uma semana em Lisboa, Portugal

January 31st - February 6th

Olá, chamo-mey Ashton. Eu sou dos estados unidos.

(Hello, my name is Ashton. I am from the United States.)

Yeah, that’s about how far I have gotten with the language this week, Portuguese is pretty hard but I am learning!

Anyways! My first week in Portugal has been a blast. We have done a lot of exploring, everything from Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Jeronimos Monastery) to downtown Rossio to see the street performers to the best café in town to get a cappuccino and a pastel de nata, and of course visiting the local Starbucks. Pictures of all are on my Facebook; make sure you check them out!

Callie and I have been introduced to our supervisors, Bethany and Jonathan, and their sweet little girl, Eliana. I am so blessed to have an amazing family help me grow, learn, and do ministry with while I am here for these months.

Bethany and Jonathan will be leading us in ministering the to university students in Portugal.

A couple of quick facts about the universities:

1. There is not one main campus; you go to the campus that you specialize in. So you have a technical campus, a medical campus, a humanities and social sciences campus, etc. and you go to your campus according to your major.

2. The fraternities and sororities here dress in a Harry Potter style outfit. Black skirts, white button ups, black tie, grey sweater, and a cape with patches of their letters. It is rumored the JK Rowling got the idea of the Hogwarts uniform from Portugal. It’s super cool and when I am downtown I do feel like I am at Hogwarts. *The picture below is a sorority doing some kind of initiation in the town square of Rossio*

3. The campuses are very open. Anyone can walk on, and that’s how we will be doing a lot of our ministry here.

We have met several students and are trying to get plugged in, the students here are awesome and so willing to help Callie and I get settled in this new place. We hope to partner with a lot of them to meet unbelievers and invite them to smaller bible studies, English conversation groups and so on. With the hopes of having a growing, thriving small group together when we leave, to be passed on and continued by Jonathan and Bethany.

Also, we have connected very well with the JourneyMan couple here, Jacob and Cara, and have had several opportunities to get to know them and hang out. Cara is actually going to teach me how to crochet, which is actually kind of cool.

The only difficult part has been the church services, I have to pay close attention to even catch a glimpse of what is being preached and even then I do not get the full message, maybe only a couple of words here and there. But Jonathan has been helping with interpreting and when I get to know the language more it will become easier. This Sunday we actually participated in the Lord’s Supper at the church we have been attending. It was the normal wafer and grape juice like we use at home, but the church we have been attending is the only church in Portugal that does not use actual wine.

While I am here I am committed to memorizing John 15, I pray that a few of you will join me in that. I already have the first verse memorized!

“I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener.”

Also! If you would like my address, please message me on Facebook. Letters, pictures, etc. are greatly appreciated due the bareness of my walls and I would love to fill them with you guys!

Well, that’s all I have for you this week. Stay tuned.

Miss and love you all so much!

Ashton

Prayer Requests:

-Homesickness (It’s getting a lot better)

-Language barriers to be broken down

-That Callie and I become connected with students and make friends

-That we can successfully and quickly start a small group

-That many will come to know the Lord in our time here

-The other 14 HandsOn students around Europe, that their ministry will flourish

Bethany and Jonathan, our supervisors. Their little girl, Eliana, wouldn't take a picture with me... LOL.