Proverbs 28:25-this is why the good missionaries gain weight

Hello everyone!  I can’t believe that it has already been another week.  The days are long but the weeks are short is like the truest statement ever.  I’m getting slowly into the rut of not knowing what to write. The struggle is real. But don’t worry.  I will overcome it and push through and find some good bits of my week to write about.  Let’s seeeeee...

  Ok well I guess the best place to start is from the baptism.  Which is always a highlight.  We baptized Willy this week.  We really really wanted to get his wife and daughter baptized with him but his wife wanted him to go first and his daughter isn’t finished with the lessons yet.  So hopefully this month he will be able to baptize them both.  That’s our goal.  The baptism went good.  No crazy water shortage or having to run to the next town.  It was a normal baptism.  So that was good.

   This week we had the opportunity/assignment of going to the two girls that turned 8 years old this month and talking to them about baptism and helping them feel ready for their interview with bishop. We loved doing it cause we got food at both houses. And it was good food too.  And I also enjoyed it because it’s fun to talk to kids cause kids are the best.  It just reminded me of how shy I used to be though. One of the girls was super-duper shy and did not want to talk to us.  And so we kept trying and trying and she finally just broke down and was sobbing so hard and just really stressing out.  But that’s when sisters can do their magic.  So we got her calmed down and to a point where we could talk and finally she warmed up to us and we got her to answer some questions too.  They are both adorable and I’m super glad we got to work with them both. Their baptism is next Saturday so were going to attend.  Which I’m super excited about.  Except for the fact that I have to play piano there.

  Speaking of piano.  I’m not sure if I’ve said this before but I’m not positive that Bishop is forcing me to share my talents.  I told him that no matter what I’ll say yes if he asks me to do it but that doesn’t mean that it’s going to be good.  Unfortunately he just said if you try your best that’s all that matters.  This Sunday I played for sacrament meeting again and he let me choose the songs which was legit!  But halfway through the meeting the girl that is called as pianist comes in and marches right up to the piano and sits down and motions to me that she can play the rest.  I was sooooooo mad! Because the one time that I got to choose the songs and I got to play songs I actually know, she comes and tries to take over.  Haha I’ll bet you’re all thinking I’m crazy because I was stressed that I had to play and then mad when she took over.  There’s no winning.  There’s only charity and patience.  And all those wonderful Christlike attributes that im struggling to build up over here. I’ve really noticed that whenever I pray for an experience to build my Christlike attributes I really really see the struggles and challenges coming in that work on that attribute.  Like I prayed for hope the week of the typhoon.  And I prayed for faith this last week when I really needed to have it.  It’s like someone in the mtc said one time.  She told us that she loves when hard times come because she has such strong faith in the promise that there is never a trial that we cannot overcome if we lean on Christ.  And she said that when trials come she knows it just makes us stronger and we’ll be able to easier deal with the next trial that comes.  It’s true.  Even though trials are never fun.  Each experience helps us get stronger and stronger.

    In our district meeting we were talking about the enabling power of the atonement and one of the elders commented that before the mission he had to do a fundraiser and go around door to door and sell stuff.  He told how he hated it so much and after about 30mins he gave up. But then we related it to our missionary work.  We go out all day and talk to everyone and a lot of times people don’t really want what were "selling."  And it’s super hard to keep going throughout all the hard times.  And there is no way that we could do this on our own. But Christ gives us that extra strength.  In personal study this morning i found a verse that said something about being renewed every day.  And I know that in our lives we really have to have that faith in Christ so that he can renew us every day and give us the strength we need to get through.  Not an over flow of huge blessings.  But if we keep our eyes open we can see his miracles and his tender mercies every day.  I love that I can build my faith on the testimonies and stories of others.  I love hearing about all of your stories from home and seeing the blessings that come from relying on the lord and on the gospel.  I love you all!  Keep on keepin on and I will too.  Make every day count :) 

XOXOXOXOXOX from Muntinlupa!

Sister Van Tassell

PS: I AM AT MY 6 MONTH MARK.  <----(caps means I’m excited) hahah :)