A LETTER TO LARRY & SHIRLEY OLSON

[Emma wrote the following in a letter to our wonderful neighbors:]

   I wanted to thank you for the example you have been for me in my life. I remember one of my favorite family trips happened when we traveled to Martin's Cove and spent some time with the AMAZING Elder and Sister Olson. We have a set of Senior Missionaries serving in our Branch for six months. They are the most amazing missionaries I know! Having Senior Missionary examples set by you and them make me so excited that I can someday return to wearing Christ's name on a missionary tag. I am so blessed.
   I hope all is well in Little Brigham City and I am sure Miracles are happening just as beautifully in the work there.
   Much Love, Hermana Emma Phipps

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

 What is DEAR to My Heart:

   I can’t help but realize how much I have and have always had. I have, first of all, my amazing family who have been the very best to me in every way. I’ve seen a lot of homes where family isn’t quite being cared for as it should be. It is quite sad to see.  Also, I have the Gospel of Jesus Christ to bless my life every day! Not just a Gospel, but THE Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Being in member’s homes all week long might be one of my favorite parts of being a Missionary! The Spirit is SO strong and the members always seem to excite me to help others find their way!

   Thank you for being so focused in the Gospel throughout your lives. It has blessed me and I couldn’t be more grateful!

   During our Stake Conference, one of my favorite speakers talked about how parents make all the difference in ‘Hastening the Work of Salvation.’ As parents strive to best love and care for their children, with Christ’s love they are directed to gain their own testimony. I know that what he said is true. Not only is it true, it is an eternal principle that when acted upon will Hasten the Work as the Lord is asking. Thank you for being the amazing parents you are and helping me feel Christ’s love so that I can now help others feel that life saving power!   

FAITH & PRAYERS WORK!...

   So, here is a story: Hermana Quinn has been praying that our investigators who were supposed to leave for Venezuela for a month, would stay if it was Heavenly Father’s will. They were supposed to leave tomorrow. So, today, we went to give her the address for the Church in Venezuela, and she told us she wouldn't be able to go as planned because her husband’s passport did not come in time! 

Strong Prayers and Faith make things happen!   

   So, just another reminder that PRAYERS work. What a powerful tool we have in our lives! Ramiro has been meeting with us! And is progressing more than he ever has before! We asked him to read the Intro to the Book of Mormon and he did! Actually he read the Intro, the 8 witnesses, the 3 witnesses, and Joseph Smith’s testimony and we didn't even ask for him to do that! MILAGRO!!!  He understood it so well! Oh heavens, the Miracles I see here are beyond belief! He now has a baptism date set!!

…AND POSITIVE THINKING?!?

   In January something happened that was really, really strange! Sister Quinn, Sister Pillimai, and Sister Ridge all got nearly deathly sick. I put it in my head that if I tell myself I won’t get sick, then I won’t get sick! IT WORKS!! Well, almost! I was bragging to the Sisters about how I wasn’t getting sick. Then, that evening the STRANGEST thing happened. I was at a lesson and I felt super hot and super sick. Then my face flushed purplish Red! Suddenly, all these weird bumps started appearing on my arm! When we got to the car, Hermana Quinn asked me what was happening and she pointed out that I had the weird bumps all over my face too! I started freaking out! Hermana Quinn said it looked just like Chicken Pox! I thought I was being cursed for bragging that I wasn't getting sick! But… we kept on going to lessons, and… then all of a sudden, they all went away! I don’t know if I will ever know what happened to me. It sure did teach me to stay humble! 

APOSTLE VISIT AND A TRANSFER? NOT!!

 APOSTLE NEIL L. ANDERSEN CAME TO SEE US!! 

Elder Neil L. Andersen’s visit with us was the most amazing experience! After I shook his hand I felt like crying! (Typical me!) Some of the words he said were directed just for me… I know it so much! He talked about how we need to be patient with ourselves, depend on the Lord and work. That is the exact equation I needed to hear because I was getting a bit frustrated with some of my weaknesses. Three people last week told me to not speak so fast in Spanish because then people can’t understand me… Um what? I never expected to hear that! But I do need to be pronouncing words a lot more clearly.

TRANSFER CALLS...

Transfer calls were Sunday January 12th and...

I....

Am....

Going.....

TO STAY IN MY AREA FOREVER!!! 

~Well, if not forever, at least for six more weeks!

So at least until the end of February my address continues to be:

Sister Emma Rose Phipps

16904 North Day Mt. Spokane Road

Mead, Washington  99021

OR... You can always send correspondence to the mission home:

820 South Pines Road  Suite 101

Spokane Valley, WA 99206

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!!

GET MOVING IN 2014!

So family, what New Year's Goals have you made? Some of the amazing members in our Branch got together and made Family Mission Plans for the year!! I challenge you to do it too! Imagine all those around you that our family could help by serving. In doing this you might bring them Closer to CHRIST!

Being in the area for almost 3 transfers really helps you to learn your area. I LOVE IT!! I study the area daily and try to figure out just what my area needs everyday. I feel like this transfer just started, and now transfers are happening again! I don't feel that I will be leaving quite yet though, but I guess we will see!

Right now we are trying many different approaches to find new and prepared people to teach! I know they are out there, I just need to be led to them! Pray for us that we can cross paths with them!

GO FIGURE:

Something I'm getting used to and also sometimes really enjoy, is talking to everyone we see! It certainly is always an adventure! I never can expect how others will react! Rarely is anyone really rude and if they are, I still love them anyways! I love just seeing all the different personalities shine as we talk to different people! I can't wait for the weather to warm up so more people are outside and we can talk to more people! Street contacting is 100% better than door contacting.

Well, I love you LOTS! ~Hermana Phipps

WELCOMING IN THE NEW YEAR!

Just random facts about the first week of JANUARY 2014:

We had a Family Home Evening with the Lopez family. We taught about being examples for those around us. At the end we wrote on a paper why each person has been an example to us. It really was sweet! That family really is so strong. They are examples to more people than they could ever know. [Mama Mary note: They are examples to me, they had some big family tragedies just before Christmas, but they keep the Faith and continue to think of others and how to help them. Amazing!!]

New Year's Eve! As missionaries, we were given a list of movies we could watch for New Year's Eve. Hemana Quinn REALLY, REALLY wanted to watch The Lion King, but all the Elder's pushed for Forever Strong. Hermana Quinn put up a good fight for it, since this would be the only movie she would watch while on her mission. We ended up watching Forever Strong. (Hermana Quinn was very brave and generous for giving up what she wanted. As always, SHE IS AMAZING!) Funny as this sounds, it was weird watching Forever Strong. For multiple reasons. 1. It seemed really long, because we never watch anything that is longer than, like tops, 30 minutes. AND 2. Some of the parts were kinda sketchy (coming from a mission mind). But I also loved it! It was filmed all in Salt Lake City and seeing those mountains felt like home! And seeing all the Utah license plates made me sooooooo HAPPY!

On Christmas a member family gave us a BIG BASKET of goodies. In it was this Blackberry Juice. I drank it two days after Christmas. Then, one day, I walked into the kitchen to see Hermana Quinn staring inquisitively at her bottle of juice. After about 30 seconds, she asked, "You didn't drink this stuff, did you?" I responded, "Yeah, I had some awhile ago. It tastes pretty good! You aren't drinking it warm are you?" She then said, "Well, actually I am not going to drink it at all, did you read what it says on the bottle?"  Well, I had glanced at the label, but not read all the super fine print that says it is 25% tea :(.  That made me mad. Hermana Quinn thought how I reacted was pretty funny.

I am still a bit mad. GRRRRRRRR! I mean, I had a life long streak going of never having tasted that stuff.
:(   :(   :(   But Hermana Quinn talked me through it!

Elder Andersen of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles is coming this week to talk to us about our Mission Goals and then it is also time for transfer calls. I am already a bit nervous for them and I don't even know why. There really is no reason why I should be nervous!

We are working really hard! I am expecting miracles this week! Can't wait to hear more from you real soon!
Love, Hermana Phipps

HOLIDAY HAPPINESS!

Hello Everyone!

Perfectly, completely 

and incandescently HAPPY!

That is how I must describe Christmas.

Seeing my family WAS TOO AMAZING!!

WISHING YOU ALL THE 'BEST' NEW YEAR EVER!!