Pioneer Day, 1/2 Way Mark, Transfers!

Hello Everyone,

Monday: 7/17 After our P-day emailing; we did some family history and I found some more of my Great Grandma Phillips' journal entries typed up (one was her mission journal while serving a senior mission in the Indianapolis Indiana mission). It was really cool to see how we had some of the same worries and or struggles and reading them has helped me on my mission! :) It's so cool how family history is! 

Tuesday: 7/18 Mahamoud's new baptism date is... *drum roll please*... AUGUST 6th!! (aka my birthday!!). At the Oakland Visitors Center today we met a guy named Andy. He's from Russia and he got baptized 3 months ago there!! He’s here for a conference in San Francisco and some members had met him at church on Sunday and took him out to dinner and showed him the Visitors Center today! What's really cool is he has a white eyebrow (and white eyelashes) that he dyes because people keep asking him why he doesn’t dye it white xD.  

Wednesday: 7/19 9 Months!! HALF WAY!!!! At the Visitors Center we took a really cool tour! It was a group of 6 Chinese people who are from Mainland China and are here on vacation. At the very beginning of the tour, one of the ladies asked if she could have a copy of the Book of Mormon in Chinese! We talked to all of them about the significance of temples and showed them at the temple kiosk the location of all of the temples around the world. By the end of the tour, all but one filled out referral cards!!!! We also received some awesome news when we had a lesson with our investigator Aidan at the Visitors Center! He told us that his mom (who wanted nothing to do with our church and said she wouldn't go to his baptism) Is coming to his baptism (so we had to push it back again to August 5th) AND!!!!! Said she would support him and help him pay to go on a mission!!! Aidan is so golden... Sister Bosco says he's going high places in the church :) Even before we got to officially teach him, he wanted to get the priesthood and serve a mission :) And since he's going to a year of college before he goes on his mission Sister Bosco was teasing him by telling him if he finds the right woman; to marry her. He told her that he's not getting married until after he goes on a mission :) For my Halfway mark (Hump Day) My mom sent me beautiful flowers. My Grandma sent me a cute outfit and my Dad, Susie and Hadley sent me an awesome package!! My Grandma was teaching a primary class and they drew pictures of the temples. One little girl drew the Oakland Temple! So my Grandma sent it to me :) Then I was silly and let the water boil over on accident when I was boiling noodles for dinner and because of the type of stove it is we were afraid it would explode! At least my noodles were cooked! *whew* xD 

I got a lot of neat stuff to celebrate my mission "Hump Day."

It's almost like my birthday! (Oh yeah, that's coming up on August 6th! *wink wink*)

I got a cool Deseret (Honey Bee) Charm and a necklace with the State of Utah and a heart with a charm that says "Home." 

I got some awesome pictures and letters!

The picture of the Oakland Temple the cute primary girl from my Grandma's class drew.

I got a fun letter from my little sister, Hadley.

My Grandma sent me this pretty new outfit.

Thursday: 7/20 Andy, the Russian convert, came into the Visitors Center again and we showed him the two part movie about the translation process of the Book of Mormon. Then a random Russian guy walked into the Visitors Center and we got so excited so we grabbed Andy to talk to him! He wasn't interested in learning about the Gospel at all and he had a very weird thinking about God; in fact, he believed he was God (not another one), but I don't believe in coincidences. :) He had no idea why he was prompted to come into the Visitors Center but he was and it happened exactly when Andy was there even though they both spoke English very well. It was tonight that I learned that Andy had investigated the church for 20 years! I had a really yummy pot pie lunch w/ Sister Albee, a member of our local ward. When we left, a stray cat trying relentlessly to get into her house xD

Friday: 7/21 We had an LDS couple from England come into the Visitors Center today! They quit their jobs and have been traveling around the world for five months before they’ll go home, save up some more money, and move to South Africa where the wife is originally from and where the husband served his mission (they met in England, before his mission). I couldn't tell until he pointed it out, but apparently he was shaving with an electric shaver and the battery ran out, so half his face was shaved but the other half wasn’t! So he didn't want to be in any pictures xD We finally contacted our Visitors Center referral for an Indian lady named Dimple Jennifer and she gave us this pink drink they drink in India to reduce your body heat. It was yummy! Then we had an awesome dinner with the Given family and an awesome meeting with Ken a 10 year convert we're helping to get to attend the Temple. Then we had a Visitors Center lesson with an investigator the Samoan Sisters found for us but she wasn't really all that willing to read the Book of Mormon. But, by the end of our lesson, she agreed to read the Book of Mormon, so we'll see where it goes :)

Here's a picture of the English couple who's going to move to South Africa.

Saturday: 7/22 TRANSFERS!!!!!!!!!! I'm getting transferred to the Oakland 9^th Ward which covers down town Oakland and my companion is sister Fiu! (So maybe I’ll need some mace as a birthday present j/k)! :) I'm sad that I'm transferring out of Alameda because I won't be able to attend the 4 baptisms we have set. But in the Oakland 9^th Ward they have 4 people on date for baptism too! And one of the baptisms is scheduled for this Sunday July 30^th. So that'll be cool, especially because it's the lady that Sister Bosco found and taught on Mormon.org!! Aidan had his baptism interview today and passed! We had an awesome lesson with a less active member, Julio, and he said he'd stop surfing on Sundays so he can go to church! His 19 year old daughter is looking for a church and she's not a member :) We had an awesome weekly planning day at Jack-in-the-box (I tried it for the first time). Then we had SUCH a spiritual experience with a less active Tongan family who is returning to activity now. We're trying to work on the husband who is a convert of 1 year and help him strengthen his testimony and help them prepare to go to the Temple as a family and be sealed! We had the Tongan Elders there at the Visitors Center when we had the lesson and the spirit was SO strong!

Sunday: 7/23 We had an awesome Zone testimony meeting! We had 2 less active members come to church today too! Julio and Lori Lawson!! We went over to Lori's house and woke her up before church (per her request) because calling her on the phone doesn't work xD. We taught the Plan of Salvation in the Gospel Principles class. Then Sister Albee gave an awesome Relief Society Lesson on Sister McConkie's Holiness talk from the April 2017 General Conference. We had an awesome time at the Holloways after church where they talked about country music with Sister Bosco because Sister Holloway is from Kentucky. They gave us RC Cola! At the Visitors Center we took an awesome tour with 2 recent converts and a member.

Me and mah RC Cola!

Monday: 7/24 HAPPY PIONEER DAY!! We went mini golfing with lots of missionaries from our zone and the losers had to buy everyone frostys at Wendy's

Love you all!!!!!

Companionship Selfie on the Mini Golf course!

4 on date for baptism!!

This place has the BEST ice cream!

Hello Everyone, 

Mon 7/10 Sister Bosco wanted to go shopping for camo clothes so we went to big 5 and there wasn't any but she bought a knife xD 

Tues 7/11 Another year has passed and I still haven't ever gotten a free slurpee from 7/11... :P We went to contact some potential investigators and while doing so, we talked to a really cool biker guy named Don for a while and he said that we could call him and set up a time to teach him and his 13 year old son!! Then we knocked on a potential investigators door named Stacy and she opened up and at first we didn't think she looked interested and we weren’t sure she would even let us in but in reality she really wanted to talk to us! We had a long talk with her and got to know her background and the things that she's been struggling with. She has a 20 year old son that isn't living with her at the moment and a 13 year old son who she wants us to teach along with her. And she agreed to be baptized by the end of August!!! We also had an amazing dinner at Sister Trammell's house. Her son's co-worker was over and he brought his puppy there! So I got to cuddle a puppy :3 and eat yummy food and chocolate cake! <3 Then we got to know the Snell's (Sis Snell is the Ward Primary President) and we got a list from her of people to go see.

Matthew 5:14

Wed 7/12 We had lunch with Brother Aliling at Tomatina's. While we were there we saw the Holloways! A Blind couple from our ward in Alameda :) Then we had an awesome lesson/discussion with a convert that we are trying to help get ready to go through the temple!! 
 Thurs 7/13 We had a lot of fun going to lunch with Brother and Sister Taunaholo and one of their daughters! (they have 11 kids) and we're coming back to teach Brother Taunaholo because he's a recent convert who’s only been a member for 1 year. He only believes in the Bible and thinks it's the perfect word of God. Then, we went to the family history center in the basement of the Oakland Temple Visitors Center and helped our recent convert Joaquin start doing his family history. He was able to find a picture of his grandpa he'd never met!! We found out he has a 2nd cousin he knows who is LDS and who is doing family history! It was such an emotional moment for him and it was so cool to see how family history can change someone. For companionship study, we were listening to the October 2011 general conference talks on CD and Elder Bednar spoke about the Spirit of Elijah and the power of Family History. He talked about how parents need to have their kids do family history work and said that if they do it'll bring protection to them. He also reminded us that we need the dead and they need us. So PLEASE do family history work with your kids! There is no age limit and it requires EVERYONE not just the one or two people who do all of it in a family. It's a better use of our time that being on Facebook and other social media sites (Elder Bednar said that too). Then... THE BIGGEST MIRACLE EVER HAPPENED TODAY!!! While we were at the Visitors Center on outside tour we got a text message from our investigator we dropped. We met him a few weeks ago and he wanted to be baptized but had some things going on in his life he had to take care of so we said you have our number and let us know when you're ready. So, he did! He asked us to meet that evening but we couldn't because of our Visitors Center shift. But he said he was in Oakland and said he'd come up to meet with us here. He showed up to the Visitors Center with 6/8 kids and we had such an awesome experience! One of the first things out of his mouth was "Sisters I'm ready to be baptized". They are such a great family! We also committed him to be married and baptized by September 24^th, which is his birthday! (He wanted to be baptized sooner but he has to be married first). We showed him ‘God's Plan for His Family’ and taught him about temples and eternal families and he really wants that for him and his kids.

Fri 7/14 My Grandma Phillips sent me a 1/2 way mark (Hump Day) gift! It's a super cute dress, cardigan and necklace :) We went out to dinner with the Chinese sisters at an amazing Chinese restaurant named The Ark!  

Sat 7/15 Our district got together and did a finding activity to help the San Lorenzo Sisters. They had us go visit some potential investigators they had met a few weeks ago. One guy wasn't really interested in meeting with the missionaries (he’s Catholic) but his mom is an inactive member of the church and she had recently passed away. We told him the main difference between our beliefs, about the priesthood and we told him that we knew that he would see his mom again and that she wasn't suffering any more. By the end of our conversation he asked for the missionary’s phone number so he could call when he was ready and we gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon which he seemed very open to reading along with a pamphlet about the restoration of the gospel. It was really cool to watch as the Spirit softened his heart. I know that he will meet with the missionaries in the future :) Then we had an awesome lunch with the Nebekers. We and ate biscuits and gravy (we were finally able to go over there and eat!!) It was really touching to hear about how the Plan of Salvation was everything to their family and to hear personal stories about it :) We got to see a family who is getting baptized tomorrow!! We gave them a tour of the Visitors Center and the Temple grounds a few weeks back. Elder Chan told us that she's always talking about us so it was SO nice seeing the Mom (who is French) an her two kids again!!

Sun 7/16/17 We found out our investigator, Aidan, who went to Utah to visit his LDS family went to Temple Square and while there he got to meet and talk to Elder Holland and told him he was about to get baptized and told him his concerns and Elder Holland was able to address his concerns! I'm so jealous... How cool would it be to have a member of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles talk to you about your concerns! xD

Mon 7/17 We had such a fun zone activity today and out investigator Aidan came with us!! I learned that my cousin had her baby yesterday!!

So right now we have 4 investigators who have set a baptismal date! Mahamoud has his date set for next Sunday the 23^rd, Aidan for Saturday the 29^th, Stacy for the end of August and David for September 24^th!

Pretty awesome week I'd say :)

Love you all!!!!!

Happy 4th of July!!!

Hello Everyone,

P-day (Monday) 7/3 was great! I got a 16 GB UBS for $7!! And my Aunt and Uncle stopped by the Oakland Temple Visitors Center on their trip to San Fran to celebrate my Aunt's birthday :) Then we had dinner at one of our investigator's home; Eddie and Patricia! We found out that Eddie's mom and deceased dad are less active members of the Church!! Funny story: Sister Bosco couldn't stand not having a pair of cowboy boots. So we walked up and down Park street and called a lot of shoe places to see if any of them sold cowboy boots (which they didn't xD). Finally we stopped in to an antique store to check it out and Sister Bosco found out they had cowboy boots! She found a pair that fit her and she was so in love with them xD So she bought them :)

Tuesday: Happy 4th!! We had a fun ward breakfast/pot luck before the parade at our chapel! We talked to a non-member guy who said he's been coming to the chapel to watch the parade for the last 10 years. He said that he was interested in learning more from missionaries and that he would like to attend church! So we got him in contact with the Spanish missionaries :) Then we were able to watch part of Alameda's famous 4^th of July parade when we went out to lunch with a member. We saw a few people we had talked to previously on the street during the parade which was cool :) 

Wednesday: We had an awesome lesson with Aidan about the plan of salvation :) We visited a less active member today. We were able to gain the trust of her daughter, Rebecca who has been a former investigator. So we're hoping we'll eventually be able to teach her again :) also, A new member named Andrew who Sister Bosco helped to teach and baptize came to the temple to do baptisms for the first time! 

We met a less active nanny and went to lunch with her!! And I got sunburned really bad when we passed out event calendars for the Oakland Visitors' center. I’ve been hearing how hot it is in Utah! It's crazy to think that it's cooler here in California than it is back there! 

Love you all!

Sister Phillips

3 On Date!!!

Hello Everyone,

We got Aidan to set a baptismal date for last Sunday but we ended up pushing it to July 30th so his family can come from Utah to California to support him. We also met with a referral named Mahamoud this week and during the first "lesson" he accepted an invitation to be baptized on July 23rd!!!! He told us he's been looking for the church for 10 years! And then our 3rd baptism is our investigator Kam, who we met last month! :)

Sister Bosco and I in front of the Christus on P-Day

Yesterday was sister Bosco's 20th birthday!! This week has been crazy with members bringing us pie at night and a fun week filled with goodies and birthday cake! My Aunt and Uncle and cousins came to San Francisco to celebrate my Aunt's birthday and they surprised me at the Visitors Center on p-day today!!

Happy Birthday Aunt Whitney!

We're eating dinner tonight with our new investigators (a family) and the 4^th of July is going to be lots of fun!!! Oh, before I forget, we had exchanges again this week. I had fun in Berkeley again! Also – I just found out that Sister Bosco is also a Family History Guru! 

I got surprised by my Aunt, Uncle and two cousins

Sorry this is so short; I’ve gotta go but I love you all!!!