Hello craziest week of my mission!

Whoa, whoa, whoa!!! Crazy things are happening here in the Philippines. At least for me anyway.

So last Monday we all just sat around in the house anxiously awaiting the transfer announcements. We knew changes were happening but we weren't sure what. We also found out that the transfer for sisters was happening on Tuesday morning, which meant that if I was transferring I would have only a few hours to pack and hopefully say goodbye to the most important people. I was stressing big time about that. So rather than just sit around like the rest of my housemates I went upstairs and started packing. I was sure I was transferring so I just figured I'd get a headstart. Well, then the dreaded call came from the Zone Leader. Sister Tambolero answered and after a short call she sat down, she looked a little weepy. We didn't know why. Then she told us the Seniors were transferring! So that meant that I am staying in Victorias for another transfer!!! And so is Sister Vaipulu!!! So yeah, my companion and the other senior sister transferred. I was so relieved. I just wasn't ready to say goodbye to these people, it was making me sick thinking about it. And I didn't feel like I was done working here in this area either. So I'm really grateful that I am staying here.

So on Tuesday morning we loaded up the other sisters bags onto a Ceres bus and made our way to Bacolod for the transfer. So we were sitting in the chapel and they start naming the new companionships and areas, they get to my area and the AP says "Sister Jackson, mag-Senior na with Sister Legayo". Wait. Back up. WHAT?! I am stepping up to Senior?! Yeah, turns out the other AP forgot to tell my Zone Leader that so I didn't know until the transfer. Elder Stradling asked me why it made a difference if I knew Monday night or Tuesday morning. I told him because I would have thrown up last night and not right there... ( I didn't actually throw up, just in case you're worried). So yeah, I am a senior companion now. I wasn't expecting that because there were only 2 sisters stepping up this transfer and there are older sisters than me in the mission, but I guess that was the revelation that President received. I'm not going to lie, it terrified me. As much as I may have thought I was ready, when the reality hit it was overwhelming. I feel a heavy weight of responsibility. But since then, although I am still terrified, I have felt much more peace and comfort from the Lord. He trusts me or he wouldn't have given that revelation to President, so I'm trying to hold on to that and just learn what I need to be a good senior.

So obviously now I have my first junior companion and she is AWESOME! She is however, the tiniest Filipina sister here in the mission. And I happen to be the tallest sister here in the mission. Clearly, my mission president has a sense of humor as well as a deeply revelatory mind... But it's fun. She is SOOO sweet and humble. But at the same time she is confident, she likes to work, and she has goals. She is driven and she is all about improving. It's like night and day from my last experience. I actually forgot what it was like to have a companion like that. But my last experience was a refining experience which I think was meant to prepare me for the responsibilities I have now. But I'm grateful for a companion who is patient with me, shows love to me, wants to accomplish goals, teaches me many things by her example, and who is fun to be around. Seriously, I'm overwhelmed by how grateful I am.

So in other crazy news... Today just happens to be my birthday! It's crazy to think, and I really cannot believe that a whole year has gone by since my last birthday, that today is my birthday. That today I turn 24 years old... Yuck! I'm so old!!! Hahahahaha, Okay I know that all of you that are older than me just rolled your eyes and probably said something like "okay, you're still just a kid". That's what everyone here says too. "Bata pa ikaw!" That means, "you are a kid still". But I still feel a little old. I'm one of the oldest foreigner sisters here. But it's okay, I've just become everyone of the elder's big sister. I'm okay with that... As long as I'm not there grandma... :)

So yeah, that was my crazy week. It's hard to believe how fast things are going. This last week I hit my hump day... I am now on the downward slope of my mission. That is totally hard to believe. I feel like just yesterday I was in the MTC. On Saturday it's been one year since I graduated BYU. THAT IS CRAZY!!! Time is flying by WAY to fast. But I'm having amazing experiences along the way. Seriously, I can't even explain to you the love that I feel here. Especially from this ward, investigators, recent converts, etc. I really feel like I have a family here. Especially with Sister Jeannette. She's like a mom to me now. It's going to be really hard when I have to leave. Yesterday she gave me this really cheesy, but way cute pink hat in honor of my birthday. I love her. I love everyone here. I don't ever want to leave.

Well I think that's going to be all for now. This is already pretty lengthy, so I'll do updates on people next week. But I'm doing really good. I'm settling in to my new responsibilities. I am studying like mad Christlike attributes of leadership. I'm trying to do what I can to uplift and inspire my companion and at the same time help this are to progress. Of course there are always challenges, but I have the support of the Lord. In fact, since receiving this new assignment I have felt greater power from the Holy Ghost. My language is improving more rapidly, I feel a sense of humbling every day which just contributes to my gratitude. I'm really just doing great. Thank you all for your support and love for me. I can feel your prayers, so thank you so much. I love you all and pray for you all the time!

Sister Jackson