Week 4

Time is seriously the weirdest concept on the mission. It goes by fast...but at the same time it doesn't! Every day is long, but by the end of the week it feels like only one day. It was a great week here in the Philippines! There was an earthquake but it was really far. Natural disasters here are pretty much no big deal because they happen all the time. I have 31 mosquito bites on my legs. That's not fun and pretty ugly. But good for practicing self control. Pray I dont get danghi! a lot of people get that here. We met an american this week. He was from Hawaii. Kinda interesting. Of course i was so excited! YES. we get to teach an american. oh wait...hes a seventh day adventist. He actually ended up trying to teach us. But don't worry everyone, I definitely asked him if he ever heard the missionary discussions. He said he has a lot of mormon friends but hasn't ever heard from the missionaries. I gave him a pamphlet and talked to him for a bit. Random thing for the week- I heard my fav shakira song! estoy aqui (madeline, rebecca and gab heres a shoutout!) it was so funny! also, I heard faithfully by journey and a depeche mode song. Not going to admit i enjoyed it. definitely not.

We taught a lesson to 23 kids this week. One of our investigators has a one room house and we fit 23 neighbor kids who wanted to listen! Kinda interesting...but we are hopefully teaching their families this week. 9 of them actually came to church. The sweet bread here is so good! We have this one bakery that we aways go to. And we know when the bread is hot and fresh-life literally can't get better than walking to a lesson as a missionary in the philippines, eating tinapay that melts in your mouth. with lechera on top! i love this place. also i had adobo this week! finally. it pretty much blew my mind. people can cook here. the food is so good. i also had sinigan which tastes a lot like caldo. it was really good.

We committed 3 people to baptism this week! rackin up those numbers! hopefully they stay. Our investigators are doing good. And i am hopefully getting better at teaching. This week I learned a lot about following the Spirit when you teach. Our lessons this week were really powerful as we did that. I felt like because I really listened to them and their needs, I learned to love them. I felt that love this week. Coolest feeling ever (: I felt real love for them and want for them to develop testimonies about Jesus Christ. This week I read 3rd Nephi. Always a pleasure. Studying the scriptures is my favorite part of the day, I am learning so much.

 I love being a missionary! Our ward had a fireside yesterday and we did some practice teaching with the members helping them learn how to approach their friends. It was SO good. and we had a great turn out! my ward here is so great. We get so much help and support from them, and they are so strong in the gospel. I am really blessed to work with them.

love,

sister gaspar de alba

me, sister waldrom(my companion), and sister meti! she's literally the cutest ever.

just the usual...walking in the rain! ps- not all our neighborhoods are this pretty!

classic tricycle ride with sister becking. literally...most sisters cant even fit in one with their companion. my head touhes the roof. basically, its like in the aristocats when they use that side car thing. but it has a cover on top. they are so cool!

me and my comp chowin down on some mang inasal- our fav restaurant! unlimited rice. thatswhatimtalkinbout

here's a bunch of sisters in my ward. they are great(:

sister caunin! we work with her a lot. she is an rm and her husband is the first councelor in the bishopric. she is seriously the funniest. love her!