My Eternal Summer

Hey Family,

Its P-day which means we survived another week here in Tavira. It was actually a really good week by my standards so we´re doing alright.

Things seemed to go like they normally do, except for the fact that we are finding more potential investigators. Normally, Elder Torgersen and i are a little hesitant to go find new people because its really tough in this area, but we actually had some success this week. It seemed like every time we went knocking doors we found something that gave us a little bit of hope. It was actually kind of funny because every time something like that happened Elder Torgersen would turn to me after and say, "this normally doesn´t happen here Elder". But two weeks of stuff like that happening, i´d say that things have changed! We did have some disappointments this week though. We found this guy who wasn´t interested at all, but after Elder Torgersen talked to him for a bit he opened up and let us say a prayer. He said he didn´t believe in God but let us say a prayer and told us we could come back. But when we went back with the branch president, he wasn´t so kind. To make a 45 minute non-bible, "bible bashing" story short, he argued with us and the branch president, or to be more correct, Elder Torgersen and the branch president. I didn´t get in the middle with them because i haven´t had much experience with bible bashing and i was doing my best to keep up with the guys weird theories. I did jump in and helped end the discussion once it reached the 40 minute mark, but by then the damage had already been done. We had already made a huge scene in the middle of the street that most of the neighbors saw. I felt bad for not helping more or stopping the incident sooner but i think i felt worse because the whole thing made us look like Jehova´s witnesses. It was a rough experience but we´ve gotten over it and moved on. We also had a few people that we have talked to lie to us and hide from us, but other than that, life´s good. Things are looking up here so i cant complain. We even had two inactive and two non members in church yesterday, which hadn´t happened in a long time so we´re starting to see some miracles.

In other news, Elder Torgersen and i were called as councilors in the branch Presidency yesterday. Well, we weren´t really called, but the branch president told everyone in sacrament meeting that we were his councilors so i guess that works.

This week we also went and worked close to Spain on Thursday. It was a really cool experience to look across the river and see Spain. We even talked to a few Spanish people this week, which just strengthened my opinion that Spanish is just drunken Portuguese. But every time we go there, or try to go there something bad happens. Last week we tried to go there but got on the wrong train so we didnt end up going, but this week we were more careful and got on the right one. It seemed like everything was going according to plan, until we realized we had forgot our cell phone. So, we ended up having almost all of our appointments fall through because we couldn´t call anyone and confirm. But we did end up teaching an inactive member which turned out to be a really good lesson. He invited someone he works with to talk to us, which was a surprise because he didnt tell us he was going to do that. We taught both of them about the restoration and everything ran smoothly. Halfway through the lesson i realized how fluidly i was speaking and how easily the words were coming to me. The spirit was really strong in that lesson, which was really important because the lady our member had invited wasn´t too open to change. I hadn´t taught a lesson like that in a long time so it really left a lasting impression on me. Then, after the lesson, the member took us back into the garage area where he works and showed us the fish that he sells people. It was the first time in my life i saw a fish that weighed 35 pounds.

I also discovered last week that my spider bites seem to have disappeared. But unfortunately the mosquitoes have now taken a liking to me. I think in the last week i have been bitten over 15 times and its really starting to get annoying. But the good thing is i found the anti itch cream that mom put in my first aid kit so i´ve been able to take care of them(thanks mom!). I just wish i would have known that i had that stuff when i was in Setúbal.

As for mom´s question about Zone conference, here in the Algarve, President Torgan always comes do to us because it costs 40€ to go to Lisbon and back for just one missionary. But there has been a change in Zone conferences and interviews so now we will only have interviews 4 times a year and zone conference every once in a while. That means that i wont be getting mail as often and i also wont be able to see other missionaries from the rest of the mission for a while either. Its a little sad but it will save the church a lot of money. And i know when my next zone conference will be so i know when i will get my mail and stuff. It´ll be the 11th of September so it´ll be another 2 weeks before i get anything you guys might have sent me.

And i remember that mom said that someone saw Ryan Hutten somewhere and he said hi. And if i remember correctly someone wanted to know who he is. He was in the band with me at IF and we hung out every once in awhile after band stuff. He´s a really funny kid who has a lot of member friends but some how isn´t a member. If i´m not mistaken right now he´s going to the U of I. So if you guys see him again, tell him i say "óla".

Tell mom my camera is fine and i´m doing good on memory space on my card. Some times Elders laugh when they see my huge camera but the jokes on them because they´re the ones who always get robbed.

Well, i better get back to mission life. Enjoy the new School year because you can be sure i´ll be enjoying my eternal summer here in the Algarve! Obrigado por tudo! Eu amo vocês!

Com amor,

Élder Haws

P.S. tell mikey that brazilians speak incorrect portuguese and they know it!

Sunday, August, 22, 2010

Hey Family,

This wek was a big change going from Santarém to here, but it was a great week. Tavira and Santarém have a lot in common but at the same time, are very different. You´ll see what i mean.

Here in Tavira we have a lot of members, just like everywhere in the mission. But here, all but about 12 to 15 of those members are active. Yesterday during church i had to remember that because i couldn´t figure out why i was so tired. Then i remembered that me and my companion had taught primary, taught gospel principles class, blessed the sacrament, and passed the sacrament. From what i am to understand, thats how it goes every week. And on top of that i gave the opening prayer in sacrament meeting and gave a talk. Also, like Santarém we have very few people to teach so the Elders normally spend alot of time visiting inactives. Tavira is also a huge tourist town, which i didn´t know until i got here. The entire Algarve is full of tourists this time of year which means i hear more foreign languages than i do Portuguese. Portimão wasn´t like this but then again i didnt serve there in the summer! It makes the work a little tough but its not too bad.There also aren´t alot of people in this town so everyone has talked to the Elders, which makes finding people a little more difficult. Also, the weather isn´t too bad but its still really hot. Plus its really humid so alot of times it feels like where swimming through a hot tub rather than walking down the street. With all of that you think i would have an excuse to hate this area already, but the funny thing is i really like it here. I dont know what it is but i really enjoy serving here and all the unfortunate things that happen dont really phase me all that much. Its actually already becoming one of my favorite areas and i really dont know why. The work is really tough and serving here is a really humbling experience but i´m really excited to see how much i learn and grow here. It funny because this area is known as being the area that people try to avoid going to and most missionaries tell jokes about it. I even told jokes about it. But now i´m serving here and loving it.

My companion, Elder Torgesen, is a good Elder. He already has one transfer here in Tavira and already seems pretty tired and exhausted. He also seems pretty frustrated with the members and the work but still is dedicated. His companion before me was here for 4 transfers, which is said to be a trial of your faith, but he managed to survive so i´m sure i will too.

My toe is doing better this week but i realized that every time i bash my toe i leave an area. I say that because the last time i smacked my tough was the night i left Portimão. Funny coincidence.

Also, tell Warren thanks for the email and the advice. They really helped alot.

And you guys dont have to worry about my temper because now i´m too far away from anyone to get mad at someone, except for myself.

I didnt pull out any money last week but i did today because we´re probably going to need it to buy food here pretty soon. Sorry. I´ll try to do better in the future.

Well, i think thats it for news this week. Thanks for all the prayers and love. Eu amo vocês!

Com amor,

Élder Haws

On the Road Again

Warning: This email contains blood and fighting if you have been squimish with last couple of emails you may need to sit down and read this slowing with a wet cloth on your head or just drink a couple of beers before reading. - Larry (aka Elder Haws Take 1)

Hey Family,

I survived another week with the Zone Leaders her in Santaruem, but I can’t say I did without injuries. This morning I got in another fight with the same Zone Leader, then later I ended up kicking the edge of a door and cut my toe open. It started bleeding and everything I even came close to passing out. I got really pale and sweaty, which made the other elders laugh and make fun of me, but that’s nothing new because people did the same thing when I passed out at school. I didn’t do it on purpose but it was quite the coincidence that it happened on the same day I fought with the ZL. I guess that might have been Heavenly Father’s way of telling me to be more patient.

In more exciting news, transfers are tomorrow and as you can probably guess, I already got my call. Me and Elder Bradshaw are being “with washed” but if you don’t know what that means, it means we’re both leaving. He’s going to Abrante, just north of here, and I am going to the other end of the mission…all the way down to Tavira. It’s in the Algarve, which means it’s at the bottom of Portugal so tomorrow will be a long day of traveling by bus. It’s actually right next to Spain so if I apostate I can go across the border. It’s full of tourists right now because 1) it’s in the Algarve and 2) it’s summer. It also has one of the smallest branches in the mission which means the missionaries do pretty much everything there. I’m a little nervous about going there because I know it will be tough, but I’m also a little excited to see what happens. I also have mixed feelings about being white washed. I feel like it was important because this area really needs a clean start, but at the same time I feel as though I kind of failed here. But I’m sure those feelings will pass though. My new companion will be Elder Torgison. He was in the MTC with me and he’s a really cool kid so this next transfer will be fun.

This week was pretty uneventful. We finally taught that boy that came to church two weeks ago but since then, he hasn’t come. He has a friend that was baptized a year ago that went inactive and doesn’t like the church, and he told this kid we’re teaching bad stuff about the church so now he’ not to interested in talking to us anymore. Our recent convert also hasn’t talked to us in a while but she still seems to be doing ok.

Also, I forgot to tell you guys that one of the investigators that I taught in Setubal got baptized last Sunday, and afterward he called me up. He wanted to say thank you for everything we did for him. He also said he wanted me to be there but knew I had to be her for a reason. He told me it was like I was there and that he is going to send you guys pictures of the baptism. He is a great guy and is going to be a great member and leader in the Church.

Also I found out that Elder Dalton is going to train again in Setubal so he must be doing great. Elder Thomas is also going to train again this transfer (he trained last transfer too), Elder McClean (my MTC comp) is also going to train. We got 19 new missionaries this transfer so everything is going crazy and everyone is training now.

In other news, I’m low on mission money so I may have to pull out a little personal money to make it to my new area. Sorry, I know I have pulled out a lot of money lately but I promise I’m going to do better in the future!

I haven’t got the package you guys sent me yet but I will probably get it her in about 2 weeks when I have zone conference.

Well, I think that’s the news. Thanks for all your love and prayers. Eu amo voces!

Com amor,

Elder Haws

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Hey Family,

We made it through our week of interviews here in Satarém which means that next week is transfers. It was a pretty good week but it still left a lot of room for improvement.

The week started shaky because some of the missionaries in our zone had to go to Lisbon to renew their visas. They had to stay over night in the office because it wasn´t going to take two days, which meant we had to do some divisions to make sure no one got left alone. Being the Lucky missionary that i am, i got to go on another division with one of the zone leaders because Elder Bradshaw had to renew his visa. I wasn´t too excited about the division because i knew the Zone Leader was going to try to show us all the things we do wrong and try and fix all the problems in our area. That wouldn´t have been a completely bad thing, but you´ll understand why i say that in a minute.

When the division started, so did the critic. We didnt have anything planned for that day so we spent most of the day walking around and contacting people in the street. First of all, i dont like doing street contacts, but what made it worse was that walking around so much gave Elder Fernandes (ZL) more time to tell what i have been doing wrong. I know he meant well, and that he was trying to help, but i felt that maybe he could have gone about helping me in a different way. But thankfully i was pretty patient and made it through the rest of the day without trying to kill him. But unfortunately, that patience didnt last over the next 24 hours. The next morning, during companionship study, he had me teach a practice lesson to him so he could help me improve. I taught an OK lesson that lasted about 15 to 20 minutes, then he gave me a 15 to 20 minute critic. At first, i handled it pretty well, but when the 10 minute mark came around i started getting a little frustrated and by the end, i was definitely not happy. He could tell that i was a little upset, so he asked me if i was ok. Bad idea. To make a long story short, we got in an argument that ended up effecting about half of our day. But by the time we came home that night i had cooled of enough to talk to him about it and now everything is ok.

I think that living with the Zone Leaders is starting to take a tole on me so now i´m hoping for a quick transfer. But if that doesnt happen, i´ll find some way to survive.

This week we also had interviews that went really well. Mine was short as always but was still really good. He told me somethings i need to improve and gave me some suggestions on how improve our area. He also said there are some other things that i can do on my mission but said that before that, i have to improve myself a little more. I dont know what "other things" are but if it has to do with leadership of white washing, i´ll tell him i´m fine where i´m at.

Anyway, tell Jenny that i got her email this week but that last week i didnt get one. I´m not sure if thats what she was asking in her email or not though. Also, tell Mom congratulations on her surviving girls camp. She probably did so well that she´ll probably be put in charge of the whole thing next year.

In food news, you may now add the following to the list of foods i eat, all thanks to a salad we made this week:

Tomatoes
Bell Peppers
Onions and
Cucumber

In unrelated news, this week is Elder Wilson´s last week as a missionary. I had the chance to talk to him 2 weeks ago when Elder Teixeira was here. We took some pictures and told stories for a while and it was fun, but i didnt realize at the time that that may be that last time i see Elder Wilson in a long time. It was kind of weird thinking about it.

Well, i think thats it for news this week. Thanks for all the emails and prayers. Next week i´ll probably tell you guys what is happening wiht transfers. Até Já! Eu amo vocês!

Élder Haws

General Authorities and Yogurt

Hey Family,

We survived another week here in São Domingos and a visit from Elder Teixeira so things are still looking up.

The highlight of this week ofcourse was the visit from Elder Teixeira that we had on wednsday. I thought there would be a chance that he would give us faca but it turned out that he gave us exactly the oppposite. He spent most of the time talking about the experiences that he had while he served his mission here. As a matter of fact, the first story he told was about his first area Lagos, which happend to be part of my second area Portimão. He told alot of really great stories about succesful missionaires and the importance of serving an honorable mission. He also told us stories about certain missionaries that he had in his mission when he was a mission president in Brazil. He spent a lot of time praising president and sister Torgan. He said that president Torgan is the "giant" of missionary work and he also told us stories of how president Torgan took Brazilian political figures to temple open houses and openly shared the gospel while he was serving in the brazilian government. President Teixeira and his wife also said that if they had one more child that was of age to serve a mission, they would pray that they would come serve with president Torgan because "there is no other mission president like president Torgan". It was a really good conference and afterward, Elder Teixeira interviewed alot of the missionaries that were there. I never got interviewed, which i see as a good thing because i probably would have been too nervous to say anything.

The rest of the week went really slow. Nothing really seemed to happen in our area and we didnt really teach all that many lessons. We had two investigators in church this week, the little kid from last week, and a new lady. This new lady has been an investigator for a while but has never come to church because her husband pretty much hates us. We we teach her, we have to go over to her house when hes not there and she can only come to church when he leaves the house on sunday. For that reason, shes never come to church because he normally stays home on sundays. But this week she walked in right before sacrament meeting because her husband left the house and she decided to take the oppurtunity to come to church. We still havent taught the little kid yet but we still have high hopes for him. Everytime we try to talk to him he seems a little less interessed but we still have faith it will turn out ok. I also got frustrated with the zone leaders this week adn we had a couple of arguments but were good now. We were just tlaking about my area and i pretty much just vented my frustration on the ZLs. Then last night, one of them sat me down and we talked about what we think i should do about this area. He gave me some good ideas so we´ll see anything changes here in a few weeks.

In other news, I can add one more item to the list of "Food I Never Imagined I Would Eat". I say that because last sunday we had bar-b-qued sardines at a members house. I didnt think i would like them but they turned out to be preety good. It was still kind of weird because they cook the entire fish...and then you eat THE ENTIRE FISH. I didnt like the thought of eating the fishs eyes and lungs and stuff, so i just ate from the tail to about the head and called it good. It tasted pretty good, but i wasn´t a fan of the scales and spines. The members seemed pretty impressed though because some of them had never seen american misisonaries, or missionaries for that matter, eat sardines. And as a side thought, since i had to eat fish agan, tell Mindy shes not praying hard enough!

But this week, me and Elder Bradshaw(or as the portuguese say, "Bradshó") had a more plesant food encounter that involved cake and yogurt. So yesterday we went to our recent converts house, who just happens to have a brother who was baptized recently too. So we went over to their house and they showed us how to make a yogurt cake which was amazing. Fun, Fun,

Well, i better get going. I pray for mom this week so that she can survive girls camp. Eu amo vocês!

Élder Haws

P.S. my bites were probably spider bites and they are pretty much gone now.