Abbey in the Philippines: August 2014

It's Mondey again!!!!

We had a very awesome week this week. We had 2 meetings in Cauayan, one for the new leaders (for Sister Cabada), and one with all the Sister Training Leaders and President & his Wife. It was so incredible. I got to help with some of the training for the New Leaders, and that was a really spiritual experience. The meeting with all the Sister Training Leaders was really cool. We started out with just "open round table" and just talked. President told us to pretend like we were all having a big sleepover and were in our pajamas, just talking. It was so spiritual and we were able to share things that were troubling us, things that have been successful, and just set goals as sisters and as missionaries. It was cool to just open it up for discussion and just talk about and ask questions about the work we're doing here. Being with all those incredible missionaries was an experience I won't forget.

We had a great week with the work and had a baptism last saturday! the 10 yr old son of our recent convert. It was the quietest and most reverent baptism I have been to. The tesimonies born were so beautiful and so many people from the branch attended. We rented a jeepney, so there were over 25 of us there in attendance! the nearest bapt.font to Gamu is in Burogs, a 1hr jeep ride. Maynard (the 10 yr old newly baptized) is so smart and bore the sweetest testimony. He loves Joseph Smith and ties everything back to him and the First Vision. It's so cute.

We taught him about missionary work in Lesson 5 just a few days before his baptism, and told him that he will be a missionary too one day, just like us. I then joked and pretended to be him, like introducing myself as Elder Dela Cruz and teaching about Joseph Smith, blah blah blah and that was that. We all laughed so hard but I didn't really think it sunk into him. The night before his baptism, we had dinner with his family and his mom (who is not a member) told me that Maynard told her that he will be a missionary when he's older. And everyone will call him Elder Dela Cruz and he will tell them why Joseph Smith is important. When I heard that, I seriously wanted to cry! it was soo cute and I seriously know Maynard will be a strong member.

Our Branch president gave some remarks at the baptism and during his remarks, he called Maynard to the front and placed him in front of him, holding his shoulders. He told us all, Look at this child. All of us, look at him. This, this boy, this generation, is who will become the leaders of our church. All of us here, we need to do our part to keep raising and helping this generation to be successful in the church and in living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His talk was so powerful and the spirit was strong.

What a great week, it really was. I love all of you and love this work more than I thought possible.

Love,

abs

Sister Abbey Hafen

Philippines Cauayan Mission

hey bro, maybe don't drink so hard next time!! kawawa naman siya (poor guy)

they didn't know i took this :) jolvin, RC teaching Maynard, the newly baptized!

that little white house is the Couple missionary apartment, in the compound of the nicest house in the whole baranguay

FIESTA IN GAMU!!!!!! this is all for us... our neighbors cooked for us.

our branch president and his wife and baby. they are just 28 years old! and the only RM's in the branch

in the jeep coming from the baptism!

loading in the jeep after the baptism. we live 1 hr away from the baptismal font, so we have to take a jeepney there.

dinner with Maynard and his family :) rice and fish :)

me and my bff, sister meinzer

S. Cabada, Me, Elder Coronel, Elder Teijan

We had Sister MAddock with us for a night, and this is our awesome investigator Mikah, to be baptized in october :)

Working in Cauayan for a few hours- my first time proselyting in the city!

Another week here in Gamu, Isabela.

Ahh!! i got a new companion! Sister CABADA. From Quezon City. She makes 7 of 7 for filipina companions for Sister Hafen... YES. I love it so much. I have noticed that I am much more comfortable with filipinos than i am with americans. I have the hardest time communicating; all forms of communication. I just have a hard time. So now... our whole apartment is filipina! So good :)

The past few days we haven't had any rice because we ran out... and i realized how dependant my body is to RICE. My bowels had a FREAK out, but we will buy rice today and all will be well. Mom.. I know what I want for christmas :) a rice cooker.

We have been working a lot with the YSA here in Gamu. They are all so incredible. They are such inspiration to me in so many ways. Our mission prep class was such a success this week. We have done it for a few months now; we've taught them about the role of the Holy Ghost in conversion, How to Being Teaching with an Investigator, The story of the Restoration, and now we are on the Plan of Salvation. It's been so fun, and when they practice teach, they do so well. They always work with us on Sundays, and also during the week.

Last night, we were on splits and I was with Sister Lenie. A while ago, we were teaching her best friend Mikah, and it was so special. She received an answer of what we were teaching was true, she came to church, bought new skirts so she could always be ready for church, and had a very spiritual experience in the gospel principles class. Then all of a sudden she dropped off the planet! everytime we went to teach her, she was gone, or just wasn't focused, she never kept her committments, and "slept it late" every sunday. We didn't really drop her, but just started visiting her once a week, or every 2 or 3 weeks. Last night, we were were walking, and i thought, okay. I've got 3 YSA with me, and we haven't seen Lenie in a while. This might be perfect.

We stopped by and there were a zillion people in front of their house. I just talked with her older brother, and then said "sa susunod na lang kuya" which means like "no worries, next time" and then he quickly suggested we come back later that night. I was so surprised! so I promised we'd come back before we headed home. We visited our other appointements, and then as we promised, came back. They had us come in, and there was just a different, warm spirit in the house. I turned to Lenie and told her to share her favorite verse from the Book of Mormon and explain WHY she wants Mikah to accept the gospel in her life. We started and the spirit just led us. It was so very cool. Lenie was loving, Jolvin was supportive, Jojomar was honest, and I was bold. I explained to them, including her mother, that it's not just accident, that both of their best friends (mikahs bff and her mom's bff) are both strong members. The lesson continued on and the spirit was there. We left, and Lenie was so so so happy.

This morning, we got a text from Lenie saying that her, MIkah, and their other best friend who is an RM all had lunch together today and really talked about what happened last night. Mikah opened up and said that she knows this is her time. Her time to live the gospel, follow the example of our Savior, and make a covenant with him. She told them she is ready and willing to start this journey again. Lenie was so happy and of course, we are too. We just learned that everything we do, is according to the timing of our Father in Heaven. Our responsibility is to have faith in that timing, and do everything he asks in the mean time. This was Lenie's sweet text earlier (translated): i am really so happy, i thought she had no chance... she had so many questions at lunch and also has some things she needs to work out, but if we just continue helping her, she will accept this gospel fully. she said she will start from today, start preparing herself to be baptized in christ's name... i am so happy sisters..."

I love my new companion, my new housemate, this branch, our branch president, everything. I am just realizing that in attempts to "pay" my Heavenly Father back by serving a full time mission, I'm just getting put in more and more debt by all the blessings I receive here... I am so blessed and will never be able to pay him back.

Have a great week and know that I love you and love our Savior.

Sister Abbey Hafen

Philippines Cauayan Mission

the EQ singing in Sacrament Meeting, so so funny/cute.

JP Maraya (investigator) me, and our investigators best friend, Bryan Fernandez (active)

the cute little marching girls in their outfits

me and Lenie Gabuat, the most loyal member I've met.

"Look Up"

Sister Cabada, from Quezon City. my new companion!!!

Princess, Lirio, Linda Duldulao

The students leaving Mission Prep

Missionary Prep Class- jun jun marayag, jonathan rodgriquez (investigator), kuya natividad, bryan fernandez, president daggauo, jojomar bilog, jolvin cabaltica, me, net net bergonia, joy aquino, cindy ibarra, lenie gabuat, sister cabada.