Bonjour famille!
So, I decided that even though it's past 18h00, I should at least give y'all a little email to tell you how I'm doing. This week was good. We didn't get the chance to go out too much, medical reasons, but my companion sure does try his best. Two exciting developments in the sector. Julien and Leoni are really doing superb. Julien's found a more stable job, and his testimony is really growing. We were teaching him about repentance, and the man bore a thirty minute testimony about the importance of forgiving others. I love that family. Julien said they should be able to pull the marriage off around Easter time, and I hope I'm still here to see it happen.
In the other sector we received some referrals from Bertrand. It's a family, the dad's name is Michel, he's young and he's built! The man loves weightlifting. We've taught him about prayer and the Godhead, and he has really felt the Spirit. As we were testifying of the individual missions of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I just felt the power and boldness and truth of that doctrine. God is literally our Heavenly Father! Michel's only problem is he's not married. He'll talk to his wife about the marriage, and how and when they can do that. Pray for them to have the courage to keep going, and don't worry, Bertrand will keep them on the straight and narrow. We only had four investigators at sacrament meeting, which was discouraging, but a hidden blessing because the branch president preached some really false doctrine. Thank heavens we have Président Dangnisso, the first counselor. He gave a talk in sacrament meeting about agency, and I felt the Spirit so strongly. In all, pray that the branch can overcome it's challenges, and that we can bring the Spirit more fully to the sector.
In terms of transfers, here's the dealio: this transfer was really interesting. There were so many changes across the mission. There's also a new rule that you can only be an Assistant for two transfers, and Elder Mutombo got called as an Assistant in Bénin. He'll be finishing out his mission there, and the former Assistant, Elder Teaupa, will be our new zone leader.
In Akpakpa, me and Koranteng will be staying in Dakouri's sector, and we have two new missionaries in the other sector. Elder Magre is from Utah, he's a former office elder in Togo, and this is his first sector in Bénin! He's a super cool guy, and I think we'll get along great. His companion is Elder Kola, from Congo, who came in the transfer after me. He's super nice, and he's still got his greenie fire! Today we were talking, and he told me "Hey, every day, after lunch, you and me should study Preach My Gospel together, cover to cover. We're the new missionaries, and that's really going to help us." How cool is that?
To top off the week, when they brought Elder Magre, guess who I got to meet? Elder Jorgensen! He's the new Bureau elder in Togo, and it was such a privilege to be able to meet him. That man is as awesome as he sounds. He's super nice, and super encouraging! He's probably the nicest and happiest guy I've met in the mission. We got the chance to talk about the mission, I thanked him for writing an awesome blog, and he said it was mostly his parents who did that. He assured me that no matter how much you research the mission, you'll never really get to understand it until you're here. We talked about the difficulties of the mission, and he said something I'll never forget: "There are a lot of missionaries who think that the mission is hard. And yeah, it's hard. But if you have that attitude, it makes it that much harder. So have a good attitude... Go out into the sector, do what you should be doing each day, and the hard times will pass." I honestly haven't felt that encouraged in a really long time. One day I hope to be like Elder Jorgensen. So Brother and Sister Jorgensen, I don't know what you fed that man growing up, but your son is fantastic.
I love you all. I know you've got a lot going on this week. Don't stress it, it all turns out for the better. I am amazed each week as I rediscover again and again how loving, tender, and powerful my Savior is. There are so many days when I feel His love, and my love for Him grows little by little. To quote Président Morin again, "Get as close to Him as you can. He is a powerful Master." I love you all, have a great week!
Love,
Elder Phillips
PS, my companion got a call from the Area Office saying that he'll be going home sometime this week or next, because the back problems have been carrying on for too long. We don't know the details yet, we'll find out later. Pray that whatever happens, the Lord's will may be manifest, and we His servants may do our best to meet the challenge. Prayer works! I love y'all, have a good week.
So, I decided that even though it's past 18h00, I should at least give y'all a little email to tell you how I'm doing. This week was good. We didn't get the chance to go out too much, medical reasons, but my companion sure does try his best. Two exciting developments in the sector. Julien and Leoni are really doing superb. Julien's found a more stable job, and his testimony is really growing. We were teaching him about repentance, and the man bore a thirty minute testimony about the importance of forgiving others. I love that family. Julien said they should be able to pull the marriage off around Easter time, and I hope I'm still here to see it happen.
In the other sector we received some referrals from Bertrand. It's a family, the dad's name is Michel, he's young and he's built! The man loves weightlifting. We've taught him about prayer and the Godhead, and he has really felt the Spirit. As we were testifying of the individual missions of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I just felt the power and boldness and truth of that doctrine. God is literally our Heavenly Father! Michel's only problem is he's not married. He'll talk to his wife about the marriage, and how and when they can do that. Pray for them to have the courage to keep going, and don't worry, Bertrand will keep them on the straight and narrow. We only had four investigators at sacrament meeting, which was discouraging, but a hidden blessing because the branch president preached some really false doctrine. Thank heavens we have Président Dangnisso, the first counselor. He gave a talk in sacrament meeting about agency, and I felt the Spirit so strongly. In all, pray that the branch can overcome it's challenges, and that we can bring the Spirit more fully to the sector.
In terms of transfers, here's the dealio: this transfer was really interesting. There were so many changes across the mission. There's also a new rule that you can only be an Assistant for two transfers, and Elder Mutombo got called as an Assistant in Bénin. He'll be finishing out his mission there, and the former Assistant, Elder Teaupa, will be our new zone leader.
In Akpakpa, me and Koranteng will be staying in Dakouri's sector, and we have two new missionaries in the other sector. Elder Magre is from Utah, he's a former office elder in Togo, and this is his first sector in Bénin! He's a super cool guy, and I think we'll get along great. His companion is Elder Kola, from Congo, who came in the transfer after me. He's super nice, and he's still got his greenie fire! Today we were talking, and he told me "Hey, every day, after lunch, you and me should study Preach My Gospel together, cover to cover. We're the new missionaries, and that's really going to help us." How cool is that?
To top off the week, when they brought Elder Magre, guess who I got to meet? Elder Jorgensen! He's the new Bureau elder in Togo, and it was such a privilege to be able to meet him. That man is as awesome as he sounds. He's super nice, and super encouraging! He's probably the nicest and happiest guy I've met in the mission. We got the chance to talk about the mission, I thanked him for writing an awesome blog, and he said it was mostly his parents who did that. He assured me that no matter how much you research the mission, you'll never really get to understand it until you're here. We talked about the difficulties of the mission, and he said something I'll never forget: "There are a lot of missionaries who think that the mission is hard. And yeah, it's hard. But if you have that attitude, it makes it that much harder. So have a good attitude... Go out into the sector, do what you should be doing each day, and the hard times will pass." I honestly haven't felt that encouraged in a really long time. One day I hope to be like Elder Jorgensen. So Brother and Sister Jorgensen, I don't know what you fed that man growing up, but your son is fantastic.
I love you all. I know you've got a lot going on this week. Don't stress it, it all turns out for the better. I am amazed each week as I rediscover again and again how loving, tender, and powerful my Savior is. There are so many days when I feel His love, and my love for Him grows little by little. To quote Président Morin again, "Get as close to Him as you can. He is a powerful Master." I love you all, have a great week!
Love,
Elder Phillips
PS, my companion got a call from the Area Office saying that he'll be going home sometime this week or next, because the back problems have been carrying on for too long. We don't know the details yet, we'll find out later. Pray that whatever happens, the Lord's will may be manifest, and we His servants may do our best to meet the challenge. Prayer works! I love y'all, have a good week.