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