Bom Dia;
We continue to stay fairly busy, although there are times when things slow down. We have been out a number of times with the Elders and Sisters. We continue to try and use our Portuguese. I had the opportunity of visiting the Nursing School at the hospital and present a resuscitation baby. This was part of a lecture series they received a year ago on resuscitating infants. While there the Director asked if I would give a lecture on foot and ankle trauma. She then increased it to a three presentation; lecture, demonstration, and then a practical where the nursing students actually get to apply cast, or splints. Ok, when? Well in 1 year, so you have time to prepare. So I am on the program in one year for a full 3 hours. A one hour lecture on trauma will be very basic, very basic. The demonstration will also have to be very basic. I just need to practice my medical Portuguese.
We are gearing up for this week end, as the President will be here for Zone Conference. He comes to town tonight and then holds interviews all weekend. I have a part on the conference program and have been working on a power point presentation about study habits.
Elder Friaca teaching Portuguese
On Preparation Day all the Elders got their haircuts, in preparation for the Zone Conference, so the Sisters decided to do their hair as well. Sister Bikhazi had her hair done in corn rows and Sister Vaterlaus had braids put in. They look good, sporting their new hair do’s. The Elders generally get a buzz #2 on the sides and #4 on top; basically a buzz all over.
Sister Bikhazi & Vaterlaus with new Hair Styles. Notice the corn rows on head at lower right, lower photo of our grocery store.
We have been having some good wind lately so I have written a short thought on Po (dust).
Pó
The wind blows every day here in Mindelo. We basically have one season dry and hot. Located off the west coast of the African Sahara desert; when the desert winds blow the dust and sand comes all the 400 kilometers to the islands. The dust makes visibility very difficult and causes major health problems among the aged. The hills surrounding the city are bare rock and sand. There is no vegetation to take hold of the loose dirt and sand, so when t he wind blows the earth moves.
We are constantly cleaning our apartment as the dust comes in even under the doors and around the window sills. We have rolled rags to block some of the dust and generally only leave the windows open in the early morning, so as to cool the apartment. Then we shut it all up and depend on fans to circulate the warm humid air.
The wind blows so hard sometimes that the sand feels like it is peeling the skin. It stings! I have told people here that we also have dark skin but the sand has cleaned us down to the white primer. Cleaning our apartment is a daily task. We have also taken to having two showers a day. You come in with a gritty feeling and a good night sleep only comes when the grit is removed.
The men here keep their hair cut short, and most women tie their hair back or braid it into corn rows. This helps when the wind is a constant force on your looks.
The Portuguese word for dust is pó. As we have a constant problem with pó here so do we have a constant problem with the evil pó that surrounds us in the world. We see, hear and experience this evil pó everyday. The language used by many is very disturbing and inappropriate. The music lyrics are suggestive and rhythm erotic. The visual senses are stimulated with all that is abhorred by followers of Christ. The sensual and devilish are portrayed as normal behavior and applauded. The physical and material world is portrayed as bringing happiness. With this evil pó everywhere, how do we keep the light of Christ in our lives and create a spiritual haven?
Our homes are protected by locks and security yet we invite into our homes the TV and music that carries all that is wrong with our world. Our homes need to be a place of refuge, where the evil influences are kept at bay. We need to continually clean the evil pó that comes into our homes. In D&C 88:119, we read about establishing a house of prayer, fasting, and a house of God. The evil pó that can so easily invade all aspects of our lives needs to cleaned away daily by; prayer, FHE, scripture reading, kind and loving speech and respect.
We can create a House of God, but it takes constant effort to clean the pó away.
Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;
D & C 88: 119
We hope everyone has a week pó free.
E/S /Waller, Mom & Dad, Bama & Bampa
Aldair piano lessons, and construction activity, a beehive.
Tchau
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