Week 91 (June 22, 2015)

Wow... So many changes, challenges, and responsibilities. 

all I can say is that the life here in Chillán is incredible.  It’s by far the best place I have been assigned to in my entire mission. The people are sooooo much friendlier here. It’s cleaner, friendlier, and just better. It’s the same kind of greatness that Coyquen was. I love Chillán. 

Chillán Viejo is like an urban city mixed with countryside. This sector is huge!!!!!! I seriously think that I have never had to walk so far in my entire mission. 

I’m with Elder Miller. He is a great friend and a great missionary. It has been awesome working with him.

Due to being in the worst cyber in the century I am going to have to keep this brief. I have got a million things to tell you all, but at this point it is impossible. The computer has been frozen for the last 25 minutes or so. 

I love the ward here.  We've got some hard working members. I really feel like I have died and gone to missionary paradise. There are no conflicts here and the converts are well taken care of. The bishop is stellar and is helping us A LOT. 

The house is pretty... well, it is liveable. The front door doesn't shut all the way because it expanded because of the humid summer so all the freezing winter wind blows right through the cracks and makes the house freezing. Thank goodness we've got a good pair of space heaters..... everything inside is pretty nice, the only thing we really lack is just our washing machine. It broke and we had to sell it. Today we'll be looking for a new one.

Im living with Miller, Brewster, and Roberts. Miller and Roberts are finishing their missions this transfer and Brewster has the same time as my son so he’s new. This is a great group. I find all these guys HILARIOUS in their own little ways. I will be sure to tell you more about them. 

It seems like I’m in some sort of death factory. Miller, Roberts and Hermana Antillón are all dying this cambio in the sector. Ill be dead this next transfer. I’m practically serving in a graveyard. 

The week was good work wise and we have an investigator named Max that is going to be baptized this weekend. They found him a week before I left and he is GOLD. He was a reference and had gone to church quite a bit before. SO, It is time for a baptism. He is super ready. 

I feel so exhausted and Im working so hard that it almost seems like I’m just in a dream or something. These weeks will definitely go by quick. 

That's it for the week. Thanks for everything. I love you guys tons!!!

See you next week!

Elder Ethan Haws

Week 90 (June 15, 2015)

Well guys, I’ve got big news. 

These last three cambios I have had some sort of news. Today I have more. 

Looks like the last 12 weeks of my mission are going to be one big grand finale.

I am called to be a zone leader in Chillán Viejo with one of my good friends here in the mission, Elder Miller.  It will be so awesome. Elder Miller was my zone leader in Concepcion and we became good friends. I think he is one of the only elders I have really been able to relate to in my entire mission. It will be a way chill transfer. I am STOKED. 

As for my son (Elder Duarte) he stays in the sector, but here's the crazy part...  Elder Copling was called to be a zone leader as well and we are both leaving the sector. Soooooooo because the mission is getting far less missionaries than those who are coming many sectors are closing. They are going to close one of the sectors in Centinela. Here's the cool part, Elder Duarte and Smoot stay. Smoot is going to finish the training of my son! I have never seen anything like that. I feel good and confident with them both staying in the sector. Because there are now only 2 elders in the sector they have a lot of work to do. We had the sector split because it was so big and now they have to go and brave it by themselves. It will be interesting to how they handle it. 

So this week was really really really normal. I can’t think of anything too spectacular that happened.  We did however get permission to watch the Chile games of the American soccer cup so we had a blast on Thursday chilling at the Fonseca's house. We had a ton of completos and cheered loud. It is pretty cool and I'm looking forward to the game tonight!

We made progress with the converts who had some issues with the leadership here. We finally resolved some huge conflicts and things will now go really nicely. 

I don’t have much time to write today, the computers have been slow. I just want to let you guys know that I love you and miss you. I look forward to the experiences that will surely come this week!

Elder Ethan Haws 

Week 89 (June 8, 2015)

Laura and Escarlet Lopez were baptized!!

Well this week was insane. It was full of crazy crazy things.

To start off, Elder Copling and I are now working together on an intense workout program in the mornings and a diet. It’s been good for me. We are definitely trying to get in shape again!

My companion had a training for new missionaries this week, which meant that he had to spend a day and a half in Concepcion. On Wednesday while he was gone, I got to work with the other elders that work on the other side of the sector, Elder Smoot and Copling. We had a good day and saw some awesome things. At the start we divided because another member accompanied Elder Smoot so Elder Copling and I went to town in my sector. We went to a far little neighborhood way out on a hill and the first door we knocked on let us in and we had a great short lesson. We invited her to church and to be baptized and she accepted. Her name is Bernarda. She ended up in tears because she said that she needed help in that very moment and we just showed up.

We went down the street talking to more people and we felt like we should knock on another door. Turns out the man let us in as well. The dad, Juan, was playing card games with his step son named Alexis. We taught them and invited them to baptism and church. They weren’t so willing to accept the commitments but still they agreed to listen to us some more. We went on to the other sector after that and closed out the day very well.

This week was really busy with the preparation for the baptisms. On Thursday we had a mini cambio with my zone leader Elder Withers. We had our 18 year old friend Luis Duran accompany us throughout the day. Elder Withers was able to get the baptismal interviews all done, while Luis and I went and contacted a reference that Laura gave us and we ended up teaching that whole family. They were awesome. They day finished out great and we were stoked to see everything work out. (Turns out we went to the family on Sunday to visit them again, and the dad came out and said he appreciated the visit but he wants nothing to do with the Mormons and that he is evangelical and all the rest of the stuff people always say..... so we lost that family but oh well... It’s how it goes...)

We planned the baptism with the ward mission leader the day after and even though all of the planning was a bit rushed we felt like it was going to turn out alright.

During the week we worked with many people and tried to help them get over not wanting to come to church due to their frustration with the leadership here. Many people simply want to just give up. We are pushing people on to just keep going. Just to keep trying.

We got to Saturday and all was well. The youth had an activity with selling completos and they sold over 240 completos... Oh man you should have seen the mountain of those heavenly hot dogs... It was painful only because we were fasting and I couldn’t eat the ones I had previously ordered weeks before... bummer.

After the activity we had the baptism. It was beautiful. It was the second time I had gotten into the font in my mission. Laura and Escarlet were baptized. I baptized Laura and my comp baptized Escarlet. They were my 7th and 8th baptisms. I love this family and so excited to see the kids baptized.

We had some issues in the week with some stuff in the branch but we know that all will get better. I have faith that I can really have an impact on this place and I can get the wheels spinning! I have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who is mighty to transform. I know that things will get better.  We ended up finding 6 new investigators and having 2 baptisms.... What a week. It was one I will never forget!!!!

Thank you all for your love and concern. I look forward to seeing you all. I look forward to moving onward and trying my best in these last few transfers of my mission.

The gospel is true. Nothing else brings such peace, and comfort. Nothing is so worth it.

Have a great week! I love you all!

Elder Haws

Elders Haws and Duarte, Mojado!  (soaking wet)

Elders Copling and Haws

Talcahuano

Elders Haws and Copling

Week 88 (June 1, 2015)

Wow, this week was really interesting! It kind of had a bit of a crescendo. Everything was a bit slow at first and then it all warmed up to crazy business. Sunday was by far the craziest day we had. Monday was probably the slowest.  So to update, I’ll give you the biggest things that happened. 

The .... Lopez family.

So Margarita and Mario are suddenly separating.... Y'all know what that means right? BAPTISM THIS WEEEEEEK!! It is really painful for Margarita and the daughters. Apparently stuff has been going on, and they couldn't take it so It’s over. We had lunch with the family and Mario wasn't there. Margarita was obviously upset and I trying to figure what was going on talked with her a bit and she told me what was going on. So It is a bittersweet experience for them. They will finally be able to enter into the waters of baptism. I love this family. They are truly ready to embrace the gospel in their family and let the light in. I am grateful to know them and have had the opportunity to pull them through all of these trials.

Teaching Estefanía.

So a family just got here from Peru and their daughter is 8 and wanted to be baptized. The husband is the son of active members in the branch. So they just moved here to be with the family. Since some records were misplaced we had to teach her the lessons. Estefania is awesome and we were able to teach her all the lessons this week. We had some complications with organizing the baptism but it all worked out and were able to have the service on Sunday.

We had a good time working, even though it was really hard to find people and working with members this week, we made some good progress. We were able to find some good less active families that we will be working with a lot.

We worked in other sectors where we had never been and it was cool getting to know some places and see some cool scenery.  So it’s getting pretty cold here. We faced some good rainstorms this week. It’s definitely wintery around here.

I’m growing a lot in my patience and my testimony. I am learning to love the work. I am learning to love the lord. I have loved a hymn lately. It seems to be my anthem as of late!

''Lord, I Would Follow Thee''

Savior, may I learn to love thee,

Walk the path that thou hast shown,

Pause to help and lift another,

Finding strength beyond my own.

Savior, may I learn to love thee—Lord, I would follow thee. 

Who am I to judge another

When I walk imperfectly?

In the quiet heart is hidden

Sorrow that the eye can't see.

Who am I to judge another?

I would be my brother's keeper;

I would learn the healer's art.

To the wounded and the weary

I would show a gentle heart.

I would be my brother's keeper-

Savior, may I love my brother

As I know thou lovest me,

Find in thee my strength, my beacon,

For thy servant I would be.

Savior, may I love my brother--

Thank you all for all they you have done for me I love you all so much. I can’t believe how time has gone. I hope all of you are well. I hope this week goes great for you all. Until next week!!

Elder Haws

Week 87 (May 26, 2015)

Nothing says "happy birthday" like a cake in the face

Brrrr... It’s getting really cold in Chile.

The mornings always start with my eyes opening and then an instant shiver and shock of the cold. Then I get the little space heater that we have in the house running.

This week we battled tough rains, cold temps, people not wanting a thing to do with us, and getting over a cold.

So this week wasn't really anything new. We passed by the regular people and just taught them more things.

We are facing some problems in the branch and there are lots of little fights. So on Sunday a little fight broke out in Elders quorum and we spent the class time just resolving it, and then setting goals to be better.

It rained A TON on Wednesday. We got SOAKED. Towards the end of the day my cold poor little companion who was waterproof clothing-less had been soaking wet for hours. He suddenly commented ''Elder, oh no, MY SHOES HAVE RABIES.'' I looked down and low and behold the sides of his shoes and the cracks were all foaming. We busted up laughing and continued on. Even in a hard day where we couldn't find shelter, we laughed a lot.

I had a good interview with president this week on Thursday and we went over some good uplifting topics. It was quick but inspiring.

Sunday I had a good birthday. I had a ton of food. The Parra Lopez family gave us a HUGE lunch and later gave me some birthday cake. We were able to pass by Elba's house with Anna and have some ''Picarones''... Oh.... MY. GOODNESS. Those are my new favorite Chilean dish. (the pictures of those are the soup looking thing with the scone looking things). We then went over to the zone leader’s house to have a face to face call in night. Elder Copling, Bennion, Watts, and I all went over and we had a blast. It was a great way to end the week, my birthday and the night.

''Picarones''... Oh.... MY. GOODNESS

So all is well in the mission. I am happy. I am content in the Lords service. We want to find more people to teach so we are focusing on that in the moment. All is well. I hope you are all doing well! I look forward to hearing from you guys next week. I love all of you and can’t thank you enough for the birthday wishes!! Have a great week!

Elder Ethan Haws

Elders Haws and Smoot sharing a birthday celebration

20 years old!

Happy Birthday! Margarita Parra Lopez and Elder Haws

Sunrise in Talcahuano

Elders Haws and Duarte drying off after getting soaked in the rain

Week 86 (May 19, 2015)

The week went well. It went along pretty uneventful. I’ll just talk about the most important stuff.

So the Parra Lopez family is going through some tough times. Margarita (the mom) looks pretty stressed. She has good reason, they are pretty unstable economically. Mario didn’t show much interest in us this week. He just stayed in his room the whole time during all the lessons... We just don’t know how to reach out to that guy! Margarita and Laura will both have a baptismal date at the end of the week. We are getting all the things worked out with them to know when Margarita and Mario can get married.

We are really seeing progress with a great Hermana named Elba. She was baptized this last year and is doing very well in the gospel. She went and found one of her neighbor’s that’s a less active and they have become good friends. It is good that they now both have someone to hold onto in the gospel. The less active’s name is Anna.  We have very inspiring lessons and share a lot with them. They are among some of the favorite people that I have known in the mission.

Finding new investigators was a big challenge this week. We are trying a ton of ideas and we are still struggling. That will still be a huge focus in the week.

We had some fun activities this week. On Friday we got together as a zone and had an inspiring breakfast. Elder Copling and I cooked up a ton of crepes and pancakes and served ‘em all up to the zone. We then showed an inspiring video and got everyone pumped up to work hard! It was fun shouting at them and getting them excited.

On Saturday we had a dessert night in the chapel. Elder Copling and I were bored one day during the week and decided to mess around and cook something up. So I grabbed some goldfish crackers that I had bought the week before at Wal-Mart, made up a chocolate batter to roll them in, and we deep fried them. We thought they would be nasty, but they turned out AWESOME….. We had all the confidence walking into our activity with a massive tray of chocolate fried goldfish! The members already think us gringos are weird to start off with and that we like weird food and all, and they flipped even more when we tried to explain what it was! But to our satisfaction they all approved! It was awesome. Even though we didn’t win, we still were a hit. Everyone pounded them down!!!

I hope you all had a good week!! I hope this one is even better! I love you all and miss you!!

Elder Haws

Week 85 (May 11, 2015)

Wow. 85 weeks have gone by. The last 85 weeks have been quite the time of my life. I’m sure we have all gone through many joyful, trying, and strengthening experiences. I sure have. I have learned so many things about myself and the gospel.

I have gone through a lot of pondering about my experiences and how hard some have been and how great they have been for me. I have had to really look for the tender mercies of the Lord in my life and I’ve seen many that have taken months to uncover. They were almost microscopic in the moment but now they are so valuable to me that they could not be traded for anything. I am grateful for the strengthening and transforming power of the Atonement. All this thought has basically come from being called to be a trainer. It has been a week of reflection back on the last 85 weeks of my life. They have been glorious.

My comp is Elder Duarte. He is from Ibague, Colombia. He is a really good kid. He is chill, has a talkative and friendly personality. I think we will have a good time together! We have been going through the basics of everything. It has brought back how lost and confused I was when I came to the mission. I have drawn back from my journal entries from my first days of the mission and I am amazed at how similar it was and how I’ve overcome so many things.

The main highlight for the week was having an incredible FHE with the Parra Lopez family. We taught about the Book of Mormon and had the branch president with his wife accompany us. Mario and Margarita, the parents, finished in tears and they felt the spirit. All the complications that were holding Margarita from getting married will be cleared in the next month so looks like we will be baptizing her and her daughter in the next month!!! I am so stoked for that. I have had many long prayers and fasts for them. Looks like things are turning around!

I hope all is well! I love all of you so very much and I hope you have a great week! Until the next!!

Elder Haws