Monroe-Week 11

We received an email, package, tape and pictures from Justin this week.  It was a good one.  On his tape he bore his testimony and he sounds awesome.  He absolutely loves the area he is serving in and the people that he is meeting.  He is also using his new camera and so we should be getting lots of pictures to share.  He is getting along with his companion and Justin says he is a hard worker.  He has had his second baptism and he says it was awesome.  He was very excited for the sister and he says it taught him that God does answer prayers and if we are really seeking for the truth God will reveal it to us.  He said....We had an awesome service even though the font didn't fill all the way so we had to baptize on our knee's.  Satan tried to stop us because he knew how much this would bless her life, but the Lord obviously wouldn't let him stop us.  I am so grateful for the gospel in my life and the opportunity I have as one of his children to share the gospel with others.  I love and miss ya'll!!

Here are pictures that he sent home this week.....

Buddy likes me too much.

As close to a horse, as I'm going to get.

Just playing on the playground...in the ghetto.

I popped a wheely on my bike, my bike fought back.

Baptism

Monroe-Week 10

So when we emailed Justin this past week we told him how much we appreciated the fact that he was being very responsible with his finances and he answered us and told us that we shouldn't be too quick to be happy with him because he had spent 86 dollars on a pair of cowboy boots the day before, now what is he going to do with a pair of cowboy boots?? 

Justin says the work is going great and they are having a lot of success.  He included his small miracle for the week.....our small miracle this week was awesome.  We went on a faith walk, which is where you start with a prayer and then you go out and walk and then you just follow the spirit in where he guides you, well we ended up making one massive loop back to where we started but we were walking down that road and we saw this lady and we both knew without a doubt that she was the person we were looking for.  Well she was walking up to her house and she was at the front door, so I spoke up and said something and she turned around and talked to us, long story short, she was looking for a church to join and we have started to teaching her.  It was amazing, the spirt is the bomb!!  I love it!!

I am grateful that Justin is learning to recognize the spirit in his life and that he is having an impact on others.

Monroe-Week 9

Well, Elder Phillips is still in Monroe, Georgia and is working hard.  His companion and him are hoping for a car but so far no news so they are still walking everywhere but Justin says that just gives them more people to meet.  He said that a member's dog attacked him but it really was Justin's fault he was teasing him.  I guess it serves him right.  Lol!!  They have met with the family of six and it is going pretty well.  He is getting along with his companion and the training is going great.  His small miracle for the week was.....last week we received a referral from a member that was for a guy that used to meet with missionaries in the past, so we went and saw him, he is super cool and reminds me of
Big Black, well his friend was there and it was crazy because Elder McGary and I have ran into his friend before on the opposite side of town...it really was a miracle...of all the people that he could have been good friends with, it was this man...so we are going to start teaching both of them this week.

Monroe-Week 8

So....Justin was called as a senior companion and is now training a new missionary from Rexburg, Idaho.  I told him on Christmas Day that it was a little scary thinking about him training someone new but that he was going to do a great job.  He says his new companion is alot like his Uncle Christopher, he is a big football player who lifts weights and stuff.  He says he is learning patience.  The work is going great he says.  The weather is cold there and he is not happy about that.  I received a message from Sister Wright, who Justin spent Christmas with their family, and she said that it has been about 20 degrees there and cold and wet.    He also included his small. miracle for the week.....every night we set numbers for the next day and earlier this week we set a goal to receive one referral and I had no idea how we were going to get one...it was completely by faith, well the next morning we are studying and we get a call from an unknown number, I answer it and it is a member from my last stake, she gave us a referral of a super elect family of 6 it was crazy!!  The Lord will make things happen, he is aware of our desires and needs.  I love missionary work!!  I miss ya'll and love ya.  Work hard and Never give up!!  Love Elder Phillips.

Monroe-Week 7

Well, I guess the best part of this week at least for us was the opportunity to talk with Justin via Skype on Christmas Day.  He looks and sounds great.  He was having a great Christmas with a family there in Monroe.  We had sent him a new camera since his one that he went out with was not working right and he didn't say anything because he didn't want to hurt my feelings but I guess he hasn't learned yet that moms just know when something isn't right.  Justin got to see Oliver for the first time and he said in his email that he thinks that he looks just like Brandon, it is scary.  He did mention that they are both bald.

I was so nervous to call because six months ago I would have been super homesick but now...it is just nice to see ya'll, talk for a little bit and then get back to the work.  Seeing all of you kind of just lifted my spirit and just reminded me of why I came on a mission..and it was to help other people eventually have eternal families and so that they can be as happy as I am.  Because if I didn't have the knowledge that I do of eternal families I'm not really sure what life would be like.  I really enjoyed every minute of that call home it was the best.  I think my opinion of Christmas has changed since I've been on my mission, you know it is nice to get gifts but as I have been studying about Christ I've learned about how much he did for us.  And I just sit back and ponder on that...it is amazing how much he loves us and how amazing his birth was, it was the greatest moment in history for sure.  I really just enjoy spending time with family on Christmas, the gifts are just a bonus.  I mean it was just a weird Christmas...like I was far from home but I felt at home.  It is amazing what six months away from home will do to ya.  I had an amazing Christmas and I miss ya'll alot.  This week was crazy but I have a tiny miracle for ya, we were meeting with Betty Jean, a sweet old lady, she has a daughter who is a non-member who is always there but she leaves the room every time we show up.  But this time in the middle of visiting with Betty Jean her daughter comes in and we start talking to her about her father who died years ago and as a missionary I start trying to move the conversation towards the plan of salvation.  It was so awesome and I know that the spirit brought her to us because if testifies of truth.

I was really good to talk with him and then to get an email on Monday which I didn't expect.  I am grateful for the gospel in my own life and I am so glad that Justin is having the chance to take the gospel to those in Georgia who are seeking for the truth.  Hopefully, now with the new camera we will have new pictures to post.