Abbey in the Philippines: Sister Abbey Hafen // Week Thirty-Four // "#byebyeteenagedream"

Yeah. I turned 20. And it ROCKED.

So of course, as I always say, this week rocked. But really, I hope you all believe me that it really did rock! Except the fact that its summer now and I swear that cold streak only lasted like 1 month (ha oh wait, it WAS only 1 month.)

So we split our area, just one of our barangays (neighborhoods, like equivalent to like country lane or something of that size maybe?). and gave it to the other Alicia sisters because all of the active members are in our side, so we were getting so many investigators and referrals and they weren't really getting any, so we split it. and that pretty much gave them all of our investigators haha. so that was actually pretty sad because we don't teach them any more, the other sisters do. but I think maybe this was just a small preparation for when I get transferred... because we still see all the investigators we gave them every sunday, but after I'm transferred, there's a chance I won't see any of these people ever again. ever. and that concept still is just not very real to me. like, I know one day, i'll leave this area, one day i'll leave the Philippines, but it all is still in that 'one day' part of my brain.... but I learned that the gospel's the same, no matter which missionaries are teaching it and giving them our investigators was very humbling. maybe for a second I felt a small piece of how Heavenly Father feels giving us opportunity to take care and teach HIS children. and that when we left the pre-mortal life, he knew that he wouldn't see some of us again, that some of us wouldn't return to him. And that he was, in a sense, leaving US in the hands of other people. That thought just flamed my testimony even more and I really did feel the real, raw, love that heavenly father has for us.

So because we split that barangay and lost a lot of investigators S.Atienza and I have had to do a lot of FINDING. Something that I don't like (or thought I didn't like). This week we have been so blessed and are finding so many new people to teach. Finding is actually fun. (I almost don't want to say that because referrals and other ways are tons better, but at least now I know that finding isn't the worst thing ever)

One thing that I never really realized or tried, is fasting or praying for literally VERY specific things to happen in the mission. I've heard plenty of stories of people fasting for. for example, an investigator to get a baptismal date this week or fasting to find a family to teach, or stories like that, and then it happens and wow what a great story! But I always kinda felt like that was almost telling Heavenly Father what to do. (and I think I'm already naturally kinda bossy.. haha) But this week, after reading our Sisters in Zion Newsletter (the newsletter me and all my missionary sister friends write in every month) and reading an experience that Grant sent me from his mission, I was inspired to try it. as a companionship we fasted to find new investigators in the area we had tracted in the few days before, and then fasted for a baptismal date for angilyn. Man, the Lord really is mindful, and he blessed us with what we fasted for. We found a new couple to teach, a new less active and part member to reactivate, and 2 families that are interested and set return appointments with. And although angilyn isn’t in our area anymore, Angilyn is now on the way to getting married to her boyfriend and is sincerely going through the steps of repentance so she can be baptized.

it was so cool. literally, I can't even explain how many blessings we are receiving and how the work truly is hastening.

It was my companions birthday, AND my birthday, and we really just got spoiled (I guess that's what you get when you've been in an area for over 6 months..). it really was so awesome. We had 2 dinners almost every night. I'm not kidding you. Here’s a little rundown of how spoiled we got.

Monday- FHE/ dinner with our old branch president

Tuesday bday dinner/&lesson to Angilyn (inv) because her mother in law shares a bday with s.atienza (this dinner/lesson was in ADDITION to the normal one we always have on Thursdays)

Tuesday later that night, dinner prepared by visperas family (the family that is now active and has 2 of our recent converts)... so sweet. they are one of the most struggling families financially in our area and they offered to feed us and prepared all day. it was so humbling.

Wednesday- dinner with our investigator and his 2 referrals that we taught and ate with that night, and then later that night, another birthday celebration with our less active neighbors. side note, I was sooo tired and sooo full of food this day, that when I sat on the hammock as we were all talking.. I fell asleep. yep. I fell asleep. (I blame dad) hahaha only for like 10 minutes maybe but I was dying when I woke up, I felt so bad but it was so funny.

Thursday, we toured the sisters around Calaocan (the barangay we split) all day and at one part member's house, we were waiting for the little boy to come home from tutoring, and the mom left and brought us back Jollibee hamburgers and shakes. then that night we went to angilyn's again, and had ANOTHER birthday celebration for me. complete with cake and gifts.

Friday was my bday and we had a dinner with Nay Mesa but the visperas thought we were going there again, so they prepared too! we felt bad but it all worked out. Saturday was Marieto Visperas' bday so they invited us there and ate there again and then headed to our last normal saturday appointment, dinner appointment.

Turning 20 and having a birthday on the mission was so awesome, but it was a very, very humbling experience as well. Honestly, so many of the members here and our investigators and recent converts really sacrificed for us, knowing it was our birthday week and that we are far away from home doing the Lord's work. I mean, I knew that the members loved us and that the people we teach love us, but honestly, this week made me realize how giving people are here. they literally are SO grateful that we are sacrificing our lives to be here, that they sacrifice their lives for us. I seriously wish I could bring you all here for a week so you could see everything, feel everything, and taste what this country really is. I am so blessed to be serving here as a servant for the Lord. Honestly, I am being so blessed personally and with the language, our area is being so blessed, our companionship, branch, and sometimes I really don't know why. I am so grateful for repentance. I can't remember if I shared this last week, but honestly I have never repented so much in my life, than I have and AM repenting on my mission right now.

That’s all for now. Thanks for EVERYTHING. I am so loved and blessed and above all, so grateful that we can change and be better everyday. <--- that is the real message of the gospel- that we have a Savior who is waiting for us to change and to become better so we can receive the blessings he has waiting for us. And we really can change. One, tiny little thing, every single day. One quote I have by my desk that I read every day is this:

Another principle of truth which will guide us in our determination is that boys and men can change. I’m reminded of the words of a prison warden who taught this fact. A critic who knew of Warden Duffy’s efforts to rehabilitate men said, “Don’t you know that leopards can’t change their spots?”

Warden Duffy responded, “You should know I don’t work with leopards. I work with men, and men change every day.”

This the restored gospel and Jesus is the Christ.

Love,

abs

At our new investigator's land.

They're so cute!

Holler!

6:40am... my housemates/companions are SO cute and thoughtful.

20 notes from my bff Sister Atienza.

hahaha a note in the CR (bathroom)

Their tiny house on the left, and on the right is where we eat and teach because all 5 of us don't really fit in their house.

Birthday celebration with our investigator and her family! they gave us presents and had birthday dinner :) this pose is called "Look Up" the filipinos love it

Calaocan, Isabela.

Nay Rosalina's house. They have like a little farm here!

At Brother Mackey Co's house (the old counselor in the branch presidency), having lunch with his wife! their house/land is beautiful!

Me, JM, MJ, and Sister Marie Conception. This is where and how they eat- I joined right in on the way the eat (with their hands and sitting on the table) and they LOVED it (but not as much as I loved it). (bday dinner at the visperas)