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.