South Africa Cape Town Mission Web site click below

Monday, April 30, 2012

Let’s just say, it’s going to be amazing!

Hi family!

Thanks for the email. Time is short today for emailing. But I have to say I did NOT forget mommy's b-day on the 24th! I wrote it down in my planner to tell her last Monday, but I just didn’t remember to type it last week. Sorry! I promise I didn’t forget. Hope you had a wonderful birthday mommy! 39 and lookin good! hahah. Yeah Kelly sounds like she is excited to go home. Yeah, my little fingers right now are cold, but the work must go on. I’m just glad I’m not walking like I was last year in Mdantsane. It’s heaven on earth being in a car. The work moves so much faster and we can cover more ground and get things done.

This week was POWERFUL! Last Monday Elder Morris and I went to Rhodes memorial. It was cool. We had 2 different DA's with the awesome senior couples in the area. The Henderson’s and Oldham’s. It literally was a taste from home! They can cook. It was so nice of them to so that for us. I can’t wait to be old and help other missionaries on my next mission. We visited those 2 schools and told them about the young ambassador’s thing, and they were excited to go! I mean, why would they not be! We gave them a free ticket to attend a sweet show. Hopefully they'll go.

On Tuesday Elder Morris and I got to go to the airport and pick up our new companions. It was cool to be able to do that, cuz normally it’s the AP's or president. My new companion is Elder Brereton from Lewiston Idaho! up in the styx! hahaha he is soo sweet! So humble, nice, and a hard worker that never complains. he really likes cars and is good at driving stick. I’ve got to teach him the area and introduce him to people.

This week we had a surprise party for Elder Pearson. He has been having some health problems, so hasn’t really been able to do much missionary work for the past like 6 months, and recently contracted the measles! Poor guy! He got the shots before mission, but his body was weak and contracted it. So we surprised him and ate some pizza. it was fun and hopefully lifted his spirits a little bit.

This week we visited each companionship to join them for companionship studies! Surprise! The zone leaders are here! We for sure caught them off guard, to say the least. hahah. It was fun, and also good to show Elder Brereton the zone.

A highlight was that after church we drove down to Meadowridge so that I could witness the baptism of rose and mike! They were so happy and I was just glad I could be there. It was also way cool to be able to say hi to many of the Meadowridge members, who I love!

This week was exchanges with the AP's...Elder Thole and Elder McDonald! Elder mcd and I stayed up late catching up, and then woke up early so that he could work out in the little gym near our boarding. He is soo buff! hahahaha then we taught some nice lessons during the day. I love that guy!

We had a cool experience this week. The office got an email from headquarters about a referral that lived in our area. She is a librarian and learned about the Book of Mormon somehow and requested that missionaries...so we went to teach her, and her family! They live in humble circumstances and stay far from the chapel, but the Lord has prepared them, so hopefully they can progress.

I must say, the highlight of the week was something I am not permitted to tell you. President said! Sorry! He did call Elder Morris and our companions in and told us what was happening next transfer!! AHHHH!! If only I could tell you!!!! Let’s just say, it’s going to be amazing! Stay tuned next for next week! You’re gonna wanna know! I can say I will be leaving the Mowbray ward..... I AM SO EXCITED!!

Sorry no pictures this week.
Gotta go!
LOVE, Elder Haws

Monday, April 23, 2012

This past week was a very memorable one.

Dear Haws Family,

Before I start typing, mommy, you've lost weight!! Serious!  Are you sure you didn’t run that big long race ha-ha. I sure hope those pictures I sent made it home. I sent them again just in case.  I just cut my hair myself, can you believe that?! It’s not that hard. Just clip on a 3 and go to town! Ha-ha but it doesn’t look as good as when you do it mommy, that’s a fact. Remember that one time you weren’t thinking and used a 2 on part of my head, and then didn’t tell me and think I wouldn’t notice?! hahah. Yes my shoes will be more than fine for the next 5 months or whatever I have left.  awww, did Sister Henderson or sister Oldham phone you from the mission office?! Those 2 senior couples I literally love with all my heart and soul. They are the best ever! They take such amazing and wonderful care of us...we're practically their adopted kids. I sure hope the celestial kingdom is full of people like the Henderson’s and Oldham’s and Woods.

My week was pretty hectic, to say the least! soo much has gone on here in Cape Town. I don’t even know where to begin! Let me see here, so last week Wednesday Elder Rogers finished his mission and flew home the next day. I miss him, but he was more than ready to stop being a missionary. He served faithfully for 2 years and is now brother Rogers. But I’ll be honest, being with the stud of a man people just call Elder Morris has been a breath of fresh air! Man, he is sooo sweet!  That last day, Elder Rogers had a little extra cash so he took me and another missionary out to eat at this legendary little hold in the wall burger shop called sticky fingers! The food was divine! He spent like R400! It was soo good. Then he bought some meat and that last night together we had a lekker braai (BBQ) with a few other elders. Man! sooo good.  Then it was dumb, elder Morris’s companion left a big mess in their boarding so poor Elder Morris and I cleaned till like 11pm, but it is spotless now! I’m not worried; they'll be accountable one day for leaving such a mess hahah.
On top of Lions Head

On 18 May, the young ambassadors from BYU are coming here to Cape Town to do a performance at this famous opera house. What a perfect chance to get the lovely people here in Cape Town more familiar with the church. It’s a musical, so nothing churchy or gospel related, but still good nonetheless. we had a meeting the other day and were assigned to go to like 3 of the big high schools and personally give the principle an invitation and answer any questions he/she may have, and also ask if we can put up a poster at their school. The mission is going to like 22 schools here in Cape Town, but we were just assigned to 3 of those 22. So that will be exciting! But then president called us into his office and said there was going to be some changes in his original plans that he had. He said that this Tuesday I’ll be getting a new companion for these last like 2-3 weeks, and so will Elder Morris! Crazy! It’s just one thing after the next. So I’ll go to the airport on Tuesday and get Elder Brerton! I don’t know much about him, but he is sweet!   and president told us that he will fill us in on more of the details of what is going to happen on like Friday, so that will be nice to know what is going on.
This Friday I got to attend district meeting in Khayelitsha! It’s like the 3rd biggest township in SA and a very dangerous place. Lots of shacks. But that day I also did a baptismal interview! It was sweet. He was totally ready.  The next day, Elder Morris interviewed mike and rose from my last area, and they passed! I was so happy, but I knew that they would. They’ll be baptized this Sunday, so after church in Mowbray, I’ll make the 15 minute drive to the Meadowridge chapel so I can watch! Yes. But then, after those 2 interviews on Saturday, we drove to Guguletu to conduct some more interviews! I did 2 that day, and passed them both. The elders did a great job teaching them. Man, I really love doing baptismal interviews! Just to feel of their spirit and hear of their testimony and really, in a way, act for the Lord to discern and decide if they are prepared to enter into the kingdom of God. it was awesome to be able to do that.  Just to see their faces and excitement when I told them that they passed and indeed would be baptized! Ah, it was a special moment.

Sunday was ward conference. So the stake presidency was there and lots of high council people and stake people were there. And believe it or not, I had to sing in the choir! Hey, tell Brother Peterson! hahah that was the first and last time singing in choir. And the crazy thing was that we couldn’t make it to the practice the night before cuz of all the baptism interviews, so we kinda just winged it up there, and dang we sounded good ha-ha.

Helga's baptism!
After church, Helga got baptized! It went so perfectly. Heike, who I baptized last year and who is Helga's sister, gave such a wonderful talk at the service, and was just soo happy to see here sister get baptized! I was happy as well. The spirit was so strong. Helga shared such a sweet, heartfelt testimony afterward. Those 2 girls are so special. I just love 'em!

I had to get all the reports from the zone on how each companionship was doing and their stats, and report that information on to the assistants. It wasn’t too bad actually. Normally 2 zone leaders do that, but not this week for me.

Scriptures = Joshua 3:5 and D&C 133: 57-59

This past week was a very memorable one, and I’m sure this week ahead will be just as powerful! being a missionary is the best! Few words can describe what its really like. I guess it’s one of those things in life you just have to experience for yourself...but everyone that has knows what I’m talking about!

Thanks again for all the love and support! Just know and always remember how much fun I’m having and how much I love you guys! You always say you love me lots, miss me lots, and lots of prayers coming my way...well, right back at you!

Talk to you next week!

LOVE,
Elder Dusty Haws

Our birthday celebration
The KEY brother Scheepers made for me
CALI baby

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Surprise 21st Key, a tradition in South Africa

from Facebook...
Jackie Scheepers Thank you, we surprised Elder Haws with some cake, supper and we had made him a 21st key and he was very happy, he couldn't believe that Ian had made it.


In South Africa, they follow a tradition of presenting a key of gold, silver, or aluminum foil on the 21st birthday. It is a symbol of the person's readiness to unlock the door to his or her future.

Here is a sample, we dont have a picture of the one Ian  made for Elder Haws but will update this when we get it.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Yes, conference was amazing! I just loved every second of it! South Africa got 2 shout outs!!

HEY!!

That was cool to see all my awesome friends on my Facebook wish me a happy 21st birthday! Thanks for doing that daddy. Yes we did climb all those peaks today. But to answer some of your questions...I haven’t heard of any South Africans participating in the Olympics. Normally if I can remember correctly, we have some good swimmers this side. But hold up, you guys better record or do something with the Olympics so I can watch when I get home. K thanks. And yes, the senior couples don’t have such as strict as a schedule as us. I love all senior couples and especially the ones here in SACTM! They always take such good care of us. Ah, I love them so much! I can’t wait to be one someday.   Kelly didn’t include any of those pictures in her email this week. I love getting emails from her. She’s the best sister ever, and what she writes me each week makes me smile without fail! Ah I miss that girl.

Good question mommy about service. When I was in a township, service was easy to come by. Just show up at anyone's house with a spade (shovel) and you got service for the morning. It’s not like that here in a town area. I’ve done some sweet service as a missionary, and I’ve learned how to do a lot of things. But this week we went to the clerk’s house and tidied up his garden and backyard area. He is such a sweet older gentleman, so I was glad that we could help him out.
Last p-day was fun. We smashed some volleyball around. I hit some overpasses straight down! it felt SO GOOD!!! Elder Mamaia is freakin good, and so is Elder Morris. Man, thanks daddy for urging me to play volleyball. What a fun game!

But my birthday on Tuesday was just fantastic. I didn’t realize it was my birthday until Elder Rogers wished me happy birthday after we prayed in the morning. It was a great day. We did some errands in the morning and taught a few lessons in the afternoon, then went to the Scheepers for supper. And you won’t believe what brother Scheepers made for me. A key!! So basically in South Africa when you turn 21 you get like a key. It’s hard to explain. I’ve seen then in housed and necklaces, but now I have one! I feel special. I’ll send you as picture. Brother Scheepers has been in the church 10 years now and this is only the 3rd key he's ever made for a missionary. That makes me feel special. And the crazy thing is that it only took him 2 days to do it. You got to see it to believe it.  But the next day the other zone leaders that live in our same apartment complex came over and made a nice cake! It was gooood. But man, sometimes males are stupid. Because we ate the entire cake! Like each piece was a little bit bigger than a napkin. Yeah, I wasn’t feeling so good afterward haha.

This week we did our zone training and had interviews with President Wood. Our training for our zone went very well. We had to teach for 2 hours total. It was kinda fun. And my interview with president was just great. But before the day was over, president called us in again and told me my transfer news. Because Elder Rogers is going HOME on Thursday so that he can start school at BYU on Monday. Yeah, that sucks. He only gets to be home for like 2 days. Poor guy. I’m going to miss him sooo much. I love him! haha. President said that I’m now going to be with EPIC Elder Morris! ohhh myy goshh, you don’t know now cool and powerful this guy is! He is in my transfer and is from Ventura California! His companion is going home as well, and so we're going to be zone leaders together. Basically, I am the only zone leader for my zone, and Elder Morris is the only zone leader for his zone. Yeah it’s pretty hectic and confusing, but we're going to have to do lots of planning, but things will be just fine. Its only for 3 weeks, until I get a new companion and Elder Morris will get a new companion in a new area. Crazy! haha I am super excited.

Yes conference was amazing! I just loved every second of it! South Africa got 2 shout outs, did you hear them! This place is zion haha. I wish I had more time to tell you why I loved conference, but I don’t.
Something cool that happened this week was that President and Sister Wood came out teaching with us for an appointment we had! Man, they are powerful! We taught about the Book of Mormon to our investigator, and after that, how could he not know that the book was true! haha it was a cool experience, I just wish it could happen more often.

Another exciting thing is that this Sunday Helga is getting baptized, and I think she wants me to do it! That’ll be sweet. her and her sister came for all the sessions. What studs.

Yessie, we did it today! Elder Morris and Elder Legge and Elder Rogers and myself all got up at like 5:30 this morning and started hiking lions head by 6:30. We got to watch the sun rise over Cape Town! Man, it was beautiful. That hike wasn’t so bad. Then we drove over to Devils Peak and hiked that sucker. It was revenge for me. It’s the peak that overlooks all of my area, and the last time that we hiked it, it was very cloudy and so I couldn’t see anything, but not today! Man, it was breathtaking. You could see for miles and miles. But then, with wearied legs, we hiked the big daddy, Table Mountain! Last time I just about died when I did it, but for some weird reason, today I had its number! I owned it! haha. I just had to smile at myself when I saw people struggling going up the mountain, haha, I just felt like saying if you only knew what I hiked already today! hahah. Elder Rogers and I motored all the way to the top without stopping, and then walked around a lot on top, then kinda ran at some parts on the way down. I don’t know what was wrong with me, but we did it! Now, I can barely feel my legs haha. I did it though.
I have to apologize because this new email shop we tried today doesn’t allow me to send pictures home, so tomorrow morning we're going to go to a place that we can send pictures home at, and I’ll send the few from last week and the ones that we took today :)

I’m exhausted at the moment. This week is going to be entertaining. I’ll tell you all about it next Monday, but I promise to send pictures tomorrow.

Thanks again for all the many many birthday wishes. They mean a lot to me. I’m 21 baby!
LOVE,
Elder Dusty Haws

Monday, April 9, 2012

Well, it’s been an amazing 21 years on this earth. I am SO blessed.

Hello wonderful family!

So I’m glad you got the pictures last week, but this email shop is ghetto and run by people from DRC and I can’t send pictures home, but next week I’ll make a plan and send some home. But I don’t even have many to send. Sorry.

Shame to hear about the truck. Thanks for putting the money in my account. Yes Aunt Nancy, Aunt Julie, and grandma Strang sent awesome packages full of love! They are great.  That’s a bummer about your eyes daddy! I’m glad that it wasn’t anything serious and that you're back to your normal sense again. we need our lives to live, huh?! good to hear South Africa is getting some love in the world of golf. My poor Padres. Bummer. Good Mitt Romney! But always keep your eye on the prophet.

Heike sister is doing very well. She is soo ready to get baptized. Yeah most mornings we exercise. And mommy, of course I miss the Easter bunny coming! I remember a long time ago I was sleeping in my room but you had forgotten to get the stuff out sooner/before, so you trying to be very quiet, but I soo heard you! I literally thought the Easter bunny was coming in through my window! ha-ha funny.

Yeah the week has been great. Last week we had lots of fun playing volleyball with some other missionaries! it felt GREAT to smash some balls. Coach McLaughlin would be proud, I called every ball! We had so much fun, I think today we're going to do it again! Also last week we carved a fetchin Watermelon! Serious! ha-ha it was epic. Ever thought about that?! I’ll send a picture next week. Next Monday, we're going to attempt to do the unthinkable...CLIMB ALL 3 PEAKS!! Lions Head, Devils Peak, and Table Mountain!! Can you believe it?! Elder Rogers wants to do it, so I’m down. But if you never get an email from me again, you can just be assured that I died trying to climb all 3 mountains in one day hahaha.

We had FHE with the Mowbray bishop and his family. They are so nice. For dinner we ate only fruit! apples, grapes, salad, bananas, bread and a little soup..Shared 2 of our favorite scriptures. I really enjoyed it.  We also did some nice service, helping a less active and her active son fix a roof. I learned a lot, and enjoyed serving. Well I better enjoy service because I’ve been called to serve. This week we'll do some more service. Build some trust and love with the members here. Referrals will follow (hopefully. that the plan.)

We contacted this one nice colored lady and she invited us back, and we taught her a normal lesson, but before we left, she fed us lots of food, and dessert! It was very nice of her. Bless her heart. she is very strong in her church, but just such a nice lady with a good heart. The Lord will bless her.

I went on exchanges with Elder Eddington in my old area. It was awesome! It was nice to see some of the people there, even though I’d only been gone for about a week. That area is powerful. Craig is still doing well. ha-ha.

Yesterday was a day to remember! It was Easter in Cape Town! What a wonderful day. Church was good. Elder Rogers and I taught gospel principles class that was fun. Then we got invited to a feast for lunch! Man, colored people can cook! They always cook soo much. We ate a lot, and it was good company. We went to see Heike and Helga and had a nice lesson, then they said elders, we have some food for you. You shoulda seen the look Elder Rogers and I gave each other. ha-ha. They went out of the room and we asked each other how in the heck we were going to eat more food. ha-ha we somehow finished the plate, and that was in the afternoon yesterday, and I haven’t eaten since ha-ha. it was powerful to say the least.
Today is my 19th click day! Man, I’m getting old on mission. What I really can’t fathom is that today is the last day I’ll be 20 years old. it really feels like yesterday I was back in East London just about to turn 20. Time goes tooo fast sometimes. As for my 21st birthday celebration plans, we have some service to do tomorrow morning, and only 2 other set appointments, other than that, nothing too fancy. The Scheeper family SMS'd me on the zone leader phone and invited us over tomorrow night! Elder Tiwtchell must have told them that it was my birthday and gave them my new number. Nice.

Other than that, not too much more to say in this email today.

D&C 115:4-5. booyeah!
4 For thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
5 Verily I say unto you all: Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations;

Well, it’s been an amazing 21 years on this earth. I am SO blessed.

Love you guys!!
-Elder Haws

Monday, April 2, 2012

Lots of new faces

Hello family!

Sorry it looks like the pictures I sent last week never made it home. I just re-sent them! Hopefully they'll make it this time. They were powerful. I didn’t get to watch conference. We’ll watch it on the 14th and 15th of this month. Can’t wait!! YES, I got my package!!! Man, you guys are good. That’s probably the best package that I’ve gotten so far! You packed that thing to the top! Thank you so much. It totally made my day.  I know you're not kidding about the cake, but I’m still waiting for that package to be paid for, so I’m not planning on using my home account for a cake. 21...big deal. I’m here to do missionary work! Nothing about me going up to Namibia, Elder McDonald is the new AP so I get to see him often.  Yes mommy, we get lots to eat, don’t worry about that.  Shame to hear about the ducks in the pool. I cleaned out the leaves of a pool of one of the members and she was like wayy impressed at how good I was, and I just told her that my mommy forced me to always clean my pool.  It felt good to do.  Wow daddy, the Stormers are here in Cape Town! Just 2 nights ago we went for this appointment and drove RIGHT PAST the stadium where the game was being played. Newlands stadium. It was madness. So many cars and people wearing jerseys. I could hear the roar of the crowd. We had a very nice lesson, even though it would have been nice to watch some rugby. Another good team from Jo-burg..Blue Bulls!!

Now for a report on my week! It was sweet. We had Elder Sheppard with us last week, and we went to a restaurant called Spur last Monday with Craig to celebrate with him for his baptism. I bought his food. I love that guy. Then on my last day in Meadowridge we taught some lessons and said some goodbyes. I was happy that I got to say bye to the people I wanted to. It wasn’t that painful because I knew there was a good chance I would see them all again. Elder Sheppard was tagging along with us just for the day, so he was our photographer ha-ha.

Then it was transfer day! Always hectic! We got to the mission home early to drop off elder Sheppard. We had a nice breakfast from Sister Wood! We left, and came back a few hours later. I got to go to the airport to send off some elders. Shame, 3 of the greenies missed their flight because the mission messed up. Oh well. They just flew out the next day because they missed their later flight because of a miscommunication. Bummer.

Legandary MIKE in Hout Bay
My first few days were okay. I’ll be honest, I was shocked when Elder Rogers and I held weekly planning and we talked about the area and the area book and I discovered that there are only 2 investigators here. Wow. That’s not very much to work with. Ha-ha but that’s okay, we have things to do. But check this out. You probably don’t remember, but I baptized a girl in MD named Heike. She was sweet! Then, she moved here to Cape Town, in this my new area. So I was soo happy to see her again and see that she is very active! Nice! But it gets better...she has a sister who is just as powerful and wants to get baptized as well! She has been coming since the start of the year and is almost done with 2 Nephi! So that’s pretty much the bright spot of our area.

Yesterday, church was pretty sweet. It just so happened that President Wood and Sister Wood showed up! It was great to see them. Mowbray is their ward, but they travel soo much, it’s like they're less active. So yeah, they were there, and also the stake president, President Giddy! That man is sweet, and he also travels a lot on assignment. But as most new elders in an area, myself and the 2 other new elders to the ward bore our testimonies. It was great. Elder Wolfgramm, remember him?! He’s in the ward as well! I love that guy! So church was good. Lots of new faces, but I’m sure I’ll get familiar with all of them.

Life as a zone leader is epic. So far, I love it. Our boarding is a step up from my last one! It has a nice view; I’ll have to send you a picture next week. I can see Cape Point! But there are lots of flies there for some reason. Maybe cuz its 3 floors above the garbage! Ha-ha. But the best part is that we have a small modest gym that we can use! It’s not very fancy, at all, but Elder Rogers is trying to get in shape before he goes home so we wake up at 6am and lift! It’s pretty nice. I’m very very sore ha-ha.  Last night the AP's called and took our report. That was cool.  Yes the car is a manual and I’m a pro at driving. Basically, to sum everything up, things are awesome! Yeah the area has some work to do, but we're gonna do it with a good attitude and with a smile on our face!

Scriptures:
D&C 98:11-12
11 And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God.
12 For he will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept; and I will try you and prove you herewith.

Alma 57:19-21
19 But behold, my little band of two thousand and sixty fought most desperately; yea, they were firm before the Lamanites, and did administrater death unto all those who opposed them.
20 And as the remainder of our army were about to give way before the Lamanites, behold, those two thousand and sixty were firm and undaunted.
21 Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them.

Love you all very much! Miss you bunches. Talk to you next week!

LOVE,
Elder Haws
Cape Town at night


The wonderful Daubney family


The Futter family! They rock!
 
Lots of elders on P-day