Bare naked Indians, tornados and other stuff

By Greg:

When I was a boy my Haws grandparents lived in Salt Lake City near the Liberty Park.  When we went to visit them we would turn off Beck Street and go up Victory Road, pass in front of the State Capitol and then go down State Street.  My brother, Kenny, and I would enjoy seeing the big statue of an amazing Indian that stood in front of the building. As he was scantily clothed, we called him the Bare Naked Indian.

This is the original "Naked Indian" in front of the Capitol Building

I later learned that this statue was made by an artist named Cyrus E. Dallin.  He was a famous Utah born artist that did many sculptors.  Among his most famous works (he did over 260 works) and their locations are General Winfield Scott, Gettysburg Battlefield; Sir Isaac Newton, Library of Congress; Equestrian Statue of Paul Revere, Old North Church, Boston; Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument, Syracuse, New York;  Massasoit, Plymouth Massachusetts; and the Angel Moroni, Salt Lake City Temple.

This week we were in Kansas City looking for an apartment near what is called The Plaza.  I looked across the street and on the corner I saw this statue of a lone Indian.  I told Sister Haws, “That looks like the bare naked Indian!” I did a legal U-turn and we went back to the statue.  Sure enough, it is a copy of the original that stands opposite Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, Massachusetts.  This is the Indian chief that helped the pilgrims.  He is the reason we have Thanksgiving. I think Massachusetts is named after him.

This is the statue in Kansas City, Missouri

We Googled this and found that there are five other casts from the original.  One is at the Utah State Capitol, one on the Campus of Brigham Young University, one in the Springville Utah art museum, one in Dayton Ohio and the final one here in Kansas City Missouri!  All BYU fans and alumni will no doubt recognize this statue. This Indian chief was quite the human specimen!

This is the one on the BYU campus--hey you walked by it every day--surely you knew what it was?

Sister Haws and I then checked on another statue that we had seen earlier.  This one is called The Scout and sits on a point in a park near the World War 1 monument in Kansas City.  We were delighted to find that it was also made by Cyrus E. Dallin.  He entered it in a competition at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition that was held in San Francisco in 1915.  It won a gold metal.  After the fair it was moved around on display.  A campaign in Kansas City raised $15,000 in nickels and dimes from the school children to purchase the statue and permanently place it in Kansas City. 

What a small world we live in.  We think it is cool that the Angel Moroni’s sculptor cousins are here in Kansas City.  But today, hardly any local people even know what they are looking at, other than statues of Indians, even naked Indians.  Even the plaques telling about the sculptures have been stolen.

We traveled far to the Southeast regions of our Mission to attend a discussion and to participate with missionaries in companionship studies.  Elder Rea is originally from Australia and Elder Vaniman is from northern Idaho, Sandpoint. They are in the little town of Tipton, Missouri.  There was not a suitable motel in the area so we stayed with some members.  Brother and Sister Anderson live in another little town called Smithton.  They have a small farm (60+ acres) and he also has a plumbing business.  They live out in the country.

Elders Rea and Vaniman in Tipton, Missouri

Well the weather was looking pretty bad.  In the west we could see the clouds forming and they seemed to be like funnel clouds touching the ground.  We asked the Andersons if they ever have tornados in the winter.  “Oh, yes,” they said.  In fact, before they built their nice new home, they lived in the old farm house just down the road.  One day a tornado came and touched down right where we were and completely destroyed their barn. They said parts of their barn were found ten miles away.  Well, not to worry, they have a storm shelter in their new basement.  All night we asked each other as the storm raged around us if tornados were like lightening.  Can they strike the same place twice?

This tornado was in Joplin Missouri, which is not far from here

We survived, but we will keep a close eye out for storms.  We both have a severe weather app on our phone, so as we fly off to greet Dorothy, we will know if it is a tornado.

By Debi:

Greg and I have been going into the office as much as we can to receive training on our new responsibilities.  Of course, Greg understands the financial part of his new job and he is learning all of the computer programs with ease.

On the other hand, I am struggling to learn everything that I have to do.  Luckily, I have a very patient teacher in Sister Drake.  She is helping me understand the different computer programs I have to use and how to enter all of the information correctly.  I will also be responsible for getting all of the mail to the missionaries and believe me, that is a very important task.  All of the Sisters and Elders are so anxious to get their mail from family and friends.  That is a daily job that can’t be delayed.

One of my new responsibilities is to take care of all of the referrals that come into our mission office.  Referrals come from the Church headquarters, other missions, other missionaries in our mission and from members who just call us direct because they know their friend or family member live in our mission.  After I get a referral I have to find the area they live in and get the information to the missionaries that are in that area.

Last week I received a referral from the Hawaiian Temple Visitor Center.  A woman on vacation visited the Visitor Center and loved everything she learned about the Church.  In fact, she even bought herself a Quad (the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price combined into one volume).  She asked to have the missionaries contact her when she arrived home.  Her home is here in Missouri.  I found the Sister missionaries and gave them the contact information and told them that they had a great referral.

We are slowly falling in love with all of these missionaries-especially the sisters

Two days ago we visited the Sisters in Overland Park.  We observed their companionship study. They did a great job and we were very impressed.  During companionship study the two missionaries are to take turns role playing and teach a principle that they are going to teach one of their investigators that day.  As these two sisters started talking I realized that they were talking about someone who had just been to Hawaii.  I interrupted them and asked if it was the same woman I had referred to them just the week before.  It was the very same. She has had 3 lessons and is planning on getting baptized. 

This picture has nothing to do with the referral, but Marshall and I are in Hawaii?  At a Luau!

I am so excited to see how truly important these referrals are that our office receives almost every day.  I will take this part of my new job very seriously and make sure that all of these important referrals are delivered to the right missionaries and given top priority.

Missionary work comes in so many different forms and sometimes unexpected ways. 

By Greg:

We continue to immerse ourselves in the missionary and office work of the Missouri Independence Mission.  This week we began our official training period for our office assignments.

I will be handling the finances of the mission.  This is a big job as it requires constant attention.  Each missionary gets a debit card when he or she arrives in the mission field.  They have an assigned PIN that a few of the new ones forget, so I may have to access that for them.  We put $150.00 a month on this card.  This is for their support, food, personal items etc.  The mission pays all of the costs for housing, rent, utilities, repairs, etc. and we also pay the gas if they have a car.  Each car has a credit card in the car.  It is set up like a fleet.  They have to enter the car number, the mileage when they input the card.  They then send the receipts to the office monthly.

We have all these apartments, more than half of which are rentals.  The others are member-housing.  The Church in Salt Lake actually pays the rent and utilities, but I have to initiate the payment.  It is a pretty slick system, but you have to pay attention. 

New apartments, after they are found and rented must be set up and their utilities all arranged.  Going forward, I don't think I will be finding and furnishing apartments as much as I have been.  But this week we have still been doing that assignment as well.

Debi will tell about her office assignments.

With my new calling as the Executive Secretary to the Mission President, as part of the Mission Presidency, we are doing hands-on missionary activities.  This week we visited 5 different sets of missionaries in the morning and observed their companionship study.  Sister Haws made a pan of cinnamon rolls (our famous Rhodes bake and serve) and we were there at 9:00 am.  The missionaries are so good!  We give them some counsel and advise, and we also provide some training, but we try to be out of there by 10:30 at the latest.  This is actually very fun.

This is Elder Hart and Grzan, they are Spanish Speakers-Elder Hart is from Liberty, Utah

Elder Cortez and Christiansen live in a member's home in Raymore, Mo.

I prepared a handout and maybe some of you would be interested in what a morning companionship study involves.  If you want to be an effective missionary, unlike the car scenes on TV, you can try this at home.

Missouri Independence Mission

EFFECTIVE COMPANIONSHIP STUDY

The purpose of companionship study is:       *To build unity in your companionship in order teach by the spirit.                 

*To focus on the progress of those you teach.

(See Preach My Gospel page ix)

Get up, get ready, get going!                         6:30 am-Arise, pray, exercise, and prepare for day

                                                                        7:30 am-Breakfast

                                                                        8:00 am-Personal study

                                                                        9:00 am-Companionship study

                                                                        10:00-Begin proselyting

The following is a suggested agenda for Companionship Study-adapt as needed for your circumstance—refer to Preach My Gospel and the 12 Week Program. Follow the Spirit.

Prayer:                                Begin with a kneeling prayer, then sit in chairs facing each other

Repeat together:                My Purpose as a Missionary

                                             MIM—Motto

                                             D & C Section 4

Memorization:                   Baptismal Commitment

                                             Request for referrals

                                             Joseph Smith Testimony of First Vision

                                             The 42 Doctrinal Points

                                             Preach my Gospel Chapter Headings

Other memorization as determined by companionship

Reading:                             3 Pages from the White Missionary Handbook

                                             How do the Handbook pages apply to us as a companionship?

Sharing:                              Each missionary should share what he or she has been studying, pondering, and learning in his or her personal study.  Also, inspiration that has come from this study and pondering, especially as it applies to him or her, the companionship, and current investigators—each missionary should participate and share his or her thoughts

Planning:                            Ponder and plan what to teach each investigator—seek guidance from Preach My Gospel—make a plan and write it down.

Discuss how to help each investigator progress by keeping commitments, having the Right Member Present, giving the investigator opportunities to feel the Spirit, etc.

Role Play:                           Each missionary should take turns being the investigator as they role play their teaching plan and commitment challenges. There is always a temptation to shorten or skip this part of the Companionship Study.  Be careful not to miss this opportunity to prepare to teach by the Spirit!

Prayer:                                End with kneeling prayer

We also are going out a few times in the evening with missionaries teaching discussions.  We did a Plan of Salvation lesson this week in St. Joseph, Missouri.  It was a real eye-opener as to what these missionaries are facing as they teach investigators.  We are also there to observe and to teach, not the investigator, but the missionaries.

We visited a very sick sister missionary this week in our travels.  Sister Haws used her best doctoring skills to diagnose her problem.  We took her to a doctor.  We are very concerned as she is in terrible pain, and at this point, we do not know what is the cause.

This is our dear friend, President Jeremiah Morgan, President of the Liberty Mo. Stake

Last Sunday we met with the Stake President of the Liberty Stake at 6:30 am and we were with him until about 7:00 pm at night.  He held PPIs with each of his 13 bishops.  The purpose was to discuss Young Single Adults.  We reviewed our work with each bishop, and we went down the list name by name.  This is the conclusion of our part in this rescue effort.  The ball is now in their court, as they say, and we are certain that they do not intend to fumble it.  This has been a wonderful assignment, but we are moving on.  President Keyes told us this has been his plan all along for us.

We are so busy, but the days just fly by.  Section 88 says that the Lord will hasten his work before the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.  All we can say is that with nearly 300 missionaries in this mission, each ready and able to find and teach, there is a great momentum being created.  We are humbled to have a small part to play in this great drama!


By Debi:

Another week has gone by and we are amazed how the time flies. Each day we are on the move constantly. We get up and exercise, read our scriptures, get ready for the day and then we are off for an adventure.
I am taking over the responsibilities of Sister Drake.  She is in charge of the mail, the referrals, the Harvester (the monthly mission news letter) the recording of baptisms, the bulletin boards in the office with the pictures of the missionaries and the baptisms.

I didn't think my job sounded too consuming but I was wrong!  There is a lot to do and there is a lot to learn.  All throughout the day referrals are coming in from the Church and from the missionaries.  Even individuals from around the world can call with a referral.  Then I have to find the write set of missionaries to call and give the referral to.  Then I am suppose to follow up on all referrals and watch the progress of each person until they are baptized or don't want any more contact.

Recording baptisms is serious stuff.  Technically, until the baptism is recorded it didn't happen.  It is so important that they are recorded promptly and correctly. It is hard to read peoples writing and getting the right spelling of the names and dates and addresses.  This is a great responsibility.  I will take this one very seriously.

Sister Drake is so kind and really patient in helping me learn my duties.  Hopefully, before she goes home I will know what I am doing.  Right now I am writing every word that comes out of her mouth so I can refer back to her instructions when she has left for home.

On a very fun note, our friends the Flints from Hooper just arrived in our mission on Wednesday.  They are here as FM missionaries.  They are living in Liberty and will be working around that area.  We took them out to dinner Wednesday night and we had a good time catching up on the news of home and family.  They will be a great asset to the mission.

Also, two other great couples from Hooper are just arriving in Ghana, Africa to serve missions.  The Julanders and the Schiffmans are both serving in the same mission, The Cape Coast Mission.  They will be serving with President and Sister Shulz.  Three couples in Africa in the same mission.  That is amazing.

We truly feel that the work is indeed hastening throughout the world!

A great week and weekend

By Greg:

This picture was taken at the Christmas Conference-Missouri Independence Mission 12/11/13

Today our sweet granddaughter, Eliese Eardley, is getting baptized.  She is just one of many of our beloved grandchildren who have been or will be baptized while we are on our mission.  Several years ago I wrote a list of things I wanted to do before I died (not all bucket items however).  One of them was attend all of my grandchildren's baptisms.

Here is Eliese at a family reunion held before we left.  She is holding onto a string that represents the "Iron Rod" of Lehi's dream.  We hope she will always hold to the rod.


This morning I told Eliese to always remember that I was on a mission, or I would have been there for her!

Today we also attended a baptismal service.  The man being baptized is named Jinbo Ma.  He is from China.  He was taught by Sisters Erickson and Kang.

There is a story here. 

The first apartment that I was assigned to find was for sisters in the Plattewood Ward.  This is north and west of Kansas City.  We had a hard time finding a suitable apartment, but finally we located one.  The landlord (it was a big complex) was not very flexible.  They did not want to rent to a "corporate" tenant.  They are apparently afraid of terrorists or "safe-houses" so they want only to rent to the actual occupants.  This is a problem for us as we move the missionaries from time to time.  So the Church becomes the lessee and pays the rent and utilities.

They finally agreed to give us a try, but required that they be allowed to do background checks on our missionaries.  This was my next problem as I did not know which sisters the President would send there.  In fact, he would not make that decision until the new ones arrive and he interviews them.

We were able to determine that Sister Erickson was going to be one of the sisters, so we got her information and submitted it.  Then we crossed our fingers.

When the new sisters arrived, President Keyes was inspired to assign Sister Kang to be her companion.  Sister Kang, I learned, is from South Korea.  I just about swallowed my tongue.  I asked Elder Lillywhite to call the President and ask him if an American could be assigned to Sister Erickson so we could get off on the right foot with the landlord.  Bad idea.  The President told Elder Lillywhite the Lord wanted these sisters together in Plattewood and we needed to make the apartment work for them, not the other way around.  I felt bad for Elder Lillywhite, as it was me that was balking. 

Well, the new group arrived and Sister Haws and I were asked to take Sisters Erickson and Kang to their area and get them settled in.  To my great relief, I found Sister Kang had dual citizenship and a US drivers license.  We help them move in, took them to Walmart shopping, then took them to lunch.  As we drove away, we both had a lump in our throats, just like we were dropping a daughter off at college.  But these sisters were both strong, and they had both been to college themselves.  Sister Kang majored in international  studies.

Well, the absolute amazing thing is that immediately after arriving in the area, right after we left them,  the sisters met Jinbo Ma.  He is a student from China living just a floor and a couple of doors from their new apartment.  He speaks little English and has a limited religious background. They began teaching him.  He was fellowshipped by the ward.  The other amazing thing is that Sister Kang speaks Chinese!

The Lillywhite's and us attended his baptism together.

Today we went to his baptism.  What a special day it has been.  We are humbled to have played a small part in this, but also very humbled that we doubted.  The Lord is in charge, this is his work.  While in Africa we met a group of Chinese, also from Mainland China, who were baptized.  This is how the work enters a country.  Who knows what will happen in the future as Jinbo Ma and many like him, return to China?

This is me and two sisters with President and Sister Keyes on Christmas Morning.  I thought a sweater was appropriate, but I was the only Elder not in a suit coat.  We love President and Sister Keyes and will do what ever we can to lighten their load and move the work forward.

Oh, one other thing, this week I received another calling.  I am now a member of the Mission Presidency.  I am the Executive Secretary to the Mission President.  Sister Haws and I, in this role, have been assigned, among other duties, to go into the homes and apartments of each set of missionaries and have companion study classes with them.  We will inspect their apartments and offer assistances while there, but the main purpose is to help them be more effective by having companionship training.  We hope to visit each missionary set while we are in this calling.

By Debi:

We took our Christmas tree and decorations down the other day.  As I was thinking of our Christmas here in Missouri I decided that if you can't be home for Christmas being on a mission is probably the next best thing.  The spirit of Christmas was strong here in the Missouri Independence Mission and the love and service were every where.

We had the wonderful opportunity to play Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.  Most missionaries received their Christmas packages from their families in time for the Mission Christmas Conference.  But as the days got closer to Christmas packages kept coming to the Mission office.  President Keyes asked all of the office staff to work Christmas Eve and help deliver packages to the missionaries so all would have a wonderful Christmas.

We offered to take the Liberty Stake area as we are very familiar with this part of the mission because of our work with the Young Single Adults.  We started from the mission office at 12:00 after the mailman had made his last delivery.  We had a word of prayer asking for protection and we were off in our Ford Truck sleigh packed with gifts for all of the girl and boy missionaries.

The day was sooo cold.  It was down in the teens all day.  We delivered packages from Kansas City all the way to Chillicothe, Trenton, and Gallatin.  We made our last stop at 8:00 pm and arrived back at our apartment tired but happy around 8:30. 

Here is a picture of Elder Hart.  He is a cousin to our niece, McKenzie Hart Haws who lives next door to us in Hooper.  He is a wonderful missionary and he has a great attitude.  Every time we see him he is happy and full of enthusiasm.

We made it to Chillicothe at the end of the day.

These Elders are in the Kearney area and they baptized this sister this month.  They are doing a great job. We see them a lot as they serve in a ward that meets in the same building as our YSA branch.

The great thing that we found out during the day was that all of the missionaries were out doing missionary work on Christmas Eve.  We would call them when we were almost to their apartment and they would be somewhere else teaching or finding.  We were very proud of them all.

On Christmas morning we had a breakfast for all of the Senior Couples and the young Sister Missionaries that serve at the Visitor Center.  We had great fun together and the Sisters put on the Nativity Scene and story for all of us.  They also sang and performed several musical numbers.

They had to make due with what they had for a stable.  Without Elders, we were short on donkeys.

They all sang like angels.

Shepherd girls and wise girls.

Elders are prohibited from dressing up as a women, under any circumstances.  But like the hugging rule (Elders can not hug, but sisters can--however sisters can not hug elders) sisters can, when needed, dress like men.  Note the Joseph sister has made a beard out of her hair--it was pretty cool.

 

These sisters work the visitor's centers for half of their day, and work their area the other half.  The two visitor's centers are open everyday (they were open on Christmas) so it takes a bunch of them to operate.  In addition to the young sisters, there are six senior couples assigned to the visitor's centers.

We were thinking back on last year.  It has been one year since we met and baptize our friend Paul.  We have had some contact with him, but we are not sure where he is or what he is doing.  We understand that he is going to church.  Our other African friends struggle with their lives, but are still committed to the Church.  We pray for them all on a regular basis.

We then spent 7 hours Skyping with all of our Children and their families.  It was fun to see their faces and to visit with them.  We were blessed to see everyone of them.

Life seems to be getting busier and busier. With Greg's new calling added onto our other callings our heads are spinning a little.  We decided that we will just take one day at a time and just do our best.  We know that the Lord will bless us with the strength we need to fulfill our callings.

We wish you all a Happy New Year.  

By Greg:

 

I hope I don’t lose my audience here, but I have found some family history that I think is interesting. While we keep saying that we are different from the RLDS, we do have a common history, and maybe for many of us, a joyous future.

 

This is the RLDS (Community of Christ) Temple

My family, the Haws family, is one of the largest families in the Church. I read recently that my great-great-grandfather, Gilberth Haws’ family is the 175^th largest in the Church.  This is amazing considering the fact that he was not a polygamist, though several of his sons were.  Needless to say, the Haws family genealogy has been pretty well worked over by all of my relatives.  All of the “low hanging fruit” has been “picked” as they say. 

 

While I was in Africa I tried to get on a tall ladder and see if I could pick any remaining fruit on the farthest branches.  Well, I actually climbed so far that I found myself on a totally different tree, one with the same name, but a different tree.  It was fun to do family history and temple work for people named Haws, even though my connection to them was somewhat blurred.

 

We miss Africa, especially the Ghana Temple.  We did some very special Temple work while we were there.

While here in Missouri, in my spare time (ha ha), I have also been doing some more family research.  This time I have been looking at Debi’s family.  Her maiden name is Fowler.  Her father and my mother were both born in Hooper.  In fact, her grandfather and my grandfather were best friends.  Hers spoke at my grandfather’s funeral.  Her father moved away and she grew up in another town and went to a different high school, but we share an ancestral “home town”, Hooper, Utah.

 

Her Fowler ancestors came from England.  She has a multitude of aunts, cousins and grandmothers who have also done family genealogy.  Her mother also did mountains of work searching out their family.  Debi’s great-grandfather, whose name was Samuel Fowler, was born in England in 1823.  He came to Utah and Hooper and died there in 1918.

 

There is a very prominent family here in Kansas City named Fowler.  Many of the men have been bankers and businessmen and community leaders.  They also came from England, though they came to America much earlier than Debi’s family did.  I have done some looking into this family but as yet I have not been able to tie the two together.  Still, Fowler is a Kansas City name.

 

In my dabbling, I came across another man also named Samuel Fowler (not Debi’s ancestor).  He was born in New York in 1790 and married a woman named Susanna Hart.  They had 6 children.  Along with many of the folks from their area, they became associated with Joseph Smith and the Church.  Another man from the same area was named Seth Hitchock.

 

In 1834, missionaries from Kirtland fanned out through the various branches of the Church recruiting men to join Joseph Smith to travel to Missouri as part of a group that would be known as Zions Camp.  Seth Hitchock joined.  I am still trying to determine if Samuel Fowler joined as well.  Samuel's wife, Susanna died about this time leaving him with children, so perhaps he did not go.

 

Zions camp has a fascinating story that ends near here on the north side of the Missouri River.  After avoiding a major disaster that would have ended in a real war—perhaps we all remember that there was a terrible storm at Fishing River that caused the Missouri Militia/Mob to disperse—the Lord revealed to Joseph Smith that Zions Camp’s mission was complete.

 

This was hard on the men, but what made it even harder was a terrible plague that attacked them.  It was Cholera.  This scared all of them as it struck with such swiftness and fury that literally a man could be standing healthy and strong one moment, and then down and sick, and dying the next.  The first man to die was Seth Hitchock.  Even Joseph Smith, who stepped forward to “rebuke the devourer” was struck and almost died as well.

 

This all happened, as I said, near here.  There is a monument very close to the Kansas City Temple remembering Zions Camp.

 

Now Seth’s wife was a widow with 7 children and Samuel Fowler was a widower with 6 children.  So, they joined forces and married.  Eventually they had 5 more children.  Her name was Sarah Ann Rhodes.

 

In Kirtland, Samuel was a member of the Seventies’ Quorum.  His brethren determined to migrate to Zion in a group.  This became known as the Kirtland Camp.  They traveled the 870 miles in 1838, arriving on October 4, 1838.  Remember, Haun’s Mill Massacre occurred on October 30, 1838, so they arrived just as things were really getting difficult.

 

The Fowler/Hitchock family was driven out and along with the Saints, ending up in Nauvoo.  Samuel received his Temple Endowments in the Nauvoo Temple on December 22, 1845.  He became a High Priest and was also a missionary.

 

When the Saints were driven out of Nauvoo, Samuel and his family moved again.  Sadly, he died at Council Bluffs (Winter Quarters), Nebraska on June 29, 1848.

 

Another young man named Seeley Reeves and his young wife were also in this tragic story.  He was born in New Jersey, but his family story parallels that of the Fowlers and the Hitchcock’s.  His wife, Mary Polly Buesenbark had a baby at Winter Quarters in June of 1846.  Mary Polly died the next February, 1847. Then the baby boy died in August.  Seeley was now a young widower.

 

Seeley then married a daughter of Samuel Fowler, whose name was Susan Fowler.  They eventually had 9 children.  The interesting thing is that instead of going west, as most of Susan’s brothers and sisters, step-brothers and sisters, and half-brothers and sisters did, Seeley and Susan turned east and returned to Missouri.  Perhaps to land previously owned and occupied by his family.

 

North of here is their town of Holt, Missouri.  We have been there several times.  All of the Reeve children were born there and most of the family died there.  While their cousins were in Utah, struggling to get a foot-hold in the desert, they were working their farms and businesses in Missouri, a state that had driven their people, and their fathers and mothers, into the cold and out of the state.

 

My Haws family joined the Church in Illinois.  They were really 10 families, brothers and sisters.  Eventually 6 of the ended up in Utah, 4 stayed in Illinois.  In my search, I found that the 4 that stayed later joined with Joseph Smith III and the group that was rounding up those who remained.  They became part of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

 

This is not a story we have heard a lot about, but it must have occurred many times.  I wonder why the Missouri Mobs allowed some of the Mormons to return unmolested.  I also wonder how those who remained felt about their family that went west.  I have read about my great-grandfather’s mission to try to reclaim his family.  They received him as a member of the family, but did not follow him back to the Church.

 

While some of these people may not our direct ancestors, they are all part of the collective “us” that makes up the Church and the human family.  I hope that in the long run we can all come back together and rejoice in being in one fold with one shepherd. I know that many of the descendants of these RLDS people are coming to us and becoming members of our Church.  Even a direct descendant of Joseph Smith and his wife was baptized recently.  He has quite a story to tell.

Merry Christamas

By Greg:

In Africa, the women carried everything on their heads--I was trying to teach this to these Elders

Merry Christmas, Darlings

One of our favorite Christmas songs is sung by the Carpenters.  This was a brother-sister group that was popular when we were dating.  The song begins, Merry Christmas Darling…we are apart its true...but in my mind I am Christmasing with you!

Last year we were half way around the world in hot Africa.  We missed all of you so much.  We were hot, and it was hard to really feel like it was really Christmas.

Well, this year we are not so far away, but it is sooo cold, and “it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas” here in Missouri.  Still, we miss all of you so much.

We almost wrote that if we had our choice, we would be with you this Christmas, but that would be wrong, because we have our choice, and we made the decision to go on a mission, and leave you, because we love the Lord and are so grateful for all he has done for us.  We also know that the Restored Gospel is true and it is the way for all of God’s children to find happiness.

We know that Jesus was born into a wicked world to save us.  We want all of you to know we love you, and miss you, and nothing but this would separate us.  But know this, that what separates us now is what will bind us together forever.

Merry Christmas,

Elder Greg and Sister  Debi Haws

Christmas 2013

 

By Debi:

Merry Christmas to all our friends and family!

We have had a wonderful but busy week to help us feel the Christmas spirit.

 Last Monday we had our Young Single Adult Christmas Dinner.  It was a smashing success.  We sent invitations out to 90 YSAs and we also invited the Stake Presidency and their families.

The Christmas decorations were beautiful and the meal was perfect.  We felt so thrilled with the turn out. 

The YSAs were suppose to wear ugly Christmas sweaters.  We had a lot of fun seeing the crazy sweaters.

We also had a white elephant exchange.  A lot of screaming, stealing, and laughing went on for about an hour. 

It was a wonderful night and we felt so good about the great turn out.

This week we also had 22 new Elders and Sister arrive on Wednesday.  We were privileged to go to the airport and pick two Elders up from the Mexico MTC.  They are so excited for the work and ready to go.

Then the next day we helped take the missionaries that were going home.  We were asked to go to the Temple with them and with President and Sister Keyes. While President and Sister Keyes took the departing missionaries to the airport we took two sisters back to the office to meet their families who were coming to pick them up.  This is Elder David Haws.  He is from Coleville, Utah and we were happy to claim him as family.  He has been a great Elder and now he is home with his family for Christmas.

What a different experience we had those two days.  Wednesday everyone was so excited and anxious to start their mission.  Thursday there were a lot of tears and heavy hearts to be going home and taking off their missionary tag. This is a real testimony that this work is true.  Watching the desire and strength of these seasoned Elders and Sisters is amazing.  Their mission experience will be a blessing for the rest of their lives.

God lives! Jesus is the Christ! and their plan of happiness is the only way to true happiness and the only path to return to our Heaven Home.

 

 

An Incrediable Week!

By Greg:

This is me and Elder Allred.  We are both from the Hooper Utah Stake.  His father is a Bishop in our stake and he is a great missionary.  He is also a talented singer.  He has a great future, but right now he is in the service of the Lord.

We have been working so hard that we come home each night totally exhausted and are almost too tired to go to bed, if that even makes any sense.

We still are doing our Young Single Adult assignment, and we are helping the Branch prepare for Christmas.  But we have been called back into service to help with finding, renting and stocking apartments for the transfer next week.  We have been Elder Lillywhite's side kicks.  Sister Haws has joined us so now we are a threesome.

This is Elder Lillywhite at the Conference, checking on things.

This past Wednesday was an All-Mission Christmas Conference.  We were also asked to help prepare for this big event. I have done some events planning work with political campaigns, and also been called to be the one who puts out fires at other events, so this felt like I had done this before.

President Keyes wanted us to put together 72 hour kits for all 270 missionaries so we could give them to them as Christmas presents.  It was quite a production to assemble all the stuff, and we enlisted the help of most of the Senior Missionaries.  It was pretty cool to see all of us work together to be as efficient as possible.

We also had to set up a sick room, as there are always sick missionaries.  Today, we hope that they are not all sick!

The scriptures promise missionaries that angels will go before them and be on their right hand and on their left, well, I think a lot of us senior missionaries are part of that effort as we go before them and do many things so they can focus on their most important calling, to find, teach and teach and find.

At the conference, all of the missionaries gathered and they were given bagels, cream cheese and juice at the beginning.  Some came the night before and we had to find beds for them as well.  Mostly we put mattresses in other missionary apartments.  They all arrived safely and on time.

It is so amazing to just stand back and watch them.  An all mission conference brought former companions back together.  It was a grand reunion.

 

I love these guys, but I am sure glad we are on the same team!

While they had their training we were working.  The President had previously written to parents asking them to send Christmas packages in time for them to be passed out at the conference.  They were set in alphabetical order around the hallway.  It took the entire building hallway.

The Christmas Program, which happened after we had a wonderful dinner prepared and served by the Independence Stake Relief society, was so enjoyable.  Debi will tell about that.

 

 

Let me just say that being with all of these choice young men and women touches my heart.  I can hardly talk to them I get so emotional.  I love them and are so concerned about them.  We literally pray as we search for apartments, as we select furniture and as stock them with stuff so that these apartments will be safe, and more importantly a place where they can feel the spirit.  As we all stood and sang "Called to Serve" I took pictures because I got so choked up.

I love being with missionaries!  When I was a young missionary we used to say "The Church must be true or the missionaries would have ruined it long ago!" I don't believe that anymore.  The Church is true and the Missionaries are great, so great!



By Debi:

 

Merry Christmas to everyone!  We had such a special day yesterday with the whole mission.  Most of the young missionaries were knew to us but we did know some of them.  These two sisters have a very special story.  Before the last transfer Greg and Elder Lillywhite went to find an apartment in the Platt Woods area.  It was a real struggle to find the right one.  After all of the arrangements had been made and the furniture and supplies taken to the apartment the manager of the apartments said that all of the missionaries in the complex had to have a complete background check.  That would be difficult if the missionary was from another country.  We were a little panicked because President Keyes doesn't always decided who goes where until he interviews them.  He decided to put Sister Kong (who was a new arrival and from South Korea)  with Sister Erickson into the Platt Woods area.  We didn't know what to do.  When Sister Kong arrived we found out that she had dual citizenship.  What a relief.  We took them to their apartment and helped them move in. We took Sister Kong to the office and she registered.  Then we took them to Wal-Mart for their food shopping and hugged them goodbye.  Yesterday at the conference they told us that a young man just two doors down from their apartment is taking the lessons.  He is from China and hardly speaks any English and Sister Kong has been able to teach him in his native language.  Miracle!  Yes!

 

 

 

We also work very closely with Sister Missionaries in the Young Single Adult Branch. Above is a picture of Sister White and Sister Tanner (in the middle).  Also Sister Wilson (in red) is an awesome violinist.  She is going home soon.  We will surely miss her and her beautiful music.

 

 

Here is a picture of Sister Keyes talking to two sisters.  She is a great lady with a lot of responsibilities.  I don't know how she does everything.  Once in a while I have the privilege of helping her.  We are going to make lasagna tomorrow for the new missionaries coming next week.  Also, just a side note, we went to high school together at Bonneville High.  Go Lakers!

 

Here are some pictures of tables of sister missionaries.  The sister missionaries are so darling.  We cannot get over how talented they are and what great missionaries they are.

 

 

 

Here are some pictures of the handsome Elders.  They are also awesome help when we call them and ask them to help with the moves.

 

 

 

To end the conference each Zone put on a musical number.  It was in the Chapel so we couldn't take pictures.  The music was so beautiful and many of the missionaries have beautiful voices and play the piano, guitar, violin, or bells. We enjoyed music for almost two years.  It was one of the best Christmas concerts I have ever been too.

 

 

 

This will be a Christmas season that I will not forget!