Well I had my first real transfer!  It was pretty eventful that’s for sure. Everything went as planned and I’m here in Silang A. They call it heaven here because it is cooler than all the other areas.  Actually it is cold!  I have to sleep under my fuzzy blanket and wear a jacket in the mornings. I was actually shivering.  And you’ll probably hate me when I tell you this but it was only 77 degrees.  And we were freezing!! And the cold showers are like death.  We’ll start from the beginning.  So as you know I HATE packing.  It’s kind of the worst thing ever.  So I put it off until Tuesday night...bad idea.  All the ward knew that I would probably be transferred on Sunday so I said a lot of goodbyes then.   Bishop called me up and made me give an unprepared talk just because I was leaving.  It was scary but it went well.  I just talked on faith and that’s not too hard.  But then it was just saying bye to everyone which was SUPER sad.  I didn’t cry though. Ok I did but not when people were around.  I’m going to miss them all soooo much it’s crazy. I hate how close you can get to people in just a few months. But time to go, time to grow.  Before I left I had dinner at a bunch of member’s houses.  The best part was at President Arganas house.  I went to their house my first night on the mission and then my last night right before I left.  It was really fun because we got to see how much had changed.  My first night I was super shy and quiet and was in awe at the lizard on the wall.  The last night we were loud and eating a lot and lizards are no big deal.  Gotta love it.

Then I went home and began the packing adventure.  It was awful.  I fell asleep on my suitcase at 4 in the morning and slept for a few hours and then woke up and finished.  There was so much stuff that had built up over the course of 6 months! I left a bunch of stuff at my last apartment and shoved the rest in where ever it would fit.  My bags were ridiculously heavy.  The elders came and helped us pull our bags down the hill but we had to take it from there.  It was tough and we had to pay quite a bit of money but we made it safe and sound to the mission office where all of the missionaries gather and talk until we are kicked out.  We were lucky this time though and we got to eat the leftovers from the new missionary meal.  FREE FOOD! YAY, then we were sent on our way.  The senior couple drove us to our new area because there was a lot of luggage and we asked really nicely.  We were squished in a truck but it’s better than on a jeepney.  Me and Sister Ma’u and Sister Ortile.  They are both really cool.  It’s different to be in a trisome but it’s got its advantages. They both speak Tagalog a lot so it’s giving me the chance to practice. Which I need.  We are kind of shotgunning again.  Sister Ma’u has been in the area for a week cause she got transferred in early.  So that’s all the experience we have.  It will be fun.  This area is the biggest in the mission. It is weird here because there is fresh air.  I had almost forgotten what fresh air was like.  But it’s nice! We went to church and it’s a lot different.  A lot smaller but still nice.  There was no air con so that was a bummer.  And there was no pews.  Only plastic chairs.  But the members are nice.  I’m so thankful that the church is the same no matter where you go.  It has really given a whole new meaning to the scriptures that talk about Christ being our rock.  Because moving to this new area was hard for me.  I was homesick for my last area…not nearly as bad as my first time here.  But it was hard.  But then when you go to church you get that same Spirit and that same love that you get at home.  And it helps you make it through.  It’s a day by day process but then you look up and so much time has past and you can really see how much you have grown and how much you have changed.  A mission is really hard but when you look back it is worth it.  And now it is scary to think about going home.  But all you have to do is make it count and then no matter what happens you’ll be happy and you won’t have regrets.  Well I love you all!  Hope to hear from you next week! Take care always!

XOXOXO from Silang 

Love Sister Van Tassell