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? |
Cape Verdessays
Our 'Family Night' Journal. Every Monday we try to share a couple of things that we are learning from these wonderful Cabo Verdianos and hope our children and grandchildren will love meeting some of them too.
12/16/13
waiting lines...
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! |
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. |
12/13/13
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.
12/9/13
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. |
12/2/13
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.
Gerson at one of his beginning walking practices.
He has great faith and he will walk again someday.
11/25/13
We love these great people!
We just returned from visiting the Boa Vista Branch. They are amazing and growing fast! |
Seminary class in Espargos. We love visiting these classes! |
Trainings and then Interviews. We love these young people who want to make good decisions and change their lives to become valuable to their families, neighbors, church, community, and country. |
11/18/13
Thoughts along the way...
We ride in a hiace (Yahz) between towns.
The vans will never leave on a timed schedule.
When a van is full...the van will go. Not a second sooner.
Generally--we visit with the other travelers, who also plan, sleep, read, wait,
sometimes, we coax the wind into open windows and just think.
The world is so much with us.
Our little computer shouts storms, politics, and such at us.
It would be easy to worry, feel a bit over-whelmed, confused,
depressed by the news (which really is as old as the world).
Oh! To cover our anxieties over the decisions and difficulties
of people and governments in an attempt
to escape the world by wrapping up in a blanket,
of people and governments in an attempt
to escape the world by wrapping up in a blanket,
locking all the doors, reading a good book
to the accompaniment of classical music
to the accompaniment of classical music
and the smell of creamy hot chocolate or carob comfort
(absolutely froth/bouncing seven tiny marshmellows)!
But, as nice as that is in the evenings after a hard day of work...
it is even better to know
that the world is right on schedule and that things will all work out.
I remind myself of this truth:
As bad as the world gets...that is also how good it is getting!
Opposition in all things really does mean opposition in all things. YEA!
And we get to choose what and which to think about.
Things are getting better and people are becoming magnificent!
Youth have bright eyes that come with strength and resolve
Being on a full-time mission gives us a great perspective,
(very much like the mission of being full-time parents)
in that we see Miracles regularly. This work couldn't happen without them.
We see things happen that can't.
We witness ruined lives becoming vibrant and hopeful again.
People who are bound by decisions and addictions becoming free
through a faith that surpasseth understanding.
Shadow people becoming great leaders
with compassion to search out and serve others.
We know their names and their faces, we learn of their dreams and fears,
their strengths and weaknesses, their trials and triumphs,
and we are amazed at their humility, and teach-ability.
More and more it becomes clear why we must each come unto Christ
with a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
No wonder we must become as a child, accepting our Father's will
instead of expecting our own.
To reach for His plan first, placing our own aside
to become an heir to what He has prepared for those who wait on Him.
I remember standing at the end of the high diving board at Ephraim's city pool.
I can almost smell the chlorine of the water that I stared at;
the water that I wanted so much to dive into.
As I stood there...it came to me
that unless I abandoned my fear, and actually dove in,
I would never feel what it was like to swim to the surface of victory.
I think life is like that.
We must make our goals
without turning around or climbing back down.
It's in the doing that we really understand the how and why.
And it works!
It's in the doing that we really understand the how and why.
And it works!
There are so many people that are looking for truth.
So many good hearts longing to know why we are on earth,
where did we come from, why are we here,
and where are we going after this life?
and where are we going after this life?
With all that is going on in the world,
the answers to those questions are also going on...
boldly, nobly, reaching every climb, and making hearts light.
What a great time to be on the Earth...
what a perfect time to dive right in!
(with patience of course, the van must be full!)
11/11/13
sweet moments
45 years ago today, this handsome young man invited me on our first date,
and he is taking me out to dinner tonight to celebrate!11/4/13
Love to Learn!
We visited a home in Santa Maria and the grandma kept reminding her grand-daughter to keep practicing her letters. It brought back so many home-work memories. The desire to learn, unlocks light. |
We love attending the Seminary and Institute classes. The teachers come prepared and ask great questions, thus, the classes turn into discussions and most everyone participates. |
10/28/13
A Fun Fogo Fireside Visit!
10/21/13
Mariama's Special Days!
I want to say thanks to God Almighty and for our Lord Jésus Christ who came to this world to save our sins . I also thank God for our prophet Joseph Smith to instole thé Church of latter days saints ,i also believe in thé living prophet. I want express my feeling about my baptism, how i feel, and how greatful i Will always be with sister and elder Benedict, it has been à long time for me searching for church were i CAN find peace and thé way to lead me to my Heavenly Father, now that i find thé way in thé church of Jésus christ of latter days saints and am baptisé i feel gréât and compleat and i also feel pure with my life. I ask my Heavenly Father in Jésus name to continue to guide in his ways, as i am stronge also in m'y heart to keep his comandment for ever and ever till m'y days are pass away.To be continue
She ends every email with the words 'To be continue' Pure truth! Life is Good!
10/14/13
You must meet Mariam!
We first met 'Mariam' when she was sitting in our courtyard with her cousin
who is the guard for this apartment building.
He is very kind to us and we enjoy visiting with him.
He introduced us to her and she immediately wanted to know
more about our church.
She is from Sierra Leone, Africa, where she grew up in a Muslim home
until the age of 9 years when her parents separated.
Shortly after, she lived with another family
so she would help with their children and cleaning.
She learned about Christianity in this home.
The things she has experienced in her life due to war, family,
broken family, evil, death, destruction, goodness and love,
is amazing all in one lifetime.
Her voice is wonderful to listen to, as is her heart.
"God start to show himself to me during war."
She told us: "I don't always go to church
but I don't joke with my prayers in my heart."
She told us that she has tried everything the world has to offer too many times
and it didn't work. It did not bring her happiness.
Would we please help her know "how to come closer to God"
We told her that we can show her how to receive her own answers
because Heavenly Father will not lie
and she assured us that she would pray to know
if what we are saying is true.
That was a Monday eve. She asked us to come to her home on Wed.
"Maybe I will get my answer tonight,"
she said as we were leaving for an appointment,
"God don't waste time with me!"
Wednesday evening found us teaching
the Gospel to her in English, the language of her country.
(so fun for us...although we have to reach for some English words now)
She had a dream and said, "Yes, this is true".
She uses my scriptures and reads everyday.
When we arrive for our visits in her home,
she is usually out on the deck of her apt. waiting.
She was mopping the floor when we arrived for our first visit.
She had washed everything in her apt. and thrown her cigarettes away.
"I was thinking last night that I must quit smoking to be clean."
During that visit she took all the alcohol and coffee
from her cupboards to the trash.
She was waiting for us Sunday morning a couple of weeks ago
by the tree below our apt. She wanted to attend Church.
I translated the best I could during the meetings
and she was very touched by the things she heard and felt
as people shared their testimonies.
She read 1st and 2nd Nephi in 4 days and asks great questions.
We love teaching people who have read the Bible. People who are
searching for Truth and have real questions are especially fun to share with.
I was concerned about just how to tell her about Modesty.
This is a very warm country
and modesty is not a natural part of anyone's thoughts...
but the moment we brought up the subject,
up she jumped and ran to her closet,
and brought out her new shirts. "I know, I know!" she said.
"I know I must dress betta to be clean.
Yesterday I knew I must dress betta"
The 3 of us watched the Sunday morning session of General Conference
in our apt. on our computer.
She wanted to hear a real Prophet speak and she was thrilled.
We showed her the Churches website after conference
and she wanted to see if the Church of Jesus Christ is in her country.
We pulled it up and YES! There were also videos about her country.
We watched a short video of one of the humanitarian wheelchair projects there.
During part of it, she stood up! "This is my tribe, this is my home!"
She was filled with joy when she saw the streets she knew in the film.
She wants to know how she fits into the House of Israel and Abraham's promise.
Her questions are sincere from her reading.
"What does it mean that they crucified their God?"
From 3rd Nephi 17:
"What does it mean when the people asked Him to 'tarry' a little longer"
Did they want him to stay overnight?
She is writing her story. I am humbled as I read it. She set fruit in front of us for our visit. Last night was our fourth lesson and she glowed. "It was difficult to quit smoking for three days", she said "but everyday I am saving money now... I tell my friends that I could not be the same person. If they will not try to understand what I am reading, they will have to go from my house, because this is my house. I am happy...everyday I am more happy...I know it is true." This is a very special week for all of us. We will walk to the ocean for her Baptism this Saturday. Her cousin, our guard and friend, will bring his family too. He sees her smile and he wants to know more. |
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