New Apartment in São João

A little trouble waking up this morning—didn't make it awake until 8:00 (That's really late for us.). President and Sister Copeland took us out to São João da Madeira—our new home. It is some 40 kilometers south of Porto and a little off the freeway. Beautiful country all through there, with patches of forest alternating with white houses and red tile roofs. Vilanova de Gaia is across the Douro River, then some bairros (apartment complexes), then little towns. Off the freeway and almost to São João, there is an old Castle which we'll want to learn about as soon as possible. Our apartment is one of four in a new building above a couple stores. It is roomy, clean, and very, very much appreciated. It has 3 bedrooms, a living/dinning room, 1½ baths and a good-sized kitchen with a clothes washer right outside veranda—in fact there are 3 verandas! Nice tile work all around, and I think we'll like it a lot. Lunch across the street at the café. And we met President and Sister Aires. This is the man and wife we'll be working very closely with—he's São João District President. I'll be his executive secretary. We made some purchases to further outfit the place, then back to Porto, dinner, another interview and bed!