Sunday, July 22, 2012

Transferred to the island of Fogo!‏


December 5, 2011


Hello my lovely family and friends,
 
It has been a looooong time since I have written to everyone, and I appologize for that. A lot has happened and I do not even know where to start...
 
Last transfer I was transferred to Praia (again) and was working as General Secretary in the mission office. All though I leanred a lot, I am sooooooooo happy to be out of there!! Two weeks ago I was transferred to a little beach/mountain town called Mosteiros on the island of Fogo. I am here training another mini missionary, Sister Da Costa, from Assomada, Santiago. We are the FIRST Sisters to EVER serve here in Mosteiros. There has never been sisters here before. I think its because of how difficult of an area it is to walk. We have the LARGEST area in all of the mission split with another companionship of Elders. The Elders live a 45 minute walk from us so we only see them when when things happen at the church.
 
The branch here is so great. There has only been one set up elders working here in Mosteiros here for months and they have worked hard. About 4 months ago the branch of Mosteiros had only about 30 active members. Yesterday there were a grand total of 125 people at church yesterday!!! So it is growing like crazy...thanks to the hard work of the elders. Our Mission President wants to create 2 branches here come the first of January. The Elders will have a new branch up in their area and we will continue to have the branch in our area. The problem is, we currently have 3 active members in our entire area that takes 2 and a half hours to cross on foot...like if we start on one far point of our area and walk to the other furthese point of our area, it will be 2 and a half hours before covering our entire area. And on top of that, in two weeks we will be taking over the mountains (if you see the pictures I sent you will see those great big mountains....up at the top of those mountains is currently the Elders area, but we are gonna have to start hiking straight up it and take over the town up there in 2 weeks) and one other large zone of the Elders...because it will all become one branch. Then the rest of Mosteiros that wraps around over towards the volcano will become another branch that the Elders will be working with. So lots and lots is going on here and it is very exciting.
 
Our area is beautiful. It reminds me of Hawaii. Like how you are RIGHT on the coast, but also have the giant green mountains right there. I am a little nervous to take over the mountains. I takes about an hour to hike straight up them on a rugged trail that goes straight up. I heard its hard and super tiring. But up top is where they have all the banana, orange and other big fruit and tropical trees are. So it will all be worth it.
 
As far as holidays go...they blow here in the mission. For Thanksgiving I forgot that it was even Thanksgiving until I was writing in my journal that night and it suddenly dawned on me. Pretty lame. But seeing that Im the only American for miles, nobody celebrates it for me to really remember. I did just get a big Thanksgiving package from my lovely and amazing mother though on Friday, and me and my comp are going to cook up a good feast tomorrow.
 
I am not sure if Christmas will be any better then Thanksgiving was. People are so poor here that they dont have money to really celebrate it here. I heard unless you were in an area with a "missionary couple" serving near by, Christmas often times is just like any other normal day in the mission. And I DEFINATLY have no missionary couple near by...nor do we have any missionaries that are really near by. But us 6 companionships of missionaries that are here on the island of Fogo (that would be 12 missionaries in total), are gonna maybe try and have a small Christmas celebration the Thursday or Friday before. We will see. But, either way, I will get to talk to family that day...and that is always very exciting.
 
Well, I am pleased to say that I am very happy right now and am loving my new area, companion, and the mission. It is truly an adventure. We are working hard and looks like we will be having lots of success here in Mosteiros. The future will tell. All I know, with faith and trust in the Lord, all is possible!
 
I love you all and have a wonderful week!
 
Love,
 
Sister Taryn Beus

arrggg!!

Nov. 28, 2011

.......So I have spent 20 minutes trying to send this ONE email to you. The internet here is rediculous. I dont have time to do a mass email anymore. It will have to wait until next week. Tell everyone I love them though. Love you!!!!

Re: Im stuck in Praia‏

November 28th, 2011
 
 
Hey Mom,
 
So I am here in Mosteiros, Fogo....and LOVING IT!!!!!! It is BEAUTIFUL here. BIG green mountains and right on the coast.
 
So first to answer your few questions...
 
Did you get it all furnished? Nope, we live in the NICEST house of the entire mission. It is HUGE! But it is empty as heck and looks rediculous because of the little we have in it.
How old is she?  How old is who? My comp? 21....she is a mini missionary from Assomada (thats on the island of Santiago...same island as Praia). She will be getting her call while she is here serving with me this transfer. She should get it right before Christmas.
Have you heard from your last companion?  Sister Vicente...yea she calls me ALL the time. She was my favorite comp by far. I love her. She is actually serving another mini mission right now in Sal.
When does she get to Boston?  Be sure to get an address for me so I can send her something. She is suppose to leave for the Provo Mtc in February...but that all depends if she has a visa yet or not.
Are you close to the Elders? There are only one set of elders that also serve here in Mosteiros. But they are a 45 minute walk away from us.
How many are there inFogo? There are 7 companionships currently on the island.
How are you feeling? Soooooooooooooooooooooooooo good!
Have you run out of water there? Only once...but it only was for a few hours.
 
Mom, I am so so so so so so so happy with where I am. This is seriously exactly what I needed. I will explain more details in my mass email.
 
As far as the packages...I really dont know. The thing is is that they have to wait until someone travels from Praia to Fogo....and then i am a one hour drive to the OTHER side of the island from where you fly into. It only takes 2 hours to drive around the entire island. It is really small. But it is great.
 
Well, I love you. Thanks for everything. Sounds like you had a wonderful Thanksgiving...I cant quite say the same. But what can you expect on the mission.
 
Love you Mom!
 
Taryn