I'm thankful for the gospel...

Oh hello family!

Nice email and pics! Man, sounds like you guys had the time of your life this week! I wish I was there, nahh, being a missionary in Cape Town is too much fun! How about next year we'll have a massive feast all together. Deal. Way to go Aggies! Thats what I'm talking about! Oh mommy, you and those snowmobiles haha you guys see that daughter of yours wayyy more than you saw me haha I'm glad. Thanks mommy for the chocolate chip cookie stuff! dang, this is gonna be harder than I thought. I thought I'd just have to buy some flour and some eggs and maybe some butter and call it good. haha. Too bad theres no Fahrenheit here haha. I think Elder Giles and I are gonna have to do a practice run before we make lots and lots for the members here in the Meadowridge ward. Thanks again mommy!

A sweet view of Hout Bay

As for my week, it was awesome! A total turn around from the last week! Our stats were high and we did lots of good work. As you can obviously tell from the pictures, we saw some nice places last p-day! Chapmans Peak! It was very nice. I guess at certain times in the year, you can see lots of whales there, but we only saw some otters or whatever. it was a nice relaxing p-day.

Last week was transfer week, and Elder Giles and I are staying together another transfer! Nice! The only bummer about that was that on the day every one like comes and goes, transfer day, we just had a normal day. We didn't go to the mission home or like the airport. At the mission home on transfer day it is nice to see lots of other missionaries and President and Sister Wood, but we didnt go. Oh well. Theres always, with out fail, lots and lots of food at the mission home! I heard there were lots of pancakes and cookies there. shame man. Actually that morning Elder Giles and I went to work and did a solid 2 hours of service! We didn't have and interruptions in the work, so that was nice.

Thursday was Thanksgiving here in Cape Town! Last year the senior couple in East London invited us over for some food, but this year, we were on our own. We cooked lots of food, and had our feast. It was nothing compared to what I've had in the past, or what I'm going to have next year, but it was still good. then, as tradition, We threw the pig skin around haha lucky we had a football in our boarding. That was nice. but overall, Thanksgiving was very nice. Elder Giles missed his family, I tried to make it a fun day for him. I also reflected over the many many things that im grateful for in my life. I'd have to say the top one might just have to be my amazing mom, dad, and sister!! Of course other sweet family and friends. I'm thankful for the gospel, my good health, and the chance I have to serve the Lord with all my heart, might, mind and strength all day every day for 2 years.

We got a new member of my district...Elder Park! He's in my transfer, from New Mexico. that last time I saw him was in the MTC and in the mission home on the first day on mission. He hasn't changed a bit! haha He's Elder Speeds new companion. Thats a powerful companionship. Our district meeting went very well and look forward to this upcoming transfer! Its gonna be sweet.

I got grandmas package already! That was fast. I peeked in it, but everything is wrapped, so I put it under my bed, and thats where it'll stay until christmas. This week our ward mission leader put on the movie Loin King for us for a few minutes. Not sure why he did it, but it was kinda cool! We're supposed to be like little children, right?! haha I couldnt really remember what happened, so thats a nice date night movie when I get back home! haha



Heres some great news, I got in contact with good 'ole Elder Wolfgramm, and he said that they had 3 baptisms on saturday! AH! those 2 brothers I worked my tail off teaching, and this other girl we found and i started teaching. Elder Wolfgramm said they all asked him to baptize them..good for him! im gonna shoot him and email and demand some pictures! Hey, as long as they get baptized and stay active, thats all that I care about. Sure it woulda been nice to be there and witness it and congratulate them! They know I love them. also, Elder Wolfgramm said that every time Khayakazi (recent convert in Mdantsane that I baptized) sees a picture of me, she like cries a little bit! awwwww! I miss her and her brother!

As for the work here in Meadowridge, things are looking up. Got some new people to teach and follow up with. I remember the holiday season last year, it was kinda tough to find people home because most people leave and go places, or pretty much don't wanna see us! haha We'll still find things to do. Crazy to think that its December already! dang.

Elder Giles and I decided at the end of the day, think back and reflect on the day and identify the miracles that we had that day and the tender mercies to us missionaies. We look for His hand in this work, and see it time and time again. Its amazing.



2 scriptures are:

James 2:10

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

D&C 53:7

And again, I would that ye should learn that he only is saved who endureth unto the end. Even so. Amen

Hope you guys have a wonderful week! I'm thinking about you guys! You think you miss me, but sorry to inform you that I miss you guys MORE! :)

Bye for this week, love ya!

ELDER HAWS



Our district

The Lord gives me strength!

I downed 11 slices.....

HeY family.

Cool picture daddy. I resent some pictures, I'm not sure if you got them last time. First off, to answer your question mommy, haha I'm not taking any medication or what what, so dont worry, your son is a healthy boy and not taking some deadly poison haha.  Yeah, I didnt say anything in that video cuz this random dude was right next to me. Now I remember that other video I forwarded to you of missionaries singing the mission song! That was at like a zone training, and I wasn't there. Thanks for Raleen's address, but she sent me a nice short email, and she gave it to me.

Right now, its almost noon and there was no time change from East London to here in Cape Town. My watch is still good. No, I had to leave the Christmas tree in East London, so I guess those elders are lucky, huh?!

I bet you guys are super excited to go up to Logan this week. Hope you travel safe and eat lots! I'm not sure what meal plans we have on Thursday.

Zone training

As for the week of missionary work, I'll be honest, it was rough. Last p-day at the waterfront wasnt very cool. It was still nice though...theres no place like Cape Town! We visited this family and had a nice meal and FHE with them. I was laughing soo hard that my abs hurt. But then, after that, the rest of the week was challenging. Elder Giles informed me that he needed to go to the doctor and get like and x-ray or something for his visa to possibly go to Namibia...so we had to do that. He only told me on Tuesday, so we kinda had to do it. You know how hospitals can be, so we sat there during our prostelyting time for like almost 2 hours, but we got it all sorted out, so that was good. The next day, we got stuck at this lady's house and she simply would not stop talking, so that was kinda frusturating. The next day the zone leaders informed us that we needed to give them a lift to Bellville to go fetch their car that was in the shop, so that took a chunk of our day to do that, then we got a freakin flat tyre, it rained, etc. Just one of those weeks! I guess you have week like these in order to appreciate and enjoy the good ones, right?! Maybe the Lord was trying our faith, patience and diligence, but we tried to handle it with cheer and an upbeat attitude.

The ward had a movie night, and the 2 people we invited didnt show up, and I guess that was okay because the movie didnt work! haha. Yeah, it was only the Emma Smith movie though.
We still had some bright spots! We had our boarding inspected and the senior couple was very impressed! Normally they bring us like some sweets or something, so this time I thought I'd turn the tables and bake those cookies you sent me mommy, so thats what I did! They were surprised. Which got me thinking, mommy, hook me up with YOUR world famous receipt of Connie Haws's chocolate chip cookies! I was thinking of making them for Christmas to give to the families in our ward. Thanks!

Another "fillin/delicious" part of our week was when we went to this place called Panarottis...for ALL YOU CAN EAT pizza! wow, it was freakin nice. We met up with like 6 other elders, and just chowed! I downed 11 slices, but big bad Elder Giles took the crown and ate a whopping 16 slices! I was proud of my companion, even though he was feeling it the next morning while we were on a morning jog! haha. I think the record for missionaries is 21 slices. It was super gooood!

Another personal bright spot was when we went to the zone leaders boarding and worked out! Oh man, it was nice. They have like a ghetto place with like 2 weights, but it was better than nothing! We benched a little bit, and hit the biceps nice and hard! It felt SO good! What was even nicer was that my awesome family sent me my favorite protein bar and it was just the icing on the cake! I felt so unbelievably sore the next day, and as a matter of fact, I'm still sore, but it feels so good. Thats one thing that I really do miss, that gym.

Yesterday, it just happened that we got fed 3 times! Yeah, I'm full. The food was lekker! (nice)
So either tonight, or most likely tomorrow morning, we get our much anticipated transfer news! Oh man! It like 50-50 if Elder Giles stays or goes. I have no clue. I'll sure miss the guy if he leaves. He is such a good companion and missionary. I love him! We get along and work together well, but we'll see!

The 2 scriptures are 2 Cor 8:12
For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

and D&C 24:12
And at all times, and in all places, he shall open his mouth and declare my gospel as with the voice of a trump, both day and night. And I will give unto him strength such as is not known among men.

 :)   Hope you all enjoy Thanksgiving! I heard from a South African that Thanksgiving wasn't started by the pilgrams...it was only taken up after the Civil War to try and more unite the country..or something like that! haha. I dont know, but I was impressed this oak who told us knew that! smart smart.

Cape Town laid out

Well, Cape Town is still treating me well. Yeah last week was tough, and our teaching pool is pretty shallow at the moment, but we got some new people to see this week and others to follow up on, so it'll be fun! In my personal study, im reading the old testament and the Book of Mormon. I'm in Helaman 12ish and Exodus 13ish. I love the scriptures! I look forward to studying each and every day with no distractions and to be taught by the spirit. Well, time for Elder Haws to log off. Know that I'm doing great and that I miss and love you all lots and lots!
LOVE,
Elder Dusty Haws

From the top, with Love

Yeahh, thats an eyeball and I ate it!!

HEY

How'z it?! Cool pictures. Daddy, I'm disappointed, I thought you were an Aggie fan?! haha thank goodness Kelly filled me in on the BIG news! HORRAY! goo Aggies. Like that picture of the Aggie tattoo haha. I hope you like the pictures and video that I sent! pretty awesome huh?! No Thanksgiving lined up yet. Shame about it getting dark so early. I know you don't like that daddy. In the winter here it got dark round about 6 pm, but now it stays light till round about 8 pm. I like it.

On top! SACTM

This week was nice! As you can see, we actually hiked one of the 7 wonders of the world! It was amazing. I was like a Springbok and had a good pace going, and smoked some of the others in our group of 12 elders that did the hike. I was one of the first to make it to the top! It took me about 1 hour. It was a pretty decent climb, but I think all my training and hiking and backpacking that I did in scouts helped me. The view from the top was breathtaking! Most all the people take the tram to the top, so the top was very crowded. It costs like R100 to take it. From the top you could see forever! But eventually we had to go down, and that was tough. I'll be honest with you, my legs were pretty much shacking. It took like 45 minutes, and my legs were dead after that. It felt soo nice to sit down and rest. I'm also thankful I'm not in a walking area at the moment cuz my legs were sore for a good 4 days after the hike! Serious. it was SO worth it though. I can check it off my list of things to do here in South Africa.

That was a highlight of the week, and so was going on exchanges with Elder Speed in his area of Fish Hoek! We stayed up late chatting about all kinds of things, and then had a nice day the next day, even though we were a little tired. He cooked me a divine meal for lunch! wow, it was Lekker! (nice) he is a powerful missionary who lives in Australia. He knows his stuff. I learned a lot from him and cant wait to go on another exchange probably next transfer with him.

Probably the best thing that happened this week occurred yesterday, the baptism of Teacher and Ian! they were found tracting, which is rare, and are from Zimbabwe. People from Zim are my favorite! Soo humble and loving and sweet. We planned everything out, and things went as planned. but when Teacher was getting baptised by that Darren guy, he almost baptised both of them! I guess Teacher didnt really bend his legs, so Darren struggled a little bit and slipped and almost went all the way under the water haha. It was done properly though. but I loved it the most when they both bore their testimonies after they changed. We practices the night before, and they were both nervous, but they nailed it! Simple, but from the heart! I was soo proud. also we gave them 4 white shirts, and 2 of our ties, so they looked sharp! Elder Giles and I was so happy, and so were they.

One thing that was disturbing this week was when we were driving we saw this black kid who had to only be about 9 years old, smoking. He looked like a thug and probably could beat me up haha.

We're looking for more people to teach, and found that tracting doesnt always work very well, so we've visited some of the members in the ward and asked for referrals. So that has been fun.

Also, this week I clicked 14 months! Can you believe it?! I cant.

Heres a funny thing that has happened quite a few times since I've been a missionary...People in the grocery store always ask me where to find something or other questions. Sometimes I give it my best guess, and other times I look at them and then they realize I'm a missionary, and just walk away haha.

Well, today we're going to the Waterfront. Should be nice. I've never been there, but I'm sure its nice.

The scripture is Helaman 6:37
And it came to pass that the Lamanites did hunt the band of robbers of Gadianton; and they did preach the word of God among the more wicked part of them, insomuch that this band of robbers was utterly destroyed from among the Lamanites.

I'm glad to hear that things are going well back home! I always look forward to hearing from you guys on Monday mornings. It starts out my week on a great note! The missionary work is here is going very well! Have a great week! I think about you often, and keep you in my prayers daily.

LOVE ya!

-Elder Haws

Our district on the top

 

Yeahh, thats an eyeball and I ate it

Smiley!

They call this place the Wetlands, its unreal

USU over BYU in Basketball!!!

Thats called False Bay

Are you trying to plump me up?

Hi Family

Table Mountain

Man, Elder Giles is already done, and today for sure we are hiking Table Mountain and have to leave soon, so this email is going to have to be brief. I do have a request though, could I get the Raleen's address! fetch, I never got that wedding invite haha. To answer some of your questions... yeah its most likely the same DVD's, we stay in the yellowish Avendale flats in Diep River. Most every p-day we get to hang out with other elders, its only in some areas that elders only get to see their companion, but not here in Cape Town! The end of the transfer is like 23 Nov. Mommy, you really don't wanna know why the black people have their teeth taken out. It is very inapporpriate. But for the men it is just the "cool" thing to do. Yeah some people are just weird.

YESS I got that amazing package! It was actually opened and examined by customs...I dont know if they took anything out though. Daddy, I already had that Nearer CD, but the other one is sweet. I like new music. All those sweets are gonna make me fat! Are you trying to plump me up so that you can sacrifice me to the ancestors when I get back? haha. The Xhosa's sacrifice cows and sheep to the ancestors.

The FHE last Monday with the Scheeper family went great. We bought all the food and had a good 'ole time!

This week I went on 2 exchanges! the first one was with elder mofammere. He's from Lesotho. I went to his area, Fish Hoek. We had lots and lots of fun. But as I was walking out of a shack, I smashed my head on the short door of the shack, and kinda cut the top of my head haha darn shacks!

Exchanges with Elder Wilson, from England, were sweet as well! he goes home in Feb and pretty much told me his life story, it was awesome. He interviewed out 2 baptisimal dates and they both passed so this Sunday they'll get baptized! Elder Giles is excited, its his first baptisms on mission.

Elder Giles and I are just growning to be a great team. We joke and tease one another all the time. He is sweet! 

The 2 scriptures are...  look 'em up! dont be lazy

2 Nephi 32:5
For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.

D&C 68:31
Now, I, the Lord, am not well pleased with the inhabitants of Zion, for there are idlers among them; and their children are also growing up in wickedness; they also eseek not earnestly the riches of eternity, but their eyes are full of fgreediness.

Like I said, not a cloud in the sky today, and President approved us to hike Table Mountain, so next week I'll send some nice pictures home from that, and also from the baptism!

Sorry for the short email. next week's one will be better!

LOVE YOU ALL VERY MUCH!
-Elder Haws

BIG Elder Wilson and me

FHE with the Scheeper family!

Exchanges with Elder Mofammere

Its called the Great Gatsby...only R39! I barley could finish half of it

No flea bites to complain about.

Hey Haws Family!

Thanks for the nice e-mail. Cool pumpkin daddy! They dont really celebrate Halloween here at all. Just another normal day. Probably cuz its such a dangerous place, especially at night! Yeah I did go to the Waters of Mormon once. I came late for some reason, probably cuz of sports. No I havent gotten the package yet. Nahhh I dont need protein powder. Send me some cool churchy stuff or USU stuff instead. The New Zeland won the Rubgy World Cup. Elder Frost was happy I'm sure. Glad you got my post card! Dang, that was fast! Just another reason I love Cape Town, good postal service. mommy, I'll ask around about that teeth thing. Don't worry, I sometimes brush 3 times a day. Elder Giles often falls asleep (passes out) and doesnt brush. haha. I'd have to say the Scheeper family is my favourite so far. We're going there for FHE and we'll take some pictures. We're cooking for them cuz they always cook for us. We're gonna make spaghetti and meat sauce. and daddy, as for the conflict with the temple night and the rival WV vs MC game...."seek first the kingdom of God" but it is a rival game, so have fun at the game, but FOR SURE go to the temple either before then, or soon after. As long as you go, not necessarily when you go, right?! No flea bites to complain about.

As you saw from the pictures, we decided not to hike Table Mountain. Instead, we hiked Loins Head! Is that not beautiful or what?! We parked at a place called Signals Hill...where President Probst took us on our first day in Cape Town over a year ago! Hadn't been there in a long time. The hike wasn't too hard, just beautiful! The pictures tell it all. Man, soo pretty. I kept thinking how boring and mundane and dull East London was. haha Cape Town, I love you! We drove through downtown and there was lots of traffic. As for the hike, it was nice! Loins Head I guess is where President Kimball stood and dedicated this land for missionary service. Also, in the distance, you cant really see it, but there are 12 peaks, what people call the 12 apostles. Look it up. You cant really see 'em cuz of the clouds, but there're there. Anyways, it was another amazing p-day in Cape Town. We'll probably try and hike Table Mountain some other time. Another thing on our "to do" list is to take a tour of the World Cup stadium...

As for the week of missionary work, the real reason I'm in Cape Town, it was great! Nothing too out of the ordinary to report on. Elder Giles and I are practically brothers. I took him on a longg run one morning, and I don't know why, but I like needed to let some frustration out. Nothing bad happened, but I just think that fact of sitting in a car and in lessons all day every day was boring my body, so I just needed to get the blood pumping!! I showed no mercy to Elder Giles. I was wayyy far ahead of him, he was yelling to slow down, but I just kept going hahaha! It felt great. We had some powerful lessons, and got some solid new investigators to work with. they've come to church, we just need to get them a testimony and committed and have the spirit do the work. I'm excited to teach to their needs and answer their questions and resolve their concerns. We had a nice lesson about the atonement with lady who is in the repentance process. It was powerful.

We also helped a lady move, which was stressful for her. She really needed our help, and that's what we're there for.  The zone leaders joined me and my district for district meeting. It was nice! Everything went as planned and they said that I did a really good job. Afterward we got some delicious and cheap lunch (good combo) and got to spend time with the zone leaders in their nice boarding. This week I'm going on exchanges with them, so that should be a blast. Also im going to Fish Hoek for a day on exchanges. Its kinda fun being a district leader cuz I am the one who decides when we go on exchanges! haha

The weather here has been hectic. Some rain and clouds, and lots of in-between.

A weird thing happened at church. the gospel principles teacher for some reason had both his kids in the class with us, and his son (under a year old) would not stop crying! like it was distracting the lesson. So some of the black sisters in the class were holding him, but that didn't work. So never fear, Elder Haws is here! haha Even though techinically it was against mission rules, I took him outside and eventually made him stop crying! Magic! He was really moody, so I held him the entire lesson outside. I just hope the lesson was good for the investigators that were there.

The scriptures are:

D&C 59:21
And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.

Mosiah 4:9-10

9 Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.
10 And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them.

Thats all from here in Cape Town! Days and weeks just fly by and time is going by faster and faster! Its crazy.  Miss you all soo much! Your missionary son here in South Africa love you!

Talk to you next week!

-Elder Haws



The hike

 
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CAPE TOWN!

The view from the hike



Part of the hike...poor Elder Giles haha

A view of Devils Peak from the freeway



Bless this lady's heart. she has cancer, but she's in such good spirits

Look at that feast and the veggies



These are like the only Xhosa's in the ward

The crew who hiked Loin's Head! beautiful

Table Mountain is the 8th wonder of the world!

Dear Family,

Thanks for the nice e-mail. We live in an apartment complex in a place called Diep River. Its like 20 minutes from the mission home. and yeah in the future I could go to Namibia. I'm glad to hear that grandma got my letter. I havent gotten her letter, or that package yet. I will probably soon! Sorry, I dont remember sending you a video, my bad? You never answered me about if aunt Julie got my post card I sent a long time ago.... I havent had any flea bites so far.

I just say right now that I have to write this letter quick quick today because, yes, Table Mountain is calling my name! We gonna hike it today! It is kinda cloudy though, so hopefully it'll pass so I can get some good pictures from the top! I've decided that Table Mountain is the 8th wonder of the world!

As you can see from the pictures, we went to Cape Point last Monday! WOW! It was the funnest P-day that I've had on mission! serious! Oh my gosh. my P-days in East London were lame compared to the ones here! We went over to Fish Hoek and drove with those elders along the beautiful coast, over to a place called Simon's Town where the penguines were! It was sweet to see them! Then we made our way to Cape Point! It is a national park, so it cost R80 to go there, but it was SO worth it! Man, I wish I could type a accurate disctiption of what it was like there! I was speechless! So Cape Point isnt the most southern tip in Africa, but it is where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet, and lots of shipwrecks occur. Its the Cape of Good Hope. Man, I wish I coulda stayed there forever! It was soo sweet! It was wayyy windy where we were, up at like a lighthouse. There were also SO many darn tourists. I guess in a way I'm a tourist, but heck I live in Cape Town, I'm a resident haha. That was like a once and a life time experience that I'll remember for a longg time.

The point!!

The week of missionary work was nice. we had a day where we only taught 1 lesson, and had lots of dropped appointments and stuff, so we both were a little down. I feel like the Lord was humbling us and seeing how we would react and respond. because the next day, we taught 5 powerful spirit filled lessons! Elder Giles and I work together well. We teach in unity and have fun while we work! I feel lost when we're driving around because I am so used to East London and Mdantsane streets...but I'm going to start driving this week so hopefully that'll help me learn the area. One thing that I've noticed about Cape Town is that there's a lot of sand, especially in the townships! Another thing about Cape Town is that the weather is very unpredictable. You can experience 4 seasons in a day. Its fine for me though, cuz I'm not walking! ha! Another thing is that heres lots of people here that have like their top front 4 teeth missing...weird! haha

There is an awesome family in this area. The Scheepers! They LOVE the missionaries. They arent dirt poor, but live in a humble home, but fed us 3 meals last week! They want us to come over more often! haha. The meals arent very big, but still, they sacrifice so much for us. I felt bad, so I offered to clean ALL the dishes (yeah, no dish washers) it took like 30 minutes. haha. I love that family.

Church yesterday was nice. We had 5 investigators there. Yeah my talk went well! I wasnt very nervous, and it went exactly as planned. It was only like 5 minutes, but everyone said I did a good job. The gospel principles teacher is freakin hilarious! We were talking about the spirit world, and he said many people die to know where we go when we die, or something like that. I was just dying laughing in the back of the class the whole time. He just has soo much energy when he teaches.

Elder Speed got food posining really bad, so we had to drive the 20 minutes on Friday morning to come to the rescue. He was too sick to go to the chapel for district meeting, so I decided to just have it in their boarding! It went really well! Elder Giles and I found some frozen chicken that expired back in March, and we were hungry, and I gave Elder Giles a hard time about eating it, but it was frozen, so we ate it! We didn't get sick, yet!

The scriptures for the week are:

D&C 112:12-13
12 And pray for thy brethren of the Twelve. Admonish them sharply for my name’s sake, and let them be admonished for all their sins, and be ye faithful before me unto my bname.
13 And after their temptations, and much tribulation, behold, I, the Lord, will feel after them, and if they harden not their hearts, and stiffen not their necks against me, they shall be converted, and I will heal them.

D&C 100: 5-6
5 Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men;
6 For it shall be agiven you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say.

Alright, gotta go! Table Mountain, here I come! Hopefully I'll have some sweet pictures to send home next week!

Love you guys!
Elder Haws



How cute!



Check that out



Cape Point National Park



The district with a beautiful backdrop



Oh Elder Giles how I love you!!

There was much rejoicing!! ...but I am very very sad.

HELLO FROM CAPE TOWN!!!!!




My view of Table Mountain every day..the backside

 Daddy, what the heck?! Oh well. but yeah, I am currently sitting at a NEW computer shop emailing you from beautiful, wonderful, amazing Cape Town. Wait a second, I just turned around and looked outside and saw Table Mountain, Yeah, no big deal! haha Its true that we can clearly see table mountain, but its just the back side of it, but hey its still Table Mountain!

Let me respond to your letter, Then I'll tell you all about my epic week! I didnt get my package quite yet, but I'll get it quicker than ever before cuz I'm right near the mission home and mission office where all the post goes! yeah, No I'm not writing your talk daddy haha and yeah we have to be back by 9 pm, but sometimes we dont take an hour for dinner, so we get back by 8 pm and just count that as our dinner time. Theother day we had a lesson at 8:30 so techininally we didnt get any dinner time! and heck, who needs it when you're doing the Lord's work! Okay, enough with that, let me tell you how my week was!

So I kinda knew I was being transfered, and the call came Tuesday morning. Elder Larrabee, the assistant to the president, phoned me and said I was going to Cape Town! At first, I didnt believe him, but he said it was true! FINALLY!! There was much rejoicing!! So that morning I had to start packing cuz the next day I was getting on a plane. So that day we said our goodbyes and still had like 2 good lessons. I am very very sad. Khayakazi and her brother, the 2 people I baptized and loved soo much, were at school till very late, so I was not able to see them on my final day :( I was, and still am sad. like we baked muffins for them, and like I was going to give Khanisani a tie and stuff, and it never worked out. They just sent an SMS (text) and really apologized and said bye. Oh well. maybe I'll see them again, you never know. Other than that, I was able to visit all the people I wanted to say goodbye to. Then, it was time for me to get on a plane! Elder and Sister Fowers who are the senior couple from San Diego who I was telling you about, picked me up late for my plane! My flight was set for 12, and they came at 11. We made it pleanty of time though. It was sad to say goodbye to Elder Wolfgramm, but I'm sure I'll see him again sometime soon. anyway, when the plane took off, it was a weird feeling. no more east london. I spent 13 months of insipred service there. Lots of great people and memories in that city and Mdantsane that I'll remember the rest of my life!

A view of the southern tip of Africa from the plane

The flight was about 2 hours, and it was beautiful to see Africa out of the window of the plane. Anyway, we landed and went stright to the mission home! Hadnt been there for a year! There were SO many elders there! Lots of food :) it was nice to see lots of my friends who I hadnt seen in a long time. There I saw my new companion...ELDER GILES!! He is epic, to say the least. He is in Elder Wolfgramm's transfer, so he just finished being trained, so has been out about 4 months now. He's from Tooele, Utah! He is a farm boy! Literally, he's a pig farmer! I love it! He like country music and played football and wrestled in high school. but good heck, he is powerful for being so new to mission! We teach in unity and get along great! Sometimes, we just talk at night when we sould be sleeping haha. but this morning, we went on a run, and it was pathetic! haha I thought he was kidding. We ran about 300 yards and he was dieing! haha we got some work to do.

So the place in Cape Town where im serving is called Meadowridge! Cape Town has 2 zones, so theres lots of elders here cuzs it covers a big area. Yes, im in a CAR!!! No more walking for me. about 11 months of walking is good enough for me haha. Our area is massive, and very diverse. We have shacks, town, middle class houses, The richest of the richest in all of cape town! Those houses I saw yesterday were HUGE. but the ward is very good. I'll be honest, I've already been fed more than I have my entire time in Mdantsane! hahaha. the ward loves the missionaries. The only thing im going to have to get used to is not speaking Xhosa to every black person I see. There are SO many different types of people here. We're teaching lots of people from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and they speak french! So thats cool. but our area has lots of colored people. They look mexican, but they're mixed. they speak Afrikkans and have a distnict accent. Look it up on youtube! Its sweet. The ward and area has lots of white people. So there's just a little of everything here. Elders say that in Cape Town if theres one place to serve, its Meadowridge!

Ummm, I'm the district leader. but the ward only has 2 elders, so the other elders are working in a place called Fish Hoek!! Yeah, supposed to be like the most beautiful place in all of \Cape Town! Right on the coast! I'll go there on exchanges, so I'll send pictures. The elders there are Elder Speed from Australia and Elder Mofammare from Lesetho. They both are sweet. Elder Mofammare is in my transfer, and Elder Speed has been out about 9 months. The only "bad" thing about all of Cape Town is FLEAS!! All the boardings have 'em. so far, I haven't had any problems with them, but I know they'll come. We have spray that keeps them away, but I'm sure they'll bite me haha.

Yeah, so general conference was amazing! powerful huh?! I loved all of the talks, and loved the prophets talk and all of the apostles, but the one by Ian S. Ardern and J. Devn Cornish were some of my favorites! applied to me as a missionary! Booyahh, the music was outsanding! wow.

On friday we had interviews with President Wood! i love that man! we talked about a lots of things, but then towards the end, we talked about sports! haha serious! He loves the Celtics, and also told me the details about the USU vs BYU game a few weeks back! He is such a cool guy.

We had to drive about 45 minutes to the training/place where the interviews were going to be held, and that drive was right along the coast! it was breathtalking!

Hey, gotta go! today we're going to Fish Hoek and going to a place called Cape Point! I AM SO EXCITED!! I'll for sure take some pictures. Elder Giles said theres penguines there! But guess what we might do next p-day.....yeah, CLIMB the one and only TABLE MOUNTAIN!!! That would be funnnnn. This week I think I'm going to have to do an baptisimal interview, and then this Sunday I was asked to give a talk in sacrament meeting, so that'll be nice.

Well, I am SO happy to be here in cape town!! I think you could tell from the email. We got lots of appointments this week, I cant wait! gotta teach and testify to the multitudes!

Taddy, you're birthday is coming up soon! Any big plans?!

The scriptures this week D&C 29:6 and 1 Nephi 1:15

Take care! I'll just be over here working hard and having fun this week!!!

LOVE YOU,

-Elder Haws

Yeah, that literally is a sea of shacks

Elder Giles and Me

The new district

the last time at the Nyandoro's

these boys are gonna get baptized soon!