Asphalt Therapy

Dear Family,

This past week a large part of my area that was cobblestone got paved. It was nice. After walking so much on uneven and rough terrain, the asphalt felt a little like therapy on my feet. If only I had a foot massage machine.

In other news, this week was a little rough as far as lessons go. But some neat stuff happened. For example, we had to go to Santo Antao for a baptism interview. When we went to the port the day before to get our tickets, this guy showed up and asked Elder Smith if he could ask him a question. Out of nowhere he drops to the ground and starts shining Elder Smiths shoes. It was kind of funny. So we ended up letting him shine our shoes. And it was only like a dollar each. Picture attached.

We also had a baptism this week. The member who baptised her is the same one that referred her to us. She is an English student of his. So that was cool. Pics.

And we also went to Santo Antao again for our Zone activity. Pictures attached.

So, it was fun. Oh, and someone came to our island from Praia and brought some mail, so I got Neal's package. It's awesome! Thanks bud!

Thanks for all the love and support,

Elder Canute

Happy Mother's Day

Dear Family,

It was awesome talking to those of you who happened to be on yesterday. For the rest of you, it will have to wait until November. More than anything it was nice to chat and here peoples' voices. Especially Christian and Josh who at first I thought were both Grant. In fact for a few minutes I just thought that Grant was talking a lot. Then I figured out that it was just a couple of Grant Dopplegangers. Or something to that affect. Also I saw a picture of Christian from his Prom. And I thought it looked like someone had pasted his face on someone else's body. Christian isn't really that tall is he? Also, Christian, I saw your Ultimate Frisbee Club shirt and I want one. So, just saying.

This past week was good. I went on a division with the District Leader here in Mindelo. I went to his area. I don't know what it is about divisions, but for some reason none of the investigators ever keep their appointments. Divisions tend to be kind of crappy for lack of a better word. But on Thursday, Elder Smith hit his 1 year mark. We celebrated. Good stuff.

We also had a baptism this weekend. A kid named El Madani. He's really cool. In the picture is him, his dad, my comp and I. Keeping the good work moving. And there is a lot more to it than baptisms like anyone who has served a mission knows. That's just the exciting part which is why I share it with you.

Christian and Josh- I want news and pictures.

Thanks to all for support and love and stuff.

~Elder Canute

Tired

This last week left me really tired. On Wednesday we went to Santo Antao for a division. It went well. But we traveled quite a bit. We had an hour and some boat ride there followed by a 45 minute van ride to Ponte do Sol. We worked a little with the Elders there and the next morning we took another van ride to Porto Novo where we had our District meeting before taking another boat ride home. For some reason, boat rides make me tired. But I've ridden many boats since I've been here and It's never affected my week so much. Fortunately, today I'm feeling better.

It was crazy on Friday doing planning again. It felt like the Dear Family,

week had disappeared, mostly because of the division. But Friday we had a good day of work. Saturday wasn't as busy but we still did some good things. Like having a baptism interview for one of our investigators. Later that night we got asked to help with a youth activity. Since our appointment for that time had unmarked with us, we decided to help them. It was pretty neat. It was the whole blindfold the youth then have different leaders telling them to do certain things and they have to chose which voice to listen to and what path to follow or whatever. Those that chose wisely went to a room with snacks and a tv showing Tom and Jerry cartoons. Those who chose poorly went to a room that just had chairs. My comp and I were the door guards of those rooms not letting anyone in or out unless the Youth Leaders said. It's the whole quality of choice type thing I guess.

Sunday was Cape Verde's Mother Day and Workers day. So it wasn't very productive.

Speaking of Mother's day, I think it might work best if Dad tried skyping again on Sunday. You could try using the better microphone and only having the people that want to listen in the room. Otherwise the background noise gets too loud. But I think due to everyone's schedules Sunday would be best. But the internet places aren't usually open on Sunday so you would have to call me. My number is 238-993-3444. If that doesn't work you could try texting me or something.

The pictures- One is a really big centipede we saw on the way to a lesson. One is a sunken boat we saw coming back from Santo Antao. The other is a massive Cruise ship we saw on the way to Santo Antao.

Loves to all!

Elder Peterson

Happy Easter!

Dear Family,

What better way to celebrate the ressurection of Jesus Christ than by sharing it with others? My Easter was pretty good. Church was a little frustrating because so many of the youth in our branch were so disruptive and disrespective during Sacrament meeting. People were going in and out almost constantly. It was absolutely ridiculous.

Then later that day we found an interesting family. There was the Grandma, the mom, the daughter, and the daughter was pregnant and due for that day. Unfortunately the mom and daughter live in a different area. But we're planning on passing their information to the other elders.

This past week was good. Not every week can be super awesome and this wasn't but it was good.

Next week should be a little more interesting. Oh yea, and today we had transfers. I'm staying in the same area with the same companion. That's good. I like Elder Smith.

But until next time,

Elder Peterson

Another Day, Another... Something

Dear Family,

This week we got contacted by a Jehova's Witness. Like, he approached us while we were talking to one of our members at her house, gave us a pamphlette and sat there talking at us for like 10 minutes. We tried to get out of it as pol

itely as possible and after a while, the member invited us in to get us away from him. So that was nice.

Also, the computer I'm working on is having problems and it isn't accepting my SD card so no pictures this week. Sorry.

Elder Smith decided to paint his bed so for the past few days his mattress has been sitting on the ground. When he took it apart he didn't realized that he wouldn't be able to paint it until today. So that's kind of funny.

Also, we went to a new area this week that we hadn't visited yet. Probably because it happens to be the highest point in our area. There's this big hill right in the middle of our area that basically the rest of our area goes around. Up to this point we hadn't climbed up to the top. It's quite a workout. And since then we've gone up there every day to teach people. I"m almost used to it. With time I will have thunder thighs.

And I don't know if I've mentioned the italian pizza place we found yet, but we ate there again. It was delicious. Italian brick oven, wood heated. He cooks the pizza in 5 or 6 minutes no joke. And it's awesome. I haven't had american pizza in a long while so I can't make a fair comparison, but I would say that this is better. Just saying.

But that's the less than average stuff that happened.

Elder Peterson

Missionary Hair Part

Dear Family,

Starting last Friday, I began wearing my hair with a part. It will continue until next Friady. Just FYI.

This past week started rough. Like being locked out of my house rough. You know. We managed to get back into our house that night, but it still wasn't fun being stuck out. That's fine. Tuesday was actually a quite decent day. Although in one of my lessons the chair fell out from underneath me. I didn't get hurt, but I was quite surprised. It was one of those cheap plastic lawn chairs and the legs bent out. Junk.

Saturday we had Zone Conference. That went well. I got a few letters and a package from Dad with pens and replacement shaver heads. Thanks dad! Then we had a double baptism that afternoon. Win!

Well, stay cool.

Elder Peterson

Conference and Santo Antao

Dear Family,

I hope all of you were able to enjoy conference. Neal said he was only able to catch the priesthood session. Thank the Lord for technology. Neal you can find all of the sessions on the church website and watch them. Unfortunately for my stress level, my companion and I were in charge of setting up an English session of conference for the American missionaries. The only way we were able to work it was to run it from the chapel on the other end of town because the internet in the chapels here is too weak to support both an English and Portuguese transmission at the same time. My comp and I rode the bus more last weekend to get between our house, the distant chapel, and the near chapel than I think I have in the past 9 transfers. We also used our fair share of taxis when we needed to move quickly. We were running around like chickens with our heads cut off as we tried not to be late to sessions and other appointments between sessions. We mostly succeeded. And it was all worth it. This conference was very good. It may be my point of view, but this conference seemed focused 100% on the needs of some of our investigators. I wish we had the conference report now so we could share those talks with them. Maybe I can find them on the church website...

Also, wednesday and thursday my comp and I went to Santo Antao for a division. It went well. But then we returned to Santo Antao today for our Zone Activity. We took a van to the top of this mountain and then walked the trail down. It was way fun. The views were awesome. But we got back a little late.

In fact the reason I am sending this so late instead of just waiting until tomorrow at lunch or something and proselyting right now like I'm supposed to is because I'm locked out of my house. I didn't forget my keys. In fact we have them with us. But for some reason or other, or key isn't opening our door. I think the lock is busted on the inside. This isn't the first time it's happened. Our landlord lives next door and we would have been able to get into our house from his roof, but he wasn't home. So we're waiting for him to get home so we can get into our house. Proselyting is a little difficult in plain clothes and without scriptures. I'm just saying.

Well, that's all for today. I hope you enjoy the pictures. I know a lot are of me, but that's just how it goes. I really didn't take that many with me I just happened to upload most of them instead of the other scenery pictures I had. Of which there are not a few.

Until next time,

Elder Peterson