Portugal, Week Two‏

Dear Family,

My second week here in Portugal has been great! Last week after P-day i traveled with Elder Anson into Lisbon for a doctors appointment while ElderWilson went on a division with Elder Davis, the district leader. It took us an hour to get to Lisbon by train and then we had to ride the subway for about twenty minutes to get to where the doctors office was. I got to study in the waiting room while Elder Anson got checked out and after, i learned that we had to come back the next day for another appointment. When we got back i traveled around with Elder Anson in his area for the rest of the day and then later that night, while we were riding a bus, a man got on with the wrong bus pass. He didn´t want to pay the 2 euro so he and the rest of the passengers started yelling at each other and the police were called. Here in Portugal they are very serious about bus laws so we thought the man would be arrested. Instead, they just gave him a ticket and made him get off the bus. That incident took about an hour so we didn´t get to do any appointments after that so we just went home. The next day we went back to Lisbon and then when i got back i went back with Elder Wilson.

This week has been a little stressful. Our Mission president has doubled the standards of the mission which is driving me crazy because we are in a new area and have nobody to teach. And along with that, some experienced missionaries cant even get meet some of them! Portuguese is still close to impossible but i´m starting to understand more of what people say. I had a small, simple conversation with someone the other day but wasn´t anything amazing but i felt good about it. I´ve gotten frustrated a couple of times this week with myself and the language but my companion has been really patient and has helped me alot.

Last week we had someone marked for baptism in our first week but this week they did´t come to church so now we have to start over. We´ve found alot of really great people and some great families so we should we ok.

Thanks for the update on the family. I cant believe everything worked out for MIkey. Tell Jenny thanks for the pictures and the grandkids for all the prayers. I should have some pictures for you guys next week so you can seewhere i´m serving. I now i´ve already explained a little about my area but i want to give a little better of a picture.

I´m serving in the Beverly hills of Portugal. I´ve walked by Ferrari dealers and Asten martins and there are huge mansions on the beach. Everyday i ride the Train to my area and the train goes along the beach so i get to look outand see the ocean and the beautiful beaches everyday. We dont have a lot of members in church but the members we do have are great and help us alot. Yesterday the Jovens from our branch came with me and Elder Wilson and helped us teach. They were amazing teachers and they really impressed me.The people here are all really nice, even we they reject us. Yesterday we were nocking doors and a lady opened her door with a huge smile but when she saw us the smile went immediatly to a frown. I had to try really hard not to laugh at that. The people here also have a joke that they all love. We they see they all yell ´O Elder!´ and bust up laughing. The first time o heard it i laughed really hard because i didn´t understand why they said it. They my companion told me they do it because we have the same first name on our nametags and they like to see us both turn around. I still dont get it but i still laugh everytime. You can tell Spencer the women here are kind of like what they are in Italy. They´re not that cute but they dont wear a lot of clothing. Last week, Elder Davis and Elder Anson went on divisions with some Jovens and had two funny experiences. First, Elder Davis knocked on a door and an old, fat lady came to the door in her underwear and he just about puked. Elder Anson on the other hand knocked on a door and a young, very beautiful girl came to the terece above the door wearing nothing above thewaist. They both tried to appointments with these people but nothinghappened although Elder Anson was invited by the girl to come in an talk for a minute. (he didn´t of course). I´ve also heard stories of the Elders here wlaking on the board walk (against the rules) and running into completly naked girls. I hope i never have one of these experiences. There are also castles EVERYWHERE! And just as a side note of fun information: alot of stuff from Harry Potter may have been taken from Portugal. There is a schoolup North the Porto mission that the modeled Hogwarts after (at least in themovie). All the students wear the same black robes and go to school in some huge castle. Saliszar Siltherian, is also thought to come from Portuguese history because Salizar was the name of the dictator that Portugal had for along time that ruined Portugal.

So if you´re having a hard time picturing where i am, just imagine a beach paradise and imagine me right there!

The Language is ok and people keep telling me i speak very well. I´ve had my companion, Elders Davis and Anson, our Zone leaders, some members, and a few of the families we have taught say i speak well but i still dont believe any of them. Everyone tells me it gets better after the first two transfers so it going to be a long 16 and a half weeks.

Well, everything is going well here in Portugal and i´m working hard. Its really tough but at the same time i´m having a lot of fun. Keep me updated on everybody and tell them i love them! I love you guys!

Elder Haws