Week 2‏

Hey family,
Life's good here in the MTC. I think i'm starting to get used to the routine so i'm feeling a little more comfortable. This week has been pretty crazy.Everybody is getting sick and its not just the swine flu. Elder Rossel had an upper respitory infection last week and now this week Elder Thaut got the regular flu so he's stuck in his room till monday. Elder McLean also got sick this week. He was having really bad stomach problems so we went to the clinic here in the MTC yesterday and they ran some tests there on him. After those tests the nurses looked at each other funny and told us to immediately down the road to the BYU Student Health Center Urgernt Care. They ran tests on everything and told us they'd tell us what he had. They thought at first he had an infection in his spline or kidney but those tests were negative so they then thought he had malaria(yes malaria, i guess some people here in Utah have gotten it from the water). But when we went back today the just gave him medicine for a bacteria or something so hopefully he'll get better. Our roomate who was supposed to go to Peru this week to that MTC got Bronchitis so he couldn't leave. We both asked McLean twice if he wanted a blessing but he said no both times, he was in bad shape too. So i'm surrounded by sick people so pray i don't get sick too. The language is starting to stress everyone out and one missionary almost had a little breakdown a few days ago but i think he's good now. i'm doing alright and everybody gets mad at me when i dont admit to being able to speak the language the best out of our district. The teaching is slowly getting better but i still dont like to teach all that much which i know is bad to say as a missionary but its true. The shrits you guys got me are amazing! i wash them and hang them up and i never have to Irnon them! I love it! We haven't ran much this week because of rain and McLean being sick but thats going to change...Yay :( . The homwsickness still hits me pretty hard sometimes but i try not to focus on it. I also feel kind of weird because i'm not enjoying the MTC as much as everyone said i would. There are times when its fun but there are still times when i feel down and stuff. Those moments never last long but i still feel weird. And now to answer questions. Yes i got my glasses and they fit really well thanks! i dont ware them to basketball cause i dont want to break them. Yes i got the money and i've used about half of it to get scripture markers and food while McLean was sick. They are4 Elders going to Lisbon ( Me, McLean, Rich, and Thaut) and 4 going to Cape Verde (Muir, Davidson, Rossel, and Isaac son). If you were Wondering Cape Verde is a group of Islands west of Africa that used to be a part of the Portugal Mission.If you guys want to send me stuff thats cool. I really loved the candy and nut bars you put in my suitcase. they seriously saved my life...but now they're gone. Some guys were talking in our district and said we couldn't wear black suits in Lisbon but i never remember hearing that.They said it was in the book or a letter they got. If you guys have the letter from my mission president could you look at that and see and i'll check my book. I dont think thats right but i want to be sure. More Elders are complementing me on my basketball skills and i actually beat the Elder i think is the best player in Lightning. This week he yelled down that hall at me and said, "I'm not letting you beat me today Haws!". I thought he was kidding but he seemed kinda seriuos. He's one of the New District leaders and he's reallly nice. Everything is good here. Go Penguins! Thanks for all the updates. I love and miss you guys!
Elder Haws