Hey Family,
Greg got into BYU? That’s what I’m talking about! How’d we do it? Hostages? Ransom? Bomb threats? Crates of Idaho Potatoes? A midnight infiltration? Zone Blitz? Box and 1? The wretched Memphis Dribble-Drive Offense? 15 Yard Fade to Jonny Harline? Cartwheels and a Slip ‘n’ Slide? Now we just have to make sure he does an audition for the marching band before he leaves on his mission. If he’s working at Chesbro’s there’s no excuse to not be practicing.
Sorry this letter is late… and short. Yesterday was Elder Lacerda’s birthday so we moved to P-Day to today. That probably doesn’t make any sense to you guys. Basically there is a Theme Park 30 minutes north of Navegantes named Beto Carrero World. It is the largest theme park in Latin America (outside of the US and Canada). You get in for free on your birthday, but it only opens Thursdays through Sundays. So Elder Lacerda will go for free and I pulled $30 off my WellsFargo card to get in. It’s not an amusement park (like lagoon) so it lacks roller coasters and has tons of shows. Taking this into consideration we expect everyone at the nearly empty park to go to the shows today while we ride the rides to our hearts’ content. Elder Bateman was there last week on his companions birthday and said the rides aren’t as good as Lagoon’s. That is, except for “Big Tower”. Its like the Rocket from the Lagoon … at least, I think the name was the Rocket. It takes you really high in the air, waits for a few minutes, and drops you. The Big Tower is reportedly the tallest in the world. 100 meters. Don’t worry. I’ll wave to you.
Interviews with the President were good but sad. When the next interviews roll around it’ll be the new President. I’m a little curious about how the mission is going to change. The most exciting moment of the week might have been getting a letter form good old Elder Jake Robinson. I also got letters from Adrienne Love and Trevor Bateman, but it’s been nearly 2 years since I heard from Jake so I was a little more excited to open that one. Jake only has 4 months left and is the Zone Leader over the area where both the Suns and Diamondbacks are located. I’ll be honest. I was a little jealous. Give him a hug for me when he gets home.
Congrats on getting into BYU Greg! That’s awesome. Correct me if I’m wrong, but does that make Mindy the only Haws who applied and didn’t get in? I don’t remember Warren applying. Work hard Greg, you won’t regret it. Oh. A member of the ward (who is a semi-professional basketball player) gave me his old pair of basketball shoes. He’s my height but weighs a little more than me (~270 lbs. or 130 kilos). Hey. I just got the picture of Mom and Dad at Spencer’s Graduation. What the #@$% is dad doing with my M&M’s tie? I always used his ties, but I only had 3 or 4 of my own. The old man has HUNDREDS!
The baptism last week was awesome. I would send pictures but we’re at the annoying lan house again. Maybe next week.
The weather is great, I have basketball shoes now, and Beto Carrero should be great so stop worrying about me.
Climbing a BIG TOWER,
Elder Haws(mo)
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
One Year?
Hey Family,
This week is sure to be a wet and wild one. Yes, wet. We (actually, the bishop) will be baptizing Luiza Mery de Oliveira Saturday night at 8 pm. Unfortunately, there is bound to be some more running before the font gets filled. Yesterday was Stake Conference (on the other side of the river in Itajai) and we had scheduled for the Zone Leaders to do the baptismal interview right after the meeting. I scheduled with them last Tuesday, and confirmed last Friday but they still forgot. But everything is bound to work out because the Zone Leaders want to do a division/split/companion exchange with us Tuesday. As such, a leader will be here to do the interview tomorrow night. We hope to baptize 11 year old Anderson here in about two weeks, but the next baptism is still a question mark. Don’t worry, the Lord will provide when we do our part.
Wow, I need to apologize to you guys and Emma. I said I was going to send a letter to the house for Emma, and then didn’t get it in the mail. Sorry. We had 3 bills mysteriously arrive at our house in the middle of a bad week… financially speaking. I should still have the money I need to send the letter after shopping today, so that letter should be in the mail pretty soon. I truly am sorry to all those who have been affected by this money mismanagement. Please forgive me.
Well, not a whole lot is happening in the life of Elder Hawsmo right now. Tuesday I will be in Itajai working with Elder Harmon while Elder Flores is here with Elder Lacerda. Next week I’ll probably spend another day over on the other side of Itajai working with Elder Bateman while Elder Pimentel is here with Elder Lacerda. We are now under a little pressure to do divisions/splits every transfer so we’re making sure to get them done. Next week will be interviews with the president, and the next week (June 4th) will be Zone Conference.
Mom: I’ve had 2 different members tell me that shoes have to be sent separately, and generally a few weeks apart. If you guys REALLY want to send those shoes, you can, but don’t worry about it too much. If all else fails, I can probably get you Elder Flores’s home address in Lehi. His dad is coming to pick him up next month and he might be able to bring them down. But don’t you dare stress yet. My shoe size should be around 12 or 13. Either one should do.
Sorry about the short letter. I should have much more to share in the weeks to come.
The weather is STILL hot, the font is filling up, and I’m fine so stop worrying about me.
Packing for Itajai,
Elder Haws(mo)
Monday, May 12, 2008
Who Taught Jonah to Talk?
Hey Family,
Call me crazy, but even though I have nearly one year on the mission I feel like it’s only been a matter of hours seen I’ve talked with you guys. Amazing how those things work out. I still can’t get over the fact that Jonah can hold a conversation. That’s not fair. When I left he didn’t say ANYTHING! Oh well, the nieces will be talking when Greg gets home from Korea/Japan/France. Speaking of Greg, did he ever see that movie about the penguins that surf? I saw about 15 minutes of it in Portuguese and liked what I saw. Where is he going to work until January?
This week we have Stake Conference so our water-ready investigators are going to be dry for another week. This Zone is going to explode this transfer. Elder Andrews left 7 weddings and around 15 baptisms for Elder Bateman, the Zone Leaders are going to have 7 baptisms in the next 20 days, and the Sisters are hoping for 2 next week. That’s only half the zone. Last in the past 2 months the Zone has only had 15 baptisms. We’re ready for history. Speaking of the Zone, interviews with the president are May 27 and Zone Conference is June 4.
Everybody in the ward has been going up to the temple open house in Curitiba. It’s going to get dedicated June 1st , so they are canceling all regular Sunday Services to focus on the temple. Curitiba is Josh Orgill’s mission. Have you guys heard anything about him? I sent a letter to him from the MTC but still haven’t heard back. He should already have his plan for coming home in October. Josh Tew will be home around July and Jake in September? It feels like everybody is coming home, except for the big guy. Oh well, there’s too much work to be done to think about home.
It’s supposedly getting really cold around here, but the part of me that even feels chilly these days is my feet. And even they are only cold at 6:30 AM because they spend 8 hours outside of my bed. I’m big, Brazilians generally aren’t… do the math. If it actually gets cold I’ll start wearing socks or toss a blanket on top of the bedsheets, but I still have my doubts.
I think that’s everything that didn’t get said yesterday. There is a member who wants to buy root beer and maple syrup concentrates from me. If you guys can toss those in, awesome. One of my Zone Leaders is going home this transfer and his dad is coming to pick him up. He said that if we want anything from the states he can bring stuff. If things don’t work out with the shoes I might have his dad just but a size 13 from Payless and then I’ll pay the elder here. I’m not sure yet, but whatever happens, I’m still a missionary so the shoes only matter for about 4 hours a week.
The weather is still hot, the fonts are filling up, and I’m fine so stop worrying about me.
Anticipating the Explosion,
Elder Haws(mo)
Call me crazy, but even though I have nearly one year on the mission I feel like it’s only been a matter of hours seen I’ve talked with you guys. Amazing how those things work out. I still can’t get over the fact that Jonah can hold a conversation. That’s not fair. When I left he didn’t say ANYTHING! Oh well, the nieces will be talking when Greg gets home from Korea/Japan/France. Speaking of Greg, did he ever see that movie about the penguins that surf? I saw about 15 minutes of it in Portuguese and liked what I saw. Where is he going to work until January?
This week we have Stake Conference so our water-ready investigators are going to be dry for another week. This Zone is going to explode this transfer. Elder Andrews left 7 weddings and around 15 baptisms for Elder Bateman, the Zone Leaders are going to have 7 baptisms in the next 20 days, and the Sisters are hoping for 2 next week. That’s only half the zone. Last in the past 2 months the Zone has only had 15 baptisms. We’re ready for history. Speaking of the Zone, interviews with the president are May 27 and Zone Conference is June 4.
Everybody in the ward has been going up to the temple open house in Curitiba. It’s going to get dedicated June 1st , so they are canceling all regular Sunday Services to focus on the temple. Curitiba is Josh Orgill’s mission. Have you guys heard anything about him? I sent a letter to him from the MTC but still haven’t heard back. He should already have his plan for coming home in October. Josh Tew will be home around July and Jake in September? It feels like everybody is coming home, except for the big guy. Oh well, there’s too much work to be done to think about home.
It’s supposedly getting really cold around here, but the part of me that even feels chilly these days is my feet. And even they are only cold at 6:30 AM because they spend 8 hours outside of my bed. I’m big, Brazilians generally aren’t… do the math. If it actually gets cold I’ll start wearing socks or toss a blanket on top of the bedsheets, but I still have my doubts.
I think that’s everything that didn’t get said yesterday. There is a member who wants to buy root beer and maple syrup concentrates from me. If you guys can toss those in, awesome. One of my Zone Leaders is going home this transfer and his dad is coming to pick him up. He said that if we want anything from the states he can bring stuff. If things don’t work out with the shoes I might have his dad just but a size 13 from Payless and then I’ll pay the elder here. I’m not sure yet, but whatever happens, I’m still a missionary so the shoes only matter for about 4 hours a week.
The weather is still hot, the fonts are filling up, and I’m fine so stop worrying about me.
Anticipating the Explosion,
Elder Haws(mo)
Monday, May 5, 2008
One More
Hey Family,
Well, last night we got the call about transfers. It was definitely a surprise for the both of us. Elder Andrews (my district leader) is heading to the island of Florianopolis to be a district leader there. I was a little disappointed to hear that we was leaving, but it’s ok because another Elder from our group is coming to fill his place. Elder Bateman will be up here in the Itajai Zone. Companions in the MTC, we both started in The Chapeco Zone, we met up again in Tubarao, and now he’s followed me to Itajai. I don’t know any two Elders who have followed each other as much as us. It’s rough, but somebody has to make history.
Matt Morris is going to be a teacher? Do you know what subject? What level (junior high, high school, elementary)? Britnee was in England? The letter to Kelley already arrived? I also got a letter from Emma 2 weeks ago but she only gave me her BYU address. I don’t know if she is going to be there for the summer, or going home, or doing something else. I’m thinking I might just send a response to you guys too and hope that she reads the site. Emma: go pick up the letter at my house!
Wow. Phone call on Sunday (Dad, the number should be exactly the same as last time except for the last 4 numbers. ***-****-****), flaming shirt next Friday, one year in the books… I don’t know when we’re going to find time to throw investigators in the water. Today we’re spending P-Day with the Zone Leaders in Itajai, tomorrow will be our last district meeting with Elder Andrews, and the new transfer (with the new elders) officially starts on Wednesday.
Hey, there is a member here who would like to buy a copy of “The RM”. The movie from the same people as “Singles Ward” He is fluent in English and asked if I could get you guys to slip a dvd into a box that’s coming down. Just get me the price and he’ll get me paid. We discovered a tragedy last week. When I got transferred to Navegantes I forgot a box on the bus that had a pair of sandles and my basketball shoes. I tried to call someone on the bus but no one answered the phone. In the end I thought someone would pick up the box, and I still think someone did, but I haven’t found it yet. I’m going to keep searching but for the next little while I won’t have any regular shoes. We went and looked in every shoe store in Itajai and my shoe size doesn’t exist. I found one pair of shoes that would be around 11-11.5, but they would cost $120. That’s one hundred and twenty American dollars. That’s not even for basketball shoes, just regular old casual shoes. We’ll talk more in the future, but the same member who wants “the RM” said that it generally works to send shoes but you have to do them one at a time. Don’t even think about buying or sending anything yet. We’ve got a few options here, but there are no promises.
I’m throwing in a picture of Valmir (baptism last week) who was baptized by the Bishop. The bishop is the one next to me. I’m the big American. The other photo is of me with the bus driver who took us to Blumenau to give blood. Let’s jus say that he’s not very tall.
The rain has stopped, the work is waiting for me, and I’m fine so stop worrying about me.
Staying Put in Navegantes,
Elder Haws(mo)
Well, last night we got the call about transfers. It was definitely a surprise for the both of us. Elder Andrews (my district leader) is heading to the island of Florianopolis to be a district leader there. I was a little disappointed to hear that we was leaving, but it’s ok because another Elder from our group is coming to fill his place. Elder Bateman will be up here in the Itajai Zone. Companions in the MTC, we both started in The Chapeco Zone, we met up again in Tubarao, and now he’s followed me to Itajai. I don’t know any two Elders who have followed each other as much as us. It’s rough, but somebody has to make history.
Matt Morris is going to be a teacher? Do you know what subject? What level (junior high, high school, elementary)? Britnee was in England? The letter to Kelley already arrived? I also got a letter from Emma 2 weeks ago but she only gave me her BYU address. I don’t know if she is going to be there for the summer, or going home, or doing something else. I’m thinking I might just send a response to you guys too and hope that she reads the site. Emma: go pick up the letter at my house!
Wow. Phone call on Sunday (Dad, the number should be exactly the same as last time except for the last 4 numbers. ***-****-****), flaming shirt next Friday, one year in the books… I don’t know when we’re going to find time to throw investigators in the water. Today we’re spending P-Day with the Zone Leaders in Itajai, tomorrow will be our last district meeting with Elder Andrews, and the new transfer (with the new elders) officially starts on Wednesday.
Hey, there is a member here who would like to buy a copy of “The RM”. The movie from the same people as “Singles Ward” He is fluent in English and asked if I could get you guys to slip a dvd into a box that’s coming down. Just get me the price and he’ll get me paid. We discovered a tragedy last week. When I got transferred to Navegantes I forgot a box on the bus that had a pair of sandles and my basketball shoes. I tried to call someone on the bus but no one answered the phone. In the end I thought someone would pick up the box, and I still think someone did, but I haven’t found it yet. I’m going to keep searching but for the next little while I won’t have any regular shoes. We went and looked in every shoe store in Itajai and my shoe size doesn’t exist. I found one pair of shoes that would be around 11-11.5, but they would cost $120. That’s one hundred and twenty American dollars. That’s not even for basketball shoes, just regular old casual shoes. We’ll talk more in the future, but the same member who wants “the RM” said that it generally works to send shoes but you have to do them one at a time. Don’t even think about buying or sending anything yet. We’ve got a few options here, but there are no promises.
I’m throwing in a picture of Valmir (baptism last week) who was baptized by the Bishop. The bishop is the one next to me. I’m the big American. The other photo is of me with the bus driver who took us to Blumenau to give blood. Let’s jus say that he’s not very tall.
The rain has stopped, the work is waiting for me, and I’m fine so stop worrying about me.
Staying Put in Navegantes,
Elder Haws(mo)
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