Bad News

Hey family,

I guess i better start with the bad news. In a rush of taking pictres last week,I dropped my camera. The lens that pops out got bent so it doesn't go in OR take pictures. I got it in the mail today. It is supposed to arrive in 12-17 days. I don't know what kind of warranty we do or do not have, but if you can get it fixed, I'd love to have it back. It's not a real pressing issue right now. My memory card fits in anybodys camera and I can just steal the pictures they take with the usb port anyway. If and/or when you send it back you can send it straight to the mtc in a global priority envelope. I've been told that if you send that way, just to get the big envelopes, they're cheaper than the box and you can fit just as much in if you stretch the envelope a little.

We went to the Campinas Temple again today. That hour and a half is great to sleep. The grounds at Campinas are beautiful. Groomed palm trees, slopinghills... its gorgeous. We will go once more next week and then finish out going to the SÃo Paulo temple.

Our Brazilian roommates left this morning. We should be getting another pair onThursday but we're really going to miss these guys. Its hard to see them go, but we're all excited for them. They're gonna make great missionaries.Our district is getting really close. After every devotional/fireside we each share what we learned and what we really liked about the meeting. Last thursday my remarks got a little off topic after a meeting with the MTC President, and we ended up having an hour long testimony sort of experience. We all shared personal experiences and insights with the gospel. Nearly everyone was in tears at the end of the meeting. We really got to know each other better. It was shocking what some of the missionaries have already gone through in their lives.

The language is coming. Slowly, but surely, its coming. Its crazy to think thatwe're practically a third of the way into the mission field. But as a precaution to make sure it doesn't sneak up on us too quickly, we get to go proselyting this friday. It should be fun. They'll drop us off on a busy street somewhere inSÃo Paulo with a handful of Book of Mormons (or Books of Mormon, if you prefer) and about a dozen pass-along cards each. They will come back after about three hours and pick up the pieces of our shattered pride. They keep assuring us it will be fun.

Elder Martin has been here for a week now. Its been great to talk to him.Talking about how in a week we already know more Portugese than we knew of German after 2 years, how all the IFHS grads of '06 are gonna meet up after the mission and go sky-diving. Fun times. He had 4 shoe polish kits so he gave me one. No need to worry about that. Elder Martin is in my branch and living on my floor so we manage to see each other all the time. Life is good. Everything is fine. Stop worrying about me. I'll be fine. I love you guys,

Elder Haws(mo)