Empty Handed

Hey Family,

I´m glad the packages finally got home. That´s a big worry off my mind, and now that that problem had been solved, i have more room in my prayers for other things.

This week was a week that was full of "learning". I say that because i´ve been reading through a lot of liahonas and they all say that we learn because of the trials we have. So i spent alot of time "learning" this week.

It started out with me and Elder Thredgold having two full days taken out of week because he had to go to Lisbon to renew his visa. Then after that, we spent most of the week worrying about the baptism that we were supposed to have. We got back to our area Tuesday night form our divisions with the other elders with just enough time to make one visit to our investigators house. We had preplanned to go there with a member so that he could "smooz" the parents by talking about the young mens program but unfortunately, the parents weren´t home.The Mom was there when we showed up, but almost as if it was on cue, she left the house a seond later before we could sit her down and talk to her. But we ended up getting to talk to our investigator, Tiago(age 13), and his older brother, Claudio(age 15, i think). It was a good lesson but we didnt get what we wanted from it, which was the parents permission to baptize Tiago. We got to teach his brother which was nice, but we had to wait to tak to the parents.

Well, we ended up leaving there soon after the mom got home, but unfortunately she was having a lot of stomach pains and was only coming home so she could have her husband take her to the hospital when he got home. Needless to say, she look like she wanted to talk to us. So we went back a few days later to set everything up for the baptism but again, the parents weren´t home. So we ended up helping Tiago with his English homework and then left, yet again, empty handed. But we went back the next day which was Saturday, the day before the baptism, with our district leader to have the baptismal interview. But yet again, the family wasnt home so we ended up talking to Tiago in the street for half an hour before our district leader decided he couldn´t wait any longer to do the interview. So, he and his companion left with out doing the interview, which meant that we would have to do the interview the next day at church with our branch president while at the same time getting permission from Tiago´s ex-Jehovah´s witness dad all on the same day as the baptism. Fun.

SO the next day we went to Tiago´s house to get him to go to church but instead, we found his dad. We talked to his dad for about 10 minutes before it was clear that he thought baptism wasn't a good idea. We had at first thought that he wouldn´t mind because he was always very nice to us and never had a problem with us coming by. On this occation he was nice to us but stated his opinion that Tiago wasnt ready for baptism. He also seemed surprised that we were going to baptize him because Tiago had said nothing of the matter to him, even though we had be telling him to talk to his dad for 2 weeks. So we ended up leaving that house for 4th time in one week, empty handed. I was pretty bumbed because Tiago was our one real shot at baptizing this transfer, but now that star seems quite a bit dimmer. But were´re going to try and work with the family this week to see if we cant get something to happen. But the whole experience this week was strange to me. It just didnt feel right because it was kind of thrown together all at one time. It was also really stressful on our companionship, but thankfully, we made it through ok.

But in other news, We found a really great new investigator that we taught three days in a row and who seems really interested. I also found out two weeks ago that a family that i found in Setúbal is planning on getting baptized. I had planned on marking them my last week there but for some reason didnt, and then after that the family disappeared. Then a few weeks ago the Elders found them again and started teaching them. They always had a lot of doubts but once the heard President Torgan speak in Stake Conference, most of their doubts were answered. I also found out that the guy i marked for baptism there and got baptized after i left is now the young men´s president and has already gone to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. So after hearing that a few weeks ago really cheered me up.

Other than that life has been good. Its been unusually dry for winter in Portugal but its making up for it by being REALLY cold. Alot of miissonaries have been getting sick this winter(including my companions), but i some how have made it through untouched so far. So lets pray that keeps up.

I cant beleive that MIndy´s moving. The only i´m going to say is that the new house has still be close enough to Taco Bandito for m to get my grub on when i go stay with her.

Well, I think thats it for news. I hope Jenny´s camera gets fixed by next week because i think i´m going through picture withdrawals :).

Thanks again for all the prayers and love. Keep praying for us! Eu amo vocês!

Com amor,

Élder Haws