Elder Chase Herrmann: 12/12/16 - First week in Tavira!

WELL, I AM HERE IN TAVIRA!!! Wow, it is so pretty here and I already love Tavira so much! Basically it is a very old city in Algarve, and there is a river right in the middle of the town so there are 4 bridges. It feels like a combination of Rome and California. It is all old buildings with cobble stone streets and tiny alley ways but at the same time has this California vibe. There is a big castle from the 1300s that is just a block away from where I live. There are a lot of tourists here! When we are contacting if they are American they are surprised that I speak English, though as my Portuguese gets better my English gets worse. I forget so many English words and by habit respond in Portuguese, it’s only been 5 months; at this rate in 2 years I won’t be able to speak any English! The streets are very narrow with old buildings on both sides and they curve and bend and each street has a different 3 worded confusing name. So it’s pretty easy to get lost. I feel like I am in a maze all day long.

Something cool about having a Mexican comp who doesn’t speak a word of English is that we speak 24|7 Portuguese which is helping me get better at the language. I’ve gained a lot of confidence and feel comfortable talking to anyone about anything now. It feels so good to be able to express myself! Something also I love about this place is that the people are so nice here! People are so open to talk and its truly a blessing.

We had district meeting this week in Olhão and it was really good. I love the other elders and we are really good friends already. After the meeting we went to an “all you can eat” Japanese restaurant. The elders of Olhão said that the workers there hate missionaries because we eat all of their food. We went in and said, "Table for 6 people," there was a big moan from the worker. It was really funny but we ate so much I can see why they don’t like us.

The work here is very slow and not progressing. I heard the branch was small but when I showed up to church there were only 9 members. It was a real big culture shock to me with no priesthood holders other than us and the president of branch. Because of this, we elders get to do a lot. We bless the sacrament, pass it and do everything the priesthood holders needs to do. We had the primary program but there is only 1 kid in the primary so basically everyone just sang. It was kind of funny but to be honest I felt the spirit so strong. It was such a testimony builder to me that these people still come to church even though they are so small, it really touched my heart.

This week we had a special experience. We went and saw this less active member, the previous missionaries said not to bother with because he is crazy. He was really nice and we talked soccer with him and after he told us he is actually a Jehovah ’s Witness. We still gave him a lesson and he said he felt the spirit so strong. At the end of the lesson he looked at us and said, "I think this lady needs your help right now." We didn’t even ask for a referral, he just gave us her name, Lucressia. We went over to her house and she opened the door we said how we are there to help her and we love her. She broke down in tears, and told us that her husband died recently and they cut her lights and she was having a really hard time. We instantly started teaching the 2nd lesson to her and she liked it a lot. We did all of this in her doorway on the street. At the end I asked if I could pray for her. She said yes and during the prayer I felt the Spirit so strong. I was saying words I don’t even use or know. When we finished I looked up to find her crying, my comp crying, and me crying (it was a crying fest)! It hit me so hard that the Lord prepared her and had us go to the less active so that we could reach her. I love being the Lord’s servant and being a tool in his hands.

Today we went to Faro for p-day and it was really really fun. We played football in a park which I really needed!! I love my mission so much! I love helping the Lord and finding people to come unto him. This is what it’s all about.

I love you all and FICA BEN!

Elder Herrmann