November 28, 2017

I admit that I miss the amazing thanksgiving dinners, it just wasn't the same without it.
So thanksgiving down here was alright, no parties or fun dinners were planned so we had to make our own fun. We planned a family home evening with the recent converts who´s got baptised last week and we secretly ordered a pizza. We had a great lesson about Nefi 8 (lehi´s dream) where everyone participated in drawing the tree of life and all the other parts of it. But of course my favorite part was the pizza :) haha. 
In truth it was a wonderful family home evening where we were able to talk about all the many things we are thankful for. I love thanksgiving!

Sorry it wasn´t a very eventfull week, I´ll send pictures of our activity from Monday!

I Love You!
Elder Phillips

Other news, the violence down here is getting worse again. Its still safe for missionaries though, they respect us and only mess with people who are doing drugs and whatnot. But yeah, nothing happens to us. So don´t worry about me if you start seeing stuff on the news. I´ll probably be home before it gets serious.

Hey, and there´s a new video from the church that´s super cool! it´s called #LightheWorld or #IluminaelMundo in spanish. Share it with the neighbors!
not sure if the pics turned out well or not, i didn´t take them. But Here´s the zone in our matching Sweatshirts!

November 21, 2017

Hey Mom!

So Im sorry I wont be able to write much, a lot´s been going on down here and I don´t have much time today.

So the changes have passed over our heads like the destroying angel. Our whole district will be staying the same (for at least 3 more weeks).

We had a baptism on saturday! We´ve been working with an awesome family so that their youngest son could get baptised. It was really super cool because his older brother was the one who got to baptise him! The boys name is Alan and his brother is Edgar.

I Love You a Lot!

Elder Phillips

Hey, just to let you know that today i´m going to make a withdrawel from my bank acount. I´ve recently had to spend a lot of extra cash and i´m broke 🤗

So as for a package, if you could send me money that would be great. and the other camera too! 

Thanks mom!

Elder Phillips

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm constantly reminded that Trump won down here by all the mexicans. They're all worried because they all have family living illegally in the states. They cant believe how racist he is for trying to get rid of them all. Every day that's all i hear from them. I've gotten pretty sick of politics and i'm not even participating!  Only among our fellow american missionaries is it safe to admit that we're fans.

My companion´s doing well. He´s still lazy when it comes to getting up and excersizing in the mornings, but he´s been improving non his studying. President Owen gave me a few ideas in our interviews last week that seem to be working.

We´ve been teaching a lot of people lately and our zone is #1 on the charts. We even had a baptism this weekend! The branch just got changed to a ward and the members here are pretty great and supportive. The youth are pretty open to doing visits with us too! We don´t do many service project, maybe 1 a month. But when we do it usually includes yard work, digging, or cleaning something.

Just yesterday the bishop invited us over for dinner. He also challenged me to a game of chess in which the loser would have to find and prepare a family for baptism within the next month and a half (1 transfer). I agreed and I lost. It was a very close match, but at the end I made a fatal error and the game was his. I guess I´m a bit rusty. But now we´ll be looking extra hard to find ¨Golden Families¨

Remember to ´Count your many blessings!´

Elder Phillips

November 14, 2016

Today I am adding Dave's letter to John, then I don't have to explain everything he said.
I spent the week in Atlanta this past week. I was there for automation fair for work. I had about 25 customers there and it was a good week. Lots of meetings etc that went well. I have plenty to keep me busy for the coming months. That is all good.
So one day I went to sushi for lunch while in Atlanta. It was pretty tasty stuff. I snapped a photo of it  just so I could show it to the girls and make them all jealous (yes, it worked)!
Also while in Atlanta I went to the WORLD OF COKE. It was awesome. I now understand how Lehi felt when he reached the promised land!  It was fun. They have over a hundred different flavors of Sosa that they serve all over the world. It was fun to sample them.

So also while i was in Atlanta there was the election. I am sure that you have heard about it. Basically the democrats were destroyed and republicans dominated. It was quite unexpected. Everyone was saying that Hillary was going to destroy trump. Didn't happen.

So while I was in Atlanta there were protestors that were whining because they lost the election. They were demonstrating to complain that they don't like him (no kidding, that is why we have an election and you get to vote for who you want). While I was there I ran into some of the protestors one night while walking to dinner. They were a bunch of whiny, snot-nosed, 20 year old whiners. It was kind of ad to see them carrying on without a firm understanding of how a president is selected and no respect for the law or a willingness to obey it.

Today was the primary program at church. The kids did a great job. Anna had a part and did real well in her part. The songs were great and the spirit was strong. It was really good. The best part EVER was by Chase McOmber. He was bearing his testimony and talked about praying to know if the Book of Mormon was true. He talked about feeling the spirit and how it felt. He said, "it felt like a bowling ball being shoved down my throat, except it felt good and peaceful". Well, I have never heard it described like that!  I was laughing to myself for 15 minutes before I could finally stop.
David Phillips

World of coke! I didnt even know that they had that! I'm constantly reminded that Trump won down here by all the mexicans. They're all worried because they all have family living illegally in the states. They cant believe how racist he is for trying to get rid of them all. Every day that's all i hear from them. I've gotten pretty sick of politics and i'm not even participating!

Only among our fellow american missionaries is it safe to admit that we're trump fans.

I've never heard the spirit described in such a way. Chase should be a poet :)

Sorry i havent had a lot of time to write lately. we{ve just been super busy even on our p days. 

the work is going well down here. We reactivated an inactive family and their son will be getting baptised by his older brother this saturday. 

My usb got a virus from the computers here, so I can't send pics. Its a bummer. I'll see what I can do, but no promises :(

This week has been great, but a little stressfull to tell the truth. We've been under a lot of pressure from our leaders to find new people to teach. Our district has been contacting like crazy but with very few results. But oh well, what else can you do?

I once heard that insanity is repeating the exact same action and expecting different results. So what do we have to do? Keep adapting to our circumstances. Change our way of finding people to teach. 

Tip: When you trust the missionaries, give them references. Even if you're sure that they'll reject the missionaries. 

I like that. We're going to be changed this coming week. I think ill stay here and my companion will be heading out. But who knows, maybe ill get changed again.

This week has been cold. One night around 8pm my companion was just about ready to give up and go home. we have to be home before 9 and our house is 20 minutes from our area. But we decided to knock one last door. It was dark and cold outside and we were almost certain that nobody would open the door (to tell the truth my comp didn't even come to the door with me. He just stood back and watched). I felt a need to knock the door of a rather humble looking home who still had its lights on. To our surprise, they not only opened up but after a short conversation to get to know eachother, the lady invited us in to share our message with her. 

 *note, during our 5 weeks in our area that had never happened before.

She shared with us her problems, her recent divorce and her three kids. She's only 25 and working in the factory to provide for their basic needs, and shares the house with a friend (female) and her baby. Thats two adults and 4 kids sharing a house made of 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom and a kitchen. She expressed her desire to get closer to God, and her only regret was that she had waited until the problems had come to make that step. 

As we taught her about Her Father, I couldn't help but think of all that he does for us. He loves us so much that he provides us the way to be happy. And when someone is looking for it, he sends them help.

God is always there. Trust in him. 

Love you all!

Elder Phillips

Nov 7, 2016

I'm so glad you got the picture! they asked me for my phone number and I totally spaced and couldn't remember it! (A lady, Mary Ann Holley,  sent me this photo of John on sunday, she is on a humanitarian service project and ran into him.)I haven't been able to send pictures lately because of the computers we use (they're slower and don't let me upload pics very well), so I'm glad you got that one.

I'm getting fatter. Just letting you know. We're entering the winter season, when almost all exersize ends and fatty greasy food abounds. I'll do my best to not arrive back home a giant ball of lard, but no promises :)

That being said, The package arrived! I got it saturday night after our zone's interviews with president. The candy is super sweet, and the flag is awesome. And that puzzle you sent! that is amazing! I didn't even know you could do that!  And the money was very welcome. I don't think I ever told you this but my shoes finally have worn out. The first pair died about 2 months ago with a hole in the bottom, and the second pair is getting close (It got a hole on the top about the size of a pea). The new pair you sent is still in solid condition, but I had to break down and buy a cheap pair in the segundas. I'm pretty sure that it'll be enough to last through the winter. So Iafter that I was running a little short on cash, so thank you very much for sending some!

I really don't know what would be fun to get from the beehives... maybe the email adresses of their older sisters ;) hahaha, just kidding. I really don't know. (Our Beehive activity this week is writing to the missionaries)

I'm liking the new area. It's called Villa Hermosa or beautiful town. Its small and unpaved and infested with "cholos" or wannabe thugs. they smoke and sell a lot of marijuana down here, and our area covers the turf of three different gangs 1. Reforma 2. Encinos 3. Villa Hermosa. Each gang is divided by their respective colony (like hickories, demeyer, etc.) but they're alright. Nobody messes with the missionaries. They offer us their protection (kind of like pedro's cousins) if someone ever treats us poorly. We actually started teaching english to a few of them and who knows, maybe they'll be interested in the gospel? The people here are somewhat interested. The majority straightup say no, but those who say yes usually progress.

The comp's a good hard working missionary who knows his area very well. We're planning on having several baptisms here in November and December.

Love ya Mom!

Elder Phillips

October 31, 2016

Story time!

Legend has it that if a pregnant lady doesn´t put a safety pin on her shirt (where the belly button is) the moon comes and eats her baby. weird, right? It makes it easier to tell if a girl is pregnant though. 

I sure would love those donuts! But you´re right,  they´d probably go bad.

Watch out for that ex mish.... I don´t trust him😉 (Megan brought a friend home, Hayden... just a friend :)
Happy Halloween!!!

haha, watch out for the old ladies! They´ll get you every time!

Down here they really don´t celebrate halloween much. Day of the dead is normally bigger, but here on the border our holidays are actually bigger than theirs. 

You may already know this, but many missionaries near the end of their mission start thinking more in their homes and work less. My goal is to never do that. My goal is to use my experiences to make this the greatest time of my mission.

I don´t really know what else to say...

I only have 6 months left (crazy how time flies).

The sister missionaries from the mtc now write me from their homes.

I´m working hard, trying to put a good example for my companion.

Everyone is super jealous of my crazy socks you guys sent (a few months back)

I love you a lot!!

Elder Phillips

(I had a funny story for you, I had to look back and was shocked I didn’t tell you already! I was at a restaurant and had to use the bathroom. I was in my stall and my mind wandered and was thinking of how awkward it is when you make eye contact through the crack of the door… when …. a hand GRABBED MY SIDE!!!  I screamed “Holy COW!”  I looked to my right and the garbage that was on the wall of my stall had been unlocked. There was a 150 year old women in the next stall that had gone to throw something away, knocked my side open and touched me! I then had fits of laughter as the weak, crackly, wobbly old voice next to me said “are you OK?”

So funny!  I now look to find those garbages when I go in a bathroom……)

Oct 24, 2016

Fun fact: it turns out that I´m awesome at basketball!

Ok, not really. But we´ve started playing as a Zone and it´s been great! The people down here really like Basketball but aren´t very talented so I feel right at home!

My companion and I had an awesome experience this with with a new investigator. Her name is Ruth.

her family had asked us a few questions about the plan of salvation at the end of our first visit. So when we came back to teach them, we showed them how the Book of Mormon could answer their questions. Her qeustion was about what happens after the death, and if her father was with God (her dad had died just a year or 2 before). Our plan was to leave them the answers in the scriptures and have them read it for a homework assignment, but she was too excited and read it immediately. She looked kind of strange for a moment and then her eyes filled with tears. She looked like she wanted to say something so we asked if she had any questions or comments. This was her reply: ¨I do have a question, Why do I feel like this? I mean, my inlaws are Christians and we´ve read the bible and stuff, but I´ve never felt this way before. What is it? I feel...free. I feel happy, peaceful, I don´t know how else to describe it. I´m not sad but I want to cry andI don´t know why. Please tell me, why do I feel like this?¨ 

This was a wonderful moment and the spirit was so strong! When someone truly has a desire to know the gospel, God answers. 

Scripture of the week:

Moroni 9:6

Have a great week!

Elder Phillips

October 17, 2016

This was a pretty good first week in Casas Grandes. I´m in the Villa Hermosa Branch with my new companion Elder Cruz. 

We spent a lot of time contacting people this week, and it paid off! We were able to see The Lord´s hand many times throughout the week. 

While we were walking down the street we saw the daughter of an recent convert and she motioned us over. We got there and she told us ¨Guess what, My brother wants to get baptized!¨ 

¨Wow! That´s great¨ We said, ¨And you? ¨ 

¨So do I!¨

So we started working with them more. We put her baptismal date for the 12th of November and we´re praying for her!

 Her brother is a 30 year old ex thug covered from head to toe with tattoos (he has over 100). He´s trying to flip his life around and become a good person. He also came to church on sunday! 

There is a wonderful feeling that comes when you see people genuinely trying to live the gospel. As he walked in on sunday, I felt so warm and good inside. I know that Whoever you are or whatever you do it is never too late to repent.

Another story:

As we were walking to an appointment, we stopped to knock a door. They opened up and out came a middle aged lady to greet us. We talked for a minute and she told us that she had gone to our church before down in Aguascalientes, Mexico (other state) but that she had moved and lots contact with the missionaries. We put an appointment to go visit her and then her sister came out. So we put an appointment to visit her too! They both accepted our invitaion readily and enthusiastically.

When we went to visit the first one (Ruth), she invited us in to talk and then went to invite her family to come out and listen too. Her 16yr old son and her uncle came out to meet s and we got to know them pretty well. And it turns out that her son had gone to many activities and that her uncle is a member! They were very receptive expressed to us their sincere desire to come closer to God and go to church.

Alma 13:24 For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory.

I know that God is continually  preparing the people to recieve the gospel. This week he was able to guide us to visit those who were prepared and those who needed the gospel. 

And I know that he´s preparing people for you too. 

So Go. 

Find Them.

Elder Phillips