By Donna

The month started off with some very happy news for Jason. Jason arrived from Macau at the beginning of June and after four months of waiting, his suitcase was finally delivered to him from the airport at the beginning of October! They say it was a very hectic summer with a great amount of traffic at the airports. Whatever the reasons, Jason is just content to have his life’s treasures back again!😊

We had a very warm and sunny month, however in foresight of what is to come this winter, Jorge ordered and installed dual pane windows for our apartment. Thanks to Gabriel and Jason we were able to get the heavy windows up three flights of stairs and into the window frames! It was an entire week of work and Jorge did an amazing job of the installation. Let the cold arrive! 🙂

Gloria participated in the iPitch competition which gives students the opportunity to win an internship at a renowned medical center. In the final phase of the competition, the participants presented their pitches on stage at the the iMed conference, an annual medical students convention in Lisbon. Gloria won the competition and was awarded a 2 week internship in Scotland focused in reconstructive surgery.

Jason has been studying hard and has gotten thru his mid term exams. He has very busy days, getting out the door at 6 am! It’s a trek to school and he regards getting to class on time a very serious issue!
On the other side of the ocean, young Zac had his 7th birthday and has entered the first grade! He has ever so much to say on a variety of subjects!! Below he dressed up as Asterix for a school event! Also, on the other side of the ocean, but cloclwise, in Macau, young Isabel is happy going through the changes of milk teeth to permanent teeth – how exciting!.

Not least we had a short Sunday trip to Cabo da Roca, with Joana and Jason, as Joana was about to leave for Macau and wished to visit that spot, which is famous for being the most Western point of the European continent, where Europe really starts, or where it ends, depends how you wish to look at it. Coincidently it has the Cross, the symbol of Christian faith, placed there many years ago, when Europe was indeed a Christian continent. Today, there are many questions concening whether it has become a post-Christian land. The cross remains there, nevertheless. Thank God for that.

If you wish to have a feeling how it is to travel in Portugal on a Autumn rainy day, check the following video from our car (van) camera:

Thank you so much for reading this brief update. Do not forget to pray for peace in this world – “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:9