waiting lines...

How does one say good-bye
to the kindness,
the colors,
the children,
and smiles
of Cabo Verde?

How does one say Thank You
for the Faith,
the patience,
the hope,
and charity, 
of these Pioneers?

How does one
ever sing the same,
think the same,
drink water from a tap,
or feel or pray the same...
as before?

It cannot be done.

We are humbled and thankful,
that Heavenly Father allowed us
to hear their prayers.
feel their hugs, witness their tears,
 soak in their sways and songs.

We cannot forget their smiles
clean from the waters of Baptism
 their testimonies; their fervant faith.

Our suitcases are packed,
We fly to the main island today.
We have swept Sal island sand from our floors for the last time,
We've gently folded the hugs, tears, notes, and 
crocheted remembrances in our bags
along with so many, many memories in our hearts.

*******
We will see our family in a few days!!!  
Our hearts are so full of Thanksgiving at that thought and we can't wait
to hear and see and smell and feel Home!
We will meet four new grandchildren and hug them for the first time
(making 28 grandchildren that we have missed like crazy for two years.)
Their moms and dads have blessed us many times over with 
their emails and prayers.  More than they know. What a time to rejoice!

******* We will only say So Long, 
but not good-bye.
This life is the short one.
The next one is for Eternity.

So many Cabo Verdianos wait in line to get water...

If anyone can come help give 'Living Water'

--Please come--

those lines are even longer...

You don't need to know alot,
you just need to open your heart and love alot.
The rest is given to you in the very moment...

I promise.

Christmas Choir in Santa Maria - 2013

6:30 pm last night.  The choir members came on time!
(mostly!)
Everyone was so excited for the Christmas Program!

Looking like a real choir.  My blouse looks better on D'Luz.
The choir is saved!  I will take photos and man the lights!

With new shoes and his smile, Adilson is ready!

Ready to begin!  Kinda hoping for an audience...that would be such a special bonus!

The choir began!

A Scripture read, a Christmas Hymn, and then a 2-3 min.
video ...continued over and over until all 7 Scriptures,
hymns  and videos were given to honor our Savior's Birth and Life.

And with the Opening Carol, the audience trickled in.
They came!

Andy, our kind apartment guard came!
Atou's brother came!
Alberto's friends came!
Three investigators of the sisters came!
A tall young man the elders are teaching came!
Elder and Sister Smart came from Espargos!
A newly (this morning) young elder returned from his mission
in Brasil and his family lives here now.  He came as a last minute surprise
to all of us, and will be such a blessing here!

Our Bread lady came!!
Afterwards, she was very quiet, and asked if she could
make an offering to help us with the church.
We explained that none of our leaders are paid.
We all serve because we love our Savior.
That the offerings paid in our Church are to help those in need.  We explained the process briefly for Fatima,  that
in our little group the offerings could be paid on the 1st Sunday of the month.

Even the children seemed reflective during the videos, scriptures, and Carols.

When Mariama sang Silent Night every heart felt those words.

We cut the cakes in smaller pieces!  No one noticed...and all were fed.
Everyone stayed and visited for quite some time.

Gildo and Samira came with their beautiful family!
He is the man who came up to us on a bicycle shortly after we arrived in Santa Maria.
We have been in their home many times.  He has brought us fish, we have taken
them the Scriptures. Last night, they all came! 

***************

Seems to me, Heavenly Father always puts bows on the endings!

****************

  Gave my talk this morning, walked and talked like a normal person
throughout the day...our last day on Sal.
We set up the chairs, Gerson's TV,
and the elders and sisters helped finish taping our 'official' choir programs.

This evening, I put a tablecloth under the cakes on the table,
arranged the blue napkins
hoping people would come,

We welcomed everyone

I turned the lights on and off at the right times, except for once
and shooed the dogs out the best I could during the program.
It was a great day.  A blessed ending.

And we shared handshakes and high fives and hugs and when Samira cried,
I was composed and tried to be gracious, oh how I love these good people.

********

It wasn't until we got home that I had to take some time out.
I sat down and cried and cried.

SAPATOS...(SHOES)

In September, Grandpa resoled his shoes from the giant holes on the bottom.  

Yesterday morning, he polished both pair, thinking to wear one pair home 

and leave the other for someone here.  

Last night, we went to Institute class. 

I really love how these kids pour and ponder over the scriptures. 

After the greetings, before the Opening song, 

I asked if everyone was coming Saturday at 6 pm for our final choir practice 

and if they are excited to share the program on Sunday Evening!!!

I saw a question in Adilson's eyes as the others replied, "Sim!" (Yes!)

I asked him about that, hoping that he didn't have to work...

 and he quietly said he could explain later.

Adilson did a great job of teaching the lesson, Jacob 5, 

about The House of Israel and the Olive Tree Allegory.  

He was baptized 2 months ago.

After the Closing Song and Prayer, 

We found out why Adilson had been reticent to respond.

He lives in a non-secure space.  

Someone had robbed most everything he owned.

"I cannot get shoes for four more days," he said sadly. 

"I cannot be ready for the choir."

He was so sad, because singing is something very special here.

(For some reason, he thought he needed shoes to sing!)

Grandpa remembered the polished shoes

and immediately took off one of his shoes, asking Adilson to try it on.

They wear the exact same size!

I think we all smiled all the way home.

Heavenly Father even notices polished shoes.

as vezes, nos nao temos palavras

Sister Tatasha, Primary President in Boa Vista made a little
cardboard reminder for each child.  It says: 'I am a Child of God', 
and she wants each little one to know that it is true.  

Years back, Albert had to flee Liberia during the war to protect his life.
He wanted to show us a book that he has.  The missionaries are teaching him.
I had to step outside to take the photo of him and his Book of Mormon 
as there is only a couple of feet of floor on two sides of his mattress.  
It is his home for now.
But, talk about gracious.  He invited us in and was so thoughtful.

We were on our way to visit Octavio when we heard a fellow say, "Elder!"
We stopped to visit with TChidi Aduruao, a kind man from Nigeria.
"I have a question for you." he said.  "Tell me who Moroni is.
I attended a meeting when I was in Fogo and I want to know more about your church."
His world of work is the small table of shoe shining and repairing equipment
on the table in front.  But, like all of us, his thoughts and dreams and questions
are deep and searching and he wants to understand life.
He wrote down his name and number for us.

Sister Aguirra, a sweet Brasilian sister, asked her companion to take a photo of us together.
This was the day before her mission was completed and we felt her deep emotion.
It is very difficult to think of leaving people whom you love and serve.

"But", I told her, "Your Momma can't WAIT to get you home!
She probably has flan in the fridge and pastels in the frying pan already!"
I shared with her what my mother always told me:
Half way  back home on the plane, you will shed tears for missing those you are leaving.
Then halfway to home you will shed tears of Joy for those you are returning to!
Momma knows.  She has been on many missions and is on one now.

Life is like that.

I will not forget the many calls, visits, and interviews.
The patient and kind way of my companion.
His smile wrinkles are sun-tanned in!

Tonight, we made some popcorn to take to family home evening at Tia's home.
So many people were there.  Tia had made a feast.  After, the Opening Song, Prayer,
and Spiritual Message...our group leader, Jacinto, asked us to come up in front of the room.
The Family Home Evening was really a surprise going away party for us!
They presented us with a Cabo Verdiano flag that everyone signed and with two
Cabo Verdiano Soccer shirts which, of course, we put on, right over our clothes immediately!
These beautiful people.  Oh My! 

We have practiced every Saturday from 6-7 pm for a month now.  Our little choir is ready.
The men will wear white shirts and blue ties.  The women will wear white blouses and blue flowers.
The sisters and I will bake cakes on Saturday for after the program.
Mariama will sing, "Silent Night" as the last solo after which everyone will sing "Noite Feliz"
(I better get a good night's rest, or I will drown.)
We have taken out invitations:
 7 pm - December 15th - Christmas Program at the Church
and we are ready!

Joy To The World!

We have not seen Christmas yet...

(I think I saw a small decorated tree inside the bank as we passed)  

But we have felt Christmas.  

Vera couldn't attend church for the last two years.  Her working hours are around the clock with little time off but when she called to say she was at home, we were so happy to visit. Her gratitude for our visit and her tears showed us how much she missed being with her brothers and sisters at church. That was Saturday.  We visited about the reality of our Heavenly Father, and how faith is a means of change, not merely a belief.  The three of of decided to fast on Sunday, that somehow her work situation would change so she could participate.  Endless hours of work and the $350 a month can feed the body, but not the soul.

She just shared her news!  Monday, her supervisor told her that she would now have less hours at work as a member of their family needed some of her hours.  She smiled with us at the Joy of such a blessing.  A direct answer to her prayers.  She will meet us at 15 mins. before 8 pm Tuesday and we will take her to Institute to meet the other youth.  She can now come to choir practice and participate in our special Christmas Program on the 15th of December!  Heavenly Father is so good.

Domingas is preparing to go to the Temple with her husband!

Adilson gave his very 1st talk!
(no worries...I know photos are not taken during church)
After church, I asked Adilson to stand here again,
and he was so happy when we gave him this photo.

Lerideu and Paulo got their mission calls to Brasil!
Nuno received his call to our last mission, Porto Alegre, Brasil!!!
Paulino who has been there serving for a year now, is also thrilled.

When they call or email us with their JOY...we experience it too.

Gerson at one of his beginning walking practices.  

He has great faith and he will walk again someday.

                     YES, WE CAN FEEL CHRISTMAS!!!