And you can have that certain knowledge that in due time God will wipe away all tears and that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him (1 Cor. 2:9)

Family,

Hello! It sounds like from the emails it has been a sad week in the neighborhood. That may an understatement. My heart goes out to the Robins family. I have grew up with them most of my life and love them very much. David was so loved and one amazing person, I know that he will be greatly missed. I also know that he is safe and back home with his Father in Heaven. What greater peace can we have than that?

When George A. Smith was very ill, he was visited by his cousin, the Prophet Joseph Smith. The afflicted man reported: He [the Prophet] told me I should never get discouraged, whatever difficulties might surround me. If  I were sunk into the lowest pit of Nova Scotia and all the Rocky Mountains piled on top of me, I ought not to be discouraged, but hang on, exercise faith, and keep up good courage, and I should come out on the top of the heap. (George A. Smith Family, comp. Zora Smith Jarvis, Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, 1962, p. 54.) And you can have that certain knowledge that in due time God will wipe away all tears and that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him (1 Cor. 2:9)

I have learned a great lesson of not being discouraged on my mission. Everytime we get discouraged it distracts us from that still small voice, which is the spirit. Therefore we never know what we could be missing on the other side. I have learned that when things don't work out like we planned or there is a cork in the schedule, just have Faith that God will take care of it. Everytime I have experienced this we have been blessed. We have changes in our schedule about everyday, but everyday God leads us to where he wants' us and then miracles occur.

Last week Sister Lyles and I went on bike for the day. We have discovered that bikes rock! We have so much fun and get to cover different ground in our area. That morning we had an appt. with Kyle (our investigator) and he had just woken up and wasn't at all ready, so we decided to come back later. On our way out of the appt. buildings we stopped and talked to this man washing his car.We told him that we were missionaries and had a great message to share about the restoration of the gospel.He looked at us really funny for a min and then said,"ya sure, why not?", so we introduced him to the Book of Mormon and took him on a church tour the next day :)Mike came to church the next day and we taught him the first lesson later that night with a member. See we love bike days :D

Kyle is getting baptized this Friday!!! It has been a long journey with him, but well worth the wait. We met with Kyle last Friday and our goal was to put him on date solid for this weekend. We had been praying mightily all day for the spirit to be in the lesson and to allow Kyle to feel confident and know with absurdity that this is what he wanted.About 15 min before we went into the lesson I had a prompting that we needed to change the lesson and watch the Restoration movie, Sister Lyles agreed and we met Kyle and Chris his fellowship at the church.The lesson ended up being perfect. Kyle accepted to be baptized and really for the first time opened up to us about a lot of things!! The spirit was so strong. After the lesson Sister Lyles was so excited that she almost shook Kyle's hand off. She said if he had been a girl she would have jumped on him ha-ha.

Wow this is a long email, So much has happened ahh!

Do you remember Paul? We found Paul at a gas station one day (don't ask me why now that I think of it because he drives a Prius??) Paul was baptized on Saturday and President Weaver gave us permission to go :D It was amazing. Paul was excited to see us there. He is such a special man. He said he will forget many people in his life, but never his missionaries that brought him home to his Heavenly Father! We too, will never forget Paul! It reaffirmed to me why I am out here serving a mission. It truly has been one of the greatest blessings in my life.

Also-Mary (our invest.) had her baby!!! He is soo cute and his name is Jordon Jackson. His little sisters just love him and are very precious to there little baby brother :)

I am so grateful for our Father in Heaven and his Son Jesus Christ. I am very grateful for the Book of Mormon and the power it has to transform lives. In the beginning on the Book of Mormon it reads, "one of the books purposes is to; convince the Jew and the Gentile (us) that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself to all nations." That is our purpose, is to help build there Faith in Jesus Christ and one of the best ways is through the Book of Mormon. If you ever want to know if he is really there, all you have to do is start reading!!

 

I love you all,

Sister Phillips 

I got me some bangs. Ha ha!

John 7:16-17, " Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." I know that if we will put it to the test and do God's will by obeying his commandments, we will then, understand the doctrine without any question of its validity!

Family,

How was everyone's Father's Day? I hope it was great, because Dad's are the greatest! Especially mine :)

 We spent Father's Day dinner with the Covey's. Brother Covey was baptized about 2 months ago and they are amazing, not to skip that there daughter is a chef ;) She made a southern meal for her dad since he is from Alabama. We had buttermilk fried chicken, green beans, biscuits and gravy, and corn bread...oh and a giant cake! Needless to say Sister Lyles and I were way to full afterward!

This week was a great week. We made a lot of progress with our investigators and even found new investigators to teach! One of the guys we are teaching Kyle is progressing step by step. He came to church again and even came to the elders quorum activity. We almost thought we lost him, but the Lord and his Mercy helped Kyle understand that a lot of people care for him and that his Heavenly Father is aware of him. So Kyle is back on the wagon, yeehaw!!

Yesterday because it was Father's Day- our meeting after church were cancelled, so Sister Lyles and I decided we really needed to find a someone to come on a church tour because we had not even had 1 this week. So, we felt inspired to go checked up on this potential we met last week, David. As soon as we got there he was getting ready to go to his families for dinner, but he agreed to come down if it was quick!! He said he had to finish getting ready, so sister lyles and I just sat on the stairs of the appt. building and was going to wait for him. Well while we were waiting the people living below him starting hucking up huge loogies and not just one, but this went on for like 10 min. OH MY!!! It was the worst torture ever!!! We had tears streaming down our face we were laughing so hard and trying not to make any noise. By the end we were just sitting on the stairs plugging our ears and praying that David would hurry! Oh it was horribly disgusting. But the church tour went great and he is a genius that is agnostic and is way to smart, but the saying goes, "Science is just a slow way to prove Religion."

We also had a GREAT lesson with Lawrence this week. We met with him at Patriarch Coleman's home. Both Lawrence and P. Coleman are past staunch catholics for many many years, so we thought they would relate. We went into that lesson wanting to bring many concerns up, but didn't really know how to bring it all together. We let the spirit take lead and every single question that we wanted to address was answered and it flowed perfectly. When we were walking out of the lesson, Patriarch Coleman turned around and said to Lawrence, "Lawrence, don't forget to invite us to your baptism!" It was so perfect.I had the biggest smile.  Lawrence has been being stubborn every time we bring up baptism and I know Patriarch Coleman was inspired to say that!

 

The Julian's are doing great still. Our bishop is so inspired. This week at church he called Brother Julian (he is having a hard time quiting smoking) into his office and asked him if he would accept a calling. Brother Julian gladly accepted and that is a HUGE step for him. Four months ago he wouldn't even walk into the church building and now he comes to church every Sunday :) I pray that I can see him baptize his sons before I leave Tacoma. But something that President Weaver reminded me this week, is that there progress is sometimes dependant upon our Faith. So I will work my heart out for that family and I know Heavenly Father will show forth his miracles :D

This week we have been reading the Gospel of John in the New Testament. I have never read through it this fast before, I always start and stop and so forth, but It is so amazing. I have come to Love this book, but most of all I have come to understand more of the Grace and character that Christ upheld. It's amazing to me that the Savior of the World was turned away by the very people he helped create. John 7:16-17, " Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself."  I know that if we will put it to the test and do God's will by obeying his commandments, we will then, understand the doctrine without any question of its validity!

I love you all,

Sister Phillips

WA-TAC

D&C 122: 7-9

Wow, this week flew by like wild fire. I can't believe it's already Monday AGAIN! I do love our p-days though. Today it is sunny and warm and we are going to the point defiance park in our area to play around. It is a giant park with a  zoo, gardens, and lots of grass to play on-oh and the beach, but we cant go there :(

This week we witness many miracles and a few disappointments. Monday we invited one of our Investigators, Mark to the Ords home for Family home evening. The second counselor in our bishopric also came with his family. We didn't know we were eating,but we showed up and they had dinner all made, BBQ chicken and hamburgers. This family is hilarious!! They did a puppet show for the lesson, Staring....Sister Phillips and Sister Lyles. It was so funny, Sister Lyles was snorting ha ha! We then had a fire and made scores yumm. I really think he enjoyed it!

Sister Lyles and I had 3 "insta-tours" tours this week. That is when we ask someone if they want to take a church tour and they accept on the spot and follow us down to the church building right away. The first guys name was Jason. He said he always wanted to know what this church looked like inside. (for some reason people are really interested in what is in our building-I dunno!) He said he felt the most peace he has felt in a church before and would love to learn more. When we took him by the font to teach him about baptism, we didn't even have to ask him and he already knew he wanted to. Then he said, "So do I get baptized naked or what?"  We explained to him that we do not, we actually wear white. He said, "oh good because I think some people might get bashful!!" hahaha. We laughed about that one forever! Then all the sudden Jason's brother showed up. He said he was driving and saw his car, so he thought he would come see what he was up to. So, we gave him a church tour too, but he wasn't as interested, he just started practicing "Veganism"-No thanks!!

On Friday we met a lady named Marquiva and her daughter Cherish. So, so cute. Anyway, we drove into these appt. buildings in the intent to check up on this referral and ran into Marquiva. She accepted to come down to the church and we took her on a church tour. Her daughter Cherish is a lil sas-a-fras and very energetic lil 6 year old. So pour sister lyles was trying to distract and entertain Cherish, so we could try to get Marquiva to feel the spirit. Gotta love kids! It ended up being really great for her. She has been going to the Lutheran church and doesn't feel that she connects with the doctrine. I am so grateful for the power of the spirit. We do not convert people,but that is the spirits job. Our job is to help these people open there hearts, so the spirit can testify to them of the reality of what we are teaching is true!! That is something that one of our Investigators Lawrence mentioned. He has been searching for the truth for over 10 years. He has studied with every religion in the book and guess who he came to last?? Us!! But he said that he was taken back that we were not trying to make up his mind for him or try to convince him of what we know to be true, but that we trusted enough to let him go to the source of all truth...that is our Heavenly Father. I have complete confidence that if these people will but go to our Heavenly Father and ask with a sincere heart and with real intent just like Moroni promises, we will receive a witness from the Holy Ghost that we cannot deny!

Sister Lyles and I found out that we were a bi-product of a baptism, yahoo!! His name is Paul and this is how the story goes....

On May 31st we just arrived back into our areas from being at the Seattle temple all day. I was EXHAUSTED to the point I was falling asleep driving (but didn't). I told Sister Lyles that I really needed some energy before we did our 5-7's (tracting for two hours). We stopped at a gas station, ran in and grabbed a soda. While we were waiting in the checkout line Paul came up to Sister Lyles and said, "I don't have to know who you are, I can tell that you are different!" :D We checked out and asked Paul if we could come visit him. Oh, P.S. Paul is around 86ish. Unfortunately he didn't live in our area, so we got his info and passed it along to the elders. When we received the phone call from Elder Richards he told us that Paul said the same exact thing to them and he let them in right away. They taught him the restoration and he loved it so much it brought him to tears and said he has been waiting for this all his life. The next day the Elders had another appt. with him and when they arrived Paul was waiting out side for them. Paul told them that his daughter was anti-Mormon and she told him he either had to choose her or the Mormons. So what did Paul do??? Paul said, I told her, I'm Moving out then!!! What?? Paul said that was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard, when these people were the most pure individuals he has ever met. The Elders took him down to the church for a tour and not only did he accept to be baptized, but he covenanted to be baptized!!! I told Sister Lyles it was the light that was shinning from being in the temple that day :)

Something the Lord has taught me this week from that experience and countless others, is to just live in the present! There were so many little things that fell through this week and didn't go the way we planned and got frustrated or discouraged, but right around the corner the Lord had something else in mind. Now when things don't go as planned you just keep pushing forth with Faith in Christ knowing that if you are being led by the spirit, your day will truly be a perfect day!

This Sunday we only had two investigators show up to church and we were planning on 10. I was very sad inside for a while during Church. Then as I was pondering on Christ I instantly remembered all that my Savior had done personally for me and the world and all who didn't  and still do not accept Him. I had a thought of, "this is what It must feel like when I dont' do what he asks of me." I truly felt his mercy that day, that even when we have hard days and we tried to everything right, those opportunities are for us to use the Atonement, to use our Faith and show Him how bad we want something. Sister Lyles and I read the Scripture in D&C 122:7-9 and changed our attitude right around! I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and I knew that day that we weren't alone, but that he was teaching us enduring and eternal lessons. That may even be the greatest miracle all week!

I love you all,

Sister Phillis

***We have a member who was baptized when he was 8 and then didn't go to church ever again until he married his wife who was Mormon. He came from being anti-Mormon to having one of the strongest testimonies and beating up co-workers that talk bad about the church. He also has two sons who are 8 and 10 that he wants to baptize, but just cant seem to kick smoking. He said, he doesn't even remember a time in his life when he didn't smoke. His mom gave him his first cigarette when he was 13 yrs. old.:( Our ward is really pulling together in helping Anthony and we have fasted and prayed many times for him. Does anyone have any conversion stories of how they quit smoking?? I would love to share them with him if you do!! Thanks!

"And now I Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that Faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute now because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."

Hello my cute family,

This week was full of a lot of pure goodness! First of all it was my birthday and that was great, which I think I told you about already. We then went to the Seattle Temple on Thursday and well, this is how the story goes....



I had been looking forward to this day for 9 months, pretty much the first day I left the temple in Provo and knew it would be my last for a long long time. Thursday rolled around and we hopped on a big cheese wagon at 7am and drove to Belleview, WA. When we arrived It looked like a bunch of kids looking at Disney Land or something we were all so excited to be there. We had the opportunity to all be in the same session and was able to hear from the Seattle Temple President and his wife. One of the best parts was that I was able to take family names from my dad's side that needed to receive their endowment. (Thanks to Kaylen for loving family history :)) I had 6 names, so Sister Weaver took one and 4 other sisters helped out. It was one of the most pure and edifying spiritual experiences I have ever had. I went into the temple desiring to know weather or not my family members had accepted these ordinances we performed for them. During the session I felt one of the most special feelings, the spirit truly penetrated my soul and my heart was very full. I have no doubt that if the veil was lifted that day, they were there with me and so excited to make more covenants or promises with there Heavenly Father. After the temple we ate lunch and had a devotional at the chapel behind the temple. Sister Weaver commented of the assurance she had that the family name she was doing had been fully accepted. She was very thankful for that opportunity, as was I! While I was there the Lord reminded me that we are not here to just baptize, but even more importantly we are hear to prepare our brothers and sisters for entering into the temple! Everything we do revolves around the temple-so why shouldn't that be the case with missionary work? As I have changed my mindset and have focused more on the temple, my urgency, drive, and love have increased for the people here in Tacoma. I know now more than ever that there are people who are ready and prepared to receive ALL the Father has and if we are diligent and faithful to the end...we will find them! Sister Lyles is not endowed yet, so she did baptisms for the dead and she loved it too! :)



On Friday we met with a guy named Mark. He is one of our members best friends that he grew up with. He approached Bro. Hemming and told him he needed to change his life and he wanted to learn more about the church...again. Mark has had lesson before from the missionaries, but I guess one of the sisters that was teaching him was a little to bold, so he was outa that! But I truly feel that Mark is now prepared. He is willing to give up things in his life that in the past he wasn't. We had a great lesson with them and taught him the restoration and he even approached us first about going to church on sun. :) The Hemmings fed us dinner after and his wife made us stuffed bell peppers...Delicious!!



We also had a great lesson with Kyle. We met Kyle a couple months ago, taught his the first lesson and then all of the sudden dropped of the face of the planet. Sister Hoffman prayed and prayed to find Kyle, but he was nowhere to be found. Two weeks ago Sister Lyles and I were driving and saw him at the bus stop. I quickly pulled over on the road of busy traffic and even more quickly set up a return appt. with him. We met with him the next day and had felt impressed that we needed to read the Book of Mormon with him. Not thinking to much of it, when we met with Kyle on Saturday we asked him how his reading had been going and WOWZERS his book was full of notes and every single line was underlined and he had even been studying with the footnotes. We were so surprised! He said he loved it and it was very enlightening to him. Then he said (this is the best part), "I was underlining all the things that stood out to me with my gold pen and I then realized that, this whole Book is Gold!" Cha-Ching!! I looked at our Bishop because he was our fellowship and his face just lit up. :) It was a great lesson and lots of progression. I am grateful that the Lord led us back to Kyle, I have no doubt that He knew Kyle needed to read the Book of Mormon.



The last couple of days Sister Lyles and I have been singing this miracle song, we found that it really pumps us up ha-ha! We love it and we always end up laughing afterward because we are just funny! But Yesterday at church we truly saw many miracles. At ward council that morning our Bishop talked about members role in missionary work :) He said we were doing to much finding and not enough teaching. Members are to find and we are to teach. He then challenged every one to pray about who they could refer to us within 30 days!! He then challenged the entire ward during fast and testimony meeting to do the same thing and he promised them that if they prayerfully asked the Lord and had a desire to share the gospel the Lord would put someone prepared in there path. Then..the entire meeting was about missionary work. People started coming up and sharing there conversion stories of when the "sisters" found them and taught them the restored gospel. Then right when Bishop Anthony was about to get up and close the meeting, Kyle got up and bore his testimony of the Book of Mormon :D!!!!!!!! It was so amazing, I was just in awe and my heart was full of gratitude for the mercy of the Lord and his love. Sister Lyles and I looked at each other and started singing our miracle song to ourselves ha-ha:) We also had 4 investigators at church that commented on how they really loved that meeting!



"And now I Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that Faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute now because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."

Ether 12:6



I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that if we will but read it with a prayer in our hearts that the Lord will answer our prayers and the spirit will bear witness to what you have read is true. The Book of Mormon teaches us truth and bear witness of Christ our Lord and Savior. I have come to feel a power to overcome temptation and an added measure of the spirit with me when I just open the pages. I bear my witness that the truth of any question we have is found in the pages of the Book of Mormon. It will truly bring understanding the soul and even more importantly it will help you come to know your Savior Jesus Christ more personally! (2 Nephi 2:6-8)



I love you all from the rainy WA-TAC,

Sister Phillips