Off to the Northern Islands

For some time now we have needed to go to the northern islands to install the CO alarms in the apartments and to bring the water filters they will need to last them until March. But the trip turned into much more than that. We arrived late on Thursday night. President had asked us to teach/train at the Mindelo Zone Conference on Friday. I spoke for 30 minutes and Robert for an hour. Then he asked Robert to speak for him at the Saturday evening session of their Stake Conference and to speak at the Sunday morning session as well. He did great at both. They asked me to bear my testimony at the Sunday one - with zero notice - but I did okay. It was fun to be there as this was the first Stake Conference they have had sense they were organized. And it proved to be historic as they called their first Patriarch.

This is the new patriarch and this young woman had just returned from her mission in Brazil the night before. We met her in the airport.

The children here love to have their picture taken so they gathered around in a hurry and begged me to take this. Aren't they cute.

That is a lot to do in 3 days as there are 10 apartments in Mindelo and they are scattered everywhere. And of course some needed repairs which we managed to do in our spare time. HA.

That is two missionaries walking down the road near their apartment. I would have never found it.
The only reason we had any success is because of the taxi driver the missionaries recommended. His name is George and he knew where every apartment was. They jokingly call him the other Zone Leader. He took us to each apartment, waited patiently for us to finish in each and then drove us to the next one. He even knew where the closest hardware stores were.
Here are a few picture of Mindelo.

On Monday we woke up early to catch the ferry to Santa Antao - an island we had never been too. The ferry ride was so fun as this ferry is an open air one and the view of the ocean and the two islands was beautiful

But the real beauty was yet to be seen. We rented a car and drove around the edge of the island to two apartments in two very remote towns, Ponto de Sol and Coculi. Did I say edge. Yes. But first we had to go through the mountain to get to the edge.

                                 

Then on the way back instead of driving along the coast we drove across the island back to  Porto Novo where we had started. The center of the island was amazing. We felt like we were in Colorado. Cool air, green mountains and PINE TREES. That is a sight you do not see anywhere else in Cape Verde. And did I mention we went over, around and on the edge of the mountains?

The next day Robert did some training at their zone conference and we had lunch with the 8 missionaries that make up this tiny zone. It was great. The next day we headed back by ferry to Mindelo. We took two missionaries back with us because of some health issue. The one on the left is serving here from Mozambique.

Once back, we did some more repairs on apartments, the purchasing of a new stove and other things they needed. Then with nothing else to do, and no hotel to go to, we just wondered around Mindelo looking at the sites - and finding an ice cream shop. We finally ended up sitting in the praça where we picked up the free internet to check our email and were able to facetime with Danielle. Randomly she was making 'purple-licious" cupcakes and we were able to see the purple dough on Ava and Ella's faces. I love technology! By late afternoon we were more than ready for George to pick us up and take us to the airport. That night we flew into Praia. It is always good to be home. That would be the big island at the bottom of the group. I loved this globe in Mindelo. I think they think these islands are a bit bigger than they really are.

Volcanoes and Hurricanes

We headed back to Fogo last week to follow up on the training  with the Elder's Quorums and on the apartment inspections.
The first thing we noticed is that it had rained in Fogo and things were getting green! Whoever named these islands must have arrived just after the rainy season.  Here is the picture of the first night we arrived.

But there was only one problem - it was still raining. It was just on and off but trust me when you are on the only road going around this island - which is part dirt, part cobblestone and hugging cliffs with no guardrails -you are paying attention to just how much it is raining. As we traveled on Saturday to visit apartments and participate in a District meeting with the missionaries in Cova Figueira, the rain wasn't bad.

Note the boulder in the above picture. That was not there the last time we passed through here. Maybe we should have been worried about more than the rain.

By Sunday it was a little worse and made for some interesting interactions as we had to go back and forth between the towns on the east side of the island a few times for training. Here is a picture of us coming up on our first town early Sunday morning.

And here is the view in the town right under the volcano. I was standing by the church when I took it. Those clouds looked eerie.

 There are a few slopes on that side of the island coming down from the volcano that are somewhat dangerous in the rain. They are where the past lava flows have made ditches in the side of the mountain in which the rain water comes down in a rush. (you know - the places I have spoken off in past post where cars have been swept off the road and carried all the way down the slopes into the ocean - true stories.) We came on one such place as the young men of the nearby town were trying to clean off the dirt and rocks that had washed down onto the road. It is a narrow road with a steep drop off on one side and of course with no guard rails. And it doesn't help that the tires of the car spin a bit in the mud as you pass over. We went through it 3 times trying to get back and forth to our different meetings. Obviously the worse had passed by the time we took this picture.

The above picture is an attempt to take a picture of the drop off and the ditch down to the ocean. It isn't a very good one as I am not too keen on hanging my head out the window when the wheels are spinning in mud on the edge of cliffs.
We made it back to the hotel at 6:30 on Sunday night. Long day considering we left at 7:30 that morning. I was ready to relax but no. That is when the rain really hit and it come with some serious wind. This was the scene outside our window  just before it really hit. Looks a lot different than it did the first night we arrived. We couldn't even see Brava or the ocean!

We don't have access to much TV here - nor do most people on these islands - so we didn't realize we were being hit by the beginnings of Hurricane Humberto. Most hurricanes in the Atlantic start with a tropical depression near or around Cape Verde and then move on to more open waters to become a real Hurricane, but Humberto was packing a punch already. We didn't know what it was until we received an email from our sweet Stake President in Kingwood the next morning. The storm stayed with us Sunday and Monday. I must have received 20 phone calls from missionaries all over the south islands complaining about water coming into their apartments - and they were all on upper floor apartments. The rain was coming in from the balconies that have little or no drainage and through the roofs. One apartment on the top floor had standing water in it from the rain was coming through the roof so fast. They only get a few inches of rain a year here so they build their homes and cities accordingly. The roads became ditches in such situations. The water was so powerful on some roads that the dirt under the cobblestones was washed away and the the very stones themselves tumbled down the streets.
We were supposed to leave Monday but our flight was obviously cancelled. The airlines put us up in an hotel. It was actually nicer than the one we we had been staying in so we couldn't complain. We spent the day walking around looking at the mess the rain had made. Here is a picture of it coming through a ravine in downtown Sao Filipe.

 We ran into the missionaries and they said they had been to the ravine too. They told us the people were so fascinated by the water force that some teenage boys threw a small refrigerator off the bridge to see how far the water would take it. Apparently all the way to the ocean.

The next morning they managed to get us home but oh what a ride. Fogo has a very tiny airport, with a very short runway and the wind was howling. You know you are in trouble when you feel turbulence and they haven't even started the engines. That tiny plane shook with every gust of wind. It was a bumpity ride but fortunately it only lasted a little over 20 minutes.  Praia never looked so good!
Those of you who know my fear of winding narrow roads near cliffs and of flying know I would only do this for one cause. It reminded me of the hymn, I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go Dear Lord. Remember the line -  It may not be on the mountain height or over the stormy sea? Well it has been!

Cidade Velha - Again

We went to the old city and fort again. This time with the Thompsons who had never been. We were talking on the way there about how funny history is. We have been taught in America that Sir Frances Drake was a noble explorer. Well in Cape Verde he is know as a pirate. He is the reason they build the fort! He pillaged Cidade Velha twice! So we were in the process of explaining that to the Thompson when Sister Thompson gets all excited and says that one of her claims to fame is that she is a decedent of Sir Frances Drake. She loved the new take on history and took pictures at all the historical signs that mentioned his name. She can't wait to send them to her extended family back home. Here are a few of my favorite pictures of the day. This is the main square where they have kept a reminder of the sad days of slavery.

 This is the oldest street in Cape Verde. It leads to the old church.

 This is looking down from the fort to the city. Our tour guide stood on the cannon to get this shot.

Weddings and Dreams of Them.

One of the first people we met here was Djon Fernandez. He is hard to forget because he is so tall. He was single and on the high council with Robert. Then one of the first young women I met in Relief Society was Maria. She too is tall. She speaks a little English and translated a bit for me. Oh how she saved me those first few weeks. Well look at this. Here she is waiting to go into the place were everyone in Praia is married.

And here he is waiting nervously for everything to be ready and for his bride to enter.

They make a beautiful couple. A week later they were able to fly to Brazil and be married in the Fortaleza Temple.
And then there is Sandra, the young woman we helped to bring into the church. She was introduced to a return missionary from Fogo whose nick name is Kennedy. He serves in a Branch Presidency in Cova Figueira and she is the Young Women's president in our ward. They have been calling each other but never see each other because it is expensive to go from island to island. So every time we come to Fogo Kennedy sends something sweet home with us to give to her. But this time it was a RING. This is Sandra's reaction to receiving it.

They will be married in October. They really are a lot alike and we think they will make a special couple. They will be married  in the Temple when Sandra has been a member one year. They are so excited.

District Conference in Fogo

This weekend we had the privilege of returning to Fogo for their Distirct Conference. We had Elder Dyches with us from the European Area Presidency.
The weekend started by picking up him and the Oliveiras at the mission home and heading to the airport for a 8 AM flight - which of course did not leave until 10:30. (Cape Verde has only one airline and so you just take what you get. We always laugh when they say "Thank you for flying Cape Verde Airlines. We hope you will fly with us again." Of course we will - there is no other option - no matter how late you are or how often you cancel our flights.)
Once in Fogo the President and the Benedicts took Elder Dyches around the island showing him the unique challenges of this beautiful place. The few roads on the island are cobble stone and they circle the edge of the island. There is no going straight across the island to the other cities in the most direct route - unless you want to drive through an active volcano. No one owns a car and transportation is sparse and pretty much none existent after dark or when it is raining. If you remember the pictures of Fogo from previous blogs then you know how steep the sloops are and how narrow the roads. When it rains cars have been washed off the mountain and taken into the ocean. These issues make it difficult to gather the leaders for training and the district for conference. Not to mention how tough it would be for a young district presidency to be able to make visits. So while they were showing Elder Dyches the difficult dynamics of Fogo, we took off in the rent car and did a little sight seeing ourselves.

After that we meet up with the missionaries. They were so happy to see us! Well it was mostly because we had their mail - a whole suitcase full. After we passed out all of that to them, we all waited anxiously for Elder Dyches. He gave a very powerful one hour training to the missionaries. He was a mission president in Portland, Oregon and he knew very well what they needed to hear. It was wonderful and wonderful to hear a talk in ENGLISH.
After that there was a new member meeting to which all the recent converts came. Elder Dyches gave them a wonderful message about how to maintain a testimony and the power of prayer. After that we return to the hotel and had a late night snack in the restaurant with Elder Dyches and the Oliveiras.
Our accommodations were beautiful

- it s a shame we couldn't use the pool or go to the beach. Ha.


The next morning, while the others were in training meetings, we made it to one of the missionary district meetings. Then we asked the missionaries and the zone leaders if anyone had any problems with their housing or anything we could help with. The sisters were having a problem in their apartment as the lights in the front room no longer worked. Umm. We found the circuit box and saw that a switch had popped so we flipped it back on and like magic it worked. They were amazed. The zone leaders said they needed fast ferry tickets for two Elders but were short on funds - could we buy them? so off to the fast ferry office we went. Then we met most of the missionaries for a baptism. We were very much enjoying that when President Benedict called in a panic. Sister Benedict had taken the car and he couldn't reach her. President and Elder Dyches were back at the hotel and needed a ride to the next meeting. We raced out to pick them up which was good that we did as we found out then that Robert was suppose to be in the next meeting.
I went back to the hotel for an hour to leisurely read my scripture and then meet up with the sister missionaries for some time with them. After that I went to the church and listened in the RS room to the end of the Priesthood training meeting. The view was great. That is Robert in the chapel.

That night was the adult session of district conference. To start if off they had a choir consisting of all the return missionaries. I took the picture from the stand. I had to take two shots so I could catch what was on both sides of the chorister. Aren't they amazing. And they sounded good too.

The theme of the conference was pretty much directed at that group singing. It was about the importance of getting married and the marriage covenant. Some members who had attended the Temple just the week before bore their testimonies. Wow. Elder Dyches them gave great advice about how to stay on the Lord's path which leads to the Temple and eventually eternal life.
The next morning we gathered at well .... a paved field with an awning over it that is both a basket ball court and a soccer field.
For the last year Elder Benedict has been serving as the District President. Now that the Benedicts mission is winding down it was time to call a new President. But who? The Priesthood here is so young - and I am not talking new I am talking everybody with the priesthood seems to be under the age of 30 and so many are not married.  But the Lord always has a plan.
The conference started with 25 men being sustain to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood.  I don't normally take pictures in meetings - in fact never - but we were encouraged to take a few for the history. 

The choir was amazing.

The Benedicts spoke as did all the members of the new presidency and then it was time for Elder Dyches but he added four more speakers. Another couple was called to bear their testimonies and then he asked Robert and I to. I stood and looked out at nearly one thousand people and thought of a line in my Patriarchal Blessing. Then for the first time I bore my testimony in Portuguese without looking at any notes and without making one mistake. I think I floated back to my chair. I bore my witness that God lives and loves us, that Jesus is the Christ and that they appeared to Joseph Smith. He was a prophet and he translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God. I told them the Book of Mormon was a precious gift for if people will read it they can come to know for certain that Joseph was a prophet and that the gospel has been restored. I told them I had read it many times and that each time I did I received a testimony anew.  Robert bore a similar testimony and encouraged them to make family scripture reading a part of their lives. He encouraged them to teach their children while they are yet young the language of the scriptures. That is a big problem here. The scriptures are in Portuguese but they speak creole. Most children don't learn Portuguese until they go to school and are fairly old before they are proficient at it. That could be a real disadvantage to them in their gospel learning. I often think of the scriptures in which Nephi thanks his father for teaching him in the language of the scriptures, as did Enos and the sons of Mosiah. In fact it is a great theme in the Book of Mormon.

Here is a picture of everyone leaving at the end. They are such a warm and wonderful group of people.

Here is Elder Dyches taking time to talk to some of the members of the choir.

Here is a young Elder's Quorum President that Robert gave some training to. It was nice to meet his wife and so cute son.

And this is one of our recently returned missionaries. He is from Fogo and was called to serve in Cape Verde Mission. He served on all the islands but Fogo and he was an outstanding missionary. Well he walked into President's office at the end of his mission to be released as a missionary and came out a Branch President. Released and called in a blink. But the story gets better. At the beginning of his mission he baptized this young woman. She never forgot him. Now they are talking of marriage.

This morning we were talking of how amazing the weekend was. All the perks of a conference but none of the heavy responsibility. It was amazing. We love Fogo and its people and can't wait to go back! Here we are at the airport waiting for the flight to take us back to Praia. It was late - of course.