FELIZ NAVIDAD Y PROSPERO ANO Y FELIZIDAD

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[On Monday December 22, 2014 Emma wrote the following:]

I cannot believe that Christmas is just around the corner. Oh my heavens, I love this time of year! I have so much to catch you up on!

This is turning out to be the best transfer of my life, and it is only the first week!!! We kicked it off on Monday by having a lesson with Leo, Coralia, and little Leo at the home of the C. Lopez family. The C. Lopez family knows how to be such amazing missionaries!!! We shared the Restoration and the Spirit was so strong. At the end they all agreed to be baptized on the 17th of December! We also got to teach in a trio. Hermana Boman, Hermana McDougal and me. I love the format of trios! It was a great way to end last transfer and start anew! 

I love Leo, Coralia, and little Leo. They are so adorable and close to the Spirit. They really are taking charge in learning and progressing. It is so wonderful to be serving with them!

I love that Hermana Boman is still in the Branch. She is just adorable. She is loving her new area and doing so well in figuring things out.

I ALSO LOVE HERMANA McDOUGAL SO MUCH! Wow, she is a work horse. She has an unrelinquishing enthusiasm for the work! Also, she has an automatic love for the people. This transfer is going to be my dream come true! I couldn't ask for anything more.

Adonay is doing really well!!! ... Well, except for the fact that his family opened a restaurant an hour away and demanded that he works there for the Grand Opening. So, we haven't really had contact with him which is freaking me out! But no fears, he will be home within the next few days and we will get everything figured out. 

Rose and Julio are as wonderful as ever, but... my oh my, have they been facing about every form of opposition under the sun! To name a few of the things that have happened since they were baptized:

Cancer

Anti-Mormon Literature

1 year old in the hospital for a day and a half in isolation so no visit from us!

Julio with leg pain taking him out of work

Moving across town

Their outlet caught on fire in their new home

Anti-Mormon family bothering them

Rumors that they hate missionaries spreading in the Branch (which couldn't be further from the truth, they LOVE US)! 

With all this happening, it has been a struggle helping them make it to church. It doesn't surprise me that they are getting a little tired of the opposition. I know that Heavenly Father only allows this to come their way, because they are so strong. They came to church on Sunday! They loved it and last night we had a lesson with them about the Purpose of God's Commandments, which is to give us blessings and strength! I could see the Spirit touching them throughout the whole lesson and they are completely on board. They are going to completely immerse themselves in the Gospel this week by doing every little thing they know they need to be doing. No matter what is going on around them. That means: family prayers everyday, family scripture reading everyday, family home evening tonight and attend Church activities on Tuesday and Church on Sunday.

I have Hermana McDougal to thank for her diligence. She was perfectly inspired by the Lord on how to help motivate them to remember to do these small and simple things. (Alma 37:6) We have a goal to have them completely involved in the gospel by the end of these six weeks. 

Hermana McDougal and I have a transfer motto with goals, "GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN!" And so, Rose and Julio will be coming to Church every week and Adonay will be baptized! I know the Lord's strength is on our side! 

Life couldn't be more perfect!  HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Also, a BIG THANKS to all the members in the Ward who have sent such sweet tender notes. I am so grateful for every letter they write!! 

I had the most tender experience last week! I got to go fear busting (which is where we take a new missionary from right off the plane and go tracking for an hour). My companion was from Tonga and was the most adorable Sister Missionary ever!! She prayed at the end of the first lesson we taught on the street and just had tears of gratitude for the man we were visiting with. It was such a powerful moment! 

FEAR BUSTING WITH A NEW SISTER MISSIONARY

FROM TONGA!!

(Emma isn't tall at all, right?!?)

LOVE YOU!

Hermana Phipps

IT IS CHRISTMAS ALL AROUND!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

   [On December 8, 2014 Emma wrote the following. Christmas did sneak up rather quickly on her parents, here are her happenings for the month of December.]

   I feel like Christmas is sneaking up rather quickly, if that makes sense! We had the chance to watch the Christmas Devotional with our Stake and the whole meeting through I couldn't help but rejoice about how it is Christmas!!! I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!

   This week has been just so amazing! 

Three Reasons Why This Was the BEST Week I Could Ever Have Dreamed Of!!!

Numero Uno:

   Adonay is doing so so so so so so so so so well! He came back from a three week absence where he really saw God's hand in his life! He was pulled over for speeding and was taken to jail due to past speeding tickets that were not taken care of. But, he was able to come home on Wednesday. He had spent the whole time reading the Bible and he shared what he was learning with everyone he talked to in there.

   On Friday we had a lesson with him and Hermana Boman asked him an inspired question, "What are you going to do differently now in your life after this experience?" To which he immediately responded, "Be Baptized!" He walked up to President Condon on Sunday and told him that he will be getting baptized on the 31st of December. HAPPY DAY!! Adonay is really one of my most favorite people ever. I guess that makes sense since, well... because he belongs to the Lopez family. He is so excited and so determined! I can't wait until the 31st!!

Numero dos:

   On Friday, as part of the New Member Lessons, we taught Krystal about missionary work. Then we had her take us to go knock on all the houses of her friends in the neighborhood. We then told all the families of her friends about 'He is the Gift' and gave them cookies! It was so wonderful! Everyone was so excited to see Krystal! Krystal is such an amazing missionary tool!!! She would tell each of the families that she was thankful for them and then tell them that is why she came over with us! It was absolutely adorable!

Numero tres:

   Last Saturday we met a new family, and they are doing so well! All three of them came to English class on Thursday and absolutely LOVED it! Then they stayed to play volleyball after and had a blast. Then they came to church on Sunday! Right after, Leo came up to us, gave us huge handshakes and just kept on thanking us! It was Coralia's first time coming to our church. She was sick last week. But she was beaming the entire time. (This part I can hardly believe.....>) During Relief Society Coralia rose her hand and asked, "What does it take for me to get Baptized?" Everyone in the Relief Society basically cheered with excitement. Lisa, the member sitting right next to her turned and said, "Do you want to be baptized tomorrow?" Which actually panicked me, because we have only taught them once, and they need to come to church for at least three weeks and all the other testimony foundation building parts that lead up to baptism... So, I didn't want her to be all confused and think that baptism is just a whim kind of thing! But the member went on to say she was kidding and explained how to prepare to be ready. Such a great moment though! I am so excited to be serving this beautiful family!! 

Well, I cannot wait for the miracles that will be coming this next week! I wish I could just tell you all the beautiful miracles that happen everyday. I love this work! With all my heart!! Just how I love each of you with all my heart!

LAST P-DAY WE CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS

BY DOING CHRISTMASY THINGS!

FOUR HERMANAS ENJOYING 

CHRISTMAS HOT CHOCOLATE!!

(Taylor, Boman, Phipps & McDougal - we think!)

AT THE DAVENPORT ~

SPOKANE'S BEAUTIFUL FANCY HOTEL!

EMMA & HER COMPANION SISTER BOMAN

WHO COMES FROM LOGAN!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

I HEARD THE MUSIC AND THOUGHT IT WAS A DOBRO!

Fun Story: So, on p-day, while walking downtown, I heard someone

playing a Dobro. (Is that how you spell it Dad?) Well, it reminded

me of Dad, so I decided that we needed to talk to him! He wasn't even

playing a real Dobro, it was just a guitar that he turned on its side and 

then he used a glass bottle as the slider! But we had a nice chat and he 

gave me chalk to write on the sidewalk... so I threw in an 

advertisement for the 'He is the Gift' video!! 

Love from, 

Hermana Emma Rose Phipps

[The next week on December 15, 2014 ... it was Transfer Day!!]

TRANSFER NEWS!!!!

I AM STAYING!!! The district Elders when they went to give me my call tried to joke and say that I was going to the Valley. Not Funny!! Not Funny at all!!! Heavenly Father knew I needed this time with those whom I LOVE SO MUCH!! 

But, Sister Boman is going to the South West Area! Just like I did. This couldn't be more perfect, because I can't have her too far away from me!! I just love her! And, Sister McDougal who has been serving in the Branch is coming up here! SHE IS AMAZING! Definitely a Powerhouse! Oh, I just can't wait for the miracles that are just right ahead! I LOVE MY MISSION!! & I LOVE YOU!!

Love, Hermana Phipps

100 THANKS!

[On Tuesday December 2, 2014 Emma wrote the following.]

What a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful week. I am in Awe!

Above all the countless lessons I have learned on my mission, one stands out above all. I have learned what life is like when we trust and depend completely on Our Father in Heaven. This week I have so much to share with you!

First off, I am a new Aunt! I am so excited about this. My new little nephew named Kingston Evans Shaw is absolutely adorable. I know which baby I will be running to hold right after my mission! I know families are a gift from God.

I must share the mission miracle of the week! So, for the last few weeks our area seemed to be having a new investigator drought. As a mission we have been focusing on finding, but we just weren't finding many. It was making me so nervous! Because, just as Preach My Gospel says, nothing happens in missionary work until we find. We live with sister Metcalf and Sister Johnson, two really amazing missionaries, and Hermana Boman and I went to them to see what ideas they had for us in order to be finding new investigators. Sister Metcalf thought about it for a second and then replied, "Honestly, I would pray. What better thing could you ask for than Heavenly Father's help with this."

We agreed and we began praying, and praying hard. Then Hermana Boman and I felt this sense of determination to do more of what the Mission President has been asking us to do lately. He has asked us to ask everyone we talk to each day for referrals. Somehow I had gotten into a rut where asking street contacts for referrals was so easy, but at lessons I was forgetting to do so. We knew it was in our power to be asking for referrals more completely.

Also, we walked as much as we could, talking to everyone we could, and sharing with them the new initiative Missions are doing countrywide called, "He is the Gift." There is an absolutely beautiful video that goes with it. Watch it!! (christmas.mormon.org)

Somehow, and to this moment I am not sure how, we ended up getting 11 new investigators this week. Heavenly Father really does help us if we only ask! Also, these new investigators came perfectly at the time we needed them.

Adonay, one of my best friends and investigators, got caught up in a tight spot. So we are praying for him and that things can get sorted out. He has faith that everything will work out! I do too. Heavenly Father just gave me a sense of peace about the whole thing.

This week we are continuing to pray and follow Heavenly Father's direction in where he would have us go.

On Saturday, we knocked on an apartment of a referral we have been trying to contact for three months now. The door opened to the sweetest little family of three. We started visiting with them and they let us in. As soon as we sat down the wife sat down and told us how they have been searching for a Spanish Church this whole month, but haven't been able to find anything. Last Sunday she broke down in tears because she could feel the difference of not going to church for such a long time. (They just moved here from Miami). She then said that God must have sent us as angels to help her find a place to go. 

So her esposo and son came to Church on Sunday! The branch loves them! They are adorable. She ended up getting really, really sick and couldn't come but we are going on a Church Tour with them today at 6 pm. I Love this cute new family!!

There are miracles everywhere! I need two more hours to write them all! But I will send pictures and hopefully that will make up for the rest.

For THANKSGIVING! SO Wonderful!! We ate at our Branch President's home. The most perfect American Thanksgiving Celebration. It was beautiful. In the middle of dinner their son turned to me and said, "Sister Phipps, weren't you here last Thanksgiving?" Sure was!! Never left!!!

Then we ate dinner with Rose and Julio. (Okay... Rosie now wants to be called Rose. It is a good name, I must agree)! BEST MEXICAN REPRESENTATION OF THANKSGIVING!

WE GOT TO HELP ROSE MAKE TAMALES 

EARLY IN THE MORNING!

BEST SERVICE EVER!!

YUMMY!!

HERMANAS BOMAN & PHIPPS

I LOVE TAMALES!!

I AM GOING TO MAKE THEM FOR 

YOU ALL ONE DAY!

THANKSGIVING SPANISH STYLE!

I LOVE IT!

I LOVE MY MISSION!

I LOVE LIFE!!

FOR THANKSGIVING...MEXICAN STYLE...

FLAN, TRES LECHES, AND SALSA.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED?

I HAVE REASONS TO GIVE THANKS FOREVER!!

Les queremos muchisimo! A la luna y back!

Love, Hermana Emma Rose Phipps

SUCH A WONDERFUL WEEK!

On November 24th 2014, Emma sent the following:

Hello!

This has been SUCH A WONDERFUL WEEK! I just can't help but be happy every single moment. Even when crazy things happen, I am just so filled with joy that I can't even stress. God is good. I just have this peace that everything is going just as it should. I couldn't be more on top of the world.

I can't believe I will be an Aunt again this week! Lisa, I LOVE YOU!! I can't wait to meet this sweet little guy! And hear his name! Ha ha! I am just so excited to be an Aunt again! It is the best job in the world.

The North Spokane Spanish area is doing really well! We are keeping ourselves busy, that is any missionary's dream! And the Lord is providing miracles for us daily. Lessons fall into place and when they cancel, we just happen to be at the right place at the right time for another miracle! I can't think of a single moment this week that I didn't enjoy.

Hermana Boman is such an amazing missionary! I wish I could record the times during companionship study when she shares with me what she has learned that morning. Everything she says just builds my testimony and gets me excited for the work. She knows how to perfectly bring the Spirit into every lesson. The way she teaches is bold, simple, and powerful. What would I do with out her?

This Saturday, we were asked to help with a baby shower in the church for one of our favorite members. It was such an amazing experience to be part of. So many non-members were there. The family we ate with at dinner was a family we had knocked on their door and met two months ago. They weren't really interested then, but during the evening they really opened up to us! I love being a missionary at all moments, going to a baby shower and making friends was such a great way to open hearts!

I cannot wait for the special Christmas initiative we missionaries will be doing for the next month. IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL! I will tell you all about it next week.

Can I just tell you that I love Jesus Christ with all my heart. In the last month, I have had this unending craving to learn as much as I can about Him. During a p-day, I watched all the Bible Videos from 2012-2013 because a Sister we live with has them on a disc. Then I have been reading the Gospels in the Bible and just discovering more and more about Him. As I do, my heart just wants to be more like Him and learn more of Him. Just to think that the Son of God came to Earth for me and you is a thought that just amazes me.

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love, Hermana Phipps

Next E-mail: I won't be emailing until Tuesday of next week! We have Specialized Training! Talk to you then.

PICTURE TIME:

  

KRYSTAL MADE A SNOWMAN!

WE DID SERVICE WITH ROSIE BY HELPING

HER MAKE ALL THE DESSERTS FOR

THE BABY SHOWER! :)

SIS PHIPPS, ALEAH & SIS BOMAN

ALEAH AND ME! I LOVE THIS GIRL!!

Hermana Boman and I went to do service at a home

of someone Hermana Quinn and I did a lot of service

for when we were both in this area together. 

I was able to take a picture of the pipes Hermana Quinn

and I were asked to box in with random pieces of scrap wood.

Dad, did I do it right?

ALL THE WONDERFUL TREATS ROSIE

MADE FOR THE BABY SHOWER!

YUMMY CUPCAKE TOWER!

SUCH CUTE CUPCAKES!!