Three Months

Projects

Mosteiros Red Cross

Mosteiros Pharmacy

With only three months left of service Elder Biven is writing up very few new projects, and mostly wrapping things up. This is a photo of the Mosteiros, Fogo health project to improve the quality of life for diabetics through education.  This includes limited use of blood sugar meters,"'glucometers".  We have received most of the 90 glucometers and a few other medical supplies.  We were pleased we were able to purchase these at the local pharmacy in Mosteiros.  There was a surprise as the project developed when we discovered our friend Nelo, the project initiator and local Red Cross chapter president, had gone to the US for five months.  But he left some good people to manage things in his absence, so we are moving ahead.  We hope to see the training, which will be organized by the local hospital, begin in the next weeks.

And although we are not writing up many new projects, we did recently receive approval for a project to improve self reliance for some families on the north side of Fogo, through a shared boat and motor for fishing.  It will be managed through a local NGO co-op.  Fishing is an important source of food in this area, and the project will give families periodic access to a boat and motor, in addition to some training (and life vests, a requirement from Germany). We are enthusiastic about this project.

More chickens

New Chicken Coop

This beautiful woman is part of a ward-based member welfare project.  She and four other families received supplies to build coops—and she is standing proudly in front of her coop, located on the second floor of her house (the first floor is a doorway into a room with the stove, and another larger room where there were children playing).  Today we delivered chicken feed, and she thanked me profusely, and thanked God, for the help she is receiving, so that her family has more food and a little more money.  The families will receive their chickens soon.  We make sure we aren’t the ones that deliver them anymore :)!  

Enjoying life on Fogo 

Elder Biven & Lucindo Headed to the Volcano

Recently Elder Biven was able to climb the Fogo volcano!  He and his translator and guide, Lucindo, made it to the top and enjoyed the spectacular view.  Then they navigated the crater and came down the black sand side, which is too hard to climb up but is a whole lot of fun to run down.  It took six hours.  I stayed at the bottom and enjoyed the small community at the base of the volcano, and moved the car to the pick up location.  Elder Biven and Lucindo had big grins and sparkles in their eyes when they arrived back at the car.  FUN!!!

Elder Biven at Arnauldo's Restaurant

One of our translators, Arnauldo, has opened a fantastic restaurant on the outskirts of São Filipe, overlooking the sea, with a view of Brava.  It is so quiet and relaxing there, and they play wonderful music by Cape Verdean artists, and the food is so very good.  An evening at Arnauldo’s restaurant is a wonderful little escape to life in the first world for a few hours.  We wish Arnauldo success!

Apartment inspections

Patim Kitchen

We continue to inspect the missionary apartments on both Fogo and and northern Santiago, the Assomada zone.  It is a great blessing to interact with our missionaries.  Here is a photo of the kitchen in the Patim apartment.  They had done a good job, they had running water the day of the inspection.  

Birthday Parties

Casal Portela

Here is a photo of the couple who live downstairs from us in Praia, on Santiago, the Portelas from Brazil.  Last time we were there it just happened to be Elder Portela’s birthday.  I made brownies, which I have learned is what Americans are famous for, and we joined the Portelas, here serving as self reliance missionaries, and the Moraes, who serve as the office couple, for a birthday party.  There was lots of laughter and Portuguese conversation.  We were so very grateful to be included, even if we couldn’t keep up with the conversation.

Moira and Diana

And we had another birthday.  One of the two little girls who often come to play with us on our porch turned four this week.  Wonderfully, I still had a bright pink writing pen from the US in my possession, and I gave it to her with congratulations.  What an important birthday!