Nina Andrzejewski is a Gardendale native who has lived and worked in Portugal as a missionary since 2008.

How did you end up working in Portugal?

My husband, Michael, is the pastor of two churches in Portugal. A few years ago, he was looking over the story of Jonah; Jonah was told by God to go to Nineveh, but he fled to Tarshish where there wasn’t much belief in God. Michael tried to find where Tarshish would be on a modern map, and he determined that it was around where Portugal is now. We knew about numerous missionaries in Spain, but none in Portugal, so we felt moved to go there.

Isn’t Christianity the dominant religion in Portugal?

The country is mostly Catholic, yes, but it is a very sad, cold religion. It’s all very rigid ceremony and ritual. There’s no saving knowledge of Christ. It’s not catholicism like you or I know it. It’s not like St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church here in Gardendale.

Was it difficult to leave your life behind and move to another country?

Our five children came with us, but we had to leave our friends and extended family in Gardendale and Mt. Olive behind, and it’s been hard to miss holiday gatherings and even funerals. We have adapted fairly well, and we are all pretty fluent in Portuguese. I appreciate the American lifestyle more than I ever have, and I realize now how much we take for granted. We have been exposed to so much there, and the opportunities we’ve had have been amazing.

Have you been able to keep in contact with friends and family?

I started a blog called “Portugal Bound” as a way for family and friends to keep up with my story. I’m visiting around here for a little while right now, and we’ll also come back next summer for visiting and fundraising.