Abbey in the Philippines: Sister Abbey Hafen // Week Nine // Today Marks Two Months!

So the storm passed last week and did not hit our area. Some other areas of the mission got hit but not too bad. The damage in other places was much worse and some people died. We were so blessed! We were on lock down which was boring but we got a lot done. Monday night, we went to a members home, the Caleja fam. They are rich here- they own an SUV and a truck. And have air conditioning and iPhones. It was Sister Jen's bday and hahaha oh my goodness, they had the funniest treats. A hot dog on a stick, with a marshmellow on top. I was dying. And everyone was dying at how funny I thought it was! They all teased me and so I promised that I would have those every year for my birthday. The sister missionaries in Jones, our STL's, they lost power and water so they came to Alicia to stay the night with the other set of sisters that live a few minutes away from us. They came to the bday party and it was a blast.

I started the BOM again and it's been so fun. I'm embarrassed, but it feels as if it's this BRAND new book that I've never read. The story is soo good and I just am learning so much this time around.

Tuesday was Zone Meeting, and us 4 Alicia Sisters sang Called to Serve. It was beautiful and the meeting went well. That night, we went to our investigator, Sherly's house. I extended the baptisimal invitation and she just went quiet. I thought, crap. But then tears filled her eyes, and she explained that it's so difficult because her grandma is not supportive of her getting baptized at ALL, and her and her parents live on their grandma's land. We comforted her, and then explained baptism more to her. She then asked, "is the church still open to me, even if I'm not baptized?" it was the cutest thing in the whole world. We told her OF COURSE!! She's so awesome. 17 years old and just eats up everything about the gospel. After we taught her, we got lost. Haha. #openareaprobs

Since we are opening this area, Sister Acoba said this is just what happens. It was so funny- we passed the same things over and over. We just had to laugh about it, and really, it was really funny.

Wednesday I dozed off during Companionship Study (thanks dad), and then we got off for the day. We had many miracles this day, but I started to focus on myself and just lost focus. I'll start with the good things from this day. We were looking for Raquel, a Less Active, and as we were walking around, these 3 kids were talking and we heard them call Raquel. So, I thought- YOGOAMO. You Only Go On A Mission Once. So I yelled out, "raquel!" hahahah she turns around and I wave, and we go talk to her. She asks how I knew her and we just laughed about it. We visited her and dang she is so smart. She's super cute, 15, and just has it all goin' on. She is very intune with the gospel and she has just been inactive because her parents are.

We went looking for the Esperanzate Fam. So let me explain, the Philippines is set up in Province's. So we live in Isabela Province. But inside that are cities. And then inside that are like, areas? And then inside that are the Baranguays. So we are assigned to like, maybe 6 baranguays? which are like big neighborhoods. Then inside those neighborhoods are Puroks. like mini neighborhoods. So when we look at the teaching records of LA's and previous investigators, all they say is the Baranguay name. So that's why we spend a lot of time looking, because no one here has addresses really. So we just ask people in the baranguay and then they say "gen-lang" and point. Which means "just there". Haha, its so confusing. I do not understand how filipinos seem to be soooo vague, and hardly say anything, use NO specifics, but yet, they ALL know what each other mean and are always on the same page. It amazes me. One day I will learn. Anyway. So we found this family, but Tatay wasn't home (the dad). We left, and then passed him on his bike. We talked to him and it was so good. The spirit was there and he just expressed his worries to us. He's an RM but totally inactive with his fam. It was amazing that we happened to run into him.

We taught another LA fam, the Visperaz family. Their son Marieto is 13 and isnt baptized. We asked if we could teach him and he just agreed. He seemed SO uninterested, but we kept teaching the remainder of that lesson. By the end of it though, he was more interested. We later found out he is just kind of embarrassed because he isn't in school anymore and he isn't very good at reading. anyway, we finished and he agreed to let us come back. As we were leaving he was with his cousinEric and we talked to him. We asked if he would be interested in taking the lessons- he asked about the Plan of Salvation, because he had heard of that before. We told him a little about it and he asked if he would be able to see his dad again. His dad was murdered a year ago. He was so interested and agreed to be taught. We came back a few days later and man. It was so cool. These two boys, 11 and 13, were so interested. They asked questions, their eyes were GLUED to the pamphlets and pictures we had, and it was so awesome. Eric is SO excited for the plan of salvation lesson. We invited them to church, and they said they would come. To be continued..

Let's just say that the rest of Wednesday I was a loser. I let Satan in and just got so down on myself. All I want to say about this is that The Savior is REAL. And his Atonement can redeem us and help us in the very moment we need him. My new favorite hymn is Abide with Me Tis Eventide- The chorus is so beautiful and it saved me this night. "Oh Savior, stay this night with me." I seriously KNOW that the Savior lives and knows us all. Especially me. He is mindful of me- a little 19year old teenage girl, Abbey Hafen, here in the Philippines, trying my best trying to figure out what the heck is going on. He is mindful. He loves me and I have been so blessed, I can't even take it.

So Thursday I woke up and we did laundry. We have to do it twice a week. During laundry I literally thought i would do laundry until the day I die. Not even kidding. It took me 3 hours. I thought about how I really will probably be on this mission forever. FOREVER. The past few days were full of small tender mercies and miracles, but I was letting my selfish self take over and got so discouraged. As I sat there, scrubbing my garments in the tin basin, sitting on a bucket, sweat dripping down my face, Iremembered a talent that I have. I have this talent that, I can love where I am at. Even if I don't really love it, I have this talent that I CAN love it. And then after a while, I realize that I really do come to love it. I forgot that I had that talent! So right then, I decided that I would love laundry. i would love it so much.

So then I loved it.

I sat there and pondered about how much I love being a missionary. How much I love seeing other people happy. How much I love preparing for the lessons. How much I love when the little kids run up to me yelling "Sister Hapen!" How much I love my companion and my roommates. How much I love my Savior. How much I love being a missionary. And then.. I loved it. Things changed and I have been loving it ever since. Before, some days when I was soo tired, I would secretly hope we didn't have lessons- that the people just wouldn't be home. How messed up is that? After this laundry moment, and crying to my companion in Companionship Study, everything changed. I have a year and a half to be on this mission, and my whole life to think about it. I have 16 months left to do this work, and then I have to go back to reality.

The rest of the week was beautiful. I am blessed. We met some wonderful less actives, Herme is my favorite. He was taught when he was 19 by Elder Andrew Fisher from Pleasant Grove Utah. He is now 40 or something- Mom, ask todd and jen if maybe possibly they know him. Anyway. Friday our mission president and AP's stopped by unexpectedly! Good thing my companion and i were doing our weekly planning like we are supposed to, and I cleaned up the apartment that morning! haha, it was so good to see him, and the ZL's stopped by with my violin that morning too. I played that night with my sisters and it was SO good to play violin again. We met with another LA family, and their son is named "Aces". I thought of Ace and told Aces that my nephews name is Ace :)

So Saturday we had the usual dinner appt at the Abuan home- he is in the District Presidency. Best food ever. Estopado. Pork Sinigonn. and bananas in everything- they put it in their meat/ vegatable mixtures and last week, I was dying over how good it was. Now every week they have used bananas in everything when we come. I love it. SO DANG GOOD. And they love that I love their food. That night I found out we were speaking in church- yeah okay sweet. Haha. It went well, it was in english so yeah. Haha. Anyway- Sunday only 2 of our 5 investigators came to church. Marieto and Eric didn't come! We were soo surprised. We went to teach them, and they CAME, but 30 minutes early. They got too shy and nervous, and then went home. Their familes are soo poor so they got embarssed because of the shoes they were wearing. We assured them it was FINE and our lesson was beautiful. The spirit was there and they were SO excited. We gave them each BOM's and they can't wait until we come back. They ask if we can come back everyday- we explained that we can't but we will come 3 times a week. Haha. It's so cute. The spirit really is working in them.

That night, I got out my violin at our apartment, on the front porch, and played for the fellowshippers in our ward. They are our good friends. As I played, kids and teenagers in the neighborhood stood outside our gate and listened. They would yell requests and I would figure it out. I played Just Give Me a Reason by P!nk and A Thousand Years by Cristina whatever her last name is. It was so fun and I am so glad I have my violin- it's so fun to play here and just ah. It's so fun.

HA oh yeah. Saturday night we found these spiders that are the same size as my HAND just chillin' on the ceiling in the kitchen. I wanted to DIE. So I went to our bedroom door and closed it, so that they wouldn't come in ya know? Little did I know that the handle was locked and so when I shut it, we were locked out. AWESOME. It's like 10:05pmand we are locked out. We ran to the neighbors cause apparently they know what to do, but they were asleep. I said like 48 million prayers and then after scissors, an armrest, and other crap, we got the handle off. Haha. Then my companion, without saying anything, jammed paper and tape in the part of the door where the lock goes in. HAHAHA I was dying. That won't happen again :)

I love this work and I hope I can do all things I need to do while I am here. I love my companion so much. She thinks I am so funny and we just laugh and have a good time. I have been blessed with such good health, sis bates has been super sick this week but is doing well now. This week is going to be so great. I am slowing beginning to understand people so much better, and it helps that everyone just says I am good at tagalog. They just say that cause they love that I am trying to learn their language.

Over and out.

-Love,

Sister Abbey Hafen.