Dear Familia!                 12-1-2014

 

What a week! We have had way too much fun! The whole thing should have seemed a lot longer than it was since we didn't have our preparation day on Monday, but it really just flew by like the rest of them do. 

Highlights of the week; well, the less spiritual of them is Thanksgiving! It was a blast! We left to a turkey bowl at 8 and went straight from there to a huge soccer game! When we actually finished it was about 1:30, and we were SO tired and couldn't hardly walk strait, but it was totally worth it.

Also, we did get a little under an inch of snow last Friday night! None of it stuck to the roads thankfully, since people only know how to handle the rain over here, not the snow. Of course, we set plans into place, tactics and battle plans lined up, and then we owned the sister missionaries in a snowball fight. Oh heck yeah!

 I think the pinnacle of the whole week for me was the start of "He is the gift". This thing is so cool! If you haven't watched it go do it! And then share it!!! Like I have mentioned before we have recently dropped most of the people in our teaching pool and searching for more, elect, ready, prepared, FAMILIES to teach. We were feeling really good on Saturday after a coordination meeting with the branch mission leader. And since we had some time to find we were able to just get real into it and had a lot of fun. After a few contacts in a neighborhood and a couple "he is the gift" cards handed out, a really large man told us he wasn't interested, but he did, however, let us know that if he had to guess he would say that "that" house is Hispanic. Totally didn't see it earlier, so we backtracked and knocked it. Nothing. Ring. Nothing. Then we hear the garage door opening. Perfect! So we come off the porch to find the car pulling in. The man stepped out and talked with us for a sec. he is from Columbia and is pretty white skinned for a Hispanic. He ended up inviting us in to share the video, after telling us it was silly to show up to show a video without anything to actually show the video on ha-ha. He really liked it though. And then we explained that we share about Christ, and more specifically about how we are different from other churches, but how that has helped us so much. "Let’s hear it!" he says, so we taught the first lesson. He asked a couple clarifying questions like "So you believe Christ is the Son of God?" Yes. "And that Joseph Smith then..." a mere man called of God with an incredibly important job to do. Then had us reteach just about every page. "So what you’re saying here, and this is me reading between the lines, is that Joseph Smith got it and the Pope Didn’t." That’s correct. "Interesting." "I think you should probably pray about that, that's sort of a big deal!" "Ok, let’s do it." IT WAS SO GREAT!!! After I really felt that we had been led by our diligence to his home, and also that the initiative for "He is the gift" really is inspired.

 

http://www.mormon.org/Christmas

With everything getting geared up for the Christmas season my invitation to y'all is simple; keep it Christ's season. Serve. Love. Give.  And like the video the church made says, discover the gift, embrace the gift, share the gift. He is the gift. He is Christmas.

 

Love 

Elder Philips

So much to do

Querida Familia, 6-30-2014

So we have had a whole corn ton of stuff to do this last week. It's sort of been ridiculous. I think on one of my daily journal entries at the end of the day all I wrote was "today we got licked" then I went to bed ha-ha. Elder Cottle and I have been really swamped with things to do; meetings to be in, places to be to help out the other missionaries there, and instruction to give! Then we go back to proselyting right after. Last Monday I did an exchange with Elder Gressier!!! I love that guy, brought us back to the days in Monroe. Then on our way to drop him back off in Arlington and pick up my companion again Elder Cottle and I went on through to Granite Falls to have a meeting with the Stake President and the Mission President in the Marysville Stake. Got home around 8:45 just in time for a bedtime snack while making the next days plans. Which included going to district meeting, followed by a basketball game with a nonmember, a quick bite to eat and then we had to book it to Burlington to meet our ride who was taking us out to Anacortes, the first city on the islands, for our Stake Presidency meeting with the Mt. Vernon Stake and Mission President. Our ride picked us up a doughnut on the way back and we got home at like 9:45, with just enough time to shower before bed (since that hadn't happened after basketball. Just a big stick a deodorant) I think that was the day I had the really elaborate journal entry. President Bonham also explained to us that we needed to put more time and effort into a specific person named Edwin. Edwin is an investigator of our branch, currently taught by the sisters, but taught by Elder Cottle previously who helped him out a ton and created a great relationship. Essentially there was a whole lot of things tangled up in his past of gang banging that keep him from being baptized. The repentance process for which would include turning himself back in, then getting tangled further with groups just to keep him alive while in jail. He unloaded a lot of his thoughts on us the following night after dinner with him, which postponed our arrival at home till 10:10.

So there was the time consuming really tiring, difficult part of last week, but we have seen tons of miracles. Including that Maria; Jessica’s mom, has decided to be baptized on the 26th of July!!! Her husband wasn't all cannonball into that one but he's dipping in his toes too! Plus Alejandro, Jessica’s son, has been thinking about it too and this coming Sunday 2 of the girls in the branch are going to be baptized, both ages 8. So hopefully that will help him resolve a couple of his concerns. Really exciting stuff is happening around here. One of the things that I continue to learn; especially in this last week, is the power that is found in the Priesthood. Maria Lopez; Jessica’s mom, tried to cancel a lesson with us due to the pain in her arm. When I hung up the phone with her I had the though "I should have offered a blessing" so I called back right quickly and suggested it and she accepted. We found Jessica already over there when we got there with Marcelino Mejia. She was healed and she was comforted in her loneliness when Jessica paid a surprise visit. One family in particular (Edwin’s wife and brother. Wife being the only one baptized) have asked us for a bunch in the last couple of weeks and based upon their faith and our connection with the Lord's will, each of them have been healed. Even Edwin then thought to ask for some help with his migraine. He was helped. I'm starting to learn that it really is not enough to have a general, or textbook understanding of the Priesthood; but really we all need an experiential understanding of the Priesthood to bless those that are "afflicted in any manner and He healed them"- somewhere in 3nephi :-) afflicted in any manner is absolutely not limiting. Nobody's life needs to be on the line to receive some comfort/healing/council. Nobody's decision needs to be life changing to seek guidance. It surely requires a bit of humility to offer it, even more to accept the offering or ask for it; but the power of God is truly manifest in the "small and simple things"

So; I invite you to test it out.

But for now I got to run!

Love you

Elder Phillips

Interesting and Mind Blowing week

Dear family, 6-23-2014

What an interesting and mind blowing week!

So I don't know what you all already know, but i'm still serving here in Mt. Vernon Washington. My home boy from the MTC just got put back here again, so now i'm serving with Elder Cottle from Las Vegas! But there's a few more twists than just that. At transfers we learned that he and I are going to be the zone leaders over the now only one Spanish zone. So that means we have responsibility over all the Spanish missionaries in the mission. All the mission! This transfer is going to be way interesting and fun making trips all over the place! From Lynwood to Canada ha-ha.

Holy smokes, I’ve already learned a ton from Elder Cottle too! I just love how relaxed and upbeat he is when he talks with people. Just makes everything so much more lively and fun.

We learned a little bit more about setting goals, making good (and written) plans, and then getting down and dirty to accomplish them this week. Last night as we prayed we knew we needed 2 people at church, but we only had 1 set one coming, and 1 more person with a date. We promised to work our tails off, but acknowledged our complete inability to accomplish this task on our own. Sunday morning got filled up real quick with meetings, and we didn't even make the time for any phone calls we were so rushed, but then walking into gospel principles class we found Jessica sitting there with her mom, who we had just taught the night before. Including Jessica’s son we had 2 people at church. After church the only thing we did was try to get in with those that we knew had the immediate potential to receive a date, but then as our time came to a halt there was still no one else who had a baptismal date. I guess we just learned a little bit about "what is the best thing I can do right now" and also how at the end of the day, if you've done all you can do, you will feel satisfied. So that's how we felt.

There's definitely more to be learned and way more miracles to be seen, but I appreciate your thoughts and prayers and the tender mercies of the Lord that are poured out upon the missionaries of the Washington Everett Mission.

Love you!

Elder Phillips

Dear family, June 16,2014

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY YESTERDAY! and thanks for all the b-day wishes too; you know, you and all those dads made a really good decoy for the surprise cake n stuff I laid out for Elder Fiala yesterday. A member brought the cake into the gym and we went in and he thought it was nice of them to make a cake for the dads on top of the cookies they already gave them. Then he looked like he got sledge hammered in the chest when he read the frosting " Happy b-day Elder Fiala"

The whole thing was so much fun, seeing how happy Elder Fiala was and stuff, ha-ha I got all caught up in it and didn't really even tell anyone mine was today, the day after. oops.
If there was one thing that was better than anything this last week though, was all over the weekend! Jessica’s baptism! We were there setting everything up and then 10 of her family members (8 of whom live in our area, 1 who is currently being taught) showed up 5 minutes before scheduled starting time and waited and quietly chatted with us. Then while we were waiting for them to get changed I handed out a bunch of cards ( real cute too, I mean professional. I get it from my mom) so that all the people that were there supporting her could write down congrats and express what they had felt there. I was hoping it would sort of act like a journal, so they could write down their feelings and hopefully express and recognize that they were feeling the Holy Ghost at that service. It was so great! All of those people also came to the last hour of church to see her confirmation as well! What an awesome ending to the transfer, even though it was the only week we didn't hit standards. Also what an awesome ending for Elder Fiala’s journey. He left here one sad puppy. I'm not exactly sure how, or why for that matter, but he and I have been together a total of 7 1/2 months in 3 different areas. I don't know that you know exactly how that happened either, but I give my thanks anyway.
Upcoming plans for us include lots of hard work with Jessica's family. We have a few of their addresses, and open invitations to their homes from most all of them. Just not too many firm set lessons. Looking back on it blows my mind how prepared she was from the start, and how little I feel like I really did. Elder Fiala and I talked about this a little bit, how there really isn't a whole lot that we can take credit for while teaching her, we were just found by the hand of the Lord in the toolbox section labeled "Burlington Spanish". We wondered if that's what it feels like to be humble, to recognize that we worked hard but did almost nothing. Hopefully I can use that in foresight now. Rather than looking back to realize I didn't do much, Looking forward saying "I'm ready to work, use me as thou wilt, the glory be unto thee."

Love you all

Elder Phillips

Dear Family, 5-27-2014

I hope you all are having the time of your life cuz I for sure am! It’s been crazy to think of all the time I wasted back home. Time is really, really precious and you don't even know how much you got.

Last week we were doing really good and everything was running along smoothly, but then for some reason on Thursday when I got back from Arlington on an exchange everything just felt weird. We tried to shake it off and go to a teaching appointment, had a pretty good lesson actually, and when we were leaving we just felt, weird. At that point we were hoping to high heaven that it didn't rub off too much on our investigator, Jessica, who had been progressing at the speed of light. We drove down into Mount Vernon again for something, talking about it the entire trip, mostly just confused, trying to figure out the cause, trying to figure out what in the world we could have done to feel that way. We probably looked like zombies, really. Never in my life have I felt such a strong impression to ask for a priesthood blessing than in that moment. We both agreed that it was a good idea. The blessing I received left my mind with no doubt that the Lord was speaking. And my companion later mentioned as well that he had never felt guided so completely beyond his understanding. Afterward we felt so much better and could not believe the relief it brought us. The other phenomenon we experienced was that of having the ball bounce off the floor and go flying, because I have never had a better night on my mission numbers wise, and all of it happened within a 2 or 3 hour period. That was absolutely crazy! So there you have it.

We have been getting a lot of help with our investigators from the members here, and it has spiked the progression of all of our investigators. My hope and prayer is that you all are doing the same. I see lots of people that are fence sitters out here, humming and hawing about church and the whole lot of it. What it comes down to is our personal conversion.” Becoming rather than just going“. Even though we live in a virtual age, do not let your conversion or life be virtual. It is not worth it, trust me. There are people out here that need our help, and we have the tool to do it.

Love You

Elder Phillips

When you break the shower head, you have to use what you have.

Posiblemente the busiest week ever

Querido Familia,

This was posiblemente the busiest week ever! If we only talk about the meetings we had it went from interviews on Tuesday. 12-6, district meeting wed, MLC Thursday 9-3:30 (in Mill Creek), weekly planning Friday, stake conf. sat, stake conf part 2 sun, and here we are again. So overwhelming on that aspect. BUT, I have never seen more miracles in a single week on my mission.

I believe I mentioned a woman named Jessica last week, who asked us to come to her house. Well we did with Clay Tenney, and she had already read the first half of the pamphlet we gave her, and her 9 year old son had tons of wonderful questions about God. So we taught her about the Restoration, and explained how she can get an answer from God, but she was having a struggle praying. She said "I feel like every time I go to say something my throat hurts, like if it is getting tied up" so we told her about all of Joseph Smith's experience. Her son then gave a wonderful simple prayer, and she was teary and gave a prayer asking for our Heavenly Father to take away the bad and the fear she felt, and there was so much power behind her words. Jessica is possibly the most prepared person I have ever met, and I'm super excited to teach her this coming week.

We also were finally able to get into contact with a referral from a member here in Mt. Vernon, and we taught her and her husband, Margarita and Elias. At the end of our lesson she prayed and felt the spirit really strong and when we asked she said that she would be baptized once she found out if this is true. She is also way prepared.

Last Saturday night President and Sister Bonham gave a wonderful fun talk in Stake Conference. They gave a demonstration of how to get out of the issue that lots of members have in wanting to invite someone to learn about the church, or have a gospel conversation, but don't know how to start it. Then they demonstrated up on the stand having a lot of fun, how they can practice at home. Practice before your game, practice before your recital, so why not practice before you talk with someone? It makes the nerves go about as far down as the dead sea.

Especially after this week I know that the key to missionary work is the members. I promise that if you practice/prepare then God will help us all in our own missionary efforts.

Love you all and make your own sunshine!

Elder Phillips

Fantastic Week

Dear family, 4-28-2014

I don't know about you all but we have had a fantastic week. A whole corn load of miracles! Its really amazing because Elder Fiala and I decided to do a mini fast last Monday, and the blessings are abundant. If you don't believe in fasting, do an experiment and find out.

Not sure if I mentioned before about how we have been really trying to work with the members here. Well last week, we received a call from a few of them actually, saying that they had just met someone at the hair salon or had just moved in close by, and that person wants us to come over. What a blessing! To have members you love pitching in and getting into the spirit of things. We have received a lot of help.

Even aside from the members this week we tried a few people we already knew, and found new people there that are really open. even a couple that strait up asked us to come over without us being like crafty about it. We knocked on the door of the mom of one of our investigators, and this lady Jessica opened the door. we said hi and introduced ourselves and stuff, and she strait up said you all should come to my house, I'm not super good with God and stuff, and I want my kids to be able to get it better. When can you come by? umm uh duh uh... ya. ha-ha I almost didn't know what to say, I'm more used to saying I love you too after some angry guy shouts some noise at us. It was quite a nice surprise.

I really hope this week goes well with all the follow up appointments we have. We have a lot of meetings and stuff too coming up so hopefully everything falls into it's place nicely and we see some more miracles.

So really quickly. Something I learned, well, I’m learning, is how to listen. It has been really hard for me to actually listen to some people in Spanish. I understand them, but sometimes I just go too deeply into my mind when that happens and start thinking about other stuff at the same time, just kind of mind wandering right? Well no! that’s bad! So I’ve been really trying to listen and care about what people around me are saying. What's interesting to them, where they are coming from, that sort of thing. Turns out it's pretty tough.

Love you all!

Elder Phillips

Check it out dad

this is some good stuff and homemade

 

craziness going on

Dear family,

So we have had some craziness going on this last week. We have been trying really hard to work well with the members here and helping them out in any way that we can and we are starting to see fruits! We got a couple of really solid referrals last week. PLUS! We were called twice really randomly by members to give blessings to their non-member friends and family. That was so cool even though none of those people actually live in our proselyting area, they turned out to be great potentials and new investigators for the sisters in those 2 areas. What we have been trying out this last week is calling the people from our last areas around here (Bellingham, Marysville) and asking them who they know up here. It just seems like if we can get ourselves snuck into the Spanish community then things will just start exploding! So anyway, those are some big plans.

One of the coolest things happened while we were on exchanges. We were exchanging with the Bellingham Elders on saturday and both Mt. Vernon Spanish and Bellingham Spanish had baptisms going on. But that morning I got a call from Marina Zavala, she is a member in Bellingham and her husband is not a member, Miguel. Anyway, they were like our favorites up there and she called wondering if we could come eat dinner with them while we were all up there for the baptism! Sure! Big news considering that Miguel said he didn't want missionaries coming over anymore. So we went to dinner at their house and the food was great, and then we showed them the Easter video on mormon.org (that video is sweet by the way. if you haven't watched it, get on that) and after the spirit felt warm in the room and everything was quiet. Elder Fiala asked if they were going to church for Easter Sunday. They hadn't planned on it, but then asked what time it started. We told them it started at 9 in Bellingham. "Oh no I have work until noon! what time does it start in Mt. Vernon?" 12:30. I don't think I can make it. Well the most important one, sacrament meeting, starts at 2. "Okay" and they were totally going to drive an hour for church just for us! But then her daughter was working right up until 2 in Bellingham. Oh well, that’s like a 50 mile trek.

Anyway! I hope you all had a wonderful Easter and had time to reflect on its true meaning and the wonderful gift we have been given by Christ. I truly do know he lived, died for me, and lives again. What a precious sacrifice that each and everyone of us can take advantage of. Love you tons!

Elder Phillips

Quite the ride

Dear Family, 4-14-2014

This last week has been quite the ride, but before I tell you anything about it, I’m going to answer a couple questions so I don't get blasted by anyone again! ha-ha. Spanish world here in the Washington Everett mission is a smaller one than other state side missions, I mean like in comparison to the English side of things. We have 15 Spanish Elders, and about the same amount of Spanish sisters here. But, 3 of those elders are going home in 9 weeks. Including my companion, Elder Fiala. and yes that is totally a record of separate times being together in the field. 3. There's actually another couple elders that just got put together for the second time here in the field who were companions in the MTC, so kind of like being together 3 times, but not quite as epic or cool jaja.

As for the week, it was pretty much like a little roller coaster. We started out super good for the first three days or so. I even went on an exchange in Arlington, where I got to see a bunch of the amazing people from the Sunnyside branch again. Unfortunately Esperanza just had 2 surgeries and will be going back for another one, and my wonderful friends Orlando and Lucy have now completely turned their backs on the church and missionaries, posting signs saying do not disturb. But oh well, they'll come around.

After that though, people really seemed to be really closed off. Like we had a couple of average days, but then on Saturday we just smacked the bottom. What I learned is that there is a huge connection between what you think and what occurs. A couple of days before this I had been a little bit weighed down in my mind about stuff that was going on and all the time it just seemed like a battle between dark and light. Then on saturday I suppose we were just weary from the war and energy levels weren't there and people reacted to that in our area. We didn't see much if any success that day. It brings to mind a quote that was said in sacrament meeting yesterday, and possibly in the conference I don't remember. Be the same person in the dark that you are in the light of day. I thought about it, and it has numerous applications to all of us, but it struck home to me when I heard it.

On Sunday we were able to pull ourselves together, and we went to see this referral in the sisters area who needed a blessing, but they were having a Fiesta. Told us to come back in an hour. So in the meantime we visited some Hispanic members in the English ward there and got a BUNCH of stuff set up. By the time we returned to the Ramiro's house, there were only 3 amigos left, and they courteously invited us in, sat us down, and started serving us up some dinner. I love that jaja, and while we ate we taught them all the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They all loved it so much, we all even forgot that we were there to give them a blessing. What a wonderful experience even though none of those people live in our area. I'm really excited for them. I think that brings another small lesson. Being the same in dark and light includes all locations as well. If we act as faithful members of the church in all places there is missionary work being done. Even if it doesn't go as a referral directly to our home missionaries. If everyone was doing that same thing, there would be places to go coming from all over the place. So we must be "equally yoked" in the work.

Love you all tons! See you next week!

Elder Phillips

General Conference

Dear fam, 4/7/2014

Well, let's be honest. There's pretty much only 1 topic on the week. HOW GREAT WAS THE LOVING INSTRUCTION FROM GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!

I mean like I could probably end right there, tell you to go look up the talks again and you would be more inspired than what I might ramble about for a little bit. There were some amazing talks. It might be biased, but up there with my favorite talks was the one from Elder Aidukaitus. he is over the northwest missions and he gave us some instruction personally about a year back. I shook his hand and sun bathed in his warm energetic spirit while he talked with us. So you could say I liked that one. ( almost the last speaker Sunday afternoon for those who were lost). Not to mention how much I loved Elder Bednar’s talk. Possibly also biased because I sat three feet directly in front of him while he also gave our mission some instruction. PLUS, I loved Elder Holland’s talk, maybe I just like him cuz he's from St. George. I DUNNO! But that was so awesome! favorite quotes? Okay.

"You got four minutes to perform" "The gospel is not weight. It’s wings" "He desires to Enliven us" "The load enables us to go home" "Keeping divine commandments brings blessings. Every time." If you are not sure where each of these came from, I invite you to take another look and then another.

Elder Fiala and I were able to see wonderful things happen from conference. Last week for the first time in a month, after helping out some of the elders in our zone, we saw Gerson outside getting some things from his car. Of course we stopped and said hi. He invited us in, and we shared a short message that night with him and his wife. Then Saturday night, his next door neighbor had us all over to watch the Priesthood Session with him. Us, Gerson, and Bro. Palacios. At first he didn't understand, but by the time we got to the First Presidency he was locked in. Afterward he commented to us "Es verdad. A veces tenemos que hacer lo correcto, solo porque es correcto" sometimes we have to do what is right, just because it is right.

As I watched General Conference I received again the confirming witness that these men and women are chosen of God. With a little bit of preparation before hand, when we got to Conference itself I saw the light of Christ radiate for those people like I had never before. What's more is that you and I can take from that example and radiate heaven's light to those around us. Be an example to others. Do not fear. "Faith is the antidote for fear" -Russell M Nelson. "Act as an agent to impact your circumstances" -David A Bednar. "Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God's approval." -Elder Nelson. "Many say 'I love them so much I would die for them.' Might I suggest that we love Him enough that we will live our lives for Him"

Love You

Elder Phillips

This is a letter written by one of the other Elders in the Washington Everett Mission about the mud slide.

As I stated last week, there was a devastating mudslide that occurred just over a week ago. The effects, the damage, and the loss of family and friends here has been more severe than I could have ever imagine. The death toll and missing persons list rises, and may, unfortunately and grimly, rise. As my companion returned to our area of labor, we have met up with families and individuals who have been directly and indirectly affected. Included in this category is a father in a family, not of the LDS faith, but surely a very Christian faith nonetheless, who is missing in the slide; we have had dinner with them and blessed to be in there home, and the family is holding on to their faith that all will be alright. Tensions and stress has risen. The rain hasn't helped the rescue and recovery efforts all that much either. However, there has been an outpouring of love and togetherness in this community.
This past Wednesday, my companion and I were able to return to Darrington via two hour drive, being absent here for 4 days, and went straight to work. I have had an amazing opportunity to volunteer at the local community center, helping with many people in organizing the food, clothing, and other items that have been generously donated throughout the state, possibly the entire country. I have been able to be side by side with the devoted, kind, wonderful volunteers, young and old, men and women, those of the Church I represent as well as a host of others in other churches and faiths. This past Sunday, the members here had a fast and testimony sacrament meeting, in which members bore their powerful testimonies of the Gospel, of the divinity of Christ, and the hope of redemption by Him and through Him.
My heart has swelled with love for this community, the people, and for God and His Son. I have been humbled and learned valuable lessons and received a firmness of hope, despite the apparent appearance of the lack of it for some. The town of Darrington is comprised of strong individuals and families, many I have been privileged to meet and converse with.
It is my earnest testimony that I am where I am needed in the moment I am, and that God grants comfort, hope, and endurance to those who faithfully seek it. The love of God has been manifested in the people I have met. I hope to be a good follower of Christ, and do all the good I can for the wonderful people here.

Elder Phillips is not in the area and hasn't said much about it.
Here's his letter from this week.

3-31-2014

Well, the last week has been pretty interesting with lots of fun new changes. Like I was saying before from last week that we had to get a ton of stuff done! We cleaned out my apartment really quickly then had to drive up to Bellingham to clean out their apartment too. Well, we didn't get it done. So we went out to work and to say goodbye to members and people from that area. We also stopped to say goodbye to Maria Caridad, and before we could leave I got attacked and hugged and then kissed. That was a first for the field. Yikes! We then came home at nine and started some more cleaning. Didn't finish, so we got up at 6 and used our exercise time to clean. Finally by noon we had the whole place done and notes about everything and updated all the records and we left at noon.

Another cool thing that happened that day is that I got my old companion back, Elder Fiala! This is the third time we will have served together on separate occasions in three different areas! Its pretty sweet. He will probably finish his mission here.

Last week has been a little bit rocky starting. Since I still don't know the area super well and Elder Fiala doesn't at all we have been trying to figure things out. Unfortunately, after having gone to Bellingham and Mill Creek, we realized on Friday that we were WAY over miles on the car. So basically we had to walk and hitch rides from the members all weekend. I'm not sure that really helped with learning where things are.

We saw a miracle from walking though! We had to walk from our appointment over to one of the members homes. For no particular reason we decided to knock on a door that was off the street a ways. The guy basically told us that he awaits with anticipation the day that revelation falls upon the Mormons to save all the good people in there. So we asked if he knew any Hispanics, he said his neighbor. We talked with her, Estela, and we’re teaching her a little bit from the pamphlet of the restoration, and she stopped us and asked if she could have the pamphlet. of course! Actually we want to give it to you.

I'm excited to see miracles happen in the next little while. If there's one thing that I’ve learned its that miracles happen. Even when we are not perfect, miracles happen; especially in the service of the Lord. We haven't been perfect by any means this last week, but for some reason we were still smiled upon with blessings. It's truly a blessing to be a missionary and see the Lord's hand in the work. I hope you all are getting involved too. You will see miracles. I promise.

Love you tons!

 Elder Phillips

Using my Bishop Whitaker skills. 

No Pictures

Sorry no pictures again this week, Elder Phillips seems to have lost his camera battery charger. So dead battery means no pictures for you or I.  Hope he finds it soon.

So there has been a few interesting things going on this last week, with a crazy day today because transfers are tomorrow to top it off. Not the smallest of events was my companion finishing his mission. We had lots of people to see before he headed out so we had some fun there. Also an event not so small was a baptism the sisters in our branch had! A family of four was baptized after church yesterday. the elders from Bellingham were able to come too because Elder Wagner is going home with my companion Elder Johnstun, so now i'm here with Elder Coles in Mount Vernon, but he is getting transferred so we have to go back up there to Bellingham to get all that stuff done up there jaja. That will be fun.

I was thinking about the things that I could share, and I was also thinking about the things that I learned from the two great missionaries that just left. I realized the difference maker has been love every time.

ANYWAY! I'm starting to get a deeper understanding to the great importance of love, especially in missionary work. but one of the things that I was thinking about is how important it is to show that love, to reach out, and to be consistent about it so that afterward you don't come off as fake to other people. Basically, we just need to become more loving people. It was impressive to me to see Elder Wagner’s love for those that he knew in the branch that I am in right now, and how much the members loved him back.

The other thing I have been thinking about is how much our choices mean. When it boils down to it, how few choices we have. We made a choice to come to this earth, and we told our Heavenly Father that we would keep his commandments. So now we are here, and we have the choice to do what is wrong, and lose our ability to make the choice, or we have the ability to choose what is right, and give our agency to God. So really either way the choice means a whole lot! We either give our choices to God or we lose the ability to make them. Now there's lots of food for thought.

Its funny because this last week we worked really hard, but we didn't see very much happening as far as lessons and new people to teach and numbers stuff. However, its weird the satisfaction that comes from being diligent. I mean on paper we didn't have that great of a week, but it has been awesome!

Uh oh 3,2,1 got to go! Love you!

Elder Phillips

Champion Studies this week

Dear family! 3-17-2014

We have had quite a good week so far. My companion is bouncing next Sunday! So we have been doing WORK! Lots of fun, but we got to go to the Arlington stake center for him to get interviewed for an hour. I don't know what i’m going to do with myself. Oh well.

This last week started out a little bit slow. TONS of people falling through on our appointments and stuff but we have continued to find more. We came into contact with an awesome family, Lupita and Sergio, and they happened to be friends with a family that just moved out of the branch to Mill Creek, and they wanted to know why she couldn't go to her wedding or whatever. They are great and I was so excited to teach them again, but when we got there they had left a note on the door saying "sorry guys my husband got stuck at work so I had to go to Seattle to pick him up. Give us your number and we'll call you" we haven't got anything from them yet, but I think they'll call, not to mention we pass by there a lot. I wish the adversary would just back off, bit of a nuisance I’d say.

So I have had some champion studies this week. I decided one morning that I was going to pound down Jacob 5 and GET IT! I did. It's amazing how many promises and blessings come to those who serve in the Lord's vineyard. and the other thing I love is "and the Lord worked with them". It's His work so what the worry! He's here working with us. I also had the question as to why the Lord sent an angel to tell Alma to go back to the city. AN ANGEL! I mean there's got to be something important back there, that's quite the message, can't question what God's will is. We shall see what we find out.

We have been trying to work really closely with our new branch mission leader Rick Reed. I have learned that there is so much possible in this life than most people think. We are so much more capable than we can imagine. Sometimes we feel like we are being ground to dust and we just can't go anymore and then we just do. Nobody really knows how. I testify that God knows our limits, and that he has PROMISED us that he WILL NOT give us more than we can handle. There's some amazing videos by Elder Christensen on LDS.org "daily bread" that describe a lot of the "how" it can be possible to face and ultimately overcome the trials that we are given, and how it is possible. I can imagine the Father speaking with us before sending us to this world saying "i'm sending you into a train wreck and I need you to fix it. You're the one I know can do this, can set things right. I love you so much. Good luck, I’ll see you in a while. Don't forget to call." I know that with His help we can do this. Many were called, but few were chosen for right now. It's tough, but we got this. I mean heck, we already know what team is going to win. What jersey are we wearing?

Love you all and have a great week!

Elder Phillips

Everett Washington Spanish Speaking Missionaries

obedience/humility

Dear Family,                                                                                                   2-24-2014

This week has been super, super great, tons of learning going around, but of course, if you're not learning, your not trying. However, what i’m talking about is actually a special conference we had. We had two guys from the mission department in Salt Lake come to our mission to give us some instruction on teaching. Brother Donaldson, who is the mission president in "the district 1" videos, and Brother Gonzales. Basically what’s happening is that we are cutting all the fluff and fat from our teaching and going to start being in the homes of investigators for like 20 minutes, MAYBE 25. Its a lot of fun, and we get to use the pamphlets from President Hinckley that missionaries hand out and what not a lot more. I absolutely LOVE seeing what has been named "the hastening of the work". Another crazy thing that happened was yesterday. I was sitting there leaning against the sink eating a piece of toast during dinner, when all of a sudden I hear a HUGE crash an vibrations against my backside. What the heck? So I peak my head out the window, and there was a car with its face right in the brick wall I was leaning on! ha-ha their brakes went out and they ramped the parking spot barrier, blew through the wooden posts that support the second floor, and crashed into our apartment. Everybody is ok though. Didn't do a thing to the wall.

I learned a little bit about obedience/humility this last week. It started out with us going to a lesson in Burlington, but after teaching, a bunch of other stuff fell through. I suggested a place to go with the member who was with us, which in my mind was a perfect fit. It was almost like inspiration; and my companion said “no we can't do that for such and such reason in the missionary handbook.” In my head I was like, that is the most nit picky reason I have EVER heard in my life! I couldn't even think of anything else other than how pharisaical that sounded. But I didn't say anything. So then as we were driving I thought, man I should really be grateful that I have an obedient companion. So I started to pray for understanding and forgiveness really and at that point what came to my mind was " how can I expect to ask people to keep a commitment, or obey a commandment of God, that to the rest of the world makes no sense and seems more nit picky than actual help.” Like "why in the world would God want me to do that?" If I am not willing to be obedient to what he has given me, commanded me to do? Even if I don't understand, or this seems to me like it would be a lot better, I mean c’mon just look at it.”

Guess what. Sometimes we don't know why, but guess what? You're going to be so glad you stayed your course. "My thoughts are higher than your thoughts, and my ways higher than your ways."

Love Elder Phillips

Best Saturday Yet

Dear Familia! 2-10-2014

I think we can just say that the last week, the last week of the transfer, has been so sweet! We had a whole lot of stuff to do though. Normally in one transfer ( 6 weeks) we are supposed to do an exchange for the day or part of the day with every set of elders. We still had a couple of those to do, so for a little bit of the week I wasn't even working in my own area, but it is SO awesome to see the faith of other elders that are in the zone. There really is tons to learn all over the place, even from those less experienced or younger than us.

On top of that, this last Thursday we had our entire day taken up by MLC, Mission Leader Council, where we talked about lots of things that we can improve, or our successes. But while we were there, our Mission President informed us that this coming transfer, tomorrow, will be the craziest one of all time, but he still loves us. So we shall see what happens tomorrow.

We had some of the greatest lessons of all time last week! I think that last Saturday may have been the most satisfaction I have found out of any day EVER! We went over really early to teach Avellino, and it worked out really well, because he hadn't drank at all that day yet. So he was really attentive and ready to go. PLUS he came to church on Sunday too! Then right after that we went over to a less active members home with President Montero to have a lesson. He was so ready to come back to church, and he is like a natural at missionary work, but then he got smacked with a nasty flu, so he couldn't come to church, but we went over there afterward and gave him a blessing.

Right after that we had one of the youth from the Shoultes ward with us, Zane, and he is the same age as Israel jr who we were going over to teach. So we brought him along with us. That kid is an all-star! We had a great lesson teaching the kids the plan of salvation (me n Zane) while Elder Fiala taught Hilda about the atonement.

Then! right after that we were like, well, we could probably go eat dinner right now, or, we could go over to teach Uriel and Judith. so, we went over there to teach them. That was the best lesson we have EVER had with them! Basically we were able to listen to their concerns and really help them understand why we want them to do things. I think that after that they will really start to progress, but its still their decision, obviously, since this whole free agency thing we all have.

Anyway, after we got home from that at like 9 o clock, we were starving but I could not have felt better than anything else. I could not believe how wonderful it felt!

Anyway I got to bounce, love you!

Elder Phillips

Half Way Point 1-27-2014

Querido Familia! 1-27-2014

So this last week was pretty darn awesome. I mean I feel like it could have been better; just there’s this thing called agency that some people used to be bosses and others didn't, but either way it has been tons of fun.

Last week on Tuesday we were able to have a family home evening lesson with Orlando and Lucy! I know they say they don't want to learn more, but they just can’t help themselves keeping us around jaja. I have a feeling that if we keep plugging along with them they'll come around. Their son Eli even came to church!!! He loves it!

I don't know if I told you about the random twin of our investigator we found last week; but on Wednesday we had an amazing church tour with them! and to finish it off we were all sitting in the font room watching the restoration video! So you could say that was so sweet. They have a lot of great questions and are eager to learn and to continue forward on God's path.

A couple of our investigators that were going really strong seem to be hitting a patch without any desire to actually do anything. I feel like previously they were super excited to learn about what the people they knew believe, but right now they're lacking a little bit of action if you know what I mean. Really that was what I meant by some people this last week used their agency to slow/stop their progression. If there's one thing I’ve learned real good it’s that anything and everything in this life is to keep us moving forward, and when we chose to sit on our bums and not do anything, and not ask any questions, and take the easy path, we essentially CHOOSE to stop our own progression. The easy path does not lead to heaven. It never did. If salvation was easy than everyone would just declare themselves believers and call it good and the point of life would be thwarted, but hey, that’s what some people believe, all we can do is invite.

Someone who was a champ this last week though was Avellino! We had three lessons with him, 2 of them with his member neighbor there as well. Avellino struggles with alcohol and desperately wants out. He recognizes the real person that can help him change is Jesus Christ and even though between a couple of our lessons he relapsed and didn't meet his goal for not drinking; after the second lesson he just went ham and didn't drink AND he came to church! Talk about replacing the bad with the best there. It was so great, can't even explain it.

Anyway, the underlying theme here is don't wait for anything to get done for you. Don't be a bum. When you need help get on your knees and pray like its all up to Him, then go work like its all up to you. Use the help He has already given us. Agency, we fought for it from before the beginning, so use it like you want it.

Love you all!

Elder Phillips
PS.  This is our sweet new ride!