February 22, 2016 (10 Months out)

I love the photos! How awesome that they went to the Church Sweethearts dance instead! It really is way better. And it sounds like it was such a blast! Texas Roadhouse is one of those places that they don´t have down here =( But hot tubs and tubing too, Awesome! How much snow did they end up getting? Down here we´ve gotten stuck at a constant 20-28 degrees celsius (60-75 fahrenheit) And I knew that Kutter goes to a different school, but Sophie too? When did she change schools?

And I thought I did send that letter to both of you... Sorry!

Money can be sent in cards (they don´t relly bother opening them to search em) or in packages. And dollars are perfect. This close to the border it´s super easy to exchange them anywhere we go.

I´ll try to keep the photos flowing, but what do you mean by sending them large? I usually just attatch the file to my letter and send it. Is there a better way to do it?

It still feels so weird to think that Maren is serving a mission already! She still seems so young!

Good luck on your lesson, It sounds like it´ll be super fun with some great examples =)

now here's a solid general letter for the public, feel free to change or edit it in any ways you feel necesary 

First off, here's a shout out to The Hines. Thank you so much for the peanut butter!

So this week we went with a former investigator. She hadn´t been progressing much so the last missionaries here had stopped visiting her. When we came to visit her we found that she had read the Book of Mormon completely, knew it was true, but still didn´t want to get baptized. But after sharing a lesson about the importance of baptism, we invited her to pray and ask specifically ¨Is now the time for me to be baptised?¨. The following week we came back and she had her answer. Her baptism is planned for March 5th and now we´re trying to help her son recieve an answer too. He is only 11 years old, but he´s pretty Catholic and is struggling to make his decision. 

Another fun thing happened this week! The Pope came to town! Everyon got the day off from work, the busses and taxies were all closed off. It actually turned out to be a great day though. Nobody had to go to work so we were able to visit loads of people! Street contacting this day was also pretty productive and we found new people to teach!

These past pew days we have been visiting some less active families and we found something very surprising: All of their marraiges are falling apart! After talking to about 4 families in the same situation, we came to a solid conclusion: 4Nephi 1:11-13 

11 And they were married, and given in marriage, and were blessed according to the multitude of the promises which the Lord had made  unto them.

 12 And they did not walk any more after the performances and ordinances of the law of Moses; but they did walk after the commandments which they had received from their Lord and their God, continuing infasting and prayer, and in meeting together oft both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord.

13 And it came to pass that there was no contention among all the people, in all the land; but there were mighty miracles wrought among the disciples of Jesus.

It is such a simple promise! These families got married, but stopped keeping the commandments: going to church, fasting and praying. But if they were to just keep doing these things (going to church, fasting and praying), the lord promises them that they would have more peace in their lives! They could have a happier, closer family!

So remember this. If ever you feel like your family has too many problems and you´re always fighting, Ask yourselves ¨Am I keeping the Lord´s commandments?¨ 

Receive the Holy Ghost, [for] it will show unto you all things what ye should do. (2Nephi 32:5)

Elder Phillips

So yeah, the pope came to town and for many it was a huge deal! He was on 24hr TV Broadcasting. Makes me wonder, when did he go to the bathroom...

Haha, but yeah. All the Super-Catholic people were camped out by the road from 4am til noon just to see him pass by in the pope mobile for a few seconds. Many people were kissing his hands and kneeling and bowing down to him too. They sold T-shirts everywhere that said (translated) "Juarez is love" or "The missionary of Peace and Mercy" with a picture of the pope, the virgin guadeloupe (kind of a second virgin mary. they have a few different ones down here), and "The X" (a landmark built here in Juarez).

How cool that they know each other! Does he have any good embarrasing stories about Elder Aguilar?

And yeah, $ is perfect. The exchange rate is pretty good right now too!

Tell Aaron that I'm proud of him and glad that he was able to make this step in his life! Did everyone in there family end up getting baptised, or did a kid or two not want to?

So what is your advice for sending a package to you guys, Fedex? UPS? I'm not sure which'll be best but I'm trying to get it to you guys soon, cheaply, and in 1 peice!

I Love you dad!

Elder Phillips 

That is some pretty scenery there!