Hola!

Tyson with Elder Fullmer

 

 

Hey Mom!

Thanks for the pictures, Jack still looks like a beast keeper (I sent him some photos of a friend from his high school soccer team)! And I don't know how Jalen looks so happy if he lost all his luggage! That's just terrible. Once again, I feel like I'm receiving all his frustration and pain just thinking about it! This already happened when he knocked out his teeth (he was just laughing, and I wanted to throw up and curl up in a ball when I found out), so I guess I'll get used to receiving more of his pain and suffering in the future. Haha-I think they mixed up a few wires in the wiring between us twins....

 

So this last week was crazy. Elder Rogers and I had plans for the week, really good ones, and guess what? They all just fell!!! Haha-on Tuesday the leaders called us at 3 and told me I had to be in the terminal to go to Mendoza at 515, and that meant Elder Rogers had to pack everything to go to the other elders' pench. So we had a frantic two hours, then we barely made it to the terminal in time. So I spent the night in Mendoza, got to see Elder Hardy and Elder Abad, and then we had the whole morning and afternoon in the trainers meeting. But it was super cool because I got to see Elder Johnson again too, and since he is in Rodeo del Medio right now, we were talking for hours during lunch and everything about what's going on there. He is getting that area going again. They've already had some crazy miracle baptisms, so I'm happy for them! He can speak Spanish now haha, and he tells everyone I taught him, which isn't completely true. But anyway, instead of doing a weird game or anything to get our trainees, they just announced some stuff about us, the trainers, and then told us who it was. Pretty boring, huh? But I had a feeling from the first moment I met the new elders the night before that it would be Elder Fullmer! And guess who my trainee is?? It's Elder Fullmer!!! Haha-the grandson of President and Sister Miller in the New Mexico Albuquerque Mission! So within two transfers, I met both the elders I was waiting for, and now I'm with the second one haha. But I definitely am not training him in anything but the differences between Argentina and the States. I, on the other hand, have just put a little more wood in my fire to get working even harder now! He is awesome, already speaks well, doesn't understand everything yet, but that will come by the next few weeks. Everyone already compliments him, so that is good for the confidence :) He gave a little message yesterday in church, his fourth day in Argentina, and he said everything perfectly. It was very powerful, and everyone was wanting to talk to him after haha. I think that's the closest I've come in my short life to feeling anything close to the pride of a "father," and it was pretty awesome. He visa-waited in Ogden for two transfers in a Spanish branch, and that definitely helped his Spanish. But it's interesting that with him and his district mate, they were put together in Ogden, so two new elders together with a new area. The Lord definitely trusts these younger guys more! Same happened with the hermanas. We got four new ones this transfer too, and I got to know Hermana Hales and Hermana Crawford pretty well. And they were together in... wherever it was they were visa-waiting. Pretty crazy.

 

So it's getting constantly colder now, and I'm happy still since I feel quite a bit better, at least speaking of the allergies and everything. It's still cold and miserable, but I don't complain! And even this last week without seeing any of our investigators, that isn't making me complain either haha, but it did make for a low number week. But as always, numbers aren't everything, the people are more important. We just have to step it up this week and visit all of them and get them to come to church!! I've had this problem my whole mission, no one ever comes to church. I don't know what to do more! We have even tried involving the members here, and it still hasn't worked out. It's a little frustrating.

 

Yeah, last week we played Settlers of Catan, and I lost badly the first time, then destroyed everyone and won by a long shot the second time! I think it's the second time I've ever won that game. Haha-fun times. Then I won at Uno a bunch too. So a good last pday. Too bad Elder Rogers took the games with him... Now we don't have anything. And yes, my hair is slowly growing. It's to a point where I can stand it, at least for now haha.

 

Wow, that sounds like a perfect mission for Cara! (A friend just got called to Honolulu, Hawaii on her mission.) And I'm sure she will do well there.

 

I can't believe Malcolm knocked out his teeth! Now maybe he won't leave on his mission next month. Is he allowed to just go with the teeth-in-the-retainer/flipper thing? I know Jalen wanted to do that at first. I thought it wasn't allowed...interesting. Poor guy though. HAHAHA Brother Freer sitting on the stand with Bishop Rhead...that's a good picture. But he will do an awesome job. I didn't know the Pittards were moving! Tell them goodbye for me! And at least you won't have more cat wars in the garden haha.

 

Oh wow, that sounds like a cool Jamboree itinerary, although the touring part sounds way different than ours! I do wish I had my little cannon I bought from Gettysburg. I left it in the hotel there :/ sad times... I wish I had taken better care of all the stuff I bought. I feel like I'm missing a bunch of my souveniers from the Jamboree. Don't do the same, Nathan!

 

Well, that missionary broadcast meeting last night was probably the second highlight of the week, besides being with President and the other elders in Mendoza. Sadly, we only had one representative from our ward attend, the Bishop, so it doesn't help us all that much! He is already doing everything he can, so this just adds to his responsibility, and no one else will step up yet! Our members are great, I just wish they had been able to see the broadcast. Hopefully they get on lds.org and watch! It was awesome. I don't know when those internet changes are coming here, but it's going to be crazy when they do.

 

Other than that, it's going to be a good week! We are going to work really hard, and we already have good visits set up for tonight, so we are starting well! I just want to plan really well so Elder Fullmer can be at the level of training when he finishes this first transfer (I know I definitely wasn't to that level), and I'll work really hard to make sure he gets the best example he can!

 

Anyway, I need to go try to see if we got our money yet for the month for traveling. If not, it's going to be a long couple of days ahead haha. But I love you Mom! I hope things turn out well with all the crazy plans going on, and that you enjoy your quiet time for a little while! Thankfully our house never was super crazy in the first place.

 

Have a good week, and know that you are in my prayers always! I know this Church is true, and I'm glad we have such inspiring leaders who always help us improve and increase our capability to share the gospel. I hope that all of us can step it up to the level that the world is needing right now! There is only one way that has ALL of the tools that we need to achieve our goal, eternal happiness, and if that's what people really want, they will be willing to listen to their friends who love them and want them to have the same thing! Just share your testimonies and be sincere. My favorite quote from last night was by Elder Holland when he said "an invitation born from our true love for others and for the Savior will NEVER be taken as offensive." I know that is true. Those videos from the broadcast back me up on that! We need to reach the next level, and I know I'm definitely excited to be part of this big world-wide team, always advancing! Every change in this work is for the better! :) And I love the invitation Elder Holland always makes, for those who haven't joined, and those who have joined and after have taken detours, to come back, because our arms are always wide open. It's part of living as a Christian, to love all without reservations. It's worth it, I know it is!

 

Elder Tyson Gibbons

Happy Father's Day!

Hey Mom and Dad!

Well I can definitely say that yes, the best parts in life always come after the hardest parts in life! This last week has just been like a weeklong recompense from that pretty low weekend! Haha I'm happy, so that's all the matters! First of all, Happy Fathers Day Dad!! I love you! Hope you enjoyed some good cooking, being nice and warm inside and outside and some good heartfelt gifts! It was mighty cold, super windy, way dark, and extremely empty in town yesterday. I hope my use of superlatives or extreme adjectives got my message across. Haha :) it was a pretty uneventful dia, just like all the holidays here in Argentina. There were even fewer people in church, plus we figured out that the gas for the heaters isn't sufficient, so the bishop and I went through the chapel from one end to the other turning on the heaters, and we realized by the time we reached the end of the cycle, all the ones at the beginning had turned off, the ones in the middle were only at half power, and while I tried to turn one on, the bishop was looking at one of the middle ones, and it turned off when mine turned on. So yeah, we had a fun day skipping through all the rooms in use, turning them on, and off, or turning them to half power, trying to get the chapel heated up! And to top it all off, the power went out haha, so yeah, that was super fun. :) Your meetings sound a lot more normal! I'm glad to hear that Sydney's farewell went well!

 

Alright, besides that, this last week was really good because we had some really, really good visits with some of our main people right now! We had the family M_____ (members) come with us to visit the other family M_____ (non members) and they made friends, and it was a really good lesson. Only problem was coming to church yesterday, EVERYONE used Fathers Day as an excuse to not go, which is way ironic I think, since that's dishonoring our HEAVENLY Father, and I think if there is any father we should do something for, firstly it should be Him. It's just sad to realize how many people don't understand that very well. But oh well, that's the culture here, and in many other countries, including ours, and it's pretty hard to change it! But we also found some new people thanks to the fruit lady, whose name is actually S_____, and guess what? Turns out that she is already a member haha--didn't tell us until we invited her to be batized. I called it!! Haha it didn't surprise me at all when she said it. But her cousin, A_____, is awesome. She already loves the Book of Mormon, has read a bunch, but more than that, understands and remembers what she read, instead of just saying "Yes I read," then failing every simple question we ask. Haha that happens alot... but then this week she introduced us to two of her friends, who we taught and who are really cool too. But what's the best is that she was helping us to teach her two friends! Almost like a lesson with member haha, but not quite. Then we just had really good visits with some other people, and some pretty awkward visits too. But I won't mention that right now, it's a good email so far haha.

 

Alright, that's about it for the week! So I guess I could mention transfers... :) Well, what President told me of course was right! Elder Rogers is leaving to San Martin, with Elder Manjarres, who was with us in San Luis when I was there with Elder Rogers! So that's pretty cool! And as for me, well... I don't know who my companion is haha, it's pretty nerve-wracking. But I know I'll get along with him anyway. All I know is that it's going to be a new elder BUT I don't know if I'm actually training or not, because it could be a latino visa waiter, or a latino in general, who I wouldn't need to train much. Or it could be a gringo visa waiter or new gringo, and I would end up training I think. But I don't have any more information than that, I don't know if I'm going to Mendoza this week or no! So I guess I'll let you all know next week. I'm pretty excited, but also sad to see Elder Rogers go. He has always given everything he has, and it's been a great example to me, and we are at the opposite end of how the area was when I got here and he got here. We have people to teach, people progressing towards baptism, and that's how a transfer should be! So I feel good and so does he, knowing we have worked so hard to make it that way. I'm happy, because I feel like in neither of my other two areas I've been able to do that for the following missionary.

 

Thanks for sending me more pictures! It's just a nuisance that I can only see the last one! This cyber is so terrible, but we didn't have time to go to a better one. So again, I'll put off downloading that cd, and sending pictures, and everything else I would normally do in a good cyber. :/ and just send an email. How boring, right? ;)

 

So today we are going to eat empanadas! But we are going to make them, so don't get your hopes up haha! I don't know how great they will be, but oh well. And we might go do something with the other elders, but we don't know yet. So that's our day planned haha!

 

I'm glad Girls Camp went very well! Kate is definitely building up her testimony better than I ever did, and that makes me happy! And Nathan sounds excited for Jamboree. I have found a bunch of elders here that were at the same Jamboree as me and Logan and Chris and Jalen! It's fun to talk about all the cool stuff we did. And then I realized that our road trips were different from everyone else! We did some stuff that others didn't get to do. But I still think our trip was the best. So Nate is going with them this time? Or Dad too? Either way, it's always better having an adult that you know. If Bro. Hall hadn't been there, I would've been lost!

 

So this next Sunday, we have to go to that same broadcast, Dad! All the missionaries were told to be there, no exceptions. It's going to be really, really awesome and helpful! Thanks for that idea from Bro Criddle. I think that's what we need in this ward. It's just a situation in that the members who are the most faithful have fallen in routine and become accustomed to that routine, and they are really, really strugglingto get out of it, but thanks to some ideas from President Ávila that he sent me today and from your idea of being innovative, I have some tricks up my sleeve, and I hope to at least help get them out of the rut! It's weird hearing myself say that, I've never been even a little bit creative! You all know that hahaha, but I guess that's just an improvement I've picked up on this journey? I'll try my best, and keep you informed. But it will be cool to know I'm watching the same broadcast as you, Dad! A little piece of home in a very abstract way, haha.

 

Well I guess the computer just needed time, because now I can see the pictures! Jalen is always wearing his BYU soccer shirt. And I'm afraid to say we look even more alike right now, because I got my hair cut too, and the lady didn't listen to a word I said... and I feel bald haha. It's a little shorter than what Jalen has in those picutres of flood clean up, but my hair has never been this short. I said with the machine on the side and the top with scissors, but she just took the machine and shaved it all. Haha I was embarrassed at first.

 

But those are some pretty... interesting? lederhosen. I hope he never wears those back in the states hahahahaha! Wow he is in Stuttgart now??? That's soo cool!! Maybe he can go to the Porsche museum now since we already hit the Mercedes one. Keep me updated!

 

Well, we are going to go make lunch, whoo hoo! And hopefully get some more information on what is going to be happening this week! And I'll let you know next week! I love you all and hope you all had a great Fathers Day! As a little thought, I would like us all to think about something we can give our Heavenly Father, a gift or something we can change or do better, to make sure that He had a good day too! When He is happy, it's easy to say we are all happy, so if you want to be happy even more, think about that! As He says in Matthew 3, 3 Nephi 11 and Joseph Smith History 1:17, He was very pleased with Jesus Christ, and what can we do to make sure that He would say the very same thing to us? Think about it... it keeps me on my toes always, because just like I want my dad to be proud and pleased with what I'm doing, I want to make sure God, who really is our Father in Heaven, feels the same way! Just a little challenge for you all :)

Elder Tyson Gibbons

P.S. Oh yeah, and I forgot about something. The bishop here ate sloppy joes with some elders in the past, and he wanted to know if we could get some of those packets for sloppy joes for him haha. I don't know if you can do that, I've already asked you for a bunch of random stuff lol, but yeah, it might help me have a better relationship with him, and that will help us out in the long run a bunch! :) Let me know, I love you Mom! (And I have to admit, I never liked sloppy joes much, but I think it would be great right now. I CANNOT eat milanesas or noodles or polenta for another month at least!) Haha sorry, I'll stop complaining about my trivial problems. Love you!

Crazy week!

Hey Mom!

Well this week has been just crazy. It's had some of the highest and lowest points in my mission, that's for sure. I've talked about some hard weeks we have had here, but this is at the top. But I'll exlain more about that later, because well, the week is over and it's a new week and I want to be happy! And well, I am pretty happy thanks to a few certain emails!

 

Alright, so I'll start with Friday. We had our zone conference and it was combined with the other zone here in San Juan, so I got to see Elder Miller from Middleton again! And a bunch of elders I know. President talked to us about our plans, but my favorite thing was the story analogy that he taught us. If any of you haven't read this, read it, and tell me what you think. Haha I'll explain why he used it, but it's in Judges of the Old Testament, chapter 7, about their little war going on. It's a pretty weird story right?? But once he started talking a little, it all went CLICK in my mind, and it was so crazy to realize how much he must have prayed and studied to help us work better. Basically he talked about how the Lord's way is always better than our way, no matter how hard or difficult or even impossible sometimes it seems. 300 men against 135,000 of the enemy (that number is found in verse 10 of chapter 8), it reminded me of the story of 300 from the Greek and Roman history, but I have to say that the Spartans don't have anything on these 300 Israelites that have God behind them. He related us to that small group. And made us realize the importance of faith, faith that leads us to work our hardest, knowing we'll find those who are needing our message, and faith that if we do it how God wants, everything will turn out right. It's funny how they beat the 135,000 too. I didn't understand it very well reading the verses, but he described it. One of the enemies had a dream that they were defeated by a small rolling boulder coming down the mountain where they were camped, and so they got scared. Then the 300 started blowing on their trumets and making weird noises, and the already paranoid soldiers started getting so scared, that they started freaking out and killing each other when they took out their swords. The 300 didn't even take out their swords!!! How cool is that?? And it just goes to show that God ALWAYS knows best. We just have to trust in Him, and do as He says. Just like Gideon, the leader of this small group, he told his men "fear not, and do what I do" and they had comlete confidence in him. Awesome!!! Anyway, then we listened to Hermana Avila, who gave her testimony after and made us all cry, she was basically saying how she does feel like our mother and wants us to be obedient so that we can accomplish our goals we have. Then the assistants talked, and we had the testimony meeting. That was the most spiritual part. Those who had recently arrived and those leaving had to bear their testionies and so that meant Elder Rogers and a few others. It was very touching, especially when Elder Rogers got up, and in his normal, not-speaking-much way, brought us all to tears. I couldn't say anything for the rest of the meeting or I would've started crying pretty crazy. Who would've thought that I was such a sensible sensitive crying guy? I feel like I wasn't always like that.

 

Anyway, that was definitely one of the highest moments of my misssion... and then came the next two days, two of the most difficult days I've ever had. After all the excitement we had after meetings, we went out Saturday and accomplished absolutely nothing. I don't know how many evangelical churches I passed, sometimes one every block, or even two on a few of the same blocks, so many people heading to Mass, not wanting anything to do with us, and just church after church passed, with more talk and jokes about us and more doors closed in our faces... it was a really, really hard day. I was just mad. Like Chris said a few weeks ago, or maybe a month ago, how he was knocking doors and kept going even though he was just mad. That's what I felt like, but we DIDN'T get any miraculous miracle at the end of the day. Then Sunday was ward conference, and it was really good, the stake president is an awesome leader, really motivating, and he talked us up quite a bit and all the members are being a little more helpful now. But when we were in Priesthood I just realized how small I am to be here, trying to rebuild this ward here, with so many responsibilities, and it seems like honestly this last month has brought no progress, and with the members I've been getting a pretty cold vibe, like we aren't working or helping their ward... It's a pretty frustrating feeling, don't know if you have ever felt that! So I just started feeling really upset, with the members, and most of all myself, that I wasn't doing this or that better, and that I hadn't seen any fruits of our work really, and I was physcially exhausted on top of everything. The only relief I had yesterday was that two of the inactive families who haven't come for at least 3 or 4 years came, and we've been passing by them quite a bit, helping them. The members told the stake president that they had tried everything and they never came, and then after telling us that we are wasting time with those families, they showed up! So I felt better, but then realized that that feeling was coming from my pride, and I felt bad again. But yeah, today is just a new week and I feel a lot better!!

 

But yeah, that was the crazy week I had, and even with all the difficulties, I've realized today that our numbers were better than ever, we worked really hard, and I can feel good that I really gave it all I had this last week, even with the problems.

 

Anyway, that's enough about that stuff! I'm glad to hear all is going well at home. Sounds like a crazy next couple weeks! Good luck with girls camp and everything Mom! I wish you could be my cook for just a week during the mission. I guess I'll just wait another year haha :) And good luck with the sports camps and driving and activities for Jamboree, Nathan! Enjoy it! I haven't played soccer for a month now, so it stinks haha.

 

Wow, I can't believe Dylan has 4 years now!!! That's so crazy. I can totally picture him hugging his gifts and saying that, that's the best part! :) Makes me smile. And Jenn is having another girl!! How awesome!!! Merrick is definitely super duper excited, that's for sure! I'm excited too. Another cousin that I will meet when I get back, haha that's a weird thought... they don't know me :( Oh well, it will be alright! I can win my way back up to favortie cousin easily ;)

 

So with the fruit lady, we met her new boyfriend and we are going to talk to both of them this Tuesday, so that should be interesting! He's been living with her since about a week ago, out of the blue, so yeah, we'll just see with that haha, but we are working really hard with the flia M_____, the lady who told us about her family situation the second visit, and then we got in the house this last week, set a baptismal date with her and her daughter, and then on Friday with the husband too. She told us a bunch of things on Friday. She said she has felt different since she met us, and also that her husband--even though we left on an awkward note since he showed up two minutes before we left on Tuesday--was saying to her that he wants a change, and then she just said that baptism would be that change for him, so it was like having a lesson with a member when we taught him, and this family is just awesome! Things didn't work out yesterday to come to church, but we'll be working on that this week. They are an awesome family, and we are thinking about them all the time. But we are still finding new people too! Can't forget everything else and just focus on a baptism, sadly.

 

This whole transfer we have been in the part of the cycle where we have been searching for people who are going to progress, and now we've found some really good ones, but we are still searching for new people because President described the process of the cycle in the zone conference we had. He talked about just that, how we spend so much time with those who are going to get baptized that we forget to keep finding those who are going to replace them. But we are doing good with that for now.

 

Yeah, we can't go to Centro San Juan anymore. It's just because a bunch of elders are staying all the day in Centro or too late, and are buying a bunch of stuff and then being unfocused during the week. Now we can only buy recuerdos our last Monday, before we go home. So that's gonna be interesting. Good thing I only want some alfajores and mate cocido and a Messi jersey haha.

 

Elder Rogers and I have one week together still! We'll find out on Monday about transfers, but we already know he's leaving, but he still has one more transfer. So it will all be suspenseful as to what I will be doing. He keeps saying I'm going to train, but I don't know how many elders we are going to get. We got quite a few this last transfer, but all the 5 gringos showed up, then the Latinos slowly filed in during the first two weeks of the transfer. That's why Elder Alberro got shipped out mid-transfer, he went up as zone leader in Villa Mercedes! So I guess they've opened Villa Mercedes as a zone! Now they don't have to go to San Luis capital for meetings! Pretty nice. But a bunch of elders got called to train a week into the transfer. Elder Braithwaite is training right now! An elder from Peru. So that was pretty exciting!

 

So we finally got the Liahona for May!! I can finally read the General Conference talks again. I have read Elder Perry's, Elder Holland's, President Monson's talk about obedience, and a few others, and I just love reading them again, there is always something new that comes up when you are reading. I'm going to download Elder Holland's talk when I can, since this cyber is the same one from last week, and I can't even use USB. So yeah, next time I suppose.

 

Anyway, that's about all the news for this week! I'm sorry, since I'm still in the same cyber so I can't send fotos or anything, or even try to download talks or those songs... I'll try to go to a better cyber soon. But yeah, I'm hungry haha but I'm so happpy today!! I hope you all are too!! If not, try and make it that way! This is going to be a great week, for everyone! I hope you enjoy it and find lots of fun things waiting for you! I love you Mom! And family! I'll talk to you next week. Thank you for your prayers and thoughts, they do help!! I'm so grateful for my faith, for knowing I can trust in God in all things, because when one doesn't feel they can trust in God, they can't really trust in anyone, and that's just a sad life. I hope you all can keep increasing your faith always, through all the different things like prayer and scriptures and church, it's the only way to overcome whatever problem that can come, and end the day and week and month and year happy! And at the end, our lives! We just have to keep the faith, like Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:7. I love that verse, read it! Ii love being here. It's been a rough week, but that just helps me realize how much I really do depend on the Lord, and that's a good humbling exereience for anyone. And I always try to be humble!

Elder Tyson Gibbons

June!

Hey Mom!

 

Alright, first things first, this cyber we are at isn't very good, I can't use the usb or anything, and the internet is bad. The rule changed so now we can't go to centro, we have to stay in our district. Our district just got messed up with that, since none of us have good cybers, and only Albardon in the middle of nothing has an ATM and a store that takes cards! So yeah, we'll try and survive I guess. I think the download thing can work from your email (speaking of the CD), but this computer can't even open the link, it's pretty crappy. So yeah... I'll try in another cyber, and let you know next week!

 

Anyway, more positive note! So today is a nice brisk day, I'm going around with my scarf and my sweater, and it's nice weather. I stand out a little bit with a bright blue sweater and yellow hair. I'm still not used to people staring so much... be it guys, girls, grandparents or little kids. But the weather is getting a bit colder, which is nice, although that's what I thought two weeks ago... and then this past week we had four days of sonda, or the really really strong, really hot wind all day, and it lowered my blood pressure a bunch and I still feel pretty pathetically weak and lightheaded and sick today, although Saturday was worse. But yeah, other than the health, things are going well!

So yesterday we had interviews with President! It was way cool, although it used up our whole Sunday. We were scheduled at five, but then we got put back like three hours. We had our interviews at 8ish, so yeah... it was interesting. Also there was a fireside for young single adults, so that was awkward too. Just a bunch of guys and girls filling the hallways of the chapel, staring at us weirdos, the elders. Talk about awkward. But we had fun. I got a few more letters, and sent some stuff to the familia Gutierrez in Rodeo. My interview was still only 3 minutes, but that's okay. He gave me some advice for our area, and I know it'll help us see a little more progress with the ward. Also, he told me (just like when I was leaving Justo Daract) that Elder Rogers is leaving next transfer, and now I have no idea what's going to happen for transfers! He always does this to me. How suspenseful, no?

 

Speaking of Rodeo! Elder Albero just informed me that he left halfway through the transfer and is now in... Villa Mercedes, San Luis! And guess who left to go to Rodeo? Elder Johnson! How weird is that. Hopefully he keeps that place going.

 

Alright, can I ask for a few things?? Sorry, I hate asking. But I just really, really want some marshmallows hahaha. Pretty random, but it's been so long. I do't know how or when you'd send them, but if you send a package for Christmas or something, can you remember marshmallows? Thanks.

 

Well, we are going to go eat lunch so we can meet up with the other elders and do something fun with this new rule change, so I'll finish soon. Plus this cyber is driving me crazy. Same two songs over and over haha.

 

But, to fill in a little bit on what's going on here. So we've decided we are going to focus a lot on references, or referrals is what I think we called them in the States, because we need new people. I've realized that it just isn't that hard to talk to someone, see how they are doing, learn a little bit, and talk about the gospel, and if they don't want anything, we ask for a friend, or family members, or in the extreme cases, we say "we´re going to knock on that door over there, with the nice car. Doesn't matter their religion, we are going to do it, but do you know what their name is or if it's a family or what?" And they don't feel weird answering, because it's an easy answer. Usually we ask a more general question and they ALWAYS say well, it's just that this neighborhood is all Catholic and they won't listen. And we´re just thinking OH GOODNESS, we just told you we talk with anyone haha. But yeah, this week we´ll be working with that.

 

Also, cool experience. On Saturday when I was feeling dead, we tried to pass by a person we found last week, who wasn't there, so we walked next door and Elder Rogers decided we´d go the other way, and so when I turned around, this lady said "Well aren't you going to buy anything? You said hola, but you're going to walk away?" So, since all of you know me well, I felt way bad, so I went and bought some fruit (gottta eat more healthy, I feel it taking a toll on me) and then I just decided to take advantage of the opportunity, so I asked her some questions, and then she just said one sentence that just blew us away. She said "si no fuera por el fumar, seria mormon" or translation, if it wasn't for the cigarretes, I would be Mormon. We hadn't said our church or anything yet, but she told us EVERYTHING she loved about our church, told us what she's having struggles with, and we told her about more stuff in the church, which got her to be even more interested, and we ended by inviting her to church and asking to come back. And she said in essence PLEASE come back. So, we are going to help her out a lot. She definitely needs it. But I felt like it was a miracle for still trying so hard all day, even when I felt absolutely dead and tired of not finding people. It was like Dad said in his email today, if we do all we can, give it all we´ve got, it's kind of like obligating the Lord to help us, and He did just that. So don't ever give up on anything! When we keep trying through whatever is going on in life, which can be pretty rough sometimes, I know, we get even more blessings for staying strong and trying even harder. Works every time, I promise.

 

Anyway, I gotta get going, but I love you Mom! Hopefully we'll be in a better cyber next week, so I can be more tranquilo and get that music too. Thank you for everything, all the updates (glad Nathan is having fun driving, and that Kate is more adventurous than all of us, being all alone with random people. It will help her well for the mission!) Have a good week, and remember that trials and problems come not so that we just endure it, but so that we learn to overcome them and solve them! Which way is better for us in the end? Obviously the second. Because we´ve learned something, we´ve progressed, and we´re ready to take on more ! Nothing better than that. :)

Elder Tyson Gibbons