Hello All!
Well here I am
in Canada. I've been here for just under a week, and I've already
learned a lot and I am trying to adjust to my new life for the next
little while. I'll start with getting up here, though.
We flew from Salt Lake to Phoenix, don't ask me why, and
had a long layover, so my district set out on our own to find some
unoccupied payphones. There were 32 in our group going to Calgary, so
that took a little bit of time. ;) We went down a couple of terminals
and found a few and started calling home. After 12 days of being
surrounded by people I'd never really known before my missionary life,
it was really nice to hear some familiar voices. I talked to Mom and
Dad for a while, and even got to talk to my great friend, Avonlea. (Who
got her mission call to the Philippines this week! Woot woot!) I wish I
could have said everything I have bottled up to tell them, but that
would have taken a little too long. I guess I'll just have to remember
all of it for a while. ;) I then got to call my big bro at work and get
a few last words of wisdom from him. I'm so grateful to have him, and
my sisters, and my dad, who have all served honorable missions. I don't
know what I'd do if I didn't have at least an inkling of what I was
getting myself into beforehand! After a tearful goodbye, we loaded onto
our plane to Calgary and headed off!
We arrived in Calgary a few hours later and after going
through customs, were met by President and Sister Nicholas and the APs.
They ferried us to the chapel just down the street from the mission
home and we went through all sorts of boring administrative stuff. Then
we got to have some much-needed dinner. After dinner, we had a
fireside and heard from President and his wife as well as bore our
testimonies. It was a really powerful experience. Then, we got to find
out our first areas! We'd had a bit of guessing game before this, and I
had guess that I would be going to the Nelson Branch way out to the
west in BC (British Columbia, for you Yanks.), but I was rather off. I
have been assigned to the Raymond, West area in Southern Alberta.
Basically, I'm back in Utah, but with better weather.
We stayed the night in the mission home, the Nicholas's
are wonderful, by the way, and the next morning, after some training,
separated for our new areas. We drove down to Lethbridge which is where
the Transfer Station for all of the southern missionaries was, and I
got to meet my trainer/"dad". Elder Musselman is from West Valley and
has only been out for two transfers! It's alright, though, I've learned
a lot from him, and he knows what he's doing. He's a great guy with a
really incredible story. I also got to me meet my "granddad", Elder
Sorenson, who is now home in Idaho.
Anyway, after some words and singing "O Canada" (great
song), we went and did a little grocery shopping, then Elder Musselman
and I were off to Raymond!
Raymond is a great town.
The population is something like 4,600 with 4,100 of those being members
of the church. Needless to say, we've been visiting quite a few
less-actives. The town is on a grid, just like every other Mormon town,
and is about eight blocks by eight blocks. The stake center is just
down the street from our house, which I'll tell you about in a bit, and I
think is the largest church building in Alberta. There are also two
other chapels in town. The town is one stake with nine wards in it.
Pretty insane.
We live with a couple practically right in the middle of
town. They've been gracious enough to let the missionaries take up
their big basement. They house is pretty awesome. It's about 100 years
old and was built for Raymond Knight, who I believe I'm related to, and
was, apparently, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright! For someone like me,
that's pretty amazing.
The work here is progressing, and I'm trying to catch up
to it. We have a couple of investigators with a lot of potential, and
some more potential investigators we'll hopefully be able to work with.
Until I learn more about the people here, I just wanted to tell the
story of a recent convert here named Brandon. The elders found Brandon a
couple of months ago. He and his brother were arguing about something
on the side of the road trying to move a pool table. They were cussing
up a storm and the elders offered to help them. They waved them off,
but Elder Sorenson and Elder Musselman only got a little ways off before
Brandon's brother stormed off, and they returned and insisted. To make
a long story short, Brandon took the discussions, turned his life
around, and was baptized. He just got back from "Moroni's Quest", which
is a youth activity I really wish I could tell you about, and had a
really amazing and spiritual experience. I'm pretty sure he's now
planning on serving a mission,
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a wonderful thing. Nothing
else can bring the happiness and joy and fulfillment that it brings to
people's lives. I am trying my hardest to be a worthy bearer of it and a
worthy representative of our Savior. I know I can be, and I hope I can
become the best missionary I am capable of being. I know I can do it
through Jesus Christ. The work is hard. It's made even harder when you
have a wonderful family just a few hours away, but the work is good.
I can't wait to feel like I actually know what I'm
doing! Hopefully, that will come sooner rather than later. ;) I love
you all so much, and I can't wait to tell you more about this wonderful
part of God's vineyard once I know more.
Love,
Elder Hafen
P.S.-
the weather here in Raymond is pretty wonderful. It gets a little hot
at times, but hot here averages about 90. It rarely gets to 100, and I
love it! Have fun in Sunny St. George!
P.P.S.- thanks for all of the birthday wishes! I really
appreciate them. The members here in Raymond have also been treating
my wonderfully, and a family even made me a part Birthday/BBQ last
night. They even made some lemon cake, my favorite!
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