Damitu's Mission Call

Mom, 

   My new area is massive. I guess you can call it exciting haha. My goal was just to stay lowkey my whole mission and just be a normal missionary haha but it's alright. It truly is humbling. I have never been so overwhelmed for he longest time. I did my first training in Indiana last week. I trained on how to use the Book of Mormon in every aspect of our missionary work. It was fun a good to get the first out of the way. My comp is okay got a lot of work to do. I have a struggling district. There is one sister has been an stl and the rest is just a lot of troubled missionaries. But it's alright it good learning experience for me. I have never been so humbled. I'm exited to be able to give it my all.  And the good thing about my new area is... It only 16 miles away from my most favorite members of my entire mission. They had us over for dinner on Sunday to haha. 

     And yes about damitu oh my gosh hahaha. That's so awesome. I was super busy that Monday because all the members wanted to say buy so we were driving from a member to a member and   Right after we left the brimhalls and went the Byrnes I got a phone call and she told me so I freaked out and checked my iPad haha and sure enough she her mission call haha. That's so wonderful.  Here one scriptures that sets me back on track whenever I tend to forget my purpose as a servant of the lord. 3 nephi 5:13. I know she will do great. The eastern states are the best states to serve your mission haha. 

      Wow that's amazing 5 years. I didn't see that coming haha. Times flies by. That's makes me feel super old.

Blessings of the Temple

The work has been picking and it's been so awesome to see that happen. I love being a missionary.

     Well last week was a littler hectic so I didn't email a whole lot back so.. Sorry about that our PDAY got moved to Wednesday because we went to temple. It was so fun. Even tho the temple here to small compare to the one from Rexburg but the spirit was just as strong and I had an awesome experience. And right after we were done the temple president invited us into his office and we got to talks him and ask him questions about the temples and other doctrinal things.. Probably the only time I will ever get to do that so I made sure I asked enough questions haha. I loved it tho. Then right after we went to joe's crab shop with a member in downtown Louisville... It was so good best crap I have ever had. Anyways last was crazy but I wouldn't have traded it for anything I absolutely loved it all haha. 

    These week has also been pretty awesome and eventful as well. We one of our investigators get baptized and it was really neat to be able to see her doing that. It truly is a blessing to be able to see one Bing brought into gods one true a living church here on earth. Her name is shekata and I have never seen her so happy haha. She was like cracking jokes and everything haha. She is the kinda person that likes to keep to herself and very hard to crack her she'll but still super nice and she goes to through a lot of pain as well.. She got hit by a car couple years ago and it's affected her physically. But she still got baptized and it was awesome to see her get confirmed as well. 

     Etown is blessed. Our recent converts got to the temple as well these last week. And it was sure an awesome experience for me to here the expression how they felt temple. Nauje went home after the temple and found his favorite temple and put it on his back ground he said. I really do know that the gospel can change lives. Not only can it change you but it can transform you to a true Christlike person. I have been truly blessed. Anyways things are going super good. I'm loving my mission and it's going by so fast like I have almost been out 9 months it's crazy. But thank you for all you do.  #hallelujah

Elder haws🚴🏿💙

Lighten Others Burdens

hey mom!

     these week has been full of happiness. its a lot of work and its kept me and Elder field so busy. 

we had good amount of lessons and we blessed to do a lot of service. i cant tell you how blessed i feel and being able to see my heavenly fathers hand in everything i do has been rewarding.

these week we had interviews with our mission president and it was so much fun. sister brough bought a nice heating pad for my shoulders. these area has been a little rough with my shoulders.

just because there is so many hills,and i tend to use  my shoulders to bike for some reason haha. but all is well. i had a really good talk with my mission president and it sounds like he is going to transfer me again in to a new area at the  end of these transfer. im not looking forward to it at all. i have grown so close with the people here and it would break my heart to leave them. but the lords will be dont and not mine.

       funny thing about that talk is actually i got teach elders qourm that two Sundays ago! i cant tell you how much i love the word here. they really go wayyy out of their way to lighten our burdens. i feel immensely blessed. 

the weather has been treating good.  it was really hot tomorrow and the humidity makes a big difference. we got invited to a dinner at first baptist on Sunday and it was sweet. we had a fireside last night and it was in Louisville so we had like a 45 minute drive down there and we took the carter family and the Stevens and mike/ shakety!! it was meant to be just for investigator and new members so it was so nice!! the spirit was there and there was no place in the world i would been besides there. and my recent covert Shawn came to see me there as well and it was just good family reunion and i felt so happy. and i got to see him go bear his testimony and it was so powerful. he has come along way and its been such a blessing to see him grow and make all these changes in his life and he seems so happy as well. shucks😁   

    the cater family was there and natavia got up and bore her testimony as well. and she talked about how the day me and my companion knocked on her dore was the day they found out that her little brother had type one diabetes.

and she went on to say how her dad had left the whole family and how life seemed to be awful and since she met wet us and her brother baptized she has been so happy. and that her family has come a lot closer and she started crying up there so then i started crying and it was just a big mess haha. but its something i wont ever forget. im just so thankful that the lord blessed me these kind of experience. i am learning who mesafint truly is. i am learning to love and gain charity for those i serve.    

    

      so anyways we have a baptism these Saturday. and i am really exited. it will be shakety that's getting baptized. please pray that everything will work out and nothing will get in the way of that. and i wont be emailing you these next Monday and it will tactfully be on Wednesday. im going to creestwood to the temple!!!!!! and pday will be on Wednesday and i will email y'all that day. things are just good right now and im happy. i really am. i cant complain. i am thankful for y'all. thanks for all you do. you are sending me a package?? haha umm can i just get an early Christmas present haha... if you can find a cheap keyboard for my iPad and maybe a case it would be sweet that's really all i need. it would make working progress records a lot easier haha. THANKS THANKS LOOOVVVEEESSSS

Contemplating My Mission

  Hey Family, 

    I know!!! Time flies by like crazy!! That sucks it's cold there haha. We had a really good week when it comes to weather here. Specially Saturday it was about 72 degrees and we had a lot of service to do so... We were in shorts and short sleeves haha. And the rest of the week stayed between 50 and 60 so we have been blessed and I can't complain. 

     These week has been full of blessings as well. We were promised by the brethren to talk to 10 people each day and the lord would bless us with more people to teach... So that would have totaled about 70 people a week. But my companion and I decided to exceed that goal and talk to 200 hundred people a week and it's been so amazing to the lord bless us with more people to teach. I can't tell you how much our key indicators have been going up since we have been talk literally anyone and everyone on the streets. I truly know the lord is bound to bless us when we follow the wise counsels of those who have appointed by the lord to lead and guide his restored church. 

     We have couple people we teaching right now... And one of them is shakety and she is a part member. She is awesome and making so much progress. She has been to church 5 times now but she still got a little bit to go. So with a lot of prayer and fasting we are excited to get her baptized as soon as possible. Andre is the other person that we are teaching. He is so nice and humble. The lord has truly prepared him for us to share these restored gospel with him. He unfortunately couldn't make it to church these week. But he has been keeping his commitments. 

Chris is the other guy we are teaching and he is a little crazy but it's a work in progress. He like to rap and he records his Own music. Last but now least is paster patten. He is so awesome. He have been teaching him quite a lot. He goes to jehovah witness church and we went a sermon with him on Wednesday. It was different.  

     My companion is from Washington. He loves eating healthy so I really like that about him. We actually served in the same district in Louisville and my good friend trained him as well. So I went on couple exchanges with him before he was my companion. We get along very good haha. We relate a lot as well. We have a lot of fun doing these amazing work together. 

     I was sitting down and contemplating my mission.. And it's ups and downs, these past couple months have been the hardest of them all. But it's been also the happiest time of my mission. I really feel so satisfied at the end of my day. And I think that all it matters. I know obedience brings blessings and exact obedience brings mericles. I love love these church. As Ammon puts in the Book of Mormon " I glory in my Jesus" he is nothing but sweet. I truly am starting to recognize my saviors hands in my daily life. I never thought I'd say these but I'm greatful for my tries and heartaches. They truly strengthen and build my testimony. I know I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I know he lives. And because he lives he has reached out in love towards us and our nothingness. And has restored he beautiful gospel in the most beautiful way. I love y'all have a blessed week. Never forget to have him in your lips. 

Elder haws🚴🏿💙

I can't imagine were I would be

 Hello 😊

  We got so much snow haha. It got us good and couldn't ride our bikes In it so we had to walk everywhere 

So my feet was dead... Like I couldn't feel my toes for a while haha. But it was fun because we were able 

To do a lot of service. Friday we got snowed in so we had a member come pick us up and we just shoveled 

Snow all day with him haha. I even enjoyed doing it. And school as been out of course haha and everyone 

Is actually driving so slow. You never see that here. So we didn't have a whole lot happen these week 

When it comes to teaching.

  

      My investigators are doing super well. We have two people getting baptized and coming in two

The fold these week. And we had a member get rebaptized as well. It sure was unforgettable experience 

For me to see, someone one of our dear brother come back to the fold. He has been waiting to get

Baptized for couple months and it was really awesome. 

     Sunday was one my favorite Sunday's ever. We had one of the young women speak on the importance of 

Scriptures... She said that kids at school bully her a lot and sometimes they would even creat a 

Circle and push her back and forth... While pulling on her hair... And she said amidst these trial the 

One thing that kept her going was her scriptures. She would read her scriptures to help thought it.

And bore a powerful testimony of it. It means a lot to her to read the scriptures because that's 

Where she found her comfort. I loved it made me cry haha. 

      About the mission thing.... Deciding to go on a mission was the hardest thing I have ever had

To do in my life. I wish I did it differently. I wished I would have had the Book of Mormon all the 

Way through. And prayed in deep supplication to my Heavenly Father about it. My suggestion would 

Be to spend a lot of time where the spirit of the lord abides. Which is coming to church. Going to 

The temple. Spend a lot of time in the temple. If whoever it is does the small and simple things that 

Heavenly Father asks them to do.., they will find out what the lord would have them do. For me I

So thankful I decided to come serve my lord. I can't imagine were I would be in my life right now. 

It truly scares me to death to think about what I will do when I come home. I love these. 

       I'm glad you had good relief society class. I sure didn't make it for you guys to raise me haha. 

But the one thing I will tell you mom is... When ever you tried to get me to do something church..

It only made me not want to ever do it.. It pushed me away. And the times you just loved me and 

And just reached out that way was when I wanted to change. But that's just me. I'm glad tho because it made Me question things. Until I was truly converted. 

      Did you send me a tie?!! If so thank You! Damitu sent the same tie in my first area haha. I think it's funny! But anyways thank you for all you Do for me. I truly am so blessed. I love y'all so much. I hope you have a great week!!! 

 

     

Gospel love.

Elder haws🚴🏿💙

Families are meant to be together

   Hey mommy

    Hello, it's been such a good week for me and Elder crow. So many adventures. "Cold adventures". These weeks has been so sweet and so nice even tho it was cold. I have learned so many new things. I love my fellow members and all they do for me and my companion. And they are so helpful  and have no problem coming out to teach with us. 

    

      Naja ~ is doing so well. He came to church today. And came to the youth activists. We taught couple him couple times these week. And he loves the gospel. He wishes he was born in it. His testimony is growing and he even drew a picture of the whole plan of salvation. He keeps his commitments. He reads a lot and just all around an awesome kid. And he is so exited to be baptized.

  

    Norien~ is Naja's brother. He likes the church. And his mom is a big support when it comes to us teaching him. But she is a less active and has no interest to come anytime soon. So he doesn't want to quite join and do the same thing his mom is doing. But he does like the church and the youth as well. And he has a bab date as well. And I know he will get baptized haha. 

 

     We have been teach a lot of other people but so far these are the once that are progressing. 

We have been doing a lot of finding and knocking at least for 3-4 hours a day. It can be boring and it can get old really fast... Specially when people are super rude about it. But that's fine I'm doing what the lord would have me do. 

   These week I have been praying super hard that.. Heavenly Father can he really help me understand what Christ has done personally and how I can have him to be the center of my life. It's been super humbling and as I have tried to keep and live his attributes.. I'm learning what true unconditional love means. And it's definitely changed my views towards his children. 

      I was very sad to hear about what happened. And I'm so glad that your doing so well despite what happened. It brought tears to my eyes to hear that grandpa passed away. He was sure a great man and a great disciple of Jesus Christ. I have always looked up to him And am super thankful for the examples he showed me. He truly lived the gospel. And he knew and lived Christ's attributes. It's brings me so much joy and comfort in know about the plan of salvation. 

 

     I feel so blessed and so honored to have had him as a grandpa. I know because of the Jesus Christ's atonement, I can see him again. And that families are meant to be together. I love these gospel and this church. I love serving my Heavenly Father. And his children.  Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. These scripture often brings me comfort. I love your mom and I will keep praying for you. I hope you have a blessed week and may the lord be with you, comfort you and uplift you. I hope you had the best birthday. I'm sure it was super hard not to have my jokes there but it's alright haha jk. Ps. I hope you liked the videos that I made for you. Most of those people are members but there a lot of nonmembers. I even asked someone on the street to sing it with me haha. 

  

 Anyways I love you and I hope you have an awesome week. I couldn't ask for a better mom. Your the best. 

Gospel love.

Elder haws🚴🏿💙

Grandpa fulfilled his purpose

Happy 2016! That's awesome. I couldn't believe how fast that year went. I really grateful that I could begin the new year on my mission. My goal for these year I think is to see everyone I their heavenly fathers eyes. We as humans tend to get a little judgmental at times and we may not treat gods children the way we should so that's really what I'm going to be working on. 

I'm glad you guys enjoyed Christmas and New Years. To be honest it still hasn't registered in my head yet haha. But I'm glad it's a new year. I'm looking forward to improving a lot of things these year.

 

(Side note:  Alyssa's grandpa on her mothers side passed away Sunday 1/3/15) It's been really hard to hear that about grandpa. I can't tell you how sad that makes me. It gives me so much comfort to know about the plan of salvation. I'm sure he is taken care of. I love these gospel with all my heart. I have never felt so much comfort in my life. It's such a blessing to know, what my purpose is. And I have no doubt in my heart that grandpa fulfilled his purpose. A man once told me there there two most important days in your life. 1 is the day you were born. 2 is the day you find out why?! And for me it's truly just to live the gospel of Jesus Christ and to be like my lord and savior Jesus Christ. 

 
I hope you guys are enjoying doing the small and simple things that are bringing you closer to your Heavenly Father. Remember by small and simple things are great to brought to pass. I rely heavily on these gospel. I don't know where I would be without it. I contacted a guy on a street these week and he was telling me that there was no God at all. And that it was all imaginary. So I asked him what the purpose of his life is... And he said to live and die. If that was true, that would be the saddest life. A life without a purpose is a life worth not living. 

    

    Thank y'all for all you do for me and what you do to uplift me. I truly am blessed with the best family in the world. I often pray for you guys and I know that my heavenly fathers hears and answers my prayers. Have a blessed week. The lord loves you. And I love you. 

Gospel love.

Elder haws🚴🏿💙