Small and Wonderful World!

A family visited the Beja Branch yesterday just as it was getting started and immediately we recognized Ideal, Ildy, and their daughters.  9 years ago, when we would go to the Island of Brava, (on our Cape Verde Mission), we would meet with this sweet family.  It was a steep, narrow, climb up the mountain to their home. Ideal taught great lessons and often I would go into Primary so Ildy, could listen to his lessons.  A four year old artist would sit by me and we would draw...and now she has grown into a  young woman and she is still drawing!  Her little sister is now about the age she was back then.  It is a small and wonderful world!

More searches, more names, more sources, more visits, more finding members, more meetings, more walking, more driving, more people to meet. Even though we do alot of the same things...each day is different and full of many choices... to serve, to study, to share, to prepare, and always more to do!  

Such a great group of missionaries to work with! 

Teresa Mata is happy that her husband is feeling better and she can come back to church again.  Last week she had invited us to her home for 'the very next time we are in town" and so we set a 4 pm date for Monday, just before our lesson with Miguel across town.  She answered the door with her smile, some freshly made lemonade and a really nice visit. As we were leaving, we thanked her and I mentioned that she is just beautiful: she scoffed at the thought that she was anything but old.  

Looking right into her azure eyes, I told her the truth because I notice faces, and especially eyes.  I told her that her face showed me a wonderful life full of happiness and pointed to her smile wrinkles; it shows that she has had great sorrows and through it all she still cares about others. (Her eyes still sparkle though she has been through much.)  It is easy to paint portraits of flawless faces that have not yet experienced much of life...(it's what the world watches and worries about anyway.)  However, for me, this is the face of a beautiful woman a portrait that I would like to paint and learn from.  

For a small moment she knew I meant what I said and she gave me a hug.

President Paulo at another Leadership Council Meeting.  

He laughs with and loves his people, but he also gets serious about what the work is all about.  

Put simply: He doesn't want excuses...he wants examples. 

Doctrine and Covenants 62: 2,3  President Paulo read this scripture to start the meeting and said, 

               'We have done alot but we are not to Zion yet...so we have work still to do!"