Mission Presidency

Cape Verde Praia Mission Presidency

L to R: Elder Carlos Alvarez, First Counselor; President Robert P. Mathews, President; President Lucilino Mendonça, Second Counselor; Elder Craig Carnell, Secretary

President Mathews and his wife had been office missionaries here for two years when they were called to serve as mission president and wife. They gladly accepted. So they have been here for four years and have one more to go. Amazing dedication!

President Mendonça was the first bishop in Cape Verde. He is in charge of the Self-Reliance program on the island. The Europe Area is working hard on self-reliance, and there is a big push in Cape Verde. Many members have completed the self-reliance program. Our maid finished the self-reliance course and the self-employment course. She got up the courage to start making and selling meals to the construction workers in our area, and has done well. She moved out of an apartment where she had no water nor plumbing, and now lives with her children in a nice apartment. They LOVE taking showers now that they can.

Elder Carnell and his wife are from the area of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are half way through their mission. They are the Humanitarian specialists for the mission, so they do quite a bit of traveling to the different projects they have going on.