Big Changes

Hey Family,

The first week February and of this transfer are gone but i shouldn´t say i´m counting. In fact, Elder Torgersen(my old companion) called me this morning and told me we only had 17 weeks left in the mission. It was a strange feeling i got when i heard it because i finally realized my mission is winding down. But those thought s and feelings will disappear quickly as soon as we get back to work here. So you guys dont have to worry about me being trunkey!

But more important news, this week went pretty well for us. It seemed to last for an eternity but thats normal for the first week of a new transfer. We weren´t able to talk to the investigators we wanted to meet with(Ana Paula and Tiago), but we marked an appointment with Tiago´s entire family for tonight. I´m a little nervous for the lesson because i´m still not a hundred percent sure what we are going to say to them and because this lesson could determine if we will be able to baptize Tiago in the near future. But i know the Lord will help us out.

We also had a really neat experience last night that lead to us finding a new investigator. Lately its been tough to find new people to teach so when it comes time to start knocking doors, its hard to stay pumped. But President Torgan has given the mission lots of ideas on finding new people that have helped alot of missionaries out. One of those ideas is to offer prayers on homes and families which has given me alot of success on my mission. So last night we were knocking doors and offering these prayers trying to find someone who would talk to us. No one was really interested in anything we had to say, which is normal, that was until we found Ofélia. We knocked on her door and for some reason she seemed different from the other people we had talked to up to that point. She stood and listened to my entire contact and invitation and didnt interrupt me once!(which happens alot) But she accepted the prayer and told us a little about herself. She said that she was having some problems in her life so in the prayer i tried to follow the spirit and pray for the things she needed most. Then as we ended the prayer, i looked up and she was crying. I´m guessing that the spirit touched her because when we gave her a pamphlet and asked to come back she didnt hesitate in saying yes. And though this may not seem like a huge miracle, to me it was the exact blessing that i needed at that moment. So guess you could call that one of my "Little Wonders".

I also forgot to tell you guys something that we heard in the Zone conference two weeks ago. With such big news wouldn't think i would forget but i did. But as on July 1, 2011 the Portugal Lisbon Mission and the Portugal Porto mission will be combined to form the Portugal Mission. The general authority that announced it was very excited for the change because he said that it means the work in Portugal is improving greatly. President Torgan will be the Mission President of the newly created misison but i wont be here to see. it. Unfortunately i go home 3 weeks before. But at least i can feel satisfied knowing that i helped at least in some small way.

I heard that Jenny had to have surgery? What happened and is she going to be alright? I figured something was up when i didnt get an email form her because she only doesn't write when something disastrous happens(like the breaking of a camera :) ).

Well, i think thats about it for news. Thanks for all the love and support! Keep praying for us! Eu amo vocês!

Com amor,

Élder Haws