The work is really so awesome here in Gamu. We found some solid new investigators this past week. A couple (around45 yrs old), a dad and mom with 3 kids (32 years old), and two 23 year old alchoholics who are the best friend of our AWESOME recent convert. Man. The work is hastening and I am so lucky to be a little part of it. I love the power of the message of the Restoration and love being able to share it to everyone.
This was our first week of splits with the Sisters in our zone, and it went well! I was nervous but like all things, it ended up being awesome. It was very humbling and I learned so so much. I went on splits with Sister Corsillies (the trainee of my best friend Sister Meinzer) and she is actually the sister who went into my area in Alicia right after me (when we got pulled out because of an instance with a man and my companion). We had so much fun swapping Alicia stories and just bonding with our love of missionary work. She is so awesome and has some great goals to improve herself as a servant of God. I have had some of the most spiritual experiences of my mission when I have been on splits with my leaders, and I am so happy and blessed I get to do that for other sisters- and little do they know that I am learning more than they learn!!!!
One investigator we have is just the best. His name is Jerwin and he is a recovering smoker. He is honestly one of the MOST christlike people I have ever met. He will be getting baptized the 21st of this month, along with some of our other sweet, sweet investigators. Jerwin is 21 years old and has been smoking since before he can even remember. He was found when the sisters were sharing with a less active at his work, and Jerwin was there. They talked to him, got his information, and then contacted him. Ever since, he has gained the biggest and most raw faith I have ever seen. Sometimes, he doesn't really get the lessons, he forgets what we have taught, but he walks with real faith. He never misses a Sunday, and has 5-10 tactics he uses to keep himself from smoking. He stopped working on Sundays to go to church, and even sometimes, that less active who he is friends with, invites him to smoke, but with his cute humble self, just stays strong. I can't wait until you meet him in the next life, you will all just love him. This morning in our companionship study we just realized how hard we have been on him with his addiction and realized how WELL he has done. He has gotten rid of this habit that usually takes people years. He has truly learned and developed raw, and pure faith, taking one day at a time, trusting our Savior to get him through this.
I love this gospel and can't believe the effect it has on people. I love seeing people's faces as we share, when the spirit just pricks them in the tiniest of ways- seeing their faces at that moment is worth every tear i have cried while being here, worth every wedding/birth i have missed, worth every movie and iPhone update i've missed, worth every late night and nap I haven't had in a year. it's worth all the failures and times i haven't done my best, its worth alllll time time on my knees. It is all worth it.
I remember Grant telling me that some of the best successes happen on your mission and the best of them all is seeing and witnessing people change because of the Word of God. He said there is no feeling more satisfying or more happy and deeply worth it, than that of the work you do on a mission. And what I've learned here, is Grant wasn't referring to the success as our own because it's not- its seeing the success of others because they've accepted in their lives the Master of All Success- our Savior. I know that and testify of that. I love this gospel and will forever be in debt to my father in Heaven.
This is the true church and Jesus Christ is the Savior.
Love,
sister hafen
p.s i love my companion so much. i also can't wait until you meet her in the next life. you will all love her. she is too dang funny.
our recent convert King (in the green shorts) with his 2 friends who are now our investigators. super awesome.
us in the tricee on the way to church! yeah i know i am huge compared to them.
outside of our chapel :)
She's so cute! member here in gamu. she is wearing my name tag :)
this is what her paper said.
at "Mormon Open Doors"
I wish you could feel the heat in this picture. oh man. i thought this would be my last day on earth....soooo hottttt..
Hahahahahahahah
my first splits with the Burgos 1 Sisters! me, corsillies, solis, carbaquil.
our AWESOME investigator Jerwin (yellow shorts), his sister, me, s.corsillies, and our Recent Convert Jolvin (the best person ever)
on splits! novie jane (member), me, sister corsillies.
after our baptismal interview- in the jeepney. s.carbaquil, thayn, elder b, and me.
my little filipinas loving cookies and milk!
double rainbow!! after the downpour.
at the house of our investigator, Lon!
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