Home @ SD

Wow, my mission is over! It feels weird to be home. I thought I would just conclude my journey with one last entry. It was hard to say the final goodbyes to all of my friends in Windhoek and pack everything up. I gave pretty much everything away. I had extra space in my suitcase coming home. I don’t know what happened to my body that morning I was flying to Cape Town… maybe I was nervous or something, but I threw up before I left for the airport and didn’t feel all that well that whole day. It still was fun and good to see all my fellow transfer mates in the Mission Home at the end of our missions. We had a nice steak dinner with President and Sister Wood and they gave us some training and wise counsel before we were to go home. It was awesome. Then we all bore our testimonies and sang the SACTM song one last time, with all our heart and soul! The next day we just hung out in Cape Town and waited for our evening flight home. It was relaxing. I went to Green Market Square to get some final souvenirs, and soon enough it was time to load up and head to the airport. It felt weird. In the airport we gave a power “Hurrah For Israel” as went through security and waved goodbye to President and the AP’s.

The flight was good. It was a double decker plane. Us elders didn’t sit near each other. I slept most of the way, and before I knew it, we landed in London! First time on European soil for me. Elder Felshaw, Elder Neilson and I had the later flight, so we say bye to the other elders and decided to go out on the town! We bought the subway ticket and eventually made our way through the busy London transit system to Big Ben! It was amazing. We walked around and also saw a debate in the House of Commons which was cool. We actually saw a total of 6 members who came up to us and said hello! That was cool. One guy even gave us 20 pounds haha.

We made it back and I got on the plane taking me to San Diego…aka HOME! I was shocked at how full the plane was! I got lucky and no one sat right next to me, and I had a window seat. We flew over Ireland, and I got to see the tip of Greenland! After 11 long hours, and flight attendant said “Welcome to San Diego” I got out and went through the long customs line and they gave me no trouble with the things I brought home. I went to get my luggage and through the sliding doors saw my family (mostly my sister) there with signs and making lots of noise! It was actually happening! I was home! The rest was just a dream! I remember hugging my mommy first, and just lots of hugs and happiness! The Winters were there, Pam and Randy, Grandma Haws, Daddy and Diane and even Bailey! What a welcoming committee! Bishop recorded the whole thing, which was awesome.

I got in the car and that’s when it hit me. It was finished. Kelly was driving and blasted the radio and we went to Rubios and had some delicious fish tacos! Yum. I got released by President Elsworth, and just came home and crashed. It felt weird, but refreshing.  Went to the temple and did a session on Saturday and spoke on Sunday in sacrament meeting. It was great to see lots of old friends in the ward, and even some new faces.

HOME SWEET HOME! So fast forward a few weeks and I have a car, a job at Zerorez carpet cleaning, a gym membership, and finally got a phone after 2 weeks. But the highlight has been being called as a temple worker in the San Diego Temple! That has been great.  Also working at the Bishops Store House has been fun too.

Well, it truly was the best 2 years, and I wouldn’t trade the experiences I had and the things I learned for the world

 

Homecomming at the San Diego Airport

Its Time!!!

Release Notification

THE FINAL EMAIL AS A FULL TIME MISSIONARY!!

Hi

 

Monday's just won't be the same anymore. Yes, I have been thinking a little bit about my talk and what I'm going to say. Don't worry. I guess something I'll need will be more G's and a dental appointment mommy! That's a great idea about protein powder daddy! ha-ha

Lions at the game park

This week was sweet. I don't have much time today because we just spent the day at a game park! It was sweet. the day started off hectic with a mix up on Elder Twitchells flight to Cape Town, and then hurrying off to make it to the game park to see some animals. It was like 220K's away and like the 2nd best in the country. We went on a safari in the bush! Rode in one of those sweet cars and saw soo many cool things and our tour guide gave us cool facts about the animals and answered our questions. We had an all you can eat feast in this beautiful place on the reserve. Amazing day! God bless the Smith's!!

Our baptism went perfect as well! I love those 2 young women soo much. They were soo prepared and excited. I'm happy for them.

Our missionary fireside also went very well. I was asked to conduct the meeting, so that was a joy.

Yuppp, gotta say some goodbyes tomorrow and cruise into Cape Town on Wednesday! I'll interview with President Wood on Wednesday and have dinner and a testimony meeting that night, then on Thursday hang out and Cape Town and do whatever I want until that evening when I fly home to see all of youuuuu!! Can you believe it?! I sure cant. You do not know how excited I am!!!!!!!

I'm going to return with honor and have no reg...

I don't know what else to say!! SEE YOU ON FRIDAY!!!

LOVE,

Elder Dusty Haws



Sara getting baptized

Katuu and her family

 

 

The branch fireside

Going home is going to be weird.

Dear Family,

Nice email. To answer your question daddy, my foot is pretty much 100% now. No complaints here. As for the temple that night I get home, of course I wanna spend time with my family that I haven’t seen in 2 longgg years, of course I’ll be exhausted after being on a plane for like 24 hours, but I just feel, despite of all those factors, it'll be a nice way to seal the deal and close this chapter in the book of Dusty. I still wanna have the spirit of a missionary and not get home and blast my country music I’ve been missing, and watch TV and sports, and Facebook, etc. maybe not do an entire session, just to be in the one and only San Diego temple that I’ve been staring at and dreaming about for the past over 700 days! I think you can spare me 20 minutes..heck I’ve been gone a lot longer and soon enough you're going to be sick of me haha.  Responded to Bishop Sutherland's email last week and told him I need to get released or whatever. 8:45 should work out just dandy. President Ellsworth, here I come! He better be ready.

Couldnt stop laughing

Dad, a temple hopping trip on the way up to conference would be AMAZING!! Sign me up! Deal. Holy cow, I’m getting a little bit more excitedddd. I think once upon a time mommy mentioned something about going to New York to see grandma and grandpa?! What’s that all about :)

Goood to hear the Aggies started the season off on a good note.  Tell my main man brother Montierth I say what’s up and sorry I didn’t respond to his letter he sent me. Yeah mommy I didn’t get digestive problems, we are careful, and that’s why we don’t get it very often. it just is cheap and tastes good.   I’ll just hunt down those 2 elders if you really wanted me to meet them that bad. I’m happy with the progress they made with Diane.

Yes, winter is defiantly over here. Summer is in full swing! Its hott, but we've been told that this is just the beginning! I am sooo thankful that I don’t have to spend a summer in Namibia, especially as a walking elder. I would die. It’s like Las Vegas here. Dirt, heat, desert.

As for the report on my week, it was fantastic! Guess what, we were busy doing missionary work. Even though we had lots of things to do and taught good lessons, nothing too eventful happened. I did go on exchanges with Elder Giles in the Windhoek branch, which was fun.

the final 4

The water here in the city I guess was contaminated for some reason so we were told to not drink it. It didn’t really affect us cuz we have filters on the water that we drink from the tap anyway. BUT I think somehow it got me, or maybe I ate something bad, cuz one night, I was in major pain! It was bad! I’ll spare you the details. haha Elder Farley will make a good husband, and if he chooses, nurse. He took care of me, but not as good as you would have mommy! Remember those dreadful days after I broke my foot. Anyway, it passed in a few hours, now I’m back to normal. I also did have a mini fever, and my companion's nose couldn’t stop running, especially in lessons haha poor guy. We’re just beat up elders over here. The Lord is working us too hard; our frail unhealthy bodies can’t keep up. Haha.

Elder Giles interviewed our 2 candidates for baptism, and they passed with flying colors. I gave Elder Giles a little training on how to conduct a baptism interview, since he had never done one before and I’ve done 12. He was all fired up and did a great job, I was proud. So this Saturday we'll have a baptism! Boosting the young women in the branch haha. 

Also next Sunday we're having a missionary fireside. They wanted to squeeze it in before I went home. We hope that visas get approved. I’ve got a good feeling about it. God answers prayers. But we're looking forward to the fireside; hopefully it'll be a success. Just got a few finishing touches to do.

Guess what, unlike South Africa, Namibia has a time change! Found that out Sunday morning...like as soon as we woke up. The time went forward, so we had to scurry to church. it wasn’t announced last week, so many people were late haha. Oh well.  I’ve been writing all of my converts and other people that have made a difference in my mission and will put it in the office where they send off the post every week so hopefully they'll all get a nice little love note from elder haws. Hopefully they'll remember me.

chillin' last night

This is the last full week of missionary work. ahhh! The brethren are cracking the jokes and hinting at it. It hasn’t gotten to me too bad quite yet.

I've been slacking on my scriptures.

D&C 78:17-19

17 Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you;

18 And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.

19 And he who receiveth all things with thankfullness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.

2 Nephi 28:20-22

20 For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good.

21 And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.

22 And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance.

Of course you can write me next week, that'll be the last one though.

Going home is going to be weird.

LOVE,

ELDER DUSTY HAWS

 

Something that I really wanna do that night...

Dear Family

Man, I only have to do this a few more times. I’m going to miss it! Wow sounds like you're having the time of your life there in Logan! I wish I coulda been there. Glad you made it safe and sound. Shame about the windshield and heck yeah I remember that cool game with the blocks and the grass, down at 1st dam!

As for that random email, that place is about as far away from Windhoek as you can get. It’s the little strip in the top right of the country, if you look on a map. Not much we can do. Sorry.

To answer your question mommy, there are no more visas that got approved yet, there’s still a little glimmer of hope, but the government is just being dumb. The public relations people from Joburg recently to talk to them, the smiths here are always trying, but things will work out hopefully. So if no visas get approved, Elder Farley might have to be with a branch missionary for a time, but it might not work out with the branch missionaries. Who knows what is going to happen!

But this week was pretty good and busy and fun. We had a fun FHE with the branch president last week and just busy days the rest of the week. Couple dropped appointments here and there, but we quickly found something else to do or just went to find someone who wanted us to see them, or just needed a little love from the missionaries! We got capana twice this week..which is just braaied meat! There people braai on the side of the road, and you drive up, give them money, and take your meat wrapped in newspaper. Yummm. Oh yeah remember my second companion elder Larrabee...well, he just got married!! That fetcher haha. He sent me a wedding invite. Good for him. I love that guy.



Elder & Sister Cook and me today

The assistants and President Wood came up Friday night, and so the assistants stayed with us, which was fun. Our boarding was busy though. We went on exchanges on Saturday, which went very well. Sunday morning, Elder Cook flew in from Durban! On Saturday night he had a speaking assignment there, and flew in to NAM the next morning. He spoke in both sacraments. That night he had a fireside which also was powerful. I’d say the theme of his talks were about marriage and family. niceee. He and his wife are funny and soo spiritual. I took some good notes and learned lots. But it gets better. This morning, we met together and had zone conference. It was powerful. I was asked to conduct. Yeah no big deal, a general authority there haha. President Wood and his wife gave a nice discourse on tithing. Man, it blew my mind. I cannot wait to pay my tithing when I go home. Elder Cook and his wife talked lots about all kinds of things. I could sit here all day and tell you. It was amazing. We were lucky that there were so few of us and so we just sat like in a circle like a family would and had a nice discussion. They spoke with such soft voices, man! So spiritual and motivating and inspiring and uplifting. I loved every second of it. Since this was my last zone conference, I had to say my farewell testimony. The final one! It was nice. Then, after the meeting, the smiths and cooks loaded up in the car and we did too with the AP's and raced off to the airport. They are on a tight schedule! They’re off to Cape Town, and doing a mission tour the entire week. That’s a lot of traveling and meetings. I have a lot of respect for those men.

So I was thinking about when I get home and something that I really wanna do that night, and that is, to go to the TEMPLE!! I miss that place soooo much. But I wanted to go there and have a PPI with the Lord just to finish the deal. I really was hoping I could do that.

Well, can’t think of anything else to write.  Still working hard! Miss you. seeee you soon.

LOVE,
Elder Haws

 

Mission Home Letter

Dearest Family,

I’m glad you liked the pictures from last week. But don’t worry, I have some cooool ones for when I get home that I haven’t sent to you. That’s way cool that you're towing Kelly’s car up to Logan! Good, now she can drive me around when I get up there eventually haha. That’s awesome the PQ2 ward is doing a fast like that. I am so excited I’ll get to participate in it! …But let’s for sure do it a few days or so after I’m home...cuz I am dying for some Connie Haws cooking!! ahhhh! I’m sick of peanut butter sandwiches and noodles. No thanks. Never eating those for the rest of my life!! Haha. Daddy, you must get that motorcycle! My companion, Elder Farley, loves motorcycles, especially Harleys! He said you should get it. Don’t worry about Diane’s doll.

What the heck is that?

I’ve discovered that I’m the kind of guy that enjoys the elements and weather and stuff, and to be honest, I’m sick of all this perfect weather I’ve had haha its might sound crazy, but when I was serving in Cape Town, I was blessed with beautifully amazing weather...but now there its cold and miserable. I come up to Namibia, right after the blazing summer that they always have, only to have had like 4 months now of perfect weather. Logan, here I come! Shake things up a little bit haha.


Mormon helping Hands

Not too many things to report on here this past week. Just busy doing missionary work as usual. Let’s see, what can I tell you about this week. I guess the first thing that comes to mind is the Mormon Helping Hands we did on Saturday morning! I think it was on the same day all throughout Africa...cuz by the sounds of things you weren’t doing service recently. We all met up at the Sam Nojuma stadium right across from the cemetery where we were asked by the city to paint its walls. Both branches were there, lots and lots of people. The mayor of Katutura was there and said some words and then we went to work! We didn’t paint the entire fence/wall, because that would have taken days, but the part we did looks real good. It was fun to be out serving with the saints. It was awesome! But mommy, I didn’t wear sunscreen, so I got burnt. my poor neck! It’s used to being covered up by the collar of my white shirt. I learned a trick from a member in Cape Town...take an ice-cube and just rub the sunburn. It works! Haha

Another thing that comes to my mind was our recent convert François’s talk at church. This is the guy who is the head of the music department at UNAM and lectures from 8am to 5pm at the university. He did such a good job on his talk about perseverance. He seemed like such a natural up there. His nonmember wife was there as well. I love that man. Always happy and willing to do whatever is asked of him.

Nightly planning meeting

We had 10 investigators at church, but most of them were younger and not the kingdom builders that we're looking for, but it was still good nonetheless. We stayed for the mission prep class that is held after church. Those 5 or so members that stay are such champs. I just feel so lucky and privileged that my mission prep teacher up in Logan was a former mission president! The teacher here is just a humble returned missionary who still does a great job. I’ve noticed, here in a YSA branch you need to have refreshments if you want people to show up to stuff haha. It works though.

Good news, Elder Farley and I ran this morning! Almost died because I was so out of shape, but it felt spectacular! My body was so happy. I’m not one of those elders that just before he goes home works out like crazy and attempts to get in shape. I told the lord I’d focus all my time, talents and efforts on serving him for a full 2 years, so I’ll just lift when I go home. It was funny, on Friday night after we finished planning and ate in our boarding, we both just started studying. We said to each other when in the next couple years of our life are we going to be studying the gospel on a Friday night! Might as well live it up and enjoy it now while it lasts!

But guess who is coming in less than a week...the one and only President Wood and ELDER CARL B COOK!!!! Its finally going to happen! The Smiths and we have been advertising/publicizing it like crazy. It’s a big event. He is flying in that morning...then he is speaking in both branches sacrament meetings, then holding a fireside that night! But it gets better. The next day, he is having zone conference with us elders!! Then he fly’s to Cape Town the next day and has zone conference, etc. he's doing a mission tour. I’m soooo lucky to have been able to say I got to meet 3 general authorities.

Since he is coming, it means I might not email on Monday next week? I don’t know. I just got the agenda and I am the one conducting the meeting! AH! Haha bring it on. I aint scared. But it means I also have to give my departing testimony! Oh boy. It’s going to be a spiritual weekend that’s for sure!

I was laughing when Elder Morris would tell me that he was dreaming of home and the airport...but once and a while it happens to me! Haha. I don’t talk about home as much as he did, but I guess it’s just a natural thing that happens! Ha it won’t faze me though, I’m still here to work, work and work some more until president tells me its time to go home to all of you!

It was weird to think that about half of the elders that were in my transfer went home for school! Elder Morris included! That fetcher is with his mommy at some beach house right about now haha. nahh good for him. We were giving them a hard time about going home 3 weeks early but then came the clever response "We did all that the Lord needed us to do in the 23 months we were here. It only took us that long." haha its just weird cuz I was with all of them in the MTC oh so long ago and now they're home. And now, I guess that makes me one of the oldest elders in the mission!

Sorry I forgot the scriptures last week. I remembered later on in the day. I’m getting forgetful in my old age haha.

2 Nephi 28:28
28 And in fine, wo unto all those who tremble, and are angry because of the truth of God! For behold, he that is built upon the rock receiveth it with gladness; and he that is built upon a sandy foundation trembleth lest he shall fall.

D&C 112:14
14 Now, I say unto you, and what I say unto you, I say unto all the Twelve: Arise and gird up your loins, take up your cross, follow me, and feed my sheep.

LOVE YOU ALL VERY MUCH! see you super soon!

-Elder Haws

MR. SERVICE

South Africa Cape Town Mission <2011891@ldschurch.org>

Dear Brother and Sister Haws,

We love your amazing son and will be sad to see him return home—but very happy for you.  You must be the best of parents to have raised such a fine young man who is MR.  SERVICE non stop!

Would you be so kind as to send us the email address of your Stake President so that we can send to him Elder Haws release letter.

Kind regards,

Sister Oldham

South Africa Cape Town Mission

PO Box 181
Observatory 7935
021 447 5530
2011891@ldschurch.org

So thank you...

Dear family!

Nice email again. I am so lucky to have such wonderful parents and a sister, and also friends that email me, without fail, every single week. Most African elders never get emails. So thank you.

Thanks for all of the updates. Happy to hear Diane Fice came to church! That’s awesome. And the thing that happened during the sacrament honestly sounds like something that would happen here in Africa! Haha

As for the mission extension, it was more of a thought than something that might actually happen. I chatted with president wood and he said we'll hope and pray that the visas go through, and if not, the second option would be having a branch missionary be Elder Farley’s companion. They did that earlier this year when a missionary needed a companion. There are like 2 candidates that would most likely be able to do it and take over for me when the time comes. Don’t worry, it probably not gonna happen. Plus, I just miss you guy’s wayyyyyy toooooo muchhhh!!

The Khomasdal chapel!!

Anyway, this week was sweet as usual. I forgot to tell you about the plane ride last Sunday to Cape Town. We just happened to be on the plane with DRUNK PEOPLE!! Oh my goodness, it was bad. And what made it worse; we were smack dab in the middle of where they were sitting. They all were drinking in the airport before the flight. And then on the plane they give out free wine. Bad combination. They were really funny, but not haha. They like were planning to all go to a club when they landed in Cape Town. They made like a video on the phone. Singing welcome to Cape Town when we landed, etc. and there’s little elder Farley and I. innocent missionaries. Afterward they apologized for their behavior and felt bad. Oh well. I think one of them was filming something in Namibia for the food network or something.

One thing that president focused on was the driving in the mission. We all got a standard missionary DVD that is the same throughout the church that we watched. It got me thinking about how I drive. I’ve repented of my wicked ways. We drive better now, which is good. Not saying we drove crazy before though!


The former NAM CLAN

We had a busy past few days. The focus in the church is real growth, and that’s something president wood wants up here in Namibia. There’s a saying in PMG that you should leave the area better than when you got there, and the way you can tell is by the sacrament meeting attendance. So through baptisms and less actives returning. Going through the branch list and visiting those on the list that haven’t seen elders or anyone from the church in years. Lots of them have moved. I sat down with the branch president’s wife who had been going through the list of members getting their details and I typed it into the church system. It took like over 2 hours! But it was so worth it. Actually it was kinda fun, but also very beneficial to the branch!

Oh it was funny, in gospel principles class we were talking about talents and we were supposed to share the person's next to us's talent...and I told the oak mine, like sports or whatever, but then when he told the rest of the class, he said mine was dancing!! What the?! Everyone laughed.

We were driving one of our fellow shippers around and she said she loved country music! i was like whatttt. So we chatted about our favorite songs haha.

Elder Farley is still doing sweet being my companion! So humble and loving and kind. I love that man! We had a few extra minutes last night and decided to drive out like 5 minutes where there’s no light and look up at the stars! Stargazing in the Namibian sky!!! ahhhh. Powerful. I really wish you coulda seen what I saw. No joke. It was stunning. I’m pretty sure that was the Milky Way I was looking at. Gorgeous!

Man, I love this country and love the work. Lots of things on the to-do list this week. Bring it on!

I’ve noticed my wonderful former companions seem to bring up/talk about home more than i do! I did click 23 months though. I’m getting old on mission. Don’t worry; my mind is still centered on why I’m here. I signed up for 24 months, and that’s what I intend to and accomplish!

Miss you all very very much!

LOVE,

Elder Dusty Haws

PS new Herrero culture/traditions I learned...don’t sweep out your house at night...because you are sweeping out all the good luck. And, don’t wear red when it rains...it attracts the lighting! Haha

the blazing Namibian sun setting over Windhoek

view of Cape Town from above



elder Smith..the king of juice!

zone leader council

Yes, my dream is going to come true soo soon!

Hello family!

Sorry for the lateness of this email. Zone leader council was just too fun! At first that picture looked like you cut and paste that patio into the picture haha and those look like 2 studs of elders right there. I knew an elder that had that same shirt.  Good, put 'em to work.  Yeah we need elders here, but Elder Morris is about to go home, so he had to go down, and president didn't want an odd number of elders or something.  You may think I'm crazy, but the thought came that I should extend my mission. The lord needs an elder up here serving. I have a visa, know the area, and have a desire to serve God, but we'll see what happens!

This week was hectic and crazy, as I feel like the rest of the weeks of mission will be. Elder Farley and I have been absolutly booked, and now that we've been away from the area in Cape Town for the past few days, the rest of the week we are packed! Like you wouldnt believe it. We have sooo much work to do its not even funny. Theres no finer missionary to be serving with! I have no time to think about home cuz my mind is constantly trying to figure out how we're going to see all these people.
Cape Town was sweet. I missed that place, felt like I was coming home, it was so green, but cold! Dang. We went on a cool hike that I had been wanting to do, so that was fun. I got to hang out with lots of other missionaries I hadn't seen in a while, which was sweet. We got some good training from president. He is the best.

Well, I got up super early, at 4:45am (Nam time) but 5:45am Cape Town time, to help Sister Wood cook breakfast. Then, we helped clean up the mission home, which was tiring and then as soon as we landed here in Windhoek tonight, we didnt have time to shop, just dashed off and taught 2 lessons, then came here to the awesome Smiths and typed this short email. Its 10pm, I'm tired, and tomorrow we have like 8 lessons planned, the first one at 12pm, and the last one starting at 7:30pm. Wish me luck! haha

I'll send some pictures home next week!
Tell Coach Delaney to just shoot me an email, and Yes, my dream is going to come true soo soon! Cant wait!!!

LOVE YOU GUYS!!!
-Dusty Haws

NO email this week...in Cape Town

Hi

I'm in Cape Town at zone leader council and wont be emailing today!

sorry! 

LOVE YOU!!!

mekusuvera!! (I love you - in hererro)

Hello!

Short but sweet email. I loved it! yeahh we drive a car all day every day. Right on. What's up with PQ2 softball. That was a dismal performance. You guys are better than that. Where do you play?! Hourglass? I bet you've grown hair daddy since I’ve been gone. Ha!  Comeee onnn, Namibia has 13 fine athletes competing!! South Africa has a lot...we're winning gold’s...that’s what’s up! Mommy, I will gladly wash and vacuum the cars once I get home! You know I will!



Just hangin' out in

My week was great, as usual. Except for yesterday. We hit a dry spell for like 2 hours where NO ONE was home or they didn’t want to see us so we just drove around for what seemed like forever. But then, the Smiths inexpertly invited us over for dinner with the other elders, so that made up for everything! All’s well that ends well!

Did lots of teaching this week. Found another solid person who has a desire to be baptized, and shows that desire! It’s one thing to say that you wanna be baptized, and another to keep commitments and make things happen.

We met as a zone/district and chowed on all you can eat pizza for N60! YUMMM.  One of our recent converts, papa François got smashed on his head with a beer bottle, shame. He’s okay though. He is the sweetest guy, I don’t know what those drunken people who did it to him were thinking, and well obviously they weren’t.

Alright, I have to tell you the transfer news we got from president wood this past week!! so most missionaries like to, what we call, "speculate" ha-ha but President Probst called it a practice of the devil ha-ha. I don’t do it, like at all, but it’s entertaining to hear elders brainstorm what is going to happen in the next transfer with who is going where and who their companion will be. I just laugh cuz it NEVER happens the way they think! ha-ha. Anyway, the same thing happened. No one saw what was coming! okay okay okay soo a sister in the office booked Elder Morris’s plane ticket back down to South Africa on like august 15th, so we all thought he was going to finish his mission up here, until president phoned and told elder Morris that he should pack his bags cuz on Wednesday he is flying to Cape Town to finish his mission with another missionary there in Cape Town who is going home with him in the middle of the transfer so they can attend school. I’m soo sad Elder Morris is leaving me! :( He has been one of my favorite missionary companions, defiantly one of the most powerful ones and dedicated servants I’ve served with. Such a great love for the Lord and His work. I’ll always remember his example. But shame he's going to BYU. and there were like 21 in my group when I first came on mission, 1 got sent home early, so now out of the 20 left in my transfer, about half are going home early. Dumb! ha-ha. But that is a real bummer cuz a general authority is coming, and they won’t be here! A member of the area presidency is coming,,,the one and only Elder Carl B. Cook!! He gave the talk about how he was in an elevator with President Monson and he said it’s better to look up! Remember that talk?! Yeah that guy is coming here. I cannot wait!

Anyway, back to the transfer news, Elder Sheppard is going down to cape town to serve, so that means that there will only be 4 elders here in the entire country of Namibia! THE FINAL 4 baby!!! So Elder Twitchell and Elder Giles will be companions in Windhoek, and Elder Farley will be my new companion!! I am sooooo excited for that! We will just combine our areas and just be super busy for these next 6 weeks! Instead of having 4 elders in the branch, now there are only 2. niceee. More work for us to do.   But it will be my last transfer on mission. Number 17! I’m old. The only bad things is, is that I am not going to see all the elders that are going home this week! Shame. Oh well. I’ll probably see most of them back in the Promised Land.

Elder Smith gave a powerful talk/lesson during the 3rd hour on Sunday. That guy is amazing. Heck, all senior couples are amazing! I don’t know where the work would be without them. Elder Smith invited us to sit in with him and the branch clerk to do a membership audit! haha it was pretty sweet. Basically we just told him all the people in our area that we checked and found out if they still stayed there and stuff. It made me gain more respect for the faithful clerks in the church. It was cool to take an inside look at how the church is run. it is simply amazing!

Well, this week is going to be very hectic! Lots of planning of how we're gonna work together in our new assignment. It’s gonna be sweet. Elder Farley is like the coolest missionary ever.

Scriptures - Ezekiel 20:20 and D&C 6:16

We’re planning on going to a game park today. Nice!Till next week!

mekusuvera!! (I love you - in hererro)

LOVE,

Elder Haws

PS mom, what is flossing?

I’ll endure to the end of my mission!

Dear family,

General authority pose at the country club

Glad the postcard made it to you! They sent me the flight plans as well. I made sure I flew to SD not from LA, so I didn’t have to go to the dumb commuter terminal ha-ha. I’ll try and get it for Diane Fice. I have some consecrated oil here, so ya I think I did take it with me. I heard from the smiths about that shooting, but what the heckkkk?! He is a mighty wolverine?! danggggg.   Have fun playing golf daddy!! Ah, I’m jealous. Heck yeahh I would love to go to an SDSU game. Mommy, to go to the temple from here is like a 24 hour bus ride. Only a few people have the means to go, and the branch trip is only once a year. Kelly sounds super busy. Wow haha

As for my week, it was pretty good. Last Monday the smiths took us to an all you can eat buffet!! yummmmm. N185, but it was worth it. They are so nice and loving to us. I ate freakin octopus! Man it was super chewy haha. There was lots of fancy food there. I ate wayyyyy tooooo muchhhh haha.

The Smiths went to Cape Town for a few days to meet with President Wood. We drove them to the airport, and picked them up. The airport is like 40 K's away and took like over 30 minutes to get there. It is such a peaceful drive across the Namibian desert. But the night we went to pick them up, we were sitting in the car waiting and this concerned Christ-like citizen came up and asked if everything was okay, then just walked back to his car. What a guy! He'll be blessed. It just goes to show that there still some good people in the world. Heck, we shoulda gotten that guy's details and went over to his house and taught him the gospel. He would make a great member of the church ha-ha.

We witnessed a miracle this week .we were checking up on this less active, who wasn’t home, but as we were walking to the car, this random person in the street saw us and seemed wayy too happy and excited to see us. Long story short, he is a member who moved here from Angola and had his mission call and should have left last month to the Cape Verde mission! He has been looking for the church here and now found it. The reason he didn’t go was cuz his mom who is not a member wanted him to finish school before he served. The guy speaks like no English whatsoever. Portuguese only. Hopefully he'll get things sorted out, but I’m just glad we found him!

There were 5 people from the north that came down to be baptized. There is an RM up there that was teaching them, and they came down and I got to interview one of them, and I felt bad, but I had to fail her. She was super shy, didn’t speak much English, but more importantly, didn’t answer any of the questions right. Maybe next time they come down she can be baptized. I had the obligation to hold the Lord's standard up high and without apology.

Also, church was good. Our 2 recent converts participated in the sacrament. François blessed and Lukas passed! To add on top of that, Monika taught gospel principles! I was so proud of all of them! It was so cool to see.

Guess what, I got my scriptures covered in buffalo and hyena! They look sweeeet! Sorry, I’ll show you what they look like when I get home! ha!

One thing I’ve noticed about Namibia is that there is a lot of anti-Mormon material around here. Many of the less actives in our area have been exposed to it. It’s really sad to see. I say, avoid it like a plague! haha

Other than that, the work is still rolling forward! Things are great here! we have a fun FHE tonight planned, about the Book of Mormon!

2 scriptures are as follows

Zechariah 1:3
3 Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.

Alma 48:17

 17 Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.
 

Thanks again for the lovely emails every week and for all your prayers and love you give to me! I promise I’ll endure to the end of my mission!

LOVE,

Elder Haws

the 2 brethern who covered all of our scriptures

check that out

chillin at the airport waiting for the Smiths

Flight NEWS!!!

  MISSIONARY TRAVEL
  SOUTH AFRICA CAPETOWN MISSION

SERVICE               DATE  FROM           TO             DEPART  ARRIVE

_____________________ _____ ______________ ______________ _______ ______

BRITISH AIRWAYS       13SEP CAPE TOWN      LONDON         815P    645A

BA 58              THURSDAY CAPE TOWN INTL HEATHROW               14SEP
S ECONOMY                                  TERMINAL 5

           NON SMOKING      MEAL                          NON STOP

                            RESERVATION CONFIRMED         11:30 DURATION
                  AIRCRAFT: BOEING 747-400

BRITISH AIRWAYS       14SEP LONDON         SAN DIEGO CA   305P    615P

BA 273               FRIDAY HEATHROW       LINDBERG FLD
N ECONOMY                   TERMINAL 5     TERMINAL 2    
           NON SMOKING      MEAL                          NON STOP

                            RESERVATION CONFIRMED         11:10 DURATION

                  AIRCRAFT: BOEING 777-200/300

RESERVATION NUMBER(S)

HAWS/DUSTIN BENJAMIN  202298-R