Coming Home, The Final Chapter- Heart Issues Change Our Timing

At 3 am August 30, 2011 Eileen got up to go to the bathroom and noticed that her heart was racing and felt strange. She returned to bed, thinking it would return to normal shortly.....it did not. Eileen had a similar experience 5 years earlier when Dr. Nielsen, her cardiologist, did a cardioversion on her, shocking her heart back into rhythm. In anticipation that the same thing might occur he had prescribed a medication she took with her to Portugal. She took the medication. It was supposed to return the heart to normal rhythm but it did not. She had to go to Hospital da Luz around 1:00 pm that day to get her heart back to normal. This final chapter will chronicle our final activities and the details of coming home.

Eileen in Hospital da Luz, Benfica, Portugal

Even with her heart somewhat unstable and on a heavy medication Eileen and Kent went to Albufeira on the southern coast of Portugal to a Young Single Adult Conference, Sept. 1-4, where we helped run an employment training seminar. It was a wonderful experience and as long as Eileen took the high dose of medication her heart stayed in rhythm but the rest of Eileen's body slowed down as a side affect. The Jovems Adultos (Young Single Adults) were so fun to work with and really enjoyed our opening activity, the string game, as you can see.

Young Single Adult Conference, Employment Seminar, Albufeira

The day after Eileen got out of the Hospital, September 1, it was Paula Pereira's birthday. Paula is our most talented instructor at the Employment Center where she is a volunteer. We were invited to her home and had a great celebration with her and her family. José (or Ze as they call him) is a very accomplished business man, fluent in English, Portugues and Spanish.

Ze and Paula Pereira Familia, Setubal, Portugal

With just shy of a year under our belt as employment missionaries we had become very creative in helping those unemployed. Being blessed with enough money to live in Portugal and then some we decided to take our excess and find ways to help the poor unemployed without just giving them cash. We had lots of opportunities and we feel our money was a blessing to many. We didn't really dirty our apartment much but we would routinely pay a wonderful women to come and clean it. When we were at the Employment Center we would have our car washed with buckets we carried in the trunk...meet Jose Gonçalves below.

Jose' Goncalves, Entrepreneur Extraordinaire, Gago Coutinho, Portugal

We also had changed the heating in our apartment and had to have the holes in the walls fixed so we got an amazing man from Angola to do the job for us and using the money for basic necessities and upgraded clothes he wanted to wear to church. Dinis Kingano is a smart, healthy and strong worker with many skills but it is still hard for him to find work

Dinis Kingano, Amazing Angolan, repairs bathroom, Antonio Serpa, Lisboa

The following week (Sept. 5th) Eileen's heart would go out of rhythm and speed up when her medication was getting low so she was taking more and more of it. We were asked to speak at a large church conference for adults on Saturday night, September 10th in the city of Coimbra. Eileen practiced her speech dozens of times, trimming it down so it flowed smoothly and didn't put anyone to sleep. She did a terrific job and we both drove home late that night (two hours) happy that it had gone well and that Eileen's heart had stayed in rhythm for the whole trip. The next day we went to a major conference in Oeiras and while we were sitting in the meeting I looked over and could see her missionary badge shaking. It was obvious her heart was racing again. We had been working with the church physician in Frankfurt as Eileen was going through the diagnosis and treatment options. It was originally expected that the medication would be sufficient and we would be able to stay in Lisboa for the rest of our mission (until April 2012). Eileen was to go in and have some physical tests with a holter monitor on Tuesday. Well, Monday and Tuesday morning her heart continued to go in and out of rhythm so Dr. Swenson in Frankfurt talked to the specialists in Salt Lake City and they decided she needed to have an Ablation. She could have it in Portugal or go home and have her cardiologist watch over her. Tuesday afternoon it was decided we should go home for the procedure where the whole experience could be watched over by her long term care team. Wednesday morning we found out we would be leaving Friday morning, two days later (September 16th). Eileen began packing immediately. We had fasted and prayed that we might stay if it was the Lord's will. We had one exceptional experience with Roseane that confirmed that we knew our Heavenly Father was in charge. Happy to share it with anyone that asks.

Sadly, time to go home. Heart not responding. Eileen Packs.

Thursday we took the opportunity to go to Beja and say goodbye to many of the people we had grown to love. It was tough to hug them and say goodbye. We shed tears and knew it would be a long time before we see them again, if ever here on the earth. We left clothes and ties and other fun things with them as we did not want to take it all home with us. We also left many other things with our Portuguese friends in Lisboa like our GPS, shoes, suits, and some computer supplies. Good thing we did as our suitcases would not have held all the things we had to pack and take home.

Goodbye in Beja (Ruberval/Sheila, Celson, Moroni, Douglas/Josefina)

Our dearest friends the Forbush's and Lunds accompanied us to the airport where President Moroni and Rosa Torgan bid us farewell. It was tough to say goodbye but I do have to say it was exciting to know we would be seeing our family for the first time in almost a year....three new grand babies to hug and kiss.

Max/Julie Forbush, dear friends, say goodbye, Sept. 16, 2011

Getting home was uneventful and the hugs upon arrival were the sweetest. We arrived late Friday (Sept. 16th) in the evening and early Monday Eileen had an appointment with Dr. Nielsen. Within a week she was meeting with Dr. Crandall and the Ablation procedure was scheduled for the next Monday. It all happened quickly. Her procedure took about 3 hours and the doctor used two femoral catheters with cameras to go up into the heart and find the errant cells and a third catheter with a laser on it burned the unwanted cells. She had to stay on heart meds for 3 months until the heart was healed and normal rhythm was expected. It appears to have worked. Eileen is off all meds and her heart stays in rhythm. Eileen has enjoyed being with grand daughters and grandsons.

Rachel, Leah and Wendilyn welcome Grandma Eileen home

Kent is back at work and enjoys the greatest of all worlds, the grand kids all around him.

Grandpa Kent loves hauling grandson Seth around

 It was a real pleasure to forego all the things most of the world is used to like TV, movies, vacations, shopping, playing sports and such, and to focus on some of the most basic of life's elements....employment, a place to live, food and clothing. To devote 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to helping the poor and needy was a thrilling experience. We enjoyed the opportunity to weave the gospel of Jesus Christ into all that we did. For it was Jesus Christ that emphasized the most important thing of all, "To love one another."

Home, Happy and Celebrating the Saviors Birth

Fun All Over Portugal

Fun: We figure we have filled this blog with lots of serious stuff. Now time for some fun things to tickle your fancy. There is much that is beautiful to be seen here in Portugal and every once in a while something disrupts the beauty....

From our Hotel Window, Faro...practical, but will it withstand rain!

The morning after Casal Orsi arrived, sleepy but happy in Olhão.
Elder Feliciano and Jones with Nato and Claudia Freire, Pres.
Filipe, Orsi´s and Robson Silva

New Arrivals: We got some great news in June that a new missionary couple would be coming from Brasil in August. Wow! Hooray! Rene and Maria Cecilia Orsi are now in Olhão, Portugal; right in the middle of the Algarve and some 40 miles from Spain. We welcomed them with lots of hugs and the Olhão Branch was all smiles as you can see.

Jeff and I at Castelo de Beja

 
 When in Beja we couldn´t help but see the Castle, the wall runs right past the Beja Chapel. Jeff and Brittany (youngest son and beautiful bride) came to visit and Jeff and I posed beneath the tower.

Beja also has some really fun people like the Edson and Rosa Mello family. Just look at those miles of smiles.

Eileen, Sheila and Ruberval Sousa, Edson and Rosa Mello Family, Beja

 

Out of uniform: Elder Stanley takes a moment to write in his journal on Christmas day in our apartment, without his shoes. What, flip flops in December?

Elder Stanley, Dec. 25, 2010, Campo Pequeno, Lisboa

Famous People aren´t always great people but great people become famous to those they serve! Rosa Torgan had a birthday and we took advantage of the occassion to have some fun. Even President Torgan was smiling.

President Moroni and Sister Rosa Torgan on her Birthday

 Clog America showed up July 22. We loved the show. Two large audiences greeted them in a theater near the Rio Tejo. What a treat. They said it was the two best shows they had on tour. Nothing but standing ovations for them! Eileen smiles with Nate, an old companion to our son Bruce when he served in California as a missionary.

Nate and Eileen, July 22nd, Lisboa

 Portugal and Oceans go together, just like good friends do. We have made terrific friends from those that have joined us in Portugal as missionary couples, paying their own way and making a difference in so many lives. Thank you Lund´s and Forbush´s!

Lunds, Gales and Sister Forbush at Adraga Beach

Manuel, our fruit man cannot be left out when you talk about fun. He is always saying "Let´s go to the beach." I suspect he would like to do it but he loves selling us fruit too much.

Manuel, the fruit man, Avenida Berna, Lisboa

The Doctor and Wife arrive: Our daughter Emily and her husband, Jeff, arrived in June, just in time for a fun visit to the most beautiful parts of Portugal. They are moving to Sierra Vista, AZ to start a new life and a new job. Posing in front of Obidos Castle (now a hotel) is impressive.

Ma and Pa with Emily and Jeff, Sooooo fun!

Pena Palace, Sintra, Worth a Salute: Chayson and Kendon, two bright grandsons do the honors during a visit to Portugal in July. Dad and mom, Bruce and Chela, were in France for a month´s professor exchange and brought the kids for a visit.

Chayson and Kendon, Sintra

Grandkids rule: From a high Moorish Tower in Sintra the Grandkids wave. What a treat to have them around for a few days!

Bryn and Kendon waving atop Moorish Tower, Sintra

Grandchildren love the beach and the sand. Adraga Beach, the most beautiful in all of Portugal was the scene for a major distructive Tsunami that crushed the grandkids sand castle and wall. Great to have Leah, Bryn, Kendon and Chayson here with us in July.

Bruce and Chela Gale family at Adraga Beach

 The Waves: Yes, the waves can have their way with you as Eileen found out while wading knee deep with her back to the ocean. Her expression says it all.



Famous Eileen Gale takes an unexpected dip and loves it



Beautiful Portugal-Exploring the Land of World Explorers

Kent at Ponte de Piedade, Lagos..Where Portugal Navigators Trained

Cuba, Portugal, a small town in the Alentejo claims to be the early home of Columbus and just a few miles from here we encountered the burial vault of Vasco de Gama. What more can we say about the early Portuguese adventurers that proved the world was round and courageously crossed the forboding oceans. Today Portugal is crossing another great ocean, the ocean of debt as one of the European nations facing a "Crise" ...Crisis financially. It has a huge impact on the laborers (as in many countries worldwide including the US) with high unemployment. This puts Eileen and I in the path of many people desperate to find work; any work that will put food on their table. Our efforts span much more than getting a job today. We are focused on career development that brings about a plan for today and for the future. Our thoughts today will focus on what is actually happening as we try to help these wonderful people become productive and self sufficient with the added hope of having a career plan that integrates with their family and life plan.  The goal is always to teach a man to fish, and fish successfully. We offer several quick examples that might serve to put our volunteer efforts as part of the Church´s Portugal employment effort into perspective.

Céu teaches Portimão, Algarve, with 40+ hungry to learn

Travel barrier: The first challenge is getting the unemployed to the center for career planning, training and practical job hunting. Even though the cost might be as low as $3 to take the bus or train to the center that may be prohibitive. We have gotten creative in figuring out ways to help people make it to the center if they don´t have a local LDS church leader to help them. The first way is to take the center to the people (talk about that later). For a number of people we have personally set aside some coins to quietly pass along to those most desperate to make a trip to or from the center. For several we have come up with ways for them to earn there way (wash our car in the parking lot, clean the center, clean the grounds, clean our apartment, etc. all things we could do for ourselves but it seems practical to allow them a way to earn a little cash to help them along).
Low self esteem: Many arrive jobless and skill-less (if there is such a word). Skills are different than abilities. We carefully explore with them their abilities and then help them describe their abilities in such a way that they can demonstrate real value for the employer. We call these a personal commercial which includes a foto and some professional touches. We print up 10-20 and teach them how to deliver them to employers where they would like to work.  It works! They leave with more confidence and employers have a better new employee option. 

Two leaders (Stake Presidents-Porto) learn about networking

Exploring a network approach: 65% of new jobs are found through networking (talking to friends and friends of friends and going directly to desired employers). Such an effort requires great courage, commitment and hard work. Most unemployed opt for internet searches and periodically ask others if they know of work. Successful job hunters build and grow a list of people and companies that can help them in their search, continuously communicating with them until they find a good fit. This is by far OUR GREATEST CHALLENGE. Teaching and motivating unemployed to use their networks is the most difficult. Recently Costin nailed a job through his networking efforts, encountering a job through a contact at his boxing exercise club. We were so excited for him we took a party to his house to celebrate....including the announcement that his wife is expecting. Two great things at once.
The world is flat: After helping create a pristine Resumé and cover letter we see candidates send out old draft versions with lots of errors by mistake. Others show up at the center with virtually no PC skills. Emailing a CV to an employer with no intention of watching for an email response is a waste of time. 20% of those that come don´t have email addresses and even more have addresses and don´t know how or never check their email. Almost half are not skilled in searching for jobs on the internet. In these cases we work as coaches, sitting by them and walking them through each step.

Building a Personal Commercial can be of great help!

 Legal traveller, illegal worker: Many have come to Portugal legally but have no legal documents to get a job. This is a sensitive subject so we help point them at associations and their embassays that can be of the best help. Some get illegal work but the pay is poor with no pension or healthcare benefits. We have heard of many illegal schemes, some that are surprising like working in place of someone that is legal and then that person takes money off the top and gives the worker part of the pay. (The legal person gets all the benefits and some of the money for doing nothing). We are focused on abiding by the law of the land and encourage all to do the same. The most common way for a person legally in Portugal to become work-legal is to have a contract with a company for a significant period of time which would be cause to apply for legal papers. No one wants to sign a contract with a future employee if they are not already legal, a catch 22. One young man has been coming to the center for many months trying to overcome this obstacle....looking for a company that will contract with him. He has a degree as a teacher in mathematics and has a terrific CV.

Augusto and Celina Banza looking at farming options

Travelling workshop: At times the intensity of the unemployment is such that we do small groups of candidates (unemployed folks) in outlying cities. Sounds good until you plug in the Kent factor. I can speak somewhat but I cannot understand enough of the very fast native speakers and some of the folks from other places like Cabo Verde. For a great training session it is important to have good two way communication. I was trying to help a laboratory technician out of work and had a really tough time understanding some of the technical apsects of what she was looking for and wanted to do. That tends to be a roadblock as these candidates need real positive help and that means understanding what they are saying. Neither Eileen or I can overcome that hurdle at this time.

Beja folks at focused workshop in Alentejo

A final note on this edition of our Portugal voyage. A dynamic and very talented fellow from Angola, legal in portugal, was at a job interview and told the employer how badly he needed the job since he had been out of work for 5 months. After the interview he came by the center to pick up his "personal commercial". I asked him about the interview and if he had given specific ways that he could help the employer if he were hired. His response, "No, I just want them to know how badly I need the job." I asked him to practice an example of the value he would bring to the employer. After a few minutes the light went on in his head and he said, "Wow, this is what I should have said." That makes the center worth it, when we have that kind of response. Now we just hope Dinis gets a job on his next job interview with his new found strength.

Successful Machado family, Floréncio-Tile Layer to Licensed Security Guard

Multiplication and other Simple Math

Simon James Gale, March 5, Son of Adam/Jenn

When two people fall in love and make eternal commitments it opens the pathway for generations of peace, love and JOY! In our case it has been Great Joy with each added child, marriage and grandchild. We started out as two. Then with 6 children we became 8. Then with 6 spouses we jumped to 14. When we left in October we had 14 grandchildren (netos in Portuguese). That made a total of 28. We are now both proud and grateful to announce that Michael Alexander Jensen joined the crew in November 2010 followed soon thereafter by Simon James Gale born March 5, the same day and two years later than as his previous brother.

Kendon Gale, Baptized by Dad, Bruce

 

We hit the 30 mark on that blustery March day....Yahoooo! One more grandchild is due in about two weeks that will bring the total to 31. A number we expected to hold solid as we return next April. But no, Bruce and Chela surprised us all by announcing a projected December 6th arrival of family member #32. You can imagine how much we would love to see, kiss and hold these amazing new family members, fresh from their Father in Heaven. No frowns here, we knew this was a price we would pay for choosing to serve and help the people in Portugal. Do we feel misty about not being around them....of course. We will make up for it once we get back home....lots of hugs and kisses. Other major events are missed but the pictures make the missing much more bearable. Kendon´s baptism was one of those incredible events but as you can see, the picture is worth a thousand words.

President Gil and me with Douglas & Josefina Familia

Talking about families reminds us of the challenges the amazing Portuguese people have. With lots of apartment buildings, many people with no car and long work hours, family time suffers. What doesn´t seem to suffer is the love they have for their children and families. Strong bonds are created from early childhood as we see parents unafraid to selflessly support, love and care for their children. Today we were returning from Beja only to hear that one of our cherished friends in Beja was in the hospital with an apparent miscarriage. With no children and in her mid thirty´s this can be very disheartening. Encouragement helps yet recovery from a miscarriage takes time and time doesn´t seem to be a friend right now. We find great joy in becoming friends and family with the people in Portugal. We also find times of sadness as we see and hear of their hardships. The city of Beja is in the middle of farm country and has many unemployed with many more losing jobs or projects as each day goes by. Some are faced with leaving to find work in other regions and many in other countries. A number are looking at moving back to Brazil, finding work in other european countries like Fance and Switzerland and even going to Angola where there seems to be work. We are so grateful to be focused on helping these folks establish career plans and, at this time, just finding work to feed the family!

Eileen in front of field of Girasols (Sunflowers) WOW!

 Driving back from Beja today put a huge smile on our faces as we passed many fields of sunflowers. Yellow heads bobing as far as the eye could see. Eileen couldn´t help but stop and get a picture of one of her most favorite flowers that exemplifies meeting challenges and pushing through them. Sunflowers seem to personify joy, happiness and standing tall even when it is the hardest thing to do.

Making Friends and Watching Lives Change

Traveling to new cities is always a combination of fear and excitement. Fear, because we still struggle with speaking and understanding the native tongue so communication is always a challenge. Excitement, because as we get to know people, we start to love them and care about them and it makes life just a bit sweeter. Now that we have been to Beja (about 2 hours Southeast of Lisbon) many times we feel so comfortable and accepted by the people there. Last week we held a big training session in Portimão where 42 unemployed or underemployed people attended. We picked up 5 from Beja (the two hour first leg) and drove them the 90 minutes on to Portimão. Traveling with the Beja crew was a real treat as

Isabel, Manuela, Fernanda, Ruberval and Renato- Beja Team

we borrowed the mission van, a large 9 passenger vehicle with comfy seats and air conditioning. We had 3 members of the church and two that were not members but were unemployed and wanted to take advantage of the crash course in getting a new job. On the return trip at about 10pm they were chattering up a storm, talking about their lives, how important the gospel is to them and how some of them were so grateful for the Word of Wisdom with the guidance on avoiding things like smoking (a big deal in Portugal) and how hard it was for two of them to quit smoking and how hard it is for the other three that are trying so hard to quit. They ended up serenading us acapella for the last part of the ride by singing "O How Lovely Was the Morning."

Beja-Sheila and Ruberval surrounded by the Gale´s

Two weeks earlier we had our son Jeff and his beautiful bride Brittany come visit and we took them to Beja, the heart of the Alentejo. The Beja Branch put on quite a meal for us and showered Jeff and Britt with abraços (hugs) and beijinhos (tiny kisses).

Beja Branch Brunch with long table and Portuguese, Mozambique, Brasil, US and Açores all represented.

The meal consisted of great foods from the Alentejo (transates well into country cooking since the Alentejo is the country folk up in the hills that farm and fish) along with some basic Portuguese cooking. It was terrific with Branch President Gil cooking up his famous Pato (duck) dish. Eileen brought chocolate brownies, a rare thing for these folks since real sweet desserts are uncommon. They were all gobbled up. As we looked around the room we were very much aware of how different their lives are. We had people at the table from Brasil, Mozambique, Açores and São Thomas. Quite a delightsome group.

Assignment- Portugal Riviera



Portugal has a section of the country called the "Algarve" which is a vacation paradise for many Euopeans and others from around the globe. With wonderful beaches, wildlife and lots of sun the Algarve attracts most of the world´s largest resort companies to satisfy the appetites of vacationers.  

First time to the Algarve Eileen looks at Ocean from Faro

This environment creates a labor nightmare with seasonal jobs resulting in seasonal unemployment. Eileen and I have the privilege of working with the Lisboa team and our manager from Madrid to help those that find themselves unemployed in this environment. We have done some individual training and will do a mobile Employment Training Center in Faro and Portimão during May.
 
 Our main assignment is to help strengthen the church in Olhão, a beautiful city on the Portuguese south coast just a few miles from the Spanish Riviera. Our goal in Olhão is to help build leadership in this first generation of church members. We all have a lot to learn about loving each other as exemplified by Christ, our Savior. The world invites us to satisfy every appetite and passion. Christ teaches us to control our appetities and discipline ourselves as we become his disciples. Much of this discipline comes from participating in the weekly instruction and sharing that occurs at church (thus, The Church of Jesus Christ). We are helping establish a structure and discipline of regular learning and keeping commitments by attending church. We love getting to do this. 

Alberto and Cristina have their hands full with work plus 3



We are assigned to work with the wonderful people in the Olhão branch of the Church. Felipe Barros is the unpaid local branch president (or minister). He is a statistics professor during the week at the local university.  

Silvia loves speaking English with Eileen, especially when out to eat

His sweetheart passed away 9 months ago so he and his daughter Silvia make up the sum total of the family there in Olhão. On one trip down he prepared the most tasty meal we have had in Portugal with tender meat in a wonderful sauce wrapped around a filling. Wow! We all walked out 10 pounds or 5 kilos heavier. Silvia, his 15 year old daughter, plays the piano for church and is quite adept at English, reveling in her chance to speak it with Eileen. 

President Filipe made a masterful meal for Eileen/Kent & Elders Bauman and Sherman (just look at Silvia´s smile)



The Portugal Team Gets Together



Trip home from Ikea w/furniture, Linn on Gary´s lap



We live on the 5th floor of a commercial building in one of the business centers of Lisboa. In this 10 story building there are many businesses (consultants, lawyers, etc.) and 3 families (we are one of them). Our apartment is large including 3 bathrooms, 4 bedrooms (or library/offices), a wonderful kitchen, big dining room and large living room. We also have two enclosed porches for hanging laundry. Due to the size of the apartment we volunteered to share it with another couple (Casal) from Huntsville, Utah; Gary and Linn, Lund. We share the rent and expenses and it works out great.....as long as we don´t get tired of each other and try throwing each other off the enclosed porch to the roof below. Why are we telling you all of this....because the circumstances and experiences of the 200 missionaries in Portugal are so different and yet in many ways, so similar, that we decided to look more closely at the "Portugal Team".



Eileen next to Elder Rocha and Elder Caussé at mission conference in Miratejo

One of our favorite experiences has been getting together with the other missionaries and sharing experiences with each other. It is so fascinating to meet so many unselfish and motivated people that love to serve, love representing Jesus Christ and have a single goal of helping the Portuguese people enjoy more happy and peaceful lives. The single missioinaries live a spartan life with no TV, Wii, video games, radios, etc.and use all their spare change for travel and basic necessities. We have attended quite a few missionary conferences where training and instruction takes place. The single missionaries have until 5pm on Monday set aside to do laundry, cleaning, shopping and such (also fun things like volleyball, ultimate frisbee, basketball, etc.) The other six days are dedicated to missionary proselyting and/or service work. We work at the Employment Center on Monday´s so we do the non-missionary stuff at other times. Many nights we find ourselves working until 8:30 or 9:00pm working on projects, studying or visiting local families. Comparing notes with the other married couples, it averages just over $3,000 per month to live and travel here so paying for the mission requires each couple to have at least $55,000 set aside to pay for the 18 month mission. Working with so many people that pay there own way and smile every second about it is amazing. One of our special treats was a visit from Elder Gerald Caussé, originally from Paris, France but now living in Frankfurt, Germany with his family. He came for three days to instruct the missionaries from the Açores and Algarve to Lisboa. He was so kind, wise and loving that we enjoyed every minute of his visit.

 

Eileen with Sister Almeda and Perez

Sister missionaries have always been exceptionally fun to work with. It may be unique to Portugal but the Sister missioinaries smile all the time and lift everyone they are around. We helped two sisters move south of Lisbon into an apartment that had Elders (young men) living there. We hauled 4 large suitcases and some smaller cases and it filled the car along with the four of us (2 sisters and us). The Elders were transferred so fast that they decided to leave without really cleaning up. As a token of their embarrassment they left two large chocolate bars for the sisters. As is typical, Sister Perez and Sister McCrery just smiled and got to work cleaning up.  

Sister McCrery and Perez looking at food left by Elders