By Donna.
“Páscoa “: This is a very special time of the year in Portugal!! The word Páscoa originates from the Latin Pasch, which is derived from the Hebrew Pesach or Pesah, which means passage or passover. (Read more about this is the Post Scriptum)
In Central Portugal Páscoa is widely celebrated as a time to unite families and friends and commemorate certain long held traditions. During Quaresma (40 days of Lent) and Holy Week, there are many processions and religious celebrations. This year we went to spend those days in Penacova, near Coimbra, Jorge’s hometown, to see if people were actually still participating in the festivities as it was when he was a little boy. To our surprise, the city was packed with people, something very rare for this small town. The traditional Good Friday procession could be observed from various higher grounds in the main thoroughfares. The protagonists were Veronica, who wiped Jesus’s face with a cloth, the body of Jesus and his mother Mary. The firemen and local band had their place as well as the scouts, followed by the faithful citizens. It was a lovely Spring day and the spirit was happy and peaceful. Fortuitously, we met with friends and family members and fondly reminisced of days gone by.
We stayed in the local campground on the banks of the Mondego River. I think some of our best time with the Lord was spent praising Him in the glorious habitat He provided for us and all creation seemed to echo His praises as well!!! “Let the heaven and the earth praise him. the seas, and everything that moveth therein. Psalm 69:34.
We had a music jam session with some of the campers. One couple was very friendly and I had a long talk with the wife. Her husband has some very serious health issues and she was genuinely touched with the IBible we gave them, We became fast friends, and hopefully we will meet again when we return.
Our time in this campground was interesting indeed. We even had the drone crash right on the banks of the river. The bramble bushes were thick and we had to get tools to break through. The campground manager was hepful to lend us his tools but it took us 5 hours to get to the rescue spot.
We also had great conversations with a man from Liverpool, living in Lorvão, near Penacova, We met at the river beach where he came for a swim. He told us how he enjoys life in Portugal, traveling the hilly countryside by bike, working online, and doing lots of swimming. He sounded like a truth seeker, a modern day hippy. We encouraged him to find the truth in Jesus.
After our time in Penacova, we travelled North to Pedrogão Grande, and later to Fundão.
In Pedrogão Grande, we met a couple staying at the campground, who invited us for afternoon tea. The wife absolutely defied science, as according to the doctors she should have died years ago, but here she was living with a multitude of physical ailments and pain indescribable. Her husband, also, had a recent cancer diagnosis and was awaiting treatment. Once again the conversation and the iBible we gave them were greatly appreciated. We pray for their healing and the grace to go through so much. It reminds us how thankful we should be for every day of health.
Next day we went to Fundão, famous for its delicious cherries. We found fields and fields full of cherry trees in beautiful blossom. We met with Joseph, who was to show us a small plot of land. In the end we became friends and we gave him a couple of audio Bibles for him and his family. He was surprised for this unexpected gift. He sounded positively touched. Fundão is near Serra da Estrela, the highest mountain in Continental Portugal. We stayed in local campgroundd and ventured around the hills filming and enjoying the beautiful surroundings.
Back at home, and in preparation for our next road trip, we undertook various useful upgrades to the campervan. New electrical outlets, organization hacks and kitchen shelves! We also worked on some necessary home improvements .
Also, we took the opportunity to attend a lecture by Dr. Jordan B. Peterson in Lisbon’s Campo Pequeno bullfighting ring! This venue doubles as an event arena, and of course the organizers leave out the bulls and add a stage. There was a large crowd in attendance to this event featuring this polemic and now famous psychologist. People seemed inspired by his talk, where he reiterated the fact that each one of us has to take personal responsibility for the things that are wrong with our own life first, and then can we reach out to solve the problems around ourselves, eventually meeting society at large. He referred to this in reference to Jesus’ admonition to “take up our cross and bear it”. .Among a large amount of subject matter he cited various Biblical references. Both he and his wife Tammy were greeted with generous applause when they gave testimony to the impact of God and spirituality in life’s challenging situations.I believe they are a force for good in the world and we pray for their health and their capacity ito reach out to an ever growing woke society. It is evident that many people welcome good conservative values and are in search of the truth.
We had Benjamim”s 27th birthday on the 25th, and we celebrated it in spite of the distance! Ben has been busy with many projects, one of which is his music. He is a prolific songwriter and recently released a new recording of his song ” Wait Till Summer”. This song encourages people not to be hesitant and wait for a perfect time in the future, but instead accomplish what needs to be done right now! He was also interviewed for a local radio and tv show in Macau where he shared a bit of his background in music and he sang his newly produced song. We wish Ben an awesome year to come and eagerly await freshly minted music productions!
Not least, sweet Aurora has turned 5! ” For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven..” We are happy that it is Aurora’s time to be 5 and pray that she has a very blessed year to come as she continues to bring so much joy and happiness to those around her!
Gloria continues on her Erasmus mission in Italy. Since her academic requirements are not being as stringent as usual, she has been able to do some traveling to see the country and get acquainted with its history and culture. This is perhaps a great opportunity to search deeper into her Latin roots. (Polish/Slavic roots are also worthy of greater study but that is for another time, another year.)
Many things are always happening with our family. We leave some for next time. We certainly keep everyone in our prayers and hope to be in yours.
P.S.: (My further considerations about Pascoa/Easter)
The word Páscoa originates from the Latin Pasch, which is derived from the Hebrew Pesach or Pesah, which means passage or passover. Many countries continue to use this term to celebrate the festival held on the first Sunday after the first full moon of Spring in the Northern hemisphere, (autumn in the Southern hemisphere). For the Jews, Pesach is the celebration of the liberation of the people of Israel from dominion of the Egyptians. The angel of death passed over the houses and protected the first born of every family if the house was marked with the blood of a perfect sacrificial lamb. God then used Moses to lead the people out of slavery to the Promised Land. Chistians celebrate Páscoa in remembrance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and His passage from death to life three days after His crucifixion. Jesus Christ, the perfect sacrificial passover Lamb of God, offered Himself through death on a cross as the payment for our sins, and thus delivered us from the captivity of sin. “Christ, our passover is sacrificed for us” 1 Cor 5:7. On the other hand, the anglo-saxon translation of Páscoa to” Easter” does not originate from the original meaning in the Hebrew, but rather from a pagan goddess ‘eostre’, which represented fertility and newness of life. Aforetime, in April, at the beginning of Spring, they worshipped this entity, whose symbols were the rabbit and the egg. The rabbit was designated to distribute colored eggs all over the world. Today, Easter is an incorporation of the Christian Church and certain pagan rituals beginning in the year 325.