Transferred? Seniors don't get transfers

Just as we were getting comfortable and making lots of friends in the Dumaguete District, our mission was expanded to serve two districts north on the same island, Negros, which are Cebuano speaking.  Don't know why exactly the districts were assigned to our mission  - the previous mission, Bacolod, is an Ilongo speaking mission  and their missionaries had to learn another language when they served here.  But we are excited to serve in this part of the Lord's vineyard that looks like a National Geographic documentary!!
We have 38 missionaries here serving in two zones.  
The area is much more "bukid" or mountainous than our area in Dumaguete although some of that is bukid as well.
We have elders serving and living up in the mountains.  One companionship lives in the house where the church meets - the living area is where sacrament is held.  The elders live upstairs and only use the downstairs for the kitchen and comfort room.  It is a beautiful place and much cooler temperatures at that altitude.  These first three pics are from that area called Cabangtasang.

Area where the elders took us to meet members and teach investigators very near their home.

Caribou on rice terraces at Cabangtasang

Flooded rice terraces.

The rice terraces are hundreds of years old here.  We see them drying the rice on tarps laying along the road.

Parade on our way home from working in Cabangtasang.

 These next pictures are from another mountainous branch called Macasilao where the branch meets under these canopies.  The benches are made from long lengths of very straight bamboo.  Really quite comfortable.  The Sunday we attended this branch the attendance totaled 98.  Amazing!!
The elders do not live on this mountain due to no phone service - they live in a nearby town near the beach but travel daily on hable-hable (only transportation available) to work their area.  Their hours are 8 am to 5 pm with their studies in the evening.  They carry all of their food and water with them for the day.  They love this area.

Many sat under the shade of the tree and in an area in front of the house on the right with bamboo seats.

One of the cute sights we see while traveling throughout our area.  The boy was on the carabou as well but when he saw me hop out to take the picture, he jumped off and smiled!