Friday, July 24, 2009‏

Hey Family,
This week has been awesome! this week has seemed to fly by and the Cabo Verdian Elders are almost gone. Today is the last day they will be able to use a washer and dryer for two years. We got our flight plans last Night! We were worried because if they didn't come last night they might not of come today because today is pioneer day and nothing happens in Utah on pioneer day. Everyone going to Lisbon is pretty excited and a little nervous. I cant wait to go though! Our plans are as follows August 4Leave Salt Lake at 9:50 a.m. and Arrive in New York(JFK) at 5:02 p.m.Leave New York at 7:00 p.m. and arrive in Paris (France) at 8:35 a.m.Leave Paris at 1:15 p.m. and arrive in Lisbon at 2:45 p.m. I'm really excited to go except that i dont know near enough to be ready.I'm planning on clalling you guys from New York But I might have some time in Salt Lake so i let you know more next week. We're Flying delta airlines the whole way so i'm going to have to pay $50 extra for my extra bag(sorry).Other than that i cant wait. This week has been really good. I'm still learing but they've taught us all the portuguese we're supposed to know so they pretty much just have us teach a whole lot which is getting pretty old.I still get a lot of compliments on the language and the Elder who lived in Brazil for a four years and is fluent even seems a little impressed. They still call me the Portuguese samurai and the New Elders might be picking upon that now. One elder Yesterday called me a "freak" with the language and then today accused me of being fluent. I still find it hard to speak and i make a lot of mistakes but its getting easier. I just need to speak more.Teaching has been good and my companionship is dong great.Yesterday we taught a brazilian lady who had a small boy or girl( i couldn't tell) in the TRC and it was really hard to understand her becasue she spoke brazilian portuguese AND she spoke at about the loudness of a wisper. It was tough but i could really feel the spirit when we taught. We've taught once in english in the past two weeks and it was really weird. I really like teaching in portuguese more even though its harder. Some tensions are rising in the district because some Elders dont follw the rules like they should but we're just trying to keep everyone from killing each other till we leave. This week i played basketball everyday in gym and i did all right. All the new missionaries think i'm a "baller" but i still dont think so. One new Elder said that when he first looked at me i didn't look like a "baller" but said i hit just about every shot. One New Elder who is going to Cabo Verde played Basketball for Madison (rexburg). I played a couple games with him and hit some threes while he was guarding me. He's about 6' 5" or so, is big and can play really well. After the few times i've played with him he's seemed a little impressed so i must be doing ok. Dont worry about getting the money on my card late cause i try not to spend too much. In one of dads letters he said he started bleeding in the temple but he never said what, what was it?And who is Josh Orgil marrying? Has Will Palmer gotten his mission call yet?And Whats Warren going to class for? Has Mikey Married the ******* girl yet? Sorry for all the questions. Well, i have to go. If you guys have any questions about the flight plans let me know. Thanks for all the letters and prayers. Tell everone i love them.
Eu Amo-lhes!
Elder Haws