I don’t know why I always put this letter off until the end because then my hands are super duper tired of typing.  But opposition in all things right hah. Goodness so this week was an adventure.  We’re working on getting totally set in our new area.  It’s really not bad.  We know our way around for the most part so we don’t have to look like total tourists with our map.  We have a baptism coming up on Saturday so that means well be busy.  I really like our area but of course I miss my old ward.  It’s just weird because they are so close but yet so far away.  

   This week we taught some of our investigators.  It was a good lesson but then all of a sudden I looked up and saw the biggest spider of my life.  Right above my companions head.  I couldn’t even focus on the lesson because it was just chillin there and I couldn’t do anything about it.  Thank goodness the lesson was basically over and all we had to do was just close.  This is the same house that has the little boy that enjoys throwing little spiders at me.  There is a lot in his house so he goes and grabs them and throws them at me and thinks it’s the funniest thing ever when I freak out.  His mom always gets mad at him but of course he’s just like any other little boy and does it anyway ha. He’s too cute to get too mad at though.

   What else happened this week? I have an ingrown toenail that won’t go away.  I’m sure you all love to hear about that haha.  Maybe I’m paranoid but I’m also noticing rice cheeks start to set it.  It’s ok though because I love rice.  Actually were getting on a spaghetti trend now.  We eat it like every day!  It’s super good because the sauce here is sweet.  Super different and super hard to explain but it’s yummy.  

  So on Sunday we had Stake Conference.  It was interesting because we all heard it started at 9 so we got there at 830.  Turns out it didn’t start till like 10:15!  But at least we were able to help set up chairs and all that. But then we had put our bags on the benches to save us some soft seats.  Then we remember that were not all supposed to sit together in a group but by that time allllll the soft benches were gone. I was super grumpy that I had to sit on a hard chair for the entire conference but it actually wasn’t that bad.  I’ve gotten used to hard chairs because that’s what most people have here.  Couches are only in some houses.  And even our church has hard benches.  Oh the sacrifices we give for the mission hah.  

      Now for the spiritual part of the letter.  I’ve learned this week that it isn’t always easy or fun to get along with people.  It isn’t always easy or fun to go walking all day long or teaching every single day.  And sometimes you straight up don’t want to get out of bed at 6:30. But the thing is it’s a part of life.  There is always going to be things that need to be done that aren’t easy or fun. This week I was taking to my companion and complaining because it is so frustrating for me to have to teach sometimes because I really can’t get my point across and sometimes they just turn to her and say they didn’t understand anything.  But you know what she told me.  She told me that on a mission we just need to forget ourselves and go to work.  I had never thought about it that way.  I always took that phrase as meaning stop being homesick.  I never realized that sometimes we have to be uncomfortable and really really struggle in order to grow.  And as much as we want to grow we really don’t want to be uncomfortable.  But as were having hard times we just need to remember 1 Nephi 3:7.  super cliché and super well known but read it again. It really hits home.  Because I know for a fact that we won’t be given something that we can’t handle.  I’m not really sure all the time why I’m in the Philippines or why I’m with the companion I’m with but I do know that there is a reason and that I will be stronger for making it through.  So if you’re struggling stop and think about it.  Remember that the hard times are where the best stories come from.  And then put a smile on your face and try harder to see how you are supposed to grow.

I love you all so much and I miss you!  Keep on keeping on!

XOXO from the Philippines

SISTER VAN TASSELL