And the thunder rolls....but the typhoon doesn’t strike. It’s boring without a typhoon hah

Hey everyone.  What’s up?  So this week was really good.  A little off on the numbers because of transfers coming up but were doing ok.  We had a baptism! That is always a highlight 

We baptized Sister Liza.  Her husband, who we baptized a couple weeks ago, got to baptize her.  It was super cute.  She is so cute.  She is super terrified of water. She had never gone all the way under water before so she was really nervous. She was like ahhhhhh when she went in.  And then after she was just laughing.  It was awesome.  One of the things I love most is when you see your investigators becoming more strong in the church.  Like I don’t know.  It’s amazing to see them be able to share the gospel and to explain things on their own.  And it just makes me so happy and proud of them.  Especially the ones that are just super strong in their testimonies.  It’s amazing to see the changes happen.  I don’t know.  It’s just hard to explain.  I guess you’ll just have to go on a mission and see for yourself :)

      Church this week was an experience.  We had a pretty good turnout.  One of our new less actives...we just found them...came to church. So I played the piano and then ran back to sit by them so they didn’t feel all awkward.  Anyway so then I look up to the front and bishop is trying to tell me something. And I didn’t really get it but then they announced that they would like to invite me to speak.  Which was NEW to me! And very scary. I just had time to grab my scriptures and walk up to the front.  My mind was superrrr blank but I knew I knew where a scripture about faith was so I just went with it.  I think I only talked for like 5 minutes but that is pretty amazing for no prep.  Gotta love it.  I just love my ward.  I’m excited to hear what will happen at transfers but I’m worried that I’m going to leave M2.  They are the best!

   So today it was really funny because sister Heisel was showing me a picture of her friend in Thailand. And in the back of the picture it had a sign that was in Thai.  Which if you don’t know....is REALLY HARD.  Anyway it just got me thinking about the miracle of missionary work.  There are some really hard things that we are expected to do.  There are some nearly impossible things.  But for sure there is a reason and a way behind every trial and every experience we are giving.  I told Sister Heisel that just looking at that Thai made me want to just cry for her friend because I couldn’t even imagine how hard it would be.  I mean I came here and English is SUPER common.  I couldn’t imagine if it was a new alphabet and no English.  I think I was sent here because I needed a little English to survive :)  But it really does amaze me every day.  The help that you can receive when you are doing the Lords work. For me it has been the ability to go on splits.  Now I’m not sure if splits are a scary thing to you but to me it was kind of like death.  I have to go with a member who may or may not speak very good English or who doesn’t always know how to teach.  And I am seriously not that great in the language.  But yesterday we went on splits and I went to a lesson and after it was over, I looked back and realized I just taught a lesson in decent Tagalog.  And I even addressed a concern. And I don’t know. It’s amazing. It’s one of the little miracle we see every day. I have to admit that sometimes I do miss home and I talk about all of you A LOT.  But when I start thinking about my time left...I get a little sad.  I don’t want to think that I have less than a year.  Oh the things that change on a mission.  

    Alrighty once again I’m at the end of my time and I have to sign off.  Sorry that there is no pictures this week.  My memory card got a virus so one of the elders is reviving it for me.  Thank goodness for people in the world that are smart with computers....shout out to Hayley haha.  Because I am not.  But anyway more pictures next week.  Can’t wait to hear from you all again. Love you.  Keep on keepin on. 

XOXOXO from Muntinlupa 2nd!

Sister Van Tassell  :)