Cape Verde Week 5

Bom dia, tudo bem?

So goes the greeting we use everyday as we walk the streets of Mindelo. “Good day, are you doing well? It always brings a smile and generally a response of “bem” or good. We try a put forth a friendly smile to everyone, as by now most of the town knows there is an American couple living here, who speak terrible Portuguese. Everyone though seems friendly, except many of the Chinese shop owners. They sit behind their counters and frown at all the customers. It takes a concerted effort to get them to smile, but once you break the ice they are friendly folk. Although when I say” Jo san” hello in Cantonese, they just look at you. Then I try “Ne how ma” hello in Mandarin (please excuse the smelling of my Chinese words), again no response, so I say it slower and they kind of oh “Ne how ma”! But they do respond to, Tchau, goodbye in Portuguese. We seem to need something every day or so and so we visit all the little shops, which generally are owned by Chinese.

This week we visited the other 2 branches on Sunday. Sister Waller played the piano in both as they have no music person. They were poorly attended as far as numbers go, around 65 people in each, but each branch has well over 400 members. So there is lots of reactivation work to do. Monday evening we hopped on the bus and went to President Tavares home for FHE. He was supposed to meet us at the bus stop so we would know where to get off at, but he was late. This is a habit around here. Everything is on Cabo Verdian time, which is always late except for closing the door for lunch. Anyway we ended up passing his place and going allthe way back to town. There we caugth a taxi and had Pres. Tavares give directions over the phone. we made it and had a nice FHE with 4 investigators.

In our last newsletter I put a picture of a US Coast Guard Cutter in the harbor. Today as we were downtown we saw a US Navy Destroyer in port. I quess Mindelo is a stopping point for Atlantic crossings on the way to the Persian Gulf.

We are still having problems with the internet, it is quite slow during the day, but seems to speed up a bit in the evening. We have though enjoyed your response to the Blogspot. It seems to be a nice way to transmit information with pictures.

We are busy preparing for this coming weekend; we have both Zone conference and District Conference. Elder Vinas of the 1st Quorum of Seventy (counselor in the Area Presidency) will be here for all the meetings. Looks like I have to give 2 talks, plus help with arrangements for refreshments for the Zone Conference, which basically means lots of cookies and punch.

Sister Waller now has 3 students in her piano class, and after Conference that number could jump as high as 6. That will be nice to keep her busy. Although just keeping the house clean; going with the Elders and Sisters; food on the table; giving blessings, and in general sorting through mission problems, keeps us busy most days.

Sister Waller & Eddie practicing at the capela ( Chapel).

Well tchau for this week. Love to all.

E/S Waller, Mom & Dad, Bama & Bampa

Here I am mixing boric acid and an egg yoke to kill the cockroaches!!

Sister Souza & Vaterlaus got an A+ on their apartment inspection!!!

Waller Family

Cape Verde Week 4

Path down the Mountain on Santo Antao!

Well our week has been a long one. We lost the internet last Sunday and it looks like it will be out for at least another couple of weeks. We have had a few exciting things happen though this week. We went down and purchased a washing machine, so washing clothes now is a much easier task. After getting it install and finally getting the water supply to not leak we watched it go round and round (it is front loader); reminded us of Mollie Turner in our home ward and her new furnace. Aren’t new things just wonderful Mollie? We sure do appreciate a few nice things though.

I have had the opportunity to go with the Elders three times this week and do some discussions. It has been fun using my limited Portuguese. Most of the time I get ahead of myself and use the wrong word, but everyone seems pleased that I am trying.

Monday was transfer day and we said goodbye to a number of Elders; Wada, Masterson, Bartlett, and Day. We had a little problem with one of the Elders and so in mid week he was transferred to Praia and Elder Day returned. Also this week Sister Delgado left for home on emergency release. Her 58 y/o father is in critical condition following discovery of cancer and isn’t expected to live; her family consist of her and an 18 y/o brother, not a member; so our pray’s go with her and hopefully she will be returning in a couple of weeks.

On the trail Santo Antao

While walking this evening with the Elders they mentioned that they had witnessed a car accident this morning. They said the one driver had a funny way of saying “he had the right of way” he said “he (referring to the other driver) had the right to stop”.

Sister Waller started piano lessons this week with Eddie. Eddie is 16 y/o and has been playing the piano for about 1 year. His first teacher (Sister Lima) could not play but did know how to read music and notes. You should hear Eddie play, pretty much all the hymns. Although his fingering needs some work and his tempo, everything is fast. He is a natural and practices all the time. We hope to find another 3 or 4 students to start teaching.

We have learned that the transatlantic cable for internet was cut somehow and it will be at least 2 weeks before total repair, UGH! Sometimes we can get an email through late at night but at snails pace, dial up speed. Broadband is what we have to wait for. Today we did apartment inspections. Most were okay, some unsafe, no security, others needed cleaning severely. Some had cock roach problems etc. I have to keep reminding myself that these are 19 y/o young men. Almost all have their laundry done each week, but some how they forget to put their sheets, pillow cases and towels in be cleaned. I have seen some of the pillows, yuck, you won’t catch me putting my head on those pillows. The very first day, the first thing was a new pillow!

Bill, what is the Coast Guard doing in Cape Verde?

Today I went with the Elder’s Quorum President of Ramo 3 and visited 7 members and less actives. My feet are tired!! I was able to give a message in my broken Port-Englis-Creole, fun.

Well the internet seems to be working this evening so I will hurry and download this letter. Tchau
E/S Waller, Mom & Dad, Bama & Bampa

Cape Verde Week 3

Cape Verde Week 3

Bom Dia meu amigos. Well another week has flown by and I am sitting here writing about our experiences this week. It has been busy as we have been able to get out with the missionaries and assist in some discussions. We have also been able to pay some bills, find some needed things (actually not so much needed as they have it so we better get it now).

Elder Pires & Mendonca have had us accompany them to teach a family. We have now been their twice, the last time for Family Home Evening. I gave a short story about the need for the Holy Ghost in our lives and they then added to it with an article in the Liahona about the need to walk in the light of the Gospel. We then played two games. There actually were 2 families there, so we had 14 people. The first game was called Zoom. Everyone had fun saying zoom or screech (tires stopping to reserve the zoom), you had to turn your head when you said Zoom in the direction everyone was going until someone said screech which reversed the zoom direction and then you had to look the other way. Any way everyone had fun. Then we play “Voce tem baratas in sua boca” or in English “You have cockroahes in your mouth”. I won’t try to explain this game as it was a little confusing but everyone got a big laugh and had fun. By the way no one had cockroaches in their mouths.

We went with Sister Delgado & Souza for the afternoon and evening one day and gave 4 discussions. The last came as we were waiting for the bus. A lady was leaning outside her door and asked what we were doing. When we explained she invited us in to share a message. Her name was Joanna and she lived in a two room apartment with her 9 children and 8 grandchildren- it was rather crowded in these rooms. We share our testimonies that God lives and that we are His children; that he loves us and wants to bless our lives, but to do this we must keep his commandments. She was moved by the message and started to cry, because she never knew that God actually knows her. She lives it such a poor and humble situation but the Spirit was there and she felt it. The sister’s have already been back to teach her more, but it will be slow as she can’t read.

We were walking back to another bus stop with the sisters and stopped at a house to talk to Edna. She invited us in and we again shared part of the 1st discussion. She seemed very interested and I think she will listen to more discussions. She gave a beautiful closing prayer. Things got a little exciting during the discussion as a mouse decided to run under the Sisters chair. Sister Souza about came unglued. Sister Waller was a little nervous as well. Edna just looked at it and said, “ they come under the door into the house sometimes”.

Yesterday was “P” day and the zone wanted to go to Santo Antao and hike in the mountains. It would require all day, as we would catch the ferry over and back and then spend the day hiking down the mountain. I am told that the mountain is about 5000 ft. above sea level. We took a bus to the top then hiked down this pleasant little valley, actually things were green!!!! Then we had a steep climb up to a pass much like the Pali in Hawaii. The clouds were streaming over the pass into the little valley we were in, from there it was about a 3000 ft straight down to the valley and then valley gradually slope down to the ocean. The 3000 ft drop is covered in about 300 yards, so it almost straight down. The path was narrow and switched back every 50 ft. or so. It was steep!!!! About half way down my legs began to twitch because they were tired, then my knee began to hurt because my leg and foot weren’t functioning correctly. By the time we got to the valley my knee was aching, Sharon was doing no better. The valley stretched out before us, it was beautiful. All the farms are terraced; they were growing beans, cabbage, sugar cane, papaya, & coffee. They had irrigation plus the rain fall to water the crops. Burrows were walking up the path we took down, carrying water to the other side. We rested for awhile then started down again, everything went down. This only hurt our knees more. Going up was okay but down was painful. We came to a school and took a break. The Elders played soccer for and hour, then it was back walking. The sitting only made us worse, so finally I stopped a van and paid for a ride down, unfortunately he only went part way, but soon here came the bus to the rescue.

We had to be back over to catch the last ferry home, so the bus came to pick us up. We drove along the ocean for about 10 km, it is a very rough coast line, no beaches. We came to a small city, then headed inland, the sign said Porto Novo 36 km. That is just about 20 miles. We went up and up and up on a finger of a mountain, drop off each side of the road. It was amazing!!! The terraced farming was unreal. My legs sure appreciate these people climbing those hills!

We are suffering today with sore legs. We used muscles we did know we had, of course the Elders are all back to work, walking and walking and walking some more. Tomorrow we have a baptism and this Sunday we both are speaking in the 3rd Branch. Missionary work is great fun, but be careful when the Elders tell you it is just a short walk!!!

Tchau for this week.

E/S Waller, Mom & Dad, Bama & Bampa

Cape Verde Week 1 & 2

Well we have arrived in Cape Verde and the first questionwe are asking is; " why is it called Cape Verde when everyhting is so dry and desert like"? The people assure us that 4 or 5 of the islandsare actually green but the other islands suffer from much drought and remain dry year round. We are living on a dry island called Mindelo. It has the 2nd largest population in the country behind Praia. In our present area we have 4 branches located within the metropolitan area and one branch on the island of Sal and one on the island of Santo Antao.

Things are very dusty here and the wind seems to stir it up quite frequently. We are constantly dusting, and sweeping the floor. We have been kept busy assisting the missionaries in the area. We have two districts of missioanries with about 8 in each district. We have already learned how to get around in the taxis and by foot. Many of the placeshave no address' so you just give a general locale and the taxi driver headsoff. We have found the food to be expensive, manily because everything is imported. They do grow some local fruit and vegetables.

This past weekend we headed to Santo Antao for a branch conference. The ferry ride takes about 45 mintues. It was nice going over but a little rough coming home. Some of the locals got a little sick. We continue to practice our Portuguese and many of the members say they understand us pretty good, it just when they speak that difficulties begin, they speak so fast.

We have had some problems with the water heater in the bathroom ( in shower head type) so the owner put in a small tank. It works well but gets a little crowded over in the corner of the tub. The plumbing is something else. Wehave started to see some cockroaches, Sister Waller is not happy about that, so I have been doing some spraying with premetherin, they seem to like the stuff.

We are getting use to the daily routine and have started holding FHE with the Branch Presidents families, as a way to introduce ourselves. The people are really very nice and in general the area fairly clean.

Mindelo Chapel:

Well I will close for now and add a few pictures.