Cape Verde Week 27

Bom Dia,

Monday started out with a bang in District meeting, we had a scripture chase with both Districts. They had a good time and Sister Waller read all the quotes perfectly. Some of the missionaries knew the scriptures very well; others need a little more practice. District Scripture Chase: I think Elder Alexander was hungry already?
Lunch after District Meeting at the sports Cafe, the TV was turned off and a church DVD was put in quickly.

This has been an eventful week, in many ways. We were inundated with flies at the beginning of the week and were relieved when we headed for Praia on Tuesday. We were hoping that our little friends would not follow us there, and indeed we had very few make the trip with us on the airplane.

We arrived on Tuesday morning and were picked up by Elder and Sister Lopes. He was driving the new mission car, but like all cars here in Cape Verde it has a standard transmission. Elder Lopes has always driven an automatic so he is in the learning phase. He was excited to show us how well he could drive and shift. He did very well but on one stretch of the road he left it in 3rd gear for a very long time. Both Sister Waller and I wanted to say “, okay it is time to shift” but we held our peace. At least he drove at a moderate speed.

We were able to hold a Mission Presidency meeting that afternoon, where Elder Lopes was called to serve in the Mission Presidency. Hopefully we will be able to meet together often, as everyone speaks English. That evening we attended an Area Employment meeting with Paco, the Area specialist from Spain. We had in attendance; Sister Sandra Neves, President De Costa Neves, Lizzy, Eva Pires Fernanda, President and Sister Lopes, and us. Paco spoke mostly in Spanish! Yikes we had to translate Spanish, to Portuguese then into English, quite a task. The others there could understand Spanish fairly well and we were surprised at how well we did. Of course it helped to have written Portuguese papers. Following the meeting we went to have dinner at a local Chinese Restaurant. We didn’t finish till almost 11pm, passed Missionary hours, but President Tolman showed up at the end of the meeting and was at dinner with us. Good thing cause he had to pay!!! They wouldn’t accept Paco’s VISA card.

Sandra, Sister Waller, Lizzy, and Eva, at the employment meeting
Paco on the left and the Lopes' on the right.

We returned the next day to less flies!! Of course all the missionaries wanted to know if I had seen the transfer board. Transfers are this week end and everyone is excited. I did get a picture of the board, which I shared with everyone, unfortunately I was moving to fast and all the photos were blurry, he he!!

We have visiting this week here in Mindelo, Glenn Bingham, who is the CEO of the Ashby Foundation. It has been nice to get to know him. Although we have had just a few minutes to talk we are excited about the things the Ashby Foundation is doing to help the people of Cape Verde. Hopefully we will get more time to discuss some of the up coming foundation projects, with him.

On a more spiritual note, I have been reading and listen to discussions about the Book of Mormon, specifically in 3rd Nephi, with the Saviors visit. One of the discuss panel member, was talking about Isaiah’s prophecy of the gathering of Israel and the role of the Tribe of Ephraim. He remarked about the symbolism in the baptismal fonts in the temple with the twelve oxen. I also thought of them as representing the 12 tribes of Israel, but he said they represent the tribe of Ephraim (the ox being the symbol of that tribe) and how Ephraim will carry the ordinances to the other tribes. Also since they are in a circle under the font they point to all points of the compass, or to all the world. What is taking place now in the world is the gathering of the gathers or the tribe of Ephraim. I thought that interesting.
Well must close for now, hope all is well and everyone healthy and happy. We love you all and you are in our prayers.

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

Cape Verde Week 26

Bom Dia amigos e Familia,

Well what can I say, but that this week has been for the pits!! Since taking over the medical responsibilities of the Mission I have been on the phone quite a bit. It seems this is the week where I memorize the treatment for stomach problems, worms, dehydration etc. What is frustrating is that I keep telling our youthful 19 yr olds how to prevent the problems, but yet they continue to occur. I suppose I have forgotten what it is to be 19 and invincible!

We thoroughly enjoyed the visit of Steve Jorgenson and Joe & Linda Petersen. It was nice to have a lengthy conversation in English; to learn of their family and of their desires for the future. The fact that they came bearing gifts; chocolate chips, milk duds, peanut butter etc., surely helped.

We had a sick Elder on Wednesday who spent the day with us recuperating. When he called from Santo Antao, it sounded like he might have early pneumonia and so the Area Medical advised getting him in to check him out. Once he arrived, I checked his lungs and they were clear, he just looked under the weather, probably viral. So he spent the day on the sofa. The Zone went off on an activity to the beach, and they all came back really sanding, so we kept them out of the house.

On Thursday Sharon was walking along the road and didn’t see a part of the sidewalk sticking up, and down she went. She hurt her knee and both wrist. We hurried home and got ice on all the sore area, which by that time had started swelling and bruising. I was able to determine she hadn’t broken anything but she was hurting pretty good. So those pills you left, Joe, came in handy. It allowed her to relax some and get over the initial shock of injury; after the initial day things started to improve, although she is still having problems with her left thumband wrist. This is the same wrist she injured in Sri Lanka a number of years ago.

The weather has turned off really hot this week and what with the rain last week, we now have an influx of flies!! They seem to be everywhere and getting into everything. We were eating dinner the other night and one flew into the glass and started back swimming across the juice. They say the flies will disappear in a few weeks as the weather heats up.

Yesterday I took Sharon to lunch and stopped and talked with a street vendor. He repairs shoes and I had said “Hi” to him before, as I knew he spoke English. His name is Carlos and he is from Liberia. So I decided to ask him if he was “A Christian”, and he responded yes. I invited him to hear the discussions and he responded that he would. So I have to get an English Book of Mormon and we will start the lessons next week, I hope.

The Elders and Sisters are all getting excited as transfers are soon approaching. They all have their opinions on who is leaving and who is being rotated where, and they want to know if I have heard anything. Of course I haven’t, and if I had I wouldn’t tell them, but they keep trying to get information. We will be going to Praia next week for an Employment meeting and Mission Presidency meeting, and they all want me to peak under the curtain in the Presidents office at the transfer board. Fat chance!!

Well that is about it for the week. Sister Waller is on a slow mend, & missionaries are getting sick and healing also; what is called, one eternal round.

So, Tchau for this week.

E/S Waller, Mom & Dad, Bama & BampaElders Ence & Ray flexing their missionary muscles!
Elders Hill & Ence, and Sister Vaterlaus now over 1 year!Sister Bikhazi with new friend!Elder Ence with local art work!The three Sister amigas!!!Children of Mindelo, cute!!Zone activity, cave art!Sister Alencar has the Book of Mormon introduction down pat.

Cape Verde Week 25

Bom Dia meus amigos,

We have had an a busy week and it has, as usual, flown bye. We started with Zone Conference and the arrival of President and Sister Tolman. Interviews were conducted on Saturday and then early Sunday morning we caught the ferry over to Santo Antao. I was scheduled to speak in the Porto Novo Ramo. We had a wild ride over as the wind was up and the boat moving all over. We were riding in the new catamaran ferry no the cargo ferry. It is quite a bit faster and air-conditioned, but you are enclosed in a room like an airplane. Sister Tolman was not feeling to good by the time we got there, but with her meds she was able to make the trip. We had a good meeting but were informed prior to sacrament meeting that someone had stolen the sacrament cups! So they got out 4 water bottles and 4 metal cups. Each priesthood holder, passing the sacrament, had a bottle and cup. They went to each person and poured just a small amount. It was nice that Sister Waller and I were the first ones to use our cup!!

President Tolman , Branch President and I then held some disciplinary counsels after the meetings. We then had a short snack (not a good idea) before heading back on the ferry. Both Sister Waller and Sister Tolman were glad to see the dock. That evening the Tolman’s came to the apartment for apple pie and ice cream. Their stomachs were feeling better.

Monday was Zone Conference and as usual a very good conference. I presented a power point presentation on importance of being a good trainer. Thanks to President and Sister Webster for the power point presentation, which I altered to fit the Cape
Verde Praia Mission. I think President Tolman is going to use it in other conferences.
About half way through the conference Sister Waller start to get sick so we left and I took her home then returned. Her stomach was acting up! We finished the meetings and had a nice lunch at Sadotes restaurant. Tuesday was recovery day for Sister Waller and by Wednesday she was doing much better; we actual had a couple days of on and off again rain. Some areas are getting a slight green color.

Zone Conference: Monteiro,Thurgood,Ballantyne,Burgess,Dance,Fortes, Hill, Bueno, Alexander,Ellis, Wood, Ence, Waller's, Tuttle, Campbell, Bikhazi, Souza, Alencar, Masterson,Ray, Vaterlaus,Swapp, Tolmans.

Thursday morning we get a call and Steve Jorgenson had arrived from Moses Lake. He also had Dr. & Mrs. Peterson from Burley, Idaho. They were coming to deliver the hospital beds donated through Ashby Foundation. We were finally able to get into the container and receive our packages from Erika. Wow Christmas in September!! We also received a package that Steve brought from Becca. Double Wow! Sister Waller was so happy over the smallest things; donut-hole cutters, zip lock bags, brown sugar, etc, etc. Steve said “ he was asked what was in the box at the airport and said medicines”, when the guy opened the box on top was this big bag o M&M s, the guy turned his back and Steve dug down and pulled out a box of sleep pills ( over the counter). The guy said “oh go ahead”! The box was packed so tight I am sure the x-ray guy couldn’t tell what was in the box. Anyway he got here with it, yippee!

Sister Waller was so, so happy!!!

It has been nice to get to know the Peterson’s. They brought 7 hospital beds that were being taken out of Cottonwood hospital, as it is closing. He also brought some stuff for the missionaries. They had just got to our apartment and all of a sudden we had 8 missionaries show up. So they started passing out peanut butter. Missionaries lucked out. I have also been busy this week pricing and buying supplies for the missionaries apartment; a refrigerator, irons, tables, chairs etc.

Steve Jorgenson tries out the new hospital beds.

Steve Jorgenson, Joe & Linda Peterson

Since the Allen’s have left I have been doing the medical stuff. It is mostly dealing with the flu, stomach aches, and dehydration. But it does keep you busy calling and following up on the sick Elders and Sisters.

Sister Waller giving a newborn kit to Mother, and our local transport to the farm! Perterson's and Waller's

We had the opportunity to spend the evening at dinner with the Petersons and President Jorgenson. It was a nice evening and we enjoyed talking at the restaurant. They will be at church today then head off back to Praia this evening. We are having everyone over for lunch this afternoon. It has been such fun to have Steve and the Peterson’s here this past weekend. We are truly grateful for their generosity and all the little things they brought for the Elders and Sisters.

Till next week, Tchau

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

Cape verde week 24

Bom Dia Amigos e Familia;

This has been a happening week!! So many things have happened it is hard to know where to start. I guess I will start with last Saturday. We attended the District Primary activity at the Cha Da Marinha Chapel. All four branches put on programs last about 30 minutes. They danced, sang, and did skits. It was really cute and they did a wonderful job. We skipped out for a baptism in the middle and missed some really good dancers but we got to see the starts of the show later in the week. We finished the evening at around 7pm and headed out to catch a bus.

Very serious participant at the primary talent show. Primary skit, we aren't sure why he had his head in a bucket, it has something to do with getting married to a rich Ladybug, ( Brazilian fairy tale).

The bus finally came and we started home with a group of members. Down the road, the drive came to a section where there were a lot of people milling around so he slowed down togo around a corner. A small dog came running out and was hit by the bus. You would have thought the world had come to an end. This huge guy comes running out yelling at the bus driver, slamming his fist on the side of the bus. People screaming, babies crying, and even a girl passed out in the back of the bus. The bus was soon surrounded by about 100 people, everyone yelling at each other. The big guy went and got a large stick and came after the bus driver. Finally someone got on the line and called the police who arrived before anyone was really hurt. The big guy disappeared off into the houses and the police went searching. Our driver was put in the paddy wagon and anew guy sat down to drive. After about 30 minutes we were on our way again. We weren’t sure what to do, one lady kept pointing a finger at us saying “testemunha, testemunha” which means witnesses. Anyway, we made it home safely, if not just a little shaken. Later that night I received a call from Sister Allen, in Praia our mission nurse, and she had a few people she wanted me to check up on. She didn’t sound to good over the phone.

Sunday was indeed a day of rest. We did attend choir practice that evening as we are getting ready for District Conference in October. Nice quiet day though, we had Elders Bueno and Tuttle over for lunch and had Brazillian pan pizza, good! I called to check on Sister Allen and found out she was in severe abdominal pain. She had been to the hospital ( we have to be careful about what we say about the lack of medical care) and was determined to get out of town before being treated there again, as they were absolutely no help what so ever. So early Monday they were going to try and get her on a plane to Portugal.

Well they waited 4 hrs in the Airport, only to be bumped, so back home they went. That evening they waited another few hours to see if they could get a plane to Boston, no luck. She was in awful pain and poor Elder Allen was desperate. President & Sister Tolman came back into town Monday evening and had some pain meds that took the edge off the pain, what with valium, only a slight edge. It looked like they would have to wait a full week to get a plane to Boston for evaluation. But on Wednesday night the pain got so bad Elder Allen called and told the President, they just have to get out of here and get her some help. So out to the airport they go, and the President was offering money, to buy somebody’s tickets to Portugal. Finally some students sold their tickets for a very good price. They were able to get on the plane, only to learn that the plane wasn’t full, and they could have gotten a regular ticket. The ticket agents are far from helpful here!!! Anyway they arrived in Portugal and she was admitted to the hospital. The mission President there was waiting for them and had made all the arrangements. She is now comfortable and out of pain. Elder Allen got a good night sleep finally at the mission home. Hopeful they will be able to find out the problem and get her on the way to recovery. Although we assume they will head home for further care, in Arizona.

Wednesday was preparation day, and we cleaned all morning. Then every Elder and Sister in the area showed up for some reason or another, and the floor was back to its normal dusty self. We sure enjoy having them all around, but they can bring in the dust.

We did house inspection last week and told the Sisters to clean up a pile of clothes. While going through it they found a weedding dress and decided to see what the future held for them. Sister Bikhazi looking radiant, with just a hint of shyness. Sister Vaterlaus not sure she wants to tell her Mom! Sister Alencar looking good! Now Sister Souza knows how to pose!

Yesterday we took Sister Vaterlaus and Bikhazi to lunch, as I had promised them awhile ago. It was a nice break from the normal routine. Our internet has been down for three days and it is such a hassle to get them to fix their problems. My equipment is fine but no signal from their computer. Finally they came out Friday evening and some how fixed their problem.

This is going to be a busy week end as we have Zone conference on Monday, Interviews on Saturday, and a visit over to Santo Antao to speak on Sunday. We will have to leave early on the boat and will be coming back late because we have some disciplinary things to take care of in the branch.

I have to do some heavy lifting and this is called using your head!

I am now the mission medical person. So add that to my titles here in Cape Verde. I think 90% of the problems are food related, poor hygiene and dehydration. So we will see how it goes taking all the phone calls with medical problems.

This really has been a crazy week. Sharon hasn’t even made any cookies!! Maybe I can get her to make an apple pie for Sunday evening with the President.

Well hope everything is quiet and peaceful at home.

Love to all,

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