Dear families and friends,
Jessica's 6th birthday is a week from tomorrow, Monday, November 8. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, sweet granddaughter!
Happy Halloween today! Although the holiday is recognized here, it is not like America with costumes and trick or treat. The big holiday here is November 1, called All Saints' Day. It is a Catholic holiday, but everyone observes it ( no work, just go to the beach, etc.)
It is also the day when the missionaries wanted to have a zone activity on the island of Santo Antao, for which we need to ride the ferry boat. But when we went to the harbor office yesterday to buy tickets for the boat, they said there was no boat coming back to our island that day, only going over early in the morning. So we all would have been stuck there overnight, and that is expensive for 10 missionaries plus us. They have now decided to spend a couple of hours having a picnic and games on a beach on our island, so I made some chocolate chip cookies for them for lunch. Missionaries are not allowed to go swimming or play in the water--this is a rule for all missions, because of the dangers of the ocean currents and the clothing worn to go swimming, etc.
We hosted two sets of visitors last week, feeding both couples lunch at our home. I was a little lazy so I made the same menu for both of them, 3 days apart. The first couple came from Europe headquarters in Germany, and they were here to train us and the branch leaders and all the missionaries in the purposes of Outreach for Young Single Adults. It is one of the missionary tools that elders and sisters can use to help teach and fellowship YSAs. The second couple was the new mission secretary and mission nurse (Elder and Sister). Both couples were so fun to be with, and since they were from USA, we spoke English all day. The ones from Germany work in the mission headquarters office, so they do not need to learn German.
Yesterday the mission president was here, and he invited us to share lunch with him, so we went to a favorite restaurant right next to the church. He is young, only 43, but so strong and spiritual, and just the right leader for all of us in Cape Verde; he is the first native Cabo Verdian president of the mission. He is so kind and helpful to all the missionaries. A special thing about him and his wife is that they are expecting a baby the end of April. Since his wife has health problems related to pregnancy, she does not travel with him during this time, so we miss seeing her.
We are steeped in the work of finishing up our projects and preparing for the next couple to come as missionaries to take our place. We have so many friends here that it will be tearful farewells when the time comes. But we are both anxious to see and be with our families again.
Thanks to those of you who have helped in the care of Mother---Grandma Sanchez, with her recent leg break, surgery and hospitalization and rehab. We are grateful for the updates on her.
We are also grateful for emails you send us--they truly brighten our week! We love you all very much, and pray for each of you every day.
Love and hugs, Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, Elder and Sister
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Handing Out School Kits during the Season for Mosquitos
Dear families and friends,
We have been having our usual hot weather, but the rains have not returned. The street "rivers" have dried up, and things are normal again.
Our trip to San Nicolau was really great! We were taxied around and across and over hills, mountains, valleys, through beautiful green landscapes, and often had the view of the sea (which we dearly love). We delivered school kits to many out of the way schools, some large, some tiny. The joy was talking with the children as we gave them a kit, and meeting the directors.
Even though they were in need of many things, they were all contented and happy with what they had. That seems to be true of everyone here--no big business sharks and money grubbers.
The trip ended up being four days instead of three, because the plane we were supposed to take back here got cancelled. There were about 50-60 passengers for that flight, so the airline had to find and pay for hotels, dinners and transportation for all of us. We were fortunate to get a hotel in a town close to the airport which was a lovely hotel, more fancy than we would have reserved for ourselves. Then the next morning, we were put on a direct flight back here instead of the usual flight via another island.
But we were both really tired when we got back home, so we slept most of the day, and I ended up sick for 2 days. But we were both fine for Saturday to have General Conference broadcast here.
The missionaries (English-speaking) met at the church just before the session and worked out companionships with other English speakers, so that the Portuguese-only speakers could stay at the chapel for the Portuguese broadcast. Some of them brought snacks for us all, so we enjoyed them during the hymn breaks. Marvels!--all the equipment, projector, computer, etc., worked fine and we all enjoyed a wonderful spiritual feast. Between sessions, the missionaries left our home and returned to the chapel to get their regular companions and go tracting or teaching. Then back to us for the evening (sessions were from 3-5 and 7-9 p,m.)
On Sunday, they asked if they could come in the morning and watch the delayed broadcast of the Priesthood session, and the sisters also wanted to watch the Relief Society session from the previous week. So everyone watched both the Priesthood and RS sessions--fun! A first for most of us!
We have been delivering newborn baby kits at the maternity ward of the hospital once a week--Elder Goff cannot go to that area of the hospital of course, so my friend who is the district RS president, came to the hospital to help me with the project. There were even two sets of twins in one day.
Since this is the season for mosquitoes, we are counseled by our mission president to get screens made for at least two cross-ventilating windows--for us and for each set of missionaries. No one wants to get the dreaded Dengye fever which was on the southern islands last year (not here, thank goodness). A little prevention and protection is surely better than the sickness.
We were so glad to receive Davy and Marie's news of the sale of their Wyoming home! A big relief for them.
We were saddened to learn of Ryan's problem with migraine headaches--we truly hope and pray that his problem will be manageable and if possible, cured.
Jessica's birthday is coming soon--November 8. She and Christian are enjoying school, and so are Nicole and Ryan. Marie gets some one-on-one time with Annabelle, and Sherrie with Shaylee, during the school hours. We miss you all very much, and send big hugs and lots of love. We pray for each of you every day.
Love always,
Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, Elder and Sister
Below are more pictures...enjoy!
Here are some pictures of the beautiful landscape and some buildings.
We have been having our usual hot weather, but the rains have not returned. The street "rivers" have dried up, and things are normal again.
Our trip to San Nicolau was really great! We were taxied around and across and over hills, mountains, valleys, through beautiful green landscapes, and often had the view of the sea (which we dearly love). We delivered school kits to many out of the way schools, some large, some tiny. The joy was talking with the children as we gave them a kit, and meeting the directors.
 |
| The school children, their school building and us distributing the kits. |
The trip ended up being four days instead of three, because the plane we were supposed to take back here got cancelled. There were about 50-60 passengers for that flight, so the airline had to find and pay for hotels, dinners and transportation for all of us. We were fortunate to get a hotel in a town close to the airport which was a lovely hotel, more fancy than we would have reserved for ourselves. Then the next morning, we were put on a direct flight back here instead of the usual flight via another island.
 |
| This is our airplane. |
The missionaries (English-speaking) met at the church just before the session and worked out companionships with other English speakers, so that the Portuguese-only speakers could stay at the chapel for the Portuguese broadcast. Some of them brought snacks for us all, so we enjoyed them during the hymn breaks. Marvels!--all the equipment, projector, computer, etc., worked fine and we all enjoyed a wonderful spiritual feast. Between sessions, the missionaries left our home and returned to the chapel to get their regular companions and go tracting or teaching. Then back to us for the evening (sessions were from 3-5 and 7-9 p,m.)
On Sunday, they asked if they could come in the morning and watch the delayed broadcast of the Priesthood session, and the sisters also wanted to watch the Relief Society session from the previous week. So everyone watched both the Priesthood and RS sessions--fun! A first for most of us!
We have been delivering newborn baby kits at the maternity ward of the hospital once a week--Elder Goff cannot go to that area of the hospital of course, so my friend who is the district RS president, came to the hospital to help me with the project. There were even two sets of twins in one day.
Since this is the season for mosquitoes, we are counseled by our mission president to get screens made for at least two cross-ventilating windows--for us and for each set of missionaries. No one wants to get the dreaded Dengye fever which was on the southern islands last year (not here, thank goodness). A little prevention and protection is surely better than the sickness.
We were so glad to receive Davy and Marie's news of the sale of their Wyoming home! A big relief for them.
We were saddened to learn of Ryan's problem with migraine headaches--we truly hope and pray that his problem will be manageable and if possible, cured.
Jessica's birthday is coming soon--November 8. She and Christian are enjoying school, and so are Nicole and Ryan. Marie gets some one-on-one time with Annabelle, and Sherrie with Shaylee, during the school hours. We miss you all very much, and send big hugs and lots of love. We pray for each of you every day.
Love always,
Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, Elder and Sister
Below are more pictures...enjoy!
 |
| Some very unusual flowers by our hotel. |
Here are some pictures of the beautiful landscape and some buildings.
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