First Sabbath Worship with our New Group

    The week before General Conference, a group was formed and we were assigned to work with that group. But for one reason or another, we were unable to attend their meetings the past couple of Sundays. Many of the members that live in that area of Achada Mato lived too far from the meetinghouse, and couldn't afford to pay for public transportation to go to church, even though there were several strong families in the ward from that area, including one of the counselors in the bishopric. So the group was formed with the hope that the members that had not been attending would come to church, and that they would be able to build the group into a branch through missionary work.
   The plan was to meet in the group leader's home, in his living room. It was set up with a podium, a sacrament table and 50+ plastic chairs. The first week, between members and investigators, they had an attendance of 52, which is more than the attendance in some branches. Today as we met with them, there were a few people standing outside the room (so there were more than 52)! The home is already too small for the group!
   When a group starts, the only meetings are sacrament meeting and a combined Sunday School class where they teach Gospel Principles. Then as the group grows, they add a women's meeting and a priesthood meeting, and as it grows even further, then they add the other meetings.
   The sacrament meeting was awesome. A young adult girl gave a talk on obedience, and then Elder Alvarez gave a talk on missionary work. The last speaker was a counselor in the Stake Presidency. He spoke on being active and faithful and helping the group grow into a branch. Honestly, he talked so fast it was hard to understand very much of what he said.
   The gospel lesson was taught by a very young married man who appeared to be a returned missionary. He taught the lesson on being a Covenant People. We were struck with the importance of the basics of the gospel. Sometimes we get so caught up in the details and/or the mysteries or deep doctrine, when the basic saving principles are what it's all about. There was a lot of participation and the Spirit was strong.
   We have been given the assignment to prepare three couples to go to the temple. Two of the couples may be able to go this coming October, and the third couple next year when they complete their year as members. All three couples are strong members of the Church. We are so excited to meet with them for the first time this week.

This cute baby sat next to us during church. He is so exhausted after two full hours of meetings!

This is the view from the front "porch" of our meeting home.

:) Ducking under an electrical wire on the front porch.

Members leaving after church.

Members visiting after church. Sister Alvarez is talking to Sister Vera about going with her to visit some less active sisters this week. That open doorway in the center of the picture is where we enter to go in to the church house (home).

Church members, and a blonde missionary way in the back.

The building that looks like it's a second story is the home where we meet for church.

This is the right side of that same house.

Two beautiful Primary girls.

Solution to backpack back pain!

Women here will carry almost anything on their heads.

Jolinda and family

This is our friend Jolinda and her family. Jolinda has been supporting her family on her own for the past 6 years. The oldest daughter is 16 and speaks English. Then she has twin girls, 12, who play the piano thanks to a previous senior missionary couple. All three girls are good students and get top grades. The oldest wants to get a scholarship to study Aircraft Mechanics in the US or China. All but the 16-year-old were baptized a year ago, and Jolinda says it has made such a difference in her life. She is happy and feels peace. She is a counselor in the ward Relief Society.

A bread story from Boa Vista

One morning in Boa Vista we went for a walk, exploring city streets. All of a sudden we smelled a delicious aroma of baking bread. We thought maybe we could follow the smell, but it was useless. Suddenly, we saw a young boy with a small cloth bag. Carlos asked him if he was going to buy bread and he said yes. So we followed him. This is where he led us. The open doorway is the "Padaria", or bakery.

This is the view from the doorway. What you see is a glass case with different kinds of sweet bread. Sweet bread is not sweet like it is in the US; it's just slightly sweet.

We went inside and bought a couple of pieces of bread from a sweet old lady. Then Carlos told her the story of how we had smelled the bread and followed the little boy. She said, "Just a moment", and went inside and came out with warm "bolillo", just out of the oven, and she wouldn't let us pay her for it. It was SO delicious; it almost melted in our mouths! When we go back, we are DEFINITELY going to that Padaria again!!!

Boa Vista

The town plaza by night.

The plaza is where the community gathers at night. There is a playground and a soccer courtyard, and a restaurant/bar.

The women gather by the wharf to wait for the catch of the day. Sometimes it's a long wait. And then they take their baskets on their heads and go peddle their wares.

These children teased us. They were playing with a plastic toy, like a lizard or something. As we passed by the older boy tried to scare me with it.

 This boy was playing marbles in the street. Carlos asked him to show him how he shoots the marbles.Then Carlos showed the boy how he shoots marbles. Carlos told him that the next time we come to Boa Vista he'll play marbles with him and his friends.

This is the Bed and Breakfast where we stayed the first 2 nights. In the US it would probably be a one star hotel, but it was fine. Very friendly people.

Fish. Can you spot the head? Here everything is served with french fries and white rice.

Elder Alves from Cabo Verde and Elder Casulle from Angola

 We watched as these fishermen pulled and pulled on the nets. It took a lot of time and effort. And in the end, they just pulled in a handful of fish they couldn't use and had to start over again. Reminded me of the story of Peter the fisherman.

THE BIRTHDAY BOY!!!!!!!

 Training branch leaders. I should tell you about George. He is the branch clerk and the mission leader. He is originally from Guinea/Bissau, but his family moved to Portugal and then France. He is a young Single Adult and has been a member of the church for 3 years. His mother died when he was little. His dad lives in France, and he has one brother that he hasn't heard from in a few years. He wants to get married but hasn't found the right one yet. I asked him what he liked the best about the church, and he said The First Vision.

 The branch president is standing. He is also the Institute teacher and I don't know what else. He and his wife just had a baby recently, their first child. The brother closest to the computer is Emanuel. He is the Elders' Quorum president, a high councilman and a stake auditor. Whew!

The branch president and the Elders Quorum president. So young! Emanuel is a tour guide. He came to this island because there was work here, but his wife and children live on a different island.