New Beginnings; Rising Hope

Several more days in the islands of Cape Verde, full of new experiences, inspiring individuals and beautiful sights.  This photo is from a national park of "Fogo", where we visited an active volcano.

By the sign which says "Welcome to the Natural Park of Fogo".  Fogo or "Fire" is the name of  one of the islands.  This Park has the volcanic remains from some of the active eruptions of the  volcano which is behind us in the photo.

We started our week with meetings with some of the other senior missionary couples that are serving in Praia, Cape Verde.  This includes the Humanitarian Services missionary couple and the Assistant Auditor couple.  He also serves as a counselor in the Mission Presidency.  These meetings are enjoyable as we can share successes and challenges of each of our mission experiences.  

The Humanitarian couple, Elder and Sister Carnell, are doing  some Local self-reliance projects to bless some of the members.  This includes introducing some chicken farming.  Several families will receive 20 laying hens, a chicken coop and 3 months of chicken feed.  This is a attempt to help many of them to become more self-reliant.  To qualify for this opportunity, they must participate in one of our Starting and Growing My Own Business groups which began the previous week.  The Carnells also mentioned an interest in Mindelo to start a local car wash group.  There members can use their skills with a very small start up supply kit to wash cars and become more self-reliant.  We believe that with creative thinking, we can find many ways to work productively with Humanitarian Services.

Elder Alvarez is serving as the mission counselor responsible for the district in Sal.  Although we will not be visiting Sal on this trip, we still need to work together with our manager in Mindelo to best serve this small district.  Elder Alvarez also worked as a Church employee and has been a good friend to our family while we lived in Brazil.  We were able to share updates about people that we both have known.  In 1991 while on a home leave in Salt Lake City, Elder Alvarez was kind enough to help us return a Church motor pool van. He went with us to the airport for our return trip to Brazil.  This was before the days of tight airport security.  That particular time we parked the van and he went with us to the gate to help board our five young children (ages 1 and 2 and the time).  While he was helping us get settled on the plane, they started closing the doors.  He almost ended up going with us to Brazil that day.  This is one of our favorite memories that we share.

After spending the morning with these missionary couples, we went with our SRS manager, Mendonça, to visit the district of Assomada on the other side of the island.  The only other time that we had visited Assomada was in August of 2015 when the rainy season was beginning.  That is when they were planting their seeds all over the land, including on the sides of the mountains.  This time we were 3 months later in the year and we were able to see crops growing everywhere.  Generally, they plant seeds of corn, beans and sometimes squash all together in the same  mound.  Then they wait for their rainy season to come and help their crops to grow.  The rain continues for a month or two and that is the window of opportunity.  From this time of the year until next August, there is almost no rain on these islands.  We were told that this year they were short a little rain and many of the plants are not fully producing.  These crops are the staple of their diets for the rest of the year.  The following show many of the crops that we saw on this trip:

Large fields of corn and beans on the steep sides of the road, just outside of the city of Assomada

Corn and other crops planted in available space near buildings and the street.  We see these literally everywhere.

In front of an overview of the land before arriving in Assomada.  You can see why this was called Cape Verde (Green)

When we arrived at Assomada we visited with the District President.  Right now the district president is short some counselors and the district is struggling in many ways.  We encouraged him to get his committee working again and to get Self-Reliance groups going with at least one branch.  He himself is just finishing his degree and is now looking for better work.

After visiting the district president we were able to visit several successful small business.  All three that we visited were participants in the Starting and Growing My Business groups that were held a year ago.  Even though the economic realities are difficult in this area, these prove that Self-Reliance efforts can bring results, especially with small businesses.

With a successful owner of a small copy and office supplies shop.  He also offers consulting and accounting services to other small businesses.  His business has grown considerably in the past year.

Owner (with his wife) of a manicure, pedicure and massage  business.  We couldn't visit much with his wife as she had clients to serve.  They also attended the SR group a year ago and are now doing very well.

Danilo, the branch president and "baker" of the neighborhood.  He is growing his bakery business and succeeding very well.  We ate our dinner that night from his baked goods.  He keeps three sellers on the streets as well as his store.  He also has partnered with another member of the Church who provides video games to pay for play in the back of his store.

After visiting these successful businesses, we returned to Praia. On the way back  we stopped at a reservoir that is storing the precious water for this region.  The country just started building reservoirs and they will certainly bless the infrastructure of this country.

Reservoir in the middle of this beautiful country.

In front of the reservoir

 We finally arrived at our hotel for a short nights rest.  The next morning we arose at 4:00 am to be ready to leave for the airport at 5:00 am.  We then took a flight to the island of Fogo for a one day visit. This is just a short 30 minute flight, but much better than the 4 hour "fast ferry" option.  The photo below is of the small airplane that took us to Fogo.

There we would meet with the new stake president, the stake self-reliance committee and some of the Perpetual Education Fund participants.  Our first appointment was with the stake president at noon, so we went to visit the volcano on the island first.   The roads were mostly cobble stone and very windy, so we had a little jarring in the back seat, but it was worth it.  This volcano last erupted just two years ago. There have been even bigger eruptions in the past century.  The name of the volcano is "Chã das Caldeiras" or "Tea Boiler".

Photo from the base of the volcano, entering into a national park area

We loved this little hut at the base of the volcano.  They even had some beautiful flowers growing in pots outside of the hut.

Near the base of the volcano we found grape vines growing in the only spot that was not covered with lava.

View from the side of the volcano.  The last eruption occurred in 2014 our of the side of the volcano.  All of the back ground is covering that came from that eruption.

Some of the lava remains from the last eruption.

Finding lava rocks to take as souvenirs

Finding my souvenir

As we left the volcano site we drove past this city below.  Some of the houses were destroyed in the recent volcano eruption.  Through help from the Church humanitarian funds many new houses were built. 

We heard from the bishop that he would be delayed working on his farm and our meeting was postponed until 2:00 pm.  This gave us time to have lunch in his city and take a few more photos.

Church house in this little city.  Probably the nicest building in town.  The Church has become one of the major religions in these rural areas.

Black lava rock is the prime landscaping used in most areas, certainly in the landscaping of the Church  meeting house.

Once again, crops are planted everywhere.  This is some of the corn, beans and  pumpkin growing together on the side of the meeting house.

 After lunch we picked the stake president up and visited with him in the ward building.  He was recently called in May of this year and has had some serious issues to deal with .  He was just finally released as bishop in his ward.  His counselor is still waiting to be released as a bishop and he has another bishop position that is waiting for approval.  Next month in the stake conference he should also have a second counselor called.  As we visited with him, I had a deep feeling of respect and admiration for this man.  He loves his island and he loves to work the land.  He also loves the members of his stake and wants the very best for them.  They have many self-reliance issues.  There is no university on the island, so many of his returned missionaries leave to other islands to go to school.  Work opportunities are limited in the rural areas creating more reason for the young members to move.  We talked about the many options that are available, small businesses, limited jobs in the rural areas and more jobs in the primary city on the island.  Unfortunately, it is hard to retain good members in agricultural areas where opportunities are limited. We felt that the meeting with President Pires was a great success.  His organizational challenges are coming to an end and his Spirit is strong. He is anxious to help his members to become more self-reliant.

With President Pires.  His brother is the stake presidency counselor in Praia.  They come from a strong family.

We had other appointments along the way back to Såo Filipe, the primary city on this island.  There we would meet with the Stake Self-Reliance Committee that evening.  Along the way we had a few visits scheduled with PEF loan participants.  While traveling back we followed the coast line and were able to see beautiful sites of this island.  All along the beach the sand is black, caused by the volcano activity.  It gives a beautiful look that is different than what we are used to.

Beautiful coast line

More coast line lined with black beaches and surroundings

Black beaches along the way

Along the way we visited with a person who has been approved for a PEF Loan and Mendonça was able to give assistance to her.  She gave us hope for this area.  She has been teaching for 13 years and barely makes enough to survive as a single mother with a 14 year old son.  We learned that as she finishes her teaching certificate she will be able to double her salary.  The PEF loan will assist her for the next few years and she will become self-reliant.  As we talked, we could see that she had very little diposable income to take care of her family after paying a house payment.   I thought how can she be "temple worthy" to participate in the PEF loan program unless she pays tithing and her limited funds did  not seem to allow her enough to do that.  I felt prompted to share my testimony to her of tithing and that the Lord would provide for her.  As I shared this, she reaffirmed to us that she does pay her tithing each month and has been blessed.  We left inspired by her faith!  We were also encouraged that school teachers can earn sufficient to be self-reliant.  This is another option for these rural areas.

With the visits and the drive, we did not arrive back to the Sake Center in time to visit one of the other participants.  However, we were early for the Self-Reliance Committee meeting.  Since there is no stake counselor at this time, the committee meeting this evening was just the stake specialist and a counselor in the stake relief society presidency and one of their facilitators.  However, they made arrangements for an upcoming devotional in that city.  They also reported with enthusiasm on a SR group that had begun in a small branch on a neighboring island.  They have four facilitators trained and several of them also spend time in the Stake Self-Reliance resource center.    We were impressed with their understanding and enthusiasm.  We are also hopeful that a new stake presidency counselor will give additional strength to this committee.  We feel very comfortable with he self-reliance initiative in this stake!

Meeting with the stake specialist, RS counselor and facilitator

We stayed the night on Fogo and returned the next morning (Thursday) on another early flight.  We then spent time working with our super volunteer in the stake self-reliance center that morning.  The rest of the day was spent catching up on emails and other matters before we went to the airport that evening to go to the Island of São Vicente.

Sister Barros and Mendonça helping one of the members

This finished our time with this district and stake.  These are the more rural parts of Cape Verde.  We loved our time with them.  The photo below shows some of the goats that we encountered on the road.  Life is simple and challenging but at the same time wonderful for these faithful saints.

We are stopping our blog at this point to publish these experiences.  We are currently on the island of São Vicente and having more incredible experiences.  Stay tune for Part 3 of our trip to the islands of Cape Verde!

Making a "Splash" in Cape Verde

 We are so blessed to be with the faithful and humble people of Cape Verde.  Everywhere we go, we see a people that are receptive to the gospel.  They live on islands of the Atlantic Ocean, remote from the rest of the world.  They lack the comforts and conveniences of so many but make up for it with faith and humility.  We are inspired by them and also by the beauty of the ocean.  We are in a hotel on the coast of the island of Santiago.  The beaches are not great here, but the coast line is inspiring.

Photo taken from the back of our hotel

Our week started on Halloween.  Not so much to do with Halloween on this day, but we did get a photo of Sister Rueckert with some edible Halloween teeth.

The Halloween candy came from Constanza our administrative assistant

We were also pleased to receive a Halloween card from Daniel and Amy and their kids.  We loved the photos of Ashton and Dawson, Peter Pan and Schmee.

Cute family photos from Daniel and his family

We spent the first few days, meeting with SR couples from the eastern european countries and with our SRS managers on Wednesday.  We also prepared for our monthly Area Self-Reliance Committee meeting next week.  By Thursday morning we were ready to leave for our trip to Cape Verde and to spend the next 12 days communicating in the Portuguese language.

We stopped in Portugal for a few hours and had a wonderful visit with Elder Moreira, the Area 70, and Antonio, Elder and Sister Neisewender, Miguel and Ceu.  They are a wonderful team in Lisbon that always makes us feel so welcome.  After a few hours with them on Thursday we went back to the airport and continued our journey to Cape Verde, arriving on Friday morning after 2:00 am.

On the way to our hotel, the taxi drive noticed that we were missionaries and started talking to us.  He said that he goes to our Church and will be baptized in January, as soon as he gets married.  His girl friend is also going to get baptized.  We mentioned that we would be at stake conference this weekend and asked him to introduce his fiancé to us.

The next morning, at 10:00 am. we started by visiting with a young man named Dilson.  Dilson is a recipient of a Perpetual Education Fund (PEF) loan.  Since he was invited to visit with us, he thought we would be on his case for not being current on his loan.

Instead we asked him to tell us about his path to self-reliance.  He got a PEF loan a few years ago to go to a driving school.  His goal is to be a truck driver.  He worked hard to finish the 9 month course, finishing it perfectly, while many others dropped out.  After the course, he got a job with an employer that had him drive a business pickup.  Unfortunately, he had to work Sundays and only got paid half of the time.  Finally he got a job as a taxi driver, working for the owner of the Taxi.  He works every day from 3:00 pm to midnight.  He gets every other Sunday off, but is able to go to Church every week before his shift begins.  It appears that he is now self-reliant, since he is still single and living near his parent's home.  Although he has made great progress, he is still working towards his ultimate self-reliance goal.  He told us that now he is able to get married which he plans to do next month.  His fiancé is not a member of the Church but goes all the time.  It sounds like she could get baptized soon.  We asked him to introduce his fiancé to us at Stake Conference also.

Our experience with Dilson was really special.  As he shared his story, he began opening up and feeling more comfortable.  He began counting his blessings and recognizing the hand of the Lord in helping him move forward in his life.  As he shared his story we each got emotional as the Spirit was so strong.  Sister Rueckert felt that we should offer him a priesthood blessing after the meeting, which we did and he gladly accepted.  We also helped him understand how to receive the incentives offered in the Perpetual Education Fund for which he has already qualified.  This includes 25% incentive for getting good grades, graduating from his program and getting a job in his field.  As we finished he learned from our Manager how to make  payment on his account and he left for the bank to make his first payment in a while.  We also learned that his non member sister has served as his PEF Loan mentor and given him great support during his journey. This was a wonderful spiritual experience to begin our trip here in Cape Verde.

Dilson with Mendonça, our manager, reviewing his loan details.

We then went to the SRS office and met with Mendonça, Elder and Sister Lunt and Candida Barros, an excellent PEF volunteer.  There we discussed the PEF mentoring calls and talked about our experience with Dilson.  This is the way that all of our efforts should go.  Mendonça shared a wonderful spiritual thought about going after the lost sheep.  It all fit together wonderfully.  

While there we also had some visits from other Self-Reliance participants and the chairman of the Praia Stake Self-Reliance Committee.  I asked the chairman of the stake self-reliance committee how come the members were so receptive to the Self-Reliance initiative.  He said that it was because their government does not bail them out of their challenges.  They must work to eat and live. It reemphasized what we have always felt. Much of the government assistance that is offered in Europe and other areas of the world actually stand in the way of individuals becoming self-reliant.

One of the participants had just entered a Job Search group with a strong need for a job.  He said that he watched the video of Rafael, finding a job in six days and then followed the same steps. He also found a job in six days!  He used the skills that he had learned, including his "me in thirty seconds".  He worked so well the first day that he was hired permanently. This is a great success story, one more miracle happening right before our eyes.  

Elder and Sister Lunt also shared several stories of individuals who have been in Self-Reliance courses and also participate in their institute classes.  Several have been non members who have since been baptized.  We were overwhelmed at the number of successes that we are hearing about in Cape Verde.

Lunch provided by Elder and Sister Lunt.  Also includes Mendonça, our manger, and the young man that found a job in six days.  He also found a lunch on this day.

After lunch we went to visit PEF participants with Mendonça.  We visited a young lady who had taken out a PEF Loan a few years ago.  She also had completed her course and was working in her field.  She still has goals to achieve in her career, but has gotten a good start.  As we talked with her, we explained how she could also receive the incentives offered for PEF loan incentives who accomplish their goals.  We also let her know her correct loan payment since she had left school.  With new knowledge and encouragement, she should once again be current in her loan payments in the near future.  She really appreciated the visit in her home and welcomed others to visit her.

PEF participant with her graduation certificate from her course.

PEF Participant with Sister Rueckert

When returning to the chapel we saw a new Starting and Growing My Business group beginning.  These are some members that will be participating in a humanitarian project to help some of them to become chicken farmers.  As a prerequisite for this course, they are learning how to grow the business before they start.  This group is being facilitated by Paulo, one of our successful participants in an earlier course.

We then went to meet with a very special group of individuals.  This is a small group of non members who have completed two self-reliance groups. They were each invited by members or other non members to participate in these groups.  They said that the love and acceptance by the members helped them to want to stay.  They have enjoyed the experience so much, that they have now bonded with strong friendship.   Their service project was a special day of service for a handicapped sister of one of the group.  They expressed gratitude for their faith that they are feeling and the increased abilities that they have gained.   They told us that they were quite sure that they would all become members of the Church in the near future.  After attending the Saturday session of stake conference they told me that they would begin participating in Family History the next week.

Discussing their experiences with these special non members.  Two others also graduated but were not present this evening.  One of them showed up a little later.

With five non members and their member facilitator on the right.

The next morning we had some time to catch up on some sleep and to explore our surroundings.  We were able to enjoy the coast of the island, which came up against the back of the hotel property.  We also went up the coast a little further to enjoy the peace and tranquility of the waves splashing against the rocks.

Behind the hotel, the Atlantic Ocean behind us.

A close up of one of the waves hitting against the rocks

Further down the coast, other beautiful waves splashing against the rocks

The sun glistening on the water.  We are enjoying temperatures in the 80s.

A group enjoying a barbecue on the coast

A little later we had a lunch at the restaurant next door, beautiful view!

After our little break, we got ready to go to stake conference.  We learned the night before that I was to speak at the Saturday night session of conference as well as the Sunday session.  I spend time on Saturday to prepare myself.  We also had planned to meet with the bishops after the priesthood leadership meeting.  Just after 4:00 pm we received a phone call from Mendonça saying that the stake president was waiting for us to arrive, since I would be speaking at the priesthood leadership meeting.  We left immediately for the Church and arrived in time before I would spend 30 minutes talking to the priesthood leaders.  This was not the audience that I was prepared for, so the Spirit had to take over.  I felt that the talk was a little disjointed, but it seemed to go well.

While I was in the priesthood leadership session, Sister Rueckert joined the meeting where Relief Society presidencies were being trained.  She had no translator, but seemed to understand the basics that they discussed about visiting teaching.

Sister Rueckert with the kind and loving sisters from Cape Verde 

With this change, I was not speaking in the evening session.  However, we stayed and enjoyed the session sitting with the congregation.  The meeting was sensational.  Many members shared their thoughts and testimonies about two of the Area Plan priorities, "Bring a Friend" and "Find an Ancestor".  They speak with such faith, as they openly want to invite others to participate in Church activities.  They are not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ and rejoice in sharing it with their family and friends.  This was so refreshing.  

We were also able to meet several missionary couples that are serving in Cape Verde.  Everywhere we go we feel a special bond with other senior missionaries.  We went home tired but fulfilled.

The next morning we went to stake conference to participate and speak in the meeting. This stake was just created four years ago.  They now have 13 wards and branches and expect to divide the stake next year.  Each week they have from 8 to 12 new baptisms.  The stake presidency is powerful, the messages are full of faith.  We left inspired by their examples.  The choir that sang was beautiful.

In the general session, the stake relief society gave a strong message on the role of women. I spoke about the need to build Zion, by serving one another.  This is the purpose of self-reliance, so that we can care for and serve others. After my talk, they had several testimonies of individuals who have participated in Self-Reliance courses.  This is the third of the Area Plan priorities, to become spiritually and temporally self-reliant.  The stake president finished the meeting with a strong message about the Sabbath Day.

The chapel and cultural hall were filled and overflowing, five minutes before the conference started.

This hallway by the chapel was turned into an overflow section.  It was also filled to capacity and  the conference was shown on the screen in the rear of this photo.  This photo was taken after the meeting was over.

Photo of the beautiful choir singing.  This also shows the mission president and his wife and the stake presidency.

Back rows of the choir, the mens section

Dilson who we had met on Friday with his fiancé

Our SRS manager, Mendonça, with his wife and youngest child

Sister Barros, Mendonça's mother-in-law with her youngest son.  She is also our most active volunteer and is an inspiration to all.

 After the Conference Session we went home with Elder and Sister Lunt and enjoyed a wonderful lunch.  We also were able to share a little more about Self-Reliance with them.  They want to take a  more personal role with the PEF loan participants, meeting with them in their homes as we have done the past few days.  We believe they will make a wonderful impact and will also be able to involve them in Institute classes.

At 3:00 pm we returned to the Church to make more visits with Mendonça.  We visited another family who were finishing their studies that were funded by PEF loans.  Once again we were able to discuss their path to self-reliance and explain the PEF loan incentives available to them.  Misunderstandings on some of the points of their PEF loan were resolved.   We are finding that one on one meetings with participants can be very fruitful and rewarding.

We then met with a single mother at the Church house.  She was not able to complete her educational course and is struggling in her self-reliance efforts.  We discussed possible solutions for her and emphasized that our Heavenly Father will know how to best help her as long as she keeps trying.  I felt impressed to share a quote from President Monson who has said "One of God's greatest gifts to us is the joy of trying gain, for no failure ever need be final."  We told this sister to not worry about paying the PEF loan until she is able to become self-reliant to care for her and her young daughter.  She said that she felt guilty about not being able to make the loan payments.  We agreed to reduce the loan payments to a very low amount that she felt comfortable making.  What great faith and commitment she showed! Sister Rueckert again felt inspired to ask us to offer her a priesthood blessing.  She was overjoyed and grateful to receive a blessing from the Lord to help her on the path to self-reliance.

We finished our day attending a meeting of the Praia Stake Self-Reliance Committee.  This was an extra meeting held for our benefit.  We asked many questions to understand the many wonderful steps they are taking. All of the wards keep holding devotionals and starting additional self-reliance groups.  Bishops and ward specialists have running lists of individuals that want or need to be involved in the next devotionals and groups.  The chairman of the committee doesn't see them meeting all of their self-reliance needs any time soon.  The sake staffs a self-reliance resource center for 20 hours a week with multiple volunteers who also call and mentor PEF Loan participants.  For self-reliance missionaries, this is like Christmas.  They are doing everything that we have ever hoped. The committee asked for more ideas of ways that they could improve.  This humility is exactly the attribute that helps them to function so well and receive so many blessings.

Praia Stake Self-Reliance Committee, including Sister Rueckert and Mendonça

 In Saturday night session, we heard the testimony of this sweet Sister who had returned from her full-time mission in Brazil the day before.  We had the opportunity to get to know her a little bit.  She was a member of the Church for only one year before submitting her mission papers.  Her testimony grew tremendously on her mission.  She is living in the home of one of the members, since her family no longer lives in Cape Verde.  She is the only member of her family that has joined the Church.  She is now home and trying to find her path to Self-Reliance.  She represents the strength and faith of these people and also their challenges and needs.  What a joy it is to see individuals like her who know how to trust in the Lord in all things.

Sister recently returned from her mission in Curitiba, Brazil

We are overwhelmed at the many examples of faith that we have seen in just a few days.  The "splash" that they are making in the country of Cape Verde is making a tremendous impact.  We believe that Zion is being built here and we are thankful to be able to participate in a small way.

During the next few days we will visit a district on the other side of this island and fly to two other islands to visit the stakes there.  We will give further updates in our next blog post next week.