FAMILY!!!!! AND FRIENDS!!!!!

Disclaimer: Our daily life is filled with taking care of housing issues, audits and training, inventory, mission history, piano lessons, teaching classes in church, and issues related to the mission presidency. But many of those daily activities are hard to include in a blog. So here are some fun photos of things we get to do once in a while when hosting family and friends.

Such fun!!! First Tiffani arrived, then a couple of days later, Crystal arrived. Tiffani left first, so we had alone time with Tiffani, together time with both of them, and then alone time with Crystal. One of the perks of senior missions is that your children (and grandchildren) can come and visit. We are on cloud nine!

MARIA PIA LIGHTHOUSE

CIDADE VELHA

Our dear friend Javier Benito, from Spain, came to do some work in the office, and was able to join us to go visit Cidade Velha. 

There were lots of Grandma hugs during this visit!!!!

At the fort.

Tiffani brought small toys to give to the children. It was such a fun experience to see their joy!

Tiffani loves photography!



TARRAFAL

These sheltered areas are to protect turtle eggs. We were almost the first to arrive at this part of the beach in the morning, and we saw the tracks that the baby turtles leave when they go into the ocean.

The girls were swimming in the ocean without realizing that this electric eel was nearby. A couple of local boys kicked it out of the water and killed it for lunch. Needless to say, the girls didn't think it would be a good idea to get back in the ocean. :)

The market in Tarrafal.

Tiffani trying on her new African dress.

This man adjusts clothing to fit nicely. He makes the dresses and shirts. The amazing thing is that he draws and then cuts out the clothing without any pattern or ruler or anything: just freehand. Amazing!

We ran into this man who was wearing a Mexican football shirt. Elder Alvarez just had to get a picture with him :) 

Crystal trying on an African dress.

RIBEIRA DA PRATA (BLACK BEACH)

There was a German fellow (Erik) at the beach watching his two boys swim. He lives there by the ocean. We made friends with them and they gave us a bag with a papaya and some mangoes from their house. :)

These are the two boys. The tall one is a step-son, and the other is his biological son.

We don't know what this is, but it looks like maybe a corn grinder or some kind of grinder.

Elder Alvarez and Erik.

Where we park to go to the black beach, there is a family with several children. We had interacted with them before on a previous visit when Mike was here. Tiffani and Crystal gave them some fun little toys and some stickers and they were thrilled. They have the best smiles!!!

PRAIA

Sunset the night Tiffani went back home.

Melina, our fruit lady. She is so amazing. She and her family will be going to the temple in October to be sealed.

Crystal trying the Capeverdean walk :)

Kristina and her family. Cristiana, the baby, has been in the hospital a lot with pneumonia and respiratory illnesses. We have been praying for her.

Cátia, our Relief Society President. She is amazing. She has only been a member for about a year and a half, and her husband for about 2 years, and they are pillars of strength in the branch (now ward).

Elder and Sister Gerritsen's visit (from Mindelo). The senior missionary couples, including Pres. and Sister Amo, and Crystal, got together at a nice restaurant for lunch.

We took Crystal and the Gerritsens to the fort and to Cidade Velha.

A sweet lady from Senegal "adopted" Crystal.

Father and daughter on our deck.

At the lighthouse the day Crystal left.

We stopped by Edson's house (he is one of the guards on our street). His 3-year-old daughter Cibele immediately threw up her arms for Crystal to pick her up. She is very loving.

Dinner at the food court of our mini mall, the only mall in the country.

Farewell at the airport :(

A sweet story: There is a really nice lady that does alterations, and we have been taking a few items to her to have them altered. When we went with Crystal to pick up the alterations, the lady asked Elder Alvarez if he would like to come back to one of the bedrooms to visit with her son, because the son speaks English. It turns out the boy was involved in a gymnastics accident and lost the use of his body from the waist down. He was in bed, although he also gets up to sit in his wheelchair. They chatted a little bit and then Elder Alvarez asked him if he would like a priesthood blessing. He said yes, and Elder Alvarez proceeded to bless him and to encourage him to have faith. It was a sweet moment. Such wonderful opportunities we have on this mission.