Cape Verde Week 38

Bom Dia,

Well we have had a busy week. It started with Zone Conference and all that goes with having 22 Elders and Sisters around the area for a day or two. We had a very nice Christmas program during conference. A quartet sang a Christmas number which was very good.

We have 3 missionaries returning home this coming week, so lots of tears and pats on the back. Elder Campbell, Wood and Sister Bikhazi will leave this coming week. They are amazing missionaries and we look forward to seeing them at the fall reunion.
Life size mural of how things were unloaded off ships here in Mindelo around the 1900's.
We are now in the process of finalizing our Christmas activities. The District is putting on a Christmas Fireside, with choir and reading of the nativity. We sure are lucky, when they call for choir practice we have 30 youth show up. Some sing really well, and they all sing with enthusiasm. We are using a program that Sister Webster emailed to us with a few musical numbers from the “Forgotten Christmas Carol”. The Elders and Sisters have been practicing for a couple of weeks now and they sound really good.
We had lots of dinners this week with Missionaries. Sister Waller got a surprize when she washed the chicken, two feet sticking ou the neck hole.

Sister Waller had an interesting experience the other night. Sister Alencar and Pollard invited her to go with them to the hospital to visit a new mother and baby. So off they went to the hospital. Sister Waller has been there a number of times and so she went to the back entry. The guard let them in but escorted them to the front desk. There they were put on a waiting list to visit and required to pay 50 escudos or about 65 cents. After a 20 minute wait they were directed up stairs where they were asked for their pass card, which the desk guard didn’t give them. They informed the guard there that they were from the church, he finally said okay and they were admitted to the maternity ward. Evidently they have had problems so they really watch carefully plus make you pay to see patients.

We had 4 baptisms this week in the Ramo 2 & 4 area. Our new convert Jose has been given the Mel. Priesthood after only being a member 3 months, he conducted the meeting as the new branch mission leader. He did a really good job. We can see great things from him in the future.

Sister Bikhazi & Silveira with soon to be newly baptized members.
The last two Sunday’s we have had Primary programs in Sacrament meeting. Wow, have the children done a good job. Some branches are better prepared but all did well. The future lies in these little ones who will grow up and strengthen the church. It isn’t hard to imagine that in just a few short years, there will be a large missionary force from Cape Verde.

We received our 1st Christmas package from Neal & Connie. Sharon was excited to hear the rolling around in the box and guessed correctly, gum balls. We opened it for the cards for our Christmas tree. Thanks Neal & Connie!!
Our Christmas Card tree! Sister Bikhazi on her final day in Mindelo, all smiles.

Hopefully it will fill out this week.
Well everyone have a great week in preparation for Christmas. Love to everyone

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