It is already P-day again and I’m really not sure how.  I only have 10 days left of training!  Actually I’m really sad because I absolutely love my trainer.  She is the best and so helpful and so patient.  And in lessons if I don’t know what to do I can just rely on her.  Unfortunately it’s about time to grow up.  :(  I really don’t like transfers.  It’s so stressful.  Lots of chicka chicka going around about who will be sent where and who will be doing what.  Nothing is for sure yet but our area right now is an Elders area so they have been discussing moving us out and putting Elders there.  Ew.  I would hate that. But it’s up to President Tye and we’ll all know soon enough. 

       I ATE BALUT THIS WEEK!  It really wasn’t bad.  Not sure what the big deal was haha.  IT was a little weird and looked gross and you could feel the feathers but not bad hah. 

   Also this Sunday we weren’t going to be able to go home for lunch because we were going to teach Jorge right after church. In the morning we were really wondering how we were going to do it because without food we get super-duper grumpy and plus it was Sunday so we couldn’t just stop and buy a snack.  Anyway we read the verse "think not of what you will eat” and it is so true because sure enough a lunch was provided for us after church!!  I love that verse so much!  Unfortunately though there were no plates or silverware left so they just scooped a bunch of food into a lasagna pan and gave it to us.  So then we each put a plastic bag on our hands and all ate with our hands out of the pan.  Kawawa naman! (pitiful situation)  but it was good cause we were starving! :)

So another drama week with baptisms.  We had four scheduled and actually we planned a stake baptism because there were so many being baptized.  15 from just our zone!  Anyway so it was kind of a big deal and everyone was there and we planned for so long.  And we went to our investigators every night just to prepare them.  Then Saturday we show up to the baptism and the other pair of sister missionaries come out and told us that only two were there.  Turns out the other two had a further concern and just decided to stay home and get baptized another day.  Wow.  I think you can probably guess how happy we were. It was just such a sinking feeling because they were totally ready and they passed the interview no problem.  I think they just got scared or something.  I’m not sure.  But they didn’t even give us any warning.  So there was nothing we could do but continue with the other two.  But those two baptisms were super amazing.  They were so excited to get baptized.  The youngest Ng boy and then a nanay. The young men have been AMAZING at fellowshipping and it has made all the difference.  The youth even came to the baptism and sang a musical number.  I love how supportive they are.  The next day at church Sister Irene.  (the other baptism) told us she wanted to pay tithing and asked us how she could do it!  She is so cute and i just love her.  It was super funny though cause in her testimony after her baptism she said thanks to us but she forgot my name.  So she just said sister Lizada and Sister.....and then continued with her testimony. hahah oh good times.  And my camera battery died too so I didn’t get many pictures before the baptism so I’ll have to try and get them from sister Lizada.

  Also three less actives came to church this last Sunday!! We were so excited we just started crying right when they came in the door.  We’ve been working with them for so long and they finally kept their commitment to come!  It was probably the best feeling ever.  Because when you don’t have investigators or less actives at church it is kind of really a downer.

    We had a heart break this week. Jorge told us he didn’t want to continue the lessons because he has had to postpone his baptism for so long.  He wouldn’t even talk to us hardly and just said he wanted to stop.  We got one more lesson the next day and really prayed and prepared and even woke up early so we could get all of our studies done so we’d have time to go to him.  We went and he was busy so we agreed to come back.  When we did we brought a YSA and one of the young men with us to teach.  He let us in and we had one of the most powerful lessons ever.  You could really feel the spirit so strong.  He actually committed to be baptized on June 21 which is good because yesterday he wouldn’t even talk to us.  It’s just crazy how many trials come when you are striving to choose the right.  I am so thankful that he was able to agree to one more date and i know that if we do the same thing and really strive to put all of our faith in Christ, anything is possible.  I hope you all will remember that.  When you don’t feel like praying or having family scripture study just remember who it is that is making you feel that way.  Remember Christ in your life every day and strive to feel the spirit every day and it will make all the difference.  I love you all so much!  You’re the best! Keep on keepin on!

XOXO from the Philippines

-SISTER VAN TASSELL