It is interesting to watch the change in people’s lives as they accept the gospel principles. The change can be very dramatic. We continue to watch the people here in Cape Verde, unfortunately many fall by the way side and fail to persevere to the end. We are having a difficult time getting people to accept callings and if they do accept to fulfill their callings. I have been working all week on a Branch President’s training program to present. I believe the problem here lies not so much in the willingness to serve but just basic knowledge on how to. So my presentation gets rather simplistic.
It seems we have to keep things simple and develop later on in the training process. For example; I need to get the Branch Presidents to recognize the need for a Presidency meeting, PEC and Branch Council meetings. They look at these meetings as just a waste of time, plus they can’t get anyone to come to the meetings. Well anyway it is a challenge.
We made a number of visits this week. We went to President Barros home, he is BP for the Fonte Alexio Branch and he basically told us he has never been visited. He does live a few miles out and it is expense to hire a taxi to go that far, but we made it and had a nice visit. We also visit his counselor’s family for FHE. They get so excited to hear you are coming to their homes. We had a nice visit and I gave the lesson and showed pictures of our family.
Sister Marinho developed an infection on her ankle this week. She had a mosquito bite that she scratched and developed a large cellulitis up the leg. Her ankle was quite swollen and luckily we could get a good antibiotic. After staying off of it for a day it is looking much better.
President & Sister Tolman are off on vacation this week. I hope they read this! Cause England this time of year is probably no vacation, cold and damp. They have Mission Presidents Conference with the West Europe Area. They will be returning this week only to face a whirl wind tour of the mission with the 2nd Counselor in the Area Presidency, President Kearon. We are looking forward to his visit and instruction.
We had the good fortune of having Steve Jorgensen visit us this week end. He was here checking out the farming situation. He wants to set up test plots with local farmers to use chemical to control insect and fungus; hoping to increase production and quality of the vegetables. I was able to go around with him and visit some farms, very small, but they were well run. They were using some chemicals but need to be more efficient. We plan on going around the island on Monday to check for additional sites. Steve is a long time friend from Moses Lake, a farmer, and grows the largest potatoes you have ever seen!
A field of cabbage on Jose Fernandez land. He had a good variety of crops.
Steve Jorgensen with President Piries family in Cova Figueira. Church today was good. I did my 1st training for BP. It went okay but I think they were a little overwhelmed. So I will go back in 2 weeks and monitor their progress in holding a good BP meeting. Hopefully I can get around to all the Branches and assist them in functioning better. We are scheduled to meet in Mosteros next week on a District assignment. It is on the other side of the island and takes a good while to get there and back; so a new adventure coming up.
We had a visit this afternoon by Elders Da Cruz & De Cruz. It was interesting trying to figure out what they were saying. We fed them carrot cake and loaded them down with cookies. They were happy when they left. The carrot cake was a first for them, they weren’t to sure about it at first, but were all smiles at the end.
FHE with Jose's family; Deborah, Nina, Jasy
Jose and Sandra's family. They were able to attend the Temple in Recife, Brazil, last year.
Sister Duarte from Brazil.
We found out the Elders from Cova Figueria were coming into town for their Preparation day so we hurried up and invited them to lunch, they were all smiles. Elders Silva from Mindelo and Elder Hernandez from Palm Desert, California.
Well after 3 mission our sheets are starting to wear out. So Sharon is in the patching mode. We now feel like we are sleeping on quilts, but they should last till we go home. The sheetwill not be coming home with us. Ashby Foundation is setting up sewing classes and Sharon was able to use one of their machines.
Well hope everyone has a good week, and are happy and healthy.
Love to all
E/S Waller, Mom & Dad, Bama & Bampa
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