August 8, 2016

I really love all the pictures and the stories on what's going on back home! That's probably my favorite part. And seeing Megan's tan lines! Holy Guacamole! I haven't gotten Colton or Russell's letters yet, but I'm glad to hear that they're doing well! Justin still hasn't written me though... Maybe he just doesn't have my Email? Or maybe he wrote it down wrong? who knows. I kinda worry about that kid. 

 I have some great stories for you guys this week! This first one I'm just going to send to you and dad, and if you want to you can pass it on to everyone else, but I do plan on sending a short general letter too.

So It's about an older lady we met this week! A rather Interesting experience...

So to make a short story ever shorter, we got called by a member lady who lives over in Casas Grandes (a small town nearby) saying that her mother was in a hospital in our area and that she needed a blessing. So we got her information, put an appointment, and went to visit her. When we got to the room we entered to see an old lady(80ish) in a bed with a younger lady (30ish) sitting nearby. We explained who we are and why we were there and then asked her if she was a member of the church (we asked the younger lady, the older one had pneumonia and a breathing aparatus on her nose so she couldn't really talk too well). The younger lady told us no, and that the older lady wasn't a member either, but the daughter of the older lady was a member (the one who called us). So it was a little awkward but we went on and gave the lady a blessing. As I was blessing her, I got the impression that she wouldn't make it. I knew that her time had come. I felt a bit sad to say it in the blessing, but I told her to rest. I blessed her so that her pains would ease and she'd be able to rest peacefully. After the blessing we left. 

That was on Tuesday. She passed away Thursday around 9AM. 

I felt a little sad for the family, but I realize that there wasn't anything I could've done to change it. It was her time.

It's always sad to see someone pass away, but that time always comes. It isn't a question of whether or not it'll happen, but more a question of when. So that's why I love God and Temples and the church. Because God made a plan for us, and in the earth we can be sealed together with our families. That way we can be with our loved ones after this life too! Our family is the most important thing we have on earth. And so we have to love it and cherish it always. I think that's why the prophets and apostles have always said "Husbands, Love your wives." That's also why they bless us with scripture like The Family: Proclamation. I love my family. I love you all. I love you mom. And don't you ever doubt it.

Elder Phillips

Another great week in Rio Nilo. I have to say, I feel really good right now. We've been working hard and it's starting to pay off. I've been here for 3 weeks and we still don't have anyone progressing enough to accept a baptismal date, but we're putting our faith in the Lord and working hard to find those who have been prepared to recieve the gospel.

This week we went to visit a sweet old lady named Sister Enojosa. She's been an active member of the church for many years now but recently fell down and hurt herself. So we went with her visiting teacher to visit her and give her a blessing. In one of our visits, Sister E. told us about one time when her visiting teacher's family planned a Christmas Pageant for her. As she told us of the activity, her eyes filled with tears and I couldn't help but look back at the activities I had done in retirement homes back home. Truthfully, I felt bad. I realized that for this Sister didn't get many visits nowadays and she feels pretty lonely. And to have someone go out of their way to do a family home evening or simply come visit meant all the world to her. I shamefully admit that back home I usually had a pretty bad attitude about such activities. I was selfish, just thinking about me and my wants and how I would much rather be out going to the movies or hanging out with friends. But as I saw Sister E. nearly in tears as she reminisced about an activity that happened 5 years ago... wow. I don't even think that the family who did it remembers the pageant. But she does and I doubt that she'll ever forget it. 

I've come to realize that Christlike love and Humility go hand in hand. When we're only looking inward at ourselves and our wants, we never learn to love others.
Mat 10:39

"He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."

Only when we forget about ourselves and start serving others can we grow spiritually. 

Love,

Elder Phillips

We found some native Juarense Animals!

1. The horsedrawn burrito salesman

2. A cool looking lizard that came out during the rain