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!!