Bonjour ma famille!
Well, this week was kind of a long haul, but I did have some great personal revelation moments.
Cecille, in a complicated situation, has decided to travel north for a while to figure things out. It's sad to see her go, and she seemed so ready for the Gospel, but I know that the Lord works in His own timing. One day she'll be baptized, just not now. It was super emotional to say goodbye to her, but I know that we'll see her again one day, hopefully soon! (:
We're teaching Philomenne and Brigitte, the wife and daughter of a passively-active member. Philomenne doesn't speak French, but when we have a translator, she understands the lessons very well. We fixed a baptismal date with her for the 20th of August. And, after many persuasions, she came to Church this Sunday! How cool is that? Tender mercy, right there.
Friday was, Hallelujah, my Hump Day! Woohoo! Well, it was kind of a longer day. My companion kind of just fell over this week and didn't want to work too much. We didn't get any teaching done on Friday, which really bummed me out. I was really stressed and depressed, so I kind of had a "Mid-Mission Crisis". Luckily, Elder Hammons helped me get back to normal, and I splurged and bought a lot of cookies. That helped me feel better.
But, to balance out the difficult moments, my personal studies were very filled with the Spirit. One phrase that the Spirit has taught me during this transfer is "I'm sorry and I forgive you". Those two are often said separately, but when we say them together, it offers a lot more healing; it's a more complete surrender of the heart. When we're wrong, we need to forgive the other person for any offense they might have caused us, and when we're right, we must also apologize for any offense we might have caused. Whenever there's an argument, both parties can say "I'm sorry and I forgive you," because you either win together or you lose separately.
Transfer calls came! Elder Hammons and Elder Olela are staying together, Elder Adzagah is going to be working with Elder Whitt as a zone leader, and Elder Roundy is the new Togo Office Elder. Elder N'Guessan Bi is going to Doumassesse to work with Elder Ribera, and I'm staying here in Attiegou. My new companion is Elder Joseph, from Layton, Utah. Elder Joseph was Elder Hansen's MTC companion, and has only one transfer left in his mission. So, in mission lingo, I'm going to be killing my spirit uncle. (; It should be a fun six weeks!
Elder Jorgensen, my good buddy, is going home. That's crazy. I wish we had had more time to hang out together, but he was such a good influence on me nonetheless. I got to talk to him on Sunday, and he had "the glow". I could tell that he's made the most of his two years, and of all the missionaries I've seen go home, he seems to be the one who has filled up his spiritual suitcases the most. You did good, Jorgy!
A constant thought on my head, for a long time now, is how I will look back on my mission. I've wondered if I'll be one of those returned missionaries that just beams with pride and talks constantly about his mission, or if I'll try to forget it and sit in the back row, still happy, but keeping that experience to myself. I've decided that my mission is a once in a lifetime event, and that I'm going to make the most of it. With the Lord's help, I can make this the most fulfilling experience of my life. As the Spirit fills this last year of my mission, I'm committed to do my best to serve the Lord, and come home with everything I can, a disciple of Jesus Christ.
3 Néphi 5:13
I love you all! Have a grand and glorious week!
Love,
Elder Phillips
Well, this week was kind of a long haul, but I did have some great personal revelation moments.
Cecille, in a complicated situation, has decided to travel north for a while to figure things out. It's sad to see her go, and she seemed so ready for the Gospel, but I know that the Lord works in His own timing. One day she'll be baptized, just not now. It was super emotional to say goodbye to her, but I know that we'll see her again one day, hopefully soon! (:
We're teaching Philomenne and Brigitte, the wife and daughter of a passively-active member. Philomenne doesn't speak French, but when we have a translator, she understands the lessons very well. We fixed a baptismal date with her for the 20th of August. And, after many persuasions, she came to Church this Sunday! How cool is that? Tender mercy, right there.
Friday was, Hallelujah, my Hump Day! Woohoo! Well, it was kind of a longer day. My companion kind of just fell over this week and didn't want to work too much. We didn't get any teaching done on Friday, which really bummed me out. I was really stressed and depressed, so I kind of had a "Mid-Mission Crisis". Luckily, Elder Hammons helped me get back to normal, and I splurged and bought a lot of cookies. That helped me feel better.
But, to balance out the difficult moments, my personal studies were very filled with the Spirit. One phrase that the Spirit has taught me during this transfer is "I'm sorry and I forgive you". Those two are often said separately, but when we say them together, it offers a lot more healing; it's a more complete surrender of the heart. When we're wrong, we need to forgive the other person for any offense they might have caused us, and when we're right, we must also apologize for any offense we might have caused. Whenever there's an argument, both parties can say "I'm sorry and I forgive you," because you either win together or you lose separately.
Transfer calls came! Elder Hammons and Elder Olela are staying together, Elder Adzagah is going to be working with Elder Whitt as a zone leader, and Elder Roundy is the new Togo Office Elder. Elder N'Guessan Bi is going to Doumassesse to work with Elder Ribera, and I'm staying here in Attiegou. My new companion is Elder Joseph, from Layton, Utah. Elder Joseph was Elder Hansen's MTC companion, and has only one transfer left in his mission. So, in mission lingo, I'm going to be killing my spirit uncle. (; It should be a fun six weeks!
Elder Jorgensen, my good buddy, is going home. That's crazy. I wish we had had more time to hang out together, but he was such a good influence on me nonetheless. I got to talk to him on Sunday, and he had "the glow". I could tell that he's made the most of his two years, and of all the missionaries I've seen go home, he seems to be the one who has filled up his spiritual suitcases the most. You did good, Jorgy!
A constant thought on my head, for a long time now, is how I will look back on my mission. I've wondered if I'll be one of those returned missionaries that just beams with pride and talks constantly about his mission, or if I'll try to forget it and sit in the back row, still happy, but keeping that experience to myself. I've decided that my mission is a once in a lifetime event, and that I'm going to make the most of it. With the Lord's help, I can make this the most fulfilling experience of my life. As the Spirit fills this last year of my mission, I'm committed to do my best to serve the Lord, and come home with everything I can, a disciple of Jesus Christ.
3 Néphi 5:13
I love you all! Have a grand and glorious week!
Love,
Elder Phillips