(Given By Judy August 21, 2011 – 8th Ward)
It is a privilege to speak with Sis. Caitlin Christensen – our families have been very close. In fact Caitlin served in the exact area that my husband Brad Hafen served – we won’t state how many years ago that was! When Brady our third son gave his farewell talk 3 ½ years ago over this same pulpit Bry Christensen; Caitlin’s father spoke with him; when Caitlin gave her farewell address Cody was the youth speaker; so it seems fitting that someone from our family should be speaking along with Caitlin. Bishop you better get thinking about which Christensen will talk with Cody on his welcome home! I want to give Caitlin plenty of time to talk because I know that’s why many of you are here. My subject is very interesting though – I’ve been asked to speak about my son Cody who is serving a mission in Malaga, Spain.
Cody has been serving a very long 6 months now – many of you may think he hasn’t been gone very long, but you are not his mother. We have watched our young son who wore flip flops, T-shirts, shorts and a punk hair cut turn into a man – a representative of our Savior Jesus Christ. We read his letters and feel the spirit and his testimony grow.
Cody had a very humbling experience right before submitted his mission papers. He tore his ACL in the right knee and had surgery. He spent weeks laying in bed reading and watching TV. Because he loves sports he watched sporting events. The Tour De France – in 2010 was won by Alberto Contador of Spain. Cody started saying things like “I love Spain.” He watched The Men’s World Cup – and during this, the TV shows things about the different countries and stories about players. Well Spain won The Men’s World Cup in 2010; and we heard I love Spain and the people, and then “I’m going to Spain on my mission Mom.” I told Cody he was watching too much TV. Cody continued to tell us that he was going to Spain on his mission. When Cody opened his mission call in October; he pointed up towards Heaven and said; “He knows me!” We all knew then that Cody was going to Spain. I posted on Facebook that Cody had received his mission call where he wanted to go. I received a funny - cute comment back from my dear friend Jen Michel – “I didn’t know that missionaries got to pick their missions.” Cody was just lucky and prepared early to fall in love with Spain and its people; it’s amazing how the Lord uses humbling events in our lives to prepare us to further his work.
Cody was gradually immersed into the Spanish culture by starting at the Provo MTC for 4 weeks and then Madrid Spain’s MTC for the next 4 weeks. The Madrid MTC only had 21 missionaries during Cody’s stay so it was very personal. They had the Madrid Temple which he loved; and they contacted in a park each Saturday. The missionaries would sing in the park; the park is so beautiful it’s breathtaking. The Mission President over the Madrid MTC, Pres. Earl is a wonderful man of God. Cody loves him; and Pres. Earl still sends encouragement to him through emails.
Cody’s first area was Huelva. Huelva is very cool in the history books because it is the home of the famous Christopher Columbus. Huelva is on the south east corner of Spain right next to Portugal. Cody sent us pictures of Christopher Columbus’s statue that is in the cities down town. He only stayed two weeks in Huelva; Cody and his trainer were transferred to Caseras. Caseras changed Cody into a man. He served in this area around 12 weeks. When Cody and his companion arrived they only had one investigator; and a tiny branch with only three priesthood holders. The spirit guided them and they ended up working with many investigators and were blessed with two baptisms. The first was a young man around 20 from Brazil. His name is Carlos and he actually approached them. Cody was amazed because the youth that are around their age just yell at them and spit at them. They throw fireworks and other things at them; but not Carlos he smiled at them and they were shocked and then he started talking to them. He was so golden; he was so ready for the gospel. After his second lesson he accepted baptism, went to his pastor and asked to have his name removed from the records. The pastor told him that he could never join their church again, but Carlos didn’t care. Carlos’s girlfriend broke up with him and his friends were mad at him. Carlos didn’t care he knew the gospel was true and can’t wait to be a missionary too. If Carlos goes on a mission it will be the first missionary to leave from the Caseras area. Cody’s other baptism is a woman from Argentina named Liliana. Liliana moved from Argentina to be with her mother; who is a member of the church. It was so awesome to watch her join the church and be able to receive all the blessing that the gospel gives. Quote Cody’s letter: “So Elder Shaver did the baptizing, 3 times! Haaha Liliana didn´t like the water very much she kept popping up! But it was super special and felt so right. The following day Sunday, I GAVE HER THE HOLY GHOST in Spanish. I gave a blessing in Spanish. It was amazing; I gave a child of God His Spirit to have for eternity. I also confirmed her a member of the only true Church of Jesus Christ on the earth. It was a good experience for me but, terrifying. I didn´t even end up saying the things I planned on saying to her, gotta love the Spirit.”
You may have noticed that Cody’s investigators are from different countries. He has not been able to teach one person that is actually from Spain. The people that are prepared and ready for the gospel are from other countries; Africa, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Columbia and Brazil. When Cody left Caseras it was really hard on him. He loved the people and the area. The branch felt like family. He left behind 10 investigators with three of them having baptismal dates.
He just got to his new area almost two weeks ago; it’s called El Puerto de Santa Maria. The area is right on the ocean; it is a very old and very poor city. The people are really easy to talk to and very easy going. This is what else he had to say about his new area that he is very excited about; “The Members!!! You aren´t going to believe this. So there is a military base here!!!! We have close to 25 to 30 members from America!!!!!!! They are super nice and sweethearts. On Sunday we ate on base with The Osmond’s, from Sandy, Utah. I had the opportunity to eat cheddar cheese and black beans. I was soooo happy and it tasted soo good. They live right on the beach it´s super pretty. Oh and there is peanut butter because of the base! So yeah I like the new area, it´s really pretty and I love the accent. Every week we do service; we serve food to the homeless people - that was a fun experience.” So this city is on the ocean and it is tempting for Cody because he is a swimmer! Cody is very blessed to have a wonderful Mission President, Pres. Clegg and a very sweet wife. They are from Bountiful and will be completing their mission this next July 2012. Cody will then have a new Mission President to finish out his mission.
If you want to be able to keep up on Cody we have a mission blog that our oldest son keeps up for him; the address is kcodyhafen.blogspot.com. Cody is our fourth missionary – he is our youngest child; we have loved watching the growth in all four of our children from missions. Our family has received so many blessings from having missionaries. We will miss those blessings, the weekly emails, and the phone calls on holidays when Cody completes his mission. We know Cody has been so very blessed. I’ve always said that when I have a missionary out, that they are my walking testimony; if I didn’t know that this church was true I could never send my children to foreign lands like Russia, Brazil, Ireland and now Spain. I know this church is true; that this church is led by a Prophet of God; That Joseph Smith restored this gospel; that Jesus Christ is our Savior – who died for us so that we can live with Heavenly Father.
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