Another from June 15

Hey Mom!

I'm sorry I didn't write you, I was feeling terrible about it all week! And so I'm writing you firstish this week!

It has been awesome here! You love little cute dogs? They're running around in the streets everywhere down here! 

I wish I was able to play disney games with you guys! It sounds like fun! I also miss being able to play board games with the family. I've been missing that a bit. But really only a little. We've been working so hard down here and I've been getting sunburnt like crazy! I'll probably end up using a bottle of sunscreen everyday!

I can almost understand the people down here! So long as they talk using simple words, I feel fluent!\

Before anything else, Here's the mail address for our mission: 

1410 Gail Borden Suite

B-4 El Paso, Texas 79935

I believe that's it. And just write elder phillips as the recipient and I'll get it someday!

President Derbez told us that if your family doesn't send you packages, it's because they don't care about you. I'd like to think he was joking...

But yeah! 

Read Helaman chapters 5-6! They are awesome!

Love you always!

~Elder Phillips 

And then the one from Dave, and to Dave :)

On Sun, Jun 7, 2015 at 8:25 PM, Dave Phillips <boisedwp@gmail.com> wrote:

Hey, so Kat gave birth last Wednesday. It was a baby. It was a girl. Her name is Davida. Well maybe not the last part, but that should be her name. Seriously, look at her!  She is fat and red, what more do you need than that to name her after me?  It really hurts my feelings that they went out of their way to not name her after the person she looks EXACTLY like.



Before I forget, you need to send me your physical address. The address for the mission home is what we will put in the bulletin on the back with the other missionaries from our Ward. If you want more letters then you're gonna have to send it to me. Don't forget.

So, as you might have guessed, as soon as the baby was born, mom hit the road to go down there to do whatever it is that grandmas do. She has been doing it ever since and will continue to do that for another week or so. Not really sure what it is, but I think it involves a lot of taking pictures, saying 'oooohh' and other such things that call unnecessary attention to the fat, red little person (did I mention she looks just like me?). Actually she is not all that little, she came out at 9lbs, 14oz!  If Ryan had come from better stock I am sure they could have pushed it over the 10 pound mark. What a slacker!

The kids are now out of school. We are having a memorable time already. They spend the day asking me when mom is coming home, if they can have another Popsicle, if they can play with friends, and if they can go to the park (the answers are:  I have no idea, sure, if your room is clean, and yes). Of course, there is great whining cuz all of the answers are not YES!  I am not too worried. They will get over it.

That is funny that your original trainer got 'fired' for showing up late. Bummer for him. Now he is stuck for another transfer with a missionary who is not YOU!  So sad for him. So tell us all about your comp. how is the language coming along?  Are you limited to bearing your testimony or are you able to teach a bit?  What kind of home/apartment do you live in?  Is there lots of gunfire in the night?  How about in the day?  You are probably so used to it that you don't notice any more.

What do you spend your days doing?  Lots of tracking? Street contacting?  Teaching?  Visiting members?  Re-wiring and Putting roofs on homes in danger of falling down?  How is the food?  I bet it is awesome!

Keep up the old work. We are praying for you always.

David Phillips

Hey dadio!

 

So about that address.... I don't know it. Neither does my comp. What we do know is that it's somewhere in El Paso. I hope that helps :) But you could maybe google it?

 

We visit a lot of members. We have learned that the people here get converted to the missionaries sometimes, and by bringing members they can make friends and go to church more.

 

Feed the missionaries whenever you can! And feed them lots of ice cream!

 

Most days it has been over 100 degrees here. But at night it cools down to about 90. I wake up in the morning drenched in sweat. It's pretty legit. And then we start up the fancy little pilot water heater outside, use the bathroom and usually only have 15 minutes to work out. Im glad I did fitmania though, I know way more stretches than before! I stretch for 5 minutes before, do sit ups for 5 (or lay downs as I like to call them), and stretch for 5 more. Ok that's another joke. Usually I do some pushups and lift weights, do squats and other stuff too. Our weights are just milk jugs full of water though. but I don't mind.

 

We do a lot of contacting and teaching lessons. However, most of the time they aren't home for our lessons so we end up walking a half hour to contact a reference. We don't do tracting. We have been forbidden because it isn't safe.

Fun fact for you:

When a dog dies, guess what they do with it? Stick it in a bag and toss it in the street where it gets run over until it becomes dirt. and that is why mexico smells bad.

And here's a little side note: In talking to my comp I've decided to get a Glock 17 or Glock 19 when I get home. something small and useful. I've decided that I need to be prepared in case America starts to go downhill much more and turns into the next Juarez.

 

Love you dad! Have fun being a grandpa!

~Elder Phillips