Portugal Adventure

I'm online again...here is my email from April 27 if you didn't get it...

Hey everyone! We are now on Day 5 of our Portugal adventure and have been to Lisbon and the cities of Estremoz, Vila Vicosa, and Vendas Novas in the eastern province of Alentejo. We have been doing ministry in these small cities for the past two days, and have had so many cool opportunities to minister.

Yesterday we visited an elementary school and several high schools (so cool to see people that look like me! I met a little girl named Sara who looked like she could be a sister!), and a boys orphanage where they had kids from age 3 to 25. So far, that has been the most difficult part of this trip. I met three boys, aged 11 through 14 named Dougo (sp?), Filip, and Daniel who are brothers from a family of 9 kids. Their single mother could not take care of them, and when they were found and brought to the orphanage they were living in a tiny shack and eating out of garbage bins. They were so eager to serve us, and so hungry for love and any kind of affection. These boys broke my heart. I am close to crying even thinking about it again. I held another little boy name Bruno, about 3 years old. Any of these boys could have been my brothers, and I can´t seem to fathom why they should live there and we should live where we are. It´s a Christian orphanage, so they have heard the Gospel many times, but the director told us that they have difficulty making their faith personal because they have been hurt so many times and have so many walls. All I could do was take pictures and promise to pray for them. One of their sisters lives at the girl´s orphanage that we are to visit today.

Today and tomorrow we will complete our schools, and head back to Lisbon. We are tired, as our days begin at about 6 or 6:30 and go to about midnight or 1 in the morning. I think the time change is still kicking us around a little (5 hours ahead of those of you in the East).

Once the team leaves on Friday, Matt and I have a few days on our own. We can´t decide what to do! One option is Rome, where two staff members are working with the Catholic church to get the Book of Hope distributed in Italy. They invited Matt and I to come for a quick visit, so if we can find a cheap ticket we might take them up on it. Otherwise, we were thinking Algarve (coast of Portugal) or Madrid. But really when I think of it, all I want to do is sleep!

Thanks for your many prayers. We will talk to you soon!
Love, Kathryn