Cape Verde Week 29

Bom Dia meu irmãos e irmas,

We have had a relatively quiet week her in Mindelo. The weather hasn’t been to hot, never cold. The wind blew some but not to hard, but the dust still was flying every day on our little corner. We had a good District Meeting Monday with the Elders and Sisters. We try hard to listen and understand in Portuguese and it is slowly coming. We have to keep reminding everyone to speak slowly, not so rapidamente!!

Sharon is having to change times for piano lessons as the youth are back in school. Some go in the morning other in the afternoon, so some adjustments will have to be made in the lesson schedule.

We have been talk to a young man who sits at a cross roads working on shoes. His name is Carlos and he speaks English mais or menos but to the extent that we can understand each other. So we started the 1st discussion this week with him. He is from Liberia. I asked him why he came to Cape Verde, and he said too much civil war. He comes from a family of 8 children. He wants to return some day but has to save his money. Things are still a little unsettled in Liberia. We are set to give the 2nd discussion this coming week, though I think he has difficulty reading English. We will have to work on that and find out.

We had 3 baptisms this week in Mindelo. We attended the service for an older, probably mid 40, gentleman. His name is Jose Espirito Santo Erva. That would translate into Jose Holy Ghost Erva. Rather usual name!! The other service was for 2 young people.

Well that is about it for the week; A little slow, but still small things to do each day. We have been working hard to say Bom Dia, Boa Tarde to people we pass on the street. At first we had looks of surprise then later come’s a weak reply. Now everyone has got the idea and some send a greeting before we get close, especially the older men and women. It is called breaking down barriers, and it takes time. The same goes for things in the church. We still are in a 1st generation church her in Cape Verde, and some lessons will take time to take hold. Like starting meetings on time; like wear a white shirt and tie when representing the priesthood and conducting a baptismal service, but we endure and push where pushing is needed and the other things will come with time and experience, we hope.

We had the Elders from Porto Novo over for dinner Sunday. They rarely get to come, except for Zone Conference and what with just two of them District meetings are, well how do you say, routine. So I asked the President if they could come over one Monday each Transfer and have Meetings with the 2 districts here, he agreed. So it was a chance to feed them and let them mingle with the other Elders and Sisters. While preparing dinner the microwave went fzzzzz!!!! I think it bit the dust!! So we will be off shopping tomorrow for a replacement.

Well Tchau for this week. Love to all

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