Hey Family,
One more week, and one more P-Day full of rain. I guess life will just have to go on. You guys can all relax, I got the birthday package. I guess the people in the office got so used to sending every letter and package that comes to the mission to Concordia, that they kept doing it. President Dansie told me that he discovered my package last week as he was packing the stuff that was marked to go out west to Chapeco. I’m going to have to have a talk with my friends in the office. This sort of thing can’t be happening to Elder Haws. Speaking of package, thanks everyone. Thanks to the Riggs Family for the dress shirt, the whole world for the candy, and probably dad for the hat and t-shirt. Just a couple questions. How am I supposed to explain the BYU “almost” cowboy hat to anyone? I’m still not 100% that I understand it. I love it, but am without means to explain it. One more thing: WHAT WISE GUY THOUGHT THAT I COULD WEAR A XXL? I tried that shirt and it’s ENORMOUS. I might put it back on another day to take a picture, but in the end I’ll probably give it away to a Brazilian that’s shaped like Dad. Who knows?
Chad is going to Madagascar? Will he be speaking Portuguese? Will he be passing through the Sao Paulo MTC? I’ll definitely have to drop him a letter. Which mission did Brett serve in? Spencer is going to Budapest? Are you kidding me? What language will he speak? How’s Dave doing? Do we have a mission address for him? Derek is already coming home? Josh Tew should be home in July, Josh Orgill in November, and Jake in September.
Our weekend was a little exciting. Now it’s just second nature for things to happen to me that I can’t pass on to family, but that the entire mission ends up finding out about. I realize that this is probably a little annoying, but ask me on Mother’s Day. To help me remember which “almost seriously against the rules” event, use the keywords Imarui, Final Countdown, and Buy-lee. More information right now would result in severe consequences that no one wants to see... unless you want to see me next week.
Just kidding. The work is coming along. Yesterday at church a teenager told us he wants to be baptized. He always comes to church with a group of members, and had never talked to me in the past. Until two weeks ago I thought he was a member. Now we just have to find an opportunity to teach him (he lives in another city) and discuss baptism with his parents. Wish us luck. It’s a little soon to slip the cake in the oven and start filling up the font, but if you don’t have hope you’ll never get your feet wet. Besides that, our best investigator just fell back into a life of drugs, our new investigators have a tendency to disappear, and that comment about going home was really just a joke. Here in about 15 months Mom is going to kill me for that one.
This last week was Interviews with the President and Zone Conference will be March 10 with transfers on March 26. That means that on March 24 you guys might be getting an email talking about where I’m going, but then again, maybe not. I was able to talk to a couple people who know Jenny Crandall. She lived in the Oficinas Ward in the Tubarao Stake. No one has seen her in a while, but they all said good things about her.
About the next package: toss in a couple little bottles of lens cleaner. It doesn’t exist here in Brazil so my companion ends up washing his glasses with hand soap. I think it would be a nice present to leave with him.
Thanks for everything. The weather’s great, the work is coming along, and I’m fine so stop worrying about me.
Living within the rules (most of the time),
Elder Haws(mo)
Monday, February 25, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
The Greenie and the Gringo
Hey Family,
More snow? That is not fair at all. Here I am on the beach (I read a billboard that said the beach I live on is the headquarters/home of surfing in the world) sweating out every drop of water I’ve ever seen in my life, and your guys are at home playing in the snow. I guess that was a little bit overboard. I’m not sweating too bad, but Elder C. Silva sure is. Generally we have a nice fresh breeze rolling in from Africa (that’s the name of the closest neighborhood to the east of my house) so we don’t normally cook walking down the street. These last couple days we didn’t have wind. I spent a good many mintues just staring at the picture Mom sent me of the house covered in snow. From what I can interpret, that photo was taken before Christmas, which means it was before the evil snowstorms everyone seems to be crying about. I don’t know why you guys are complaining about recieving the moisture you’ve all been praying for. For nearly half my life people have talked about praying for rain or snow, and how they will be so greatful to recieve it. All I can say is: “You mormons are finally getting what you deserve for all that praying.”
I guess it’s safe to assume you all know that I’m training now. Which means you also got the picture of me and Elder C. Silva. I was going to send you guys a couple more photos today but I happened to get the wrong computer. I have no idea how a LAN House can have a computer that doesn’t have functioning USB ports. Oh well. The other pictures I took will just have to wait. The fact of the matter is that Elder C. Silva is from Minas Gerais, a state in the Center/East of Brazil. The name of the state means General Mines. He isn’t 19. In fact, in June he will turn 26. He was baptized around 1 year 8 months ago and was had to sprint to get his paperwork in to serve. Before the mission he was a motorcycle rider. He did basically the equivalent of Formula 1 racing, but only with 2 wheels. He also did a form of Motocross that involved going 200 kilometers per hour and taking turns so sharp he had to plant his knee on the ground. Besides motocross he enjoyed hangliding. He is 1 semester away from earning his degree in... economics. Who would have thought of that. He speaks very little English, but wants to learn. Actually, it’s almost required. He informed me that the science of Economics was born in Great Britain, matured in the US, and just recently came to Brazil. That being said, just about every book written on the subject of Economics is in English. I guesss I have some teaching to do.
This last transfer sent Elder Brough away (the elder from my group) but it brought Elder Bateman down to my zone. This transfer marks the 4th transfer that we have been in the same zone. There were only two transfers that we were separated. The best thing BY FAR about this last transfer meeting was that the 6 elders from my group/MTC district were together again. It was the first time I had seen Elder Andrews and Elder Smith in 7 months. That was far too long. This week we will be going to Tubarao to have interviews with President Dansie, which means I’ll get to hang out with Elder Bateman and have another opportunity to pick up the package. I got Mom’s letter and photos last week but no package. I stopped by the office in Florianopolis last week and asked about the package. A zone leader told me it was there, but it either didn’t get put on our bus, someone just forgot to give it to me, or my informant was wrong. Either way I will know for sure this week if it has arrived.
Mom, thanks for the pictures. They’re great. If you guys start getting another package/envelope together could you slip in a couple more pictures. Besides the wedding and family photos I am lacking photos of certain family members. I still don’t have a good one of Mom and Dad together. Just dad with the granddaughters and Mom with the puppies. The only picture I have of Mindy is of her holding the neices. I don’t even have a picture of Spencer and my only one of Warren and Becky is a wallet photo. I hate to sound so needy, but these are the things members want me to show them. I’m about 70% sure I’ll get the last package you guys sent this week, so there’s no need to worry.
Thanks for all the love and support.
The weather is great, the beach is beautiful, and I’m doing fine so stop worrying about me.
The Blind leading the Blind,
Elder Haws(mo)
More snow? That is not fair at all. Here I am on the beach (I read a billboard that said the beach I live on is the headquarters/home of surfing in the world) sweating out every drop of water I’ve ever seen in my life, and your guys are at home playing in the snow. I guess that was a little bit overboard. I’m not sweating too bad, but Elder C. Silva sure is. Generally we have a nice fresh breeze rolling in from Africa (that’s the name of the closest neighborhood to the east of my house) so we don’t normally cook walking down the street. These last couple days we didn’t have wind. I spent a good many mintues just staring at the picture Mom sent me of the house covered in snow. From what I can interpret, that photo was taken before Christmas, which means it was before the evil snowstorms everyone seems to be crying about. I don’t know why you guys are complaining about recieving the moisture you’ve all been praying for. For nearly half my life people have talked about praying for rain or snow, and how they will be so greatful to recieve it. All I can say is: “You mormons are finally getting what you deserve for all that praying.”
I guess it’s safe to assume you all know that I’m training now. Which means you also got the picture of me and Elder C. Silva. I was going to send you guys a couple more photos today but I happened to get the wrong computer. I have no idea how a LAN House can have a computer that doesn’t have functioning USB ports. Oh well. The other pictures I took will just have to wait. The fact of the matter is that Elder C. Silva is from Minas Gerais, a state in the Center/East of Brazil. The name of the state means General Mines. He isn’t 19. In fact, in June he will turn 26. He was baptized around 1 year 8 months ago and was had to sprint to get his paperwork in to serve. Before the mission he was a motorcycle rider. He did basically the equivalent of Formula 1 racing, but only with 2 wheels. He also did a form of Motocross that involved going 200 kilometers per hour and taking turns so sharp he had to plant his knee on the ground. Besides motocross he enjoyed hangliding. He is 1 semester away from earning his degree in... economics. Who would have thought of that. He speaks very little English, but wants to learn. Actually, it’s almost required. He informed me that the science of Economics was born in Great Britain, matured in the US, and just recently came to Brazil. That being said, just about every book written on the subject of Economics is in English. I guesss I have some teaching to do.
This last transfer sent Elder Brough away (the elder from my group) but it brought Elder Bateman down to my zone. This transfer marks the 4th transfer that we have been in the same zone. There were only two transfers that we were separated. The best thing BY FAR about this last transfer meeting was that the 6 elders from my group/MTC district were together again. It was the first time I had seen Elder Andrews and Elder Smith in 7 months. That was far too long. This week we will be going to Tubarao to have interviews with President Dansie, which means I’ll get to hang out with Elder Bateman and have another opportunity to pick up the package. I got Mom’s letter and photos last week but no package. I stopped by the office in Florianopolis last week and asked about the package. A zone leader told me it was there, but it either didn’t get put on our bus, someone just forgot to give it to me, or my informant was wrong. Either way I will know for sure this week if it has arrived.
Mom, thanks for the pictures. They’re great. If you guys start getting another package/envelope together could you slip in a couple more pictures. Besides the wedding and family photos I am lacking photos of certain family members. I still don’t have a good one of Mom and Dad together. Just dad with the granddaughters and Mom with the puppies. The only picture I have of Mindy is of her holding the neices. I don’t even have a picture of Spencer and my only one of Warren and Becky is a wallet photo. I hate to sound so needy, but these are the things members want me to show them. I’m about 70% sure I’ll get the last package you guys sent this week, so there’s no need to worry.
Thanks for all the love and support.
The weather is great, the beach is beautiful, and I’m doing fine so stop worrying about me.
The Blind leading the Blind,
Elder Haws(mo)
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Elder Haws
Dear Brother and Sister Haws,
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for preparing such a wonderful son who is an outstanding servant of the Lord. It is with great pleasure that we inform you that Elder Haws has been made a “Trainer” in the Brazil Florianopolis Mission. This additional responsibility comes to him because of his proven service as one of the most trusted missionaries in this mission. Trainers have the responsibility of preparing the next generation of missionaries who will continue the work of the Lord even after the trainer has returned home. For this reason, only the most faithful missionaries are selected to be trainers. As a trainer, your son will have the opportunity to teach a new missionary the lessons, planning skills, work ethic, study skills, how to develop relationships with priesthood leaders and most importantly how to teach and testify of the Lord Jesus Christ, His Atoning Sacrifice and the restoration of the gospel. These experiences will be of benefit to him throughout his entire life. We know that your son will execute this new responsibility with the same degree of diligence that he has demonstrated during his mission.
We would ask that you continue to write him regularly. Communication from home is very important to full time missionaries. Thanks again, we want you to know that we love your son. He is in the Lord’s care, but we also do everything in our power to care for him.
Sincerely,
President LaMonte J. Dansie Sister Nancy Dansie
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for preparing such a wonderful son who is an outstanding servant of the Lord. It is with great pleasure that we inform you that Elder Haws has been made a “Trainer” in the Brazil Florianopolis Mission. This additional responsibility comes to him because of his proven service as one of the most trusted missionaries in this mission. Trainers have the responsibility of preparing the next generation of missionaries who will continue the work of the Lord even after the trainer has returned home. For this reason, only the most faithful missionaries are selected to be trainers. As a trainer, your son will have the opportunity to teach a new missionary the lessons, planning skills, work ethic, study skills, how to develop relationships with priesthood leaders and most importantly how to teach and testify of the Lord Jesus Christ, His Atoning Sacrifice and the restoration of the gospel. These experiences will be of benefit to him throughout his entire life. We know that your son will execute this new responsibility with the same degree of diligence that he has demonstrated during his mission.
We would ask that you continue to write him regularly. Communication from home is very important to full time missionaries. Thanks again, we want you to know that we love your son. He is in the Lord’s care, but we also do everything in our power to care for him.
Sincerely,
President LaMonte J. Dansie Sister Nancy Dansie
Monday, February 11, 2008
Happy Birthday LITTLE Brother
Hey Family,
How are things up there in the snow? No one here seems to believe me that we have snow at all in Idaho. I’ve tried to explain to them that when there is so much snow that the buses can’t move, the schools close. This is an absurd notion to them. Buses are how they travel EVERYWHERE. Neighborhood to neighborhood, city to city, state to state, it’s ALL by bus. Oh well. As I’ve already learned, something can still be true even when half the world doesn’t believe it.
Success, kind of. I did a division/split in Laguna last week. Elder Brough came here to work with Elder Candia and I went to Laguna to work with Elder da Rocha (Elder from the rock OR of the rock). We were sitting at lunch talking with an older sister and a lady who might have been her daughter. The younger lady started to talk about a couple she knew that was one american and one brazilian. She talked about how it was so cool that they did like missionaries do, and sometimes talk in English so that no one understands them. After a few minutes she mentioned that she couldn’t remember where “she” was from in the United States. I told her that it would be cool if she could remember, becuase maybe I’m familiar with the area she’s from. She closed her eyes and started thinking really hard. I heard her whisper “Where is Jennifer from?”. I quickly responded: Jennifer Crandall is from Idaho Falls, Idaho”. The entire family looked at me like I was crazy... or a prophet. Luckily I’m used to people staring at me. Before they managed to grab the torches and pitchforks I told them that I met Jenny before the mission and that she had lived with my sister before she got married. It was fun. The problem is that the lady that knows Jenny, who lives in another city, is inactive and has no other information about her or where she lives except that she is an American in Tubarao. Success, kind of.
I haven’t recieved letters ofr a package yet but I have my hopes up for Wednesday. This week is transfers. Elder Candia is getting shipped to Curitibanos. He is SO excited to get out of this little city. He’s gotten his hopes up that he will find a mall in Curitibanos. Besides family and friends, the wordly thing he misses most is malls. Personally, I don’t understand it, luckily, I don’t have to. For the next 6 weeks I will be roaming the city of Imbituba with Elder Silva. I know nothing about him yet but I’ll be sure to drop you some information next week. Unfortunately Elder Brough is getting transfered to Sao Jose so I’ll have a new district leader down here. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.
Happy Birthday Moose! The big 2-5? Feel old? The pictures I got from Jenny make you look as if you aged 5 years taking care of the puppies. You’ve got to relax bro. Kick back, take it easy, and watch the monstrous TV you just got. I think that TV might be bigger that come of the houses I’ve seen here.
If you happen to send the maple syrup, send maple concentrate. It is way easy to make (we made some at an FHE with the member who still has a little left in the bottle), must be easier to ship and probably has a longer shelf life. If it doesn’t work out, don’t worry about it. Life will continue as it should.
Give Derek a hug for me. I think I might have a buddy in that mission. I’ll check in my list at home tonight. I might have to send out a letter so that the mission can start getting ready for the next Elder Toone.
That’s probably not everything I wanted to write, and without a doubt you guys want more, but it’s Elder Candia’s last P-Day in Imbituba and he wants to get moving.
The weather is great, the work is coming along, and I’m fine so stop worrying about me.
Coveting Spencer’s TV,
Elder Haws(mo)
How are things up there in the snow? No one here seems to believe me that we have snow at all in Idaho. I’ve tried to explain to them that when there is so much snow that the buses can’t move, the schools close. This is an absurd notion to them. Buses are how they travel EVERYWHERE. Neighborhood to neighborhood, city to city, state to state, it’s ALL by bus. Oh well. As I’ve already learned, something can still be true even when half the world doesn’t believe it.
Success, kind of. I did a division/split in Laguna last week. Elder Brough came here to work with Elder Candia and I went to Laguna to work with Elder da Rocha (Elder from the rock OR of the rock). We were sitting at lunch talking with an older sister and a lady who might have been her daughter. The younger lady started to talk about a couple she knew that was one american and one brazilian. She talked about how it was so cool that they did like missionaries do, and sometimes talk in English so that no one understands them. After a few minutes she mentioned that she couldn’t remember where “she” was from in the United States. I told her that it would be cool if she could remember, becuase maybe I’m familiar with the area she’s from. She closed her eyes and started thinking really hard. I heard her whisper “Where is Jennifer from?”. I quickly responded: Jennifer Crandall is from Idaho Falls, Idaho”. The entire family looked at me like I was crazy... or a prophet. Luckily I’m used to people staring at me. Before they managed to grab the torches and pitchforks I told them that I met Jenny before the mission and that she had lived with my sister before she got married. It was fun. The problem is that the lady that knows Jenny, who lives in another city, is inactive and has no other information about her or where she lives except that she is an American in Tubarao. Success, kind of.
I haven’t recieved letters ofr a package yet but I have my hopes up for Wednesday. This week is transfers. Elder Candia is getting shipped to Curitibanos. He is SO excited to get out of this little city. He’s gotten his hopes up that he will find a mall in Curitibanos. Besides family and friends, the wordly thing he misses most is malls. Personally, I don’t understand it, luckily, I don’t have to. For the next 6 weeks I will be roaming the city of Imbituba with Elder Silva. I know nothing about him yet but I’ll be sure to drop you some information next week. Unfortunately Elder Brough is getting transfered to Sao Jose so I’ll have a new district leader down here. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.
Happy Birthday Moose! The big 2-5? Feel old? The pictures I got from Jenny make you look as if you aged 5 years taking care of the puppies. You’ve got to relax bro. Kick back, take it easy, and watch the monstrous TV you just got. I think that TV might be bigger that come of the houses I’ve seen here.
If you happen to send the maple syrup, send maple concentrate. It is way easy to make (we made some at an FHE with the member who still has a little left in the bottle), must be easier to ship and probably has a longer shelf life. If it doesn’t work out, don’t worry about it. Life will continue as it should.
Give Derek a hug for me. I think I might have a buddy in that mission. I’ll check in my list at home tonight. I might have to send out a letter so that the mission can start getting ready for the next Elder Toone.
That’s probably not everything I wanted to write, and without a doubt you guys want more, but it’s Elder Candia’s last P-Day in Imbituba and he wants to get moving.
The weather is great, the work is coming along, and I’m fine so stop worrying about me.
Coveting Spencer’s TV,
Elder Haws(mo)
Monday, February 4, 2008
Seeing Eye-To-Eye
Hey Family,
Another wild week here on the beach. President Hinckley passed away around midnight Sunday/Monday (according to Brazilian time). We had light rain storms all day Monday. Tuesday morning it started to rain as hard as I have seen yet in my life. This rain continued until Friday morning and came back on Saturday. And again yesterday. I was left to wonder if President Monson was going to be the next Noah. People’s houses got flooded all over Santa Catarina, the freeway outside of Florianopolis was shut down for a couple days, it was a wild wet week.
I didn’t manage to pick up a package at Zone Conference last week. Whether or not it arrived, the President was a little annoyed with how eager a few Elders were to get mail so we almost didn’t get to pick up any mail. On the bright side, I got to reunite with my American Twin, Elder Nance. I’m not sure if I already told you guys about him. He’s from Arkansas, played trumpet in marching band, and is more or less enormous. You’ll understand when you see the pictures. The first one is just us two, then us with Elder Flores (an American with average height) and the next is with Elder Comstock (who is kind of short). When ever Elder Nance and I end up in the same place we end up talking to each other and ignoring the rest of the world. It is a rarity for either one of us to find someone we see eye-to-eye with.
Life is going good. We keep having shrimp, or other fish. I am enjoying it. Never in my life have I been so close to the beach for so long. I am enclosing a picture of me and my beautiful brazilian neighbor. We honestly left the house, turned left, wlked past 3 houses, and took the picture. Sorry. I’m kind of ugly in the picture, but I was looking directly into the sun. Life’s rough when your forehead pokes up above the clouds. My heighth has got quite a few people asking about my age. One older lady that we are teaching said that she though it was absurd our church sent children out to preach. When I asked how old she thought I was she replied 15. The only response I had for her was that I was going to turn 20 the next day. One member that lives in the city of Imarui told me that if it weren’t for my enormous body she would have thought I was 12. I have no idea if I should consider these comments to be compliments or insults. It doesn’t help that I have Warren’s facial hair (I only have to shave 2 or 3 times a week). Regardless of age, beards, or beaches, Elder Candia and I are continuing to do the work. We don’t get along as well together as I did with my other companions, but you just have to go to work either way.
Requests for Packages: Maple Syrup, Recipes, Peanut Butter.A member here was introduced to Maple Syrup my a missionary 2 years ago and still craves it. He said that if you guys send it he will buy it off of me. Feel free to send 2 so that I can keep one. As far as recipes go, I want quick, simple stuff that will add some variety. I was thinking things like pancakes from scratch, a recipe to make tortillas like Warren did in Mexico (tortillas don’t exist in Brazil, and they only have “salty” pancakes that they use to make enchiladas), a quick and easy recipe for breading (to make cheap frozen hamburgers into cheap easy country-fried steak-ish patties) and anything else that the RM’s think would be feasible. Mormon Gravy is just flour, milk, salt and pepper... right? I was thinking about trying to make it the other day (gravy doesn’t exist in Santa Catarina, and maybe not in Brazil at all) but decided to hold off a little while.
Transfers are next week but I’ll probably stay here. I’ll let you know about upcoming conferences and interviews. Life is good, the work is always there to be done, and I’m fine so stop worrying about me.
Keep my distance from Carneval,
Elder Haws(mo)
Another wild week here on the beach. President Hinckley passed away around midnight Sunday/Monday (according to Brazilian time). We had light rain storms all day Monday. Tuesday morning it started to rain as hard as I have seen yet in my life. This rain continued until Friday morning and came back on Saturday. And again yesterday. I was left to wonder if President Monson was going to be the next Noah. People’s houses got flooded all over Santa Catarina, the freeway outside of Florianopolis was shut down for a couple days, it was a wild wet week.
I didn’t manage to pick up a package at Zone Conference last week. Whether or not it arrived, the President was a little annoyed with how eager a few Elders were to get mail so we almost didn’t get to pick up any mail. On the bright side, I got to reunite with my American Twin, Elder Nance. I’m not sure if I already told you guys about him. He’s from Arkansas, played trumpet in marching band, and is more or less enormous. You’ll understand when you see the pictures. The first one is just us two, then us with Elder Flores (an American with average height) and the next is with Elder Comstock (who is kind of short). When ever Elder Nance and I end up in the same place we end up talking to each other and ignoring the rest of the world. It is a rarity for either one of us to find someone we see eye-to-eye with.
Life is going good. We keep having shrimp, or other fish. I am enjoying it. Never in my life have I been so close to the beach for so long. I am enclosing a picture of me and my beautiful brazilian neighbor. We honestly left the house, turned left, wlked past 3 houses, and took the picture. Sorry. I’m kind of ugly in the picture, but I was looking directly into the sun. Life’s rough when your forehead pokes up above the clouds. My heighth has got quite a few people asking about my age. One older lady that we are teaching said that she though it was absurd our church sent children out to preach. When I asked how old she thought I was she replied 15. The only response I had for her was that I was going to turn 20 the next day. One member that lives in the city of Imarui told me that if it weren’t for my enormous body she would have thought I was 12. I have no idea if I should consider these comments to be compliments or insults. It doesn’t help that I have Warren’s facial hair (I only have to shave 2 or 3 times a week). Regardless of age, beards, or beaches, Elder Candia and I are continuing to do the work. We don’t get along as well together as I did with my other companions, but you just have to go to work either way.
Requests for Packages: Maple Syrup, Recipes, Peanut Butter.A member here was introduced to Maple Syrup my a missionary 2 years ago and still craves it. He said that if you guys send it he will buy it off of me. Feel free to send 2 so that I can keep one. As far as recipes go, I want quick, simple stuff that will add some variety. I was thinking things like pancakes from scratch, a recipe to make tortillas like Warren did in Mexico (tortillas don’t exist in Brazil, and they only have “salty” pancakes that they use to make enchiladas), a quick and easy recipe for breading (to make cheap frozen hamburgers into cheap easy country-fried steak-ish patties) and anything else that the RM’s think would be feasible. Mormon Gravy is just flour, milk, salt and pepper... right? I was thinking about trying to make it the other day (gravy doesn’t exist in Santa Catarina, and maybe not in Brazil at all) but decided to hold off a little while.
Transfers are next week but I’ll probably stay here. I’ll let you know about upcoming conferences and interviews. Life is good, the work is always there to be done, and I’m fine so stop worrying about me.
Keep my distance from Carneval,
Elder Haws(mo)
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