Mom tells me that my experiences sound like a novel. If a novel, than this week sounds like Jane Eyre. We came home on Tuesday, smiling up at our Christmas lights as we headed down the hill. We saw a stir around the corner from our apartment and like the obedient missionaries we are, avoided large crowds and went into the building. Stepping into the elevator we were greeted by smoke--not an uncommon occurrance as half of the population here smokes and some uncurteously do so inside the public parts of our building. However, during the ride up to our apartment we decided that it didn´t smell like the varieties of cigarrette smoke we had become accustomed to. Opening on our hallway we were met with a haze of the same unpleasant smoke. We then put two and two together and decided that the hub-bub outside accompanied with firetrucks must have been gathered outside the garage door that leads under our apartment complex and that something there must be on fire. We knocked on our neighbor´s door and she was unaware of any happenings and so we headed back down to ´see what was the matter` On the street the smoke billowing from the afore mentioned garage entrance was blacker and blacker and, during the twenty minutes we waited to see if the situation would resolve itself, more firemen and engines were arriving. We decided after consulting with our district leaders that the best thing to do would be to wait out the night in a safe, smoke free place. We then headed back into the smoky building and gathered the few of our few possessions that we could not replace and headed to the house of a member who lives nearby. It was all kind of surreal, and a bit liberating to leave our building with the few things with us that really matter in the world (scriptures, pictures, letters) and an extra skirt. Your really see what matters in life. Anyhow, we had a great pajama party at Ana´s house and during our studies in the morning we received the following text message from the district leaders:
Blue tiger to mother bird, blue tiger to mother bird, come in, do you read? Is everything alright?
to which we replied:
Mother bird to blue tiger. All the hatchlings are safely under the Ana-wings. Studies are flying high. No word yet on the charred nest-tree. Will send word by sparrow.
and then returning to our house later that day:
mother bird to blue tiger. Nest-tree still intact. Happy day, all is well. Smooth sailing and clear skies.
Our house which had a bit of a haze when we came in to retreve our belongings the night before was clear and only with the faintest trace of smoke. So, not to worry, we still do have a house and our lungs are still relatively clear, or no worse off than normal, and we have been getting our exercise by walking up and down the stairs as the elevators are still a bit hazy. Just another day in the life of the novel missionary.
This week I also finished the Book of Mormon again and it is still true... in fact to me it is even more important than the last time that I read it. That book is really a marvel and I´m so excited that members and non-members the world over are changing their lives and turning closer to Christ by reading it. I´m so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and for the love that I feel daily. I´m also grateful for the opportunity to share the happiness that I have with the lovely people in Portugal. I love you all!
ellen
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