Apologies this is a day late, the power went out on us as we were using internet yesterday, which dashed all hopes of writing.
WELL,
it turns out that I'm starting to feel the downsides of starting off in
likely the two FLATTEST areas in the mission. I could tell as my plane
flew over to Fogo that I would be seeing QUITE the change from what I'm
used to.
The area that I'm serving in Fogo is
called Cova Figueira, and happens to be the same area that two of my
previous companions have already served in. However, this area, rather
than just consisting of a main town or city, has other sub-zones as well
that we get to work in. One of these zones is called Estancia Roque, and
it just HAPPENS to be 5km UP the mountain, from the main village. I'd
had Elder Crooks tell me quite a decent amount about the area before,
and it happens to be the one part of our area that has anything really
going on. When I arrived here, my new companion, Elder Gunther, told me
that we end up working there just about every single day of the week,
which would be pretty normal, except for the fact that we don't have a
reliable means of getting up there consistently.
The
first day I got here, we started to venture up the road, in hopes of
finding a car, or more specifically, a Hiace (basically the main form of
Cape Verdean transportation), but unfortuneately, the only Hiaces that
head up that way, had already left. We started to walk up, but
thankfully, turned back after realizing EVERYBODY from up there was
coming down to Cova Fig. to watch the soccer games that go on here. The
soccer games here are like the ONLY thing that go on, which means
EVERYONE goes. That day was very difficult to find ANYTHING.
Second
day, we were very lucky to find a Hiace to get us up there, which was
wooooonderful, and once we were up there, it was great. They've recently
started a group up there (that's one level below a branch), and we're
working with a decent amount of people up there to progress to baptism.
We're able to get really really good reception up there. The people are
super nice, and really easy to get along with; the only strange thing,
is that EVERYONE up there is always dressed in long pants, sweaters,
hoodies, shirts on their heads, you name it! They are pretty well
covered head-to-toe, despite the fact it's blaaaazing hot up there. I
thought that was pretty darn funny. The sun is so intense, that they
cover their skin from it (for reasons I know not why...).
On
Saturday, however, we were unlucky in finding a Hiace, which meant the
undeniable fact, that it would be a walking day. It certainly didn't help
that that day I had a headache AND felt lightheaded, but I certainly
felt like Regine Chassange of Arcade Fire in that the road kept winding
with 'mountains beyond mountains' with 'no end in sight'. It's pretty
fair to say I agreed with her when she sings, 'I need the darkness,
someone please cut the lights'. When we findally got up there, I wanted
nothing more than to sleep! Hahaha!
Despite
it's many difficulties, I'm starting to like the area, I'm sure that I
will learn to love it. In the town here, there is really only one store
where they sell stuff, and it doesn't have a whole lot, so it was a HECK
of a surprise when I walked in there one night and a guy said to us, in
English, 'hey, you guys like Dr. Pepper?'. Using my interstellar
negotiating skills, good looks and incredible charm, I was able to get
the can from the guy for FREE, after he asked 100 escudos for it (like a
dollar). It was truly an incredible tender mercy.
Well, it's certainly been a week of changes, but it's been fun too. Love y'all!
Elder Massey
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