Cape Verde Week 9

Boa Noite,

What ever Sister Waller is cooking smells really good!! Pizza!!!We have now finished week 9 of our sojourn here in Cape Verde. This has been a rather busy week as we are preparing for transfers. This next week we will have 2 new Sisters added to our district and they will occupy the apartment above us. The Zone leaders will move across the road and share an apartment with two other Elders. So this week has been a shop and purchase items week. I have been purchasing beds, fans, tables and cheap clothes closets.

We had a baptism last Saturday and 3 members of a family were brought into the church. We have another baptism this week. It seems that there is one almost every week. The Elders and sisters are averaging around 30-35 discussions per week, which is fantastic. We have had the opportunity to assist in the discussions, and have enjoyed the chance to bear our testimonies. A number of the families have new babies and we have enjoyed making eyes at them and playing.

This is called "face Moutain", he is lyng down, kind of looks like George Wahington!

I had the opportunity to speak again in Sacrament meeting. This is becoming a routine now. But I get to use the same talk 4 times before change, so by the last time it is pretty well polished.

Today was inspection day for the Elders and Sisters apartment. They all insist that they have never had their apartments inspected, so why now? One look at a few of them and it becomes all too obvious why. Sister Tolman has asked us to inspect the apartments. In general, I want to report that they are doing well, but some need a course in the use of soap and water to clean. It is no wonder they have cockroaches.

Nelida another piano student


We have had a number of complaints about bed s and poor mattresses. So today I took a close look. It is no wonder they say the mattresses bend in the middle! The whole bed frame is bent in the middle. I think we called this ‘no more monkeys jumping on the beds’ problem. So now I have to either have the frames repair and strengthened or buy new beds. Although some Elders have solved the bent frame problem, they just throw the mattresses on to the floor.

Sharon and I have started using our IPOD with the Isaiah seminars from BYU to compliment our reading of Isaiah and it really is helpful. We are amazed at his poetic form, also confused at times, but we are slowly learning a few things.

Restuarant in Mindelo and view of city.

Today we continued with our song teaching at the school. It went well and the children enjoyed singing other songs. We also played Simon Says, they really enjoyed that game. Sister Waller is getting use to the tradition of kissing the Sisters. When they meet they kiss on each cheek, then they shake my hand. Although I have been surprised a couple of times when they kiss me, okay, I am okay with that. Even strangers we are meeting for the first time, the women kiss. It is kind of hard when everyone is sweaty though!!!

Class we are teaching songs in English.

Well everyone have a good week, tchau.

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

Cape Verde Week 8

Boa Noite!

Well this week has been a roller coaster of activity. We started out with a real bang on Saturday when we returned home, from a baptism, to our apartment. We found the outside door that leads to our stairwell didn’t open with the key. I went next door and got the owner and he tried for a few minutes with the key, no luck. He then decided that he could get into our apartment from the common airway. The three apartments, each on separate floors, share an air well that is about 8’X8’ with each apartment having a cat walk. There is a padded locked grate between us and the apartment below. So if he could unlock the pad lock, he could then come thru the back door into our apartment. Unfortunately none of his keys worked so he employed the family down stairs to break off the lock. The teen age son worked on it for awhile and was able to break the pad lock. We always lock the back door, so he began banging on the door and the lock there. All the while we are trying to convince them to stop and just go back and break thru the entry door, so only one door was broken instead of two. As we would still have to deal with the front door. Anyway to make a long story short. The teenager finally broke the back door and started wandering in our apartment. We finally got his attention and about that time the front door was broken into and we were into the apartment. Now we had two broken doors!!! The owner assured us he would be back the next day to fix the front door. The back door was repaired, I am not so sure how secure, and a new padlock applied to the grate. At one point there were four strangers standing in our entry way either fixing a lock or just looking around. I gave them all snickers bars when they left. It only took 3 minutes and there was a knock on the front door. One of the youth was back and wanted another snickers bar. Needless to say we have been a little concerned since, even though it took almost 40 minutes to break in, we are not to happy that it was so easy from down stairs.

I had to speak in Sacrament on Sunday; this is becoming a usual thing, so I just keep the talk for the next meeting. Hopefully I can keep track of which talk I give, and where.

Statue in Downtown Mindelo. Water has always been a precious item.

We have been asked to represent the church in any Humanitarian aid projects in the area. We have the Ashbey Foundation that works with the church in finding and assisting here in the Islands. They find the projects and help administer the project and the church provides many of the items. We will help distribute the items and document the Humanitarian efforts. It will require some travel around the Northern Islands. Some of the travel will be by boat, so it ought to be a fun assignment.

Sharon picked one more music student this week, but she is having problems getting them to practice. I suppose this is a problem with all music teachers regardless of where they live.

We have entered the hot season and it has been muggy and hot in the apartment. The dust has been so bad lately that we decided to keep all the windows closed and circulate the air with fans. The apartment actually stays cooler this way and then the dust is kept to a minimum. When I say dust I mean dust, you can sweep a room and then start over and there is a new layer already on the floor. Everything is covered with a fine dust; even the clothes in the closet. So it is a constant task. I think on preparation day we spend almost 4 hours just on the floors.

We had nice Mothers Day and Sharon was able to talk with all the children. We especially enjoyed hearing Livvy singing and watching her bounce around the room. Avry was a little quiet this week but we sure enjoyed the pictures of her and Edyn playing of the slippery slide.

We have been advised never to eat pork here in Cape Verde. We wondered about that until we saw how they are processed here. The pig is hit over the head, throat cut and then doused with gasoline and set on fire. They then scrap the outer skin to get all the hair off and then process the pig. This is all done outside on a piece of tin. Pictures are enclosed. I suppose I should give a parental warning with this posting, it might not be suitable for youngsters. Oh, Danny, I like hot BBQ but this is a different story!!

Sizzling bacon for sure!!!! Hot Pig, Hot Pig!! The beginning of feijaoada.

We had the opportunity of visiting part of the hospital and the School of Nursing this past week. The original building of the hospital was built in 1899. The nursing school has one class of 54 students and it is a 3 year course. So every 3rd year they start a new course. They are in need of some basic instruments for training and we are going to look at the possibility of an aid program.

I am not sure how tall the ceilings are but they were way up there, only basic health care. Most of the Drs. are trained in either Brazil or Cuba.


Well that is about it for this week. Love to all.

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

Cape Verde Week 7

Boa Tarde:

This has been an exciting week in many ways. We have had 3 birthdays this week, so that means lots of cake and cinnamon rolls. Everyone likes it when there is a birthday!! The Elders were all pleasantly surprised with the food offering. Their companions were pretty happy also.

We have started having the missionaries over for Sunday dinner, but require a message then a visit with a less active family. Last Sunday we not only celebrated Elder Terry’s birthday but got to visit with a less active and a investigator. The young investigator was about 15 and was very interested in the discussions. He had already read 3 chapters in 3 Nephi and was eager to learn more. The Elders were nice and ask me if I had anything to share. Of course that is like a asking a missionary if wants seconds on his cake!!

So I proceeded to talk about Heavenly Father & the Savior, then I remembered 3 Nephi 27:20, so we read that; then I remembered Alma at the waters of Mormon, so we read that; then I looked at him and invited him to be baptized, and he said he, yes. Later he asked what was baptism, after explaining what the covenant and promises would be, he was more excited. The Elders were really excited as they weren’t planning on inviting him to be baptized for at least another week. So I just sped the process up a little.

We have also had the opportunity to go visiting with the Sisters to a family of 4; mother, daughter (about 21 with a baby) and son about 14. The discussions have been good, but it will be a challenge to get them to come to church. The mother has severe arthritis and is unable to walk much and they live quite a distance from the church. The Sisters aren’t real sure the 21y/o can live the law of chastity. When they taught that principle, everyone laughed and said, “sure she can”. This is a real problem here in Cape Verde. It is very much a matriarchal society, where fathers come and go with little or no responsibility.

We also had the opportunity this week to visit Claudia, a new convert and her family. She has two children, daughter 11 and son 9, again father out of the picture. The children have not been baptized yet, but I think it won’t be long. We had a nice visit and message. She has been called to be in the RS Presidency, her good friend is the President.

This past week I had the opportunity to play Doctor a couple of times. Everyone survived and things continue to move smoothly. We have at least 4 companionships now drinking regularly the dehydration solution, and I believe it is making a difference. The weather has turned off muggy and humid the last few days and hydration of water and electrolytes will be come more important.

President Da Luz & Adalgisa

President Tavares and new baby!

We have finished holding FHE with all the Branch Presidents families, they are a good group. The future looks bright with such talented and devoted families. Piano lessons have continued and I think we might have 2 more students for Sister Waller, making a total of 5. President Neves, Sandra and Marcus

Today we attended a private Catholic school and taught some songs to 2 English classes; “popcorn popping”, and “if you're happy and you know it”. They would like us to come for the next two weeks and teach more songs. The students are about 10-13 years old and they responded well.

Sister Vaterlaus told me yesterday that my Portuguese is getting much better, and she has only been here 3 weeks. I guess the lessons are helping. Tudo cool!!! That is creole, for awesome!

Happy Mothers Day!!

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

Cape Verde Week 6

Bom Dia, Tudo bem?

Well another week has slipped quickly by here in Mindelo. We had an extremely busy weekend; district and zone conference. We had a visit authority, Elder & Sister Vinas, of the Area Presidency. They were a delightful couple and we enjoyed hearing them speak. Elder Vinas spoke in broke Portuguese and Spanish, so it was a little difficult to understand at times. On Sunday he used an interpreter, who translated everything into Portuguese. Oh well we got the jest of things, keep the commandments!!! We had a nice dinner on Sunday with the Vinas’ and Tolman’s. They sure liked Sharon’s chocolate cake. This is a recipe from Elder Osborne, who served with us in Malaysia. (Elder Osborne, Sister Vinas asked for your recipe and she lives in England, so your recipe is literally going around the world). Everyone loves it! In zone Conference Elder Vinas spoke in English, we really enjoyed his remarks.

E/S Waller, Pres. & Sister Vinas, Pres. & Sister Tolman

Sister Vinas was really tired and to add to that, the airlines had lost their luggage and they were without many of the normal things. She had no make up and didn’t have a change of clothing. So she had to wear the same outfit all weekend. She was a good sport about it though, but decided next trip to care a big carry on bag, with a change of clothing.

The Zone Conference centered around, ”Preach My Gospel”, and striving to be more efficient in our planning meetings; the need to set goals. I gave a short training on D& C 88:118 about a House of Order. Hopefully the missionaries will put their apartments in order. I also had to speak in the Saturday evening session; I talked on being obedient. I had worked all week on the talk in Portuguese, the missionaries translated the talk for me, and Sharon helped me with the pronunciation. Everyone seemed to understand what I said.

Zone Conference May 2007 Mindelo Pres. & Sister Vinas

For District conference the choir has been practicing every Sunday evening; they did a wonderful job. The sisters all wore the same outfit. Sharon was given her outfit and she kind of raised an eyebrow, thinking “I am going to wear this”? But with a little ironing, and wearing a white top under, the way to big top provided, she looked nice. Okay she felt like a big blue and white cow!!!! All the cows sang really nice.

We have started Portuguese lesson 3 times a week, with two Elders. Elder Friaca and Bueno, both are native speaking Brazilians, from America, so during their time allocated for language study they offered to teach us. We will have to see how well we progress. Sharon will be much better at the lessons than I, I am afraid.

Sharon has 3 piano students; Eddie is very accomplished (self taught) and can play all the hymns well; Aldair can play but has a real fingering problem, he needs some more confidence and hymn practice; then there is Nelida, a beginner. We hope to get another 3 youth, for lessons this month. Sharon is also going to teach me chorister lessons, so I can teach that course. She feels my language skills would make it easier for me to teach.

We have made a number of visits to members and investigators homes this week. I was able to assist in teaching one man part of a principle. Tonight we are off with the Elders to teach 3 less actives and then on Saturday we have a FHE with the Branch President of the 4th Branch. Last Sunday evening they held a Reunion for all the returned missionaries in Cape Verde, here on Sao Vicente. There were about 15 returned missionaries with about that many more who didn’t attend. Many brought their families and we had a rather lengthy meeting.

Preparation day we climbed, with the zone, a hill that over looks the city. It wasn’t too bad and the view was good. The wind was sure blowing up on top and we could see why we get so much dust. The elders had fun on a sand dune doing back flips, I was a little concerned but they are just 19 and the sand was soft. No one was injured!

Zone Activity May 2007, everyone made it to the top
Elder Friaca doing a forward flip, he landed well 9.3 for form

Well that is about all the news for this week. We hope Rhonni, in Sri Lanka, has had her baby by now, she is getting so large. We are so grateful to the Later’s for keeping us posted. Our nephew just received a mission call to serve in the Geneva Swiss Mission, so E/S Wirthlin you have Cameron Waller coming your way, enters the MTC in August. He will be a great missionary, really has a strong testimony and understanding of the Gospel. Wish he was coming here! Mike hope you enjoy your week home with family; Mom take care and enjoy the visit. Hope everyone is well and behaving themselves.

Love to all,

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