The week I turned 9 months old

Week 40 (April 17, 2017)

Haha Im old. Almost at that year mark.

Holy smokes just want to say congrats to my big bro, because he is getting married this week. What a stud. 

First things first, I broke my bed this week. That was cool. 

Second, we did more splits with the elders in my zone, one is cusco and then another in the sacred valley of the inca. In Calca. Chevere no?

Not a whole lot happened this week, we just spent a lot of time finding people to teach and helping one of our investigators finish all of his marriage papers. I´ll tell you about him.

 Efraín Espinoza,
Efraín is a complete pimp. This guy is a musician and he is completely sober which is weird for people here. Jaja. But Efraín has a wife and kids. Three daughters and a son. Their son, Anderson, is serving a mission in Lima. Anderson has no idea that his parents even want to get baptized. Let alone married. So we found this family through a reference and they are so amazing. The hermanas in our ward are teaching Josefina, his wife, and have convinced her (through the spirit of course lolz) to get married and get baptized. WOOOOT. Seriously Anderson is going to be so happy that his family is  following the Savior. 

This week was Semana Santa, or Holy Week. So what does that mean?? EVERYONE IS A CATHOLIC(((: Even our members attend the catholic events. What a week it was, we went down to Calca on Friday, the day that they remember the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. I have never been more scared in my life. Catholics as you all know celebrate more the death of Christ than his resurrection, kinda sad. But all day long they had a kind of a town days thing going on and all the girls were not wearing sufficient clothing. So we were trying to stay away from that area. As you can imagine work was not that great because EVERYONE was down there trying to partake of the apostasy. So we spent our whole day walking on the outskirts of Calca without any success. 
Calca is a city part of the ancient sacred valley of the inca. Its not very big but there is a small branch of the church there. But its a house church. The coolest part about Calca is the gorgeous view that it has. It is surrounded on all sides by HUGE mountains. No theyre not Utah big, they are Peru big. Which is a lot bigger that Utah big. Elder Pujalla (The elder I went on splits with) went to the foot of the mountain. To see the top of the mountain you have to look straight up. From 200 yards away you cant even see the top of it out of your peripheral vision. Its incredible. The mountains have teraces cut into them, but the incans so they could grow things. And they are all the way up the mountains. Just google it and you´ll see a part of what Im talking about. 

Well to finish let me share something spiritual. For Easter(: 
Jesus Christ suffered for me, for you, and for all of us. He not only suffered on the cross, he sweat great drops of blood because of what we would do. But he did. And he did it willingly. 
In our lifes we suffer, not to the extent of Christ, we will never know that pain. But we suffer. Some of us feel that there will be no end to it. Some of us may even give up, thinking that it would be easier to do so. What most of us DONT understand from the story of the atonement, is the hope that it brings to all of our souls. 

Christ suffered, and suffered some more. But he rose again after death. After all the hardship, and pain, and tears he overcame it. And because he overcame it. We will overcome everything that drags us down. There is nothing in life that will stop the savior of the world. He has already won. The only thing left for us to decide is we went to grab on to his tight grasp, so he can lift us out of the pits that we ourselves dug. I love my Savior. Happy Easter ya´ll(: 

1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

6 He is not here, but is risen: 

Another week, another nuevo sole

Week 39, (April 10, 2017)

This week was good! I had the opportunity to go on splits with some of the missionaries in my zone. They are problem missionaries and we have been worried about them for a little. Part of my job as a zone leader is to help them in any way I can. But unfortunately, sometimes we can't help everyone. It's sad to see elders of the church of God not put themselves into something they chose to do. 

I´ll tell you about one experience I had that was pretty cool this week. 

So on Friday, I was on divisions but we were in my sector. I had the feeling to go up and work on the mountain that day but I didn't know why because we have only about 3 investigators up there. But like Elder Rasband said in conference, ¨Act on the first prompting¨ so, we called the other people and rescheduled our appointments. So we got on the bus and went up the mountain. Without any success happening, I was soooo confused as to why I received that prompting. I doubted it. And part of me was saying to go back down. But I still felt like we needed to be up there. Interestingly enough I had the feeling to go visit a reference that we couldn't find weeks before on the other side of the mountain. So we went over there. I had no idea why we went because I didn't know the references name or their address. I was so confused as to why I was going there. We got to the part to climb up to the pueblo and we saw a family, carrying a large amount of soda to their little store up this mountainside. So we went and helped them out and carried their soda for them. They were so grateful and were willing to listen to us. They gave us bottled water, and we taught them a little bit about the restoration. The Dad told us that they had been going through a really rough time as a family. He told us his prayers to God have been pleading for help to know what to do. So you can imagine my thoughts in that moment. What a testimony builder of not only listening to the spirit but of listening to the counsel of the prophets.  I love mission life. And living in Cusco. 

I have been learning so much here. Things I never dreamed I would know, I know how to give blessings to people in Spanish, I know how to teach people in Spanish. But that the fact that I'm becoming a teacher of the gospel just blows my mind. 

This week my testimony has grown that God can make so much more of us than we ever could. We are nothing. But He, the almighty, made us from the dust of the earth, so that one day, we could be as he is. He loves us. He has done everything for us. And so has His son Jesus Christ. The more I learn, the more I work every day, the more I feel capable. The more I keep His commandments, the more liberated I feel, to make my own decisions. Because I know and have confidence that I can choose his will. 

Love you all so much. Have a great week(: 

It was a good week...CONFERENCE

Week 38 (April 3, 2017)

Hello, family and friends.  I hope you're wonderful wherever you are and whatever you're doing.  This week was a good week.  We didn't get a lot of work done, but I got a lot of spiritual progress done, Personally.  So this letter will be personal, but for everyone.

We started with our leadership conference on Tuesday, in which I fell asleep once, lol.  No worries it was only when the assistants were talking.  Joking.  Don't take things so seriously.  President Herrera talked to us about the mission and what we could do better and how we could get there.  But in the end, he talked to us about our potential.  Not just as missionaries, but as children of God.  WE CAN BECOME AMAZING. But we have to let the Lord stretch us to find that amazing potential.  For us, amazing things are in store.  We need to be willing to receive it.  We have the potential to become as God is now.
Wednesday and Thursday were filled with office work and planning.
Friday we gave our zone training.  We talked to our zone about what it means to be missionaries.  We shared with them a lot of scriptures about how we can be like Jesus Christ.  It was a good time. BUT THE BEST TIME OF THE WEEK WAS CONFERENCE :)

I always have love general conference (well not always) I'm such a big fan of listening to God's prophets speak.  I was so pumped for this conference that it was pretty much like Christmas for me.  (Yes is was in English).  I was so hyped because there is always one talk that stands out fro the rest and I was excited to see which one it would be.  Saturday passed and I hadn't heard "the talk" yet. So I said to myself "it's fine, Sunday is the best day anyway".  And then Sunday came and Sunday went and I hadn't been brought to tears by any of the talks.  None of them dazzled my ears.  I was somewhat disappointed.  Frankly, I was kind of upset.

On the bus ride home I was put to think because that is what you do on public transportation and it was as if I heard my own voice telling me the following statement. "it's not about what you heard, it's about what you felt."

WOW...I was so lost in listening with my ears that I didn't even pay attention with my heart. So in that moment, I prayed. I told my Father in Heaven I was sorry, and that I didn't listen to my heart.  Then suddenly the sweetest feeling of joy, peace, and knowledge washed over me. I knew that His prophets had spoken and that He was proud that I did my best to listen to them.  I opened my heart and all at once my heart was full....

Chandler's computer crashed in the cybercafe, so we were not able to receive the third page of his letter.

Ya, Normal

Week 37 (March 27, 2017)

Well, another week down, this week was a bit weird but it was good! We started off with changes, and that means picking up, taking, and dropping off missionaries so they can get to their new sectors.  So on Tuesday, we didn’t get the chance to work at all.  Poor Elder Skousen’s comp left and he didn’t get a new one, so he is tagging along with us for a little while. 

I’ll tell you a bit about some of our investigators now, lol.

Familia Mora Correna
These are some amazing people.  They are a family of 4.  Brady is the dad, Vilma is the mom, Arazeli and Yaritza are the two hijitas! (daughters).  It’s hard to have visits with them all the time because they are the hardest working people I’ve ever seen.  They don’t make a lot of money, but they have what they need.  I hope they will accept what we are teaching them.

Alfredo
This guy is the coolest.  He is 18 years old and makes money for his family.  Like most families here he doesn’t have a father figure.  He has to travel all the way to Abancay for a month to work and then comes back for a week or so.  So it is hard to keep visiting him.  He wants to be baptized and he wants to be part of Christ’s church.  He just can’t when he is always traveling.  So we’re going to have to talk to president and see what we can do.

Angel
Angel is awesome!  He’s 14 and the only non-member in a less active family.  But what is funny is that he’s the only one who comes to church, lol.  Angel was going to get baptized about 4 years ago, but when he saw how hypocritical some of the members were he didn’t want to be part of it.  But now we’re getting him interested again!!

Those are just a few of them, but they are my favorites, lol.

Holy cow ya’ll it is almost April.  Freaking time is flying.  I almost have 9 months out here.  The mission is really cool.  It’s stressful too.  Sometimes I just want to lay sown and die, but you just gotta keep going.  Other times I never want to do anything or go anywhere else.  Missions are really weird, but they are cool.  I would highly recommend one. 

All in all, this week was just, normal.

Elder Haws

Hey All You People

Week 36 (March 20, 2017)

First things first. I want to say happy anniversary to my wonderful parents. How long have you guys been married now?

I have to be honest..... This week we didn't do anything! Mostly because I've had a bacterial infection all week. Woot. 

Yesterday I was tired of being in bed that I told my comp, "Nope, we are going out and working today." Great idea.  No, it seriously was.  I'm not magically healed or anything, but yesterday I found out what if meant to give the Lord everything you've got and then collapse at the end of the day.  Literally, collapse.  So then we went to the doctor lol.  They gave me some pills, and said "take it easy and you'll be fine in a few days."

Since I don't have any stories this week, I'll share some revelations.  You get those when you're in bed listening to talks or reading the BoM.

1. "God loves you more than you know."  
This week I've felt pretty useless.  Being unable to work, your mind wanders and satan tends to make his way in.  You get down because he reminds you of who you've been, not your potential.  He tells you that God doesn't really love you, that he's not really listening to your prayers. He tells you that you are wasting time.  I started to listen to these temptations, but thank goodness for Jeffrey R. Holland because in that moment I started listening to a different source.  

"The first great commandment of all eternity is that we love God with all our heart, might, mind and strength.  But the first great truth of all eternity is that God loves us with all of his heart, might, mind and strength".

God loves us so much! He will never abandon us.  He never has, and He never will.

2. "We are the products of our own beliefs."  
We all have our own personal beliefs.  Whether they be religious, cultural, personal or political they don't mean anything if they don't influence the way you live.  When you make decisions every day, is your conscience there? Do you know what it is you believe? If not, you should try to write them down :)

3. "You are better than wickedness."  I was reading in 1 Nephi 8 in Lehi's dream, which we all know.  But a verse that I didn't notice before stood out like a sore thumb.  Verse 33 says:  "And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building. and after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also, But we heeded them not."

In my life before, I've been quick to heed the calls of the world.  Those of you who have been through high school know what that is like, but those who are still in it can't really see it.  But this past week I realized how much I want the things of God than what the world has to offer because the things of God last forever.  The world will not.  Our goal should be that last phrase of the scripture so in the last day we can say; "we heeded them not."

Don't listen to sinners.  They don't know anything. 

Y'all are wonderful! Hope life is good and you don't have bacterial infections! See you next week!

Elder Haws

The cure for Cancer, Israelite prophets, and a trip to Machu Picchu

Week 35 (March 14, 2017)

Hey everyone. This week has been the craziest week ever. 

I´ll just tell a few stories for this email. 

This week I was divisions with my good pal Elder Skousen. When we got a call from one of the sisters in our zone who had an investigator who needed a blessing the next day at 4, so we said yes obviously. We got to the small store that they were in and the scene was just sad. The sisters were somber, and the woman who needed the blessing, quiet. We asked what was going on. They told us that the lady had gone to the doctor yesterday, and they discovered a series of tumors in her chest. Cancerous tumors. So kind of having a freak attack elder Skousen and I decided that I would give the blessing. I gave it, they thanked us and we left. I didn´t say anything special in the blessing. I did the best that I could and hoped that the Lord found me worthy to do so. 

The next day I found out that she had gone back to the doctor, and got another test done. Only to find that none of the tumors were cancerous. She was completely cancer free. Like it was never even there.  

Wow.  The Priesthood works guys. 

This next one is just a funny one, and kind of short. But this week I had the opportunity to teach a man named Pedro. Pedro has been attending the church for about 15 years, he´s not baptized, and he dresses like he is from Israel, even though he is Peruvian. We went to teach him. Only to find out that he has the bible memorized, he has no interest in the church, he only attends because he wants to take the Priesthood over to his church (we speculate) and he wants to combine the LDS church and the Israelites. Freak man.  He also has a pet goose which is more of a demon than a goose.

So we went and taught this man. It was the most frustrating thing in the world. Because it turns out that they prepared a sermon for us. We tried so hard to teach them. It was hard. And we found out that Pedro is like their prophet here in Peru. Soooooo that was exciting. We tried to teach the restoration to him. But he kept bring up how there is so much sadness and poverty and bad things in the world. (He was trying to get to his point of joining the churches together there.) That's Pedro.

We also had a baptism this week! Its jorge the guy who we had to pass to another ward because he lived out of my ward! Yeah he got married and baptized on the same day. 

I also got to go to Machu Picchu. That was the coolest thing that I´ve ever done. 

I love you all so much! Sorry this email is late, I went to Machu Picchu on P´day, which is 5 hours away from Cusco. No habia tiempo. 

Conference and Stuff

Week 34 (March 6, 2017)

Me and Elder Bledsoe

Hey everyone, hows it goin?  This week was alright, not too crazy, not too slow either.  

We started off with our interviews with President on Tuesday and nothing special happened there.

Wednesday was our conference.  That was cool.

And then on Thursday, we had divisions again.  This time I was in my sector with Elder Bledsoe.  He's from California.

This past week we found a golden investigator AND a golden family.  We also did a zone fast and we have seen some incredible things happen.

Our golden investigator's name is Joseph.  He has been to church 4 times and we recently decided to contact him because we thought the Hermana's in our ward were teaching him.  Come to find out that no one has been teaching him and he wants to get baptized.  Crazy stuff.

Our golden family is familia Mora Carrena.  They are AMAZING.  We contacted the dad, Brady, in a sewing store.  He told us he was very worried about his wife who has gotten really sick lately.  We told him that we had a message that could seal their family forever.  After that, he perked up and invited us over for the next day.  They are such an amazing family.  We had a small lesson with them.  They asked us super profound questions and they were so interested.  We finished the lesson and we were walking out the door when Brady asked us if we were hungry.  So they took us out to eat.  THAT NEVER HAPPENS.  I hope they get baptized.

We also got to watch the groundbreaking of the new Arequipa temple.  It was awesome! What a special thing for these people.  Cusco does not have a temple, but, Arequipa is only 6-7 hours away.  Which is much closer than Lima!  Temples are so important and I miss going to it.

I was reading 1 Nephi 4 this week and a verse caught my eye. (Verse 3)
After Laman and Lemuel had seen and heard an angel, they still doubted and Nephi points that out to them.  Do we believe, even after we have seen miracles? President Uchtdorf gave a talk about how after time, we become used to things.  Even miraculous things.  Do you still believe? Do you still know the miracle of the plan of salvation, or do you take it for granted? We don't need to see to believe, but we do need to believe to feel. 

Love you all so much, have a wonderful week!!!

-Elder Haws
1 Nephi 3:7

James and Tiffany from Lehi

View of Cusco

View of Cusco