Two years are almost over....

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.

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

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

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

Bible = Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth

Hi family!

What a powerful email! I’ve never met the Smiths (senior couple), and I think I’m good on music cuz I put some from Elder Twitchell onto that USB you sent me, so that works out good. Our LDS helping hands is normally in like August or around there, but ya we'll do it. Not many Dear Elder letters recently. Nope, I never went to the festival of colors. Exciting sports news! Thanks for the small update. Sorry to hear about your car! Shame. No payback for Elder Mamaia. No mommy, the lady was dead, no need for CPR. Sometimes we do a lesson on CPR (Church, Prayer and Reading) haha! My shoes are excellent! No complaints whatsoever.

CRAIG'S BAPTISM!!!

As for my week in the mission field, it was quite a good one if I don’t say so myself! It started off last Monday after emailing when we played sport with like 26 elders! We all played soccer, rugby and American football! Man, there are some athletes out here, and others who are, well, not! haha. It was super fun. Then the next day I went on exchanges with Elder Mamaia and walked in his area the entire day. I love working with that guy, and being in a township all day! I miss being in a township, it’s just soo different from everything!

Yes, as you can see from the pictures, we went to Hout Bay! Man, it was probably one of the funniest nights on my mission. We went with Mike and Rose, who both will be baptized at the end of April! We all rode in his car and listened to hymns the whole time...and they really, really loved it! They want some CD's! The fish and s chips on the rocks was delicious! We ate prawns and calamari. He paid for everything. Then we drove on the other side of the mountain, and yessie it was UNBELIEVABLY BEAUTIFUL!!! Wow, words can’t describe it. It would have only been better if it was a little bit lighter, because we went later in the evening, but the lights were spectacular! He bought us some ice-cream and gave us a little tour of Cape Town! We went up to signal hill and that’s where we took those sweet pics! Then he dropped us home. It was for sure a night to remember.

On Saturday we helped the sisters set up for their breakfast they were having in honor for the 170th anniversary of the relief society. It was nice to briefly mingle with the sisters, and then come back after the activity was over to get some breakfast and help clean up. Now that I look back, we've been fed lunch and dinner for the past 3 days! Believe it! The ward just loves us now I guess! Good food too.

We went to ward counsel and I was asked to recite D&C 4, and they were all impressed. If only they knew how many thousands of times brother Toolson and Brother Sexton pounded that into our brains as priests in Young Men’s! haha.

Some of the brethern

I guess an important detail that I shouldn’t forget to mention is that I got transfer news last night! I wasn’t expecting it, but president phones us, and only talked to me, but it was funny, he asked, "Elder Haws, are you comfortable in the Meadowridge ward?" and of course I told him I was. the he said "Well, it’s my job to afflict the comfortable" haha and he told me that I was now going to be a ZONE LEADER of the Cape Central Zone serving in the Mowbray ward, with Elder Rogers!!!!! Wow! Me, a zone leader?! Mowbray is very, very close to Meadowridge, so I won’t be moving very far. In fact, I’ll still be living in the top of the Meadowridge area. Mowbray chapel was the first chapel built in South Africa and has a lot of history there. President McKay has been there and long ago it’s where the mission president lived. But I’m excited! My area is pretty much downtown Cape Town! The car I’ll be driving is a manual haha. Bring it on. Elder Rogers is a sweet guy. I went on exchanges with him. Basically, he's awesome! The weird thing is, is that he goes home in like 3 weeks cuz that’s when his visa expires. So I’m not really sure how that’s going to work...but I am positive President Wood has a plan, so I’m not worried! Man, but I’m going to be sad to leave this ward and all the cool people here...but I’m not going very far at all, and there’s a very high chance that I’ll see most of them around. Being a zone leader is pretty tough, but I’m up for the challenge! I guess a nice thing about not being a district leader is that I won’t have to prepare district meeting anymore. I can actually study every day in my study time instead of preparing for district meeting.

I’m really going to miss Elder Twitchell and Elder Chikara though! Elder Twitchell is staying, and Elder Chikara is going somewhere else! They are in very good hands! I’m jealous haha but I’m going to be hearing all about what happens.

Scriptures: 

D&C 90:11,18,24
 11 For it shall come to pass in that day, that every man shall hear the fulness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language, through those who are ordaned unto this power, by the administration of the Comforter, shed forth upon them for the revelation of Jesus Christ.
18 Set in order your houses; keep slothfulness anduncleanness far from you.
24 Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another.

D&C 95:12

12 If you keep not my commandments, the love of the Father shall not continue with you, therefore you shall walk in darkness.

I’m excited and sad at the same time! But I can say with confidence that I left the Meadowridge ward/area better than when I got here! I’ve made friendships and memories that I’ll always remember! What a great area.

LOVE YOU GUYS!!

-Elder Haws

PS: Bible = Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth

A sweeet family from Ghana

Man, it’s been a great area!

FAMILY!

Yes, you were right! Lots of kisses! And nope, didn’t get your package quite yet, but I’m sure it'll get here. Shame to hear about the rain. Whets up bad San Diego weather! Come to Cape Town! Yes mommy, the week was very lekker! I’m always safe in all the things that I do, you know that. I hope you liked the pictures. Yeah our sweet investigator is going to take us to Hout Bay, but we had to get permission from president to ride in his car and today president said yes, so sometime this week hopefully we'll go! It’s just going to be hard squeezing him in...because so many other members want to have us over for supper, there’s just no time to go to Hout Bay! But we will just have to make time, now wont we! We’ll make a plan. I just think it would be lovely to watch the sunset! I’m excited for that, but also for him to get baptized in April! Even though I most likely won’t be here. So next week is transfer week! Since I’ve been here for 6 months now, I probably will be transferred. Man, it’s been a great area, and will be sad to go. Just like in life, all good things must come to an end sometime....but not eternal marriage!! That’s for sure.

I’ll have to agree with you mommy on the typing skills, mine have improved as well. Cool to see those pictures from Eric! Man, he hasn’t changed a bit, but good heck, his sisters sure have! That’s great that those 2 girls are getting married this summer. Good for them. Wowo is right about the truck daddy! You must get that thing sorted out. Smart to get a second opinion. Hey is it bad to pray for a car?! haha. No I don’t tell anyone about my blog. No I don’t know how to connect the dots of that thing.

Oh man, you shoulda been there the other day when I was on exchanges in Fish Hoek. You know Elder Mamaia, how he is such a jokester and like to play pranks...well, he got me! Elder Park and I had gone on a run and were walking back to their boarding, and they stay on the bottom floor of their apartment, and so without me knowing, Elder Mamaia was on the floor above us and POURED a massive bucket of water on me! Fetcher! Ha-ha it was funny, and I chased after him. We all laughed. Now I just gotta think about a way to get him back ha-ha. Man, Table Mountain last week was a killer, to say the least. I’m still trying to recover! Ha-ha not really, but my legs were a little sore for the entire week, and I guess going on exchanges in a walking area didn’t help. I went to Masiphulelele in Fish Hoek with Elder Mooki. We had lots of fun! It actually felt really good to walk again! I miss it. It was a warm day, and we were pretty busy. They’re on special assignment there to work with the many many less actives. They got lots of work to do. But when we were walking, we saw a dead person! Serious. They were just laying on the side of the road with a blanket over them. Shame. The people standing around said that she was walking to work and just collapsed. I also saw other crazy things that can only be found in a township in South Africa. It just amazes me that people can live like that. I am soo spoiled.

I also went on exchanges with Elder Burton! a greenie! Man, can you believe that he goes home in 2014! Long time from now. He’s from the small town of Tallmadge, Utah. He is such a farm boy! Ha! We stayed up late chatting all about his farm and stuff. He plans to go to USU when he gets back and just farm the rest of his life! As for him as a missionary, he is super. I was impressed with how he taught. Just needs to work on some minor things that will come with time and experience as a missionary.

As you can see from the picture, we went to the all you can eat pizza place! It was way fun. I was smart and didn’t want to show off or get sick, so I just downed a modest like 10 slices, while Elder Mamaia took the championship by eating like 14. It was a good district bonding. All for R50!

When we were walking, this random guy stopped his car in the road, asked who we were, then shouted that we needed to be born again and that we should go to hell! hahahaha can you believe that!? Then he just sped off. We all were just laughing. Let them be haters, it won’t slow the work down, not even a little bit.

Yesterday we got up a little bit early and went to PEC at 7am. it was good to be able to report on our labors and inform the leaders of the people that were baptized last year so that they were up to date. Elder Twitchell had to give a talk, and poor Elder Chikara had to give an impromptu talk! Poor guy. It was only like for 5 minutes, and I guess I was got lucky I only had to bless the sacrament. The guy who normally like changes the hymns and does other things wasn’t there, so the hymns were all wrong yesterday and it wasn’t a smooth sacrament meeting I guess you can say. But then during priesthood meeting, the 2nd counselor let us (really the ward, not us elders) have it! No mercy! Ha-ha I had never seen Brother Futter that upset and disappointed before. He had good reason to be, those guys needed a kick in the pants. but then it was funny...he rebuked everybody, then just before he ended, he mentioned D&C 121 about showing an increase in love after disciplining, and so he said "but I love you brethren. Now lets separate to our quorums" ha-ha

My email wouldn't be complete if I didn’t mention something about Craig! Man, that guy! He like SMS's (text's) us every day and just loved church and the Book of Mormon! Yesterday he was on 3 Nephi 18. He said that he wants to finish the entire Book of Mormon before he gets baptized, and he is well on his way. He passed his interview and so this Sunday he is going to get baptized!! I guess the best part is that he asked ME to do it. What an honor, I’m so excited for him. He is so ready.

The scriptures are D&C 138:55-56 and D&C 124:49

Thanks for all of the continuous love and support and prayers and encouragement and just everything you give to me! I couldn’t do it without you guys cheering me on. You’re the best!

LOVE,
Elder Haws