Called to Serve‏

Hey Family,

Congrats on the Temple Greg. Don’t be a slacker. Go whenever you can down in Provo. It might be “a little walk away” but it will be a whole lot less than you’ll be walking on the mission just to eat lunch! It’s worth a little extra effort. I’m not sure if Lisbon has a temple or not, but you probably already know. It might be tough to get in a lot of temple attendance on the mission. Just in case you were wondering:

“Somos hoje conclamados a servir e a pregar o rei Jesus,
Dando ao mundo nosso testemunho,
Proclamamos sua luz...

Juntos todos juntos, marcharemos em união,
Prontos, sempre prontos, a cumprir fiel missão,
Firmes entoamos, este hino triunfal:
Jovens de Sião, lutemos pela causa celestial.

Somos hoje conclamados às fileiras dos soldados do Senhor,
Vamos pelas sendas e atalhos,
Para demonstrar valor...

Juntos todos juntos, marcharemos em união,
Prontos, sempre prontos, a cumprir fiel missão,
Firmes entoamos, este hino triunfal:
Jovens de Sião, lutemos pela causa celestial.”

You might be able to find an audio clip if you search for “Chamados a Servir”. It’s pretty cool. If you want an actual translation of the Portuguese version I can get it to you in the future. Jordan Hatch is heading to Salvador? Poor kid. It’s HOT. I’m just glad he’s a virtuous kid. There’s lot of stuff going on in that city this week that… let’s say… missionaries don’t want any part of. Salvador is arguably the city with the largest and most intense Carnaval (Marti Gras) in Brazil. I wouldn’t be surprised if the missionaries get locked down in there house for 2 weeks up there. Apparently Joaçaba has one of the biggest Carnaval celebrations in southern Brazil. As such I’ll have to be home with windows closed and doors locked by 7 pm Friday-Tuesday. Wish me luck.

This week is transfers. It just so happens that…

I was so happy to read some of Dad’s last letters. I had noticed that for the past month or so it has been a lot more pleasant to read about the BYU Basketball. Little did I know, it’s not because we were winning, it as because Coach Rose made Tavernari stop talking to the press. It was a very good call. Without him saying anything stupid, nobody talks about him. I can’t remember a single article in the past two weeks worth of letters tat so much as mentions his performance. It’s kind of funny.

… Elder West is getting transferred to Mafra, a city on the border of Paraná and will serve as district leader. I will be receiving Elder Cook as my new companion. He will be entering his 4th transfer, his second area, and I will be his second companion. Did I happen to mention that he’s spent the last 3 transfers (while I was in Rio Tavares, Joinville, and Joaçaba) in Navegantes? Very good times.

The sun is out, my shoes are holding out, and I’m fine so stop worrying about me.

Awaiting my fellow Navegantese,
Elder Haws(mo)