Old Friends / New Friends

Old Friends

Elder Vieira's Arrival

Last week was transfer week for the missionaries.  After we said goodbye to missionaries who have been wonderful friends, we began to say hello to arriving new missionaries.  We welcomed missionaries from other parts of the mission to Fogo.  Here is a photo of the newest Zone Leader, Elder Vieira, arriving with his luggage.  He previously served as a zone leader in Assomada, so we knew him well.  He joined Elder Giraldez (with his hand raised) to lead the work on this island.  We actually report to the zone leaders, and do things for the zone on assignment from them.  It is a tender mercy that during our first transfer on Fogo we will work with two zone leaders with whom we have had great friendships and for whom we have so much respect.  The Elder to the right of Elders Vieira (from Portugal) and Giraldez (from Peru) is Elder Ferrin from Oregon.   He is fun.

Agri-Norte Pigs

With transfers behind us, it was time to get back to work on our Fogo humanitarian projects!!  We started by going to Ponte Verde to take a look at our pig project with Agri Norte.

Agri-Norte Pusilga

Here is a photo of the stalls (Pusilga), and a young man learning to care for the pigs.  The stalls were so clean!!

Toty Pires, Elder Biven and Helper

This is a photo of the project leader, the president of Agri-Norte, Toty Pires, and Elder Biven taking a look at the stalls.  You can see that the pigs have a beautiful ocean view!  They are doing well, and the project is off to a very good start.  The first cycle of this project will help 30 families in the Ponte Verde area to become more self-reliant. The project is designed to be self-sustaining so over time many more families will have the same opportunity.

Doctors Moreira, Moreira, Pereira and Bernardino

Three weeks ago we facilitated a meeting between our partners, the eye doctors at Hospital Agostino Neto, and representatives from Charity Vision, a Utah based NGO focused on eliminating preventable blindness.

These are the eye doctors who are doing the work to help us provide eyeglasses for the poor and needy on the island of Santiago.  We have enjoyed working with these good people.  Dr Bernardino is the head ophthalmologist, he is seated.  Second Row from the Left, Dra Evondra Moreira,  Dr. Emilio Moreira, and Major Dra Jaqueline Pereira from the Cabo Verdian Army.  Dr. Evondra is the niece of Dr. Emilio.

Sinks Being Installed

Our partners from previous projects in Varzea, the Black Panthers, invited us to tour the unisex hair salon they are building.  

When finished, the salon will provide several jobs and job training for 20 unemployed young adults annually.   The funds generated will be used to provide meals for the 25 residents at the Black Panthers home for indigent elderly and the 64 students at the Mini-Black preschool which serves preschool children from indigent families. 

Sr. Amarante, Elder Biven, Elder Kempe

Senhor Amarante is a very gracious and dedicated community leader.  He has led the Black Panthers for 37 years and has accomplished much for the surrounding neighborhoods.

New Friends

Bemvindo and Johannes

With our arrival on Fogo we have begun looking for additional partners, here is photo of Bemvindo and Johannes, two hardy souls.  Bemvindo is Cape Verdean by birth but lived in the US and Europe for many years and Johannes is a German citizen. 

They moved to Cabo Verde for one reason; to do good.  They independently work to provide eyeglasses for the poor; to provide food and other supplies, particularly to needy elderly residents in their neighborhood near Cova Figeira; to teach hygiene; and to work with the local schools.  There goal is to teach the people, through their actions and their examples, that they can be responsible for their own lives and situations.  It was a delight meeting them and visiting with them about their work.  They are also creating a museum in their home of Cape Verdean life.