Seeing the city – Storming the castle

We were able to sleep in a little more this morning since we are through with our traveling. We got up about 8:30 to get around and ready for breakfast. Our room here at the Holiday Inn includes a nice breakfast buffet in the cafeteria. We ate with the Krantzes and Gary Sones, and were soon joined by the Bertrams. It has been interesting to see the development as a group between the individual pastors. We have been able to know each other much better in the short amount of time we have been together. Shared experiences help us grow in our interpersonal relationships. I have begun to feel the passion and burden of the pastors in our group as we have visited, ministered, and relaxed and had fun together.

We met in the lobby of the hotel at 10:00 this morning and piled into the vans. I was unsure of where we were going, but it really did not matter because I planned to go anyway! We took a route around the city of Lisbon where we had many wonderful views of the Atlantic Ocean. Lisbon is a port city and the capital of Portugal with an apparent thriving economy. The waters of the Atlantic seem much prettier from this side of the globe. The colors were rich blue and green. We didn’t stop along the route so I’m not sure if my pictures, hastily snapped from the windows, will come out at all.

Our route led back through the narrow streets of a city neighborhood that could just as easily have been in some of the coastal California towns. We ended up on a very narrow switch back mountain road that led to one of the highest points outside the city where an ancient castle was built hundreds of years ago on and around the rocks of the peaks. It is called the Pena Palace. We drove as far as the gates (and the ticket counter) and then paid our ticket fare for the trolley that would carry us on up the mountain to the palace.

The sheer size and color of the Pena Palace is extraordinary. The influence of many cultures and art are evident. There are turrets, guard towers, a clock tower, and lookouts all around. You can see the entire valley area and it overlooks the ocean. It was originally built as a summer palace of one of the more extravagant kings of Portugal’s history. When it became hot in the lower elevations he moved to the mountain top palace where the ocean breezes come blowing through the windows of the palace. The Palace dates back to 1839, when King Fernando II (1816-1885) bought the ruins of the Hieronymite Monastery and started to renovate it for use as a residence.

We took a lot of pictures from the various vantage points around the castle. They did not allow any photographs inside the castle, but there were abundant opportunities for pictures on the outside. The interior rooms were fully furnished with gorgeous antiques, many of the items originally belonged to the royal residents. There was even a chapel, ornately furnished, reflecting the Catholic influence.

From the castle we drove back down the switchback roads to the city. Our destination was the favorite chicken place of Missionary Gary Sones. Unfortunately, the restaurant was closed for a two week vacation. It appears we will be unable to enjoy the blessing of his favorite restaurant. Plan B was to go a small restaurant in a mall where you pay six euros for all you can pile on one plate. (I practiced restraint here!)

The mall was very similar to one in the States. There were different brands of stores but the normal variety of electronics, clothing, accessories, books, cameras, and a large department store called Carrefour. According to Gary Sones it is somewhat like a Wal-mart super center. The food court had some recognizable labels, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Haagen-Dazs ice cream that I recall.

Today we had enough time after our morning tour and afternoon lunch to return to the hotel for a little siesta before going to our first service in Portugal. It was a welcome break as we have been on the go constantly since our arrival.

We met in the lobby for our commute to the service at 7:30. This small church is a storefront building not too far from Missionary Markham’s apartment. It is about a 30 minute drive from the hotel, depending on the traffic and the speed of the drivers! We have made many comments on the latter, but have to admit that we have been driven safely about the country and have had the luxury of not driving, something very different for me.

Their service began at 8:30. Many people in the large cities commute to work on public transportation. By the time they get off work, commute home, and eat a meal, it is not possible for them to get to church very early. So they have a later service and just cut out the unnecessary preliminaries. Most of the group came in right about 8:30 with some arriving after the service began.

Our group of twenty (including the missionaries) more than half filled the small church building. The pastor of this assembly has a wonderfully talented family. They range in age from about 8 to 12. His oldest son plays the drums. His daughter plays the keyboard and sings beautifully. Another son sings and received the offering for the service. Their mother led the worship working with the children. There were about thirty in attendance besides our group. The place was packed and two or three stood in the back.

After the singing and worship Missionary Markham introduced the visitors from the States and called on some to testify. Ron Krantz was the preacher for this service. He preached to build the faith of this small church. He brought some visuals to help illustrate his points. He spoke of the problems we have, but emphasized God’s great ability to cover our problems using different size balls and a clay pot to cover them. The interpreter was a young college student, a black girl from Angola who was articulate in English and Portuguese. She did a great job of staying up with Brother Krantz. There was a great move of God and a response of faith to the Word of God. As people began to respond in prayer, the service turned into a prayer meeting and many of the visitors (several have been in home Bible studies) began to pray and open their hearts to God. This was a wonderful congregation and the people were open and receptive.

We returned to the hotel after a brief visit with the people of the congregation. The restaurant in the hotel and the one we ate in around the corner was already closed when we arrived. There was a small deli café where some purchased pastries or drinks. Gayla and I retired to our room and ordered a ham sandwich and a fruit salad to share. The “ham sandwich” was a dinner roll cut in half with two thin slices of ham on it. No lettuce, no cheese, no tomato, no spread! I guess if you want something else on it you have to ask for it!

We are now in our final weekend and our thoughts are turning toward home. We can’t stay away forever! Soon, it’s back to our world.