First Dinner with the Elders

June 29, 2016
  We met our first group of Missionaries today.  We had the 3 Zones from the Villahermosa area to the Stake Center for our first Meet the President meeting.  It was delightful to see our missionaries!  Our hearts were drawn to them and we love them already and we will only continue to love them more as we get to know them.  Tomorrow we will meet the 5 Zones in Coatzacoalcos area.  Tonight the office Elders brought in some dinner - not something I was accustomed to, but delicious!  It was another authentic dinner, that we enjoyed, prepared by a sister in the Ward.

Presidente y Hermana Haws with the Morales and the Office Elders,
Elder Moreno, Elder Herrera, Elder Davis, Elder Beal, Elder Hernandez, Elder Sanchez

Dinner in the Office with Elder Davis, Elder Hernandez
Elder Beal, and Elder Moreno

Our interesting dinner - very delicious!

Presidente with the Assistants to the President
Elder Davis and Elder Herrera

Arrival in Villahermosa Mission

We have arrived in Villahermosa Mexico Mission.  We were met at the airport by President and Sister Morales and their daughter Becky.  They are wonderful and did a great job of showing us around and explaining how things work. We had authentic Villahermosa tacos the first night for dinner.

President and Sister Haws with President and Sister Morales

Presidente Haws y Presidente Morales

Tacos de la Estancia

Mission President's Seminar

We have completed our time at the Mission President's Seminar at the MTC in Provo, Utah.  It was a spiritually uplifting week filled with instruction and fortification to go out and do the Lord's work that is before us.  President Thomas S. Monson opened the Seminar with instruction to us that "Whom the Lord calls He qualifies for the work.  He read D&C 84: 88 where the Lord tells His servants, "I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up".  I know that this is true we are embarking on the Lord's work to bring the world His truth, we are on the Lord's errand and He will be with us.  Elder Nelson instructed us on the power of the Book of Mormon and its truthfulness and because of its purity and testimony of Jesus Christ and His doctrine, it has the power to convert and bring people unto Christ. The teachings and testimonies went on from all the 12 Apostles.  It strengthened my testimony even more, that the Church is true, this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I am excited to go and share it with others.
    When we arrived we were greeted by an old friend, Brent Wright, he was our guide through the registration process.  It was so wonderful to be greeted by a familiar face. We then saw many old friends and made many new ones.  The remarkable thing throughout the week was the bond we had with everyone and the many diverse people that were there from all over the world and going out to all over the world.  All the people were accomplished, competent and dedicated to the Lord- giving up their lives in His full time service.  We fill fortified and strengthened and look forward to serving the people of Mexico!

Brent Wright with President & Sister Haws

Us with Elder & Sister Arnold

The Redlands Group - President & Sister Carlson, President & Sister Haws and new Redlands, President & Sister Dixon

BYU Law School Class of 1985 graduates!

Our Mexico Mission President's group

Farewell Fiesta

We had a wonderful send off party with family and friends at The Barton House on Saturday, June 18th.  Our friends Judy Cannon and Geneil Vines hosted and held a wonderful event where we could say good bye and feel all the well wishes of the community of Redlands.  There were over 200 people that came by to send us off!