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