You must be in the Philippines when you get bored because there hasn’t been a typhoon in a week

Hi everyone,

   Once again I have left this letter to the end so I’m tired of typing but I know it has to be done haha.  And I don’t have two elders here pressing random keys on my keyboard this time.  So I can kind of focus.  Before I left on my mission I began to realize how elders are really not as mature as we think they are.  Now I KNOW its true haha.  Don’t get me wrong.  Elders are amazing guys.  And they take care of us really well.  But they are only about 19 years old.  So they have their moments.  But that’s part of the fun of the mission.  We played basketball with the elders this morning and it was great fun.  Because we all really suck so it was just messing around.  And getting really really sweaty cause it’s like a billion and a half degrees out here.  Cold showers are heaven on days like today. 

     It hasn’t rained in like a week.  I hate to comment on it.  Because rain is amazing and it cools down everything.  But there are a lot of people here whose houses leak like crazy.  And not just leak.  Like when it rains....patay.  Everything is wet. So I don’t like to wish for it.  Because it’s not good for them.  But the heat is killing me this week.  I couldn’t sleep last night cause it was soo hot and I just sat in front of the fan all morning.  In the summer I was doing ok cause I was used to it.  But we’ve had some amazingly low temperatures...mid 80s...so this is a big difference.  I realized when we get back and have cold and hot running water on demand it’s going to be pretty darn cool.

     This week as our ward had an indoor games competition.  It was super fun and I realized how much I miss board games.  But I kind of got my butt kicked in scrabble.  I won in boggle though which was amazing cause I don’t think I’ve ever won that game before.  Even though the people here speak Tagalog they can still kick my butt in English games.  It hurts a little bit haha.  Also I got a Tagalog word wrong the other day when President Tye was driving us back to our apartment.  And he corrected me.  That hurt a lot.  Cause he doesn’t really speak Tagalog.  So if he corrects you it’s a little sad.  haha nah president Tye is awesome.  He’s the best Mission President ever. 

    I don’t really know what else to write about this week. Not much has happened.  Only the normal teaching.  We actually taught a complete family.  Mom dad and 5 kids.  It was kind of amazing cause that never happens.  But I’m not sure if they’ll progress or anything.  I sure hope they do.  But just the fact that they were all together at home made me super happy.

    We did learn a really good lesson this week about prayer.  Prayer is really cool.  Basically there is some sort of calming power with prayer I’ve decided.  Something about just being able to talk about the things you really need.  And to be able to ask for help.  Also I was reading in 3rd Nephi this morning because I was trying to figure out what to teach for our family home evening tonight.  And I opened to the part about the signs right before Jesus came.  It was interesting to read because of the fact that there was such a lack of faith among so many of the people.  Like they persecuted those who did have faith.  They mocked them and pushed them to the max.  They were even about to kill them.  But you know what.  Those people that did have faith were strong and they believed.  No matter what.  It made me think of the movie Santa Clause.  How the little girl says "seeing isn’t believing.  Believing is seeing."  That is so true.  No matter how many miracles we see, it won’t make any difference unless we have faith.  Because without faith there will be a worldly explanation for every "miracle."  So when you know something is true, don’t be afraid to stand up for it.  Be one that has that conviction and isn’t afraid to show it.  Don’t stoop down because you’re afraid.  Because if you are standing for something that is true. God will give you strength and you can be that example.  I know that God strengthens us in our times of weakness and that if we are willing to stand as an example to be the believers he will be right there standing with us.  "At all times and in all things and in all places" :) 

     I love you all and I hope you have an amazing week! Keep on keepin on. Keep in touch and send me letters!!!! :)

XOXOXOX from Muntinlupa

-----Sister Van Tassell