This week was full of fun and excitment! We had some great things happen here so this could be a long email!
I might as well start with the craziest thing first. As you guys know we had Zone conference last week and normally at Zone conference we get an envelope with a mission news letter that says where everyone is serving and a liahona. But this week we got references from church headquaters. We only had two so we weren´t incredibly excited but that changed yesterday. When we got the referal we found that one lived near our house and the other lived 20 minutes away. We planned on visting the one near us on Saturday, the day after Zone conference but our plans Friday night fell through so we went ot see if we could go by to set up an appointment with the guy. When we went by, nobody was home so we just figured we would call him the next day. His information said he wanted to know the times of our meetings so we called and told him we meet on sundays at 9:30. Elder Thomas was the one talking to him on the phone and told me after the phone call that the guy didn´t sound very interested but said he would come to church. We didn´t think he would show up so we just kind of forgot about him. Then, while we were in a meeting yesterday before church, this random guy shows up and one of our members pulled Elder Thomas out ot talk to him. It turned out that this guy had been looking for a church to attend and saw our church in Brazil, before coming to Portugal. When he saw our church here he tried to go inside but the gate is always locked. But he really wanted to come to church there so he got online and emailed the church to find out the metting times. After Elder Thomas talked to him for a few minutes the meeting got over and i walked over and introduced myself but it wasn´t long before our ward misison leader walked over and took over for us. Both our ward mission leader and this investigator are from Brazil so they got along great. Our mission leader gave the guy a tour and then sat with him through priesthood metting while another brazilian member sat with him for the rest of church. Our members were great about talking to him and he seemed to really enjoy church. Then after church we marked a lesson with him for later that day. We met him in the church and started teaching him the first lesson and it went great! He told us that he felt the spirit throughout the meetings that day and that one of the talks and really "touched" him. During the lesson he kept asking really good questions and seemed really interested. Then, about half way through the lesson a member who has helped us alot with some other investigators came in and helped us teach somemore. The lesson was really good, but i kept noticing we said the word baptism alot. It seemed like everytime we answered one of his questions we talked about the priesthood and baptism. There was even a point in the lesson where i thought we were saying it too much. The strange thing is we never taught a lesson like that, that was so focused on baptism. Then, in the middle of the lesson i had this strange thought, and it might have even been the spirit, but i felt like we could mark the guy for baptism. He seemed to be accepting everything and i could feel the spirit pretty strong during the lesson so i thought we could do it. I quickly tried to put the thought out of my mind but i kept thinking about it. Then i remembered all the stories of how missionaries had marked people for baptism in the first lesson and i remembered how i wanted to have an experience like that. Then i remember thinking that if i wanted to have an experience like that, i would have ot invite this guy to be baptized if Elder Thomas didn´t. Again, i tried to push those thoughts out of my mind but i couldn´t. Then, at the end of the lesson the guy asked how we do baptism and Elder Thomas and I jumped at the opportunity. We just happened to be having the lesson int he room with the baptismal font in it so Elder Thomas went to turn on the lights in the font while i slide back the doors. I then explained how we do baptism and then after, Elder Thomas invited him to be baptized on the 4th of April. We knelt and prayed about it and as soon as the prayer got over i asked him how he felt. He said he felt good about it before we prayed but he seemed to feel just a little but better afterward. I say that because he told me he felt good and then hugged our member who was there then hugged us. Our member was a bit surprised but went with it. Then, we were about to explain how these next two weeks were going to be a battle for him, when he went and said that all by himself! It was incredible! He is the most prepared person i have ever met in my life! He knows these next two weeks will be tough and he said this last week was already tough but seems ready for the challenge. The best part about this story is that me and Elder Thomas had been praying to find the people who were ready to recieave the gospel and progress towards baptism. The people we have been teaching have benn preogressing but only to a certain point. And then this week, the Lord literally handed us someone who was ready for baptism! The last couple of weeks have been tough on us because the rest of the mission has been baptizing but not us. I especially felt bad but now we´re feeling a bit better! This truly was a testimony to me that the Lord answers our prayers!
That was the high light of our week by far but we also had Zone conferece. The day before, I went on a division with one of the Zone leaders so the other zone leader could come and mark our brazilain couple for baptism. He and Elder Thomas tried, twice, but it didnt work. On the other hand, me and the other Zone Leader marked one of their investigators for baptism. We marked her but she didn´t come to church yesterday so now she can´t be baptized on that day but it was still a good experience for me. That was as good as the division got. At the beginning of the division we had to ride a train to get to the ZL´s area so that took a while. Then we went back to the house and then went straight out to do street contacts for two hours. I HATE street contacts because i feel awkward and never know what to say. I ended up not talking to anyone because i was nervous. I was with a ZL and in a new area, and hadn´t done street contacts in a while so i was rusty. He noticed that i was nervous and afriad of being regected so he told me to contact 3 people at a bus stop a t the same time. I didn´t shy away for the challenge but was too excited about it. I tried...and failed misserably. One person was talking on the phone, the other two were didn´t believe in God and i couldn´t speak portuguese to save my life because i was so nervous. The ZL took over after that so i was even more imbarrassed. Then, after that, he told me to contact two teenage girls, who also truned out to be atheist. I agian, failed terribly and the ZL took over. That was pretty much the theme of the division. I felt so embarrassed the entire time but was glad when it was over. I apologized to the ZL for not helping very much but said that i did fine. Then the next day we had Zone Conference and i got to see Elder Wilson. We talked for a bit and had a good time. He´s loving being AP and is having a ton of success so i´m happy for him. Also, in Zone Conference, we found out we are teh highest baptizing mission in Europe! I also got my package and it was awesome! Everything is perfect!
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sorry about that. I hit the wrong button.
I also read Mindy´s blog post adn it was great. I dont have time to comment on it but i will next week for sure!
The language is going good. President Torgan made a comment about it in the leadership meeting in zone conference in front of all the District leaders and Zone leaders in the Algarve(only like 5 people). The investigator yesterday also asked that i answer some of his questions during the lesson. Normally people ask my companions for answers, i think because they know the talk and understand better but yesterday the guy said,"Elder Haws, can you explain what...means?" It was awesome. I also found myself answering a good amount of his questions too. It was great!
Well i´m out of time so i got to go. Tell mom i got her email. The weather has been nice and sunny latly so spring is here for sure! I only have one request, and thats that you guys pray for our investigator who we marked yesterday. He said its going to be hard for but with all your guys´s prayers i´m sure he´ll make it. Thanks for everything! Eu amo vocês!
Élder Haws
Just one more Email.
I thought yu guys might like some more pictures too.
The one with the kids is a picute of a school yard with a bunch of chickens that live in the field next to it
I also thought that dad would enjoy the enuch sign.
Tchau!
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