Family,

Where do I even start? This week has been a full of pure joy and craziness! We went to the Glass museum with an invest, transfers, and mission fireside in OLYMPIA!!!! The weather has been beautiful, we almost reached 100 degrees here in the beautiful Tacoma, can you believe that? I can't! Then the next day it was in the 70's again. :)

First off we went to transfer meeting on Mon. Sister Douros was so scared to leave, but she is in good hands and she is doing great. Sister Baylon and I have a new adventure every day. There is never a dull moment with this girl. She is keeping me on my toes. We learn a lot from each other and It's really nice to be with a companion older than me (mission years). She is a great teacher and def. knows what her purpose is as a missionary!

We have been finding a lot of new people to teach. The other day we got a really good referral from the Spanish elders, so we decided as we were finding we wanted to find a referral for them. I have learned that when you have the faith to pray for very specific things-you will get them! Before we left the car, we prayed to find a four piece family and a girl who was seeking to know the truth and was prepared to hear about the restoration. An hour into tracting we knocked into this amazing family. They were Spanish, but so so cute. We got the Spanish elders on the phone right away and they have an appt. scheduled tonight to see his 4 piece family :D Then the last door we knocked on was a girl named Kasondra. When we started talking to her we noticed a poster on her wall that had her dreams and hopes. Things like, I want a family, friends, spirituality, love, etc....We explained to her that the Gospel of Jesus Christ could give her all of those things and bore our testimony about Jesus Christ and the Restoration. She paused and said, "yep I believe you when can we meet again?" We set up an appt. and even helped her clean her house while we were there :) 

Many many tender mercies have happened this week. I have learned that a tender mercie is very specific from our Heavenly Father. How grateful I am that he knows us so personally to know that even the smallest, insignificant things to another person, could  be the hope and happiness that you needed that day. 

We also had another mission fireside and this time in Olympia. I was sooo excited to go back and see everyone. A lot of people came and just like last time it was amazing. I know for a fact that when we sing and testify of Jesus Christ it is not us. I know that there are angels there helping us and touching many hearts in the audience and imprinting on there hearts the Jesus is the Christ. For I to know that he Lives! I know that the Book of Mormon is true and it was translated by the power of God. I know we have a prophet on the Earth and the Gospel is so beautifully simple!

I love you all, '

Sister Phillips

"They are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it" (D&C 123:12).

Hey Everyone,

This has been an exciting week for us in Tacoma. We have been able to witness many tender mercies from the Lord, daily, and see the blessing rolling forth for the hard work everyone has been doing.

Well lets get to the good stuff...

Gulian Goff was baptized on Saturday, FINALLY! Guilan was someone that we hardly had to teach because he was that prepared. When we taught him it was like he already knew everything. "They are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it" (D&C 123:12). Our ward LOVES Gulian and are taking him in so well. His special, unique spirit radiates to everyone and is so contagious. You just want to be around him all day because you feel so good about yourself! The only thing he truly desires is to do the Lord's will and you can see that without even talking to him.

On Sunday both Gulian and Debbie were confirmed. They were very beautiful confirmations. Our bishopric commented on the spirit that was present while they were using there priesthood to bless them with the Gift of the Holy Ghost (Well that's because Debbie and Gulian are the BEST!).

Before Church started I was going to unlock the sunday school room door and I saw Crista Covey walking down the hall COMING TO CHURCH. I had to look twice to make sure I wasn't seeing things. I was extra surprised because her parents are in Utah @ byu education week. Crista is not a member, but her parents are. Her dad was just baptized in April of this year. We have been working with her precept upon precept-little baby steps. She said she was coming to support Sister Douros because she is leaving (oh Sis. Douros is getting transferred-get to that in a min), but I know she really just wanted to come ;) I txt Brother and Sister Covey (her mom and dad) and told them they needed to leave town more often lol. She is coming to lunch with us today to celebrate our bishop's wife'birthday and then were going to the glass museum :)

Transfer Update-

Sister Douros is being transferred to the Gig Harbor ward with Sister Hollman. We were SHOCKED! I thought for sure we were both staying. We have doing good and getting along and usually President doesn't move trainers and there greenies for 12 weeks. She was devastated, but now she feels at peace and knows that is where she needs to be. I will be goign on 6 Months in Tacoma, yahoo!! Lets see if we can make it 7 1/2 ;) I am getting Sister Baylon!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sister Baylon and I have been really great friends on the mission and had accepted the fact that President would never put us together for that reason, but we thought wrong. She wrote him and told him, that her dying wish was to dye (end her mission) in Tacoma with Sister Phillips haha. See-wishes do come true!!!

We performed our first mission fireside last night and it was one of the most amazing firesides I have every been to. The chapel was full almost filling the whole gym. When we sang our last song "amazing grace" most if not all of the missionaries were in tears and all of our voices squeaked at the end. Good thing the Lord was there to even it out :) I will never forget the spirit that was present and the reconfirming power that was felt that our Savior, Jesus Christ truly LIVES! I know with all my heart that he is the way, he is our joy and our song. Without him we could never return to the Father and we could never live eternally with our families. I never comprehended the joy I would feel by just coming to know and understand him more. I owe all that I have to him and my Father in Heaven. Don't ever forget to "Remember" and as we always remember him, we can never leave him!

I love you all

xoxoxoxo

Sister Phillips

 Our ride home from Centralia. That is where we had the mission fireside. We had a blast in our 15 passenger van ha ha.

Hot Hot Hot!!!

 HOT HOT HOT!!!!

Well the heat came for about two days and now it is in the 60's today ha ha. It was soooo HOT for Washington. Yesterday the thermometer said 98 degrees eeek! Not to forget that NO ONE has air conditioning here because this hardly happens. Everyone was dying and no one wanted to see us. They all said, 'come back on a cooler day' haha. We don't blame them. I tried really hard not to complain because I have been waiting for this for a long long time. :)

Yesterday Debbie was baptized!!!!!!!!!! It was so great and she looked beautiful in her Nigerian dress.We had a great turn out at her baptism, over 40 people came to support her and welcome her into the ward-it was a great blessing! Sister Lyles even surprised us and came for the baptism, Debbie was so happy :D I was filled with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude yesterday for all the blessing that the Lord has given to us. There were so many obstacles, but GREAT miracles that happened on the way. How grateful I am to know that God is still a God of Miracles and his love is never ending! President Weaver said, 'claim your miracles EVERYDAY.' We all can have miracles happen to us everyday if we will look for them!

" And now, O all ye that have imagined up into yourselves a god who can do no miracles, I would ask of you, have all these things passed, of which I have spoken? Has the end come yet? Behold I say unto you, Nay; and God has not ceased to be a God of miracles." (Mormon 9:15)

Another exciting thing that happened was we were able to go to Olympia this week!!! President called us last Tues. night and asked if Sister Douros and I would come to Olympia and sing in our mission fireside and of course I could not deny!!! We get to go sing and hopefully see some of the members and my coverts from there :) I just got word that Peter received the priesthood and is still working on his wife to come to church, Denisse is an avid visiting teacher, Minh is now going to the singles ward, Keri and Jane are still active and preparing to go to the temple! These things are what brings me COMPLETE JOY!!!

I am always taken back when I think and ponder of the Lord's mercy and love he has for us. I know that Christ lives and that it is only through him that we can obtain all the Father has. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and it creates miracles and has a power that no other book on Earth can bring. I know this Gospel is for every single person and will one day fill the Earth. I love my Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ and am grateful for the opportunities they take each and everyday to teach us to walk a little straighter. Always be ready to bear testimony of Christ and share his light wherever you are!

I hope you all have a great week.

 I love you all

Sister Phillips

Pictures

Lunch with the Fraizers. A senior Missionary couple from Layton

Debbie's Baptism

 Crista Covey bought us these big starbuck mugs full of chocolate;) She is not a member, but her parents are. She used to not even come out of her room when we would come over, but now with a little love her heart is softening more and more! Hopefully soon, she will allow us to teach her :)

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