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.
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
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