Cause youre gonna miss this....

Hey everyone!

I like how Jenna did it and just sent a picture. That’s what I want to do this week. But I guess I’ll write a little bit so that you don’t get mad at me! Hah so this week was hot. Like so hot! I’m trying to love it because I know I’m going to miss it when I get home but it is a little rough haha. I know that it doesn’t seem that hot..just 90s but I think it’s just the humidity that gets you. 

So this week we focused on finding. Because obviously if no one is progressing you have to find new people. So we talked to just about everyone that we saw. We got a lot of nos and a lot of people who wouldn’t even look at us.  But there were also a lot of people who listened.  Even if it was just because I was white…it was still nice.   But at least we see the success coming from our efforts.  On exchanges I got a referral but I didn’t think it was in our area so honestly I didn’t think much of it. But then yesterday I finally noticed that it was in our area so we went to contact them. And surprisingly they were super excited and willing to listen to us. They are just looking for a way to make their family happier and we told them we had the solution haha. The dad even joined the lesson half way through and committed to go to church and said the closing prayer.  Which was pretty cool because by the way the kids acted we got the feeling that he wasn’t into church too much. But we are going back to them on Wednesday so well see what happens.

Also we were finding and talked to this girl and she just asked us out of the blue if we could teach her and her family. Of course we agreed and ended up teaching their whole family about the plan of salvation.  Then the next day we saw the dad and he told us that the mom had died that morning (she had cancer).  We were so sad because of course it was such a shock. But we are hoping that through teaching them we were able to give them the comfort they need to get through this trial in their lives.  I just hope that they are doing ok. Cause they were the nicest family.

And last but not least.  We taught the husband of one of our recent converts this week.  He doesn’t want much to do with church to say the least. He doesn’t pray and he doesn’t like us telling him to pray. He’s a little offish but he let us teach him. So we tried really hard to be nice and loving and try and teach in a way that he would understand/accept.  We decided not to try and commit him to do too much because we didn’t want to scare him away haha. So we committed him to read one verse in Alma and come to church for one hour.  (he came to church a long time ago but got so bored and never came back)  So we said ok brother, 1 verse and 1 hour.  And when we got to church on Sunday he was there!  He didn’t stay for the whole 3 hours but at least he kept his commitment.  I was stoked. Oh the little things that make the biggest difference.

So even though this week was a little bit of a struggle…..we did see a little bit of success.  And sometimes the little things make the biggest difference.  And the lesson I learned this week is to find the happiness in every day.  And do all things out of love. And if you do that…you should have a pretty good week.

Love you all!

XOXO from Noveleta

--Sister Van Tassell

These are some pictures of some of the graves for the wealthy people in the Philippines.

Sorry no pictures again this week.  I have to get my SD card fixed

Ok I’m going to put my focus on this letter so I can get it done fast.

       So as you all know I’m in my new area. And I was so excited to be here cause it reminds me of my first area. But then I got to know my way around and it’s basically not progressing at all. People listen to us because I am white and then the next time we try and teach they hide in their house or don’t let us in.  So I will admit that this week was a real struggle for me. Because I know that there is a reason for every area I am put in and every companion I am put with…but sometimes that reason is a little difficult to find.  And then you get closer to going home and you have the added temptation of getting lazy and saying oh I’m almost to go home so let’s just not work as hard.  Or the area is dead so maybe I’ll just try and enjoy myself this week. But then I think that there is absolutely no point in being here if I act like that. I might as well get on a plane and go home. But since I can’t do that….I might as well stick it out and work hard while I can :) And I’ll see if I can keep up the good attitude for 10 more weeks haha.

But on the other side of things...Cool things that happened this week:

1. We found a guy with the last name Celestial! We were super pumped to teach him but unfortunately his wife doesn’t want us there.  So maybe next time haha.

2. We were walking down a street and then I just thought of going to one of our OYMs and it turns out that they were at their house and willing to listen. So we were able to teach.  And the coolest part is that when I mentioned it to my companion she automatically said ok, let’s go…maybe its revelation.  So I was impressed with her willingness to turn around and walk right back where we came from even though we didn’t have an appointment there.

3. I had a dream of teaching a family.  I’m not sure if it’s a family that we are going to find (I hope so) or just a sign that missionary work is really my life now.  That I even dream about it.  Either way works for me haha.

      So I have to say that even though this was a little bit of a rough week….im glad that there is always a bright side.  Sometimes I sit around Sunday night and think about what I’m going to write and a lot of it is the down side of things.  But then I get to the computer shop and type it out and it usually doesn’t sound too bad haha.  I read a really cool story about a girl who had to get chemo and she said that she couldn’t go 6 more times and that it was just too hard.  But then her mom asked her if she could go today? And she said yeah I think I can make it through today.  And then her mom told her how she had to do it one day at a time.  We can’t do it all at once.  But we CAN do it one part at a time.  That’s what I love when I look back at my mission so far.  There have been things that at the beginning I couldn’t do. (speak the language, have patience haha, etc) But as the days and months pass I find myself learning how to do the things that I couldn’t do at the beginning.  Slowly and surely. One word at a time. But after a year you look back and see how many words have added up and how you can have a conversation.  And that is what we have to keep us going.  So don’t be afraid to look back…only if it is to see how far you have come. J

I love you all and I’m so thankful for your support. You are the best. Keep on Keeping On!

XOXO from Noveleta

--Sister Van Tassell

SKYPEEEEEEEEEE:)

Heyy everyone!  So I’m in my new area..>Noveleta.  And my companion is Sister Picar.  Sorry we don’t have a picture together yet.  Next week na lang.

        Well this weekly letter will be short.  I just thought I’d share a little experience of our transfer day this week. So transfer day for me is a crazy experience cause I have a LOT of stuff and that means my bags get pretty heavy.  And heavy luggage is bad enough but it is even worse when you have to transport it on busses and jeepneys. So I always pray for a miracle on transfer day.  So that is my short story this week...about my transfer day miracle.   

       So we rented a jeepney to take us to transfers because we all had so much stuff.  And one of the members was the driver so he gave us a good deal.  Anyways we got to Molino and I was super super stressed cause I had no idea how I was going to get all my stuff home. Cause it was just sisters and no elders.  So then I just decided to ask the driver if he would take me.  And he said yes.  Even though it was super far out of the way. So he took all of us and our bags right to our house.  And the elders took them inside.  So I basically did transfer day without having to lift my bags by myself even once.  It might not seem like a big deal but for me it was. And I know God listens to all of our prayers and helps us our physically as well as spiritually :)  Even with heavy luggage!  

      Well Happy Mother’s day to all of you mothers out there!  We love you and I know that I appreciate my mom a lot more especially now that I’m living far away from her.  Especially after I hand washed my own laundry this morning haha.  So I love you mom!  Take care everyone and well talk to you next week!

 XOXO from Noveleta!

--Sister Van Tassell

Well now that I got the call I can officially say that I only have one more transfer call left of my entire mission.  That is as long as nothing crazy happens like emergency transfers and stuff like that.  I’m getting transferred to Noveleta which I really don’t know that much about but I do know that it is close to the ocean. But not really the pretty ocean. The dirty part. But I will survive. My companion will be Filipino again and they say she is a really good cook so there you go.  I will keep you updated as time goes on.

Let’s see.  I guess I’ll tell you a positive of what happened this week.  We had a really cool experience with our investigators. So we have noticed that in this area we have been blessed with receiving referrals that are very prepared for hearing the gospel.  For example.  We taught Word of Wisdom to three of our investigators this week.  Two of them had really bad problems with the word of wisdom before. They drank coffee a lot!  But about a month before we started teaching them...they both went to the doctor and the doctor told them that they had to stop drinking coffee (for health reasons).  But still that is legit because now they have seen the improvement and are willing to stop drinking coffee forever! :)

And then the other one that we taught is super receptive of all the lessons.  Yesterday we went to pick her up for church and while she got ready her nephew was making coffee. And she saw and she went off on how coffee was bad for him and how he shouldn’t drink that or tea and that he needs to drink milk or hot chocolate instead.  It was super cute. And then one other time.  We were in the lesson and we were talking about prayer and she said that she realized that we don’t have to do sign of the cross because Jesus never did sign on the cross.  Me and my companion about fell out of our chairs cause we had never mentioned anything about this to her and yet she had really seen the importance in following Christ.  We brought her a skirt to wear to church and it was the funniest thing. She thought it was so weird to be in a skirt and she felt so awkward walking by her friends cause she never wears skirts.  She reminds me of Hayley cause she is so dang funny and always makes us laugh so hard.

Also one cool story...maybe I already told you this. But our most progressing investigator now is a part member.  Her husband is a returned missionary that went less active because of work.  We found her by OYMing on the street and we actually taught her neighbor.  We met her cause she listened to our lesson through a little window and we noticed she was interested so we talked to her afterwards.  Then we found out about her husband and started teaching her. Now her husband comes to church every other week when he isn’t working and she comes even when he doesn’t come.  She has such a good testimony and I love teaching her cause she is always so eager to listen to us.  She told us how she never allows other missionaries to teach her and she isn’t sure why she let us teach her but she says even though we are young we make her feel comfortable and she doesn’t want us to leave.  That’s why it’s hard to transfer.  I guess we always have to go but I want to see her get baptized.  I worry about leaving her and I’m going to miss that family so much. It’s so hard to get close to people but I guess that’s a big part of why I’m here. And if everything works out then their family can be completed and hopefully, after a year, go to the temple together.  That would make my life.

Sorry I’ve gone on about my investigators for this whole letter. I guess that’s what is on my mind right now.  Next week I’ll let you know how transfers goes. It’s getting so close it’s crazy. Just got to try and keep the FOCUS.  Love you all. And I’m always praying for you, mahal na mahal ko kayo!

XOXO for the last time from Trece

--Sister Van Tassell

You are braver than you believe…        4/26/15                            

It’s going to be a little on the shorter and sweeter side today so I hope you all don’t mind.  It’s one of those times that I procrastinated the hour of writing my family email until the end and now I’m paying the price haha. Cause soon I’ll have to log off and the day will have come when no work can be performed. haha good times. And missionary humor.

Ok so this week was awesome because we had Sisters Day! Which is the best thing ever.  It’s just basically like a relief society activity and a chance for all of us sisters to relax and chat with other sisters and learn ways to improve the work.  I love, love, love that they allow us to have sisters day cause it’s true that sometimes us sisters need to have those kind of activities in order to keep us sane.  Poor Elders.  But yeah we had a good time. We got to do crafts and had a catered lunch. And the best part was Sister Tye talk for us. She talked about the quote from Winnie the Pooh that I attached at the bottom. She said that we just have to remember that there will be hard times and there will be times when we want to give up but to always stay strong and not melt under pressure. And remember that quote.

That was the main thing that happened this week. Not too much else. We got some referrals from our recent convert who are pretty awesome! We are getting excited for them because they are so interested in hearing the message. We are teaching one part member family and they are just so awesome. We asked the wife if she knew whether or not the Book of Mormon was true and she said "YES!" We were a little surprised at her enthusiasm but we asked why. And she just went on to tell us how she sometimes has problems with getting super nervous and she doesn’t know why. But whenever that happens she has started reading the Book of Mormon. And it just brings peace to her and she is able to relax and forget about the nervousness.  So that was a really cool testimony builder.

We also visited a newly contacted less active and asked her in the lesson if she knew whether or not the Book of Mormon was true.  Her answer was also a "YES!"  She went on to say that if it wasn’t true then she wouldn’t have joined the church and she wouldn’t have changed her life.  I loved her short little testimony because it’s something maybe we forget. That the Book of Mormon is true and therefore the church is true. It’s that simple. We shouldn’t stress about the little things cause it’s like I think Jeffery R Holland said... We already know the score of the game. We know who will win and who will lose. It’s up to us which jersey we will wear. So don’t stress the little things. Just be consistent and know that it is true. And that little testimony will carry you through.

That’s all for this week.

Love you all! See you in less than 100 days hahah.

XOXO from Trece

Sister Van Tassell