Back to Fogo

Member Welfare Project Check-up

We spent last week on Fogo where we had a chance to check on some of the member welfare project chickens. We thought these looked very healthy, they had a good spot with shade and were out of the wind.















We enjoyed visiting with the family who owned the chickens. They were shelling beans and Sister Martineau--while she doesn’t speak a lot of Portuguese--she bonds with people!  She was helping shell the beans.








At one house we visited the family was saving some of their egg money, as they were counseled to do, for paying tithe, buying feed, and eventually buying more chickens.  This is a photo of their 'piggy bank'.  Families seem to be getting good egg production in Fogo, and it seems to be making a difference and strengthening families there.


On Fogo, eggs normally sell for about 20 escudos.  Families need to sell about 6-7 eggs per day in order to pay for chicken feed and save for replacement chickens.  Most of the families are averaging 16 to 20 eggs per day.


This is a field we saw at a one of the families we visited.  There has been a drought this year and so the corn they planted in the fall has not done well.  They plant beans as they plant the corn, and you can see a little of the green of the beans coming up.

São Felipe Prison

In addition to checking on chickens we also visited the prison.  It looks like maybe we will be able to propose a hygiene kits project for this spring.  We were astonished at the gardening and food production going on at the Fogo prison.  I took lots of photos because I thought we might be able to learn quite a bit from them.  This is a green house full of tomatoes






This is the plumbing for the watering system in the greenhouse, I thought it was fun!  As noted in a previous post, Fogo is only one of a couple islands that is water self sufficient.  











These are the carrots they are growing, so green and healthy.  Much of the food raised at the prison is used to feed the prisoners.  The surplus is sold. The prisoners involved in food production seemed to have a real vocation for it and a real joy for doing it.


In addition to gardens, the prisoners also raise chickens and pigs.

Cha das Caldeiras

Chã das Caldeiras is a small area / community within the crater of the volcanic Pico do Fogo on the island of Fogo. it is at the foot of the rim mountain of Bordeira. The village consists of two parts: Portela is the upper part. At an elevation of about 1,700 meters, it is the highest village in Cape Verde.  It is also considered to be the highest place in the whole of West Africa including its mainland. The lower part is Bangaeira.  Both Portela and Bangaeira were impacted by the eruption in 2015 with much of the population being relocated to outside of the Cha.

We hiked the “little” volcano which is a smaller hot spot on the side of the large volcano, pictured to the right.












We hiked up and up, and then across the black sand on the side of the volcano.

















At the top of the little volcano there is heat coming out of vents in the ground, and sulfurous rocks from the gas coming out.  Our guide and translator, Lucindo, brought a stick and started a fire in one of the heat cracks.

The ridge near the small volcano.  You can just barely see Elder Biven and Lucindo out on there taking photos.

Looking into the mouth of the small volcano.

Seeing Old Friends

At the end of our week in Fogo we saw Sister Miller and her companion Sister Howard at the chapel in São Filipe.  Sister Miller is entering her last transfer and will go home in eight weeks, so we took a photo together.  We have appreciated our connection with her, she is the grand daughter of one of the assistant Matrons of the Kansas City temple.

P-Day Adventure

São Vicente and Santo Antão

There are two humanitarian couples in Cape Verde, ourselves on the southern (or sotavento/leeward) islands, and the Gerritsens on the northern ( or barlavento/windward) islands.  The Gerritsens graciously invited all the senior missionaries to their islands for a little senior missionary adventure.  We were able to go!

And what fun we had.  We started with a tour of the Gerritsen's island, São Vicente, and went to beaches and saw a sea turtle and picked up seashells.

We also went toward the top of their highest mountain, Bruma seca and time constraints kept us from the view of the city below and nearby islands, but we met this fine fellow leading his donkey up the mountain.

That afternoon we took the ferry to the nearby, very beautiful island of Santa Antão.
Here is a photo of Elder Gerritsen, our host, on the ferry.











Here is a picture of elder Biven with "ferry hair".  There was a real strong wind blowing and the ferry really rocked as we crossed the channel to Porto Novo on Santa Antao
















We stayed at a lovely hotel and enjoyed the food very much.  The northern islands have more tourist visits than we do on our southern islands, so we enjoyed being tourists just a little.

The following day we took a tour of Santa Antao.  The adventure began with Elder Gerritsen and Elder Biven climbing into the back of a truck with the luggage for a trip to pick up the Tour van.

And then the extraordinary tour of Santa Antao began.  The photos cannot do it justice, but at the end of the day Elder Biven and I agreed that we had seen the most spectacular scenery we had ever seen in our lives.

Here is a view of a village at the bottom of a cliff that we are driving along the ridge of.











We all thought the three house built on an adjoining ridge were lovely.

Anderson, our driver.  the road traveled along a precarious ridge with step drops on either side most of the way. 

What a beautiful place!

On the third day of our adventure we had returned to the island of Sao Vicente on the ferry and rested well, eaten ice cream, and went to the beach in the morning.  We got some good photos of our traveling companions here.  Later in the day we attended a baptism and had dinner overlooking the city before catching a late flight home.  

What a Fantastic adventure we had!  We are so grateful to our wonderful hosts the Gerritsens for their hospitality and enthusiasm.  It has been such a pleasure working with them.

A Very Missionary Christmas

Missionary Christmas Party

On December 15th, the Praia East, Praia West and Assomada zones gathered for a Missionary Christmas Party.  A highlight was the skits.  Each District developed a skit.  Most were about some aspect of Missionary life here in Cape Verde.    Our favorite was from the Pedra Badejo district.  Elder Peterson is the District Leader, he is also the Branch President in Pedra Badejo.  Their skit showed a "typical" Sunday meeting.  Elder Peterson is in the middle with the elder on the left playing an angel and the one on the right the adversary.  The angel and the devil were vying for President Peterson's attention as strangers, drunks, and others wandered in and out of the meeting.  And yes, these things do happen on a fairly regular basis.  President Peterson made the right choice in dealing with each situation.

Of course no Christmas party would be

complete without a visit from Santa (Elder Lunt).  Sister Amo, President Amo's wife coordinated the creation of Christmas treat bags with the Senior Missionary couples.  Although many missionaries received packages from home, some packages do not arrive in time for Christmas.  At our very first zone conference last April, Christmas packages from Christmas 2016 were still being delivered.

Family home evening.

Elder Biven has two families he is assigned to home teach.  His companion, Br. Fernandes, is on the high council and travels, so often Elder Biven and I visit the families.  It’s tricky, home teaching Kriole/Portuguese speaking members when we don’t speak Portuguese that well, so we take a short thought and a video on our iPad.

Two weeks ago one of our families suggested we do a family home evening together.  Which sounded ambitious, a lesson, a game, snacks, but we agreed.  I made three dozen peanut butter cookies, because lots of cookies are always a good idea.  Elder Biven prepared to have the family members read the Christmas story in Portuguese and then he had a short thought about Simeon, the man who was promised that he would see the Messiah before he died, and indeed he met Christ as a babe in the temple shortly after his birth.  We also prepared a really simple game—it’s all about the game here.

On December 18th we arrived at 7:00pm as agreed, and interesting things began to happen.  The family we home teach was not present in the large home as we entered, but another family was there and we visited with them.  And then more ward families appeared, lots of them.  Yes, they had invited the entire ward.  And since we love the members of our ward very much, while we were a little unsure how we were going to deliver said family home evening, we were otherwise happy to be there.  Fortunately, the Lord sent our young missionary Sisters along with the rest of the ward members, and they were able to translate for Elder Biven as he taught his lesson—because it’s one thing to pick through your words in a small group, but you really can’t do that in front of a room full of people.  Elder Biven was amazing, teaching about how men should live to be worthy to receive Christ, as Simeon was.  The plate of three dozen cookies made it all the way around the room.  The game was okay, my friend Fabrily loved it, so I guess that’s all that matters.  Above is a photo of my young friend Fabrily, she was in a wedding recently, so she was all dressed up and I took a photo.

Kansas City Tuna

On the evening of December 22nd, we had our Christmas potluck dinner with the senior missionaries on Santiago island.  It was also a farewell party for the Lunts, who leave in a few days.  Presidente Amo grilled some delicious steaks and I took Kansas City tuna. Everyone loved it.  I didn’t bring any home.

What is Kansas City tuna?  Hahaha!  At our farewell party before departing from Liberty my dear friend Renee Creswell gave me a suggestion, she said “enjoy living by the sea”.  And that was very excellent advice.  She also said she had a fantastic recipe for tuna which she gave me as we left.  Then just recently, as I was going though the important papers I brought with us, I found Renee’s recipe!  Just in time for Christmas!  I made it for us and it was great.  So I made it for the party and when people asked what it was I told them.........Renee’s Kansas City tuna!

Renee’s amazing Kansas City tuna:
A container of cream cheese
A can of tuna
4 Tbls mayonnaise
2 Tbls lemon juice
Some salt
Some diced onion
The final, key ingredient is CURRY, the recipe calls for 1 or 2 Tbls, but I put in about 6, maybe our curry is not as bold here.

Mix everything up and let it sit for a couple of hours for the flavors to blend.  Serve with crackers.

Singing in the Plaza on Plateau

Nativity on Albuquerque Praca

On Christmas Eve the missionaries in Praia gathered in Albuquerque Praça (the main square) on Plateau, and sang Christmas carols.  Many people gathered nearby to listen and take photos.  Some joined with us to sing, which is a witness to the beautiful hearts of the people here.  We felt great joy in this little act of Christmas service.

It was a moment that meant a lot to me, to be one of the missionaries in the Park.  Eighteen years ago Elder Biven and I were spending a weekend in Madrid when we encountered missionaries in a park.  We had been married for fifteen years.  While I felt strongly about my faith in Jesus Christ and the restored Church, I had always respected Elder Biven’s choices and he did not want to “be a Mormon”.   Then, in November of 1999, new missionaries transferred into our ward and they visited our home.  They asked Elder Biven if they could teach him.  I was surprised when he said yes.  

Missionaries and Stake Choir Singing

The missionaries came to our home to teach Elder Biven on Saturday evenings.  During that time of teaching we took a short trip to Madrid.  On Saturday evening as we walked through a park in Madrid, a group of LDS missionaries were out talking to people in the park.  They did not speak to us, but they didn’t need to, we felt God knew where we were, and he had sent missionaries to fulfill the teaching  appointment.  It spoke to us of God's love.  It was after that time that Elder Biven felt it was right to accept the invitation to be baptized and live the principles and beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

And so yesterday, in Praia, Elder Biven and I were some of the missionaries in the park!

Serra da Malagueta

P-Day Hike

A couple P-days ago, Sister Biven and I went hiking in the Serra da Malagueta National Park.  Serra da Malagueta is on the northern part of Santiago Island at the top of the last mountain range before getting to Tarrafal.  The weather was perfect and the scenery was magnificent.  As we reached the highest altitude, roughly 1000 meters, we walked through small groves of pine trees.  Panoramic views of the whole northern part of Santiago were stunning.  There are several trails in the park.  We look forward to having an opportunity for further exploration.

Sister Biven Near the Start of the Trail.

Looking Down the Mountainside at a Woman Carrying Forage on her Head.

Looking Northeast Down a Mountain Valley.

Sister Biven on the Trail.

Southeast View with the Ocean in the Background

To the Southeast.

Another Southeast View with the Ocean in the Distance.

Looking Southwest at Sister Biven.

Down the Hillside by which Sister Biven was Standing.

Looking North along the Road to Tarrafal with Tarrafal in the Extreme Distance.

A Small Dot of Color. 

Primary Presentation, Mission Tour and Sao Felipe Basketball

Palmarejo II Primary Presentation

Our wonderful little primary had their presentation on December 3rd.  I shamelessly took a photo of them singing......parents were also doing this.......it was just so beautiful.

Mission Tour - President Johnson

President Johnson, the area president, came and encouraged us.  We were grateful for his thoughts.  It was a special bonus for Elder Biven and I that he spoke in English.  We were reminded that the Jaredites were pushed forward by ferocious winds, while they sang hymns and praised God.  And those furious winds got them where they needed to go, to the promised land!

Elder Biven donned an apron to help serve the missionaries, about half of the mission attended the Praia conference.  The meal was catered by a restaurant the Mission has used for years.  The menu seldom varies:  chicken stroganoff, lots of rice, french fries, and a salad of sliced cucumber and tomatoes.  For dessert we had a cup of fruit. What a great meal.  No one went away hungry.

We enjoyed taking part in the group photo, President Johnson and President and Sister Amo are at center in the back.  The Elder holding up a Book of Mormon is Elder Bowman, from Missouri.  He is a seasoned missionary and nearing the end of his mission, so he showed off a little by bearing his testimony in the native Kriole language, rather than Portuguese.  The missionaries just have to figure Kriole out, while they learn Portuguese in the MTC, when they get here they find out that many people speak Kriole.  So in order to teach them they have to learn at least some, which many of them do!

Sao Felipe Basketball

In late November we had a new project approved: Sao Felipe Basketball (SFB).  SFB's long term goal is to strengthen the Sao Felipe community.  To do this they will focus on strengthening families, starting with the youth, using basketball as the vehicle.  This past Saturday, Bila Santos (Coach Bila), the President of SFB invited Players from three other programs he has been involved with to Sao Felipe for a four team tournament.  The objective was to build excitement in the local youth and stoke their desire to participate.  There are few, if any, indoor basketball courts in Cape Verde and the outdoor courts share space with the concrete soccer fields. 

 

Setting Up the Basketball goal

The backboards and hoops had seen better days however Coach Bila brought new nets for the occasion.

You Need Two of Them

Coach Bila, in blue, Addressing the
 Assembled Players

Hands in - Ready to Play

Sao Felipe Basketball is a coed program and will start with youth from 8 to 12 years old.  Each year as a new group of 8 year olds join, the age range will expand until ultimately covering youth from 8 to 18.  SFB will use the mentoring relationships that they develop with the youth and will partner with other community organizations to provide the youth with education on health, self reliance and other life skills.  Community service projects for the youth and parents will teach the value of serving others.

Bruma Seca

African Wind

Bruma Seca, is the Kriole word for the dry hot dusty wind from the African Sahara.  It was blowing hard this afternoon, creating a mist of dust.  This is what the sky looked like, you couldn’t even see much of the sea.....

Christmas Packages

There are Christmas packages arriving for our missionaries!  God Bless their parents and families!!  Elder Biven will take these to Assomada today when he goes with Paolo to work on one of the chicken coops and then to meet with President Torres, the district president and one of our favorite people.

The packages are from Brazil, Ecuador, Portugal, and the USA.  The one in the middle from the USA has $132 in postage on it.  There is also a box of German cookies that the Garretts brought, we are sending it to a district meeting this morning.  I can’t say enough in appreciation of the parents of these strong young people.

Blessings

A few weeks ago I felt to check on one of our elders who had complained about a "blood blister" on his foot three days previous.  Upon arrival at the apartment I found the Elder nursing a quarter-sized, infected, sore on the bottom his foot.  It was beginning to have red streaks upward on his leg, which is a dangerous sign.  

We immediately took him to the hospital.  After waiting two hours we watched as four unconscious people were carried from vehicles into the care area.  Even as we prayed for them, we knew it would be a much longer time before we would get help, so we went to the private clinic the missionaries often use.  It was now late in the day, and we waited another hour before the doctor saw us.  We were perhaps the last people in the clinic now.  When we entered the room the doctor glanced at the Elder's foot and spoke briefly with him.  I could see he knew how bad it was and that treatment was not going to be easy.   I prayed with all my heart that he would be willing to help.  He sighed and then looked and me and said "I know you.  I met you at the grand opening of Nós Saude clinic" (one of our recent projects, the health clinic on Achada Grande).   He then turned back to the Elder and told him he would work on his foot.  It was truly urgent that the abcess be drained, and the doctor agreed to do it because he knew me from our humanitarian work.  

And so the doctor stayed late.  We were sent to the little surgical room in the clinic.  The doctor treated me like an honored guest in the operating room, and allowed me to sit next to him as he worked. It was a challenging procedure.  When he opened the abscess he found multiple layers of infection.  The Elder was amazing.  There was no pain medicine to begin with--and clearly it was so very painful--I whispered to the doctor "do you have any morphine??"   Eventually he stopped and had the nurse start an IV with a little pain medication.  A great relief!  Maybe the LDS Charities project we had done, building a health clinic in a poor section of the city, elevated the importance of helping our missionaries to this good man.  The Elder is now recovered.  The angels are watching over these young people!  I am grateful to be a witness.

Visitors From the North

Kayleigh Visits

Last weekend we had a visit from our daughter Kayleigh who lives in Copenhagen.  What a treat it was, to share our missionary area with her.















We went to Cidade Velha, the “old city” and walked up to the old church from the 1600’s.  We love the sweet little church which has been restored through efforts by local people.  As in the great cathedrals of Europe there is a burial slab in the floor—there is just one here— and the historical character is Sergeant Major João.  Not a king or a prince, but a sergeant major.  We feel honor for this historic character who was buried underneath the floor of the church in Cidade Velha long ago.

The restored chapel is now used sometimes for events, perhaps to include weddings, though weddings are not common here.  A marriage license is expensive and few actually marry.  This has been something that has drawn people to the LDS church, the belief that it is important to raise children in a home with a mother and a father who are committed and married to one another.  This view, surprisingly, has drawn men to the church, because it gives them a solid place in the home, something that they might not otherwise have here.  Property ownership records---as we understand from those involved in registering property---ownership records are 80-90 percent female.  Homes are owned and run by women in Cape Verde in many cases.

Toward the end of Kayleigh’s visit we stopped by the old lighthouse which is closed for renovations this month.  We walked out on the point, and Kayleigh took this photo of the port of Praia at night.  We enjoyed her visit so much, and felt stronger and more committed to serving well when she left.

Garrett's Visit

A week later a couple associated with LDS Family Services in Europe, the Garretts, currently from North Carolina, came for meetings.  We enjoyed a good visit with them, in English!  Going for gelato and talking about familiar things as we showed them Praia was very enjoyable.

Veteran's Day

Since Saturday, November 11 was Veterans Day, we stopped at a memorial to a US soldier from Cape Verde, located in Achada Grande.  We had seen this plaque in the plaza and planned to come on Veterans Day to honor Sgt. Alberto D. Montrond.  Sgt. Montrond  served in the 528th Special Forces, 7th Group.  He was killed in Afghanistan on February 13, 2006. We left flowers and a thank you note on his plaque.

The Year Starts to Wind Down

The budget year for welfare services/humanitarian work is ending and we have one more project we are submitting for approval to complete the use of our budgeted humanitarian funds this year.  We have identified a community leader who is strengthening the neighborhood, and children, and the families of children, by organizing a youth basketball program.  Elder Biven and I and a translator met with Bila this week, and we followed him to one of his clinics, in Ponta D’Agua.  We met the youth he had worked with for nine years there, many of them now coaching other youth and teaching them about work and life within the framework of learning and practicing basketball.  It was so inspiring to see these young people who had confidence, and joy.  We hope to be able to work with Bila on a similar project in Sao Filipe.