Abbey in the Philippines: Sister Abbey Hafen // Week Ten // "Sister Heaven :)"

Another week another week! Holy blazes, I'm in the Philippines! Really though, I forget sometimes.

Monday we went to Santiago. Everyone was talking about it and how great it is, so we decided to go. I heard they had a "real" grocery store and a "real" pizza place. so of course I was like okay yeah sweet. So we get there and go to the pizza place and HOLLER it was good! Of course rice comes with every meal and I love it. It's so normal to me now. We went to SaveMore, and after being in there for an hour, when we walked out into the streets of downtown Alicia, I almost wet my pants. I legit forgot I was in the Philippines! The only downer to their SaveMore (which is like a nice grocery store) is 1. I have no idea where anything is. 2. I still don't understand pesos, so I can't really tell if something is expensive or not. and 3. They don't have half the stuff we use in America- tortillas, etc. Anyway, it was cool to go there! of course, us stupid americans spent like so much money because we don't understand pesos. But thats okay- I'm thrifty through out the week :)

After, we went to a palanke (street market, bargaining, etc) and we looked at backpacks. They were cool, but I was like yeah whatevs. I don't need one. Sis Suay was looking at a sick jansport, waterproof, pink one. I asked if they had purple, and when she said yes, I knew i was toast! (ps we used that phrase "we're toast" and sister suaybagio and sister acoba were so confused. Try explaining why we say THAT one.) We bargained them down to 400, and I just really wanted to get it lower. I said 380 and she said 400 final. So I said "ahh, hindi pwuede" which is like "can't" and I walked out. 2 minutes later, she came out and said "380 mam" and had it bagged up for me. HOLLER. I was so proud of myself!

Tuesday was Dist. Meeting. We made no bake cookies for our district and of course everyone loved them. That night we taught Joem, our investigator who is getting baptized THIS SATURDAY, and it was a miracle; his dad, mom, AND sister were present for the lesson. This was the first time Sister Acoba and I had met his mom. How special. The lesson was awesome and it was so cool to meet the rest of his family. They are SO humble, and work so hard, both nanay at tatay (mom and dad).

THEN, THE AWAITED DAY SINCE JULY 31ST... New Missionary Meeting at the mission home. Where we would see all of our batchmates (people who came from the MTC the same time as us). I get there and OMG, I knew I was excited, but until i saw my district... i didn't realize how excited I was. Reminicing and sharing experiences with my bff's was so good, but when Pres and Sis Rahlf spoke to us new missionaries, that really topped it off; they literally said EVERYTHING I needed to hear. Sister shared the story of the loaves and the fishes. She shared emails from missionaries in her family during their first few months on the mission. OMG. I am sitting there saying "this is me. this is me." over and over in my head. It was so good to hear all those things she shared. They talked about how we are their FIRST missionaries. We came here WITH them, basically. They have only been here 3 weeks longer than my batch of missionaries. They talked about how it is OUR group that will lift this mission. We talked about the hastening. It's crazy how many missionaries are here. And we are getting new ones every six weeks. like almost 30 every time. It's wild. Talking to my district friends, I was just reminded of how lucky I am to have Sister Acoba as my trainer. She is the best. I don't think anyone can understand how much I love her and how grateful I am for her.

But lets be honest, the best part of seeing my batchmates was hearing from different people through out the day that I have lost weight. Thank you President Monson + Quorum for sending me here. :)

That night, we decided, hey, lets visit our Less Active, Raquel (the one I yelled out to). We get there and she is just so sick. Horrible fever and just crying. We give a short thought, and then get some priesthood holders over there to give her a blessing. She's so sweet, and I love her so much. We were so grateful we stopped by.

On Thursday the relief society presidency works with us. They always do one day a week- SO grateful. We visited some less active ladies, and boy, what a difference it makes to have them there. It's so fun, and ahh i just love the ladies in my ward! They love me and just die at the things I say. Hahaha, finally i am just myself out here. I was myself teaching Joem, and I just spoke in tagalog the things I wanted to. We taught 2 brand new investigators and I taught principles from the first lesson. I said things I wanted to. I prayed the entire lesson for the spirit and ah. It was just great. I was sooo grateful to my Heavenly Father for just making me feel OKAY. Last week our KI's (key indicators; the numbers/ categories we use to account for the week) were SO GOOD. So high. Our district leader was so impressed. And then this week was just lame. But this week will be better.

Friday we prepared for our Member Missionary Fireside. Since we split the area, we just really wanted to get the work going. Sister Suay thought of this and so we ran with it. It is a way to get referrals. We prepared Friday and it happened yesterday. Oh my goodness. It was perfect.

-Opening Hymn/ prayer

-Sister Bates- intro. explained Our Purpose as missionaries. shared quotes about how so many people look upon missionary work as tracting. But there is a better way- through the members. We talked about the Work of Salvation broadcast and how important that was.

-Sister Acoba showed the mormon mesage "Because I have been given much" It's about how a girl shared to her friend about the church and invited her. her entire life changed.

-me- showed the mormon message "Mountains to Climb" and boy. everyone was crying. I bore testimony that in the video, every person had their own individual trials. They all were going through different things; but there was one thing in common. They all had the gospel to turn to. I told everyone to think about the times THEY'VE been able to rely on the gospel. Anyway, I won't share my whole testimony, but honestly, the spirit was so strong. I told them they could TRUST us with their loved ones, and we WANT to help them. After I spoke,

Sister Suay- summarized and explained what we are doing as missionaries. And what their job is. After her, I played Jospeh Smith's First Prayer with my companion, Sister Acoba, accompanying me. the spirit was SO strong and it was incredible. We got so many referral cards filled out and we are meeting individually with each member who gave a referral.

SUCCESS.

I feel like I really have made a connection with the ward and I hope I stay here in Alicia for a long while.I love love love the members here. It's so fun and ahh I don't even know what to say. Haha. I know my emails are a mess but i wish I could just call you all each week and catch up on life.

Anyway. Some other "yay's" and "haha's" from the week.....

- we taught a family who earlier this year was preparing for the temple, but is now less active. We shared about temples and they really opened up with what has been stopping them. They said they would start preparing again. Ah, I love when i can be myself to people, and I did in this lesson. When I FORGET about my SELF, the spirit is there. When I am worried about myself, it makes it very difficult.

-as we were preparing for the fireside, watching the mormon messages in the computer shop, there i was just bawling. hahahah.

-our foursome- me, acoba, bates, and suay- we rock. We have so much fun i love it. I will cry when any of us get transferred.

-my new phrase i write in my journal: YOGOAMO. You only go on a mission once. Well, until I go with my hubby, but I can't be thinking about that out here!

-we visited my fave guy, Herme, less active, and taught his son who isn't baptized. I brought up that his dad was a convert and AH I could just see the spark in his eyes again while he was thinking of his conversion story.

-getting soooo happy when i follow completely in a conversation- i can't respond, but i know what everyone was just saying. SUCH A GREAT FEELING.

-The things people yell to me because i am american: hi you are beautiful, merry christmas, i miss you baby, americana, happy valentines day, etc. Haha.

-our visit with our investigator sherly. She is so cute. We are praying that her family becomes more supportive with her choice to be baptized. I seriosly lvoe her and she and her family call us "sis". "Hey sis, what day are you coming back" "Hey sis, I love you" its so cute.

-we get in this van, and everytime he signals, everything starts flashing; the time, the radio, speedometer, everything

-my skirt gets closed in the van all the time. haha. the men always feel so bad.

-i said to my companion "high five!" and she high fived me. then i said, "up high!" and she high fived me up high. Then i said "to the side" and she just moved her hand to the side. hahahaah. she didn't high five me. she didn't know thats like what we do in america. like, up high, to the side, down low, in space, in your face, ya know? I was DYING. It was sooo funny. HAHAH. Maybe it was one of those "had to be there moments."

-I SAW FIREFLIES. I legit didn't know those were real. i thought they were only in movies! haha.

-the little visperaz family, they have a million kids, sometimes can't say "hafen". so they just call me sister heaven. i about die every time.

- I fell asleep on the stand waiting to give my talk. whooops.

- our filipino companions said they have to watch harry potter with subtitles because its so hard to understand their english. HAHA i wasdying.

This week had its ups and of course its downs. I have been studying really hard on why we need the Book of Mormon. I mean, i know its great and all but WHY is it so important?! I have received so many answers. I love the Book of Mormon and I love Jesus Christ. I know He is real and my testimony is growing every day. GAH. I just love this work and know that my time is running out. I know I haven't even put a dent in my mission, but with time literally going at the speed of light, I will be home tomorrow.

sorry my emails are a hot mess, but yeah. I hope I said everything I needed to.

I love the philippines and love everything here. I am so serious. All i miss is endless supplies of rags and cleaning supplies from home, and more shoes.

love,

sister hafen