Setting Records‏

Hey Family,

I got mail. The Dansie's were here last Monday so Sister Dansie made a sweep of the new apartment. She likes it but is surprised that we have so little furniture. She said we should go get a table and some chairs so that we have SOMETHING in our front room besides the ironing board. She also informed me that she had a couple letters for me. 46. And two packages. I think I set a record. The next day (Tuesday) we went to Chapeco for a training by the Zone Leaders and interviews with the Dansies. No one believes me that I got 46 letters. It must be some kind of record. Thanks for the love and the letters. I opened up the Christmas package to see how it was going to work, and now have the individually wrapped presents out. Just waiting another 2 weeks. I think I should be able to make it. I've never had a LOT of patience, but I could generally outlast Mindy when it came to gifts.

We spent all day Friday in Xanxere for Elder Wright to do a baptismal interview. The Sisters will baptize again this weekend so we'll be spending another Friday in Xanxere this week. Then Sunday we head to Chapeco before the midnight bus to Lages for Zone conference. Elder Wright is convinced I will get transfered to the beach after New Year's so he says I should enjoy my last long bus ride to conference. I am beginning to suspect that I might be sticking around one more but we will definately see what happens. As far as Xanxere last week: it was a LONG trip. We always get up at around 5:30 to shower and catch the 6:30 bus to Xanxere. Once we're there we have a District Meeting, eat lunch and do visits/baptismal interviews until our bus home that is scheduled for 10:10 PM. As luck would have it, the bus didn't pull into the station until 11PM which meant we were walking through the door of our apartment at 1:30AM. 5 Hours before Saturday started. It was a hard weekend of work in the sun, but despite our lack of sleep, we've got a few more souls ready for the water. Technically we could have two baptisms this Saturday but we're going to wait a week to do a little more preparation with them. We've got a few other groups of investigators practically in the water but they still need a little time to resolve some stuff.

Let's see if we can work out this phone call business. To simplify matters I think we'll just have you call our cell phone, but you have to promise to never call us again at that number. You understand me? Sister Dansie informed me that we are 5 hours ahead of Idaho time, which means a 10AM call from you guys will be 3PM here. I'm good with that if you are. You guys are more than welsome to call me earlier if you give me a little notice in an email, or you can call MUCH later. Elder Wright is planning on his parents calling at 11:30AM Utah time, 4:30PM Brazil Time. If you guys want to wait to call in the afternoon, it would be ok. If you decide to call at 1:30PM Idaho (6:30PM Brazil) that would work too. Our plans for Christmas will be visiting every house a little bit and eating as much as we can. You guys can pick one of the aforementioned times or make up your own schedule, just let me know in the email next week. I NEED TO KNOW YOUR PLAN NEXT WEEK. You guys will have more stuff to worry about on Christmas so just fit me in whenever you guys will have 30-40 minutes free. To call me here it will be ***-**-**-****-****. That includes Brazil's international code and everything. I think. The **-****-**** is the area code and phone number for our phone. The ***-** should handle the Brazil and international stuff. Good luck.

Because of Zone Conference next Monday I won't be emailing until Tuesday. The next week I'll talk to you guys on the phone, and then the next week is Transfers. This is where things should get interesting. Elder Huber, my friend from BYU (Moose: The blonde Brock that was on our basketball team) is currently serving in the Lages Zone so I'll get to see him next Moday for the first time in 8 months. Next Sunday marks 7 months. Only 17 more to go.

The sun is hot, the stack of letters is huge, the work is moving, and I'm fine so stop worrying about me.

In the shadow of 7 months,
Elder Haws(mo)