Happy, All Saints' Day and Birthday

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