The New Couple

Arrival in Cape Verde

What we have heard about Cape Verde being a special place is true.  Now that we are here we see that the people are wonderful, so friendly and welcoming.

We left the MTC early Friday morning and met my brother Jim in Salt Lake where we had our last American breakfast at McDonald's and then Jim drove us safely to the airport.  We were on our way.  Rainy and cold in Salt Lake but we were on to Amsterdam (YES, chocolate) and then another flight to Lisbon.

We loved Lisbon where we had a long layover.  It was sunny and warm and I put my coat in my suitcase.  We were there seven hours and had time to walk around and eat some great Portuguese food.  The egg custards were delicious.  We then boarded our plane for the four hour flight to Cape Verde arriving at midnight Saturday night/Sunday morning.


President and Sister Matthews picked us up at the airport.  They are incredible, and we loved them instantly.  They delivered us to our comfortable apartment located just above the Lunts, an amazing senior couple who are CES missionaries.  Fantastic neighbors!  Sunday evening they shared a meal with us and then we joined them for the last conference session at the stake center at 7 pm.  The chapel was full of young, cheerful people - - -  young families, young single adults.  And they welcomed us.  And once again I thought, is this real?  Because it's pretty amazing.


First day in Cape Verde

We spent Monday with Elder and Sister Alvarez who drove us around getting our ID number, setting up banking, grocery shopping, and inspecting missionary apartments.  We met the most wonderful Elders!  As we visited with them we felt their great strength.  We are so honored to be serving with these amazing young people. That evening we had dinner at the mission home with the senior missionaries serving in Praia:  the Lunts, the Alvarez's, and President and Sister Matthews.  Later in the evening Elder and Sister Andersen, the office couple, came to dinner as well; they had been to the north end of the island, inspecting missionary apartments.  It was good to meet them and we look forward to getting to know them better.  We were still jet lagged, so the evening ended fairly early.  We have hope for taking an early morning walk in Praia as many Cape Verdeans do, and most senior missionaries do, since Praia is a wonderfully walkable city.  Walking is also a way to help us learn how to get around. A big project in Praia but we are getting there.

Day to Day life

 This morning (Tuesday 4/4/17) we did go for a walk and found a Padaria, a bakery where we bought bread.  We were also blessed to be able to light the stove and cook eggs for breakfast, with some of the delicious frozen red peppers from the frozen food store the Alvarez's took us to.  As some of the life tasks sorted themselves out this morning we were also able to watch a conference talk by Elder Eyring.  Its nice to be establishing a routine.

This is Elder Biven in his office, it is well equipped and comfortable.  He has been sorting through information on previous and ongoing humanitarian projects.   The biggest challenge has been the new cell phone.  We are getting there.

We are so grateful for simple things, the other senior missionaries, daily trash pickup (you can hang a small plastic bag on the entry gate and they take it), food, water, sunshine.  We are grateful to be here serving the Lord in Cape Verde.