So for some reason I feel like I have not much to say this week, but I guess I said that last week and then I rambled on for a while. The most exciting thing that happened this week was that we committed one of our investigators for baptism! She is the cutest. Her husband is a member but hasn't been to church for a long time. I guess one day last transfer she called up the sisters and asked them if she could get baptized. Awesome! So we have been teaching her and we committed her for March 13th. Of course, she has to quit smoking, but this is not as bad as BB in my last area. He had smoked for a much longer time than she has been smoking, and he smoked a lot more. So I have faith in her! She loves the gospel and the way she feels when we talk about it. I am excited about that!
Besides that, I found out that some people in my last area in Liberty are getting baptized! It's pretty much a miracle. Way back at the beginning of my mission we started teaching a lady who lived with her mom and stepdad. She didn't want to continue learning after a couple of visits for whatever reason, but one night we went over to try and contact her and she wasn't there but her dad was. We asked if we could come talk to him, and he let us (this was back in November or December). So we started teaching him, and continued to see him every once in a while, then last transfer me and Sister Jacobs were about to give up on him because he wasn't coming to church or reading or doing anything. We got him to promise us that he would come to church if we made him breakfast, and he promised. And he came! And he brought his wife, who had heard some not true things about the church. So that happened my last Sunday in Liberty. Then I got a call the other day that they are getting baptized!!! And probably their son too. And their daughter, the one we were teaching originally, came to church this week! Apparently they have changed a lot and are really excited about it. So we are planning to go up with some investigators this weekend and go to the baptism and then take them to the jail and do a tour. I really hope it all works out, because it will be amazing!
Well those are the exciting things that happened this week. Thankfully we have missed a lot of the snow (so far) that has been going on in the area lately. There has been some ice, but not too bad. I am just excited for the day when I don't have to wear a thousand layers, a huge coat, and especially boots. I want to throw those things away. But it is coming soon! And I'm sure then it will get so hot I will be wishing for winter again. But probably not.
My dad wanted some more details about my companion and area. So my comp. is from Orem, she didn't go to BYU...let me do a short survey.
Q. What is your favorite color?
A. Lime green
Q. Who is your hero?
A. A mix between Spider-man and Teancum. Let's call him Spidacum.
Q. If you could be any animal what would it be?
A. A wolf. Because they are beautiful...and frightening.
Q. What is your favorite thing about Kansas?
A. The people! And how I haven't felt homesick since I've been here.
Q. What is your favorite thing about your companion Sister Hafen? (please limit to one)
A. Like me, she is allergic to fish and country music! And can talk about apostrophes for half an hour. Also she makes me laugh.
As you can see, she wasn't able to limit it to one! Man. People just love me, what can I say.
The area- I don't know how many of you have been in a branch before, but it is different! There are probably about 45 people that come to church each week. Everyone knows everything about each other. All the active people have leadership callings, which is fun. Yesterday it was branch conference and tons of stake leaders were there, and it seemed like they doubled the attendance for the day! We live with the Branch President and his wife- the Chandlers. They are great! President Chandler basically started the branch himself (I will tell that story one day) and he knows every single person in it, including their names, phone numbers, and addresses without looking at anything. Sister Chandler is an amazing cook and seamstress.
Well...oh yeah, I finished the Book of Mormon today! I have mentioned we are doing a 60 day challenge as a mission. We are supposed to finish the last day of February, so I finished just a few days early. It was so cool! I have never read the whole book that fast, and it was awesome. You catch a lot of things you wouldn't otherwise. Doing that has really strengthened my testimony of it. We were in an appointment the other night where we were talking to a man about the Book of Mormon and what it was. He wasn't really criticizing it, but he was kind of disagreeing with it- mainly historically. All I could do was tell him that we can't prove everything about it with cold hard evidence, but that isn't the point. The point is that it is written by men of God and it testifies of Jesus Christ. The point is that by reading that book you will grow closer to Christ than any other book, and it will answer your questions. It will give you comfort. The power of the Book of Mormon can change your life. Just by reading it everyday, your life will change! You will be happier, more loving, and have more peace. I can't explain it, I just know that it works. It has worked for me, and it will work for everyone! One thing that is so unique about our message is that we aren't trying to prove anything. We aren't trying to push anything, or sell anything. We are here to invite. We invite everyone we talk to and teach to do something and find out for themselves. That is what Christ did, and it is what we do. It is hard sometimes when you can just see the potential, and you can imagine how the gospel will bless someone's life. But unless they choose it, unless they do something for it, it will mean nothing to them. You have to work for your testimony! And you have to work to keep it- there is no such thing as staying the same. I know that's true!
Well, I am done! I love you all and hope you are having a wonderful week.
-Sister Hafen
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