The loss of electricity is just random. No explanation. It is not like they have weather here. It is bright and sunny everyday with temps ranging from high 60's in the morning to high 80's in the afternoon. And there is very little humidity but sadly very little shade. Maybe that explains the albino praying mantis we spotted. That thing was 6 inches long.
And speaking of random sightings... We were eating at a restaurant near the water and a group of stray cows just passed by. Can't get the pic to upload now but will later.
And speaking of restaurants... necessity sometimes requires that we take risks. We missed lunch working hard at the office and were just about to go get dinner when the missionaries called and asked if we would go teaching with them. We went with them and talked to this sweet woman and her 10 year old daughter and 2 year old son for over an hour. At that point it was getting close to 8 and we were starved. We stopped at this fancy restaurant - as fancy as they get here - and I ordered what i thought was shrimp and rice. It came in this pot with a lid on it. I got a little nervous when I noted the antennas of something hanging out over the side. As crazy as this looks it was actually pretty good. The antennas belonged to a baby lobster and he had a lot of big shrimp in there to keep him company. I just wish they would behead the things before they serve them.
Now this is what we entitled first class delivery. We ordered a stove, washer and refrigerator for the apartment. We went up to the store to schedule the delivery and all of the sudden the owner starts barking orders. Then these guys start taking the appliances to the side walk. They were all talking fast and most likely creole so Dad couldn't understand them so we had no idea what was really going on. Then a little Toyota pick up truck pulls up and they start loading the appliances in it. More like on it if you look at the picture. That was comical enough but then they turned to us and said, "Get in." You see they don't really have addresses here and they wanted to make sure they took it to the right house. So Dad and I and the driver squeezed into the front of the truck. and then it wouldn't start. So the one guy riding in the back gets out, pops the hood and bangs the battery with a screwdriver and amazingly it started.
Here is another picture of us in front of our apartment - the yellow one. The Mission Office is on the second floor and we are on the top floor.
This is just a typical side road where they line up and sale their wares. Can't get this one to upload either but will later.
But we have noticed that they sell candy on the street too. We thought it was random to see these women just sitting at these specific spots in the afternoon with suckers and taffy. Then we figured it out! They put out their wares right in front of the schools. But not everyone sits on the road side. You can here women going down the roads crying out whatever they are selling. "BANANAS" is what we here most. Now they don't just carry them. They carry them on their heads. And as this picture shows they can carry everything on their heads - even suitcases.
And to those of you who remember dad's fixation with pointing out post offices on our long road trips, this is the Cabo Verde post office.
We go there at least twice a week to get the mail for the mission and missionaries. It takes forever. First you check your PO box. You get the letters and notices that you have packages. Then you go stand in one line to show them your notices and to buy a 50 cent stamp that allows you to pick up the package. Then you paste the stamps on each notice and go stand in another line to actually pick up your package. I shouldn't complain because this is the view from behind the post office. The Praia Harbor.
Now to more spiritual things. The church here is amazing. At testimony meetings they ask that you keep your testimonies short. So people go for only 3 minutes at most but what they say is pure testimony. It is powerful. And the lessons are right from the manual. We read a little then discuss. There is no fluff. No deviation. Nothing is added or taken away and it makes for some powerful lessons. Choir practices - which we hear every week while teaching the Temple Prep class - consist of singing one hymn after another. There is no performance just pure worship and again it is so powerful. Sometimes I fear we have lost some of that in our wards back home. But they get it right here. They also get the baptism thing right here. They don't knock doors here. They do all missionary work through member referrals.
This weekend they had 40 baptisms in the mission. They only have 68 missionaries! We were there yesterday when 8 people were baptized. After everyone was baptized, they didn't have a talk on the Holy Ghost, instead they opened the meeting up to testimonies. And to our surprise all the adults who were baptized and some of the teenagers who were baptized bore their testimonies. Then today they had two more baptisms - a young couple. They were supposed to be baptized yesterday but the man had to work. What they did at this baptism I have never seen done but wow. After he was baptized they brought him right back into the room and confirmed him. Then they broke the circle and put their hands back on his head and conferred the Aaronic priesthood on him and ordained him to the office of Priest. Then he stood and took his wife into the water and baptized her. Wow.
And one last random thought we are in our apartment - at last. We have a bed and appliances but no table chairs or couch or dishes. We borrowed 2 bowls and 2 plates from Sister Cummings and two chairs from the office downstairs. We will work on getting fully settled in this week. Tudo Bem.
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