dive out before they'd even finished the service in order to get the bus back in time. A fantastic weekend, all in all, if a little tiring :)

The beginning of our weekend, before both our cameras died. Standard. I thought she needed to appear on here - ain't she just gorgeous?!

This past week has ben cloudy and showery. We have had a group from Andalucia who left on Wednesday morning - we went to Régua with them on Monday, which was great fun, travelling on the romantic old train and have lunch in the delightful little town. Naomi and I drove Mar to the aeroporto on Wednesday morning as well - she went to a big Christian conference in Spain where she was working on a stand for Agapé - before driving to Guimaraes. Although, we arrived before the castle and chapel were open, so we sauntered down to the town centre, saw the cute square, went into the big Catholic church and had a reverent prayer time, and then a good discussion about the Catholic Church, some history, tradition and its importance (?) and such things. Having done some more walking the sunshine with hands clasped and arms touching, we walked back up to the chapel first, and then to the castle. Once again I had a real isse with the height and the drop from the upper level, but Naomi had no fear. Watching the love of my life lean over that drop was one of the worst things ever. We had a fun time though, imagining different rooms and their purposes, and meeting a bunch of hyper school kids who thought we where French (even after we told them we were English) - Naomi got that a lot here. We decided then to leave because by now it was nearly 1pm and we were hungry. We didn't know the way home, and had no petrol, so it was very exciting. However, using a very small scale map, we managed to figure out the way, but it took a long time to find a petrol station - at first I was pretty easy going, but I got a little more nervous with each passing kilometre - and it took almost 2 hours to get home! But get home we did.

At the station for the Régua train (left to right: Marcos; Jorge; Deborah; Noemi; Joel)

More station - that's Joel in the middle

The view from the train

On the romantic old train

And now, after a couple more days with a new group from Malaga, a bunch of teenagers who remind me a lot of me and my good friends back home at that age - Naomi has left. And it's heart-wrenching. Though, if there's one thing God has pointed out to me, it is that although I am now alone in that Naomi is not here, I certainly am not lonely. And I am so thankful for that.

And so I'm back.
Dubai was ace. It was so great to be back with my Mum and Dad and little Bro again. I hope you're all having a great albeit odd Easter!

Coldstone Creamery Ice Creams - very tasty and excitingly made.
On our cruise dinner - lovely curries :)

Being back is not as I expected. Perhaps I need to just get back into the swing of things - I keep having days where I understand very little Portuguese of Spanish, and can speak even less, although those days have quickly become separated and infrequent - they were before I left, and now they are returning to that state very quickly. Dinora still doesn't seem to like me, so I must try and work on loving her. The other kids are all over me - so much so that it's so peaceful to get a break from them. And the teenagers and chilled and laid back and friendly as ever.

However, I totally forgot it was Good Friday yesterday. I knew it was Holy Week, but today I was suddenly like, 'hang on, today is Saturday... Holy Saturday...' I've been trying to catch up on the Bible readings as a consequence. No one mentioned it. Apparently they're all doing something tomorrow, all going to church. I've got a morning church service at Riverside, so I am writing this from there, since I am staying the night. Bill and Tina - top.

I will endeavour to post more frequently. I had an incredible chat with Bill and Tina over dinner tonight. Watch this space!

Let me know how you are doing. I'd love to hear how you are doing. Oh, and everybody? Happy Easter! Christ HAS Risen! It is GOOD NEWS! Boa Pascoa!

Keep in God's family!
From, His child and friend,
Aidan x