.....doesn't seem real to me.

Oh my! I cant believe that I’ve been home from the best 2 years of my life for a whole entire year!

That doesn't seem real to me. It seems like yesterday that I was an awkward returned missionary, but I think I’ve adjusted for the most part and can be classified as a normal person now. It’s been crazy to see many of my mission buddies come home after completing their service.

Well, this past summer I stuck with cleaning carpets. The highlight of my summer was when I got to go on a business trip up to the Oakland temple to clean the carpets after it had been renovated and get it all cleaned up for the faithful saints of northern California. What an awesome experience! It ended up taking longer than we expected, but it was a success. Also, I got to clean some of the carpet in the San Diego temple, and I was happy because it desperately needed it. Along with that, every Wednesday I got to serve and work at the temple on the midday shift. I loved it, and really miss it. I was privileged enough to be able to officiate an endowment session….7 times! So cool. And in my ward I was called to be a teaching specialist for the youth, so I bounced around week to week teaching Sunday school and young mens and young womens. I enjoyed it. But other than that, my summer was pretty mundane and boring, but I loved spending time with my family, and making money.

Now im back up where I really belong...LOGAN UTAH! I love this place, and I love it even more when theres not 3 feet of snow on the ground and I can walk outside with shorts on. Im taking 13 credits and all my classes are on Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to 4:15pm with no breaks! I just pound them out! So far its not that bad. And with a schedule like that, it allows me to not have any school on Monday, Wednesday and Friday! So I work for Zerorez cache valley the other days of the week! Cleaning carpets like a boss. A schedule like that sure keeps me busy, but I can handle it.

The young single adult student ward here is pretty great. I got called to serve as the grandpa in the ward. Basically, I am in charge of all the Family Home Evening groups on Monday nights. It’s a fun calling that fits my personality and I always love to serve wherever the Lord needs me to.

And theres one other detail in my life I think is worth mentioning… a cute girl named Holly! I met her earlier this year at school and we kept in touch over the summer (she even came and visited me) and now we’re dating! She is soo amazing, and spoils the heck out of me. She feeds me soo much good food its not even funny. We go on lots of fun dates and have so much fun together! Having is girlfriend is really nice J

I honestly miss being a full time missionary. Life just isn’t the same without the black name tag! I miss all my friends I made so so much, but it has nice to stay somewhat in contact with them via facebook and see the things that are going on in their life. I still have a goal to hopefully one day return to Africa and visit the places I served.  My testimony continues to grow day by day as I continue to practice and live the truths I taught the people of South Africa and Namibia. I am proud to say that I’ve gone to the temple every week since I’ve been home, except like once or twice in extenuating circumstances.

well, as you can tell, my life is pretty awsome! I have nothing to complain about. I have reflected back on my year of being home and can see God’s hand time after time helping me and guiding me and sustaining me through the good times, and the rare rough times. Truly, he watches over all His children, but I’d have to say he is particularly aware of his returned missionaries J

Elder Haws

Home @ SD

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Homecomming at the San Diego Airport

Its Time!!!

Release Notification

THE FINAL EMAIL AS A FULL TIME MISSIONARY!!

Hi

 

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

Lions at the game park

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

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

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

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

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

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

LOVE,

Elder Dusty Haws



Sara getting baptized

Katuu and her family

 

 

The branch fireside

Going home is going to be weird.

Dear Family,

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

Couldnt stop laughing

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

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

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

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

the final 4

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

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

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

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

chillin' last night

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

I've been slacking on my scriptures.

D&C 78:17-19

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

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

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

2 Nephi 28:20-22

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

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

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

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

Going home is going to be weird.

LOVE,

ELDER DUSTY HAWS