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Dear family. 

   The letter this week is short and sweet. This week has been the week of service. We had two service projects. One was breaking out and moving concrete for the wife of our branch president. So that she could plant a garden. The other one was cutting and clearing grass out of this big area.  The problem with that though was that we didn’t have enough machetes and knives and stuff for all of us to actually be able to work. So the elders basically did the work and the sisters messed around and took pictures. It was fun thought because it was really pretty.  And we got fresh coconuts straight from the tree.  It was so tall and the guy just climbed all the way to the top. No problem. It was crazy.  But it was a pretty awesome experience. Also the grass that got cut had to be burned and it was all still green so when we burned it, it was SUPER smoky. So when we got done our eyes hurt and we all smelled pretty bad. But it was a really good time. 

  What else happened this week?  I lost my voice.  There is probably nothing worse than losing your voice here on the mission. Because you feel absolutely fine but you can’t teach.  So it’s hard and you feel bad for not working but honestly even if you do work...the investigators don’t understand so it’s pointless.  I sounded like a mad for an entire week. And I couldn’t hardly talk for like 3 days. Everyone told me that I shouldn’t drink cold things but I really wanted to cause it was hot and cold things taste the best. So I did. And maybe that’s why I was sick for so long.

   Another fun experience....we ran out of gas at our apartment so we didn’t have a stove to cook on. We used the rice maker to boil water but mostly we just ate out because we didn’t really know where the place to order gas was.  We lasted almost a week.  Finally the elders felt bad enough for us that they came and found the store for gas and got it reordered. It’s probably a good thing but I think we could have probably survived for a little while longer :)

     As far as the spiritual experience this week...I guess I’d just have to say that it was being able to teach again after losing my voice.  It’s amazing to feel the spirit of teaching.  That sometimes we get into the rut of just being used to the same thing happening over and over again but when we stop for a minute and go back we realize the blessings that are coming. It’s really amazing to be able to spend the whole day just teaching and bearing your testimony.  It’s worth the hard times and worth the struggles.  And I hope I’m being the kind of missionary that Christ would want me too. So remember to always take out the time from your day to look at the little blessings in your life.  They are there. I promise :) I just wanted to send this picture that I took the other day. Every cloud has a silver lining and it’s up to us to be sad that the sun is going down or hiding behind the clouds or to be happy and see the beauty in the sunset and the silver lining.  It’s our choice :)

Love you all so much.  You are the best and I love you all. Make this week awesome! 

XOXO Sister Van Tassell