By donna.
May was a month of many miles of miracles! We started off heading south to survey the Costa Vincentina which stretches from Burgau to Odeceixe thru the Vincentine Coast Natural Park. This absolutely beautiful protected area is dotted with amazing wild beaches, sand dunes, wildflowers, multi-colored rocks and imponent cliffs. These beaches are fantastic locations for those surfers proficient in riding big waves in the wild Atlantic Ocean! There are also beaches that double as river banks surrounding shallow lagoons which are a perfect environment for families with kids, kayakers, and paddle boarders. An added feature of the area is the Rota Vicentina network of hiking paths which traverse a landscape of estuaries, wetlands, and towering cliffs. As we continued south we were accompanied by very strong winds passing through the region which was great for the surfers but which seriously hampered our videoing efforts. By the time we got to Sagres, the extreme western tip of the Algarve, it was virtually impossible to do any type of filming due to the strong winds. However, we did meet some very nice people along the way, for example, a lovely Scottish couple who helped jumpstart our caravan when we woke up one morning with no battery power! Another time we were rescued by a local mechanic when our gear shaft malfunctioned and we were left stranded out in the middle of the cork trees! Ah, the wonderful adventures of the caravaning life 🙂
It is not something we take pictures of very often, but one of the most accomplished part of our voyages is when we meet people with whom we are able to share the good news of the Gospel. We have a very easy and straight forward opportunity when we present our audio Bible as a gift from China, with love, which we always take with us for that purpose. It is the most amazing surprise to receive a Bible when you did not expect it. An audio Bible at that – something some people did not know existed, droped on them, as from heaven. This has indeed been one of the most fulfilling part of our voyages. While we are filming nature created by God, to match the Word that created it, we are also spreading the Good news of the Gospel, leaving the Word with at least some of the people we meet. We thank God for that.
On our second journey we headed up towards central Portugal. Here we were greeted with lots of clouds and rain which was absolutely fantastic as it was beautiful for filming and it replenished the earth with moisture. We find the people in this area very friendly and it is easy to strike up a conversation. This has led us to new friendships in the cities we stayed in and we are looking forward to returning to this area often. It is very fruitful, not only in a metaphorical sense, but literally: fruit trees are heavy laden and especially cherries trees, which are being harvested now. Our friend Andre drove us around the rural areas and it was a sight to see.
Well, there would be a lot more to say, but we shall come back next month with more news. Hopefully we will hear more from you all and we will get more images and news from other parts of our family. Love and prayers.