Abbey in the Philippines: Sister Abbey Hafen // Week Seventy // "Bonifacio!"

Another week!!! And this week was seriously soo good. What a success. I love it. We had a week full of awesome exchanges, delicious food, great appointments, spirutual experiences, and a wonderful, quiet, and spiritual sacrament meeting.

Starting with last monday... we had a FHE with our Branch president, the Daggao family. They are probably the only family who consistently, every single monday, holds a family home evening here in the Burgos District. They even include family planning and "resolving of family issues". It was so cool. This family has been such an incredible example to me of what kind of leader, wife, and mom I need to be when that part of my life comes. Our president was baptized at 18, served a mission at 19, and when he got off his mission married a year later, and 3 years after that was made branch president. They have 2 kids, and are the best family ever. They shared their experiences with us from their life as a married couple and how humble these 2 people are. They are servants of our Lord truly looking to improve every single day. It was a very uplifiting evening, and we had such a good time.

We have this investigator, who the first time we saw him was him dead passed out drunk, by his machines for his work, in the front of his house. BONIFACIO GABUAT. We saw him many many times after that, because his niece and her family were our investigators before. Anyway. To make a long story short, one night in the pouring rain he helped us find transportation (the one night he wasn't drunk haha) and he said we were welcome to come back anytime. We have been going back in the mornings, just reading the book of mormon with him and sharing the first 2 principles in lesson one, about our loving heavenly father and what the gospel can do for our families.

Every lesson, at least once, tears fill his eyes. He doesnt weep loudly and inappropriatly or say anything as he's crying, but every time we share, something will come to his mind that he wishes he change or get rid of. We have taught him about forgiveness and the love His father in heaven has for him. It has really been an eye opener for me, meeting and teaching this man. and although the first lesson we had with him he said "Just so you know, i'll never come attend your church and i'll never be baptized" , we see hope in this man. And ya know what, sometimes i have no idea why we keep going back, but we do. And every time we do, He and us leave feeling happy and full of hope. And if the only reason we're being guided to visit him, is to just begin his process of change and to gain hope in our Savior... we'll keep going to this small, skinny man named Bonifacio, who smokes and laughs his croaky laugh during every lesson that we teach :)

It was a great week and I'm excited for this week as well. The weeks are cruising by like they never had, and I just feel happy. I don't know how to explain it, except that its just a good, full, sense of happiness. I love the sisters serving in this zone, I love my housemates, I love my companion so much, the people we teach are so awesome, and the progress and miracles we see everyday are just beautiful.

I love you family, and I know you're all counting the days until I come home. Almost every email of yours this week started out with how many days or weeks until i come home haha. I love you all and am so excited to just hug each one of you and tell you I LOVE YOU right to your face!!!!!!!

-abbey