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