Waller Family: Cape Verde Week 48

Bom Dia

What a good week this has been! We started with a visit from Steve Jorgensen over the weekend that continued through Monday. I was able to visit some farms and tour the island. We had a slow drive around the island that took most of the day. The roads are all cobblestone so traffic goes slow. We were able to stop in Mosteiros on the other side of the island and visit with the Branch President for a few minutes. They have a lovely rented chapel that over looks the ocean.

Steve Jorgensen and some very friendly children. They love to have their pictures taken and then view them on the digital camera.

Farm in Mosteiros that had some very nice carrots and cabbage.

Young child in Mosteiros checking out the white guys.

Tuesday Sharon began teaching a new student, Paula. She is also going to start teaching another sister. So things are picking up in the music department. We still need to get someone from the Fonte Alexio Branch to take lessons.

We noticed that Sister Maria Antonia wasn’t in church on Sunday, so we decided to make a visit. It was a nice long visit. She basically told us her life story in 45 minutes. We understood some of what she said and the rest of the time just said, uh huh, sim. She seemed pleased that we cared enough to visit and we plan on visiting again each month.

We began preparing for Zone Conference and the arrival of President Kearon of the Area Presidency. President and Sister Tolman arrived back in Praia after their Conference ready for a whirl wind tour of the mission. They are to hold 4 Zone Conferences in 3days, so President Kearon can be heading home on Sunday. This is a great exercise in faith, as TACV (local airlines) is anything but reliable. We had a very nice conference and enjoyed the spirit of the meetings. The basic topic was “Enjoying the Spirit in Your Life” this coupled with “Teaching by the Spirit”. The sources were all from “Preach My Gospel”. This was Elder Mendonca’s last Zone Conference. He will be missed as a full time missionary, but will be a great asset where ever he lives. The Church needs more Elder Mendonca’s here in Cape Verde.

Our weather has started to turn hotter, and hotter. We do cool off in the evenings and early morning hours, but mid day is rather warm. So we keep our activities limited during the hottest times of the day. We received word that our Christmas package from Erika, has arrived in Mindelo and is being forwarded over to us. Wow, it only took 2 ½ months to get here!!!

We had a nice luncheon with the Tolman’s and President Kearon. We learned a little about him and his family. 1st he knows some friends of ours from Britain, Mike & Patricia Beere. He is married and his wife is from California. They have 3 girl ages 11, 8, and 4. They live outside of Bristol, England. He works as a Consultant in a Computer Communications firm.

We received from Sister Tolman, some recent Church News, and noticed they are starting to announce Mission Presidents. We are anxiously awaiting the announcement of Joselita DeCosta Neves from Mindelo, especially where he will serve. He will be wonderful as a Mission President, and Mafalda will be great as Mission Mom.

Well that is about it for this week. Hope this finds everyone happy and looking forward to spring weather. Oh Sister Marinho is doing well, MOM, we got her on the right medication and the cellulitis is resolving nicely. Sorry to worry you. Other Missionary news, Sister Vaterlaus is in her last transfer, and what a transfer. She is having remarkable experiences. She is not walking out the last transfer but running full steam, great example. Elder Mendonca is getting ready for our visit to Brava in a few weeks. For those who don’t know, Brava is the “End of the World”. When you go to Brava, you have to stay for 2-4 days, depending on when the next boat can bring you back. Also there are few places to stay, the missionaries assure us there is a nice Hostel, but we have learned to be wary of missionary recommendations on accommodations.

Ocean view just outside the Chapel in Mosteiros. Below is the Chapel in Mosteiros and Brother Lourenco of the Ashby Foundation.

Volcano on the return trip, white clouds are gas escaping from vents around the mountain. There has been two major erutptions in the last 50 yrs. The worse was in 1959, and caused most of the lava flows seen today.

View from the ridge on the road home. Note lava flow to the left, village at the bottom is abandoned.

Zone Conference Fogo: bottom left to right Elders Dos Reis, Mendonca, Fortes, Thompson; 1st row President Kearon, Sister Tolman, Waller, Elder Waller, De Cruz, Hernandez, Da Cruz; Back row Elders Da Luz, President Tolman, Sister Duarte, Marinho, Elders Silva & Kinghorn