We loved Conference...the parts that we could get so far. We couldn't get the last session as the internet went down in the city, but we loved the rest!!!! Only one part when Japanese took over the Portuguese for a bit...but we could feel the spirit strong anyway, and how wonderful to be a part of it all the way to here! Such a nice relaxed day. When the internet didn't work...Pres. Benedict started leading everyone in singing and I gave a mini-testimony and then others took turns as well. It turned out to be a good meeting...but we will be anxious to listen to Conference again.
Our days over-lap with variety and there is always more to do! We have been here on the Island of Fogo for almost 8 weeks now...so what do we do day to day? In our first almost 2 months, we have taught Perpetual Education Classes on Wednesdays. These are wonderful classes that teach budgeting, schooling, planning for the future, and accomplishing our hopes and dreams through hard work. The students can then apply for a loan if they have no money to go to school. They will repay the loan at sometimes $5.00 or $2.00 a month so others can benefit from the fund as well. We have taken our students to stores and classes and schools and visited with them about their skills and talents. We have been to 5 single adult activities, 2 branch activities, attended 10 Institute/Seminary classes and taught two Old Testament classes in Institute. We have set up our apartment-bought dishes, pans, bed, shower curtain, fixed electrical problems, put up cloteslines. We have loved visiting many homes for visits, lessons, and Family Home Evenings. We enjoy the zone conferences and district meetings. We have given medicene at the request of the mission nurse, have inspected 7 missionary apartments on three islands. We have spoken in 6 Sacrament meetings (on 3 islands), given a 1 hour training to a missionary zone conference. At the end of this week, we will have stayed 14 nights in hotels and been on 5 boat rides (one calm). Pres. Benedict has given trainings to 6 branch Presidencies as well as trainings to their branch counsels. He has worked many hours on a map of this city with the ultimate purpose of dividing two branches into three. There are no addresses on this island. It is all on foot and by word of mouth. Shortly ago, the branch records were changed from people's nicknames which everyone uses here to their given names and so in finding where each person on record lives...even some of the leaders don't know people by their real names. They always use their nicknames and that is how they are known. The process is slow...but we are making progress and Pres. Benedict is amazing with Google earth and some math and quadrants and footwork and patience in finding everyone. We've helped with the Seminary Super Saturday and will help with this week's district returned and prospective missionaries activity. And on Abril 14th will be in charge of another Seminary Activity for the District. When visitors come from other islands they can stay here with us as we have an extra room. (Another missionary couple, humanitarian (working to help people with wheelchairs and water projects), the Brodericks, just spent two days with us and that was nice!) There are many phone calls, questions, ideas, and computer helps and more visits to do. Inbetween we prepare meals and go to baptisms and iron our clothes and prepare our talks and practice our Potuguese and pack an overnight bag and take the boat and buy more bottled water and hope there just might be an email or two from home! That is a quick sketch of our day to day....
 |
| Motel room in Cova Figueira inbetween meetings! He's pretty awesome! |
No comments:
Post a Comment