FYI
Published by Elder Brady Lee Hafen under on 8:11 PM
When my Mom read this week's email to me she was really sad, because she said she wrote Brady a big long email. Somehow it got lost in cyberspace. Anyways Mom, we still love you!
Elder Hafen's Areas Served
Pictures
To see some of Elder Hafen's pictures, we have created slideshows at the bottom of his blog. I wish we had more, but he doesn't take very many pictures of himself. So, we hope you enjoy them, and thank you for supporting him. Enjoy :)
New Pictures
There are some new pictures in a slideshow posted at the bottom of the blog. Enjoy :)
Letter from Mission President
May 27, 2008 Letter
Published by Elder Brady Lee Hafen under on 7:34 AM
Jer
Well thanks Dude, for the update and the website. I can look it up on this computer, and since it’s not dodgey, I'm aloud to read it too. I just can’t add to it. I know you said you did not have much time to write, but I'm very glad you did, because mom didn't write me. It’s really sad, because I was looking forward to it. Well let’s see, yesterday we did a lot of talking to people and street contacting. Yesterday I got my first potential investigator all by myself, while Elder Headington just stood there and looked pretty. Which is alright, I'm cool with it. Elder Furlong is a funny crazy elder in my district. He always says, “Whats up Utah?!” He is from Utah, South Jordan I think? Just not sure.
Here is the funny story of the week. On Sunday, Elder Headington and I were walking to church, and I told him I don’t like to get up on the stand, because it gets me all nervous. So, he says, “Well we need to get you out of your comfort zone then. I will talk to the bishop, and have him assign you a talk in church.” I told him, “That’s alright I really don’t want to give a talk.” He says, “Yeah, I think it’s a good idea.” I said, “No.” We kept going back and forth. I finally said, "I’ll have to talk to the bishop, he is a cool guy, and I don’t think he would do that because you are suggesting me to do it. Instead I think he’ll have you give the talk." Well, we get to church and the bishop walks in and we start talking. I apologized for me not being able to be to his B-Q, because I was on exchanges with my district leader Elder Powell. He says that’s alright. Then Elder Headington asked the bishop to have me give a talk, because I need to break out of my comfort zone of being up on the stand! Bishop Bowen looks at me and says, “Thank you for offering. Yeah, we can set that up for you; how about in two weeks, because next Sunday is Fast Sunday?” At this point, I'm in shock. I really didn't think Elder Headington would do it, and I really didn't think Bishop Bowen would say “Yes”. The only thing I was able to squeak out was, "um... uh... okay." So yeah, I now have a talk to give. I'm really hoping to be able to give my farewell talk, because I don't think I could make a real good talk without my mums help. So, anybody with suggestions please let me know…since this will be posted on blogspot.
Oh by the way, the reason I'm sending this on Tuesday is because in Great Brittan they have these crazy holidays called ‘Bank Holidays’. Its basically, the bank decides when it wants to take the day off, and when it does, just about all the other ones do as well. So, when they have them it’s a good finding day for us. The Mission President moves our P-days to some other day; this week Wednesday.
Well, I can't really think of much more to say. “Hello to everyone on blogspot, and I Love and Miss You.” You all should write me letters. I like it when I get letters. They always make me feel better. So, WRITE ME PLEASE!!!! K?!
Love Ya, Bye – Elder Hafen
Well thanks Dude, for the update and the website. I can look it up on this computer, and since it’s not dodgey, I'm aloud to read it too. I just can’t add to it. I know you said you did not have much time to write, but I'm very glad you did, because mom didn't write me. It’s really sad, because I was looking forward to it. Well let’s see, yesterday we did a lot of talking to people and street contacting. Yesterday I got my first potential investigator all by myself, while Elder Headington just stood there and looked pretty. Which is alright, I'm cool with it. Elder Furlong is a funny crazy elder in my district. He always says, “Whats up Utah?!” He is from Utah, South Jordan I think? Just not sure.
Here is the funny story of the week. On Sunday, Elder Headington and I were walking to church, and I told him I don’t like to get up on the stand, because it gets me all nervous. So, he says, “Well we need to get you out of your comfort zone then. I will talk to the bishop, and have him assign you a talk in church.” I told him, “That’s alright I really don’t want to give a talk.” He says, “Yeah, I think it’s a good idea.” I said, “No.” We kept going back and forth. I finally said, "I’ll have to talk to the bishop, he is a cool guy, and I don’t think he would do that because you are suggesting me to do it. Instead I think he’ll have you give the talk." Well, we get to church and the bishop walks in and we start talking. I apologized for me not being able to be to his B-Q, because I was on exchanges with my district leader Elder Powell. He says that’s alright. Then Elder Headington asked the bishop to have me give a talk, because I need to break out of my comfort zone of being up on the stand! Bishop Bowen looks at me and says, “Thank you for offering. Yeah, we can set that up for you; how about in two weeks, because next Sunday is Fast Sunday?” At this point, I'm in shock. I really didn't think Elder Headington would do it, and I really didn't think Bishop Bowen would say “Yes”. The only thing I was able to squeak out was, "um... uh... okay." So yeah, I now have a talk to give. I'm really hoping to be able to give my farewell talk, because I don't think I could make a real good talk without my mums help. So, anybody with suggestions please let me know…since this will be posted on blogspot.
Oh by the way, the reason I'm sending this on Tuesday is because in Great Brittan they have these crazy holidays called ‘Bank Holidays’. Its basically, the bank decides when it wants to take the day off, and when it does, just about all the other ones do as well. So, when they have them it’s a good finding day for us. The Mission President moves our P-days to some other day; this week Wednesday.
Well, I can't really think of much more to say. “Hello to everyone on blogspot, and I Love and Miss You.” You all should write me letters. I like it when I get letters. They always make me feel better. So, WRITE ME PLEASE!!!! K?!
Love Ya, Bye – Elder Hafen
Letter to Brother - May 19th
Published by Elder Brady Lee Hafen under on 1:01 PM
May 19, 2008
Jer,
Buddy sorry in the MTC they did not give me much time to do emails although I don't have much time here either. Sorry I did not send my letter to you cuz I read moms first and the program myldsmail sucks and will not let me send something I already sent.
Well I'm glad life is going good for you, life here has been crazy. All of the accents and words I have to get used to, and mission life. You know me I'm silly and forget things all the time like a dork. Well I have taught already two first lessons, we have 1 investigator who looks very promising her name is Colleen, she is living with a less active member named William, they are going to get married in the church. Colleen is reading the Book of Mormon, she likes it, and they also have a baby. We have just been being friendly with them for the past while. We asked them if they would like to hear the discussions and they said yes. William has heard them already, it looks good we are hoping after they are married and we continue to be nice to them, she will want to be baptized, as of right now like I have said it looks good.
My companion is from Wales, England, and is way cool. I like him a lot, he really knows his stuff and has a lot of scriptures memorized. He bible bashed a born again minister and in my opinion were dead even. The minister had read a ton of anti Mormon literature, you could tell he was getting fed up and went after me. I held for a while but Elder Headington saved the day. We left him with, "Christ said contention is of the devil", it was funny.
After talking to him we talked to a lady and her beliefs where nutty. She believed some guy could fly. I don't know what, but she was so happy and bubbly we just left her because she said she was happy with where she was and we could not persuade her otherwise. So we left her alone.
Love you man, keep up the good work with what you are doing and look for missionary opportunities.
Send this to mom and have her send my last one to you this email set up is crappy. Love you man miss you.
Your Bro – Brady
Jer,
Buddy sorry in the MTC they did not give me much time to do emails although I don't have much time here either. Sorry I did not send my letter to you cuz I read moms first and the program myldsmail sucks and will not let me send something I already sent.
Well I'm glad life is going good for you, life here has been crazy. All of the accents and words I have to get used to, and mission life. You know me I'm silly and forget things all the time like a dork. Well I have taught already two first lessons, we have 1 investigator who looks very promising her name is Colleen, she is living with a less active member named William, they are going to get married in the church. Colleen is reading the Book of Mormon, she likes it, and they also have a baby. We have just been being friendly with them for the past while. We asked them if they would like to hear the discussions and they said yes. William has heard them already, it looks good we are hoping after they are married and we continue to be nice to them, she will want to be baptized, as of right now like I have said it looks good.
My companion is from Wales, England, and is way cool. I like him a lot, he really knows his stuff and has a lot of scriptures memorized. He bible bashed a born again minister and in my opinion were dead even. The minister had read a ton of anti Mormon literature, you could tell he was getting fed up and went after me. I held for a while but Elder Headington saved the day. We left him with, "Christ said contention is of the devil", it was funny.
After talking to him we talked to a lady and her beliefs where nutty. She believed some guy could fly. I don't know what, but she was so happy and bubbly we just left her because she said she was happy with where she was and we could not persuade her otherwise. So we left her alone.
Love you man, keep up the good work with what you are doing and look for missionary opportunities.
Send this to mom and have her send my last one to you this email set up is crappy. Love you man miss you.
Your Bro – Brady
All of Elder Hafen's Letters up to now
Published by Elder Brady Lee Hafen under on 3:21 PM
April 27th
I'm alive do not think I'm dead. this really is me. They let me do email in the mtc its very nice. Sorry I did not call at the airport we could not get the phone card to work, I tried really hard though. The travel was not to bad I lived through it at least. and the mtc is very nice very pretty. We have a pond or river right next to us with these two great big geese that live in it, and the grass is so green. I have never seen such a green color its so beautiful. All of the trees are just budding green things and they have yellow tulips all over the place. My companion is from England and is 21 he is way cool and nice. he exactly how you would imagine a english man tall dark hair pale and yellowish teeth but he does brush them and I'm not forcing him haha but I like him a lot. His name is Elder Chochrin (Cock-rin) he is funny becuse he hates computers so he does not email. Well he grew up in the church all of his brothers have served missions all in the British Iles like him. he lives one hour away from the mtc and makes fun of me when I say words wrong but to me he is the one saying them wrong. He is serving in Leads England which half of the missionaries here are serving the other half is Manchester. then 3 to Ireland, 2 to scottland, and 4 to Germany. we have about 8-10 sisters and around 40 elders.
The first day was fun but all of us fron the usa kept falling asleep from jet lag including me I have fallen asleep in all of my classes at least once for a little bit but they are cool about it right now on monday they said they are going to crack down on it. After classes the mision president made an announcment over the intercame and called me, Elder Gardner, Elder Frass and Elder Wavrik to his office. We are all now District Leaders. That's Right your son is a District Leader on his first day!! Elder Frass and Elder Wavrik are from Germany, Elder Gardner is from England and is going to Ireland with me. so I'm the only american district leader. and most of the missionaries come to me to figure out what's happening because they understand my English best. The sad part is I'm just as lost as they are most of the time. but don't worry I'm okay, I have not got in any trouble yet.
Well I love you, my time is up and I have got to go.
love much
Brady
P.S. If you think gas prices are high at home try 9 bucks a gallon here. that is all converted over to american money and stuff.
May 2nd
Hey everybobdy I'm back, things have gotten pretty hard but I'm hanging in. I went trackting on Friday with one of the Germans, they split me and my companion up for it because the Germans don't speak very good english. This scared me to death because I was not at the top of my game and let a lot of chances I could have had go by. It made me really mad for a while but I'm okay now. I placed several pass along cards out, a restoration pamphlet, and told the first lesson of preach my gospel, but nobody wanted a Book of Mormon. Other things that happened while out; I was told off and told to go back to America because nobody believes in God and that I was wasting my time. I talked a a Jehova Witness, she told me to buzz off, and I had many doors slammed on me.
I'm so use to the English accent now that it sounds normal and I am starting to pick up the differences from the cities. In England they all have a distinct different sound like my companion is from the area where the mtc is so they all sound the same but if you're from somewhere else it's different kinda like the east talks different from the west.
Sunday is different here, we have and hour and half preisthood class then an hour and 30-45 minutes sacrement meeting.
MOM PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THIS I GET TO CALL YOU ON MOTHER'S DAY!!!! I'm still not sure what time I'm calling but I DO get to call.
Thank you for the letter it makes my day each time I get one. Sorry I was planning on having it with me when I wrote it but I left it at home so I will try to answer as many questions that I can remember. Katelyn gave me a tape recorder. is really fun I will send you a tape when I can. the main problem is everything is very expensive here. Sorry I can not remember the other questions I will write a letter to answer them. Katelyn was the one who made the poster when I left.
Well I love you all and miss you I wish I could email more then just once a week but the rules are the rules. and I'm doing my best to follow them and not be a robot. which I'm doing good so far.
LOVE Elder Brady Hafen
boo monster
May 11th,
Hello well I just got done talking to you today it was so nice to hear your voices to bad I could not talk longer I love you guys so much. I have been playing a lot of futball (soccer for you Americans) jk I play defense like before and am loving it! It is so much fun because I'm one of the good players because we americans stink at it. Also everybody says I'm a good defender. Jerame would be proud of me. my shin's are all bruised and messed up they are not pretty, but hey I still play. Also my right ankle has this little ball on it from a goose egg so now I have a cankle. It's pretty nice. So I play with 5 Germans 6 British guys 2-4 sisters and 12 or more Americans and only two of them are good, although we are all improving because we find some way to get to the feild each day other then sunday. I promise we always get permission from the president before doing it! I'm not breaking any rules. We are having a lot of fun with it.
A funny thing thats been happening with me is right now everybody that I'm close with here all think that I'm going to be the next apostle. I don't know why they think this but they all do. So in a devotional we had the speaker say while looking around, one of you could be the next prophet and they all looked back at me and many of them pointed at me. I just sat there stunned and you could see the speaker kinda laugh cuz he saw this happen. The really weird thing is if you look at my blessing it talks about how I will be influentual in the church. I thought it was funny I don't really think I will but it sounds cool. fyi most of the prophets and apostles served in the british isles we have learned this many times. the british are very proud of this fact! Like I said last time I understand almost everybody in England now and they all tell me I will get to Ireland and won't understand any of them. sounds like the airport is going to be fun!
One of my friends from orem high is going to be here at the mtc on Friday I think I will write him a letter for him to read once he gets here and tell him a little bit about what I know of here. Like I said on the phone the mtc has been great and I have loved it here. And the humidity is going to kill me it adds about 100 degrees here. After every hot sunny morning means thunder and lighting storms will follow soon after so if you think utah has weird weather its just as weird here too.
I love and miss you guys next time you hear from me I will be in Ireland talk to you later!
Elder Brady Lee Hafen
May 17th,
Dear Brother and Sister Hafen,
We are pleased to report Elder Hafen has safely arrived in Ireland.
Sister Creer and I are very pleased to have him in the Ireland Dublin
Mission, and look forward to sharing great experiences with him. We
will do all within our power to keep him safe and return home filled
with the Spirit and possessing a stronger testimony of this great
work. We encourage our missionaries to write or email home weekly, so
you should have regular updates on his progress.
We have prayerfully chosen for his first companion, Elder Joshua
Headington from Merthyr Tidfil, Wales. Elder Headington is an
enthusiastic missionary who is dedicated, obedient, and who possesses
excellent missionary skills. We have every confidence that your son
will be well trained and get off to a great start with Elder
Headington.
Elder Hafen's first area will be in the Bangor 1 Ward in the Belfast Stake.
Please address your letters and packages to the mission office
address, which appears below. The mail to the office will be
redirected the day we receive it to the address where your son will be
residing. This assures that post will be delivered to your son
promptly when he is moved to another area.
Please feel free to write Sister Creer or myself if you have concerns.
In the Mission we follow the policy that telephone calls to
missionaries are only permitted from family on Christmas Day and
Mother's Day. Any other communications, aside from the letters or
weekly emails, should be directed to or through me. Please assist us
in following this policy.
Elder Hafen should e-mail you on Monday, the mission preparation day,
with his e-mail address while serving in Ireland. We have attached
pictures of Elder Hafen with Sister Creer and I, and with his first
companion, Elder Headington.
Thank you for sending Elder Hafen. We pray for the Lord to bless you
and your family while he is here.
Sincerely,
Gordon W. Creer
President
Ireland Dublin Mission
Mission Office Address:
Ireland Dublin Mission
The Willows
Finglas Road
Glasnevin, Dublin 11
Ireland
May 19
Hello,
Well I'm now in Ireland, actually I'm in Northern Ireland, the people get offensive if you call it just Ireland. I'm having a wonderful time here; the city I'm at is called Bangor. Its great there are a lot of members in the area. I arrived on Wednesday stayed one night in the mission home-the beds are crap. I got in the big van the next day and drove two hours to a train station and arrived in Bangor where Elder Douglas, our senior missionary picked us up and took us to our home. Our home is pretty nice, but the landlady is trying to sale it. I hope she does not succeed in it. My trainers name is Elder Headington. He is from South Whales (England) it took me awhile to get used to his accent but I have got it now, in fact I can't even tell it anymore. He is way cool and nice, he is 23 and is helping me a ton. I have done a few stupid things nothing to bad yet, but right now I feel like an idiot because I did not bring my wallet with me and this is the day I really need it. Sunday was awesome, they had me get up and bear my testimony and pass the sacrament. We only had one youth on Sunday, so it sounds like we will have to help out a lot. The ward is really strong and fun.
I already have some really funny stories I don't think I have enough time to tell you all of them so I will just tell you the funniest one. We meet with a less active member on Saturday. We have a record of him but really no info other then his name and his address so we decided to go see him. His name is John Brennan, he is in his 70's, nice guy, loves the missionaries, but he is not all with us if you know what I mean. He started to talk about his conversion story and his cats. His first cat was named Samuel Mark 1 and his cat right now is Samuel Mark 2, well he felt that his first cat needed to be baptized so he baptized his cat, did the whole thing. He talked about how white light is evil and all sorts of nutty stuff. I don't even know what else to tell you, this guy was a nut case. He believes the Book of Mormon, but thinks the church is not true anymore and is ran by evil. Nutty oh well!
I'm adjusting well I have just about picked up on the lingo and different words. Today sounds like it will be a lot of fun. Well I'm so glad my friends have still been coming by to see you guys. I miss you and them but the work I'm doing for these people is important. Tell Katie to write me back and do the tape. Tell them to take care of all my stuff and Rascal better not be eaten by her dogs. Her dogs can be devious; I don't trust them. Carlie better give me back that belt buckle, I need that when I watch the new batman once I get home. Well love you-I sent a package home you should be getting it soon. Also I wrote Christina so you need to talk to her. It sounds like you guys are getting along well enjoy life.
Love,
Elder Brady Lee Hafen
I'm alive do not think I'm dead. this really is me. They let me do email in the mtc its very nice. Sorry I did not call at the airport we could not get the phone card to work, I tried really hard though. The travel was not to bad I lived through it at least. and the mtc is very nice very pretty. We have a pond or river right next to us with these two great big geese that live in it, and the grass is so green. I have never seen such a green color its so beautiful. All of the trees are just budding green things and they have yellow tulips all over the place. My companion is from England and is 21 he is way cool and nice. he exactly how you would imagine a english man tall dark hair pale and yellowish teeth but he does brush them and I'm not forcing him haha but I like him a lot. His name is Elder Chochrin (Cock-rin) he is funny becuse he hates computers so he does not email. Well he grew up in the church all of his brothers have served missions all in the British Iles like him. he lives one hour away from the mtc and makes fun of me when I say words wrong but to me he is the one saying them wrong. He is serving in Leads England which half of the missionaries here are serving the other half is Manchester. then 3 to Ireland, 2 to scottland, and 4 to Germany. we have about 8-10 sisters and around 40 elders.
The first day was fun but all of us fron the usa kept falling asleep from jet lag including me I have fallen asleep in all of my classes at least once for a little bit but they are cool about it right now on monday they said they are going to crack down on it. After classes the mision president made an announcment over the intercame and called me, Elder Gardner, Elder Frass and Elder Wavrik to his office. We are all now District Leaders. That's Right your son is a District Leader on his first day!! Elder Frass and Elder Wavrik are from Germany, Elder Gardner is from England and is going to Ireland with me. so I'm the only american district leader. and most of the missionaries come to me to figure out what's happening because they understand my English best. The sad part is I'm just as lost as they are most of the time. but don't worry I'm okay, I have not got in any trouble yet.
Well I love you, my time is up and I have got to go.
love much
Brady
P.S. If you think gas prices are high at home try 9 bucks a gallon here. that is all converted over to american money and stuff.
May 2nd
Hey everybobdy I'm back, things have gotten pretty hard but I'm hanging in. I went trackting on Friday with one of the Germans, they split me and my companion up for it because the Germans don't speak very good english. This scared me to death because I was not at the top of my game and let a lot of chances I could have had go by. It made me really mad for a while but I'm okay now. I placed several pass along cards out, a restoration pamphlet, and told the first lesson of preach my gospel, but nobody wanted a Book of Mormon. Other things that happened while out; I was told off and told to go back to America because nobody believes in God and that I was wasting my time. I talked a a Jehova Witness, she told me to buzz off, and I had many doors slammed on me.
I'm so use to the English accent now that it sounds normal and I am starting to pick up the differences from the cities. In England they all have a distinct different sound like my companion is from the area where the mtc is so they all sound the same but if you're from somewhere else it's different kinda like the east talks different from the west.
Sunday is different here, we have and hour and half preisthood class then an hour and 30-45 minutes sacrement meeting.
MOM PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THIS I GET TO CALL YOU ON MOTHER'S DAY!!!! I'm still not sure what time I'm calling but I DO get to call.
Thank you for the letter it makes my day each time I get one. Sorry I was planning on having it with me when I wrote it but I left it at home so I will try to answer as many questions that I can remember. Katelyn gave me a tape recorder. is really fun I will send you a tape when I can. the main problem is everything is very expensive here. Sorry I can not remember the other questions I will write a letter to answer them. Katelyn was the one who made the poster when I left.
Well I love you all and miss you I wish I could email more then just once a week but the rules are the rules. and I'm doing my best to follow them and not be a robot. which I'm doing good so far.
LOVE Elder Brady Hafen
boo monster
May 11th,
Hello well I just got done talking to you today it was so nice to hear your voices to bad I could not talk longer I love you guys so much. I have been playing a lot of futball (soccer for you Americans) jk I play defense like before and am loving it! It is so much fun because I'm one of the good players because we americans stink at it. Also everybody says I'm a good defender. Jerame would be proud of me. my shin's are all bruised and messed up they are not pretty, but hey I still play. Also my right ankle has this little ball on it from a goose egg so now I have a cankle. It's pretty nice. So I play with 5 Germans 6 British guys 2-4 sisters and 12 or more Americans and only two of them are good, although we are all improving because we find some way to get to the feild each day other then sunday. I promise we always get permission from the president before doing it! I'm not breaking any rules. We are having a lot of fun with it.
A funny thing thats been happening with me is right now everybody that I'm close with here all think that I'm going to be the next apostle. I don't know why they think this but they all do. So in a devotional we had the speaker say while looking around, one of you could be the next prophet and they all looked back at me and many of them pointed at me. I just sat there stunned and you could see the speaker kinda laugh cuz he saw this happen. The really weird thing is if you look at my blessing it talks about how I will be influentual in the church. I thought it was funny I don't really think I will but it sounds cool. fyi most of the prophets and apostles served in the british isles we have learned this many times. the british are very proud of this fact! Like I said last time I understand almost everybody in England now and they all tell me I will get to Ireland and won't understand any of them. sounds like the airport is going to be fun!
One of my friends from orem high is going to be here at the mtc on Friday I think I will write him a letter for him to read once he gets here and tell him a little bit about what I know of here. Like I said on the phone the mtc has been great and I have loved it here. And the humidity is going to kill me it adds about 100 degrees here. After every hot sunny morning means thunder and lighting storms will follow soon after so if you think utah has weird weather its just as weird here too.
I love and miss you guys next time you hear from me I will be in Ireland talk to you later!
Elder Brady Lee Hafen
May 17th,
Dear Brother and Sister Hafen,
We are pleased to report Elder Hafen has safely arrived in Ireland.
Sister Creer and I are very pleased to have him in the Ireland Dublin
Mission, and look forward to sharing great experiences with him. We
will do all within our power to keep him safe and return home filled
with the Spirit and possessing a stronger testimony of this great
work. We encourage our missionaries to write or email home weekly, so
you should have regular updates on his progress.
We have prayerfully chosen for his first companion, Elder Joshua
Headington from Merthyr Tidfil, Wales. Elder Headington is an
enthusiastic missionary who is dedicated, obedient, and who possesses
excellent missionary skills. We have every confidence that your son
will be well trained and get off to a great start with Elder
Headington.
Elder Hafen's first area will be in the Bangor 1 Ward in the Belfast Stake.
Please address your letters and packages to the mission office
address, which appears below. The mail to the office will be
redirected the day we receive it to the address where your son will be
residing. This assures that post will be delivered to your son
promptly when he is moved to another area.
Please feel free to write Sister Creer or myself if you have concerns.
In the Mission we follow the policy that telephone calls to
missionaries are only permitted from family on Christmas Day and
Mother's Day. Any other communications, aside from the letters or
weekly emails, should be directed to or through me. Please assist us
in following this policy.
Elder Hafen should e-mail you on Monday, the mission preparation day,
with his e-mail address while serving in Ireland. We have attached
pictures of Elder Hafen with Sister Creer and I, and with his first
companion, Elder Headington.
Thank you for sending Elder Hafen. We pray for the Lord to bless you
and your family while he is here.
Sincerely,
Gordon W. Creer
President
Ireland Dublin Mission
Mission Office Address:
Ireland Dublin Mission
The Willows
Finglas Road
Glasnevin, Dublin 11
Ireland
May 19
Hello,
Well I'm now in Ireland, actually I'm in Northern Ireland, the people get offensive if you call it just Ireland. I'm having a wonderful time here; the city I'm at is called Bangor. Its great there are a lot of members in the area. I arrived on Wednesday stayed one night in the mission home-the beds are crap. I got in the big van the next day and drove two hours to a train station and arrived in Bangor where Elder Douglas, our senior missionary picked us up and took us to our home. Our home is pretty nice, but the landlady is trying to sale it. I hope she does not succeed in it. My trainers name is Elder Headington. He is from South Whales (England) it took me awhile to get used to his accent but I have got it now, in fact I can't even tell it anymore. He is way cool and nice, he is 23 and is helping me a ton. I have done a few stupid things nothing to bad yet, but right now I feel like an idiot because I did not bring my wallet with me and this is the day I really need it. Sunday was awesome, they had me get up and bear my testimony and pass the sacrament. We only had one youth on Sunday, so it sounds like we will have to help out a lot. The ward is really strong and fun.
I already have some really funny stories I don't think I have enough time to tell you all of them so I will just tell you the funniest one. We meet with a less active member on Saturday. We have a record of him but really no info other then his name and his address so we decided to go see him. His name is John Brennan, he is in his 70's, nice guy, loves the missionaries, but he is not all with us if you know what I mean. He started to talk about his conversion story and his cats. His first cat was named Samuel Mark 1 and his cat right now is Samuel Mark 2, well he felt that his first cat needed to be baptized so he baptized his cat, did the whole thing. He talked about how white light is evil and all sorts of nutty stuff. I don't even know what else to tell you, this guy was a nut case. He believes the Book of Mormon, but thinks the church is not true anymore and is ran by evil. Nutty oh well!
I'm adjusting well I have just about picked up on the lingo and different words. Today sounds like it will be a lot of fun. Well I'm so glad my friends have still been coming by to see you guys. I miss you and them but the work I'm doing for these people is important. Tell Katie to write me back and do the tape. Tell them to take care of all my stuff and Rascal better not be eaten by her dogs. Her dogs can be devious; I don't trust them. Carlie better give me back that belt buckle, I need that when I watch the new batman once I get home. Well love you-I sent a package home you should be getting it soon. Also I wrote Christina so you need to talk to her. It sounds like you guys are getting along well enjoy life.
Love,
Elder Brady Lee Hafen
