April 12, 2015 Email

      I had a slow week. We had a chance to visit the part member family but just the mom. The husband and the son weren't there. We talked to her about how she could be a better example and to start having Family Home Evening and being a saint to her family so that her husband may have a change of heart. She agreed wiht us that she could be better. I love when people just listen to what you have to say its nice at times. 
     We also met a young man from her who wants to go to BYU Provo he is Islamic but he wantst to know more about the church so he can see if all the stuff on the internet is true and what to expect in Utah. It was a nice little lesson he took the Book of Mormon and said he wanted to meet again. I feel that maybe he will become a member because he is a very nice young man but strong in his religion. We will see what the spirit has to say and do to him. I love the gospel. 
    A young girl came and watched all of conference on Saturday but she didnt really have anything to say. I think she was alittle bored. I talked to her a little more in depth about conference. I hope she can continue to progress, she is also Islamic. i
     I have a deep love for the Indonesian people and I will cry when I leave. To tell you all I really enjoyed conference. My favorite talk was from President Packer. He really touched my heart and I really loved how he said if we really use the atonement we can be like the father and remember them no more! That just burned with in me! I loved it and I felt so touched.
     Elder Hollands story of the brothers got me. I could not stop thinking of my family. I felt so much love and support! I sure can say they are called of GOD! Oh and the Relief Society President did really good too. I learned form conference just how important it is to do the little things, and how important family is, and how I need to choose a good eternal companion. I love you and be safe. i know if we do the right things we will receive the saving grace of the Savior and the gates and windows of heaven will open to help us in this life and the next! keep the faith GOD's SPEED! 

Pictures

 Elder Haws got Christmas!!!

 Red Snapper they bought from the market.

Elder Haws found some goodness in Indonesia. It's one of his favorites. 

Elder Haws had a great week this week. He and his companion have a lot of fun together and work hard. They taught 5 lessons in one day, so they felt good about that. They found a golden investigator who is truly searching for the truth. So he is excited to teach him the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

 

Updates

Nov 2nd
The pictures are super cool, thank you. I had a good week. I tired to see as many members as I could. I had some great lessons and no one rejected us this week. We gave away five Books of Mormon. We got five new investigators. It was a good week. I'm going to a lesson in about two hours and I need the prayers for the spirit. Plead with the Lord to bless me with his spirit. We had one investigator come to church. She is an eternal investigator but she said next year in Jan. she wants to be in the church. I don't know if I believe but I hope she does. It will be the best decision she will ever make. We have one investigator who has a lot of potential but he is often out of town. He has been to church. I hope he continues to grow. I will try and get you some pictures thank you so much for everything. I'm really sad to be moving from Surabaya. I really have a great love for the members.The people are great in this country. I will always have a little Indonesian in me the rest of my life.  


Nov 9th
 Well I'm here in Bandung. This city is where all the young people come for school and to have fun. It's a lot cooler here, but so far sama aja( the same anywhere else). I am going to be a District Leader here.The new companion is from Miami, Florida. He is a Heat fan. He is great and I think we will have a great time together. He already respects me as a teacher. He told me I have a good knowledge of the gospel. There are no investigators here at all. A few but doesn't seem they are very progressive. This area is said to be the hardest area in the mission. I think it is a little true but its not about the numbers. We'll find someone to teach and help to come unto Christ. 
    I was very sad to leave my last area behind. I really hope those two youth I helped receive the ordinance of baptism stay active. I love them dearly. This branch is very small maybe the smallest here in country but there are some pioneers here. The first member baptized in Indonesia is here. I got the chance to go to his house. He is a great man. He is a single old man but he is wonderful and very to the point. He is a Chinese man and he can read your hand and give you advice. He told me i was going to get married fast like right after the mission and that I'm really good at making decisions. I know right between wrong he said and I will have three kids hahaa. That doesn't sound to right. but oh well. and He said if I start a business don't do it alone. Do it with a friend I can trust. If I do it alone it won't go very well. 
The rest of the week went well. I had a great time here. I miss the people of Surabaya. I had a great time there.  My language is getting really good. I love you all and I know this church is true. 

Experiences

This week was great and I had a great time. I have some cool stories for you. Monday I went to a lady house who couldn't walk and I tried to teach her, but she can't read.  I didn't know what to do or say because she was super weirded out and  the whole neighborhood came to see the white guys and they couldn't understand my Indonesia it made me a little mad. I had a good time trying. 

Tuesday I went really far to a members house and met an in-active and I hope I can help him and his family come closer to Christ. It will be a long road but all people can repent and change. 

Wednesday was a good day all cool experiences happened. the Sisters had to go to the church, they end up meeting a man looking for my companion they call us and we head over there and he is going through some really hard times. We had a good lesson and helped him receive a Book of Mormon. Then we taught some inactives and new members. One of the inactives told me one time in another city.he had no work and no money. He said the missionaries came to his house and there are two doors for his house the missionaries came in and he went out the other with his guitar. He wanted to look for money to buy food for the missionaries. He went and played for money and got enough money to buy them some food. I was blown away. it touched my heart. I love that man. He is wonderful and he and his family are starting to return to church. He opened up to me and told me his problems. I feel very loved and trusted. 

Thursday I went on spilts and invited 10 people to here the gospel and no one even cared but I tried. f

Friday we went to the man who came to the church. We taught him the restoration and he had no questions he looked a little confused but I could tell he was feeling it. It was pretty cool. We all kneeled and prayed to end the lesson. he said a great prayer. Then later that day we went to a Muslim home and gave them a lesson on the Book of Mormon and a little on Joesph smith. They received it and said we could come back. s

Saturday I didn't work I was sick and had a fever for most of the day. I should have just worked but Jacob keeps telling me I need to take care of my body. So I did. 

Sunday was my favorite becuase it was the primary program and two of the people I helped receive the gospel rode there bikes to church it was awesome. I felt amazing. I love the church. I might go to a family home evening. I don't know yet. I love you all!!

Mission Life

 Baptism

There is a brand in Indonesia that's called Dang I love Indonesia, so we copied it a little and made ours shirts say dang I love surabaya barat district. then we got our names on the back. its pretty cool.

Jared might not like that I am sharing this story but it's apart of being a missionary. 

   I had a bike wreck. I was going down a hill and I needed to stop, I pulled the wrong brake becuase they are backwards here, and I flew over my handle bars. I got up and my pants are destroyed. I got up all mad and I'm like why can't I ride my bike today because I was having trouble all day. I got up and was fine and enjoyed the day. lol 

 I'm doing great. I had a great time with Elder Wintolo this week. My companion gets here in Surabaya in two days. I'm excited to meet him. Yesterday I confirmed someone for the first time I was scared to death and my Indonesian wasn't very good. The English wanted to come out for the blessing, but I did my best and I know the spirit was guiding me. 

    I was reading last night about faith. In articles of faith Elder Talmage explained some great things that I knew, but I guess I could never explain without his words. It was cool how he said a lot of people think faith and believing is the same thing. He thinks thats not true. True faith is when you believe in him but you trust in him and you act for him. You love trust in him because you believed in him and then you act upon that belief. I thought that was cool. 

Then he talked about faith some more. How Heavenly Father has all these laws and that's how he works but if we truly have faith,  things can change that it pretty much brings mercy and thats how miracles are brought. I'm sorry if that wasn't clear because I have two languages in my head and my English is already bad. I don't have really any cool amazing stories this week. President is wanting us to raise the bar and get 2  baptisms in four months. I told him I'm shooting for three and I'll get it done. so lets see the faith work through me now. I miss you all a ton.

Pictures

 Baptism From a Couple of Weeks ago

This is called a Kaki Lima or five legs. People go by the house at night selling food. This one has fried rice and noodles.

 This is a Warung. We eat at places like this normally. It's kind of like Curt's and it's 70-80 cents.

The church building. 

     Elder Haws is doing great. He will be getting a new companion in August. He will be coming straight from the Missionary Training Center and Jared will be training him and teaching him the ropes of the mission. 

     Elder Haws taught an investigator the word of wisdom this week and he will be following up with her. She isn't going to be getting baptized this week but they are shooting for August 3rd. 

Baptism

      I tried to send you pictures but it didn't work, so I'll try and find another warnet or something or try again!! I miss you all! The Lord loves you and I love you. This week I was able to see two children of God be baptized in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost. I was very blessed and I will forever be blessed to be able to teach someone the restored gospel! I know the things which I teach are true. The gospel is restored and we have a prophet not a prophet it says in revelations someone having a testimony of Jesus Christ, but as it says in Matthew about Peter holding the keys of the kingdom! The keys are on the earth again! We have the Priesthood! 
     When the young man I baptized was asked to give his testimony in front of the branch, he went up there and said some great things. He is only 12 and is brave enough to go in front of a whole branch and bare his testimony from his heart. The thing that touched my heart the most was he said he was grateful to learn the gospel from me. It really touched my heart and I  will try and be a example to him the rest of my life! I love the young man! He is amazing.
      I wish I could send you a picture of him. I love him! we should have another baptism in two weeks! we have a zone conference with President this week. We are suppose to have a meeting with all the new trainers. Lets see if I become a trainer or not! I have a feeling i might become a DL or trainer so lets see! I feel that I'm ready to lead but I will take whatever the Lord gives me! I'm so excited! I'm sad a lot the people that helped me get through my first few months of the mission are going home next month. I get to meet with some of them next week at the conference. I love you all.