The Soccer Dance

 Children blow air into their balls just to kick them three or four times and have to blow them up again...

John Steinbeck taught me an important lesson in high school that I am remembering now.  My heart grabbed at every word in his book: "The Pearl",  yet for a moment, a few weeks ago, I had forgotten. Our young neighbors played with this more-than-worn-out-ball and laughed and enjoyed every minute...until I gifted them a new one and at once...they had to decide who was in charge of it, whose turn it wasn't, who kept it in their keep at night and for a little while the new ball ruined their game and for a little while...I wanted to throw it in the ocean...(we have one you know!) but the blessing of jagged cobblestones on our street make a new ball usable and amiable quickly and life is good again.  

(Grandpa as we were leaving a Young Men /Young Women conference last Sat!)

bits of this n' thats!

This past week has been full of budget and financial trainings in the branches: Sao Filipe 1, Sao Filipe 2, Congresso, e Relva.  This photo is during a training on the Island of Brava earlier.

We enjoyed helping with the Seminary and Institute Graduation. We are excited to start the New Testament classes in September!

 More visits on the hillside on the Island of Brava with President Cardosa.

A fun Seminary Super Saturday with Brother Neves from Mindelo about Faith and Courage, using David and Goliath as our theme.

Last Saturday, we participated in a Young Men (rapazes--prounounced: ha-paw-zez) and Young Women (mocas--pronounced: moe-suzz) conference on The Strength of Youth.  Over 70 youth were in attendance and in groups of ten, they traded rooms with each theme.  Ours theme (presented 7 times) was the importance of keeping our thoughts clean and using wisdom in using the internet, TV, and music. We learn so much as we love these young people. Satan cannot have the three things that matter most: A body, A Marriage, A Family...and that is why he tries so hard to destroy ours.  Traditions on the island are sometimes difficult to overcome...but the youth are understanding that every soul is of great value and that with faith, education and wise choices, they will be blessed and so will their island and their future families!

We are used to the roads now...and only occasionally do I close my eyes anymore!

Our electrician would certainly come on Monday.  We waited...we waited...finally we called because the appointment to fix the electricity was at 9 am.  He answered.  We reminded him of the time.  Oh, he would be there mais tarde...he needed to get his haircut and then he would want to go home and take a shower.  Last week he couldn't come because he needed to find someone who could cut the plastic that goes over the cord along the wall.  It is now a week later... I got out a knife and cut the plastic to go over the cord that Stan repaired and wired. I think maybe 'mais tarde' means: "not now...and maybe...even most probably... never"  Either that...or he has a slow barber who needs sharper scissors!

We celebrated our 39th Wedding Anniversary in June...I really like my Missionary Companion!        

A week ago, a new branch was formed in Sao Filipe.  President de Pina (Pai...the Seminary teacher that I wrote about earlier) is the new President.  He has not been a member for a whole year yet. His is such an inspiring story

Yesterday, (Sunday), Pres. Benedict went to meetings in Relva with Pres. Lourenco (in District Presidency)  to call a new counselor there.  They dropped me off to attend meetings in Cova Figueira.  I needed to talk to three people about a humanitarian sewing machine and how it can be used to bless families in the branch.  I thought maybe we could visit after the meetings before dad would return and we would drive two missionaries to the airport in Sao Filipe on our way back home.  You can imagine my surprise as I was sitting in Sacrament meeting just trying to be nice...when they announced that anyone interested in learning to sew clothing should meet with Sis. Benedict after Sacrament meeting!!!  Oh MY!  

My small little visit now included nearly 20 people all looking at me to teach them "costuming" (how to sew).

I swallowed...I got out my piece of chalk...(always have one with me-never go anywhere without it) and proceeded to the chalkboard.  We had a 20 minute discussion about the sewing machine, it's uses, what the responsibilities entail, and how to share and schedule it.  They answered my questions, so they must have understood my presentation.  I mentioned that we have blessings like the sewing machine to make us happy.  They seemed to leave the meeting happy.  I left thankful for my piece of chalk and help with my talk. Maybe next time I can teach them how to sew tailored business suits. Yes, that would be nice. ;)

We love teaching the Gospel and witnessing that certain Light that comes into the eyes of those who want to know more.  Pres. Benedict stays very busy with interviews, meetings, trainings, visits, classes, counsels, computers, emails, finances, organizing, Perpetual Education classes, centro for young adult activities, phone calls, last minute emergencies, travels, and a thousand details...(a thousand and twenty-two to be precise) and I try to keep him fed, on time, and happy!  Because of him...that's easy to do!

ESCUDOS and DELICIOUS FOOD

The money is interesting here. It is all in ESCUDOS.   The silver coin with gold around it above is a little more than one dollar.  It is 100 ESCUDOS.

 Paper money: 1000 MIL ESCUDOS; (just over ten dollars) 2000 DOIS MIL ESCUDOS (just over $20.) ;and 500 QUINHENTOS ESCUDOS (just over $5.) and 200 DUZENTOS ESCUDOS, (just over $2.).
 They put a comma where we put a period and they put a period where we put a comma in our amounts and so it always looks like we are spending alot! Coins are 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, and 1 escudos.  Sometimes the banks (including the ATMs) do not have any money in them.  Good thing to learn early on!

FOOD!  We buy our eggs for 20 escudos each...(about 23 cents each) we tell the cashier (the person sitting on the steps until we enter the store (room) and they follow us in) how many eggs we need, and they place them in a little plastic bag for us to carry home.  The shells are durable here...and it seems one egg ends up being the amount of two. Really. From the luxury of placing sacks in a car, taking groceries in from our Idaho garage (after having pushed a remote to open the garage door). I remember wondering why Heavenly Father packaged things so carefully.  I wondered about the extravagance of a banana peel, or coconut, or almond shell... seemed over the top for such a small piece of tender fruit/nut inside...

but now that I watch the people pick the fruit in the fields and travel with baskets on their heads or banana boxes oozing out the back of vans full of people, animals, and bundles of everything...I understand better the careful planning in the covering of food.  What kind of specific love!  To protect the fruit as long as possible until after having been hauled, shaken, carted, carried, dropped, pushed in, handled again, placed in buckets, boxes, barrels, and some time later, finally into hands that carefully peel the tough covering to share. 

We eat a lot of beans and rice, which we enjoy alot. We really like the black beans that make their own gravy as they cook and we like the ones pictured here.  We make yummy Chili from them.  Usually, on Mondays we make a 'soup of the week!' in a big pan, so we can heat and eat throught the week.  

We can get onions, green peppers, the small, delicious bananas from Mosteiros, cabbage, eggs, and bread most anyday...and we use them almost everyday in something.  Carrots and Tomatoes are often available.

Our juice comes from Brasil, yeast from Russian, Milk (in the blue carton) from Germany, Butter from Holland, Olive oil from Portugal, Tuna from Cape Verde, sometimes we get string beans from France and Jam from Belgium, spaghetti and noodles and other foods from Portugal, cake mixes from America!  If you open our fridge...you would think we are world travelers! ;)  We never know what will be at the store after the boat unloads its surprises once a month.  This month they even had some dill pickles...I bought three bottles...Elder Benedict is a happy man!

Every other week or so, I go early to the market to buy swordfish or tuna and I hurry home to cut and freeze the fish steaks to use for special meals.  Serra (swordfish) is our favorite.  Oh My! (YUM!)

Figs, Papaya, Caju, and Guava, are often given to us as we visit people from the Branches on the other side of the island.

Please Find My Family

Sister Gomes and Sister Buhler were on their way to Sacrament meeting one morning when they met a 14  year old boy (Well...almost 15 because his Birthday is a week from tomorrow) and began talking to him.  They sensed that he had a great desire to know more about the gospel.  He had attended church a few times before with his mother and sister who had forgotten they were members, and his aunts and uncles that are members of the church.  The sisters marked a day during the week to teach him more.  During the first visit, the sisters felt something very special about this young man.  They began talking about his family and Keven told them that he had 2 uncles who had served missions and are now living in Portugal.  When he said the names of his uncles, Sister Gomes eyes widened as she recognized one of the names. 

 Over a year and one half ago, when Sister Gomes received her call to the Cabo Verde Mission, a Brother Barros in her branch in Portugal, asked her to please find and baptize his family. She says, at that time, maybe because of little faith, or maybe the lack of missionary experience, she couldn't imagine that those words of Brother Barros would actually come to pass.  Keven is the nephew of Brother Barros and was baptized Saturday, July 14th, 2012.  His great desire is to one day serve a full-time mission like his uncles have. 

Sister Buhler in stripes and Sister Gomes in yellow are the sweet missionaries who taught Keven.  I can imagine the angels putting these tender mercy pieces of life together just to let people know that they are known and loved.  I have witnessed the 'bows on the endings' of many missions.  Keven's desire and his study of the gospel have touched many hearts: his uncles, the sister missionaries, his mother and sister who are trying to come back to church, Keven's heart... and ours. 

 

We had family night with Keven, his two younger sisters, and the missionaries one evening.  Keven explained the plan of Salvation as clear as I have ever heard it.  When he was explaining about the Plan of Happiness and the Kingdoms that Heavenly Father has prepared for His children after this life, he said simply:  The Telestial Kingdom is for those who do not believe in a Savior and for those who do not repent.  The Terrestrial Kingdom is for those who are ("mais or menos") more or less...half and half...and the Celestial Kingdom is for those who are (dignos) worthy to return to live in Heavenly Father's presence. 

Keven's birthday is July 31st.  They don't really celebrate birthdays much here, but for Keven it means that in 4 more years he can serve a mission!  He will be sent to a place in the world where he will be the one to touch someone's heart.  Until then...he will study and learn.  I feel confident that he will serve that mission and that the prayers of family are heard. Besides, there is nothing "mais ou menos" about this young man!

Centeiro e Sara

We were on the airplane from Praia to Sao Filipe about 6 weeks ago.  During the 40 minute flight, I noticed a young father two seats in front of us and across the isle.  He was so kind with his young daughter.  I could see that he was sitting next to a woman who also had a baby and their countenances were calm and bright.  

I watched them as the bags were coming in from the plane.  We went over to the young man and began to talk to him about his wonderful family.  He told us that their new baby was just two weeks old.  We asked him if he had ever heard about A Igreja de Jesus Cristo dos Santos dos Ultimos Dias?  It is a church with a message very important for Families, we said.  He smiled, "We are taking lessons from the missionaries right now". 

The elders invited us to visit Centeiro and Sara in their home a week later.  Sara had a glow about her as she listened to her husband talk about the gospel.  She knows how important the gospel is. What a special experience for us!

We talked about the importance of marriage and family...about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and about the Priesthood keys on the earth again that has the power to seal families together forever.  You can imagine our joy last Friday when we went to the city building to witness the marriage of this couple.  Many of the people in the branch decorated and made cakes for such a wonderful rare thing:  A Marriage!

Centeiro chose to be baptized on Saturday.  Again, their smiles lit up the room. 

Hellos and Good-byes

We had visited 4 homes with the Sister Missionaries the night before, so, we prepared for our PEF class late and must have forgotten to set the alarm. Early in the morning, we got a call from the brother of Carlos.  We must hurry!

Pres. Benedict was still tying his tie when we pulled up in front of the casa de Carlos to take him to the airport.  As we were leaving, I looked over in the doorway and saw his moma.  She was in tears.  I remember that feeling... a few times...     I gave her a hug and offered what I know. One of the three reasons that we are serving our mission: "Your family will be blessed."   

It was about 6:30 a.m. when we got there. We learned that the plane was to depart at 8:40.  The three of us were the only ones in the two room airport for quite some time.  But... He had never been on an airplane before and today was the day to begin his mission!                

He will fly to Sao Paulo, Brasil to the Mission Language and Training Center there for a month and then to Mosambique.

We went with the Branch President to the casa of Paulino to tell him that his call is to the Brasil, Porto Alegre South Mission, where we served our last mission!  What a fun assignment for us!

Elder Teixeira came home after two years of serving in the Portugal Mission.  What joy!  His friends were waiting all morning for the plane to come in.  (Sometimes the plane comes and sometimes not...or sometimes many hours later or earlier than scheduled...we never know...but we can hear it fly over and then we know it is here...)  Two years is even longer on an island without watches or busy schedules. One of his friends said, "Look at the Prossa.  It's green now!"  There was a little tree and bushes in the landing behind him.  Hugs and high-fives for everyone.

Elder Kelton is on his way to the Mosambique Mission.  After meetings, we witnessed another tearful good-bye with his friends in Cova Figueira and then drove him to the airport in Sao Filipe.    He has been a member for only 1 year and 3 months.  He is the only member in his family.  He is one of the few here that already has his education and a good teaching job.  "I don't know if I will have a job when I get back, but I know I will serve the Lord."

 To witness the coming and goings...I could sit at an airport for days.  To see the hugs of grandchildren running off a plane to waiting grandparents, husbands returning from business travel, people riding in those carts that we all want a turn at, people glassy eyed and carrying too much luggage to really enjoy a vacation; I like watching the older woman with smile wrinkles who crochets her waiting away next to people who watch the news and slurp their drinks, or the sleepy sloutching couple with backpacks trying to read novels that they have lost interest in, or the young boy playing video games much to the dismay of his mom who has educational material and maps on hand and a dad who paces almost as often as he looks at his watch. 

I still like to remember a young man in a California airport waiting for a plane.  Whoever he was...he touched my heart, as he rushed (actually ran in) just as a plane had landed.  He held a small bouquet of flowers in his hand and a bright future on his face.  I felt like we were right in the middle of a movie!  Or the time, in a Salt Lake Airport when a baby from China was placed into the adoptive parents arms, or the many times when we have seen Missionaries come and go...many in our own family.  I know that most of the comings and goings are for a day, a week or more... but some are for a year or two or more and I remember waiting at a Bosie airport 39 yeatrs ago...

  There are reasons why people plan and save and miss their family to help other families...

And so, at times...(like this past week full of wonderful missionary hellos and good-byes)...

I have to wipe my tears away... in order to see theirs.  

Lulicia (Lou) received her call to Brasil, Ribeirao Preto Mission.  Her brother gave her a hug, his face (above) describes best, the pull of feelings, that families all over the world experience at such good news.  It is these moments when our spirits remember what is important and why we have earthlife and how much we love our families.  Those amazing people that we have been blessed to take for granted for awhile. 

 Lou's  mother quietly offered us tiny apples that she had placed on a plate.

Primaria!

 

We travel to the different branches each week.  Every once in a while they need my help in Primary. These photos are from the branches of Relva, Brava, Cova Figueira, and Sao Filipe.  Yesterday we were in Cova Figueira.  The Primary lesson was about how to say nice things and do kind things for others.  It took some time for the children to find a scripture in the Bible, but we all waited because we wanted to hear the important words...  

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." 
Ephesians 4:32. 

Oh, their precious little faces as we talked about those words. Their faith stretching mine.

I must become as a child again.   

WHAT (on earth) Are you Doing?

A Child fresh from Heaven understands what our time on earth is worth...and why it is given.

A woman cried the day we loaded all the chairs and Hymn books into the back of a truck and locked the door to the deserted casa that had been a branch.  Some had moved, some had decided not to live the blessings, some had decided the walk was too far, or the sun was too hot, or to participate was too hard?    The former Branch President locked the door and started to leave.  The woman asked him "Why?  Why, was the branch closing?"  He spoke rather sternly: "Why, Why didn't you come?" 

All I could do was give her a hug. "The church will return again when hearts are ready," I said. "Heavenly Father loves you...but we must also love Him." Her walk will be long but she can go to the Fonte Aleixo branch for now.  She just stood there watching as the chalkboard was put into the truck.  A sad morning for us. As we were leaving, I noticed a couple of pictures drawn by Primary children and picked them up off the cement floor.  'Minha Familia'.  I swallowed tears and my heart broke for the tender ones. 

Since that day, a few weeks ago in Patim, I have asked myself over and over: What if a branch consisted of my heart only?  Would it stay open or would it close?  Am I doing my part?  I am amazed at the love and patience of Heavenly Father and of our gracious leaders who try so hard and give with their whole heart, might, mind and strength.  What of mine? 

Sometimes I wonder if the

Children, so fresh from Heaven, would like to ask:  "WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING?"

2nd Nephi 26:11