Elder Lund's Memorial Service

After scriptures, prayers, breakfast, etc (not in that order)...My companion went across the street to get her hair done, and I begin revising my Bishops presentation, based on the experience with revising the Presidents presentation. I also saw the dono - Senhor Costa - to get some help on getting a phone, if he can. He said maybe he could, that he knew the engineer in charge. Then we went to Porto - the memorial service for Elder Lund.

Steve Lund, grandson of Marie Moore, our friend from Tucson, and nephew of Lynn Elrey (or maybe it's Marshall's grandson - anyway there's a connection there somewhere). Marian has brought hugs and kisses to Portugal for him from Marie. We went to the memorial service to report to Marie and Marshall. It was held at the Foz chapel, and was filled with Elders and Sisters who had come with him from the MTC - the big group of 18! And those who had been his companion. We went, although we weren't invited, just because we wanted to.

It was a good service. President Alaino de Silva spoke, Sister Copeland spoke, and President Copeland spoke. Songs were from the hymnal. All was in Portuguese. Pictures were taken. Bunch of tears shed. No one wanted to leave when it was over. And.... Today the carnival started in Arifova!!!!

A world of courage—A world of Faith

A world of devotion—A world of Love

That's my Marian. And if everyone in this world were 

like her—we'd be well into the Millenium! I 

am most privileged just to be allowed to remain with her.

I reworked my Presidents presentation today—based on my experience w/ Pres. Benídio. That was a good meeting last night but I saw some places to improve and refine. He was the easy President anyway—he has been (and still intends to be) institute teacher and supervisor of Porto seminaries. He's solid behind everything I prepare. We prepared and studied all day. The Village of Arrifana has begun decorating for some celebration, the gypsies are still enconced up the road, we're chasing mosquitos—keep getting bit, Lydia and Paulo still aren't back w/ our laundry—should have come Monday. Life goes on....

There will be a memorial Friday at the Foz Chapel for Elder Lund. We prepped good today for the preparation tonight w/ Pr Benídio of the Matosinhos Stake. We picked up film at the Continente, plus some other stuff, and had a good meeting w/ Pr. Benídio. First time at the Foz chapel. It's a re-done mansion, and still has the look of a mansion. The gardens are great. 3 stories, beautifully stained-glass windows and all. A good ride home, because we're officially launched. Appointment set for the 21st to meet w/ bishop of the stake.

Missionary Death

Things today got a lot more sober. We found out this evening that one of our Elders died yesterday. Elder Steven Lund, zone leader at Aveiro, died in Coimbra hospital. We were told that Sunday he had a stroke, they took him to Coimbra to the university hospital. Monday he died! Transferred—just that quickly! Don't know more details. he was due to go home in 2 weeks. He was grandson of Marie Moore—Lynn Elrey's nephew. We had met him here, and talked to him a couple of times—the latest on Friday last—the mission conference. It's a sad/happy and sobering time. It's hard on those remaining—but to be assured of Life Eternal? That's not so bad!!

This was a day of further preparation for our presentations. We went in to Porto to see Xavier—get some stats and things from him, because our Lisbon shipment isn't here yet! Got lost again going across the Dom Luis bridge!—darn it! That always really blows my day! He had just talked to Brother Rocha of Lisbon Distribution. The new car—the Renault—will not be available until August 2nd Week. They can get an Opel Kadett right now—we'll have it next week—with air conditioning! I told him we'll take the Opel. He said what color—I said any color but white. Marian says she's sick of white. OK. Tried to go to the Continente again to get pictures and one or two other things—jammed crowded again, so we didn't even drive in! Feira day at São João  again, so all was crammed crowded here. Elders came in the evening to do reports and such.

Trip to Barcelos

Cool again—and foggy. A light rainy fog this time. We read our scriptures, studied first, then mailed 13 letter of my epistle to the family, went to the mercado for fruits, vegetables and bread, then went to Porto—P Day! A really nice steak dinner at the Chapmans, then off to Barcelos. The ride through the countryside was fabulous. So green you can't describe it. We took a lot of pictures—churches, vineyards, small lanes, a windmill, panoramas—whenever we felt like it. The road was small, winding and fun. When we got to Barcelos, we found a treat! An old Gothic Bridge across the Rio Cávado—a good-sized river. A big fortress on the north bank. We took a bunch of pictures in and around the fortress and its cemetery. Downtown a lovely park w/ well-manicured flower gardens. We shopped a little—got a plate of the Barcelos Cock—the legend tells the story of it.

As can be seen, it's a legend, but is a national symbol, and we were there. It was fun. Lots of traffic coming back, and we shopped a Continente, took Chapmans home, tried a new way out and got thoroughly lost, and led out again. Home at 8:30. Tired. Journal and study awhile and off to bed.

Sabbath Day Trip

The Sabbath. A lot of study, Sacrament Meeting—actually it also was testimony meeting. Some real nice testimonies were borne by the members and 2 or 3 missionaries here. I bore mine! I could understand everything most of them said—part of what the other 2 said! It's coming—I sure pray a lot that I'll be able to understand this people. I had better finality w/ the speaking than before, too. Took a nap. In the late afternoon we took a drive. We went through Escapães to Feira, then thru Curujães to the Oliveira de Azeméis road and back. Study and journal and talk time in the evening. This has been a foggy morning, sunlit afternoon, then the fog settling back in after sundown. Cool and nice. We are hoping it would stay this way.....

A Crash Day

A crash day. Marian still not back to full-speed, and yesterday was another though one. I spent part of the day producing the epistle on the next page. We mailed it out to close family. Lydia and Paula stopped by for laundry. Study. that about it!!