August 17, 2015

We didn't get a real letter from John this week, don't know what happened…. He managed to get a quick one to Dave though!

      There is 1 huge downside to being here in Mexico: Nobody knows what Mtn Dew is. I have decided that I must begin a quest to find it. There are many little shops (called Tiendas) all around where they sell coke products, chips, peanuts, and more or less everything else that is unhealthy for you. but none of them have Mtn Dew. But I won't give up! Kindof like that guy from Zombieland, This is my objective! There is a slightly chilled can of mtn dew out there in Mexico somewhere, and it aint gonna last forever!

I really hope the Buckners progress. How long have they been talking to the missionaries? And what got them interested? what is really holding them back? 

And Wish Ellie luck for me! I hope she makes A team and becomes one of the best!

So you and I are both slimming up quite nicely from the sound of it, I think we should have a competition! I don't know what it should be, but we definitely need to have a competition! 

I love you dad!

Elder Phillips

On Mon, Aug 17, 2015 at 10:17 AM, Dave Phillips <boisedwp@gmail.com> wrote:

As you can si, my espanol has begun to blossom. I am pretty mucho bi-lingual.

We went up to the lodge this past weekend with the mcombers, johnsons, dahlia, Saints, and buckners. We also had Kate and Tadman Nettles with us. We had a great time. It was a bit crazy with that many people but everyone got along well. There was a bunch of ATV riding, and fishing, and boating, and playing on the beach. There was also way more food than wa needed, so I did my best to gain 30 pounds in two days. I did not quite make it, but I cam close!  Everyone had a really good time.

So we met with the missionaries and the buckners again last Monday and will again tomorrow. It is going pretty good but sometimes I wonder if they (especially the mom) is really serious about it. They love the results of what living the gospel results in: joy, happiness, family, friends, string values, etc but I think that they may have a hard time making the decision and not being prideful and able to admit the gospel is true and not be influenced by others who don't agree. It is great being part of it -- this is the first time since my mission that I haven't been involved in missionary discussions.

Ellie is doing volleyball tryouts. She should know in the next few days if she made A team or B team or something else. She is feeling pretty good about how it is going. I think she will either be on A team or she will be one of the best on B team. She is really enjoying it and wants to do well.

It is good to hear the language is coming along for you. That is something I never had to deal with so I can't give much advice, other than:  Do Good, Be Good. It is also cool to see that you and your companions are having success in bringing people to the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is Awesome!!

Mom and I just finished another FitMania challenge. It was good. I am less fat now than I was before and my Achilles is healing nicely. I am able to do most things now. They say it will take a full year to get close to normal. It has been 8 months and i already feel close to normal. That is one thing that FitMania is good for - it keeps me pushing to do more and do better and strengthen it each day. Just like spiritual health- it is a process that requires constant effort to get better little by little each day.

I love you. You are awesome. Keep up the good work. You are a great example to your siblings and to you cousins.

David Phillips