Abbey in the Philippines: Sister Abbey Hafen // Week Three // Prayer is for the heart, and God has a good life.‏

HELLO. hi. Hey. Kumusta. Holla. hi. HI!!!!!!!

k seriously though, hello!

So, we taught the other day, and since we are just learning verb conjegations, we sometimes get the past, present, and for's, from's and to's mixed up. The two best lines from our lessons were one, from me, looking right into the eyes of my investigator, after we had just explained how to pray, TRYING to say, "Prayer is from the heart." But really saying "Prayer is for your heart." over and over, while having my hands placed over my heart. Nice one abs. And then to top that, in attempts to saying "God will make your life good" my companion said, "God has a good life." Welp, investigator, God has a good life, that's all for tonight, see you next Thursday!! Hahaha. We had a good laugh about it.

They aren't kidding when they say the days go by like weeks, and the weeks go by like days. Time is so weird out here. We said goodbye to the old districts last Saturday, and welcomed in FORTY new mishy's into our zone on Wednesday. They seem pretty cool, I am getting to know them. All these freshly graduated boys, sheesh! I am sure that is how all the 21 year old sisters feel about us 19 year girls though. Haha. My district is truly becoming a family, and I love it. The elders just love us and we love them. Our teachers are so incredible, we love them. They are also our "investigators" so that's always nice and awkward. They are taking on the character of people they taught on their missions though, so it's really heartbreaking when your teacher is telling you how much they care about you, and then an hour later you're knocking on their door and they are yawning as you are teaching the message of the Restored Gospel and of Jesus Christ and his love for us. It's very discomforting. Haha.

Gym time is great. We do personal cross fit workouts on Wednesdays and then either play basketball, soccer, or frisbee the other days. So fun. I am getting better at frisbee! GRANT better watch out.

We have the best devosh's in the world here at the good ole Missonary Training Center. Last week's was Janice Kapp Perry, the lady who wrote As Sister in Zion and like half the primary song book, and this week we had Elder Richardson, 2nd counselor in the Presiding Bishopbrik. He talked about being REAL missionaries and how we are capable of this. Sounds cliche', but seriously, it was awesome.

FOURTH OF JULY! Oh man this day was great. First off, Friday is referred to as "Fried-day" in our zone because by Friday you are SO READY FOR PDAY ON SATURDAY IT ISNT EVEN FUNNY. Haha. So our night class was only from 6-7 and then we all met in the big meeting area as an MTC. A speaker spoke to us about our freedoms here and how the United States of America was the homeland of the restoration. We sang a bunch of patriotic songs as prelude and you wouldn't BELIEVE how loud, strong, and powerful us youth all sounded in there. It was a great feeling. I felt such appreciation and love for our country and for the Restoration. THEN! You'll never believe it. We watched 17 Miracles! That movie is incredible and am so grateful for my ancestors. I seriously gained such a testimony and appreciation for them. I know the MTC presidency really just didn't want us outside during the Stadium of Fire, but still, it was so awesome to watch that movie. So fun!!! I love the MTC. Then after, we got this way nice ice cream and got to watch the fireworks. I quote "Since you missionaries have been so good, you get a later bed time tonight. The fireworks end around 11, so come in after they are done." YEAH!!!!!! ELEVEN PM!!!! GIMME A WHOOOOT WHHOOOOT!!!!!! Haha, it was fun to stay out and as the finale was going on, we all sang the Star Spangled Banner. What a moment that was. I do love this country so much and definitely take the freedoms we have for granted. One thing though, they DID allow us to stay out later but I think they forgot to tell us we could sleep in until 9 and eat breakfast in our rooms. Huh. The script must have been printed wrong. I'm sure they meant to tell us that, because waking up the next day was the worst thing ever.

Welp I just wrote that ^ whole paragraph and realized that the Fourth of July was on Thursday. But anyway. The Fried-day concept is still real. and true.

So weeks 2-5 have the exact same schedule every day, so it really has been the same ole' same ole' stuff. I know for a fact that when 6 weeks is up, I will not be ready to leave this place. I might get stir-crazy, but I know that we have so many resources here and when I leave, I am on my own. There's a good chance my trainer won't speak english, I will be in a new country, I will be very lost and confused. And that scares me. But, as Grant reminded me this week of something our favorite professor at University of Utah said, "Embrace confusion." You can't really learn something without the struggle- and that is truth. I know the struggle must happen, and it gets frustrating at times, but I was called by a prophet of God. They just keep telling us this over and over, and I think I am finally starting to believe it.

I love this gospel and KNOW the atonement is REAL. I know it. 100%.

Mahal po kayo ng Diyos (<-------- our favorite phrase to use when you have no idea whats going on in a lesson, "God Loves You.")

Love,

Sister Abbey Hafen

Me and my comp- twinner shoes!

Comp playing in the light rain. Man it felt sooo good.

LIMBO under Sister Sirrine!

Happy fourth from me and Sister Nosler (comp).

The sisters in my district with our teacher, Sister Sharp, who was our first investigator. We didn't know she would become our teacher, but we love her. i love her so much. she is so great and believes in us.

Sister Kensy Howlett, Sister Maddock (Neds neice), Sister Amber Carr, Sister Alyssa Menizer, Sister Sharp (teacher), Sister Maciah Nosler, me, Sister Kortney Pace, Sister Danai Sirrine.