One Month Down; Twenty Two Months to GO!!

This week has been a week of highs and lows; some even on the same day! It's crazy the extremes you feel serving on your mission! I also am amazed at how intense the adversary works to thwart this work by any means he can manipulate; contention, discouragement, fatigue, and distraction etc. I think we are both way more sensitive to his power because of striving every moment to be worthy of direction from the Holy Ghost. It's such a stark contrast!!!

I'll start with our first "official" P-Day we took last Saturday. Elder and Sister Larsen, who are the mission office couple who we have come to really love, invited us to go to the Leeds Castle. It is about 1 1/2 hour train ride from here. We got the train at the very famous Victoria Station. It's a HUGE domed-covered station where all the trains in England have to pass through. It was a beautiful ride out to the castle. I guess this has been the wettest winter in a 100 years (although we missed most of it) so even though there are no leaves, the grass is such a brilliant green it almost hurts your eyes to look at it.

You all would have died at what we saw. The castle was very fun. It had been built in the 1100's and redone about every century. It was situated on an island surrounded by a lake and moat. It looked like it should have been on a movie set; just what a castle should be. What was truly amazing (and you will all know my bias) were the grounds. There were HUGE very old oak trees, cyprus trees that have twisted and turned, ENORMOUS weeping willows draped over small streams that covered the property and every kind of duck, swan and bird you could imagine. The symbol for the Leeds castle is the black swan that was imported from Australia a century ago. I don't think I'd ever seen one before. They are solid black with a bright red beck. What's amazing is its tail feathers. They look like a bunch of ruffles on its bum. It is SO CUTE!! And when they are out on the lake it's a picture straight out of a fairy tale. It was a wonderful day to get out of the city and be in open space. And it was sunny the whole day! We came back refreshed and ready to get to work.

Sunday I started choir and only got a handful of kids. The two girls who are in charge of music wanted to try having practice before our meetings. The problem is ward council and getting kids to come early. Our problem with having it after church (and what a problem to have) is we have baptisms EVERY Sunday right after church!!! I'm going to try it one more Sunday and then maybe have to think out of the box when to try to rehearse. Maybe after Institute on Thursday night? We will see.

Sunday night we had one of our girls come over after all our meetings. Her name is Katey. She's here doing a Masters of Acting and she is from the states. She came because tomorrow she is going to sing Megan's "My Gethsemane". I've never let anyone but Megs sings that song but if you heard her voice you'd know why she will be singing it. She's got an AMAZING contralto voice. On the first Sunday we were here I sat behind her and when I heard her sing I reached forward and said "You sound just like my daughter." She laughed and said she was going to turn around and tell me "You sound just like my mom!" I'm excited to have her sing this song. It's sad because there's so much talent but no one is asking them to use it in our meetings. Well, that is going to change. I already have 3 musical numbers lined up. Why have talented kids and not share their talents with the ward?!!!

Mid-day on Monday we got a phone call from President Jordan, our mission president, asking if we would like to ride with them to Costco up in Waford. It's our closest Costco and it takes about 1 hour 15 minutes to get there. Everyone knows to call us if they are making a trip to Costco. We are always in need of food for our Thursday night dinners. We had a delightful visit with the Jordans and were able to get better acquinted with them. President Jordan has a large law office in Bountiful, very successful, and they have 1 daughter and 3 sons, all who play lacrosse. Pres. Jordan is 61 and Sister Jordan is 7 years younger. She's cute as a bug, but don't think that just because she's small she's a pushover. They are both very powerful people. I wish you could all meet Pres. Jordan. It is UNCANNY how much he looks, talks and acts like Doug Romney! Your dad and I were both blown away when we first met him and it's still wierd to watch him talk. Doug and Marci are coming this summer and I can't wait for them to meet President Jordan. It's crazy

We got home from Costco just in time to have the Elders and an investigator come for dinner (like I need to cook some more!). Along with them came Natasha, a member from Britannia who is from China. This investigator is one that Dad has been teaching from the beginning with our Elders Anderson and Wu. Elder Wu is from Taiwan and is serving in Britannia ward so he can teach all the Chinese investigators. Shane, our investigator, is from mainland China and here doing his masters in Math and Economics at Imperial College (the college we walk through every day to get to our church). Imperial is considered one of the top 4 universities in the world in Math and Sciences. Only the brightest (and richest) kids in the world can go there. Shane is a very handsome, articulate, bright 23-year-old. We had a lovely pot roast dinner and then I got to sit in on my first missionary discussion. It is always an amazing experience to bear witness to truth. I'm always stunned at the power it has on the person bearing their witness, even more than those receiving it. I got to bear my witness to Shane.

Now you all need to understand that when we teach the Chinese not only do they need to gain a testimony of the gospel, but they have never even heard of God or Christ so they have to really make a walk of faith. Shane has been faithful in his reading and his praying. It's resonating with him, but he still needs to fully accept there is a God and a Savior. But his desire to know is there. At the close of the meeting the Elders asked him to pray. I wish you could all have heard his prayer. When we were done we stood up and I said to Shane that his prayer reminded me of King Lamoni and his father who were willing to give up everything, even their kingdoms, to know God and His truth. That was what Shane basically offered up to the Lord. It was a very sweet experience. Precious precious boy! Pray for him.

Tuesday night we once again had Institute at our flat. That morning I woke up feeling very homesick and blue most the day. I swear that when we have great work ahead is when we are bombarded with negative feelings. I'm sure all you missionaries know what I'm talking about! I had to really beg for the spirit to be ready to teach. We ended up with 15 kids here, several who have never come and are VERY SPECIAL kids. Last week I'd taught Repentance and then felt strongly that we needed to follow it up with Forgivness. It was such an amazing lesson. I love the format of having it in our flat. I sit when I teach, the chairs are in a circle so it just promotes intimacy and sharing. Since the group is small we can do that. And they truly taught one another. It was such a precious night of sharing. After the class the kids stayed, once again, until midnight. Dad was able to give a very choice ward daughter a requested blessing that literally bouyed her up and she left filled with hope.

What we've come to realize is how very difficult most these kids' lives are. Almost all of them come from fractured families, many are the only member in their family, so many struggle with no financial or emotional support. It really is heart breaking. I've never appreciated more my life that has been so full of love, family and emotional support than I do now. Our family is such a minority, that's for sure!!! The mother in me just wants to sweep them up and give them a taste of what family support and a mother's love feels like.

That brings me to a sweet conversation I had with one of our boys. His name is Benjamin and he's from Mexico City. He's 26 years old, very handsome and is having a long distance relationship with a girl he met when she was here on holiday. She lives in Idaho. After class he sat next to me and expressed with deep longing how badly he wants what he sees here in this home; a family and marriage that loves one another and loves the Lord. He went off on how grateful he is for our example and how much hope he's received by just watching us, hope that his deepest desires are really possible, something he wasn't sure could happen. What an enormous responsibility Jim and I have to be that example to these kids, some who have NEVER seen a family that works. It was a tender, sweet moment.

Thursday was our big dinner, always a big production. It's no small thing to feed 70 raviness youth, some who've not had a real meal all week. It was a very frustrating day. I had gotten a recipe from Sister Larsen for Sloppy Joes that she used when they served in France. I spent hours on Wednesday chopping vegatables for it. I went early to cook it all together at church on Thursday. It seemed really wet but I assumed it would cook down. Well, it never did. An hour before dinner Sister Larsen came down and was baffled why is was so wet. I told her it seems the recipe added A LOT of water. She got a funny look on her face and then said "Oops! I forgot to tell you NOT to add the water it calls for." Just a minor small detail. We were pouring sloppy joe sauce through a colendar with 15 minutes til dinner. It was frantic and not very fun. Luckily I have a PRECIOUS chinese young man Dixon, who is Chinese but born in England. He has the craziest accent you've ever heard. He comes every week and helps me in the kitchen for the hour before we serve. I LOVE THIS GUY! He singlehandedly shepherds our chinese group. He humbles me with the service he renders to everyone!

We had meetings with the CES teacher and our Relief Society and Elders Quoram Pres after class on how to go after the kids missing. It's such a huge task here with so many kids coming and going. It's a total overwhelm with our Bishop who still manages to know each kid by name. He has given us a list of names to go after. That's what we were checking on with the youth leaders.

A little about our Relief Society President. She is MY GIRL! Her name is Hollie McKee. She's British but has lived in Provo and South Africa. She is an AMAZING president, only been in for about 4 months. But she knows the status of almost every girl and has brought Visiting Teaching from 25% to 73% since being called. We have a grand love affair going. I love her style. She's an animal but the girls know she loves them. So grateful to have her leading the girls.

Our Elders quoram is not doing so well. It's in disarray and struggling to do just the minimum. It's frustrating. Jim wants to jump in but feels he needs to not overstep. Today he's been setting it up so he can help do some training with our Elders President.

I came home discouraged and overwhelmed at how many kids are not accounted for. A huge task. There is a structure in place that the church has built that would work if those in position to use it WOULD use it. We are really trying to figure out a way to get it going. Your dad is the master of that. He's been emailing and cross emailing; inviting and introducing; opening doors.

Yesterday we had set the day aside to begin a blitz on contacting the lost sheep. Of course we had a big contention with each other that morning over something so stupid. It makes me so angry with myself for giving in to the enticings of the adversary. He KNEW what we were about to embark on and was right there once again using all his power to disuade us. I am begging the Lord to give me the eyes and heart to recognize his attacks and not give in. I get so mad at myself.

Last night was spent with hours on-line facebooking, emailing, calling cells and inviting. It feels really good to be actively going after the lost sheep. We've finally got enough information to do it. What's exciting is as we move forward I feel others in the ward are feeling our enthusiasm and are feeling energy to do it with us. EVERYONE needs to help go find our lost sheep.
Pray for us that we can be led to the most effective way to do this work of reclaiming!

Today we are driving up to Watford with the Jordans for a dinner being held at a YSA Senior couple's flat who serves up there. It's a chance to get ideas (and recipes) that are working with other YSA groups. I'm really excited to go.

Peggy Demming Bills Statement on Being a Mormon Woman

Closing with an entry I found on Facebook by one of our dear students from our BYU ward, Peggy Demming Bills, who Jim helped to get back into the church 10 years ago. She also came and sang in "Sing Noel" a few years ago. I adore her and feel that what she wrote was powerful enough that I printed it off to share with the young women here that get so discouraged and even bitter sometimes. I love what she said about being a young woman in this church. Here it is.

1) I am a Mormon woman

2) I am a very sassy, strong-willed (sometimes stubborn) woman (just ask my husband)

3) I love the doctrines of my church. I chose to come back, after a period of inactivity, because I feel a closer connection to God and like I'm a better person for following its teachings

4) I have never felt oppressed by any man, not even in the church's leadership. I know this isn't going to be the case for everyone, but I want to make sure that my voice attempts to equal all of the negative talk you hear in the media. Not every woman's experience in this church is one of oppression and dismissive men.

5) my testimony of the Plan of Salvation is this: ladies, we are so loved by God. We are cherished, in heaven and on this earth. There is a time and a place for ALL things. Even if you are forever single, in a bad marriage, in a part member family or simply do not fit inside what some would call the Mormon-Woman box... You are watched over, and taken care of. Yes, there is imperfection in people... People do not a doctrine make.

6) My proposed new women's motto: Be strong. Be amazing. Be an example to the new generation of women. Be patient; we really do have so much already, and are promised so much more than that.

7) My personal plea. please Stop fighting with so much anger and finger pointing. Please stop using singular experiences in your life (or in that friend of a friend's life) to place unwarranted judgement on all men or people. Because the men in my life; from my father, to my husband, to my brothers and all the amazing men I've come in contact with in our church DO NOT personify the picture you paint, sure they are flawed as we all are, but they aren't villains in some scheming plot to oppress the women of the world... And I feel to protect them from false accusations made by a small number of hurt women.

8) To those hurt women: I'm so sorry you've been hurt. I'm so sorry for your pain. I know what deep loneliness feels like, what the pain of another's horrible actions feels like, what it's like to love a selfish person who, in the end, callously walks away after beating your heart to a pulp. As your sister, I want to give you a hug and reassure you everything's going to be ok. And if you were sitting right next to me, I would encourage you to embrace your strength, not your anger.

9) the end


I responded on facebook with this:

Sweet friend I'm going to use this with my single sisters here in Brittania ward in London. All single women need to hear this and hold on with hope. You say it so well and have credibility because of your own life experience. I'm so grateful we got to be part of your life journey and watching you come back home. I love you Peggy and am so excited for the next part of your mortal journey, becoming a mommy. Hold on for the ride of your life! Thanks for these words.

She responded with this comment that made me cry:

Thanks everyone... I can't keep quiet about this... even if it's the unpopular voice. Starla, I will never forget the lesson you taught in RS those many moons ago about being a Woman of God. There you were, this feisty, outspoken, strong woman testifying what a Woman of God looks like and I knew I wanted to be just like you. It would be months, from that point, that I would even get to take the sacrament again... but it was your example (and your amazing husband's) that started me down that path. Thank you for being the amazing role model you are. I love you so very much.

We NEVER know our circle of influence. That's why I can testify more than ever in my life the need we have to seek the Holy Ghost in our lives, to live according to His influence and to pray for Charity. I love you my children and grandchildren. Continue to pray for the work here. These kids are so in need of your prayers. Love to each one of you, individually. You are adored! Mom

Third Week Accomplished!!!

The Faces of London

So it's 2:00 pm and I'm having the hardest time sitting down and getting started on this. I know how long this requires and each time I have to gird up and fresh courage take!

Our weeks are beginning to get some cadence to them (now that we've been here all of 3 1/2 weeks). And I realize I will probably be to some degree in a continuous state of fatigue. Like any job or vocation there's work and then there's WORK. And always there is sweet reward. A mission has all the above. More and more I recognize this is exactly where we should be, doing what we should be doing and doing it at the time the Lord needs us here. We are grateful and humbled by His awareness of us personally.

This past Saturday we had our first real tourist adventure riding the tube to Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square. We are so insulated here in South Kensington that this was the first time I really got to see what the rest of London holds. The buildings, the churches, the statues, the museums, the history and age of these buildings are all beyond an American's comprehension. Our country is just a baby in comparision. Even our flat we are living in was built in the mid-1800's. It's very fun.

The other thing that continues to blow our minds is the degree of diversity found not only in the Britannia Ward but everywhere you go. There are so many languages been spoken that it's almost a shock to hear someone speaking English. The area we live is filled with young people or young families with one or two children, at most. We feel ancient walking down the street. Rarely do you see anyone our age here.

A few days ago Jim came bouncing in after a walk so excited to tell me he had found gardens for me so I won't miss mine so much. He had just returned from walking the Kensington Gardens (connected to the Palace) and was blown away at its beauty. And it's not even Spring yet. But we do have some bulbs beginning to bloom; a sure sign of spring coming. I can't even imagine how beautiful it will be here in Spring. Of course when it gets watered EVERY DAY it should be beautiful!!!

On Tuesday night we had Institute again at our flat. I think the kids like it a little too much. They stayed until after 12:00 and Meg(umi), one of the older YSA in our ward, finally escorted them out. We are finding that each YSA has such incredible life stories, many of them tragic. I'm amazed at their courage and determination to move forward. So many are converts with very few years in the church. For example Megumi has been a member only 4 years. She joined the church while attending Harvard and was actually baptized by Clayton Christensen!! She has totally committed her life to service and furthering the work, even though she has a big time job with McKenzie Another name; Arrit is a Brit from near Birmingham who has been a member 4 months. She's had such a hard life but is filled with enthusiasm and love of the gospel that has totally changed her life and her relationships. The YSA in Britannia's ages are as diverse as their cultures. It's got SO MANY professional singles working big time jobs, SO MANY working on their masters and doctorates, all trying to be in the world but not getting caught up in it. Such great courage

I wanted to share a couple experiences from this week. The first one happened at FHE on Monday night. One of the young men brought a video just out about bullying with Elder Uchtdorf speaking. It's really a timely message, especially now with the ability to cyber-bully, which it addressed. After the video was over we had a powerful discussion about their experiences. Over 90% of the young adults in that room had been bullied at some time in their lives. I was shocked at the high number.

I felt inspired to share one of my most shameful memories growing up. I want to share it with you, as well.

Cruelty and it's Tragic Consequences; The Shirley Corder Story

When I was in sixth grade my parents moved across town to a home we lived in for the next 30 years. I was the new kid on the block. It's hard to show up that late in elementary school because kids have made their friends by then. After a very awkward first couple months I begin to make friends. One, in particular, whose name was Shirley Corder, was especially nice and included me with all her friends. We became good friends and I came to love not only her but her mom, as well.

When we started 7th grade there were two girls that had gone to a different elementary school than me, Melinda and Connie. They were little, cute, sassy, girls with a bit of an edge and attitude to them that made them seem very "Cool" to me. We became a threesome and besties for that year, but by 8th grade I realized that these two friends were continuing to go a direction that I couldn't go if I wanted to keep the standards my parents and the church had taught me. It was in 8th grade that I made the decision to stay true and I turned to the girls my age at church and begin to hang out with them.

Through all of this I had remained friends with Shirley, although we didn't hang out together anymore. I could tell she would have loved to be part of our group. Through the next few years into high school I would see her and always go out of my way to say hi. I was disappointed to see that once we hit high school she started hanging out with "the Hoods", kids that were in to bad stuff and dark things.

And then Shirley was gone. Our junior year I heard she had dropped out of school and at age 16 had married a guy in the army and had left San Luis Obispo. I remember thinking "What a loser!"

Fast forward to our first High School Reunion. It was 5 years after graduation. I had just married Jim and was excited to go see all the friends we'd lost touch with. To my surprise Shirley was there. I immediately went over to her, excited to hear about her life. She gave me a very cool reception, which surprised me. But I continued to press her about her life. For dropping out of school at 16 and getting married at such a young age it was surprising how she was still married to the guy, but they had been unable to have any children. I asked about her mom and generally just caught up. Even after talking I could still tell she felt distant.

Jim had to leave earlier than I wanted and because Shirley's mom lived over close to where my parents house was I asked if she could give me a ride to my parent's home where we were staying. Reluctantly she said yes.

I can so clearly remember sitting in front of my parent's house and turning to Shirley and asking her what was wrong, why was she so cold to me. She looked at me incredulously and asked how I could ask a question like that after what I'd done.

I was shocked! What had I done? I truly had no clue what she was talking about and told her so. She looked at me with disbelief and said, "You know what I'm talking about...the birthday party in 8th grade." I still was clueless. That's when she told me the story that haunts me to this very day.

In our 8th grade year Shirley was in a math class with Melinda, the girl I'd been such good friends with the year before. Somehow in their discussion it came up that Shirley was turning 14 in two weeks. Melinda jumped all over it, asking Shirley if she would like to have a BIG party to celebrate. Shirley was elated that someone like Melinda would want to do that for someone like her. For the next two weeks every day in class they would discuss what they were going to do. It was Shirley's job to provide the music and food for 40 people and Melinda would get out the announcements and get everyone invited. Shirley's mom went all out, with a DJ and tons of food and decorations. Shirley felt like a Princess.

The night of the party NOT ONE person showed up. NOT ONE because I'm assuming Melinda never told anyone about the party. I have such a sick feeling every time I think of Shirley and her mom sitting there with enough food to feed and army, decorations and music and not one person showing up. It makes me want to throw up.

Of course Shirley assumed I was in on "The Joke". She assumed I was still close friends with Melinda, not realizing that I had stopped hanging with them before this ever happened. I'm sure her thinking I was involved was the greatest betrayal of all because of our previous friendship and how she had been the one to reached out to me two years before. She just knew she was the brunt of this very "funny" joke and the whole school was laughing at her behind her back. She didn't come to school for several weeks and when she finally did return she determined if the "Pop" kids wouldn't be her friends she knew a group that would. That's when she started hanging with the rough crowd at school and eventually dropping out and leaving town.

I sat in that car horrified and I begin to cry. At first she wouldn't believe me. To this day I pray that she eventually believed I had nothing to do with it, although I will never know for sure. When I left her car I went into my parents house and fell to my knees and asked forgiveness for my judgement of her, my lack of compassion, my blindness. I was so self-centered I had never taken the time to find out what was really going on with my old friend. To this day I pray there were no other incidents, that in my self absorption I never saw or just let pass and did nothing about.

Since that night in the car with Shirley I've tried to live courageously. If I've seen unkindness or cruelty I don't let it pass. I speak up. I defend. I try to reach out. I seek to be kind. I do it for HER!



I'm out of time. We have our first multi-stake dance and I have to be there to receive the food being delivered and Jim has a teaching appointment with the Elders. They are teaching Shane; an amazing young Chinese man that has hit it off with Jim. He's very close to joining and will be such an amazing asset to the church. At 8:00 Jim and I get our first time ever to act as chaperons. Our lives are being filled with "Firsts"!!!

One more thing I want to share on behalf of my companion. As you all know Jim and I work well together because he's always done his thing and I do mine. We have very different strengths. To his credit Jim has become my very depended on partner. I've been shocked at his decision to assist me in any way I need. He actually looks for ways to serve me since my callings here are very demanding on my physical efforts. He's been irreplaceable. It's such a testament to how we can change if we simply have enough reason to change. I could never do what's required of me without his help. He also is doing his Jim thing with the guys here that are truly stuck. He's been a true blessing to them as he coaches them how to move forward. He's loved and adored by the girls and so needed by the guys here. Our relationship is growing even after 40 years of marriage on March 28th. Just think what it will be when we have eternity to keep growing!!!

My Shirley Corder story is written specifically for our grandchildren. I NEVER want any of you to live with the feelings I STILL have over that experience! Learn from your Maga's mistakes, I pray!

Loves to each one of you!

HURRAH! We Made It Through Our Second Week Alive!!!

All I can say is this week has been VERY different than the last week. I feel like we are starting to figure this out and have some assurance that we really might be able to do what is required. This week we finally got internet!!! (You truly don't realize how life comes to a standstill without it. You are disconnected to ALL THINGS!) We've done our second set of lessons, our second set of dinners, our second trip to Costco, a trip to IKEA to get more furniture for our flat. (It actually is beginning to feel like home. It's very fun!)We are truly being blessed to remember names and establish very sweet relationships with the kids. We LOVE them and they are coming to love us already. We are gaining the confidence of our leaders who, by the way, are so remarkable. The Lord has provided incredible men to lead this part of the vineyard. It's VERY humbling to be a part of it. I've never felt so reliant upon the Lord's Grace to enable us to be enough! All in all we are getting rooted and excited at the opportunity to make a difference here.

Before I say anymore I need to shout Hallelujah from the housetops that our 12th grandchild, Skyler Marie Phillips, has finally joined our family!!! She is BEAUTIFUL and her face I know so very well. She is the most Phillips of all our grandchildren and looks so much like her Daddy! It's the mouth! Oh those lips! I would know them anywhere. Last Sunday I felt stressed about her not coming and so worried about our Shelby. I was feeling blue because we were so out of touch with what was going on. Between ward council and our main meetings I used the church's internet to look and see if there was anything going on. To my surprise and delight we found Shelby finally in labor AND it was on Auntie Ashlee's birthday!!!! How amazing is that!!!! She was 8 days overdue but just wanted to wait to be born on a day she could share with Auntie! We could hardly focus on the rest of the meetings, slipping out every 30 minutes to see if there was anything new. It was after a CES fireside featuring Elder Alan Packer and some seventies that I literally let out a whoop in the foyer when we first saw that delicious newborn face of Skyler. What rejoicing! The whole chapel knew we had a new granddaughter. Once again the gratitude I feel cannot be expressed that Shelby and Skyler are healthy and whole. It's always such a miracle! I don't know how we are going to wait to love on that sweet little girl for two years. It's going to kill me! Good job Mommy and Tanner you are a Daddy!!!! So happy for you!! And so proud of Shelby's accomplishment of her heartfelt goal of a natural birth.

Another sweet part of Skyler's birth is that her Auntie Meg was her mommy's doula. How precious to share that experience; two women who are sisters/besties able to take this journey together. It's Magic. I'm truly grateful for the beautiful powerful women who are my daughters. They are ALL magnificent! (Megan I'm still waiting and dying for ALL the birth details!)

Highlights from this week was the CES fireside where we had 350 youth from all over the mission at Hyde Park Chapel to hear Elder Packer and two other seventies speak. I wish you could all be here to witness that many youth from ALL OVER the world, in every shade of color, united in their love of Christ and his prophets. It was amazing and so powerful to realize how the gospel is beginning to cover the earth. In our ward alone we are baptizing at least 1-2 kids A WEEK! Over half are from China and they are AMAZING. They are all here attending school and doing masters and doctorate work. They are brilliant and articulate, even in their not so perfect English. I love their spirits. Looking back I'm so grateful for the 2 weeks we spent in mainland China years ago when I first fell in love with the Chinese people. They will be a powerful tool and blessing as the church begins to extend into China.

Speaking of that; we had a 23 year old Chinese women (American name; Emily) be baptized on Tuesday. What was special about her baptism was that it had to be done incognito because her mother is a high ranking member of the Communist Party and it could be dangerous for both of them if it was found out her daughter had joined a church. Last night as I was preparing dinner Emily came in to help and told me how she had broken the news to her mom and the mom didn't even have a point of reference. Religion??? She was shocked that Emily would even consider joining a church. But sweet Emily said to me "My mom, she really love me and want me be happy." Her mom made a deal with Emily and asked her to wait for a week to see if she still felt the same way. Well, unbeknownst to her mom Emily had her baptism date set for 5 days later. After she was baptized she posted a picture just saying how truly happy she was. Within hours her mom was on the phone already knowing by how she looked in the picture that she's been baptized. When Emily expressed how she was feeling she was shocked to see her mom start to cry. Concerned, Emily asked her if she was upset and disappointed with her. Her mom's response "I'm so grateful to see you so peaceful and filled with happiness. That's all I want for you, my only daughter." Then Emily once again said, "My mom, she really love me."

A little about South Kensington/Chelsea area that we live. A few days ago Jim brought up a magazine left in our foyer showing listings for flats in our neighborhood. The lowest price started at 2.7 million pounds and went up to 17 million pounds. How insane is that!!! We definitely live in the high rent district of London. We are literally down the street from Harrod's of London. We can't imagine the worth of the Hyde Park Chapel. We are told it is second only to the Hong Kong Temple in value. I guess our rent of 4,200. is paltry in this neighborhood.

It's interesting how the church acquired the property to build the chapel. In the second World War a son of a wealthy family lived there. Toward the end of the war their home took a direct hit by a bomb and the son and his whole family were killed. The parents were devastated and left the property in a state of ruin for 15 years. Business after business tried to get them to sell this prime piece of commercial property but they wouldn't even consider it. Then the church went to them asking to buy it so they could put a church on it with the stipulation they would put a monument marker remembering the family killed there. They agreed to sell it to the church; a total miracle, and now the church has a beautiful building with a visitor center and a 10 foot Christus on display in the heart of London for all to see. The Lord's hand is directing His work in England!

I was officially called as Ward Choir Director last night by Bishop Gill. I'm excited and know this will be one way to bring a closer unity to our ward. They have no idea what a blessing this will be. We know, because of Jim's BYU ward, what a choir can do. Very excited.

Jim is teaching Missionary Prep on Thursday nights. A big batch of kids have just left on their missions so Jim only has 3 boys attending. Two of them are huge black twins, 24 year old, no dad but a faithful mom, who are waiting for calls. The other is a darling 22 year old boy from Romania that attends our institute class. Last night the twins brought their girlfriends to Institute. One of them is a new member that Ty brought in the Church, Kenny's girl has just started taking the lessons. The lesson for the evening, ironically, was on worthiness for their Missions and the Temple. Jim really talked deeply to the boys and then felt inspired to bring the girls out of the other class. When they came in he told the story of leaving me, knowing that to be the man and father he needed to be he HAD to serve a mission. Then he witnessed to them the "why" of the boys decision to go serve and how it would bless them eternally. He asked the girls for their help in keeping them worthy and clean to go and bore testimony of how worth it it would be to all of them. By time he was done everyone in the class were in tears. More importantly Kenny's girl who had just had her first discussion tonight had the Holy Ghost witness to her everything Jim said was true. Huge hugs, commitment and gratitude. Isn't it a blessing what we get to do!

Tuesday we had our first Institute class here at the flat. Last week we had 8 kids. I was worried that we would loose kids because of the walk and them finding our flat. I shouldn't have worried. We had 12 this week. When we asked if this worked and was worth the extra walk to get here they unanimously voted to keep it here. It was so cute when one of my favorite Chinese girls walked in she said, "This feel like a..a...temple." Music to my ears. A place of safety and spirit; that's what we are trying to provide.

One more thing. It is an amazing experience to strive to live worthy of the Holy Ghost every hour, every minute of the day. Watching your words, your attitude, your actions and aligning them to what the Savior would want. It's been so sweet to have a companion doing the same thing. It's amazing how our relationship is being blessed as we focus on the Lord and on others. It's already been so sweet. So many blessings attached to our service. So worth it!

I will close with something said to Jim after Institute that made me cry. It was said by the paid CES teacher who teaches the young adults all over the Stake. Mark White is only with us on Thursday and teaches the other class and really knows the kids.
I will let Jim tell you what he said.

This is your Dad and proud new grandfather of the first beautiful little girl to bare the name of my goodly parents. Skyler Marie Phillips. Thank you my son for honoring your Priesthood and being married in the Temple and bringing little Skyler in this world born under the covenant.This is the first grand daughter baring my Father's name that has that blessing. I love you Shelby for the sacrifice you've made to bring little Skyler Marie Phillips in the world. I love her name, all of it.

Before I share my experience in class I want you all to know how powerful and extraordinary Our Savior and His Father is. They are in the details of this work. I bare witness that prayers are answered so directly that it's mind blowing. The Spirit of the Lord is upon London and these young adults. They are being gathered from the far corners of the Earth. Make no mistake that the work is being hastened and we are privileged to be standing right in the middle of all nations, kindred, tongues and people being called to the Lord's Church.

Our prayers regarding our calling and asking Father to intervene on our behalf with these young people have been answered. Mark White the Institute instructor sat down with me after class to get an update. He said to me how grateful he was that we have come to the Britannia Ward. He stated that we've brought a new enthusiasm and love for these young people and he feels it in his class. He said that the kids are different in just two weeks. He said that he feels a new energy and buzz in his class room. They are reaching out to their friends and a closeness that wasn't there before is present. The power of God and your Mother's food has struck the YSA in London. The food I speak of is a Mother and Father's love. Many of these brilliant young people are coming from the fractured families of the world.

Father has sent us here to minister to their souls and show them what it feels like to be in a ward family and to translate that feeling into their eternal family. Hope is a very important element in healing our young people. The Father is teaching us every day how to love them and gain their trust. I trust the Father's power to heal their wounded souls and bare up the arms that hang down through us. It is a privilege to be trusted by the Father to minister to these Stripling Warriors.

The difference is we are the Mother and Father teaching and readying them for life's battle. We need to be far more than we are and far better at loving every imaginable child of God that these young people represent. I beg for your prayers because we are serving the future missionaries and heads of families of nations that the gospel is not yet allowed. The Second Coming is not far off and you can see from here exactly how Father is doing it. I love that he has given us a front row seat in His plan to enter all nations. I love this work and the companion I get to do it with. I love all of you more everyday as the Father teaches me what love really is.

I remain your Father, Pap, Baba, Grampa and most of all a son of the living God.

First Week in London

Emotional Meltdown

What an adventure and illuminating experience this has been. I’m not near as tough as I always thought I was. The first 4 days I felt completely unwound. I really was a wreck. It’s a shock to your system to come to a flat that is completely empty except for a couch, table and bed period and where you have no car or way to transport anything except in a little trolly (a bag on wheels) which by the way has saved my life.

The first night on our arrival we had to go shopping with one of the senior couples from Australia; the Davis’, who did have the mission van and who are absolutely darling and very kind. I wanted to cry as we walked down aisle after aisle with not one thing looking familiar and realizing I had a dinner for 70 in one week and was going to have to shop for it, buy it AND somehow get it home or to the church to prepare it. Looking back I think I was so exhausted my brain wasn’t even computing. That’s how it went for the next 3 days. PURE PANIC!! This is when I realized how important it could have been to meet and talk with the outgoing couple, simply to talk logistics, but I think that was part of my process. I can’t tell you how scary and humbling it was. I’ve never felt so out of control in my life. I was spinning.

The best thing waiting for us in London was the flat they just rented for us. That’s why when we got here it was completely unstocked. It truly is lovely (It should be. It rents for $4,200 a month and is in the very nicest part of London; ten minute walk to the mission home!) It has 12 ceilings, wood floors throughout and was built in the 1860’s. It has two bedrooms and two baths. The only problem was the boiler which provides the heat and hot water turned off the first night we were here. We froze all night and then had no shower the next morning (after flying all night the night before!). We survived and it was fixed the next day. We have a darling landlord who is very quick to respond.

Then two nights later, on Saturday night, we plugged in our clock radio with just an adapter, not a converter. Sparks flew everywhere and ALL THE LIGHTS went out. It was only 7:30 in the evening. I burst into tears, just one more overload to add to my growing list. There was nothing to do but call and leave a message for our landlord who didn’t answer and then climb into bed (we didn’t even have a flashlight, along with about every other necessity you need to survive).

It took about 30 minutes for me to calm down. Your father just held me and basically he talked me down. Because I was stuck in bed I had to listen. I found myself begin to relax for the first time since we arrived and finally the peace that passeth understanding came and then came the spirit of assurance that I’d been too wigged out and fearful to recognize. It was THE turning point. Nothing else changed except me. Faith and assurance came that we would figure it all out. It was such a sweet, sweet experience. I’ve not gone to that scary place again and we ARE figuring it out. (And it is VERY complicated, but we can do it. Just did our first dinner last night for 70. Lots of work and planning but doable.)

So the funny part of this story is about 2 hours later as we are still in bed in the dark we hear someone messing with the lock on our front door and then in walks the landlord, catching us in bed and totally unprepared for visitors. Jim VERY QUICKLY got dressed and went to assist. They couldn’t get it fixed so once again we had no heat, lights or hot water for Sunday morning. Luckily our landlord got the electric company here to fix it mid-morning on Sunday. (We giggle every time we think about getting caught).

First Week

The first day here we got to meet our Mission President and wife. They are lovely. We like them both a lot. The first two days we were here were VERY difficult days for them. They had to send home an elder the first day and then the next day two sisters went home. You could tell Sister Jordan’s heart was broken. There are two senior couples in the mission home; The Larson’s and the Davis’. The Larson’s are on their second mission and are from up by Logan and the Davis’ are from Australia. Both are lovely competent people and such a blessing to President. And to us! They are who literally got us through the first few days. We love them. In this mission I think there are around 16 couples serving, which is unheard of. There’s great effort being dedicated to this area of the kingdom. All the couples are amazing. We feel very privileged to be counted among them.

Thursday we got to meet the Stake President. He walked in and my thought was he looked like one of the YSA kids. He’s very young, handsome and one of the most valiant servants of the Lord we’ve ever met. He shared his vision of this stake and where it needs to go, all starting with the YSA. He had us in tears. It’s going to be wonderful to get to be part of his vision and his stake.
That night was Stake Institute taught by Mark White, the CES teacher for all the stakes in this area. We hit it off right from the beginning with him. We are growing to love him. He did a marvelous job teaching the Book of Mormon to about 70 kids. Since we had only been there 1 day there was no dinner so we got to attend. After class we ended up staying talking to the kids until 11:00. It was delightful. Megan you would LOVE this place; every shade of skin color imaginable from countries you haven’t even heard of! We came home filled with love for these youth and a knowledge there is A LOT of work to be done. So many needs!

Friday we spent the day getting our housing tax and our travel pass. It was our first time on the underground tube. It’s an amazing transportation system. It has to be since no one has a car here except the really rich. There’s simply no place to park, like New York. (Jim counted 5 Bentleys going by our flat in about 15 minutes the first day we were here!) Then we went to open a bank account. Here in London you walk to the bank, make an appointment for the next day, then walk back the next day.

Opening the account took 2 hours, but since it was Saturday we couldn’t deposit our money we’d brought so we had to walk back on Monday to deposit our money. So bizarre! EVERYTHING here takes 3 times as long to do as in America. It can be frustrating. And of course you walk and walk and walk. It’s truly a culture shock to not have a car!!! My poor feet!

Since Friday was Valentine’s Day Jim took me to our first Indian food restaurant that is walking distance from our flat. It was really good. They don’t tip here so even though the price of the meal is more it’s not that much more when there’s no tip. Our first meal out!

I’ve already talked about lights out Saturday. Sundays here are going to be very long days. It was Ward Conference so we had ward council meeting, then our 3 hour block, followed by a very sweet baptism (Chinese are flocking to the church!!) Then we had ward choir (a little scary) and then waited another hour for Bishop Gill to finish interviews because we had been invited to his home for dinner. By time we got to his house it was 8:30 pm, I was dying because I had been fasting, but so worth the wait! What a story to tell!

Bishop and Sister Gill

Bishop Gill grew up right up the road from us by Timpview. His father is Indian and his mother is from Mormon pioneer stock. His dad taught Math at BYU for 35 years and then was called to open the first ever mission in India about 18 years ago. If you met Bishop Gill you’d NEVER think he had any India blood in him. He’s very tall and very white. When we got to his flat way past dinner time we were met by a VERY dark, VERY friendly attractive Indian woman in full Indian attire. Her name is Suneta and she is adorable, loving and full of life. She’s brilliant, a physician, and a deeply committed member of the church. (She teaches early morning seminary at her home every day.) They have a beautiful 17 year old who looks like her mother and a set of twins; boy and girl who are 11 years old.

On the table sat another Indian meal we were supposed to have eaten 2 hours earlier. The kids had already eaten but there was plenty for us. It was a delightful experience. There was an instant bond between Suneta and me. I already love her. I’m so sad because they will be here for only another 5 months and then they are moving back to the states to Los Angeles. What a loss for our ward. (He was called to Bishop when they had lived here for 6 weeks and has served since then).
We talked almost 3 hours, about YSA, the organization, institute, etc. and then as we were ready to leave they ended up telling us one of the most remarkable stories I’ve ever heard about how they got married.

Suneta grew up in India to a VERY educated upper class family. They were LDS but more important than religion or anything else was education and status of who you married. Since Suneta was a doctor, only a doctor would do, followed by the second choice of an engineer. This was only 18 years ago, but in India they still arrange marriages. Suneta had had several marriages arranged but all had fallen through (she was praying they would because none were LDS). She was 25 years old and her family was getting desperate about her not being married when Bishop Gill’s dad came and opened the mission. She became one of the foundation stones for the YSA program there and was truly loved by the Gills.

Our Bishop David Gill was 23 when he got off his mission and came to India to see his parents. The weekend he was there it was a youth conference that Suneta was in charge of and they saw each other for the first time. Of course it was completely NOT ok to talk to a boy by herself but David Gill went up and started talking and she didn’t know what to do, especially because he was President’s son so they talked for 30 minutes and then went their own way. Later, in passing David asked his mother about how she felt about Suneta. His mom informed him that there was not a finer, more lovely woman on the face of the earth than Suneta. His mom absolutely respected and adored her.

Someone was watching them. It was her younger brother, recently just off his mission. He went home to his very strict Indian parents and told them that he had just found the suitable husband for Suneta; the mission president’s son. With his parent’s permission the brother went to David Gill’s hotel and begged him to consider marrying his sister BUT he would need to know before David left in two weeks because an arranged husband was flying to India from American to become betrothed to Suneta. David Gill was stunned. He’d only just talked to her for 30 minutes!!!! And now here her family is talking about them marrying and getting engaged before he went home to America!!!

At first he blew it off as absurd. But then he couldn’t get out of his mind what his mother had said about her. Slowly his heart started to soften as he felt the stirring of the Spirit. He was amazed and even more amazed when he felt himself even considering it. Finally he called the brother and said that if they would allow him and Suneta to talk, really talk, then he would give them an answer.

Suneta, along with her brother and mother came to his hotel room and with the door wide open and her mom coming in and out of the room they talked, really talked for 3 hours. They said it was instantly deep and meaningful and the spirit acknowledged to both of them that His hand was in this. It happened. Before David left they had a betrothal ceremony and several months later were married. That was 18 years ago and they are very obviously in love, committed to each other and have served faithfully in the kingdom and have raised beautiful bright children. I marvel at both their faith, but especially David’s, who had all the options in the world, but chose to follow the spirit and marry a girl the Lord had chosen!

Is that a crazy story or what????

Monday we got a ride with the Larsen’s to go 1 hour away to Costco and England’s version of Walmart. AT LAST a familiar store with packages and items I could recognize. Between both stores we spent almost 700 pounds (around $1,000.) getting food and some items for the apartment. We even splurged and got a Costco hotdog. Never tasted that good at home!

That night was FHE. It’s one of the things that needs some work but still another chance to get to be with the kids. One darling thing happened that night. One of the Chinese sisters shyly came up to me and leaned in and said “Sister Phillips you feel like a mom.” It made me get teary. That’s exactly what I want to feel like, what I need to feel like to these youth. So many of them need the love of a mom and dad because they are either so far away from home that they have no access or they don’t have family in the church. It’s rough out there. Some of these youth have had truly difficult hard lives! Oh how badly we want them to know they have family in US!!! It was very sweet.

Our First Tuesday Night Institute

Tuesday Institute class has been part of every discussion with our leaders. We have been trying to determine whether or not to have it. The numbers were decreasing every month for the past year until only 4-5 youth were coming. So we approached our first night asking the Lord if this was something we needed to continue.

One of the things we knew we would change would be to have it at our flat. With small numbers it would be so much more intimate in a home setting. To help with that feeling for this first class I rearranged the Institute classroom and formed a small circle of chairs. One sweet blessing was the lesson was on the Holy Ghost which we had taught in Institute last year so I was able to use it and not have to spend the hours required to prepare a new lesson.

When we started class there were 4 students. By the end we had 8 students from 8 different countries; Romania, Hungary, India, Mexico, Japan, China, UK and Brazil. How incredible is that!!!!!

Let me just say it was one of the most tender, deep, precious experiences I’ve ever had teaching. I taught the lesson but your father was there and added incredible parts to the lesson. Nevertheless, the lesson was taught by every student there. If we were uncertain about this class continuing it is now gone. These were kids that probably would never speak up in the large class and yet in this small setting every one of them had beautiful things to teach and share. It was profound and SO TENDER.

Eric's Story

I wanted to share one of the experiences that was told by Eric. He was the YSA student from Brazil. He was here for 2 weeks on Holiday and actually left the next day. I swear he was here if only for that night.

Eric’s family was all baptized Brazil. He was the youngest of several children, but when he was 18 his whole family had gone inactive and his parents were fighting and getting ready to file for divorce. He continued going to church by himself every week, teaching a primary class. But it took a toll on him as he saw all the families in his ward sitting together and he there by himself. The loneliness was overwhelming!

Finally on a Saturday night he hit bottom. He got down on his knees and told the Lord that he would go teach his primary class the next day but then he was done. It was just too hard to do it alone and he was too sad and helpless to do anything about his family. Eric said he stayed on his knees all night long and awoke still kneeling.
He got up exhausted and went to Primary. He said the ward members knew of his family situation. Even so, they could tell that something was even more wrong with him because he was so sad. Everyone kept asking him what was wrong. He said he couldn’t answer them but just shook his head. He was in total mourning.

He finished his primary class and slowly walked into Sacrament for the last time with his heart breaking. He looked up and there was his warring parents from the night before sitting together in Sacrament Meeting!
By this time our class was all in tears. I then asked Eric what happened. He told all of us that his family had been sealed together last summer. Then I asked the most important question. “Would it have mattered if they didn’t remain active?” His answer was what I knew it would be. He shook his head and said how grateful he was to have an eternal family, but what he absolutely KNEW was the Lord heard and answered the prayers of a lonely 18 year old boy. He has since served a mission and is a total leader with his YSA in Brazil.

Can you believe who we get to learn from? There are such warriors among them!

Last night was CES Institute and my first dinner. We had spaghetti, buttered bread and carrots. Very simple, but it tasted good. The Stake President has asked to not have it so elaborate as the Ainsworth’s did it. She loved to cook and did it gourmet style!!! And we all know I cook for only one reason; to gather. So that was good news for me. Still it took all day and we didn’t get home until 10:30 last night. Jim taught Mission Prep and had 2 black Brits and one Romanian attend. He came out very happy with it and felt like it was a profound experience. (So did the boys. I talked to them and the raved about your dad.)

Today I am recovering from yesterday and getting caught up with this letter. It feels very lonesome having no internet to be in touch. I’m counting the days until we get it here.

Jim’s waiting to take this up to the mission home so we can send it today. Just know that we are starting to feel a little more grounded, not feeling lost all the time and we both have assurance we are right where we are supposed to be. It’s a marvelous feeling to be able to 100% be committed to serving the Lord and His children and feeling the presence of the Holy Ghost lighting our path.

First Week at the MTC

What a fabulous experience we just shared with 146 other Seniors (hate that word)this past week at the Missionary Training Center. Now I can truly understand what my missionary children were talking about; the long days, the amazing teachers, the abundant food, the truly powerful spirit 24/7 and the closeness of your district. What an amazing,spirit-filled, efficient, organized institution the MTC is. We have loved every minute of it.

On the first day we were put into districts and initially I was disappointed. All the couples seemed quiet and reserved. Oh how wrong I was. By the second day we were having a love-fest. It's amazing what happens when your hearts and focus are all on the same goal. I will love these couples forever. It was magic!

One of the highlights of the week was getting to role play a discussion (it felt way more like real play) with "investigators" (volunteers who are VERY GOOD at being non-members). Both sessions ended in hugs and tears (one investigator broke character and sobbed in our arms. We have that effect on some people!) After doing these sessions all I can say is I have the BEST COMPANION IN THE CHURCH!!! Jim is an amazing missionary with amazing skills. I'm just grateful I get to hold on to his coattails and go along for the ride!

One sad thing in this week has been concerning Jim's health. For the first time in our lives we got flu shots required by the MTC, even though we've not had flu in 30 years. Then on Wednesday, upon the advice of our district we went and got a Pnemonia shot. That night Jim got a horrific case of the chills and ran a high fever. We were sure it was a reation to the shot he'd just received. He went to the MTC on Thursday, but that night once again got chills and the next morning was running 103 fever. He has a horrible flu that has lasted now for 5 days and he is still running 101 fever. We have two fervent prayers; one that he will be better in time to leave on Thursday and second that I WON"T GET IT!!! Today is the first day of Institute Training and I will be going alone. So much for flu shots!!!

I wanted to share one story that was told to us by Sister Curtis. She and her husband have been called to Megan's mission Micronesia Guam and will be serving on the island of Kosare. Sister Curtis shared an experience she had on her first mission in Germany in the 1970's.

She and her companion were out tracking and knocked on a door. When the door opened, to their amazement, there stood a Catholic Cardinal in full regalia! Sister Curtis said he was fairly young, maybe 50, and very handsome. They were shocked but he kindly explained that he had just traveled from the Vatican for a rest in Germany and had only just walked into the door. They talked for a few minutes and Sister Curtis felt inspired to offer him a Book of Mormon and asked if he would read it. To her surprise, he agreed and told her to come back in a week and they would discuss it.

The next week Sister Curtis came back to a black wreath on the door. When the housekeeper answered the door she informed the missionaries that the Cardinal had passed away the week before. Sister Curtis began to turn away when she felt to ask the housekeeper if she knew if he had had a chance to read the book they had given him the week before. The housekeeper got a funny look on her face and then related what had happened.

She told the Sisters that after they left the Cardinal went in and without changing his robes sat down and begin to read. She advised him that he should change his clothes and shower before he begin reading. He said that he would in a minute but he just contintued to read. Two hours later she came in and found him in the exact same place, having never moved. Again she told him to go change his clothes and rest. Two hours later, when she brought him his dinner he still hadn't moved. Finally leaving him there in the chair the housekeeper went to bed.

The next morning when she got up she found the Cardinal had never moved. Sometime in the night he had passed away. When she went to take the Book of Mormon out of his hands she realized it was open to the final page of the book.
Sister Curtis had a burning conviction he was called home with a knowledge he had found the truth!

I'm so excited to add our own personal stories to this one as we begin our own adventure in spreading the gospel and our mission of rescue.

Letter of Introduction to Our New Mission President

Starla's Letter to President Jordan:

Dear President and Sister Jordan;
We are so excited for this opportunity to serve with you and the Young Single Adults residing in the England London mission. We are anxious to meet you and get to work!
President Jordan you asked us for a brief introduction.
I was born in the covenant to goodly parents. I have 2 brothers and 2 sister who have all remained faithful in the gospel. I grew up in San Luis Obispo, California. When I was only 15 I became best friends with a wonderful Catholic boy who would later join the church at 19, come with me to BYU on scholarship (his in football, mine in music), graduate and then serve a mission to his beloved England. After his return he became my eternal husband. We have been married 40 years this March and have had a grand love affair our whole lives.
We have lived in both California and Utah. The last 21 years we have resided in Orem Utah. We are the parents of 4 daughters and 1 son. Our children have given us the greatest joy of our lives in our 8 grandsons and 3 granddaughters (with another granddaughter being born 2 weeks after we leave the MTC!) We are richly blessed.
I have served in every auxiliary, mainly as a teacher or member of a presidency. I have also been involved with music in one way or another my whole life. I have played the piano since childhood and graduated from BYU in Voice and Music Education. My greatest passion is choral conducting. For 40 years I have conducted ward, stake and regional choirs in the 4 different stakes we’ve lived and put on an annual production called “Sing Noel”, a musical tribute to Christmas. An added blessing; all our children sing and perform.
A favorite calling was serving on campus with Jim as he served students as Bishop. The past two years we have had the privilege of teaching together Institute for BYU 14th Stake. We LOVE single adults and would choose to serve them over any other calling. That’s why this call is such a delight. We are truly grateful for this opportunity to work with them and for the blessing of excellent health and energy to be able to keep up with them!
As I stated in the beginning I was born into the church. I have always loved the gospel and have always believed. But meeting Jim, a strong committed catholic, at such a young age motivated me to dig, search and pray until I found my own testimony independent of others and could testify to Jim that I KNEW it was true.
I testify that with all my heart I know the gospel has been restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. It is in living its precepts that we can find true joy and safety. I love my Savior. He is my redeemer and friend. Because of His offering of the Atonement and the blessings of the holy temple I can come home to Father, with my husband and family and live together eternally.
I’ve recently had conversations with other women who have asked me how we could leave our home, our children, our grandchildren and go for two year. My answer is how can we NOT go! We acknowledge before the world that every blessing and talent we have is because of Him. We will never be able to repay all the tender mercies He has extended to our family, but we can make this mission our offering, an expression of our deepest gratitude. We are anxious to begin and so grateful for this opportunity to do His work full time. WE ARE COMING TO SERVE! Sincerely, Sister Starla Phillips

Jim's Introduction Letter to President Jordan:

Dear President and Sister Jordan;
It is an honor and privilege to be called to the England London Mission. I agree with President Hinckley regarding his view of London being the jewel of the British Empire. We look forward to meeting you and the Young Single Adults we have been blessed to serve.
Starla has given you an overview of our life together so I’ll focus on some of my background she hasn’t covered.
I was born to be a missionary once Father knocked me off my Catholic horse like Paul. I use Paul as the example because we just returned from the Holy Land following Paul’s missionary journeys. It has been a dream of ours to go walk where the Savior walked so we could better testify of the Master and His extraordinary sacrifice for each of us.
I have served in every missionary calling for the first 20 years of my church life. I have served as a ward missionary, ward mission leader, a Seventy over missionary work and on three High Councils responsible for missionary work. Even when I was called as a Young Men’s President twice I felt my most important assignment was to give them a burning desire to serve a mission. I believe it’s the foundation for a successful life.
Any success I’ve had in my life I credit to the foundational lessons taken from my mission. I learned of faith and obedience to the Father and listening to the still, not so small Voice on my mission. The lesson of trusting the Spirit guided me while building four successful businesses. My business life has taken me all over the world giving me invaluable experience and a love for all cultures and people. I’ve had factories in the Orient, a business in Europe for five years that exposed me to all the different countries and cultures of Europe. On another path Father took me down I was blessed to work with some of the best people /leaders running some of the finest companies in the world like Proctor and Gamble, Ford, IBM and NASA. They taught me how important Vision, Mission and Strategy is to the success of a business no matter what the size. I want to use any experience I may have to serve the Young Adults and you, President. We hope to be anxiously engaged in the greatest vision and mission of all that is found in Moses 1:39. “For behold, this is my work and my glory-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”
I have waited for over 40 years since I served my last President in the England Central Mission to come back with a companion I have always loved and get to serve again. My first mission to England was one of the most important decisions I’ve ever made. It set the foundational lessons of my life. I am a living witness of how crucial it is for every missionary that is called to learn to sacrifice their all for the Kingdom.
When I was baptized at 19, my very Catholic family threw me out of the house and disowned me the day of my baptism. After graduating from BYU, I was going to travel the world with my best friend before we started a business together. But instead I had a powerful experience that let me know I was supposed to go on a mission. To pay for my mission I had to give Father everything I’d saved and sell everything I had in the world to be able to go. The Lord was not done yet. I was stunned by what Father was going to ask of me next. He required that I’d be willing to risk losing Starla, the love of my life, to go serve Him also.
The week before I was to enter the Mission Home, Starla was asked for her hand in marriage and it wasn’t me doing the asking. I knew Father was requiring the only thing in the world that I wasn’t sure I’d be willing to give up to obey Him. I got on that plane to England with a broken heart and a shaken spirit, knowing the probable outcome of choosing Father first would be that Starla wouldn’t be there when I got home.
I pulled a blanket over my head as the plane took off and wept. I pled with the Father to help me understand why, after giving him my mother, all my money and my plans for travel and business, why He would ask me for the ultimate sacrifice. I will never forget the experience of my Savior’s spirit joining me under that blanket and wrapping his loving arms around me in my time of need. He made a promise to me that day, which He kept. From that experience I learned one of the most important lessons of my life. The lesson was that when the Father or the Son makes a promise they always keep them, eventually. I honestly never worried again about whether she’d be there when I got home because as long as I did my part He’d do His. That knowledge of putting Father’s will first has been the key to every aspect of my life. I was promised that if I served with all my heart, might, mind and strength Starla would be there when I came home. It will be my privilege to introduce you to this wonderful women who is my missionary and the mother of my children.
My greatest test this time around is leaving those amazing little people that call me Grandpa. I admit it is like leaving Starla behind, but this time I have a lifetime of gospel experience to soften the blow. I know that with each test comes an increase of testimony. I know there is no greater legacy or gift I could hope to give my children and grandchildren than our example of sacrifice and service in the building up of the Kingdom.
President, I know the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth by the Father and the Son. I know that Joseph saw what he said he saw and it changed my life. I also know that the Priesthood of God is on the earth and all the keys are held by his modern day Prophet. My mother wanted me to be a priest. Because of the restoration of the gospel I’ve been able to become a High Priest who was able to bless my dying father to live another 15 years (but that’s another story).
The knowledge that was taught to Joseph in the Sacred Grove about the Father and the Son has changed my life forever. I know that I have a Father in Heaven that hears and answers my prayers. He also gave us His only begotten son to pay for all my sins, and that knowledge has again driven me into the mission field. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
President, we stand ready to serve the Lord in the England, London Mission.
Warmest regards,
Elder James K. Phillips

Sister Phillips' Farewell Talk Outline December 2013

Show Ashlee’s quilt she made us for Christmas
This quilt caused me to remember a very significant experience that happened 19 years ago!

First some background:
When praising the “unfeigned faith” he found in Timothy, Paul noted that this faith “dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and thy mother Eunice.”


Growing up with Mom and Grandma
When we moved here 21 years ago my grandma had died only a couple years before and my mom was moving into the final stages of Alzheimer’s.
Soon after moving here I was asked to be the mother of 4 daughters in the musical “Quilters” Using different blocks of quilts to symbolize how the stiches and patterns of our lives are passed down from grandmother to mother to daughter through generations of time.
Crying in bed one morning to Jim- broken hearted that my daughters would never know the influence of these fabulous women. His profound precious answer to me, “But Starla, they know you.”
Elder Christofferson said to women in the last conference “Your intuition is to do good and to be good and as you follow the Holy Spirit your moral authority and influence will grow.”
Now years later there are the 3 essential truths that I can testify to that were first influenced by my mother and grandmother’s example. I can testify these truths not only to my daughters but to every woman striving to become a woman of God. These things I KNOW to be true!

First “As women of God our greatest calling and sphere of influence in mortality is being mothers in Zion”

President Gordon B. Hinckley stated ”God planted within women something divine”. That something is the gift of, and the gifts associated with, motherhood. Speaking to women, Elder Matthew Cowley of the Quorum of the Twelve taught that “you belong to the great sorority of saviorhood…Men are different, men have to have something given to them in mortality to make them saviors of men, but not mothers, not women. You are born with an inherent right, and inherent authority, to be the saviors of human souls. You are the co-creators with God of his children. Therefore, it is expected of you by a right divine that you’re the saviors and the regenerating force in the lives of God’s children here upon the earth.”

Story of going to Jim’s training for CEO’s; “Jim might be CEO of this company, but I am President of our home! They thought that was “Cute” but I wasn’t kidding.

Married 3 daughters and Tanner left on his mission within 15 months of each other
I was Lost. Realized that every other endeavor or purpose pales in comparison and significance to being a mom
Beautiful example acting as a mother in Zion last week on my daughter Bri’s blog

We get a free Issaquah newspaper a couple times a week, and I find it annoying. We don't read it, and it ends up in the recycle. Such a waste of resources. Caleb loves it though. He gets so excited to get it and put it on Dan's desk thinking that Dad will be excited to read it.

Yesterday morning I got a knock on my door. It was my neighbor. She was ticked. She went on to tell me that Caleb has been stealing their newspaper a couple times a week. They finally found out who was doing it when they saw him run across the street. It all made sense why there were sometimes thick papers on Dan's desk. I. Was. Mortified. I apologized profusely. I headed upstairs to find Caleb. He was hiding under his bed and I'm pretty sure he heard the whole conversation.

We started talking about it, and he was shaking. I knew I didn't need to get mad because he was so embarrassed and feeling horrible already. I asked him why he did it. He was doing it for Dad. I asked him why it wasn't OK to take their paper, and he understood that it was because he was stealing. I knew he would not do it again, and went in to talk to Dan (who was still sleeping) about it.

Caleb was beside himself. He could not handle the emotion he was feeling. He was running around hiding in our closet, then coming out, going into our bathroom, roaming. We kept trying to calm him down so we could talk. He could not sit. He was devastated. Dan finally forced him to come into bed with us. He had to physically pick him up (while Caleb resisted and squirmed to get away) and bring him into our bed. We kept telling him that it would be OK. He made a mistake, but he can be better. We went on to share times where we made mistakes as children. He finally calmed down, but was visibly shaken from the experience.

The lesson in YW later that day was on how to create a Christ centered home. The teacher handed out scripture verses for each of us to read. The one I was given was not by chance. I knew it the second I read it.

2Nephi 26: And we atalk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we bprophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our cchildren may know to what source they may look for a dremission of their sins.

This was one of my favorite and most used verses on my mission. Little did I know the impact it would have on me on this Sunday morning in the future.

I felt strongly that I needed to share the experience of what had happened this morning with the Young Women. Especially the part about how he was so devastated and how he was hiding. My heart was sad, yet filled with the spirit. My prayer and probably one of the greatest hopes of my heart is that my children will know as to what source to look to for a remission of their sins. My hope is that my sweet son will not allow the pain and anguish to overtake him and force him into hiding.

God spoke to my heart. I am so grateful for the atonement. I am so grateful that through Christ, we can stand tall and be forgiven. We do not have to hide. I am grateful that I was given this message today, and I pray that we were able to teach this to our son. This was such a great reminder during this time of year when we get to celebrate His birth. God is good.

The power of being a mother in Zion!

Second: As women of God we can know who we truly are as we serve in His kingdom and knowing that, influence not just our family but the world.

Sister Sherie Dew gave a beautiful talk to the women of the church called “Stand Tall and Stand Together”. She closed her talk with these words,
“My prayer is that we can be equally clear about our mission as women of god. This isn’t just a really nice church that teaches really nice ideas so that we can live really nice lives. This is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, endowed with His power and charged with carrying His truth to the ends of the earth…We are the most blessed of all women to have such a vital part in it.
Powerful example in my life of this: Story of Barbara SmithPowerful example in my life of this:

Story of President Barbara Smith
(It's the experience Mom had riding to the airport with General Relief Society President Barbara Smith during the early 1980's after she came and talked to 3 stakes in California and calmed all the women's minds and brought peace to their hearts amidst the storm of the clamoring strident voices of the National Organization of Women, Sonia Johnson, women's rights etc. She spoke with authority, calm, and knowlegable on all the current issues. My mom called her "Magnificent". When Mom was driving home with Sister Smith, one of the counselors in the Stake R.S. Presidency asked where Barbara Smith had gotten her college degree. Sister Smith's surprising answer, "I hold no degree. If I have achieved anything it is because of what I have learned as I have served in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." Powerful lesson on what we can become as we serve the Lord.)


LOVE THIS QUOTE BY Sherie Dew: When we live like Disciples of Christ should live, when we aren’t just good but happy to be good, others will be drawn to us because we are “distinct and different –in happy ways”, as President Kimball prophesied. Happy about the way we’ve chosen to live, happy because we’re not constantly reshaping ourselves in the world’s image, happy because we have “the gifts and the power of the Holy Ghost, happy to stand tall so that we will stand out.”

Third: As women of God our greatest influence will be to bring others to Christ

Last month I had an unforgettable experience in the Holy Land. As we were driving to the Sea of Galilee our guide pointed to a city that literally was built on the top of a hill. That visual image of a city that cannot be hid was stunning and as I pondered the symbolism I had an overwhelming impression that as a woman of God I can be like that city. As I leave behind the things of the world and come unto Christ so that the Spirit radiates through my life and from my eyes, I can be a light to the world.
How exciting that WE can be part of this final closing up dispensation, that we have been reserved for this very time. What a responsibility we have to influence not only our families but the whole world

Elder M Russell Ballard: “None of us can afford to stand by and watch the purposes of God be diminished and pushed aside. I invite particularly you sisters throughout the Church to seek the guidance of heaven in knowing what you can do to let your voice of faith and testimony be heard. The Brethren of the General Authorities and the sisters who are general officers cannot do it alone. The full-time missionaries cannot do it alone. We must all defend our Savior and testify that He is the Christ, that His Church has been restored to the earth, that there is such a thing as right and wrong.”

Last couple weeks I’ve had women (mothers and grandmothers) ask how we can leave our family, especially our grandchildren

My answer: ”How can we NOT go. The Spirit has whispered to me that it’s not enough to just love our children and grandchildren. We need them to see our devotion, sacrifice and commitment to our Lord in our actions. Last week I as I once again made a covenant with the Lord in His holy house to put it ALL on the alter I was brought to tears that we had the opportunity to do just that as we go forth to serve. Like my mother and grandmother I want our influence and legacy to be one of faith and sacrifice to our Savior.

As Diana testified to me a few weeks ago our sacrifice will have efficacy in our families’ lives in ways we don’t begin to even understand yet.

From Ashlee’s blog written the night we opened our mission call:

Tonight my parents got their mission call. We have been waiting for six weeks for it to finally arrive. Prior to submitting their papers they were recommended by Elder Bruce Hafen to serve in the young adult center in London, England so when they received this call we were not surprised. They will be serving young adults by creating a place, activities and missionary opportunities for those living in and around London. They have certainly been prepared for this calling by teaching institute to young adults, serving as a BYU young adult ward bishop and by constantly having a home filled with young adults who were friends of their children. They will be perfect. Those youth in London are in for a real gift! The only surprise was that the call was for two years (23 months to be exact) rather than the eighteen months they had requested.

As my five prospective missionaries huddled around the phone listening to their grandparents read their call I was a bit overwhelmed; to say the least! I was full of gratitude for the example of my parent's willingness to leave all behind to serve the Lord. The intense range of emotion from ecstatic to sorrow is something I am going to have to get used to. Tonight was a little taste of what I will get to go through five times with my boys. I cannot wait for those calls to arrive, but in the same instant my heart breaks to think of it! So exciting, such an opportunity, such a gift. Yet, such a sacrifice.

The reality that my boys won't have their grandparents around for two whole years of their lives breaks my heart. They will miss a significant portion of my boys' growing up, but the blessings that will come for my future missionaries will be worth the sacrifice. My two big boys were thrilled with the call to London because it is a place they have been. A place they can easily imagine their Babs and Mags being. The second they heard two years however, they broke down.

I sat in the next room listening to my Tanner sobbing in the shower for 15 minutes. He later asked me with tears streaming down his cheeks, "Mom, I can barely stand being away from Baba for five days! How am I going to be able to handle two years?!" What can I say to that? I tried comforting Little Lukey by promising him we would still go on trips while they are gone. To which he said through his sobs, "But it won't be any fun without them!" Again, what can I say to that?

I have been thinking in preparation for this call that the example of my parent's sacrifice is what will bless my boys the most. After tonight I think it goes further than that. This mission call requires a sacrifice from my boys as well. They will have to test their own developing little testimonies by letting their grandparents go. They will be far better prepared to one day leave themselves because they are learning while they are young to sacrifice. They are giving up one of the most important things in their lives: their Baba and Maga. I am so grateful for this lesson, for this chance to sacrifice. I am so grateful for my parents. I am so grateful for my own testimony that confirms to me that while this is hard, it is right and good and worth it!

Jim and I know we have great direct influence in the lives of our family, but we KNOW even more surely that the Lord’s influence is so much more powerful than ours. We KNOW that as we serve we will be able to beg the Lord in a more perfect way and with greater power to distill His blessings upon the heads of our children and grandchildren.
On this we can rely to make up the difference of us being gone.

Close with the words from this song I pulled out this morning to calm me:
Second verse:
Lifting the hand that hang down in sorrow.
Strengthening knees that bend in despair.
Reaching the hopeless hearts who do not know His love.
Seeing their lives begin to change I know I’ll never be the same.
How can I keep this gift to myself when I can lift somebody else.
I am a witness of His miracles and His mercy.
I put my future in His hands Knowing He’s made me all I am,
When I put my faith in Him the truth begins to speak.
His power is real. It moves me until I cannot be still.
His power is real I trust in His will. I will not be still.

I pray we will all desire to lift our “voices as with the sound of a trump”. And may we “cheerfully do all things that live in our power, and then stand still to see the arm of God revealed as His work goes forward boldly and nobly until “it has swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.