Sister Abbey Hafen // Week Fifty-Three // "Another Week Here In Gamu!"

ANOTHER GREAT WEEK.

This week was awesome... so so so many miracles and tender mercies... We are being so blessed. We got lots of referrals this week and got a lot of new investigators. We had the baptism of Jerwin and Tay Mario, which was awesome. Lots of members were able attend, even though it is an hour jeep ride away. The speakers were great and the spirit was there :) I love this branch and am coming to love them more and more every day. 

I had a very humbling experience this week, and let me say, it was humbling :) But it was worth it, because after that, I had a very special experience, and I seriously know that because I figured out the first problem, Heavenly Father prepared me to be ready for the 2nd... and it was totally worth getting humbled :) 

I have such a testimony of the little promptings. I find myself waiting for the BIG BOOM or the slap across the face promptings of the spirit, but often times, it is those little things that we already know, those small things that occupy our mind. It's those things we have received revelation about BEFORE... and then stopped doing. I love the spirit and am so happy for its companionship. Its a feeling I never want to go away, because when it's not there, it's awful. 

I love the power of the restoration, I love the power of repentance. I love this gospel and am so happy I am able to serve Him full-time in this time of my life. I know this is the true church and I have a testimony of what happened to Joseph Smith. I know the spirit is real and will guide us if we become worthy for Him. I love my companion so much and am grateful for her, my companions are all so special to me and I will never forget them. I will tell my kids all about them one day :)

With so much love,

Sister Hafen 

One of the missionaries in our mission is having severe seizures so we have had a mission fast, and he is being sent to Manila, even against doctors suggestions, but because of the fast and prayers of our mission, this is the revelation our mission president received. we are praying so hard for Elder Dela Vega, and I really loved this quote that President told us in our weekly letter this week and though I would share it with you.

Joseph B. Wirthlin, speaking about our personal trials stated:  "Be assured that there is a safe harbor. You can find peace amidst the storms that threaten you. Your Heavenly Father—who knows when even a sparrow falls—knows of your heartache and suffering. He loves you and wants the best for you. Never doubt this. While He allows all of us to make choices that may not always be for our own or even others’ well-being, and while He does not always intervene in the course of events, He has promised the faithful peace even in their trials and tribulations.”

hahaha i was fed up with my hair so i pulled it out and let her run wild as we cruised in the jeepney!The branch members who attended the baptism!!!! sooooo happy!!!
Happy One Year!

Sister Abbey Hafen // Week Fifty-Two // "PAWIS ng PAWIS talaga....‏"

^ that means "just really sweating" or something like that, not sure of the translation to english.

..... that is all we do here. sweat. all day long. 

but it's okay because we are so happy! :D

This week we had 2 splits. I split with Sister Hurst and Sister Hunsaker. It was awesome!! I learned so much from them. They are both so humble and splitting with them was awesome. It's so fun to hear their experiences and feel their sweet sweet spirits. Such a blessing. 

This week was seriously so awesome. Our 2 investigators passed their baptismal interview and will be baptized this Saturday! Each of them have overcome cigarette problems and other vices, and have waited a long time for this covenant. They are both so excited and are ready to be 100% clean and follow Jesus Christ. The work is going so great, we have some AWESOME investigators who are really looking for the truth. We have found and met some new less actives this week who also are willing to come back and get active again. 

I still am obsessed with the MLC (mission leadership council) we had a few weeks ago and me and my companion are doing our all to apply it to us. The theme was all about THE SPIRIT. We have been really trying to add and give them SPIRITUAL experiences, rather than filling them with knowledge. Yesterday, altough so so so tired... so so hot.... and so ready to just go to sleep that night, we gave it our all and really relied on the spirit. We met new less actives and also worked again with a struggling Recent Convert family- We found their needs and relied on the spirit to spark their testimonies again and give them spiritual experiences rather than just knowledge. It was a big spiritual day yesterday. 

The filipino people are so patient and so willing to come unto Christ. I know for a fact that is one reason I was sent here- to realize what REAL happiness is- and that has nothing to do with WHAT we have or who WE are- it has everything to do with WHO we have and who we can BECOME. I love this country and the other day as we were working, Sister Carbaquil and I just talked about what the heck we are doing every day. We are just going around, looking for people we can help. Looking for people that we can inform.. that we have a Savior who is waiting to help us, waiting to bless us, and waiting for us to come to Him. We honestly just were in awe of the calling we have been given and both just said prayers of thanks in our hearts as we continued to work. 

i am happy and this week was great. i read part of my blog from a few months ago and I sounded so much happier and my stories sounded great but don't worry! i am still just as happy, i think even more happy now, and the work is still just as beautiful.. maybe even more beautiful now :) maybe i am realizing that whatever kind of email i send home, there is no way to explain what is happening here. I am learning so much and am so grateful I am able to be a missionary. I can't believe it sometimes... I walk around and ask myself "is this real life?" ... 

I love this work and can't believe that time is just flying by. It's been such a journey, one that I am not wanting to end. I am so grateful for the experiences I have been given and the ones that are still to come :)

With such a full heart,

Sister Hafen

oh ps we had a zone activity at Sta. Victoria- just this little zoo/hiking/resort/caves place. This picture is me and my companion this morning :)

me and my nanay (i call her nanay because she is training me as an STL)

me, elder Baclea-an, elder llacona, sister tolo, e.larona, hunsaker, elder iuli, elder sevilla

howlett, hunsaker, me.

me, sister corsillies

s.hunsaker, me. Sta Victoria Sanctuary (zone activity)

Sta Victoria Sanctuary (zone activity)

our zone at district conference in Burgos!

district 3, gamu isabela

super pretty. district 3, gamu isabela

I LOVE HER.

hahah our best faces.

THIS IS JERWIN.

me and my tall baby! sister hunsaker! splits :)

at our BML's house for his Birthday FHE!  these are his sons (Jojomar) and his bff, Ronel Maynite (recent convert)

splits! me and cute, sweet sister Hurst :)

Sister Abbey Hafen // Week Fifty-One

Man. This week was so full of awesome things, I can't even explain any of them. So I won't. I love you all and hope you have an awesome week, I love you and pray for you all.

Love,

Sister Hafen

Just kidding :) Ha, Mom.... you thought I was pulling an "elder move" on ya! I will tell you a tiny little dot of our experiences and tender mercies this week. :)

First of all, we attended our Mission Leadership Council this week and it was incredible. All about chapter 4 in PMG, Recognizing and Being Worthy for the Spirit. It was awesome. It was fun to see so many of my best friends here on the mission and be able to discuss, plan, set goals, and receive revelation for the zones and missionaries in this mission. 

We had splits again this week and I got to split with my BATCH. Sister Howlett. It was seroiusly SO awesome. We had a great time and I learned so much from her. She is so humble and the goals and spirit we felt was something I will not forget. This assignment I have as a Sister Training Leader has been such a blessing and is helping me learn and become the missionary I have always imagined I could be, but just never really did. I am so humbled and grateful to Heavenly Father.

We found some really awesome investigators this week, and had some awesome follow up lessons with investigators we found last week. The best friend of one of our solid fellowshippers has come out of the woodworks! She has been introduced to the gospel many times, but now we are finally focusing on her. And little did we know that her entire family is also interested. Last night we shared with them the story of the Restoration and the spirit was thick. They want us to keep coming back and Mika came to church yesterday. She had such a positive experience and I can just see their family in white, just living, loving, and eating up the Restored Gospel. 

This has been one of the hardest weeks I've had in a long time, but also one of the most rewarding. I am so happy and love the work that I get to do. My companion is awesome and I am learning so much. 

Every day I get to:

live in this beautiful country

share the restored gospel

see people change

watch people show their faith

study the restored gospel for 2-3 hours every day

eat good food

see more people change

laugh hard

and so much more....

I love you all and love my Savior. He lives and is the head of this church.

-Sister Hafen

Lenie Gabuat (the one right next to me) and her two friends who are our AWESOME investigators. lovely sunday :)

Swimming? :)

Verona Family. They are super funny and are the only active members for miles in their little town.

one of our areas behind the church

sister carbaquil, tolo, howlett, me

splits wtih sister howlett!

splits with sister howlett!!!!! super fun

Lagunero Family. This is their house and she just had a baby the day before this! this is where they hang out all day, mom and baby.

splits. our recent convert and investigator.

i love mangos here in the philps

Sister Stabenow and I at Mission Leadership Counsel (MLC)

my best friend Mission Leadership Counsel (MLC)

my mom (sis acoba) and her two kids (the two missionaries she trained) at Mission Leadership Counsel (MLC)