The Life That We Love

Dear family,

We've had a very busy month thus far. The prison sewing project is great; we really like teaching the ladies--some of them already know how to sew and they help the others. There are about 13 or 14. They are not hardened criminals; it is more like jail than prison. They will be making the pillowcases for the old folks' home to which we are donating bedding and games, etc. One of the prison guard acts as our taxi to and from the prison on Tuesdays when we go there--it was fun riding in the guard van through the town.

On Sunday, the 7th, we had the General Young Men's president, 2nd counselor in General Sunday School, and Area Seventy from Portugal, the district presidency, and wives of all come to lunch at our house for an hour between meetings. Photos are attached. They brought a wonderful spirit, and we could feel it all afternoon even after they left. They spoke and taught in our morning block of meetings, and then gave a fireside Sunday night also. One of the elders translates for me in Sacrament meeting each week--what a difference it makes when I can understand what is being said.

On Monday our Area Directors from Germany arrived and we began a week of taking them to see our various projects and meet the people involved. On Thursday we went to the next island to the west of us, the sea was rocky, especially on the return trip at 5 p.m., but no one got sick. The scenery was beyond description--so beautiful and magnanimous.

We visited the water treatment plant here, and learned about desalinization of the sea water, to make it pure for drinking and culinary use. When it leaves the plant, it is pure, but the old iron pipes and holding tanks used for transporting and storing the water to/at people's homes are the things that make the water not good to drink unless you use a filter system like we have. This couple, who are our age from South Jordan, Utah, left to return home Sat. afternoon.

Saturday night we welcomed another couple from Utah, the first mission president of Cape Verde Mission in 2002-2005. They are here for this week. None of the visitors are staying at our house--they all have hotels. But it is still very busy showing them around, etc.

We will be getting live sessions of General Conference from 3-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Sat. and Sunday, April 3 and 4. The American missionaries here are also planning to get the sessions in English (thank goodness!) The members and native missionaries come to the chapel and watch it in Portuguese.

The language is difficult for me and I struggle to use it in teaching and communicating, but we do OK. Larry speaks and understands Portuguese quite well and is my biggest helper.
We love all of you very much and pray for you every day.

Love, Elder and Sister Goff (etc., etc.)