Family,

I cant believe that we will be rolling in the new year TOMORROW! Will it really be 2013?

The year of 2012 has been one of the greatest years of my life!

So many lessons learned that I know could not have come in any other way.

My testimony has been transformed

I have learned to love and...not love some things

Found myself in a different light

Pushed the limit

New friends

Learned a lot about pain

Listening to the spirit

How awesome my family is...that was already a given!

Over came adversity

Climbed new mountains

Found new loves

I now love peppers!

Not a lover of meat

Gone green

Learned to appreciate the SUN

Overcame fears

Be BOLD

Love all, hate NO ONE

If you seek...you will find!

Becoming is the greatest of all.....

Faith isn't as easy as people say

Just DO

Giving up is never an option

God loves all his children

The atonement is infinite

TRUST in the Lord Jesus Christ

I have leaned so many things that I feel I couldn't adequately express myself.

" Yea, who can say too much of his great power and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering

towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part of which I feel."

(Alma 26:16)

This week has been soul searching for me in many ways. But one of the greatest miracles was that the Perkins family was baptized. Bill received the priesthood that Sunday and then that evening he was able to baptize his mom, wife, and daughter. It was a very tender moment to see a family come together through the sacred ordinance of baptism. It was so cute. Bill was so nervous, but at the end they all hugged and were so happy. Grandma Billie has a special place in my heart. She reminds me a lot of Radmilla with her sweet innocent spirit and there little fragile bodies. It's been a blessing to have been apart of this modern day miracle. The greatest thing I love about this family is that they all sought for an answer and they all got it in different ways. Not one of them followed behind because that's what the family was doing. Instead they all individually asked God if this was true and they all received there individual answer.

It reminded me that God is very mindful of his children and what they need. It also took my mind back to the story of our prophet Joseph Smith. When he went into the grove of trees that day to pray and ask God what church to join, he had no idea what God was going to tell him. If God had told him to be a Methodist  baptist, or catholic, that's what he was going to to. He had something that the scriptures refer to as, "real intent". He had faith that whatever God told  him to do, it would be right!

When we go into prayer with that same "real intent" God will answer us. I know he will. It might now be in the way or in the timing we imagined it to be, but He will. Have patience and trust that he is there.

I love you all and with you the best NEW YEAR EVER!!!

Love,

Sister Phillips 

Family,

I am staying in Steilacoom another six weeks with Sister Nanto. The ward is already planning on killing me, so I hope I can stay next transfer too! :) If you haven't noticed I have a track record with staying in areas for six months, so hopefully it will stick. I am excited to stay with Sister Nanto-I come to love her more and more every week.

This week has been really fun! We had our ward mission party, which is always the talk for the month. President and Sister Weaver really do spoil us here in the WA-TAC. I really believe I have the BEST mission president in the world. So I hope everyone gets called to the WA-TAC :D I will be looking for the little Vernalite who will arrive in this blessed land today. I will make him feel EXTRA welcome!!

Spencer and Bill were both confirmed on Sunday! It was a really special Sunday. There blessings were so beautiful and perfect for them. Bill's talked a lot about missionary work and the example he would be for his family in bringing them to the gospel. After sacrament meeting I went to shake Bill's hand and he asked us if we could teach him cute mom. She came to Church to watch him get confirmed and was touched by the spirit. I know this family will one day be an eternal family, so as we do His will I know that it will all work out in His own timing!

Brenda Pearson also came to church. This is Ben and Sid's mom. She has been really less active and every Sunday we go by to see if she will come and she is always sick or cant go. But this Sunday we didn't do anything and she got herself her own ride and everything. :D Ben told her that she needs to go every week. ha ha. Those boys are the greatest examples!

Thursday we went to Anderson Island to teach a man named Jeff. He is a really cool guy. He said he's always wanted to be a Mormon, but he can't stop chewing his "tabaka" not Tabasco ha ha. He is a character. We gave him confidence that he could, so he is starting to cut back so he can prepare for baptism.But on our way back one of the deck hands, Doug who we are teaching slowly as we ride on the ferry  let us go up top to see the captain-THEN- Captain Bruce then let us drive the ferry!!!! It was so cool. As I was driving a cute little seal swam in front of us. I was so excited because everyone tells me they see whales, seals and all kinds of sea life in the sounds, but I never see anything. So now I know they are not lying and there really are animals in the sound :)

This week is Christmas (almost). I have been pondering a lot about what that means to me. When I was younger me and my younger brother would come home from school everyday and count the presents under the Christmas tree. If we did not have the same amount we would get all upset and our mom would have to explain to us that we were fortunate enough to even have these, but as kids that went through one ear to the other.

As I have gotten older and realized more and more about what Christ wants me to understand about his holiday, I reflect back to the scripture in Luke 2:12;.

"And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

 While being here in Washington I think that Christmas on your mission is the BEST. It's because I have had the chance to be held back and to see the Christ in Christmas. I am someone who loves, loves, buying gifts for others, and could easily get lost in the worldly sense, but this year I have found Christ. I have come to experienced that  the greatest gifts we can give is the spirit, so that he can help people see Christ for themselves. He lives! I know that to be true because I am living proof of his reality and Atonement. Look for those signs that Christ has given to you to "come unto him" and you will to be given the greatest gift this Christmas season as well!

I invite you all to read Luke 2 and 1 Nephi 19 with your families before Christmas or on Christmas day.

I love you all,

Sister Phillips

Good Morning....

 

How is everyone doing in the beautiful state of Utah? I saw that you all got snow...so jealous! Sister Nanto walked out of the door this morning to cold, rain and fog-it was not the prettiest of days. But nonetheless it is Washington, so it's always beautiful!

 

This week has been an exhausting one, but full of miracles!

 

Bill Perkins was baptized on Saturday! His family was all there to watch and support him and after the baptism his wife said that she knew that it was right for her too! We now get to start teaching there daughter Elizabeth and son Louise and our goal is for there dad to baptize them all :) This family is really great. They have not had the easiest of life. Bill was diagnosed with MS and lost his job and now Meg is back in school so she can help support  there family. When we taught them the law of tithing I shared with them an experience I had with learning how important it was to pay a honest tithe.

 

My Grandpa is one of the greatest people in my life that has never held back his wisdom to us. One night we were on the mountain sitting in his camper, eating salmon jerky (it's really good) and we got on the subject of tithing. He gave me advise that I have never forgotten. He looked into my eyes and said, "If you have to choose between buying a can of food for your family or paying your tithing-you use that money to pay your tithing-the Lord will always provide." 

 

 Bill had an envelope of money and all he had in it was $80 left for the month of Dec. He said they get 350. so they will pay a honest tithe and give 35 of that. I was so touched by this mans faith in the Lord, to know that if he will obey a commandment the Lord will "immediately bless them". It's true "God's work and his glory is to bring to pass the eternal life and immortality of man." ( Moses 1:38) and Our work is to, "Keep his commandments." (D&C 11:20) I know there family will be blessed both physically and temporally because of there great faith they put in Him!

 

And just like prophet Malachi says: "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pours you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." (Malachi 3:10)

 

Spencer Brotherson was baptized on Sunday evening. I don't feel like I could do this day justice by typing it out really quickly. I will have to write it out and send it to y'all. But this day was one of the greatest days in my eyes. I saw a man question, doubt and fear about the decision he was making and at the end of a priesthood blessing me in tears as a little child remembering what he was doing was right. Spencer was raised as a preachers son and he is very well aware that he may be disowned when he tells his family . That shook him a little, as it would anyone.

 

Brother Gamez is one of Spencers good friends in the ward. (inspired fellowship). I sat in a room with the two of these men as they were talking and realized again, that I am but a servant. I have soooooo far to go to gain the wisdom to be able to say the words that were spoken that day. I was very humbled, but in a good way because I felt this great love for Spencer and Brother Gamez and especially my Savior for trusting me in this great work.

 

Spencer took a leap of faith and knows that he will not know everything right now-and that's okay. He felt like he had to compete with his wife, who had 30+ years of knowledge. As long as he keeps it simple and pure, I have no doubt that God will unfold the mysteries of Heaven to him. The baptism was Awesome. At least half the ward came to support and our Mission President even showed up :)

 

My testimony was strengthened in the priesthood that day. Brother Gamez lived his life in a way that he was always ready to act. He didn't know that Spencer would need that powerful witness that day, but he was a man of God and and l I've it! Please live worthy of your priesthood.

 

Love you ,

Sister Phillips

 One of the pics is of sister Baylon and I. She goes home in two weeks so she gave me a FULL bag of her clothes. Oh I was in heaven. When I served with her I would sit in front of her closet and just dream. She loves me!

 

Family,

GUESS WHAT???

Sister Lyles got her mission call to the Japan Fukuoka Mission :D I am sooooooooooo excited for her. She called President Weaver Monday night when she opened it, so they could call and tell me. The cool thing is, is that was the mission that President Weaver opened when he was a missionary. I am so proud of her and this decision she has made. She is 1. going to fit right in and 2. She will be one of the greatest missionaries that they will have. They are so lucky to have Robin Lyles in there mission. I hope she can take something she learned for the WA-TAC to the far away land of Japan! She leaves on Jan 9th-a whole transfer away :)

Well the not so good news is that someone broke into our apt. this week. We were around our apt. building and Sister Nanto needed to use the restroom, so we stopped by the house and we found that the door was unlocked. We were in a hurry so we didn't really think much about it. But when we got home that evening we found our back sliding door wide open :/ We were 99.9% sure that we did not leave it open. We locked up the house, checked every nook and crannie and Sister Nanto slept with this Japanese sword by her bed lol. That morning maintenance came over to put a rod in our door and he found that our whole handle was busted and a flashlight outside by the door that wasn't ours. Who ever broke in pried it open and broke our door. So we had to get a new lock and handle and to be extra cautious they changed our locks too.

This week has been a great week. Sister Nanto have been working hard and have been seeing many miracles!

Spencer Brotherson is getting baptized this Sunday. We are so excited for him. It has been great to see him change, to see his heart change and for the confusion and mist of darkness to be lifted from his mind. Spencer and his family are excited from him. They already made a trip to the book store and have more church litterateur that I do!

We had a great lesson with the Perkins family this week. We went over to drop a big book of Mormon off to Bill Tues. morning and they didn't seem like they were having a good day. Then we went to there house to teach them on Saturday and there was a completely different spirit in the home. They were all ready and they just looked happy. I was shocked. Bill said he had been reading the Book of Mormon and praying about baptism and later that day he turned on the TV and a preacher came on and said, "You need to be baptized!" ha ha. I say, God works in mysterious ways! He is being baptized on Saturday. Bill has progressed much faster that his family and they want to watch him do it first before they do. This will be a good chance for Bill to be that shining example to them. Were hoping he can baptize them in the future!

This week was our sister conference. We had so much fun, but mostly Sister Grenfell and I followed each other around and talked the whole time. She really is like my other half here on my mission. She understands me so well and we have a lot of the same views. It was great to see all of my companions too! Sister Brown and Douros said they have been working so hard and I would be so proud-I love them!

We have a lot of great sisters in the WA-TAC and because of the increase in missionaries we will be getting 15+ sister missionaries in January. So that means we will all be training and I will have to train and be dying as well. Not what I really wanted, but it will be fun! Who ever they are, are so lucky to have the chance to serve in the beautiful WA-TAC!!!!

 I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week! Remember to always remember Christ this season and put him in the forefront of your heart. Then like President Monson said, "We will truly feel happiness that comes from Christmas!" Ponder in your heart who Christ is to you? I know that he loves us all

Love you,

Sister Phillips 

We hope that your Christmas season will be one that is filled with the love of our Savior.  We would love to invite you to visit

Mormon.org/Christmas

and share in the special Christmas message given.

How was everyones Thanksgiving???

Mine was great, any holiday on the mission is the Best! We woke up that morning and had breakfast with the Beylers, then we spent most of the day at the Gehrings mom and dads house.(her dad, who's house we were at, is a retired general authority!!) It was really fun, the little kidos put on a little skit for us..so cute! We then went to say hello at the Agors and ended our night at our mission pres. house. ( its nice living close to them:)) We played lots of fun games and sang Christmas songs around their piano. It was a blast!  

We have a family in our ward who is from the Uintah Basin, a.k.a. Roosevelt. They are the Bettes family. We went to there house for dinner the other night and guess what he cooked us????? Deer Meat!!! I haven't eaten anything like that for a good 15 months. ha ha. They are so much fun. Poor sister Nanto just sat there the whole time and had to listen to us talk about how AWESOME Vernal was and all the people we knew, etc ....They are a young family with a little guy, who is so cute. It's really fun to have someone who knows what your talking about. I get a little taste of home when I go there :)  And a shout out to my cute friend Erin Busch...her boyfriend is Brother Bettes Brother, so we talk about her too ;)

This week was a busy week for us!

We finally got over to teach Spencer the plan of salvation. We brought fellowship, brother Gamez, who I aspire to be one day ha ha. jk! Spencer is caught up on the more deep doctrinal side of things. Him and his wife Belaida shredded apart the word of wisdom. They researched and experimented things that I have never even thought of. It was crazy. We stressed to him that he needs to keep it basic. We even through out Moses 5:4-8 which is a great scripture for those who don’t understand the word of wisdom. But the great thing about it is that, we don't need to understand everything...and that is what he is missing. He is a very intelligent man and wants to know it all.

At church on Sunday I was talking to Belinda and she said they almost didn't come. She said last night she was so fed up with him doing all of this and not feeling with his heart that she just wanted to be done with it all. That night Spencer had a dream. He said he had two very dis ting impressions. I don't want to get to much into detail because I believe it is a very personal and sacred thing, but he woke up with peace in his heart that he hasn't felt in a long time. He is now content with learning by "small and simple means" because it is only then that "great things will come to pass! 

In Sunday school we found out that our ward mission leader hadn't showed up to church and he didn't tell anyone, so we had to teach it. We taught the gathering of Israel and I thought it would be great to hear some testimonies from people since the lesson was mostly on missionary work. While people were sharing there testimonies the spirit testified to all of our hearts. I had the impression to ask Belinda to share hers. I fought it for a while because I knew she would kill me. oh. p.s. she is a less active member, who is taking the lesson with her husband-Spencer. After about 3 times, I did it-I asked her. And of course she gave me the look of death, but she did it!!!! She bore a special, but real testimony of her life and how she sought for other Church's her whole life and always came back. She called it "she would always come home" after the closing prayer she couldn't help but weep in her husbands arms. It was a very tender moment. I know that she needed to realize the testimony she already had and it was still in there. When we learn the gospel even at a young age it never leaves us. It never leaves because it is true and we have the gift of the spirit to bring it back to our remembrance.

I know the gospel is true. And even if were 8 or 50 God still loves us and wants us to come back home!

I love you all, 

Hello!

 

I hope you all are having a great day. I love Mondays! This week has been good as well. The rain hasn't stopped for a good three days straight and It's not just misting is pouring rain all the time. Got to love Washington!

 

This week we went to Anderson Island to meet Jason and Angela. I had been a little nervous all day (don't know why) but I was just so excited to teach someone on the Island. There hasn't been anyone taught there for about a year in a half and before that years. This was a really big deal to the little branch members. Jason and Angela were so welcoming. We started teaching them the restoration and Jason just soaked it all in like a sponge. They had a lot of questions and we used a lot of scripture. I was really fun teaching them. But Jason left his church about a year ago because he was told that animals or nature don't have spirits (typical Washingtonians). That preacher should know better if he wants to keep people! But we explained to him that God created everything spiritually before physically. Concern 1, Resolved!

 

At the end of the lesson when we were teaching the first vision, Angela left the room in tears. She said when we came to her house she had a lot of judgments and that Jason actually made her listen. But when we were teaching she was sent back to when she was a little girl when her grandpa taught her about Jesus Christ, and until now she hadn't heard anyone preach the same doctrine that he did. Her Grandpa was an inspired man! :)

 

They were excited to come to church and on Sunday they came! The branch was so excited to see new people it was so cute. These people are so special. Our branch ward mission leader is in his 80's and he goes over there to DPC them almost every other day,haha. He is so excited to have someone to teach. The field is white and already to harvest, even on Anderson Island!

 

This week I have tried to focus my thoughts on everything I was thankful for. I was humbled and was reminded when I ready Alma 34:38 and Amulek teaches us that we need to have thanksgiving within our hearts EVERYDAY! I am in the war chapters this week in Alma and was so drawn to the humility and thankfulness of the Nephites. These people are fighting with all there strength and might to save there wives and children, but after everything they do weather it be successful or not, they give thanks to God. They taught me that we always need to remember who gave us all we have. God! We have no need not to be grateful this time of year and everyday.

 

Thanks be to God for sending his only begotten Son to die for us. Thanks be to God for sending us families to teach us and help us become the son or daughter we ought to be to return to our Father. Thanks be to God for sending us the gospel to preach and to live by!

 

I am thankful for all of you,

I love you very much

Sister Phillips

 

My purpose!

Hello,

How has every one's week been? I hope great! I saw that it snowed in Vernal....yay! I miss the snow. All we get here is rain, rain and more rain. Yesterday you felt like you were walking in a small pool, the puddles were everywhere.

This has been full of change. Getting a new companion always comes with new adventure! Sister Nanto is actually from North Carolina and is a huge Duke fan. She talks about it a lot and relates everything to duke, but she doesn't like to play basketball??hmm! She did agree to play sat. mornings with us, feew! I am so used to exercising every morning and she hates to exercise. I feel so slumpy(if that's a really word), but I am going to have to do something this week because I don't feel as well.

To all you future missionaries I have a very strong testimony that a healthy missionary=successful missionary!

At transfer meeting we found out that Washington State Legalized Marijuana and gay marriage. From Pres. Weaver and I quote, "Washington's government Sucks" ha ha. It was a sad day, but we know that this only means we have to be even more fervent in our standings with virtue and morals! Just because the worlds point of view changes, God's does not! I am so grateful to know that God is unchanging. If he was, we couldn't fully put our trust in him as a father. I know that as we stick up for what we believe in the power of the adversary will decrees and Satan will have less influence on our families and friends!

This week we worked hard and saw a lot of progress with our investigators. Spencer who we have been teaching for about 6 weeks, committed to baptism the other night. I learned a great lesson of being bold. I am not going to lie, I had been a little nervous of the thought of putting him on date. But that night the spirit spoke true and we did it and he accepted. My jaw almost hit the floor. I was shocked. It reaffirmed to me what my purpose was as a missionary. I am here to Find, Teach, and Baptize. This family is the greatest. I will keep you updated on them. Keep them in your prayers.

Tierra's mom is still not budging. We went to her house this week to talk to her and she was very distant and didn't want to talk. I know just like 1 Ne. 3:7 that the Lord will always prepare away!!! I have faith that he will do the same for Tierra. My heart is so full of hope for her and I will try my hardest to do everything I can to help her mom change her heart!

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week. Don't' forget to think about all your thankful for and share it with others!

Love you,

Sister Phillips

Family,

I can't believe that it is November already? That means this month is going to fly by too and then Christmas lights will go up!!! It still feels like October because the leaves are still so bright and colorful here :) This week has been full of Miracles and tender mercies.

First of all...Sister Grenfell is being transferred to Tacoma. We were really sad. We asked to stay together, but I guess the Lord has different plans for us. Thats okay because she will be right next door to me, just in a different zone. Sister Nanto is coming to the blessed land of Steilacoom. She has been serving for about 10 months. She came out with Sister Brown and they were comps. I don't really know her all that well because she has served in the same area her whole mission. I am excited to show her how awesome the central conference is. I do know she is from Virginia and likes to rap :/ haha.

Sister Douros and Sister Brown are companions :) My little babies get to serve together...I thought that was so cool! I think they will really like each other. They will probably kill Gig Harbor with kindness and convert the whole city!

 Oh I also got to talk to Lisa!!! My convert in Tacoma. She got really sick last week and had to be rushed to the hospital. I was so worried for her. Right before she got sick she went on a trip to Carthridge Jail and Nauvoo. I sat on the phone last night listening to a 2 mo. member of the church bearing solid, powerful testimony to me that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God. I felt like Ammon in Alma 26 when he tries to express his happiness and joy he felt from seeing his brothers and sisters receive the gospel. I had so much joy within my heart it could have burst!

Yao Shen Su was baptized last Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did I ever tell you how cool this kid is? He is awesome! The baptism was personalized just for su. People from our ward came wearing ties from China. We were all laughing. Then on Sunday our ward mission leader gave him a tie from china that said, "families are eternal". Su thought it was cool. Brother Checkitts from Anderson Island also came to bear his testimony in mandarin and the spirit was so strong. He is even talking about being transferred to BYU. I am all for that idea since sister grenfell and I will both be close by to keep watch on him.

I know deep down in my heart that Su is going to be a powerful tool in the Lord's work. He will be a strong influence for good for his family back in China and his friends here. There is also a Chinese branch in his hometown in china. So, if he ever goes back there will be saints to welcome him home :) "The gospel is spreading to every nation, kindred, and tongue!"

Sunday morning we went to Anderson Island for church. Of course the meeting was very missionary focused since we were there and they LOVE visitors. You feel so loved there. But I had a prayer in my heart the entire time we were there that we (members or missionaries) could find someone to teach there. Then-while we were waiting for the ferry to go back, we met a man named, Jason. He didn't know we had a branch on the island and was really interested in bringing his family to church next Sunday :D My heart was filled with so much gratitude.

Oh and almost everyone on the ferry knows who we are!!! They are the funnest people. We joke around with them a lot. We are trying to get them to come to church ;)

When we got back to the Steilacoom ward, it was fast and testimony meeting. It was the FASTEST meeting I have ever been in. The spirit sunk deep into my heart and stayed for a long time. Uncle Sam (Samoan) got up and bore his testimony. With his job he drives around the whole state of Washington. He said every time he would drive by a chapel he would feel his self get really excited and have a big smile on his face. He pondered that for a while, "why would I get so excited?"

He bore powerful testimony that it was because church is a place of healing. People come here and many leaved healed, they leave happier, they leave with a greater assurance that they are a child of God

.

Isn't that what the Savior does? The Savior healed thousands while he walked this earth. We can feel those same healing powers as we walk into our dedicated church buildings every Sunday prepared to take the sacrament and be "healed". I know that this healing power is the power of the Atonement. It can change us, it can help us become who we need to be to live with our Father in Heaven once more! I know this to be true, because I have seen those same healing powers change my own heart.

I know I will be starting a new journey this week, but I know with the Lord's help the work will continue! (D&C 35:13)

Never stop being a missionary, the Lord will send prepared people to his prepared servants. Keep on Strong!

I love you all,

Sister Phillips 

 Family,

Halloween is coming up this week and I will have to say I am excited. Holidays on the mission are the BEST! Last sat. we had the funnest Halloween party I have ever been too. It was our ward party and around 300 people showed up. We had a DJ, costumes, chili cook off, candy, investigators, and even a haunted house!

This week a sweet girl named, Kenya was baptized in the American Lake Ward. We met Kenya about 4 weeks ago during conference sessions. Sister Grenfell and I went outside tracting for about 45min and while we were walking around that is when we met her. She said she was interested, but she was in a hurry on her way to the library. We switched info and went on our way. We tried calling her a couple times during the week and no answer.

A few days later while talking the the American Lake Elders we found out they were teaching a girl named, Kenya! Her phone had gotten shut off for a few days and that is why we couldn't contact her. The brilliant girl she is (literally) she went on mormon.org and requested missionaries. Well sadly she was not in our area, but she was great and always wanted us to be involved in everything she was learning. :) She is so sweet. I am grateful she now has a ward family of her own. Her mom will be deployed to Afghanistan in a few weeks for a year and she will be left alone.

This Sunday at church was amazing. Steilacoom I feel like is pretty much run by recent converts. I looked over during sacrament and every person who was preparing it were all recent converts of a year :) Then the three speakers in sacrament were also returning less actives and a recent convert. It was great to see that the Gospel of Jesus Christ really does bless and change lives. Would they have lived a good life without it? Sure, but now they are living the best way of life. They don't just see this life as a part of there day anymore, they live to prepare for eternity.

This morning I was re-reading a talk that changed the course of my life, while on my mission.. It is called , "sufficient to save us" by, Brad Wilcox. He talks a lot of about grace and what that is. I always taught the definition of grace, was after all we can do, Christ will fill in the rest. But what if were not even doing all we can? That is hard and takes a lot off effort.

He teaches us that, "Jesus Christ doesn't make up the difference, He makes all the difference." Jesus Christ filled the WHOLE space. He paid our debt in full. He didn't pay just a few coins. He paid it all. He explains, "fulfilling Christ's requirements is like paying a mortgage instead of rent or like making deposits in a savings account instead of paying off a debt. You will still have to hand it over every month, but it's for a totally different reason."

"The repentant sinner must suffer for his sins, but his suffering has a different purpose than punishment or payment. It's purpose is CHANGE!"

"WE ARE NOT EARNING HEAVEN, WE ARE LEARNING HEAVEN"

How grateful I am so know that Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father love us enough to help us change, to help us learn and struggle, so we can learn valuable lesson that will prepare us to live with them again. So, when we are asked to do hard things, DO THEM! When you don't want to do it, DO IT ANYWAY. I have learned that it usually isn't the big things he asks of us to change. It is the small things. Loving more, softening your heart, giving up your pride, serving.......but also found out that those small things feel at time like mountains. The scripture in Ether (12:27) really came alive to me for the first time in my life.

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

I love you all and hope you remember to always be a missionary :D

Happy Halloween

Sister Phillips 

 

 

Nín hǎo (hello in mandarin)

 

Yes, I am speaking Chinese now! We are teaching a young man from China and he has been teaching us a little Chinese. Sometimes through out the day Sister Grenfell and I think it necessary to speak in our own Asian language. haha. Its entertaining!

 

Sister Grenfell and I have been working really hard and have had seen many blessing come this week. One of them is with a young 15 yr. old girl who we are teaching, her name is Tierra. I have talked about her a little before, but this week we were able to actually start teaching her solid lessons. On Wednesday she invited us over to her home to teach her, which was huge because her mom has not been the most convenient with all of this. We did talk to her mom for maybe a min. but hey-it was a  min that hopefully she got to see we were normal! During the lesson we invited her to be baptized and she got the biggest smile on her face. She has been going to seminary every morning, she goes to youth night, and attends church..ALL ON HER OWN! She is a special girl and I feel like I really connect with her. We are really praying that her mom will soften her heart and allow Tierra to make this next step of baptism. Pray for her!!

 

Su is the guy from China. He is the coolest Asian ever-besides Peter, but he is a close second. We met with Su on Tues. and when we met him he had a giant bag of Kit-Kat bars. He gave them to us and told us to give them to the kids at church. ha ha. It was great and plus he didn't like candy, but It was the thought that count!

 

Su comes from a Buddhist background, so a belief in God or Jesus Christ was never something taught to him. I personally have never taught anyone who had no basic belief in who God was. He had a basic knowledge of what Christians thought of him, but he didn't know how he related to us personally. Su speaks okay English, but we were trying to find someone in our ward who could help him understand a little better. Someone spoke every other language in our ward, but no mandarin. We went to Anderson Island Friday night to have dinner with our branch pres. and some members and a new family who just moved onto the Island speaks mandarin...yay!! Brother Checkitts was sooo excited. It worked out perfectly.

 

 We taught him Sunday after stake conf. Lesson 1, the Restoration with brother Checkitts and they instantly hit it off. He had read 3 Ne. 11 in the Book of Mormon and we asked him to share with us what he thought. He said he wanted to understand more about Jesus Christ and that he had a calm feeling while reading the book :) This guy is so prepared, when we share with him the truth you see it click with him. I have LOVED seeing him feel the spirit and recognizing it for himself.

 

It only strengthens my testimony to know that we are not the teachers. We are sent here to preach the gospel and the spirit is the teacher that can work through his servants. I know that the Book of Mormon can bring that special spirit to touch the hearts of people who are truly seeking truth. I know The Book of Mormon is the most powerful source of conversion that we can use to strengthen our own testimonies. 

 

We found out this week that we can actually proselyte of Anderson Island. The sisters in the past have all told us, "No Tracting", so we never thought we could do it. But we asked the members again and they actually went and asked the Island board people and they said we could :) I feel like we get to open a new area because this island has almost 1000 people on it and 800 doors that have not been knocked on for TWO YEARS!!!! This Thurs. we are spending the whole day there and are going to give these islanders a chance to hear the restored gospel :) Lets hope it doesn't rain!!  

 

This week was stake conf. We got a new stake presidency in the Lakewood stake. It was AMAZING. Elder Gay came and gave on the the most powerful talks I have ever heard. He spoke in General Conf. about "would you sell your soul for a nickel". They really focused on the temple and evaluating our personal worthiness before the Lord. He repeated the quote from president Kimball, " If you understood the ordinances of the temple, you would crawl on your hands and knees to get there." Get to the temple, after he spoke it was 9:20pm and Sister Grenfell and I wanted to go scream on the mountain tops about the Restored Gospel. It was that moving!!

 

I know that each of us have been prepared to carry forth this work-NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE. The Lord will lead you to where you need to be. This was decided long before we came to earth. As we prepare ourselves and seek to do the Lords will we can stand confident to know that we are doing what the Lord would have us do. I know this to be true.

 

I love you all,

Sister Phillips 

Oh yes I forgot to tell you something IMPORTANT!

The Varners from Olympia went to the temple on Saturday. They got baptized a day before I got there. I had worked with them for 6 months and baptized there mom Lori. I couldn't go because I wasn't the sister who baptized them, but Eichenmiller kept me up to date on everything and then we got permission for them to come to Lakewood and see me after. It was so special!!