Spirit of God

Hello everybody,

 

Oh my goodness where do I even start. This week has been a roller coaster to say the least. I found out on Tues. that I did not just have a minor concussion, but that it was pretty bad. The doctor put me on strict orders to be pretty much brainless for the next week. They call it "brain rest". I couldn't tract, read-including Scriptures :(, watch TV (restoration of course), or write. It was HORRIBLE. I told the doctor, who is my bishop, that I wish I would have broken a bone because at least I could still think.

 

It's been a week since it's happened and it's gotten a little better, but not much. I tried to read the other day and that was a BAD idea I ended up having the worst headache ever. Concussion + Missionary do not mix well together. I am go go go and this has made me really give up my pride and realize that missionaries can have breaks too. It was sad at church yesterday that everyone commented that they knew Sister Phillips wasn't feeling well because her smile was fake :( I even got escorted out of ward council, ha ha. My bishop could tell that my head was hurting and I was annoyed with the situation that was going on. So during the middle of someone talking he said, "Sisters you probably could leave now." And my stubborn self, I said, "NO bishop we need to stay." Then he gave me the fatherly look that said, "you better get your bumb home right now and rest." I didn't argue after that. ha ha.

 

It was amazing this week to see the help of the Lord in my life this week when I was so down. Because I haven't been able to have my usual personal study which consits of the Book of Mormon and PMG, I had to find another way to study. So I found a CD player and have been listening to general conf. talks :). At first it was hard to listen so intently to remember what I had been taught throughout the day, but now I have turned into a pro listener. :D Each day I pray that I can hear the promptings of the spirit and that the Lord will bring things back to my remembrance.I told Sister Nanto I am convinced that God has a funny sense of humor. I needed to learn to slow down and she needed to learn to let people help me and she needed to learn to be more sensitive.She agreed.

ha ha.  

 

We got our transfer calls and I am staying in Steilacoom and training :) Sister Nanto is going to the one place she didn't want to go, Tacoma, but I know she is going where she is needed. She will also be training and new little girl. We actually got them while we were eating dinner at Outback steakhouse. I was great! Our bishop gave us a gift card there for Christmas and we haven't been able to use it because there never open for lunch, so we went with them sat. night after our baptism. yum yum!

 

At the end of the week the Lord blessed us with an amazing Miracle. Tierra Smith was baptized!!!!! I have talked about her a lot because we have been teaching her for about five months and I am convinced she is my kindred spirit, ha! Her dad agreed that he would sign it-she did not want to wait until next week,  so she did it that night. All the youth from her seminary and YW class came to support her. My heart is so full for this girl. I look at her more as my little sister than anything else. Her baptism was something that I will never forget and have been still pondering on the spirit that touched me there. I told Tierra before the baptism started that when she goes to sit down to sometime look back and see all the people that are standing behind her and remember that she is not alone. She did not have any of her immediate family there, but she had her ward family.

 

This has been a long journey for her, the adversary has constantly been attacking and throwing road blocks in her way, but she does not move. Her feet are planted in the Gospel, her testimony is in her Savior, and she knows that she is a daughter of God. As I look at her I see many opportunities that she will have in her future to change lives of others when she can share her story with them. The closing hymn that she chose that night was not chosen by chance. As we sang the Spirit of God I felt an overwhelming presence there and I  knew without a doubt that there were angels there with us that night shouting for joy!   

The latter-day glory begins to come forth;
The visions and blessings of old are returning,
And angels are coming to visit the earth.
We'll sing and we'll shout with the armies of heaven,
Hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb!
Let glory to them in the highest be given,
Henceforth and forever, Amen and amen

 

I know that the armies of heaven will be round about us as we are fighting for righteousness. As we go forward throughout the day remember that you are not alone and believe it. (2 kings 6:17-18). I have a firm testimony that is still flowing through me this day that God is a God of miracles and that he will always stand beside us as we are in his army.  I know that trials are always an opportunity for growth and sacred experiences that help us become who he needs us to be. Even though I may feel scared to death to train because I am not as healthy as I should be, I know the Lord will make up the difference through his Amazing Grace!

 

I love you all,

Sister Phillips