An Apostle in Cabo Verde

Praia Visit

Elder Rasband visited Cape Verde this week and it was a beautiful experience.  He began his visit in Santiago, and Elder Biven flew to Praia to show him our recent humanitarian projects with Black Panthers community center in Varzea and Nós Saude at Pilorinho community center in Achada Grande.  We were unable to get plane tickets for me on such short notice.  Elder Biven says the visits went well, with our partners feeling inspired and Elder Rasband seeming to enjoy the visits, especially with the children at Black Panthers kindergarten.

A highlight of the two hour tour was a stop, in transit, at the memorial to Sgt Montrond, a Cape Verdean born US soldier killed while serving with a special forces unit in Afghanistan.  Elder Biven stopped the caravan at the memorial with permission from Elder Rasband and they took a moment to pay their respects.  Elder Biven turned to leave but he could feel that Elder Rasband was not with him, so he turned around.  There, visiting with Elder Rasband, was Sgt Montrond’s mother, and soon his father also appeared.  My brother Jim reminded me that it was Elder Rasband who spoke of Divine Design a year ago in conference.  And here was a Divine Design, a chance meeting with the parents of the soldier whose memorial we have visited a handful of times in Praia.  Elder Rasband thanked them for their son’s service, and learned that Sgt Montrond was the family’s oldest son.

Elder Rasband on Fogo

Sao Filipe Airport

At the end of the Praia humanitarian project visits Elder Rasband went on to meet with the missionaries and saints on Santiago.  Elder Biven returned home to Fogo, where we awaited Elder Rasband’s arrival.  His visit was to be the first recorded visit of an apostle to Fogo.

Elder Rasband's Plane Landing

He arrived at our airport Wednesday morning in a small plane they had chartered.  Here is our terminal on Fogo, and here is the plane arriving.  The fire truck is fun, they get it out for every arrival.  The plane is the silver blob in the right hand corner of the photo.  We watched them fly over Brava and the volcano on Fogo before landing. They were sightseeing this beautiful place!

Elder Rasband with President Pires

And then Elder Rasband arrived.  Warm greetings all around, and after a stop at their hotel, we drove to Ponte Verde to introduce him to our partners Argo Norte.  Whose president, President Pires, also happens to be the local branch president of the Church.

Elder Rasband, President Pires, and Kiara

Elder Larsen, Elder Champion, Elder Rasband, Kiara, President Pires, President Johnson, Sister Johnson, Sister Biven, Elder Biven, Elder Moreira

What a great visit Elder Rasband and President Pires had.  About the efforts to be self reliant as a community, as a branch, and about life.  We ended our visit by stopping in the chapel in Ponte Verde where Elder Johnson, our area president, offered a prayer.  Then we went outside for photos.  We had a lovely group photo with Elder Rasband and the leadership that was traveling with him as well as Elders Larsen and Champion who are assigned to Ponte Verde and President Pires and his daughter Kiara.  Then Elder Rasband. Took President Pires aside and visited with him a little more and got a few more photos.  

And that was the humanitarian tour of Fogo.  Elder Biven and I went home and took naps!  So we could be well prepared for our Fogo zone conference with 24 missionaries and the Apostle.  We received some wonderful counsel and promises.  One of the touching moments for me was when Elder Rasband said he brought both a message of love from President Nelson and a message of thanks from President Nelson.  Thanks for our service as missionaries.  I was grateful for that.  We also received counsel on being more effective missionaries.  And words of encouragement that our service will bless our families for generations.  I believe this is true.

Elder Rasband met with the members of the Fogo stake in the evening, saying that it was amazing that there are multiple stakes and districts in Cape Verde, when the first stake was organized as recently, in 2012.  We felt so privileged to witness this historic visit.  And we felt inspired, and grateful, so very grateful to be here at this time.