Hello my sweet family,

This week I was blessed to be a witness of one of the greatest miracles.

Ryan and Conrad Julian was BAPTIZED on 23 Feb. Do you remember the Julian's? I taught them in Tacoma for about uuuhhh....SIX MONTHS and of course became one of my fav. families. Ryan and Conrad knew more about the gospel than most kids in there own primary class, so most nights we were there were to teach there dad. I remember countless of times walking out of there house frustrated, sad, happy, wanting to throw in the towel and give up completely, but every time the spirit would say, "DON'T GIVE UP". Anthony's hold up was that he had to quit smoking, so he could baptize his boys. Many people told us, "sisters, let the boys get baptized by someone else, they need it now." I had had a strong prompting as did our bishop that in order for this family to be sealed-Anthony needed to do it. HE needed to baptize them because for the first while that would be the only motive to become worthy. Eventually, he realized as did we that smoking was the heavy layer on top that if we were to skim that off there would be different underlining concerns. Many questions, concerns, and anti came into his life soon after. I believe that, that was a blessing in disguise to allow him to ACT in faith. Many times God puts us in situations that test us to see if our faith is sufficient for the blessing that lies ahead.

While teaching them for all those months I learned some much NEEDED lessons about the law of sacrifice and diligence. Morgan was a member growing up and fell aways during her high school years, but as they had kids she knew she needed it back. Morgan took the three rowdy boys to church every Sunday alone, but at the same time never giving up on him. I know that through the diligence and faith of sweet Morgan, Anthony was able to see the love of Christ. She exemplified it, she lived it, she gave it to him.

One year ago if your would have told Anthony Julian he was going to hold the Aaronic priesthood, baptize his boys and love being a Mormon- he would have laughed in your face and probably thrown out a few swear words at you. When we talk about the transforming powers of the Atonement, this is what we mean. Anthony Julian is living proof that through Jesus Christ ALL can be made fare, hearts can be healed, addictions made clean, and a heart can be changed.

As I stood in the back and watched Anthony baptize Ryan and Conrad tears of pure humility for the Lord flowed down my face. Like Alma, "What added to my joy, was he was still by brother in the Lord." (Alma 17:2). They asked me to speak and I was able to share my testimony with them about the "unspeakable gift of the Holy Spirit". As this family worked hand in had with each other and relied on the Lord the spirit was able to change them, strengthen them, and remind them  to never give up. I know that it is through "line upon line, precept upon precept" that the spirit taught them and that allowed for this miracle to take place.

REMEMBER:

A miracle is the natural result of true principles applied.

Ok for the rest of the week....

(from sis. hall)

1. Do you remember me telling you about Shai?  The cute little thug who was supposed to get baptized but dropped us?  Yeah.  We've been trying to get a hold of her for 2 weeks, but to no avail.  On the day we started expecting miracles, we felt prompted to stop by her apartment, even though it was deviating from our schedule.  She was there and we set up a return appointment with her!!

2. We invited one of our investigators, Jacob, to eat dinner at the church.  He came, and the Young Men's basketball team just so happened to be practicing in the gym.  Somehow Jacob started talking to the boys...and then gave them some drills to try...and before we knew it, he was full-fledged RUNNING the practice and the boys started calling him COACH!!!  They begged him to come to their game the following morning and he did!  We've now taught him a couple lessons and he's pretty much the Young Men's basketball coach now. :)

3. We're teaching this sweet old lady, Sister Olson right now.  Her husband is a member and she's been taught by elders over the years, but just doesn't want to be baptized.  This woman is the reason sister missionaries are so valuable!  She needs sisters who can apply "girl talk" openness to gospel lessons.  We invited her to read the Book of Mormon a couple days ago, and she had read like 8 chapters when we met with her on our "expect miracles" day!  She was open and receptive in a way we haven't seen from her yet, and MAN the greatest miracle of all is a softening heart.

4. Throughout our ENTIRE transfer, Sister Hall and I have been praying to find and teach a 4-piece family.  We pray for them every day.  Well..a couple days ago we met these two ladies from Africa while we were out and about, and we gave them our number.  Well THEY CONTACTED US and are interested in being taught next week!  Not only that, these women are sisters and they both have husbands...we feel like this is the 4-piece family that God wanted us to find.

5. Sooo we knock on this door while we're tracting, and this mean lady is like, "I'm not interested, you can go now." (picture her being really sassy)  I say, "Ok" in the saddest voice ever (haha that makes people feel bad for being mean sometimes) and we turn to leave.  She closes the door, and then suddenly opens it again.  She's like, "Hold on, would you ladies come back please?" (still sounds super sassy) And she goes into her house to get something.  First we thought she might be giving us back a Book of Mormon she'd been given previously.  And then we remembered we were EXPECTING MIRACLES.  So I'm just praying mightily in my heart for a miracle, and what happens???  Out comes this woman's 30-year-old son, and he tells us he wants to learn more about Jesus Christ.  He followed us down to the church and we gave him a church tour (remind me to tell you about what a church tour is sometime...they are SO powerful) and put him on date for baptism on March 9th!  His name is Joe.  His road to baptism might take a little longer than the date we originally put him on date for (his big barrier is that he's an alcoholic) but this man WILL change through the atonement of Jesus Christ and be baptized.  I'm so excited to help him through that journey.

I would challenge each of you to EXPECT MIRACLES this week.  When we live our lives in faith and obedience the Lord WILL shower us with miracles.  Seek after them, recognize them, and glory be to God for them! Apply the principles of the gospel to your life and we can all have miracles!

I love you all,

Sister Phillips

WA-TAC