Greetings from the Philippines!

Okay, so this is the slogan of my new area! So I am now in Victorias. For those of you who aren't following my transferring diligently with a map (although I can't imagine that's any of you) this is North of Bacolod City and as you can probably tell from their slogan, they are all about sugar. It is EVERYWHERE! This also happens to be the favorite area of my trainer, Sister Stadler, and so I'm even more excited to be here. I am serving in her ward. It's crazy! We live in what is known as the "mansion" here in the mission. our house really is ridiculous. It's 2 stories and huge and really nice. But I do get to shower with a bucket now, so I feel like a real Filipina. Haha. The area here is more of a city too. La Carlota was pretty big, but this is bigger, or at least it seems bigger and much busier. So I am in a new area, district, and zone. It feels weird, but I'm also excited to be here. The area is a lot more fruitful which is definitely good for the morale. I got here and there is already a baptism scheduled for Christmas day! It will be a great Christmas. There aren't a TON of investigators here, but the ones we have are AWESOME. Seriously, I couldn't believe it when we went to teach them. It was so different. But I am way grateful to be here.

So obviously, if I'm in a new area, I must have a new companion, and I do! Her name is Sister Elwood. She is from Utah, but she also grew up in Washington! She's from Spokane, but I don't hold that against her... :) She's great. She's been in this area for 2 transfers so she knows what she is doing. I have a lot to learn from her. She's a great teacher, she asks great questions and she is TOTALLY invested in the work. I am really grateful for that. I think that we are going to do great things here and I am excited for it.

On Sunday we went to church, obviously, and I got to meet the ward. Yeah, I'm actually in a ward. With a bishop. It feels weird after being in a branch. The ward is great, the bishop is AMAZING. He just has this spirit about him and it's contagious. He is all about the work and he works hard. He actually looks like a Filipino version of that guy who plays Perseus in the OLD Clash of the Titans. I can't remember his name, but Grandma, you will. He even sounds like him. Weird. But awesome! I got to bear my testimony. No talk, thank goodness because of the Primary Program. But next week we are speaking and singing. That should be fun!

I hope that you all enjoyed the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. We got to see it a week later and it was great. It was amazing. I love the prophet and his counselors. You get starved for hearing their voices out here. I hope that the Christmas season is a happy one for everyone. I know that none of you will be so lucky as to be in the Philippines teaching the gospel, but try to have a good Christmas anyway... :) Seriously, I couldn't imagine a better place to spend the Holidays. Of course I will miss you all, but this work is so amazing, I don't ever want to come back. Okay, that's not exactly true, but I do love it here. This week I just got overwhelmed with how much I love these people. They are incredible and so loving.

Well, I think that's it for me this week. I love and miss you all!

Sister Jackson