OUR WEEK IN PRAIA, CAPE VERDE

This past week we returned from a weeklong trip to train Elder and Sister Biven in Praia, Cape Verde (“CV”).  There are a number of islands in the country of Cape Verde. Due to the difficulty (time and expense) of traveling from island to island, coupled with the great growth of the church membership, and also the many humanitarian needs in the country, the decision was made recently to have a second Welfare/Humanitarian couple serve there.

Map of Cape Verde 

The week of our departure was a challenging one.  By the time we were ready to take our evening flight to CV, I (Eileen) was rather reluctant to get on another plane. We have traveled seven of the last eight weeks.  Although it might sound exotic, it is really exhausting, especially when we come home and have all of our normal work to catch up on upon our return.

Sometimes God evidences his love to us when we need it most. That was the case as we traveled to CV.  We rarely meet members of the Church as we travel.  As we were walking through the airport during our layover in Casablanca, a family ran up to us to say hello. They were traveling from the US to CV to visit some senior missionaries serving there.  As we boarded the plane our seats were reassigned and I realized we had been upgraded to Business Class. The biggest benefit from being upgraded is that we could be the first ones in line to obtain the necessary visa upon our arrival. Since it took 10 minutes for us to get the visa and there were about 75 people in line behind us we were so grateful to get through the line quickly.  It was about 3 a.m. and we were anxious to get to our hotel and go to sleep.

Our layover in Casa Blanca

Elder and Sister Biven are a very talented couple from the Midwest.   Elder Biven is an engineer and worked in different parts of Africa as a young man. Sister Biven is a nurse and will be functioning as the mission nurse, while Elder Biven does most of the humanitarian work.  They had only been in Cape Verde for a few days when we arrived.  Sister Biven needed to run some errands so I went with her while Russell trained Elder Biven on finances.  Later, when it was time to return to our hotel the battery on their car was dead.  We decided to have the men push the car while I popped the clutch in an attempt to start the car. A neighbor man came and helped us push the car. I popped the clutch several times with no response.  Another missionary couple came and took us back to our hotel. Later they were able to find a local man who jumped the battery for their car.  We were appreciative of the kindness of the other missionaries and the locals who were very kind to help.

Trying to get help for the car with the dead battery

On Sunday we went to church. As there was no pianist I played the piano for sacrament meeting. The people in the ward we attended were very gracious and friendly to us.  That afternoon the four of us went to our hotel and sat outside to review a dozen case studies of previous humanitarian projects done in the Europe Area.  The Bivens were quick to catch on to the principles we were trying to teach.

Brother Mendocoa and his boys at church

The primary children learning about Jesus

Russell discussing case studies with the Bivens

Tuesday evening we were asked to attend a meeting with the local Church priesthood leadership and the Church director of Public Affairs for CV.  In the future we will be coordinating the public relations aspects of the Church’s humanitarian efforts with Public Affairs so that they and the local priesthood leaders will be aware of our projects and can participate in the project’s closing ceremonies/events.  

Our flight back left at 2:45 a.m.  We arrived back in Frankfurt at 5 p.m. I had a bad case of gastrointestinal distress and was very glad to be back home.  

Coastline dry and rugged

Now I can say I have walked the beach in Africa

This lady just returned from a fishing trip

There is really a person underneath all that brush

This man was cooking something in his pot. I tried to take a photo of his food but was frightened by some dogs that came near me fighting with each other. I had no desire to be bitten by rabid dogs

This man thought it was funny that I wanted to take a photo of him cutting the meat on the sidewalk. Notice the machete in his hand used for cutting the meat

At the market

Eileen's maiden name is Cannon. We had to have a picture with one of the old cannons at the fort in Cidade Velha..  The fort was finished in 1590.

The mountains were steep and arid

Bananas by the bunch

Scale for weighing produce

Slaves from Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone were tied to this pillar and auctioned off to send to Brazil and the Caribbean. This settlement was active in the slave trade starting in 1466.  Christopher Columbus stopped in this city on his 3rd voyage to the Americas in 1498.

Sister Biven answering a medical call

It was very typical to see women and men carrying supplies on their head

We walked passed these pigs. Does that mean we walked through a pigpen?

The breeze felt nice in the warm sunshine

Fishing boats at the base of the ruins of the old fort

Tourist information

This beach was right outside our hotel. It was a popular place on the weekend.

Praia

We ate here twice. The meat is fresh tuna. It is brought out on a hot stone and you take it off when it is done to your liking.

This lighthouse was very near our hotel 

Most of the island is quite dry, the flowering trees can be quite beautiful.

Today we celebrate Easter.  We are very grateful for our Savior and the love he has shown to us.  We know that it is only through His atoning sacrifice for us that we can repent from our sins, and have the gift of being resurrected some day. Click on the link below to view a special 2 minute Easter presentation.

https://youtu.be/Ly9xk59Qkfc

The Prince of Peace: Find Lasting Peace through Jesus Christ