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).)

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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