Hey Family,
Wow. I’ve now been in Brazil for 5 and a half months. Has it felt that long to you guys? I still feel like I was playing with the nephews (and nieces) a month ago. It’s kind of scary to think that with about 18 months left down here, I will be a senior companion within the 18 months. That doesn’t feel right. I think I need another 2 or 3 years to learn all the tricks of the trade. Not to mention the fact that I’m going to get transferred some day. Who came up with this “transfers” idea? I’ve been here for 3 and a half months, I know the city, I know the members, I know how to get to any neighborhood I want, and some of the people have gotten accustomed to me enough that they don’t run away on the streets anymore. And now in as soon as 3 weeks I could be packing my bags and heading to a city that I don’t know, with my streets I’ve never walked down, with people who have never seen an American before (do I need to mention that I don’t look like the “average” American). Don’t think that I’m whining or complaining, it’s just that I’m comfortable here and the idea of getting shipped away is still a little strange to a Greenie like me.
The work continues. The baptism that we had all lined up for this Saturday won’t happen. Hopefully he’ll be in the water before I leave, but there is no telling at this point. Everyone keeps talking about how strange it is to have 2 Americans here together, but nobody seems to be complaining. Now at lunch appointments and lessons we get lots of questions about what things are like in America. About food, about music, about people, cars, cities, etc. It’s strange. Right now the Brazilian way of life seems normal, seems right. And the idea of life in the States again seems like a far-off fantasy. I guess that it’s for the best though. I’m only around a quarter of the way done. There’s plenty of work still to do. I’ve just got to “Shut Up! Focus!” as my Zone Leader says.
I’m sorry. I really don’t know what else there is to write to you guys right now. There are probably hundreds of things that happen everyday that are normal for me that you guys would find intriguing but I can’t think of a single one. As such, I will answer a couple questions Mom sent to me back in August with regards to the pictures she took at my farewell. Mom, there were a couple people you didn’t know so here goes: In the top picture (the one with Spencer, Brianna, Britnee Searle and Keegan Hunter) the girl is Adrienne Love and the guy next to me is Kyle Martin (he is serving in the Campinas mission—right outside Sao Paulo). The Second picture is Erin Avondet, Brenna Smith, and Emma LeSueur. The third is Emma, Aaron Jenkins, and Ashleigh Dalton. Aaron is the grandson of Sister Jenkins in our ward. Could you guys talk to her and find out if he has his mission call?
Life is good, the work is coming along, and I’m doing fine. Stop worrying about me. If you’re still wondering what to send me for Christmas/Birthday: Pictures of family, friends, house, temple, etc. Candy. Advice, Stories, Missionary tips form the siblings or anybody else. A Rubix Cube. Ties. A small “Stuffed Animal” cougar and/or potato. A CHEAP BYU hat or visor. Scripture markers (dry highlighters, colored pencils). Candy. New razor heads for a Gillette Fusion (they don’t have them at all in Brazil yet). More info about my Cougar Sports. Anything else. None of the aforementioned items are necessities. Only ideas if you don’t have any.
I Love You All
Working with my heart, might, mind, and testimony,
Elder Haws(mo)
Monday, October 29, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
Hail, Sunshine, and the World Series
Hey Family,
What is Dad trying to tell me? I just got an email telling me that the World Series will be this weekend, and that the Rockies are already in. When did the Rockies get good again. He was also kind enough to give me the score of Game 7 of the AL Championship game in the middle of the 6th inning, but only managed to tell me that the Red Sox were winning. Who is/was the other AL team? How did the Orioles do this year? The Braves? The Cardinals? I left a couple weeks into the season and it’s already the end! Have I been in Brazil that long?
The work is continuing like usual around here. Lots of people to teach, lots of people accepting commitments, few people keeping commitments, and it seems the only investigators that are going to church are a Elizete and Jennifer. Jennifer is 5, her brother Roberto served a mission and is currently the 1st counselor in the branch presidency. Their mother, Elizete, has been active in the church for over 2 years now but can’t get baptized until her divorce papers are finalized. Anybody back home have ideas about convincing people to go to church that doesn’t involve dragging them behind us, like we normally do on Sundays?
Life is good though, so don’t worry. Today is Elder Wright’s birthday so we will go have cake and the Manicoba’s house for part of P-day and then after proselyting tonight we are ordering a pizza. It should end up being a good day. It’s just too bad he has to serve in an area of just hills on his birthday. Many thanks to the family for delivering my letter to the Trombones. I’m glad to hear that my Cougars are still tearing it up on the field. Right now you’re a little ways into the NFL season. I should be getting another stack of BYU updates and other letters at Zone Conference on November 5th, but until then can I get an email updates on Beck, Harline, Coates, and whoever else might have made an NFL roster?
My buddy Brock Huber from BYU (we lived on the same floor in DT and played basketball intramurals) arrived in the mission two weeks ago but is serving in the northern part of the mission (up near Joinville) an area called Boa Vista. I have begun to wonder if I will encounter him in the mission before returning home. The same fear has crossed my mind with regards to the other Elders from my MTC district. No fears though. The Lord is in control and he generally does things right.
I hope you all got the info about the Pouch dying. It will still function in the other parts of the world, but the rest of the Elders and I here in Brazil will have to fend for ourselves. There is a new protocol for packages that will be implemented now and continue until the end of January. Normally the office staff has to go to the post office to pick up the packages that come for the missionaries. Because Christmas is around the corner and a LOT of packages will be coming they have asked for all packages to be sent to the office itself until February. That address is:
Elder Haws
R. Feliciano Nunes Pires, 42 Centro
CEP 88015-220
Florianópolis- SC Brasil
We’re already two weeks into this transfer. It’s unbelievable. There is a really good chance I will be getting the boot in November. The official day of the transfer will be Wednesday, November 21 but I will find out what’s happening Sunday the 18th and pass word to you guys Monday the 19th.
I love you all. The city is either flooding or burning underneath the Brazilian sun. The work’s great and I’m doing fine so stop worrying about me.
The Only Elder who has ever asked for his family to send him a potato peeler,
Elder Haws(mo)
What is Dad trying to tell me? I just got an email telling me that the World Series will be this weekend, and that the Rockies are already in. When did the Rockies get good again. He was also kind enough to give me the score of Game 7 of the AL Championship game in the middle of the 6th inning, but only managed to tell me that the Red Sox were winning. Who is/was the other AL team? How did the Orioles do this year? The Braves? The Cardinals? I left a couple weeks into the season and it’s already the end! Have I been in Brazil that long?
The work is continuing like usual around here. Lots of people to teach, lots of people accepting commitments, few people keeping commitments, and it seems the only investigators that are going to church are a Elizete and Jennifer. Jennifer is 5, her brother Roberto served a mission and is currently the 1st counselor in the branch presidency. Their mother, Elizete, has been active in the church for over 2 years now but can’t get baptized until her divorce papers are finalized. Anybody back home have ideas about convincing people to go to church that doesn’t involve dragging them behind us, like we normally do on Sundays?
Life is good though, so don’t worry. Today is Elder Wright’s birthday so we will go have cake and the Manicoba’s house for part of P-day and then after proselyting tonight we are ordering a pizza. It should end up being a good day. It’s just too bad he has to serve in an area of just hills on his birthday. Many thanks to the family for delivering my letter to the Trombones. I’m glad to hear that my Cougars are still tearing it up on the field. Right now you’re a little ways into the NFL season. I should be getting another stack of BYU updates and other letters at Zone Conference on November 5th, but until then can I get an email updates on Beck, Harline, Coates, and whoever else might have made an NFL roster?
My buddy Brock Huber from BYU (we lived on the same floor in DT and played basketball intramurals) arrived in the mission two weeks ago but is serving in the northern part of the mission (up near Joinville) an area called Boa Vista. I have begun to wonder if I will encounter him in the mission before returning home. The same fear has crossed my mind with regards to the other Elders from my MTC district. No fears though. The Lord is in control and he generally does things right.
I hope you all got the info about the Pouch dying. It will still function in the other parts of the world, but the rest of the Elders and I here in Brazil will have to fend for ourselves. There is a new protocol for packages that will be implemented now and continue until the end of January. Normally the office staff has to go to the post office to pick up the packages that come for the missionaries. Because Christmas is around the corner and a LOT of packages will be coming they have asked for all packages to be sent to the office itself until February. That address is:
Elder Haws
R. Feliciano Nunes Pires, 42 Centro
CEP 88015-220
Florianópolis- SC Brasil
We’re already two weeks into this transfer. It’s unbelievable. There is a really good chance I will be getting the boot in November. The official day of the transfer will be Wednesday, November 21 but I will find out what’s happening Sunday the 18th and pass word to you guys Monday the 19th.
I love you all. The city is either flooding or burning underneath the Brazilian sun. The work’s great and I’m doing fine so stop worrying about me.
The Only Elder who has ever asked for his family to send him a potato peeler,
Elder Haws(mo)
Monday, October 15, 2007
AMERICANS!!!!
Hey Family,
A new week has already come and gone, and the Cougars are back on a winning streak. That’s what I like to see.
Last P-day we were in Irani (one of the 3 other cities in our proselyting area) to spend P-Day with the Sisters for Elder Martin last P-day out here. We had a member who lives there take us down a forest trail down the side of a mountain to a neat waterfall. It was fun. I am including of few of the pictures. Our group had a little bit of trouble winding our way through the trees and the vines in the pouring rain. Everybody slipped at least once, nearly losing their life. There was one treacherous decline that we had to traverse that caused me a little trouble. I was leading with my right foot going down when I tried to secure my weight on stone that ending up being loose. As my right foot was already on its way down I dropped to a baseball slide and rode out the last ten feet. At the bottom I hopped right to my feet, the only harm being the mud all over my jeans. After that we got to climb back out of the gorge and up to the member’s house for the lunch. Shortly thereafter I grabbed a couple quick photos of the surrounding country side. Then it was back to Concordia so Elder Martin could say some teary-eyed good-byes.
We went to Chapeco Tuesday so that Elder Martin could catch the bus to Florianopolis with Elder Burke. Elder Burke had been serving in Chapeco for 6 months, since he entered the field. On my few trips to Chapeco we got to do some talking and got to be good friends. Naturally, he got transferred away so I snapped a photo with him. It was right in the middle of the airport so it technically might have been against the rules. If it was, I’ll probably repent later. I’m not sure if I already explained Zone Conference to you so I will now. We have three Zone Conferences. One Conference for the Zones Florianopolis, Sao Jose, Sao Jose North (right across the bridge from Floripa) and Tubarao (down south) that takes place in Florianopolis. Another for the Northern Zones: Itajai (where Elder Martin is now and my new companion was before) Joinville North and Joinville. The last is in Lages for Lages, Ipomeia, and Chapeco. Right now Elder Bateman and I are in the Western portion but the other 4 Elders from our MTC district, Elder Pereira (my Brazilian brother) and now Elder Burke will all attend the Florianopolis Zone Conference. That’s not fair at all.
After a day of proselyting in Chapeco, in the mud, with an Elder who only has one transfer in the field, Elder Wright arrived at 2AM. We caught a 10 AM bus and were back in Concordia by 1 in the afternoon on Thursday. These first few days have been raining so no one has been in the streets, and a holiday on Friday created a “travel-worthy” 3-day weekend so no one was in their houses. Be that as it may, we persevered and met 8 of the nine mission goals. The only thing we didn’t have was sufficient investigators at Church, which was understandable. Yesterday was District Conference in Chapeco. We had a bus that left the church at 7 AM to take everyone there. The problem: Day Light Savings time started so it turned out to be 6AM. All is well though. Elder Wright is from Salt Lake City, specifically: Holiday. He has 11 months in the mission, 8 and a half in the field. He has spent time one the island in Florianopolis and then went to a little city named Picarras where he stayed for three transferred, and trained last transfer. He speaks the language really well, is a fairly tall guy (6’1”) and is a lot of fun to be around. The problem is that people don’t like giving there addresses to 2 tall Americans. The Lord placed us here, the Lord is going to prepare way though. It looks like we could be having a couple more baptisms this transfer. Wish us luck.
Thanks for all the letters and the packages. I just want to make sure that I will be getting a football (American football) for Christmas. Please. Anytime someone wants to send me a jar of Peanut Butter they are more than welcome to. The only recipe I thought of this last week that I would want is a simple recipe for pancakes. We have a bunch of flour and eggs are cheap.
I love you all, the work is coming along, the rain is always falling, and I’m fine so stop worrying about.
Terrorizing Western Santa Catarina with another white boy at my side,
Elder Haws(mo)
A new week has already come and gone, and the Cougars are back on a winning streak. That’s what I like to see.
Last P-day we were in Irani (one of the 3 other cities in our proselyting area) to spend P-Day with the Sisters for Elder Martin last P-day out here. We had a member who lives there take us down a forest trail down the side of a mountain to a neat waterfall. It was fun. I am including of few of the pictures. Our group had a little bit of trouble winding our way through the trees and the vines in the pouring rain. Everybody slipped at least once, nearly losing their life. There was one treacherous decline that we had to traverse that caused me a little trouble. I was leading with my right foot going down when I tried to secure my weight on stone that ending up being loose. As my right foot was already on its way down I dropped to a baseball slide and rode out the last ten feet. At the bottom I hopped right to my feet, the only harm being the mud all over my jeans. After that we got to climb back out of the gorge and up to the member’s house for the lunch. Shortly thereafter I grabbed a couple quick photos of the surrounding country side. Then it was back to Concordia so Elder Martin could say some teary-eyed good-byes.
We went to Chapeco Tuesday so that Elder Martin could catch the bus to Florianopolis with Elder Burke. Elder Burke had been serving in Chapeco for 6 months, since he entered the field. On my few trips to Chapeco we got to do some talking and got to be good friends. Naturally, he got transferred away so I snapped a photo with him. It was right in the middle of the airport so it technically might have been against the rules. If it was, I’ll probably repent later. I’m not sure if I already explained Zone Conference to you so I will now. We have three Zone Conferences. One Conference for the Zones Florianopolis, Sao Jose, Sao Jose North (right across the bridge from Floripa) and Tubarao (down south) that takes place in Florianopolis. Another for the Northern Zones: Itajai (where Elder Martin is now and my new companion was before) Joinville North and Joinville. The last is in Lages for Lages, Ipomeia, and Chapeco. Right now Elder Bateman and I are in the Western portion but the other 4 Elders from our MTC district, Elder Pereira (my Brazilian brother) and now Elder Burke will all attend the Florianopolis Zone Conference. That’s not fair at all.
After a day of proselyting in Chapeco, in the mud, with an Elder who only has one transfer in the field, Elder Wright arrived at 2AM. We caught a 10 AM bus and were back in Concordia by 1 in the afternoon on Thursday. These first few days have been raining so no one has been in the streets, and a holiday on Friday created a “travel-worthy” 3-day weekend so no one was in their houses. Be that as it may, we persevered and met 8 of the nine mission goals. The only thing we didn’t have was sufficient investigators at Church, which was understandable. Yesterday was District Conference in Chapeco. We had a bus that left the church at 7 AM to take everyone there. The problem: Day Light Savings time started so it turned out to be 6AM. All is well though. Elder Wright is from Salt Lake City, specifically: Holiday. He has 11 months in the mission, 8 and a half in the field. He has spent time one the island in Florianopolis and then went to a little city named Picarras where he stayed for three transferred, and trained last transfer. He speaks the language really well, is a fairly tall guy (6’1”) and is a lot of fun to be around. The problem is that people don’t like giving there addresses to 2 tall Americans. The Lord placed us here, the Lord is going to prepare way though. It looks like we could be having a couple more baptisms this transfer. Wish us luck.
Thanks for all the letters and the packages. I just want to make sure that I will be getting a football (American football) for Christmas. Please. Anytime someone wants to send me a jar of Peanut Butter they are more than welcome to. The only recipe I thought of this last week that I would want is a simple recipe for pancakes. We have a bunch of flour and eggs are cheap.
I love you all, the work is coming along, the rain is always falling, and I’m fine so stop worrying about.
Terrorizing Western Santa Catarina with another white boy at my side,
Elder Haws(mo)
Monday, October 8, 2007
Starting a Daycare
Hey Family,
Hawsmo here with the information on the new transfers. Elder Martin and I had decided that I was going to get transfered to somewhere really far from Concordia and that He would remain to baptize all of our current investigators. We got a call last night and found out we were wrong. Elder Martin is going to a city in Zone Itajai and I am staying put in Concordia for at least one more transfer but I hope for at least two more. For the time being I Will be walking the streets with Elder Wright. All I know about him is that he arrived in the mission field in January. I’ll be learning more this week. Tomorrwow I head to Chapeco with Elder Martin. I Will stay there with the Zone Leaders for two days while Elder Martin goes to Floripa to switch spots with Elder Wright. They really are Just trading spots in the mission. Its a little odd.
Baptism with Orlando went great Saturday. All is friends from the branch are in two different families, both of which went traveling during conference so we didn’t have many at the baptism, but the important one was there. I got to do the official splashing again. Good times. Orlando is now commited to going teaching with us two times a week, which should help him to remain firm in the church. Besides him, we have around 20 investigators between the ages of 11 and 17 who could be baptized before the end of next transfer... if their parents and grandparents will let them. Its going to be a struggle, but that’s what its all about. I figure that if we can get some English Classes going we’ll find evn more kids, and they should be able to support each other in the gospel. Right? What kind of stuff did Spencer teach in his English class? Did Warren teach one in Monterrey?
When the Zone Leaders came to do the baptism interview Friday night they had to stay overnight because the bus times can be a joke around here. All was well. We ordered in Pizza, and bought our own chocolate pizza to bake for dessert. It was when we pulled out the chocolate pizza that the Zone Leaders learned my true talent. With a fork and a steak knife I cut the pizza into perfect 8ths. Perfect 8ths. They just sat there and watched in wonder. After proving to everyone that along with cutting a perfect pizza and can eat more pizza than anybody else, we snapped a couple photos before bed. The first one is of Me and Elder Martin with Elder Bench and Elder da Silva. I love those guys. I refer to Elder da Silva as “cheerco nano” everytime I see him. He hates it but loves me. I look forward to the possibility of him being my companion for splits the next two days when the transfers take place. The other picture was taken at 6 AM Saturday morning. Standing on the chair he is barely taller than me. Honestly I want to stay in Concordia until January becuase da Silva will be the Zone Leader here until then, when he goes home. I look forward to having some fun times with the Zone Leaders.
Life is going good here. I’m kind of anxious to here how the New Mexico game turned out. Thanks for all the letters and the packages. Elder da Silva keeps telling me he is going to hurt his back carrying my letters to me. Elder Bench can’t believe how many I get. Thanks everyone. you’re making me a legend. At Zone Conference 2 weeks ago I got 20 letters and a package. Last week when the Zone Leaders came back from Floripa they had 23 more letters and 2 packages for me. I love you guys.
THE POUCH SERVICE IS GOING TO STOP WORKING TO BRAZIL NOVEMBER 1ST. SEND ANY AND ALL LETTERS TO ME TO THE MISSON HOME/OFFICE ADDRESS.
The work is great, it will change with the new companion, and I’m fine so stop worrying about me.
Splashing, Dashing, and taking Brazil by storm,
Elder Haws(mo)
P.S. I’m keeping a picture history of total letters recieved, updated every transfer
Hawsmo here with the information on the new transfers. Elder Martin and I had decided that I was going to get transfered to somewhere really far from Concordia and that He would remain to baptize all of our current investigators. We got a call last night and found out we were wrong. Elder Martin is going to a city in Zone Itajai and I am staying put in Concordia for at least one more transfer but I hope for at least two more. For the time being I Will be walking the streets with Elder Wright. All I know about him is that he arrived in the mission field in January. I’ll be learning more this week. Tomorrwow I head to Chapeco with Elder Martin. I Will stay there with the Zone Leaders for two days while Elder Martin goes to Floripa to switch spots with Elder Wright. They really are Just trading spots in the mission. Its a little odd.
Baptism with Orlando went great Saturday. All is friends from the branch are in two different families, both of which went traveling during conference so we didn’t have many at the baptism, but the important one was there. I got to do the official splashing again. Good times. Orlando is now commited to going teaching with us two times a week, which should help him to remain firm in the church. Besides him, we have around 20 investigators between the ages of 11 and 17 who could be baptized before the end of next transfer... if their parents and grandparents will let them. Its going to be a struggle, but that’s what its all about. I figure that if we can get some English Classes going we’ll find evn more kids, and they should be able to support each other in the gospel. Right? What kind of stuff did Spencer teach in his English class? Did Warren teach one in Monterrey?
When the Zone Leaders came to do the baptism interview Friday night they had to stay overnight because the bus times can be a joke around here. All was well. We ordered in Pizza, and bought our own chocolate pizza to bake for dessert. It was when we pulled out the chocolate pizza that the Zone Leaders learned my true talent. With a fork and a steak knife I cut the pizza into perfect 8ths. Perfect 8ths. They just sat there and watched in wonder. After proving to everyone that along with cutting a perfect pizza and can eat more pizza than anybody else, we snapped a couple photos before bed. The first one is of Me and Elder Martin with Elder Bench and Elder da Silva. I love those guys. I refer to Elder da Silva as “cheerco nano” everytime I see him. He hates it but loves me. I look forward to the possibility of him being my companion for splits the next two days when the transfers take place. The other picture was taken at 6 AM Saturday morning. Standing on the chair he is barely taller than me. Honestly I want to stay in Concordia until January becuase da Silva will be the Zone Leader here until then, when he goes home. I look forward to having some fun times with the Zone Leaders.
Life is going good here. I’m kind of anxious to here how the New Mexico game turned out. Thanks for all the letters and the packages. Elder da Silva keeps telling me he is going to hurt his back carrying my letters to me. Elder Bench can’t believe how many I get. Thanks everyone. you’re making me a legend. At Zone Conference 2 weeks ago I got 20 letters and a package. Last week when the Zone Leaders came back from Floripa they had 23 more letters and 2 packages for me. I love you guys.
THE POUCH SERVICE IS GOING TO STOP WORKING TO BRAZIL NOVEMBER 1ST. SEND ANY AND ALL LETTERS TO ME TO THE MISSON HOME/OFFICE ADDRESS.
The work is great, it will change with the new companion, and I’m fine so stop worrying about me.
Splashing, Dashing, and taking Brazil by storm,
Elder Haws(mo)
P.S. I’m keeping a picture history of total letters recieved, updated every transfer
Monday, October 1, 2007
Staring Transfers Right in the Eye
Hey Family,
Snow? Mom wrote me to tell me about snow? Do you WANT me to get homesick? I’m burning alive in Brazil in a shirt and tie and Greg is probably sitting outside in basketball shorts making snow angels!
Life is good here in Concordia. Next Wednesday is transfers (I will have had two full transfers in Concordia).Based on recent history with Elders in Concordia Elder Martin would be getting transferred next week since he will have had 3 transfers there. The catch: we are currently trying to move to a new location in town. We haven’t officially terminated our current contract or really looked at a new one so he will probably stay to fix the situation. It’s not too likely that they would bring in someone new to learn the situation and then resolve it, so if anyone gets the boot it will likely be me. I don’t want the boot. I like Concordia. Even with all its hills.
Marcelo Santian (da Silva) is the Branch President down here. (Everyone has the last name of Silva, da Silva, Santos, dos Santos, or Oliveira so most people just go by the middle name as a last name.) He works in a bank and dreams of moving his family to the States, but because of the difficulty in getting a visa he will likely move to Italy next summer. His English is great; I even gave him the address of the blog so he can practice reading informal English. That picture you got from him is actually photographic evidence of me breaking the rules. As missionaries we’re not supposed to hold kids, and the only contact with girls should be handshakes. The fact that I’m holding a baby girl is probably a bad thing. The fact of the matter is that all the kids here in Concordia love me. They reach out for me to take them from their parents and then cry when I don’t. That picture was from our branch’s Night of Banana activity. Marcelo’s wife handed Anna Laura to me, took a picture, and took her back from me in about 5 seconds. I’m a sinner. Because Anna Laura always reaches for me when her Dad is holding her I make a habit of informing Presidente Santian that his daughter is my girlfriend. He always threatens to send me home, but nothing has happened so far.
Today we are in Xanxere with the sisters for P-Day. We will do email and stuff here, head to another city named Irani where there are more outdoorsy things to do and then back here for district meeting. Saturday is guaranteed Baptism. I will be doing the actually splashing for the second time. This kid is awesome. He even went with us to the house of a couple girls from his school to do some teaching. He’s thirteen, he carried Elder Martin’s bag and wore my nametag. He got prayers assigned, got the girls to read a random scripture he opened to and then explained it for them. He can give you the basic history of the Book of Mormon just by seeing the pictures in the book. 2 of Nephi, Alma in the Waters of Mormon, Samuel the Lamanite, 3 Nephi 11, and Moroni with the plates. This young man is ready for his own mission.
Nick is flying solo in the MTC? Wow. He probably doesn’t need a companion. He could go solo in the field as a greenie and have more success that this entire mission. Wish him luck (even though he doesn’t need it) and send him a dozen doughnuts for me. Joey is still in the band? And in a skirt! That kid has always been a stud. I can’t find Jake’s address anywhere. Can you send it to me again? And make sure Greg keeps dating. He doesn’t have to wait for a dance to ask a girl out either.
With how much we travel to Xanxere to do baptism interviews for the sisters (just about once a week), I have use my Wells Fargo card often between opportunities to have travel funds reimbursed. If you ever want to drop $15 or $20 into my account the exchange rate will keep me going for weeks.
I love you all, life is good, the work is coming along, and I’ll let you know about the transfer situation next week. I’m fine so stop worrying about me.
Preaching the word, Praising the Lord, and Praying for my Cougars,
Elder Haws(mo)
Snow? Mom wrote me to tell me about snow? Do you WANT me to get homesick? I’m burning alive in Brazil in a shirt and tie and Greg is probably sitting outside in basketball shorts making snow angels!
Life is good here in Concordia. Next Wednesday is transfers (I will have had two full transfers in Concordia).Based on recent history with Elders in Concordia Elder Martin would be getting transferred next week since he will have had 3 transfers there. The catch: we are currently trying to move to a new location in town. We haven’t officially terminated our current contract or really looked at a new one so he will probably stay to fix the situation. It’s not too likely that they would bring in someone new to learn the situation and then resolve it, so if anyone gets the boot it will likely be me. I don’t want the boot. I like Concordia. Even with all its hills.
Marcelo Santian (da Silva) is the Branch President down here. (Everyone has the last name of Silva, da Silva, Santos, dos Santos, or Oliveira so most people just go by the middle name as a last name.) He works in a bank and dreams of moving his family to the States, but because of the difficulty in getting a visa he will likely move to Italy next summer. His English is great; I even gave him the address of the blog so he can practice reading informal English. That picture you got from him is actually photographic evidence of me breaking the rules. As missionaries we’re not supposed to hold kids, and the only contact with girls should be handshakes. The fact that I’m holding a baby girl is probably a bad thing. The fact of the matter is that all the kids here in Concordia love me. They reach out for me to take them from their parents and then cry when I don’t. That picture was from our branch’s Night of Banana activity. Marcelo’s wife handed Anna Laura to me, took a picture, and took her back from me in about 5 seconds. I’m a sinner. Because Anna Laura always reaches for me when her Dad is holding her I make a habit of informing Presidente Santian that his daughter is my girlfriend. He always threatens to send me home, but nothing has happened so far.
Today we are in Xanxere with the sisters for P-Day. We will do email and stuff here, head to another city named Irani where there are more outdoorsy things to do and then back here for district meeting. Saturday is guaranteed Baptism. I will be doing the actually splashing for the second time. This kid is awesome. He even went with us to the house of a couple girls from his school to do some teaching. He’s thirteen, he carried Elder Martin’s bag and wore my nametag. He got prayers assigned, got the girls to read a random scripture he opened to and then explained it for them. He can give you the basic history of the Book of Mormon just by seeing the pictures in the book. 2 of Nephi, Alma in the Waters of Mormon, Samuel the Lamanite, 3 Nephi 11, and Moroni with the plates. This young man is ready for his own mission.
Nick is flying solo in the MTC? Wow. He probably doesn’t need a companion. He could go solo in the field as a greenie and have more success that this entire mission. Wish him luck (even though he doesn’t need it) and send him a dozen doughnuts for me. Joey is still in the band? And in a skirt! That kid has always been a stud. I can’t find Jake’s address anywhere. Can you send it to me again? And make sure Greg keeps dating. He doesn’t have to wait for a dance to ask a girl out either.
With how much we travel to Xanxere to do baptism interviews for the sisters (just about once a week), I have use my Wells Fargo card often between opportunities to have travel funds reimbursed. If you ever want to drop $15 or $20 into my account the exchange rate will keep me going for weeks.
I love you all, life is good, the work is coming along, and I’ll let you know about the transfer situation next week. I’m fine so stop worrying about me.
Preaching the word, Praising the Lord, and Praying for my Cougars,
Elder Haws(mo)
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