mOuNt oF oAks cOmMuniTy...tHe viSioN...

Finally,  after nearly 2 years living here, the time has come to define what this place is all about...what God has been putting in our hearts even before we came to know this place called "Mount of Oaks"... a vision that got matured with time, and I´m sure it will keep maturing...

I'm working on a new blog just for the land and the community as I feel it's already having a life of its own, and I'm not the only one anymore committed to stay for longer...

At the moment there is me, Ton (who was previously in India for 10 years, starting an Ashram in Delhi), Josh and Rosie (an english couple I met on a rainbow gathering who were looking for a piece of land to develop their knowledge on permaculture and live together with other people), Marcia (who's now in Mexico, but soon will come back), and Carli (who came to stay with us for 1 year, but is considering extending that time)...

Of course these are the residents at the moment, but I have to say that the community is beyond those who live here... we are developing relationships with the local village and there are many others who have been part of the life at Mount of Oaks and have been coming from all over the world...some visit regularly, some pray faithfully, and so many contribute to our "magic hat" to provide for our different needs...

we gathered recently when Emma and Juran were also visiting... they are definitely part of the larger community...

I presented the vision God had matured in my heart during these last years and everyone agreed with it, adding little details here and there to accommodate everyone´s desires... we thought it would be nice to share it with others and make a new blog for the community... Of course this is a draft and there are a lot of details missing... but I also trust the details will be given along the way...


THE VISION

a MONASTIC, LIFE GIVING, ECO-COMMUNITY

that's the title I put above the picture I draw...I'll explain each part of the picture soon, but I want to bring some ideas first about these 4 concepts :

MONASTIC - ...in the world, but not of the world...
... reaching a balance between prayer, work, rest & fellowship
... a holistic & organic vision, where everything plays its part in order to function as a whole...we can see things separately, but we cannot really separate one thing from the other...

LIFE GIVING - ...We are here to serve The Giver of Life, so we give and receive Life

ECO - ...LOGICAL...in harmony with all creation...

COMMUNITY - ...being a family... 
...inward and outward focused...
...caring for one another and those around...
...inclusive, and not exclusive...

Lets see the picture now and the different parts of it ...

 »THE ROOTS...THE FOUNDATION... what really sustains the whole vision...

PRAYER, SPIRITUAL GROWTH IN GOD :

*Daily & seasonal rhythms of prayer, fasting, meditation and contemplation
*A place for individual & community prayer (communion with God)
*A place to seek God's presence
*A place for rest & healing (body, soul and spirit)
*A place to pray for others
*Keeping a network of people who pray for the land and community

» THE TRUNK... what holds it...

THE CORE COMMUNITY OF LONG TERM NURTURERS :

*A place for intimate fellowship...being a family... open and loving
*A place to grow with each other in character (healing & Transformation)
*A place to find out more about who we are, developing our gifts and talents
*A place of grace & acceptance of who we are and how we are

» THE BRANCHES... 4 different expressions ...

NURTURING THE LAND : developing permaculture, sustainable living

*Farming : veggies, animals
*Trees
*Crafts : wood, wool, leather, clay, metal, glass, baskets, etc.
*Use of natural resources for energy (sun, wind, water)
*Transforming products (drying, dairies, flour, bread, jams, soaps, medicines, etc.)
*Rest the land and animals (& people), one day a week and seasonally 

NURTURING PEOPLE :

*Provide hospitality, rest, healing & retreat places
*Provide fun for children and adults 
*Provide opportunities for people to serve as volunteers
*Serve the villages around (24-7 prayer/service week & other ways)
*Hosting workshops & Seminars : Permaculture, Music, dance, etc...
*Hosting School groups (educational)
*Going to Markets, fairs and Festivals (ways to share)

SEEKING JUSTICE :

*Being a model on the way we live and how that affects others, both locally and globally
*Networking with other communities for a fair exchange of products
*Developing ways to support communities, projects or individuals in poor countries :
-sharing our experience on sustainable living
-sharing with others their projects&needs (visiting as well)
-sell their products at fair prices & send them money
*Giving part of what we produce to those in need
*Offer space & voice for organizations/associations or individuals who seek justice, both locally & globally ("social fair" at prayer week or other events for example)

MULTIPLYING : by education and encouraging others to do the same elsewhere...

*Encourage and support others to do the same in other places
*Move to others places to start the same kind of community, or visit frequently those in pioneering stages
*Praying for more communities to start or for those who are already starting
*The goal is not to grow big, but to grow strong and steady in our values...being a model to be multiplied by anyone who has the same calling ...


Trees bear fruit with seeds, to produce the same kind of trees... but of course, there will never be 2 trees who look exactly the same ...

This is also a vision I got before I went to the land... a network which I believe God is building, between Eco-villages, Urban monasteries, and the many pilgrims who pass through both of them all over the world...I see this happening already...and more is to come !!!

gEt rEadY fOr lOtS oF nEwS...

There is a lot of news to share, so get ready for a long post...

I'll start from the latest one and go as far as the previous news, which is a long way...

If you noticed this picture, my car doesn't look soooo good... well, I had an accident on the highway... I was coming from Porto, after taking Emma to the airport, and it was around midnight... I suddenly had no control of the steering wheel, and thank God I was not going fast because it was super foggy and I was already sensing there was something not good with the car... I was praying already, so there must have been some angels around the car at that time... I don't know how but I hit the barriers on the right, then hit the ones on the left ones, then spinned, then stopped facing the opposite direction on the fast lane.. oops...

I 'm glad I'm not one to panic... I was calm all the time...
After the car stopped I stayed inside still thinking what would be the next thing to do... maybe call somebody...I was looking for my mobile phone which was on my lap before, but I couldn't find it...actually, all my things inside were out of place...no wonder...I went out of the car to look for the mobile phone underneath the seat, but still didn't find it...
I had my lights off, maybe it would be a good idea to check if I could turn them on...

I was "parked" in the fast lane facing the opposite direction, so that was not a great place to be... Lights were ok, phew!... "Maybe the car still runs" I thought... and it did...
Perfect! I turned on the car and kept driving with the hazard lights on... the car was still working, wow! I still drove about 15 km , trying to get to the next gas station...but it was not feeling so good...so I pulled over and waited a bit more, thinking what to do... I got out of the car, put on my "cool" fluorescent vest, and found the mobile phone, in the back, behind my seat...
I didn't know which number to call for highway assistance, so I thought about calling Emma first because I knew it was about that time she would get home after a whole day travelling... and it was just about the time she was getting home... I told her about it and that I was fine and asked for prayer...after I hung up, the High-way Assistance Car came by... perfect timing!
O.k, I explained to the guy what happened...he asked me if I had Assistance with my insurance...I checked...I had, so I called them to send a tow car...I waited until it came...then I waited again until the taxi came... I came back to the land by taxi, that was funny...

I was maybe 200 Km away, around Viseu ... I arrived around 5am...I had a nice conversation with the taxi driver who was curious to visit the land one day...
Anyway, only the car got damaged, I didn't, thank God !!!... The car is now in a garage in Povoa de Atalaia and today I'm going to figure out how much the repair will cost... It doesn't look so bad, but there's lots of things on the outside to be replaced... I guess it will be a bit expensive... If anyone would like to help on that, I would be really thankful !

The car is still useful in the land... let me know and I can share more details...


ANOTHER SUBJECT NOW...

Not so long before the incident, on the 1st of November I completed 34 years of my LIFE... Yes, I'm glad to be alive still...even though I don't mind dying ...really...when the day comes it comes and I will be happy... 

If by any chance I go before you, don't forget to celebrate it ok ? I mean it !!!

I had a lovely time in Moses with Emma and the Winters, Andrew, Vonny, Joshua,Elouise, and of course Moses, the dog ... What an amazing, beautiful and quiet place to celebrate my birthday... Not with many people, but with very good friends...all that I wished for at that moment... we laughed a lot around the fireplace, telling jokes and stories of all sorts... the wine was good as well and we drank quite a lot...

The next day was pretty relaxed as well... still around the fire... eating, chatting, sleeping, resting, painting... just what I needed...

I Love Moses (the place), I love Moses (the dog) and I love the Winters (the family)...

I love life...  We laughed a lot with Emma and her funny little ways and her beautiful Irish accent... she loves everything, and everything deserves a good "Wow"... I love Emma... 

She spent almost a month at the land this time and it was so good for everyone... we all love her... she's a missing part of this community... but she´s about to start a new job she loves with the Peace and Reconciliation community "Corrymeela", in the north of Ireland...

Andrew's rustic style wine opener ...a screw and a hammer... they told us their love story too and obviously I will not publish it here... I just say it´s a magical one... I'm so thankful for this friendship.... it's like we´ve known each other for years... I like that...

How to pack a tent that sets up in 5 seconds...

well, it can definitely take more than half an hour... better do it by yourself than ask for help...2 people trying to interpret the instructions can lead to more confusion... I just had fun watching ! I didn't help much either... in the end they managed !!

the outdoor compost toilet..."poo with a view"...and what a view !!! Isn't Moses beautiful !

The weekend before that, we had a group from Lisbon coming to help us START THE OLIVE PICKING... we're nearly finished by the way... The Hurst's came, The Uhler's, the Farmer's kids, Jasmin and others kids ... it was a great time...and it was the first time that Marty and Carey came to visit Carly, their oldest daughter who came to stay for a year with us... I love her and I'm so thankful that she's here... she's so gentle, quiet and tender... and so gifted as well... she's amazing...I'm looking forward to get to know her better...I already know that she's an amazing person...

Carly and Jas...

Carey sorting out how to lay the nets...

Me and Jas... It was so nice to be with her, pray with her, and laugh with her... 

Carly and one of her "babies"... she has been amazing in this last month taking care of 2 little puppies Ton found abandoned in the forest...she's learning a lot about sacrificial love...and we 've been learning with her ...wow...she hardly slept the first weeks...waking up every 2 hours to feed them with sheep´s milk that she went to collect from our neighbours... she's amazing !!!

here, with the one she's keeping for herself !!!


ANOTHER SUBJECT NOW...
Just before the olive picking we had with us an amazing group from Scotland... Tim, who was last year with us during the prayer week, brought with him a funny group...at least by the names they would call themselves you will think they're funny... Ling-Ling, Din-Ding, Bo-Bo, Bug and Jeff (which was sometimes George as well).

They didn´t come just for fun, they came to serve us in many other different ways...

I remember many beautiful times in the morning at the prayer shelter... it's so nice when we feel like family with people we hardly know... It was nice to pray with them around the land, together with the ones who came from Lisbon for the olive harvest... we re-dedicated the land back to God, remembering His faithfulness and that God alone is the centre of this beautiful place...

They came to work hard as well... they started our washing dishes place, and cemented our floor in the kitchen...not to mention all the expenses came out of their funds...amazing guys !!! they stayed for about 10 days... and it was such a blessing to have them around...

I 'm sure it was a blessing for them as well...

me, Carly and Christian carrying stones on our "super car"...well, he's not so "super" at the moment as you know... but it was so useful !!!

Ton, the "chef"... he is in India now, meeting with some old friends, and he will be back in December... he's our favourite cook ... he's too old to carry stones, he said ! Thanks Ton !

"Bug" on the preparation of the floor for the "washing dishes place"... we need to give it a better name...

Breaking the floor in the kitchen...me and Bug handled it !!! strong women !!! full power !!!

Nonolito feels at home... that's what it means when they lay down and relax... I love him...he's so sweet...and I miss karmit ! I'm sure he misses her too...sometimes I sing to him one of the songs Karmit taught me, and a tear falls from his eye...

Tim finished the kitchen floor... great job brother Tim ! great job everyone  who was mixing cement, even in the dark, so it would be finished...

Jeff preparing the floor outside...

And... the floor is finished ...

And I´m finished with this post...
I hope I don't take so long to write next time... sorry about that... I also started my "winter" season... so it is time to recluse and be more introspective... don't worry if I keep some silence .. I need that at the moment !!!

hArd 2 sEe tHeM gO...

Many people passed by this summer, but some really touched my heart in a very special way...

it's good to feel the pain when someone dear leaves... it means I love them.
I just wanted to share a bit about some of those who left an eternal mark in my heart...

Márcia became a real sister to me during the time she spent here...she came in January and we really became close friends...I cannot describe how much she means to me...she was my friend in good and bad times, my prayer partner, my faithful supporter when it became too hard for me to handle the things I was holding...and a real servant in this place...everyone sees how wonderful and amazing she is...how dear and cheerful... I'm already missing her laugh...and what a graceful heart...I miss her presence...

she's now in Mazatlan, in Mexico, for a 6 months discipleship training, the same I took in Angola... be praying for her, that God would fill her heart constantly and show her all the things He has stored for her...  pray for her finances too as she still needs 1000e to pay for the training until the end of November.

Uria and Titeli...what a lovely couple...They spent 2 or 3 months with us, I don't remember, but it seemed like a really long time anyway...we immediately connected with each other...

I have precious memories of them : 

celebrating the "Sabbath Shalom" at our prayer shelter (they are both from Israel)... hearing both of their beautiful voices... a powerful "sweat lodge"... their incredible smiles ... Uria's silly songs in the morning...Their JOY, their LOVE... Their devotional hearts to God... Uria's prompting to help and make many new things in the land... listening to their dreams about having a community in his home town near the Galilee...Anyway, these were just a few of many moments... what really touched me was their hearts... words don´t say enough and a simple look in the eyes says everything...
Uria left much earlier because he had his flight back confirmed ... I had to hold my tears as he was leaving, and that was weird... I think our paths will cross again... Titeli stayed a few more weeks... At that time our relationship grew even closer... I have sweet memories of times we chatted and prayed together...and I have the most beautiful pictures stored in my mind of those moments...

Every time I prayed with her I sensed this immense Love that God has for her...
I surely miss them a lot...but strangely I still feel so close still ...
I would like to go and visit them in Israel next year... they will join a 3 month Walk about Love , backpacking from south to north of Israel with people from all nations...but I'll write about that another time...

And finally Karmit...here in this picture, in the middle, between Titeli and Inbal...the 3 Israeli joyful girls...
Karmit was another very special person who spent more than a month here, but it seemed much more than that...I felt a special connection with her as well...somehow she reminded me of myself, maybe 12 years ago ...she's maybe 10 years younger than me anyway...but I don't know why... she reminded me of my time traveling alone in India...

it was funny the way karmit came to find us...
I got a call from a woman at the tourist information office in Fundão, Esmeralda...she told me there was a girl with a donkey looking for a community, and the only community she knew around here was ours... little I knew we were already known... Of course I said she could come and give directions... it´s 15 km from Fundão and she probably didn´t leave in the morning, so she had to sleep somewhere close to us before arriving... she said some lovely people passed by and gave her food... we all loved her... it's not hard anyway... she's just a lovely person... very simple... always willing to help...and with a beautiful childlike heart...

she was traveling in Morocco for 3 months with another donkey...then she came here and got offered "Nonolito" in Algarve (south Portugal)...she was traveling through the mountains already for 3 months until she got here...It was funny the stories she would tell us about people who asked her why she would travel alone with a donkey... why this?... why that?...a lot of times she thought she might be crazy... but she was happy to know people on the way who would encourage her...
A prophet of the new days I would say... carrying the message as a lifestyle...


As "Nono" is a bit old already, she asked me if she could leave him here with us... of course he was welcome!!!...he's a funny one... "Nono the clown" as she called him... he surely lives up to his name ... I love him !!!

We all received so much from Karmit (she might not recognize this anyway)...what a beautiful, gentle person...I'm definitely going to miss her laugh as well...

she still makes me laugh with all the signs she left on the land...

Now she's on her way back to Morocco, as she felt she should go back there...she fell totally in love with Arab culture, especially the Bedouines in the Sahara desert...
she would like to find someone on the way to join her, but if not, she feels she should go anyway...and maybe this time find a camel to travel with...


Contemplating new Horizons...excited with the new things ahead of her on the Journey...
she said she loved being here, and it would be hard for her to go...she said often she likes a place because of the nature around, but here she really felt a strong love for and from the people...
God bless you Karmit...May you be guided and protected by the shadow of God's wings!!!

Yes, it's hard to see those we love going... especially those I get closer to... at the same time, I know that's how things are meant to be... we should always be on the flow...coming and going... enjoying every bit of time we are together when we are together...

wEeK oF pRaYeR, sErViCe & jOy...

Finally I'm able to sit and write about the 24-7 prayer/service week at the village...it ended 2 weeks ago, but it still feels like it was yesterday...I’m still in awe as I think about it...

God spoke to me these days on Isaiah 42:1-4
"Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and He will bring justice to the nations.

He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.


In faithfulness He will bring forth justice;
He will not falter or be discouraged
till He establishes justice on earth.
In His teaching the islands will put their hope."

Availability, dependent on the Spirit of God, humility, empathy and perseverance...
That’s what was seen in Jesus during his life and that´s how I felt Jesus among us during this week, through the power of The same Spirit that is also in us...

It was supernatural... Me and Marcia hardly slept during the week, yet we were filled with energy... Ton couldn’t be in the village because he had a serious burn on his leg (he's still recovering), and it was good that he stayed at the land as there were too many people and it was hard for him to handle it...

Each day we were filled with lots of energy, joy and love which could only have come from the Spirit of God in us...
We kept saying “the joy of The Lord is our strength”... And yes, I’m sure God rejoiced in every single moment and we rejoiced in all the things The Spirit was doing...our hearts were filled with awe, even though we know that we only saw a glimpse of what was really going on...

 There were people from many different nations among us : Portugal (of course), Spain, France, Belgium, Holland, U.K, Germany, Israel, Iran, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Angola, Italy, Austria and USA...well, as far as we know...if we consider Ton who lived the last 10 years in India and Rachel who lives in Czech Republic for more than 12, than we could add those as well... Anyway, this was just a curiosity we noticed...

There were also people from different spiritual beliefs or backgrounds : christians, jewish, muslims, buddhists, hindus, new age and even atheist... it seemed like the kingdom of God, as the local priest mentioned when he came to Mount Of Oaks for tea ...

Yet, Jesus was not shouting, nor making speeches on the streets...He was not crushing any reed which was already broken, He was not snuffing out any wick which was already fading away... But he was definitely among us... this is the kind of people and environment he loves... the misfits and outcasts of today´s societies...

The opening was amazing, as I shared in my last post...it was just sweet to see all those black dressed old ladies coming in to open up the prayer room... It was a very different environment for them, with all the wall paper, paints and brushes, a mattress and pillows on the floor, a creative tree with the fruits of the Spirit, a whole wall with many pictures from people of different ethnic groups, etc... There they were, these sweet old ladies, the ancestors of these lands giving us their blessing...we brought chairs for some of them and I ask them to sing the “our Father in Heaven” as they sing at Mass on Sundays...it was beautiful...and powerful...after that we kept praying and worshiping God as many people were coming in and out... 2 hours passed like 10 minutes...
There was no one signing up during the night shift, so I stayed for the night and slept over...Marcia signed up for every morning, from 6 to 8am, and during the day different people were coming to fill the slots... We didn’t cover the whole 24hours a day (as most people were not fully aware of the concept), but it was nice also to have some times when people could come in and just have a look...

The second night the “Leeds’ Crew” (from the UK) arrived: Ed, Steve, Beth, Tania and Olivier... They are such amazing people...they just came for a few days and you should have seen their enthusiasm to pray as they arrived in the evening after a day driving... They immediately signed up for the whole night...They only stayed a few more days after that, but it was so touching for us all to meet them... They came to serve, and we definitely felt served and loved by them...what a “crew”... thank you guys !!!




While they were in the room, me and Marcia were downstairs at the “welcome area” ... three young people came in and said they came because the priest, Paulo, told them about it... We had such a nice conversation... 2 of them, a couple about to get married, will soon go to Principe, an Island in Africa, part of S.Tome... They will help 2 nuns who are there alone in a mission work...they want to take some solar ovens and see if it would be viable there for local people to use... They are part of a parish in Lisbon...They came the next day and signed up for a 3 hour slot...

Paulo joined them as well and then they all went to have lunch with us at the village Hall... We were having all our meals there because there were big pots and all we needed... They all had a nice time at the prayer room, and I was speaking with Paulo about a Bible study he wants to start in October, once a week... So cool !!! I'll definitely be part of it !!!




During the week we mainly cleaned around the Primary school (which hosted the prayer room) and collected trash from the woods...even “Nono”, the donkey came to help...









I think he wanted to join us at the table...

At the same time, the biggest Trance Festival in the World, with more than 60.000 people,  the “Boom Festival”, was happening just 40Km away from here, and after its last day many more people came from there to chill out at the land... I guess we had around 40 to 50 people at that moment... Me and Marcia hardly went to the land on those days because we needed to focus on the weekend ahead... Ton was just about copping with all the crowds. 

At the weekend we had our special programme.
Ton  came to give a seminar in the morning and many who were at the land came... Unfortunately there was no one from the village, I guess people in this area are not used to participatory workshops and talk,,, we could have done it differently, maybe in the cafes, but now we know...

It was amazing anyway the way Ton  spoke about poverty... he got burnt out with the needs in India while he was there running an Ashram (a spiritual community for the destitutes) for 10 years... 

He came to the conclusion that the way he found to fight poverty is to live simply and not waste the resources that should be used by others... That´s why he came here to live with us...There would be no poverty in the world if all people would live in a simple way...

The other seminars were nice as well...Another one about “poverty”from the portuguese organization OIKOS, another one about “GMO- genetic modified seeds”, and on Sunday another about “Fair Trade” ... Josh and Rosie were giving one about “Permaculture”, but we thought it would be better to show a presentation with some basic concepts and a nice banana cake cooked in our solar oven...

In the afternoon we also had workshops for the young people...Graffitti and circus...


Josh and Rosie went on high stilts, dressed and painted as clowns, along the streets to call out people...the old ladies were having a good laugh at them... Even “Nono”, whose second name is “the clown” joined in the parade...

We had a really good connection with the guys who came from Lisbon to give the seminars...they were amazed with all the things...Bruno and 2 girls who came with him from POBREZA ZERO, and Joao and Pedro from GAIA... they were all really nice people...
...as they finished the seminars on Saturday afternoon, the party started... They were not yet finished and a traditional group with big drums came in playing... I love these local groups... The traditional folk music and dance came after dancing in a big circle ... The “freaks” (us) joined in the circle too and it was a funny mix...the audience was quite funny as well...old people, families with children and the “freaks”...

Josh and Rosie presented a fire show too...It was like a big family party... we made the traditional soup "Caldo Verde" for all and Sr. Rodrigues, the Mayor, prepared a nice barbecue...mainly for us and the groups who came to play...he loves giving... His family was also serving beer at the bar...


The day after was the same, but at 8pm we were closing up the prayer room... 

The “fair trade” workshop, given by Liliana from COOPLANETA, a Fair Trade shop in Tondela, was not even finished when this very strong wind started to blow... It was crazy and wild... I just wanted to leave everything and go to the prayer room... it was like God was calling us to gather... I was not the only one having that impression...

Karmite and Cami holding our tripod before it would all collapse...
Some came to the room as well and we could still hear the wind blowing like crazy through the windows...we stood in silence...some of us gave thanks to God for the amazing time we had during this week and the amazing things God has done...

I stood and picked up the bread and wine we had at the foot of the cross...then I read this prophetic vision that John of Patmos tried to describe in Revelations 5:1-10
"...Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He came and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song:

"You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth."

The Lamb of God who was slaughtered by humankind without resisting or using any violence to defend himself, in order to destroy evil once and for all... God proposed this Lamb to be the ultimate sacrifice to end all the demands for sacrificial religious rites and to grant forgiveness to all peoples, of every tribe, language and nation... God brought an end to all the priesthood systems who seek to control innocent people, making us all priests in this new kingdom of Love and justice...

 
 I broke the bread and took the wine and suggested that we all share it with one another saying “we are One”...

It was beautiful... 

After a time of silence, strongly feeling the presence of God, I picked the guitar and started to worship God... everyone joined and the presence of God was stronger and stronger... I cannot really describe it... After maybe 2 hours we stopped... Everyone was filled with Love... Honest hugs were given..some were crying with emotion...
I was exploding with awe and Joy...and it was not just me ... The party was already going on, so we all went there to join it...

I finally sat down, speaking with my sister Edna, when Sr. Rodrigues came by... All he said was “Only God...”. 

I smiled and said the same...
Everyone was filled with Joy...

I hope this reading blessed you as much as we were blessed...

THANK YOU GOD, FOR ANSWERING ALL OUR PRAYERS...AND BEYOND !!!!
ALL FOR YOUR GLORY !!!


here's Mafalda on the circus workshop 

...the graffitti workshop with Timmy...

The kids loved it !!!

Sarita is always helping of course...here washing some dishes !!!

"Ganda" Timmy !!!  I still have to take a picture of the final work! 

"Remember your Roots... Póvoa de Atalaia"...I loved that !!!

others preferred the circus activities !!!

mothers and grandmothers preferred to watch 

it was nice to have Andy and Vonny with us too...

Belarmino, Ton and Daniel peeling peanuts for the french  "Crepe" that Cami volunteered to make... 

There were always people waiting for more... We also made a big pot of soup to distribute and all these things were for free... from us and the "Junta de Freguesia". 

The "freaks" and the folklore dancers...what a colourful combination!

Joshua and Nelson always prepared to help..

Now I leave you with some random prayers which were spread all over the prayer room...

this one we offered to Liliana from Cooplaneta...we had a cool time with her when we went to take back the products she left to sell... she feels quite alone because she doesn't want to live like "everyone" does...

this one we offered to Sr. Rodrigues, the Mayor..."Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.."Psalm 86:11

...and we tore it all down...

we took all the prayers outside and made a nice bonfire..."they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints"...

... and the cross was left on the side of the track from the village to the "Mount of Oaks"