September 27, 2010

What is going on? We went downtown and did some shopping! I got some new things and felt really happy after! I know that it is the gospel of Jesus Christ that brings true happiness, but shop therapy was pretty great! While we were shopping, we lost Elder Haggard! I felt like a parent running around trying to find him. I was worried sick! I can imagine how a parent feels to some degree! I could have killed him!

We went on divisions and I was working with another elder who was really struggling. I asked him a lot of questions and finally I got everything out of him. I found out that he has a little anxiety. I think I helped him get through it! We talked and worked everything out for like 3 hours! I guess it was worth going through all my anxiety, because i was able to help him out and this is just another testimony for me of why I am supposed to be here in Chelsea.

Thursday, I was just really praying hard about what I can do to help my investgators progress and get them to come to church. The thing that really kicked me in the face was when I was reading in 3 Nephi 11. The first thing he does when he gets to the Americas is testify. I realized that the people of Chelsea don't have a problem understanding about God or their beliefs in God. What they need is for me to explain more clearly and to testify what we need and I think it is working. I need to remember to teach what the people need not to what they already know.

Sunday was so cool! I gave another blessing to one of the members of the family that Elder Ririe found. Blessings are difficult to give in Spanish because there are so many more rules that you have to follow. I get really nervous to give them, but the Lord helped me so much. It was awesome and felt good. Then we had Fast and Testimony meeting and one of the members testified about a blessing that I gave a little girl and how it healed her! Oh my gosh! It was such a testimony builder for me! I also taught a class at church in Spanish with only 2 hours of notice. I know that I was called to Boston, MA for a reason! I am growing so much!

I am so excited for General Conference this week. It is kinda funny, but the missionaries talk about conference like it is Christmas! We will have a couple of activities and then everyone watches it at the chapel. I think I am watching it in Spanish and I am super excited! It will be so great!

Peace and Blessings...

September 20, 2010

Whatttt uppppp? Elder Dawe and I are dying football season has started. The best thing about serving in a Spanish area is that no one cares about football and we don't get reminded about what we are missing!

Pray for Elder Dawe not to be stressed and to help him learn Spanish. He wants to learn so bad. I am doing my best to serve him and teach him. In the process, I am getting a better grasp of Spanish, that is great and really fun.

We are doing great, but we have no serious investigators and no investigators that have a baptism date or that are coming to church. We are working diligently.

I decided that General Conference for the missionaries is like Christmas, at least we talk about it like it is!

Monday, we taught someone in the ward that we have never met before. It is the Maza family and they are part of the huge family that Elder Rire baptized when he was here. I always look forward to our dinners with the members and their conversion stories. It is really really special. We shared a cool activity with the family. We taught about how faith is like a seed and I had them draw a flower and what you have to do to make it grow. They loved it!

Wednesday was the most productive day on my mission. We went from lesson to lesson to lesson to lesson. Everyone was home.

Saturday was amazing. I tried fasting all week for the International Dinner activity. It was so fun. I ate till I exploded. Everyone brought food from all the countries that they were from. I made brownies since the United States stole everything from other countries!

Sunday was really spiritual. I gave another blessing to a baby. I still get nervous to give blessings in Spanish, but the spirit guided me me through it.

This was a good week. We taught 15 lessons. It was just amazing. God loves us! I love this work!

Peace and Blessings.

September 13, 2010

This past week, we had changes. The final p-day of the transfers is always crazy. We are running around trying to do everything the people that are leaving want to do. Thursday, we had a transfer meeting and I got a new companion. His name is Elder Parker Dawe from Pleasant Grove, UT. We played against each other in football. He played on the line, so he probably destroyed me! He is a player and got scholarship offers from all over Utah. He is cool and we have so much in common. Our favorite movie is "Remember the Titans ". We love all sports. We talked and talked and shared a lot of experiences with each other. He is a good guy. He served in an English area so he is lacking on the Spanish skills. So, I am teaching Spanish again. I never knew how tiring it is to teach a language. I am staying in Chelsea for at least six more weeks, so that is awesome!

Friday was my "bump" mark which means that I am 1/4 done with my mission. That is crazy that already came. Before I know it I will be home, I am sure. I am trying to serve the Lord the best I can. I almost killed my new comp on Friday! We went on a run (he has had a car) and I am a lot smaller than him so I can run faster. I made him run with me. He was determined to run with me, but he was real real tired!

Saturday, I went to Fenway Park. I have the best pics in the whole world! The President approved us to go to Fenway and help with a blood drive. I am so converted to the sports in Boston! It is so awesome, we have to go here for a game! I am totally obsessed and just loving it!

Sunday we started changing the whole ward mission plan! It is crazy how much responsibility 20 kids have in a language that they are just learning. That was my week! Love you guys!!!

September 8, 2010

It is weird to be one fourth done with my mission already. I feel like I started yesterday!

It is transfers this week. I am staying in Chelsea for at least another 6 weeks, but my companion Elder Standage is leaving. My Spanish is going to come along very very fast. I hope I will have it down cold before I leave Chelsea. I am going to work hard at it.

Monday we made tortillas at Irma Sanchez's house. She is the nicest lady from Guatamala and the coolest person ever. She taught us how to make tortillas. Monday we had a miracle happen. Do you remember Carlos Ramirez? Well we lost contact with him. He moved and we couldn't find him. We were walking in the middle of no where because someone had given us a fake address. As we were walking, we see Carlos and get his address! It was just wonderful! Here we had this fake address and we find Carlos. You can just see the Lord's hand in our work, always!

I am super stoked because we have a really serious investigator. He is coming along really well. His name is Ricardo and he is totally going to get baptized. I am super excited. Last week, Elder Standage and I did really well with our last week together. We taught 19 lessons, helped with 3 moves, and did service at the Rock. We worked hard and had so much fun. I got the "Go Hard Like a Bear" award which means our district leader, Elder Castro, acknowledged my hard work this past week.

I am emailing at the Apple Store at Prudential Mall, so I don't have much time for emails today. I am super excited...we finally found a serious investigator and we are having serious success with the less active members. I am just loving life right now. Elder Standage and I have gotten along great and are teaching well together....now he is leaving tomorrow. The Lord doesn't let you get comfortable out here. Things are always changing to keep you on your toes and doing your best. I am loving life and love getting involved with these people out here. I am trying to do everything right; trying to be obedient and having fun doing it.

Love you guys!

Elder Phillips