A Full Friday

Recent convert and young adult Janiza Silva
(with her favorite Senior Couple)



 Our mission has kept us pretty busy, but every once in a while we are stretched in good ways to fill the day a little fuller with good things. Friday, 19^th of August was one of those days. Here is a blow-by-blow account of the day.

Wheelchairs are of little use in a warehouse

One of our big projects, and one of the Church’s major humanitarian initiatives, is the distribution of wheelchairs and other mobility devices to those in need. Back in late June we received a shipment of 383 of these devices, mostly wheelchairs, that had been prepared and ordered by Elder and Sister Goff while they were serving here. Friday we began the formal distribution working with our partner the Red Cross of São Vicente and of Cape Verde. We almost always work with partner organizations to build off of their experience and connection with the community we desire to serve.

Our young men volunteers teach their volunteers

We held a formal presentation at the local hospital Friday morning and invited institutions, selected wheelchair recipients, and volunteers. It was the culmination of several planning meetings and a visit to the warehouse to verify the shipment inventory. We met at the hospital at 10 AM that morning to do final preparations for the event.

We have found the Red Cross of São Vicente to be an excellent partner

The team at the Red Cross have been very good to work with. They identified about 10 institutions around the island that have a need for wheelchairs to serve their clients. One of the largest of these is the hospital where we held the presentation.

We had a full house for the presentation.
President Ribeiro is in the middle with Red Cross representatives on both sides.

Conducting the presentation was the Vice President of the local Red Cross. Our special guests and speakers were the director of the hospital, the National President of the Red Cross, and President Cesar Ribeiro, President of the local LDS Church organization or district. Each spoke giving their praise to this effort and recognizing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for their generous donation. The local TV station was present to film the event which aired on their nightly journal the next night. If you want to take a peak, go to this link and test your Spanish, uh Portuguese: http://www.rtc.cv/tcv/index.php?paginas=40&id_cod=11996&data=2011-08-20

Always smiling, often serving, always having a good time - LDS Young Adults

The volunteers present that day included some of our young adults we had invited to be there to help set things up. As often happens we found our way with them to the library, the presentation room, and discovered that the Red Cross had already moved wheelchairs into the room and done most of the work. We had 7 enthusiastic young adults who were able to do a few things to help, including help some of the handicapped, but mostly they were witnesses of their church serving the community.



Wheelchair recipients come from all backgrounds - its a little sobering to see and hear

There were also about 10 handicapped and older residents present to represent the many who will be assisted by this program. Many came from the Red Cross Nursing home, but we had two brothers from one of our LDS Branches present. We witnessed some touching moments and heard lots of nice words.

Our Church was very prominently represented by the full name as the financial contributor. President Ribeiro was able to describe the Church’s philosophy of helping people increase their self sufficiency, helping them help themselves. He mentioned some of the other areas we focus on for our humanitarian aid. We all felt it was a very positive experience and very good exposure for the Church.

A priesthood brotherhood grows as brothers help brother

After the event we helped the disabled get to their vans and cars. We thanked all we could who had contributed to the experience. We also had opportunity to speak with Eloisa Borges, a very gracious woman and Red Cross National President, for a couple of minutes. We indicated our interest in doing a wheelchair project for the southern islands. She said it would need to be twice the size, but expressed interest in supporting this as well as talking with us about other opportunities to partner for the benefit of the community. These connections are very important for our work.

Câmara Municipal = City Hall = 10 Wheelchairs
Ludmila on the left is another partner of ours

I should mention that this event is only the first of about 6, but clearly the largest. We will distribute about half of our devices on this island (São Vicente) and the other half on four other islands making up the northern group of Cape Verde islands. Visiting these other islands will be very valuable as we seek to extend the reach of our humanitarian assistance to more of the whole nation.

Our Chef with his assistants, Fredy center starting his 2 kilo cake
with Hugo left and Vi right

We were feeling pretty good as we walked a mile or so home to get ready for our next event. We had a quick dinner then welcomed three young men of the young adult group into our house to make a cake for the youth activity that night. Fredy, a very recent convert, was the head chef. Hugo Cruz and Vilson were his assistants. Vi has had a tough couple of weeks being thrown out of his house by his aunt, but seemed strengthened by this association. He was very interested in speaking about his experience and confirming his determination to live the gospel and stay close to the church. He and I made a side trip to the mini-mercado to pick up the bread and a few extra ingredients for the sandwiches to be served later that night. We chatted much along the way.

The Chef lays in the batter while assistant does dishes

The three young men worked hard on the cake. Fredy and the others worked the sugar and butter until they got a very smooth blend, checking it frequently. Fredy knew exactly what he wanted and what he was doing. We agreed to make 2 kilograms of cake filling two large cake pans. After almost two hours he had it ready to cook just a little before we were to meet at the church for the activity. Janet offered to stay and cook the cakes while we did the activity. She really wanted to join us for our visits to the Nursing Homes, but couldn’t do both and was committed to helping the young men succeed at their cooking.

Ducha does her best to cheer up the sad

The activity for the evening was to divide the young adults into two groups and visit two Lars de Idosos (Old Folks Homes) in very poor areas of the city. We ended up with 14 of us and split into two groups of 7. Our group walked at least a mile and a half to the home in Campinho. They were very animated and interactive the whole way going and returning. At the home we found 8 residents in various states of existence. We introduced ourselves (we were expected as we had spoken with Francisca the director earlier; she was also one of the representatives at the wheelchair presentation) and sang a couple of hymns. We then divided up for one-on-one visits and activities. Some played checkers. Some just visited. Others got into rhythm sharing. I had a copy of the Liahona which I read to a small man that could barely speak and was covered in flies. We all managed to connect and pass some quality time.

Nuno writes to his new friend

At the end we took sheets with a young adult group photo we had prepared beforehand and wrote a note to the person we had interacted with and left it with them. We also took some photos of the combined group. The youth would like to take a copy back to leave in the home.

Everyone felt a little better

We arrived back at the church in even better spirits and began making preparations for our light meal. Janet was there with the cakes cooked to perfection and the sandwich fixings ready. This time the sisters helped cut bread and add the chicken salad filling. We were more than ready when the other group also returned. They dived right in and ate and drank all in sight. When the cake was brought out we got lots of help from the younger youth who were in the other rooms practicing for the Talent Show. Two kilo of cake disappeared pretty quickly, some topped with left-over chicken salad filling. The cakes were a very fine texture and delicious, showing the mark of a master chef.

Chicken salad on cake for late comers - yumm

After the food we had a meeting with the young adults to talk about their experiences at the old folks homes. It was very touching as they expressed their feelings. We had one investigator, Janiza Silva, participate in both events of the day. She does quite well in English and would have been a member but her mother wants her to wait until she turns 18. She shared her very tender feelings about the event as did about 8 others. It was a very positive sharing experience that I will file away as not only a very full day, but a series of blessed memories.

All smiles for a miraculous day - Janiza and her missionaries

As a wonderful postscript, Janiza reported to us the following Tuesday night that her mother was considering giving her permission to be baptized sooner and asked us to join her in prayer. We did. The next night she reported that her mom had given permission and she was working towards baptism on the 3^rd of September. We congratulated her, but apologized that we would miss it due to a project commitment. She was aware of the project and wanted to participate if possible. We asked if she would consider moving her baptism up a week. She discussed it with the missionaries and was baptized that Saturday. She is now a member and very grateful for this big miracle in her life.

Hiking São Vicente

Hiking the Point on P-Day

We had some good news this week: The young elders who have been here at least a year say it will cool down the first of October0 and not get so hot until June. If that is true, we arrived here just as things were heating up. The last few days have been really hot and humid. I am looking forward to October!! And on Saturday, August 20, we had our first real rainstorm!

Surveying our future destination

Our painting project scheduled for Saturday, August 13, was postponed and we rescheduled for the first Saturday in September. (When Dennis asked me if I thought that was ok, I laughed and said it was Labor Day weekend – like, who would do a project on that day! Of course, it has no meaning here in Cape Verde, but it was interesting how my mind immediately went to that concept. I guess I am still too much American.)

At the Top in the Cloud

That left us with a completely unscheduled day. Dennis suggested that we make it a P-day and do a hike on the island. We decided to try Mount Verde - an imposing mountain near Mindelo sort of in the center of the island of São Vicente. We called Jorge, our taxi driver, who picked us up at 8:00 a.m. There was some miscommunication (do you suppose it was the first time?) - Dennis said we wanted to go to Mt. Verde with our intention of being dropped off and going hiking around and then being picked up several hours later. 
 

Jorge, our taxi driver, knows he better not step backwards - Glacier Pt. of Mt. Verde

Well, how one “does” Mt. Verde is drive up to the top and walk around and then drive back down.  Which is what we did. Unfortunately, we chose a day and a time that most of the top was covered in cloud. The main advantage of the cloud was it was COOL!! I thought I would never feel cool in Cape Verde! And, we got some new views of the island and whetted our appetites to return during the rainy season on a clear day. We discovered that over the years – maybe centuries? – they had developed terracing on the gentler side near the top of the mountain. During the rain season they grow potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, beans and other things on top of the mountain. You could see the terraces and even some small potato plants starting. They also had condensation stations to capture the water in the fog/cloud and drip onto plants. It reminded us how the redwoods survive in places of little water but much fog.

See if you can find: 1) the Top, 2) the Fog Condensors, 3) the Farm Terraces

The ungentle side of the mountain reminded us more of Glacier Point in Yosemite, but with only 1000-2000 foot drops to the foot hills. We were careful to watch our footing and imagine the views we will have when we go back on a clear day.

Foggy View of Bay and Beach to Explore Later

We were brought home by the taxi at 10:30 and our P-day had just begun! So we decided to explore some hills near to us next to the coast. We found a road that took us to the point at the end of our bay, Ponta João Ribeiro. We found about 4-5 gun installations marching up the ridge of the point. We marched up the ridge ourselves and enjoyed the view. 

Don't shoot the Lighthouse on the Rock

Returning to the road, we then took a steep path down to another road running along the ocean/bay. We went to the end of that road which was the rocky beach at the base of the above point. We ate lunch and then left to return to town on the lower road but found it ended at the back of the drydock yard with a chain and padlocked gate. So, we returned to our very steep path to the upper road. It wasn’t so bad, actually the first real hiking we had done that day. Along the way, I had a grasshopper jump at me, which was “ok” but then it kept jumping on me. That freaked me out and I tried to get out of the way - a difficult thing to do on a steep rocky path. I ended up scraping my left palm on a rock with Dennis left wondering what beast had just attacked his wife!

Thanks to Elton, Janet made it to the top

Walking back to town, Dennis wanted to try to find a path we had seen evidence of last week on one of our morning walks. It, basically, went straight up to the top of the ridge. We walked through a part of town we had never been until we came to where we thought the trail began. At that point a young boy, whose name was Elton we later learned, came and offered to show us the path to the top. He guided us all the way up, assuring us it was a wonderful view. And it was. I was surprised how close this part of Mindelo was to the ocean. When we got to the narrow ridge, below us - and down a tall cliff – was the ocean. We were above the bay just around the point we had just visited. In fact, we could see the corner of one of the gun installations. It was beautiful, as he had promised. It was a very steep path and by the time I got to the top, I was getting a little shaky. So, we all shared some raisins we had brought, which helped.

A Beautiful View, but Steep

As usual, going up the steep trail made me think of how in the world I was going to get down!!! Dennis kept asking me if I was ok with continuing. And in some ways, half the hill or all the hill wasn’t that different - just a more steep terrain to negotiate. And it seemed a shame to quit half-way. So, of course, we went to the top! That’s what Broderick’s do. I did appreciate his concern.

Don't Look Down!

And the coming down wasn’t so hard. As I told Dennis, you just watch your feet and DO NOT look anywhere else. We had to watch for slippery, sandy rocks, but in general, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. We visited a bit with Elton at the top, and found he had visited the Church and could rattle off the whole name without pause. We also found out that his uncle had died in a fishing accident in that very bay. Life can be hard.

Feet back on the ground. Check out the neighborhood.

When we got to the bottom of the trail, we thanked him and I gave him the change I had in my pocket – 95 escudos (just over a dollar) – as a thank you. He seemed ok with that. He ran off at the call of a friend and Dennis and I finished our 3rd  hike of the day and came home around 2:00. We had time to clean up and attend the baptism or five of our brothers and sisters scheduled for 4:00.



Hibiscus bushes are common landscaping plants - Always Beautiful 

The Sisters (Turnbow & Holland) prepare another young man for baptism,
and Fredy, another recent convert, does the job

Reflections on 60

Celebrating 60

Dennis just turned 60 years old and, as Janet calculated, we have been serving our mission together for 60 days. Those are very different time scales, but they are both time scales and our 60 days eventually stretch into 60 weeks, then 60 months, and eventually into 60 years. Here are some reflections, mostly from Dennis, on the significance of 60.

To me 60 is big. I don’t expect to live another 60 years, so I am well into the second half of my life. Probably at least two thirds of my mortal life has passed. I ask myself, am I two thirds of the way towards the things I want to become in this life? Have I completed two thirds of the work I came here to do? Have I learned two thirds of what I needed to learn? Have I developed two thirds of the qualities and virtues that I need to develop here in mortality? Have I committed more than two thirds of the mistakes and sins as I seek to follow Him better? Have I done two thirds of the kind deeds, performed two thirds of the productive labor I am here to do, and passed two thirds of the tests I need to pass? Have I served two thirds of the people I need and want to serve? Have I blessed in one way or another two thirds of the lives I can bless? If not, then it is time to accelerate, not slow down, my efforts and progress.

In my 60 years I have had many wonderful experiences and met many more than 60 incredible people who have influenced and shaped my life. I am most grateful for my wife of 37 years who is my eternal companion but also my one and only mission companion for this mission and more to come.

A Birthday Breakfast with homemade Yogurt, Fruit, and Sourdough Waffles. Yum!

As I sit here making this journal entry, in our rented apartment, in the city of Mindelo, on the island of São Vicente, in the island nation of Cabo Verde, listening to one of my favorite CD’s, The Best of Jenny Oaks Baker, typing on my Acer laptop, writing in my favorite word processor, WordPerfect, the situation is anything but one I could have ever foreseen. When I was born 60 years ago, Jenny Oaks Baker (an LDS mother and concert violinist) was not yet born. Cabo Verde was not yet an independent nation. The apartment building I am in did not exist. Computers, PDAs, CD’s, and millions of other inventions had not yet been conceived in the minds of mankind.

These 60 years have seen the rise of God’s kingdom in a glorious way. They have also seen the growth of Satan’s dominion on the earth and his misuse of all good things for his selfish and destructive purposes.

Sunday I was reading the Sunday School lesson on the revelation to Peter concerning the Lord’s desire to have the gospel taken to the gentile world. As a parallel example of revelation in our day, the manual referred to the revelation to President and Prophet Spencer W. Kimball to make the priesthood available to all worthy male members of the church. As I pondered on that miracle, it occurred to me that had that revelation not come, the gospel would not be here in Cabo Verde. I would not be here serving a mission. There would not be thousands of Cabo Verdianans enjoying the blessing of the restored gospel. Not a soul on these islands was likely aware of the revelation when it came.

This computer represents the marvelous technological advances during my life time. Of course computers exited before I did, as did jet airplanes, refrigerators, photography, and many more technologies, but in some ways they are dwarfed by the advances since then. On my lap is a computer more powerful than anything that existed on my birthday and it is tiny in size to anything that did exist. 

Communication Link with our Other World

This computer contains on its hard drive all my family history, thousands of photos of loved ones and exciting new places, plus the means of communicating by Email, by phone calls, and by video calling. It is capable of pulling in information stored in computers all over the world in seconds. It has a tiny camera above the screen that can pick up video of me and send it around the globe while my little grandchildren watch me talk to them and I watch them smile, giggle, dance, or whatever they feel like doing at the moment. I can call and talk with my parents on their phone in their house in Phoenix for just pennies per minute. And they will wish me a happy 60th birthday, on the 60th day of my mission to Cabo Verde (and they did).

In the 60 days we have been here we have moved from total foreigners to feeling pretty much at home. While there are aspects of our experience that are still rather foreign, the language and some customs that will never be ours, we know that this is our place to be, we are happy here, and find much good among the people. The work we have chosen to do during this season of our lives is to serve the people of Cabo Verde, and learn from them.

Our Young Friends stop by To Celebrate 60 with us

We feel good that we have made progress on all the active projects, have submitted a new one of our own and as of Friday completed our part of it, and in two weeks we will complete another one of these, the school painting project. We have established ourselves with our key contacts and have established some level of trust with them.

We have had fun learning our way around the island, adapting to their food and making it our food, setting up our home so it better fits our needs, exploring the area, and getting to know people in their homes. We have setup our bank accounts and finances so we can easily pay our major bills. We feel like we are much more efficient in shopping and handing our temporal affairs so we can concentrate on the work of our mission call.



A High Point in Cabo Verde - Mindelo and Porto Grande Below
Sister Susan Leonard joined the hike

As I have further contemplated my 60 year milestone, with Janet’s help, I have reason to celebrate where we are. I like the analogy that we have scaled a high mountain peak and are looking out over the landscape of our lives. We can see some of the earlier milestones of our lives from where we enjoyed earlier vistas or felt lost in the woods. It all fits together more into a picture that reflects principles and decisions we have tried to follow in our lives.

As we talked we used the term predictable several times to describe our lives, our pattern of living, our decision making, etc. I would say I have tried to live a principle based life with the principles coming from the gospel of our Savior and from the pattern and example of parents and others we respect. We have learned that living the gospel brings predictable results. Decisions we made as adults to establish our roots in our church community and put career secondary to family and church, has provided many of the results in our lives that we prize. I can see that step by step this pattern of life has yielded a large degree of financial freedom, and significant spiritual and physical freedom. As such we enjoy spiritual and temporal fruits that allow us to do what we have chosen to do for these two years and to experience great joy in doing it. At 60 I have completed my income earning years and am now enjoying significant time freedom to pursue other priorities in my life.

Our predictable path has brought us to a seemingly unpredictable situation as I stated earlier. But that has been the case all along the pathway. We could have predicted that we would be in a good job situation, near a temple, raising a large family, but never imagined that would be the Bay Area. We could have predicted that I would finish college with a good degree and that our children would finish college. We would not have guessed that most of our children would complete graduate school and live outside of California. We could predict that our children would marry and raise families. We could not see that they would have us traveling around the US to visit our grandchildren. Fortunately our predictable pathway has made the option of that travel possible.


The Beautiful Coastline of Santo Antão



We look back at many joyous experiences and gatherings, at wonderful vista points and at those difficult learning experiences that stretched us and our children. Those experiences too were an important part of this predictable pathway.

My earlier musing about the technological advances I have seen during my life is a reflection of how I see the world. The more important advances are the rather normal and maybe boring personal advances. I have tried to follow the Savior’s pathway for personal development, as I understood it and as my parents and others modeled it for me. There are many other pathways I could have followed, but they would have led to other destinations. I rejoice in the vista I am enjoying at my 60 year milestone, at the freedom I feel, and in the opportunities and promise of the next 30 years. I intend to continue my predictable lifestyle and pathway and to continue to enjoy the surprises and goodness it will bring.

P.S. We want to thank all who have sent Emails or other communications. Communication was always meant to be a two-way process. We love you all and appreciate hearing about your lives and families. We will try to respond to each note we receive. Best wishes from Elder and Sister Broderick