Training in Cape Verde....April 23 -26,2015

Our first "official" travel for training was highly anticipated, short on actual  training, long In actual travel time, and an experience we will long remember.

We traveled with two of our office colleagues, Luis and Sonja.  They are both from Portugal and have been to Cape Verde several times.  That made it so much easier for us.  Luis' wife took us to the airport Thursday morning......we left our apartment at 4:30 am.  The flight to Lisbon was 2 hours and 45 minutes.  We had a 10 hour lay over because there is only one flight a day to Praia.  Luis and Sonja has arranged for a senior missionary, Elder Campbell, and a church employee to lend us a car for the day.  They met our plane, gave us the mission car, and we were off to see Lisbon!   Saw the old Lisbon, the twin of the Golden Gate  Bridge, a beautiful church, an impressive monument, a mall....so 

Luis could get his glasses fixed, had lunch at a nice place on the beach, rested in a beautiful park, saw the site for the future temple in Lisbon, ate the most famous pastry in all of Portugal, spent some time in the Mission Office, bought a spoon.....whew!  The flight to Praia was  4 hours....we landed at midnight, but that was 3 am Frankfurt time.  By the time we got to bed, we had been up 28 hours.

Lisbon is lovely.

I

This is Vasco de Gama, Portuguese......famous explorer.  You probably studied about him in fifth grade.

This monument is impressive.  It represents all the people who made Portugal great.....from the

workers, the kings, the clergy, the government, the artists, etc., right up to the explorers.  It is shaped like a ship, even the sails.  Sonja was so sad to see it is not kept in better condition, and she blames the economy.

You can see the bridge on the background.  The same man who designed the one in San Francisco did this one, too.

Notice the ocean, not the construction barriers!  Keith had fish and I had a steak with a fried egg on top.  Right after we took this pic, the backhoe and workers arrived.

This is the second longest bridge in Europe.....just so you'll know !

Whenever anyone in the office told us about Portugal, they always said we needed to go the best pastry shop in Lisbon.  Luis and Sonja thought the same thing and we went.  I look like  I ate 20, but I only had 2.

We waited 10 minutes for a table.  Luis said they have the reputation of the best pastries and the worst service in Lisbon.....this is true.  You sprinkle cinnamon and powered sugar on them.  They make 50,000 each day.  You can pick some up "to go".....that line was at least 100 people while we were there.  (Kaycee.....notice my bracelet!)

Cape Verde is made up of 8 or 9 bigger islands and lots of smaller ones.  Praia is the capitol of the island of Saniago.  It was discovered by the Portuguese, and that is the native language.  But it is African in most ways.  When we bought me a drink, they gave us change for our euros in African money...so we have a few coins from Africa for our cash register back home.

This was the view from our room.  Very nice hotel, not so nice beach.  I spent a lot of time watching people walking on that dirt road.  Saw many women with big bundles on their heads.  There are other islands with nice beaches......Santiago is mostly lava rock.

Lest you think all we did was look at the ocean, let me assure you the best part was meeting the priesthood leaders from all the islands.  About 30 of them came to the training meeting on Saturday.  Such a wonderful group of dedicated men......all young!  I don't think any of them are older than maybe 35.  Stake Presidents, Bishops, various clerks, and Brother Soares, our Assistant Area Auditor. He is so dedicated....and so busy......young family, 2 other church callings, a job, and going to school. We are hoping to get him some help....soon!  There are 3 stakes and 2 districts here.....about 9,000 members.

Elder Morena, the Seventy over Portugal, taught and so did Luis and Sonja.  Keith didn't do any training.....not because he isn't capable........he just doesn't speak Portuguese!  Where is Ben when we need him?  Elder Campbell translated for Keith.

Neat story........last month two of the sister missionaries returned to their apartment to find it had been burglarized.  Among the things taken were several church videos and the sisters said they hoped the burger at least watched what he took!  The next week, a young man brought their stuff back to them, including the videos and apologized for what he had done.......and asked if they could teach him more about the videos!!!   Amazing!!  The gospel is so life changing....and so important in our lives.

We left Paria at midnight.....got in Lisbon in 2 hours and 45 minutes.....in the very last seats on the plane, so we couldn't recline.  Sonja and Luis were hesitant to leave us at the airport for our 8 hour layover.  They tried to get us an earlier flight, but we would have had to pay $700 extra.  Sonja wanted us to go home with her to her sister's house, but we just wanted to wait it out at the airport.  It is huge!  We found a good place to wait....watched a huge TV....snooker and races.....ate at Pizza Hut, found a section of books in English in one of the book stores, so I spent the afternoon with Jack Reacher!  All in all, 8 hours went pretty fast. When we got on the  plane, we were surprised to be seated in business section!  Now I know what it's like to be treated First Class......warm, refreshing towels, more leg room, reclining seats!, a MENU!!, and all the soft drinks we  wanted!  We were spoiled!  Took a taxi home. We went to bed at 9 pm.   We had been up 36 hours. 

I could tell you this was taken when we got to the office this morning ......but that would be a lie.

In the first place, Keith didn't wake up until 9 this morning.  He decided I needed my beauty sleep, so he went to the office at 10 and gave me the day off!! Oh how I love my sweet husband!

This was taken last week in front of our office building.  Note the pink and white  blossom on the tree!  So pretty!

So now we know what it's like to travel for our job.  Exciting and exhausting!!

Love 'till  next time.  Elder and Sister Saunders

PS.....the beauty sleep didn't work!  I would have to sleep MUCH longer!