Dear Friends and Family,
Here we are, rapidly approaching Springtime in Portugal. Usually March is a sunny, warm month, but so far it looks to be rainy and cool. Come summer, we will be glad for all the rain as our reservoirs are full. Helen and I were in the States the months of December and January, spending some wonderful quality time with family and friends as well as ministering in a number of churches in four different States. Now, we are back home and preparing for a busy travel schedule for the rest of the year. It is also a time to get our check-ups and dental work, as well as reconnect with our wonderful church family here.
For about five weeks, starting the 8th of April until the middle of May, we will be ministering in a number of churches in Southern Germany and Albania. We plan to drive, so as to be more flexible as well to be able to visit friends in France and Italy on the way. Our two grandchildren that are with us in Portugal, (Lara and David), will join us for the week after Easter when they have Spring break. They will fly to Switzerland, where we will pick them up and then be their guides to visit some of our favorite places. Their birthdays are in April, and they are turning 18 and 21, so, this will be a special time for them. We will also spend a day with our granddaughter, Ruth, who is a professional ballerina in Stuttgart. We will be able to take in one of her shows too. So special!!!
A great-niece and two of my sisters will visit us here in Portugal this year. Joyce and her granddaughter for a couple days at the end of May and Lois at the end of June. We are so blessed when family can come visit us here. Portugal has become a “hot spot” for tourism and many ex-pats have been moving here for retirement or remote working. The world has discovered our “secret”. Last year we have had some of our grandchildren, that live in the States, come visit us. Alex and Sarah Reimer came in August, and later in the year announced that they were expecting our first Great-granddaughter. Funny what Portugal does to people. This precious little “bundle of joy” will arrive in May.
As we enter the summer months, our travel will take us primarily to Africa. We will be in London for a week in June, but then we are off to Angola for over a month. There I will be speaking in two Bible school graduations, a national conference, and the teaching in two different Bible schools we have helped start in the interior and South of the country. Since I will be there for five weeks, Helen will return home earlier than I. In the middle of the month, I will be adding a trip to Mozambique, to the province of Inhambane, to help in a new church plant. A day after I return from Angola, we fly up to Sweden to minister in a church family camp. In September we will be back to the States for our annual board meeting, but not sure how long we will stay before returning to Portugal. We will keep you up on more details in our next newsletter.
Helen has continued her ministry in the prison on Thursdays, teaches art on Mondays, and meets with a group of ladies from our village for coffee on Friday mornings. She just completed the process of getting four teeth implants done. She is so happy for that to be done. We are excited about what God has for us, as we see so many doors opening. God has called us to the nations, and we will continue as long as we can. Thank you for your prayers, friendships, loving involvement, and shared faith.
Will all our love,
Jim and Helen Reimer