The Besfords in Portugal
September 30, 2005
From Steve and Rebekah Besford, in Oporto
World Outreach Missionaries to Mozambique
Email: beks_moz
yahoo.com
Steve and Rebekah Besford are now in Oporto in Portugal, with Nyasha their little girl, and are studying hard to increase their knowledge of Portuguese. They write:
Bom dia e muitos felicidades de Porto! (Hello and greetings from Porto!)
We’ve been here a month and settled into our new routine of language study.
The weather in Porto is lovely and sunny and still hot (average of mid-20°C). The people are helpful and will go out of their way to show you directions. They are particularly friendly towards Nyasha, babies are a big attraction and people will come up and play with her on the bus without any need of an invitation from us.
At the same time though, people also have an opinion on everything which they are not afraid to share. So for example because it is still hot, Nyasha is still in shorts and T-shirt so we get comments all the time that her feet must be cold or if she is crying on the bus, we get into real trouble from them! This has been quite difficult to get used to coming from the British culture where people think things but will never share them unless invited to do so!
The city itself sprawls along the valley of the Douro river and in parts has retained its historic character with narrow cobbled streets with 3 to 4 story apartments either side, and coffee shops on every corner (the Portuguese know how to make good coffee which Steve is making the most of!)
We have been surprised that the streets aren't kept clean and there iare few parks in residential areas to take children to. Of course what Porto is famous for is its port, and because this is the only place in the world where it is made, every port house has its own tour and free tasting (some 20 to 30 different brands).
We are staying in a 2 bedroom apartment 2 to 3 km from the city centre. The accommodation is basic but adequate and about a 10 minute bus journey to our tutor, Dona Eunice. We have lessons together for 2 hours each afternoon using an excellent set of text books "Portuguese sem fronterias". Nyasha comes with us and has generally behaved very well, either sleeping or playing happily on her own. In the mornings and evenings we take it in turns to study while the other looks after Nyasha and does the chores. This has been working well so far.
Dona Eunice and her husband, Daniel, attend a small Baptist Church in Porto which is where we have been going. The church supports a home for about 70 orphans and at-risk children and also has an old people's home with about 50 residents. We have been visiting separately for an hour or so to practice speaking and to give Nyasha some company. As those of you who have learnt languages will know language study requires discipline and perseverance. We feel that we are progressing well, and Steve is particularly pleased with his Portuguese accent. However, the other day when he went to buy a bus ticket (o bilhete), the shop assistant came back with batteries (a pilha)!
Thank you for your love, support and prayers without which we simply could not be here studying!
God Bless and lots of love
Steve, Rebekah and Nyasha
Prayer points
For now:
- Language learning - discipline in study and that the language
would stick in our minds with the help of the Holy Spirit.
- To hit the right balance between study and family time.
- That we would make some friends!
- For Nyasha to keep in good health. She has been a little unsettled since being here - perhaps just due to teething.
Ongoing prayer needs
- That we receive our residence permits (DIRE) without any hassle
- That we are able to build our house quickly once in Mozambique
- That God would provide the right vehicle for our needs.
Our address in Portugal
We are checking our email once a week but you can also contact us at:
1º Dtº 181 Rua da Areosa
4200 085 Porto
Portugal
Telephone: 00 351 93 6155066
Email: beks_mozyahoo.com
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