Sister Abbey Hafen // Week Forty-Two // "This Is The Good Life"

Transfers transfers transfers. Oh the mission life! I am happy to be staying in Almaguer, but of course am sad to see my companion(S) go. I love them so much and have learned so much. They literally have been nothing but a blessing to me. 

First things first... the baptism last Saturday!!! Wow. It was awesome. All baptisms are awesome and a blessing, but sometimes they can be stressful, or a let down, not what you planned- or its easy to think it didn't turn out or the spirit wasn't there. the kids are usually noisy and the floors can be a mess. People are late and sometimes no one comes. But in the end, it always turns out to be fine, but usually something is missing.

... But this baptism was different. It really was. There were so many people. Youth and Primary. Leaders. Neighbors. And non-members. Our investigators. And lots of missionaries. The speakers were awesome, short and sweet. One from a recent convert of 2 months who is about the age of Shamiah, and one by the primary president. The spirit was so thick in there, and everyone felt it. I just sat there and tears filled my eyes and the spirit just hit everyone's hearts. Shamiah is Allens (recent convert of february) cousin, and has seriously changed since she met the missionaries. She bore her testimony and it was so awesome to hear her say the things she did. The two other little girls, Carla and Marielle, although so quiet, are so sweet and pure. In one lesson we had with them, we asked if they would live the word of wisdom. They said yes. Then we asked why. And after silence, one of them said, "Because I love Heavenly Father." It was such a sweet sweet moment, and I realized sometimes we make things so confusing! We should follow our Father in Heaven, just because we love Him. 

Anyway, so the service was just awesome. Our BML is an RM of December and is so on top of things. Our branch president is sooo supportive of missionary work, and this branch is all about fellowshipping- they just GET it. It's so awesome. We are being soo blessed. Now that our investigators are baptized, we are going to have some hard core finding and really start working with the investigators that aren't progressing as much and help them progress. 

This week we were pretty panted (having no lessons, lots of cancelations, lots of "no we aren't home"s and lots of people who don't want to listen.) But we realized that even though the work this week was so hard, our studies were so spiritual. I love companionship study so much, and of course personal study. All 3 of us received so much revelation and just had awesome studies. The few lessons we DID have, were full of the spirit. The few street contacts we DID have, were solid. Our baptism was AWESOME. So many blessings. Its outrageous.

As I saw so many miracles, had so many testimony building experiences, felt the spirit run through me so thick, heard the woman's broadcast, and watched 3 girls make a covenant with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ this weekend, I just felt soo happy. I love missionary work and will never stop being a missionary. I wish I could explain every thing that happens, but I can't. There just aren't words. Maybe I sound like a broken record, maybe I sound like every other missionary writing home, but the things I am experiencing and the spirit of change I feel everyday is very real. Very raw. and something I cannot explain or forget. 

I love this work. Jesus is the Christ and this is His work. I love my Savior and am grateful I know I am a Daughter of God.

Love,

Abbey 

Kaisibu Falls :)  Sister Breinholt
Kaisibu Falls :)  sister cabada, karavanua
Kaisibu Falls :) Sister Karavanua. i love her so much.
Kaisibu Falls :)Kaisibu Falls :)  sister fugabanKaisibu Falls :) bienvienutoShamiah! She's the best. and is now a recent convert!
one of the recent converts in almaguertay tapec, dasalla, me.waiting on the side of the highway for our driver of the van to come back. santiago city
reuniting with my anak! SISTER ATIENZA!
me and sister stabenow!! :)sister deloncio, sister rahlf, me, dasalla.
me and my MTC comp, sister nosler! sooooo good to see her.my batchmates at the conference! lange, perkins, clyde, maddock, pace, me, cabada, nosler, manukaileiah.


Women of God Sisters Conference- sis suayWomen of God Sisters Conference- we had CAFE RIO PORKsister breinholt and me on our way to the Women of God conference
me and Sister K!Sister Dasalla :) in the triceeTipay Family FHE!Tipay Family FHE! so good... love this food...merienda (snack time)me and rosemarie, our part member investigator at the baptismmountain dew for our afterward snack :)
our part member investigator, rosemarie gundranjeff primero, dasalla, marielle, carla, shamiah, janjan primero, me, bien, allen felipeus sisters with the 3 baptizees!dasalla, nay rita, carla, marielle, nay dionecia, me, bien
the three baptizees! carla, marielle, shamiah
Bambang Zone Sisters! bien, hafen, maddock, barrill, karavanua, fugaban, funaki, breinholt, corneilliez, cabada, dasalla
Mahy De Vera, Shane Sadueste at the Womens Conf
Sister Abbey Hafen- nickname: large.
Sister Jennel Dasalla- nickname: medium
Sister Sheena Bienvinuto- nickname: small.FHE at the Alisbo Fam!
Sister Lasay, Sister Jones.Budel Fight. maddock, me, bien
Budel Fight

Budel Fight. it means to eat with your hands on the banana leaf. i love it. my future family and i will eat with  our hands, so much more efficient.
My BFF.FHE at the Feria Home with our district leader and comp!
walking with our investigators to the baptism! almaguer south, bambang.
me at the Diaz Pancitan (a pancit food place, members own it)