Mendoza agaiin

Hey Mom and Dad!

Alright, first things first just to get it out of the way, I´ll take the money out and I emailed Elder Spiker and told him I would bring it when I could. He says he doesn't know if President will take it, but I´ll get it out anyway. Sorry for all the hassle, I didn't tell you guys about my shoes because I wasn't worried that much when I left Rodeo del Medio (I left the Men's Wearhouse shoes there, they weren´t usable anymore). But then in the last month or so my other ones got very worn down just because of the area basically. But I´ll solve it as soon as I go to Mendoza, or someone goes. Transfers are this next Sunday, so it's possible I might be headed there a lot sooner than I want... guess we´ll find out.

 

Anyway, with that out of the way, this week was a pretty crazy week! Our trip to Mendoza was good, the buses weren't as nice, as I expected, and the sleeping arrangements weren't communicated very well either. We got to Mendoza at 9:15, and we´re there deciding whether to take a taxi or the bus. We finally decide on the bus, get halfway to the offices, and the leaders call us and tell me that I need to go to Unimev, that's where me and Elder Wright were going to sleep. So me and Elder Wright got off in the middle of Mendoza and walked around for 30 minutes trying to figure out how in the world to get to Unimev. We finally found a taxi, and thankfully he knew where the chapel in Unimev was, so he got us there. And since that was in my last area´s district, I knew where the pension was as well. So we get there at about 10:20, and we go to the pension, and no one is there. So we´re worried the elders are not being obedient. We go back to the chapel and see a bunch of people playing soccer, and we got even more worried that the elders might be there, but they weren't. So we got the number of their phone and called them, and they had gone to the pension of the zone leaders in Gutierrez, where I went every Sunday for that meeting with Elder Galicia and Elder Alberro. So the assistants freaked out on them, and they got back to the pench in a taxi in about 10 minutes (usually 30 minutes or more in a bus) with a police car following them haha. So that was just a crazy night. We got to bed about 11:30, but it was cool to meet Elder Olaya (Colombian) and see Elder Alaya again (he is in our group, he was with us when we got to Buenos Aires and we came together to Mendoza. He´s from the provincia of Chaco i think). But it was way weird sleeping in that pench knowing that 5 months ago when I was there, there were hermanas there. When they told me I was going to Unimev I freaked out since I didn't know that the hermanas had left, so I thought they were confused. But then I remembered Elder Johnson telling me that the sisters had left when he was district leader there in Rodeo. So yeah, that was fun.

 

Then all Wednesday we were inside, in the morning with all the zone leaders and district leaders and the new sister leaders, and then in the afternoon there was a new district leader meeting for all of them. But in the first meeting I got to see Elder Day again, and a lot of other elders. Elder Galicia, Elder Villegas, Elder Bulva, Elder Johnson, Elder Hardy, Elder Abad, Hermana Salcedo and Hermana Adorno. I also met Elder Ireland who is in Justo Daract right now, training, and as the new district leader there in Villa Mercedes! (I think I mentioned it, but Villa Mercedes is its own zone now, and Elder Galicia replaced Elder Alberro as zone leader there. The zone is doing really well, and there are hermanas there too! So crazy how things change so much.) So he got rushed out of the second meeting to get to the terminal on time, and I wrote a quick little note to President and Hermana Alaniz, so hopefully they got that! But then I got rushed out too, even though we got to the terminal and all the people from San Juan were still waiting there, and we waited for another 45 minutes. So I could've stayed, but I guess the other mission cars were gone so President had to take us early. I was originally going to be traveling home alone (I felt pretty weird about that), but then since the zone leaders couldn't change their tickets, I rode home with Elder Hone, Elder Thurgood, Elder Marsh, Elder Johnson, and Elder Warner. It was way cool. I caught up a little more with Elder Johnson too.

 

So we got back Wednesday night, and Elder Fullmer, Elder Pyne, and Elder Torres had set up a bunch of balloons and a banner saying happy birthday for Elder Thurgood, whose birthday was that day. So we stayed the night in their pench and went home Thursday morning bright and early. It was a huge relief to get back to the pench, almost two days without showering is gross, go figure.  Then Thursday and Friday were AWESOME! We basically got all of our work done those two days, since Monday was only a part day and Tuesday as well, but we had a really good rest of the week.

We didn't have anyone come to church yesterday, which was a bummer, because we had at least 8 people invited and committed to come, BUT, Fabian and Valentin came with their shirts and ties, and I blessed the Sacrament with Fabian, and Facundo (who plays the piano really well) and Valentin passed. It was actually super nerve-wracking. I realized too late that I hadn't done that for over 8 months, and then I was nervous for Fabian, who wasn't really that nervous, but that just made me more nervous. But then I got to relax a little, listening to all the testimonies. It was a good Sunday. And I'm SUPER excited for stake conference next week. It was fun traveling with ward members to stake conference in Rodeo del Medio, it should be fun here too! But we´re going to make sure the flia Muñoz gets there, obviously.

So after church María almost always has something to share with us, and yesterday she asked if she could share something and we said OF COURSE. And she told us that on Saturday, she was talking with her dad and stepmom, and they both said they wanted to come to church, also with the 10-year-old sister of Maria, so Maria was SUPER excited and we were too. So next Sunday we´re going to get her parents to church! We´ve had a lot of positive feedback from their family members, but this is by far the most interested that anyone has been. Her dad and mom told her that their perspectives of us and our church changed completely when they went to the baptism, and that they loved how the Mormon people were (as if before they didn't think we were normal humans) and they wanted to come on Sunday. So we´re going to do everything we can!! The ward in ward council as well was super excited about this family, because they also realize that if we can help all the family members to accept this gospel, we would double--maybe even triple--our attendance right now! So we´re all very excited :)

Anyway, other than that, I'm happy because next week is transfers (actually, not because, but that was a sidenote). I'm happy that this area is doing SOOOO much better than it has the rest of this year, and that's why I'm not too worried about transfers. If I leave, which the odds are pointing towards that, even though I don't want to, I will at least know that I followed the Boy Scout camping rule, "Always leave the area better than how you found it." Aren't I just a perfect Eagle Scout?? :) Haha, don't worry, you can burst out laughing. I'm definitely not perfect.

So other crazy news, after church yesterday one of the families got into a taxi to head home, and when the taxi tried to enter the street he hit a scooter with a mom and a 10-year-old-ish boy, and the boy was hurt (we don't know how bad, at least there wasn't any blood or broken bones, I think mostly he was in shock). But then it just got worse when a random old neighbor lady (not old, probably like 45 or 50) came out and started cursing and screaming profanities at everyone there, especially the police, for leaving the boy lying on the side of the road like a dead dog. Besides her, two teenagers decided to take out their vengeance on the police for who knows what, maybe some past offense, and started trying to shove the police out of the way and carry the boy to their car and drive him to the hospital. So they started almost fist fighting with the police officers, and a bunch of spectators and a few members (we have some big members haha) started holding them back. And eventually the police threw them in the back of a patrol car and took them to the police station. Meanwhile the woman is being held back by other neighbors, because she as well was trying to fight the police. All the while, a bunch of little kids and members are watching, hearing all those profanities, and there were a few thoughts going through my mind, and probably at least all the member´s minds, "what can we do to help??" And then something I thought was obvious too was that 1, the police know what they are doing, 2, you are NOT supposed to move anyone who's injured so you don't make the condition worse, 3, you don't assault the police, and 4, screaming, cursing, and yelling, especially profanities, does NOT help a 10-year-old in shock remain calm. I just wanted to shake that lady and tell her to be quiet, and tell her she was making things worse. The ambulance showed up and he was shipped off to the hospital with his mom, who was just quietly holding his head and trying to calm him down with those three crazy people screaming and fighting right next to her. It was so crazy. Thankfully, it appears that the majority of the community understands that its best to give the police and medical people room and let them do their thing, they are the officials. And a bunch of random people were helping these three random crazy people calm down. The dumb part of it all was that the three crazy people didn't have ANYTHING to do with any of it, yet they were escalating the situation so much more than any of the directly affected people.

 

So that was how our Sunday started off, after we just had the meeting at 4 and then ward concil at 6. Thankfully all the leaders came yesterday. It was by far the best ward council I've had in these last two areas. And then we ate "bombas de papas," or in English, potato bombs, for dinner. They were pretty good. I didn't get any pictures, I totally forgot. But they were just like balls of mashed potatoes filled with eggs and cheese and spices, and I would've just added meat. But it was good.

Anyway, returning to the spiritual side of this email, the meetings with President in Mendoza turned out VERY well. I learned so much, and I came back with my batteries overcharged and ready to work. And I still feel that, because it was such a good meeting. And we have found a lot of less-active families this last week who have people that aren't baptized but that were listening to missionaries last year or a few years ago, and we are going to go by and see if any situations have changed and teach them again. So there are SOO many people that we have to help make it to baptism. And then there was this little practice we did in the meeting, that is really for any member of this church. It's a practice of sharing the gospel. But it is literally only 20 or 30 seconds, and very powerful. We just had to mention SOMETHING that makes our church different than others, give a short testimony, and ask them if they would like to know more. If we get their interest, then they will say yes, and we have a lot more possibility to be able to share more in the future. I know I wasn't a missionary before the mission (a member missionary), but I can tell you with 100% certainty that IT DOES WORK. And there is always something that we can share, without trying to teach anything, to get people´s interest, whether it's another book of scripture teaching and testifying of Christ (the Book of Mormon), the power of God on earth to bless and help and serve all those in need (the Priesthood), a sacred building where we can be sealed as a family for all eternity (the temple), so on and so on. There´s a little challenge, see if you can come up with more! But if you look at the phrase and pretend you don't see the answer, those are some pretty interesting topics, for just about anyone! And I know that those three are true, and I am so grateful to have known these things all my life. And that's why I'm here, because other people need to know them too! 

Anyway, this last week of the transfer is going to be really good. We´re going to find as many people as we can and put baptismal dates with them, so that we can reach our goal of the month of September for our zone and district. It's completely possible, and even though our zone is SUPER young, all the new elders are just studs and are already at the same level that us old people are at. This mission will progress a lot in the future, I know it. Sorry about all the random "SUPER" things, I just can't emphasize in any other way.

 

I hope everyone enjoyed Labor Day weekend and today as well!  I´m glad to know no one was seriously hurt in that really weird random hail/dust storm. That sounded crazy. And I´m glad everything is going well with school! I love you Mom and Dad! And Nathan and Kate! Keep working hard in school! I´ll talk to you next week!

Elder Tyson Gibbons

p.s. A favorite scripture from this last week, Alma 19:6. I think what's happened over the last year and a few months is definitely similar to that verse, for me. :)

Crazy week!

With Elder McBride and Elder Fullmer

 

Quite a detour--from Idaho to Argentina, by way of India!

Hey Mom!!

 

So this last week was pretty crazy too, lots of divisions and intercambios and interviews with President Ávila, but everthing turned out really well! Except starting Wednesday it got freezing again. But that's the only downside really that there was this week!

So on Tuesday after district meeting we did intercambios, I went to Necochea and was with Elder Pyne, and Elder Haist (the mini missionary) went to Albardón with Elder Fullmer. It was a pretty rough day for us in Necochea. No one was home, so we didn't have any of the citas that we had planned. Sorry, citas means appointments. It's a lot easier to say cita. So we just talked with a bunch of people in the street, and got a lot of the classic "point at the watch and keep walking" responses. A lot of people that didn't even have time to say hola. Haha so that was pretty fun! I was just trying to help Elder Pyne recover some excitement after a hard day.  I feel like I helped a little bit!

 

So then Wednesday we switched back, and had a pretty good day. And then Thursday we had interviews!! We went at 9 in the morning. I saw Elder Johnson and talked to him a lot about Rodeo del Medio (I'll mention all that exciting news a little later), and then we had our interviews first. Mine lasted 5 minutes as usual and Elder Fullmer about 10-15. Then we headed back to Albardón with Elder McBride! It was such a good day. He showed us a BUNCH of people that he had been passing by, his converts, old investigators, everything, and we got a LOT done that day. Me and Elder Fullmer analyzed the whole thing the next day and took out some examples from what we did to apply now for the rest of the transfer and mission. Elder McBride was just like in a dream the whole time. I can't imagine what it would be like to return to one of your areas from before, but he was super excited! We had lunch with the familia Algañaras. They made empanadas, SUPER good, and then since they had to rush off to work, we said we would come back that night. So then we went and visited a lot of people, taught some good lessons, and he just told people to start listening to the missionaries again and to come back to church (which none of them did yesterday....) We introduced him to the flia Muñoz, and he was telling all the elders how awesome that family was afterwards, and we went back to the Algañaras and they gave us even more empanadas (I didn't complain) and a torta, but we were already there later than we told them we were going to stay, and we had to call a taxi because three buses passed us headed to the station, they had already finished. So we got home a little late.

 

And then we spent the night here, and in the morning we were out again. Back to Centro. But I got to see Elder Chipman for the first time in 8 months!!! We talked about Albardon, since he started there, and he was super excited to hear about all the progress and everything. So that means all of our MTC district is here in San Juan except Elder Hardy! And I guess Elder Egbert too, since he is in Mendoza. But the rest are all here! Pretty crazy.

 

But then President Avila asked me about my shoes, since they are falling apart (the better pair, the other pair was destroyed and I left them in Rodeo del Medio), and he asked me why I had asked about shoes a few months ago (Hermana Avila had asked if there were any items of clothing or anything we needed, and I said if they had just a leftover pair of shoes, if I could have them). And I told him that was why, I only had one pair and still a year to go. He asked if there was anything that would keep you guys from sending me new ones, and I just mentioned that Jalen had lost his luggage, and after I said that, he didn't say anything else, and sent me with the assistants and bought me a simple pair of shoes. So now I have two pairs. But it just about made me cry, he didn't even think about it twice. He is a really loving, generous man. I could literally feel his love when he was talking to me, it was a very humbling experience. So then we went back to Albardón and the day was más o menos(so/so), and then Friday was pretty good. But then we lost the last three hours of the night going to do another interview for the zone leaders, which turned out super well. A man named Daniel got baptized after listening to the missionaries for 5 years or so. But he´s seen big changes in these last few months, and finally made it! We were all super happy, plus he has like 9 kids so they all are going to be a big addition to that ward!

 

Then Saturday we worked in the siesta, went to change because we went to help a family move houses, and that was pretty interesting too. It was really really humbling. They were living in a house made of bamboo and mud bascially, and they moved to an abandoned house, but a lot bigger and a real cement house. I´d never thought I would have a move done with just two truckfulls of possessions. (Did I spell that right?) But it was a super cold night, and the sun went down, and I was freezing. So we went back to the church to change, and I realized I forgot my coat. So I was just in my shirt the rest of the night. We visited the flia Muñoz, and then went home! And they came to church yesterday, and Fabian and Valentin received the priesthood. (Bishop Alvarez did it, and we participated when Valentin was ordained. We just watched for Fabian. ) And next week Bishop asked them to bless and pass the sacrament (Fabian and Valentin respectively), so that will be SUPER COOL! 

 

Anyway yeah, about Rodeo del Medio, Elder Johnson just told me about a lot of the people I had been teaching, how Graciela´s kid Matias finally got baptized, how Juan Pablo blesses the sacrament every week, how he (Elder Johnson) went out to the middle of nowhere to visit one of the families and is now the first official elder to step foot out there, and they found a lot of people. And then he told me that Patricia, Juan Pablo´s sister, started reading the Book of Mormon!!!!!! She was the one who would always leave when we would try to talk about anything religious, but I sent her a Book of Mormon and Elder Johnson gave it to her and "helped her" read some verses and realize it wasn't a bad book, and it was just like the Bible. I put those quotation marks because he had to put the book right there and told her to read, and with time she started softening a little bit. That's just how Elder Johnson is haha, but now that family loves both of us! Weird how we were MTC comps and everything. But I was super happy to know about that.

 

Other than that, the week was a good week, a normal week! We are seeing good changes in the zone and we hope to keep them going upward! Constant progress is what we need! We found another family of 4 on Tuesday. Actually, the credit goes to Elder Fullmer, he was in a meeting with our new ward mission leader, and they were talking to him about their neighbor, and then five minutes later she knocks on the door, they invite her in, and they teach her about the Restoration. So now we are going to be teaching them with their neighbors, and hopefully this month they get baptized! I still haven't met them, but they told me that they are all very receptive and open, and that she specifically has been looking for the true church and true teachings for years. So we hope to be able to help her on her way! I´ve already seen this message help the lives of lots of people, I know it will do the same for anyone who takes advantage of it!

 

Anyway, that's about all the news for this week, it's been a very good week! Thanks for the pictures, the house does look quite different, but I like it! I am pretty bored with the gray and tan houses all around. Down here they have pretty random colored houses too, and it definitely brightens things up!

 

I´m glad to hear that soccer had a very good opening game as well! Oscar is doing a good job for sure! And yeah, I remember Solomon told me one time that his dad had played for a team for years, I always thought that was cool! I bet he can help out a lot! And if he can help Nathan too, even better! :) The soccer camp we went to in Oregon helped me a lot, even though me and Blake spent the majority of the time injured and on the sideline watching! 

 

Oh yeah, so more news, on Tuesday I am going to Mendoza again! Crazy, huh? I have to go to two meetings on Wednesday, whoo hoo!(That was half sarcastic, but I really am excited!!) I´ll get to see Elder Day again, and a few other elders I haven't seen for a while, so that will be cool! Hopefully the bus is at least half as nice as last time... we´ll see I guess. But that takes out another two days of work in our area, so we have to work like crazy today, tomorrow afternoon, and then the rest of the days! It will be rough, but we´ll do it. 

 

About the package, no I am still waiting for it, hopefully it is there when I go to the Mendoza this week... if not, well Bishop Alvarez might have to wait a little more time for his Sloppy Joe seasoning haha. He actually asked me if I had ever asked for it, and I told him yes, and that I was just waiting. Two more weeks in the transfer, so hopefully it comes.

 

Alright, well we have to go print pictures for the flia Muñoz and familiares, and do compras, since last week we didn't get to! Everything was closed, and all of Centro was just empty. So weird. I can't imagine Boise or New York or any city like that ever being empty. But then again, the holidays are different there, people still work, and the siesta doesn't exist either! Gotta love Argentina :)

 

Anyway, I will talk to you all next week. I'm starving, and we´re going to go play some games and ping pong with the other elders! I love you Mom! I'm glad you are happy with the house! I like it too, dont worry. Doesn't matter what anyone else says, it adds some variety, and we´re supposed to be a "peculiar people" anyway, right? Definitely standing out! Can't wait to see the finished project! 

I hope you all have a good week and enjoy all that comes your way! I'll do my best to do the same. Time flies too fast, so you have to have that in mind always or you´ll miss opportunities, and that's just the worst feeling ever! Don't let it happen!

Elder Tyson Gibbons

 

p.s. I got a letter this last week, and this is what it said on it! Sister Eagley, I guess your letter wanted to make a big detour! Pretty cool right? I have a letter that went through India!

 

p.p.s. To answer your question Dad, we do offer blessings quite a bit, and whenver they agree we always have the chance to explain what it is and how it helps, so it's a good teaching experience! But yeah, I definitely understand why you would be asked to do that stuff so much. I don't know why, but I've heard stories of elders who bless babies and everything. I haven't got that one under my belt yet! Maybe in the future. If not, when I have my own kid then!

They did it!

First class train to Mendoza

 

The Munoz family

 

Baptism day!

 

 

Hey Mom!

Well, I hope your worries are gone now, things turned out just perfectly! Satan has power, yes, but when the people really have the desire to do things, they don't let anything get in their way. I'll share some of the things that happened that could've gone horribly wrong, but that still ended up happening! But I'll get to that in a little bit.

 

So to start talking about the week, we went over on Tuesday and had a fun visit for María's birthday. We brought brownies, and now they are crazy about brownies, but we also met some family members! Then Wednesday we went by to find out what time the wedding was on Friday, since they couldn't answer us back (their phones broke, they didn't have credit, etc.) but she told us it was at 11 Friday morning (sidenote, that quick five minute visit we had Wednesday was actually really special for me, because it was the same exact place, time, weather, and things happening as the first day we talked to her. But the difference, she was hundreds of times happier, there wasn't a single worry or shadow in her life that day, and better said, that whole week).

 

Then we took off to the terminal, and we got on the bus to head to Mendoza. So, the bus was first class, with SUITES, or that is, personal TVs, chairs that reclined to 180 degrees, better than a lazyboy, and the front seats on top, so we could see everything. It was beautiful. And then the rest of the trip went like this: we got to the office pench, talked with Elder McBride (Elder Chipman's trainer, who trained him in Albardon, and is now the AP) into the night about Albardon and all the people he baptized and taught. (This week for interviews we are doing intercambios with him, in Albardon. He is super excited, especially since we set up a lunch with their active converts from a year ago! That will be a cool experience.) And then we woke up at 5 to go wait outside from 6 to 8 in the morning, freezing, to do some fingerprints and paperwork. We met a mega millionaire guy from Chicago though, who has lived down here for like 30 years. His wife is Argentine, and she speaks pretty good English, and he just talked to us about a bunch of stuff. Imagine if the missionaries got into his house.... It would be hard though, he got his money through the wine business haha. Then we got back on a bus at 1, after waiting and eating some panchos completos (in other words, a hot dog, but longer than normal, and completo is with everything on it. Sometimes it comes with onions or vegetables, but this one was just the four main condiments, ketchup, mayonaise, mustard, and salsa golf--the fry sauce equivalent--so that was still pretty good). And then on to another bus, not nearly as nice as the first one, but I was so tired I slept all right anyway, after watching bits of The Soloist. The music was so attracting, I really like cello music now.

 

Then we got back Thursday afternoon, and I still didn't go back home, I stayed in Retiro with ZL Elder Hone, and we went and visited some people, and two kids who were getting baptized there that Saturday (it was a good Saturday for the zone!), and we did some interviews. Then we went to their pench and I ate like everything they had in the fridge, because I was so hungry. But then Elder Fullmer and Elder Thurgood called us to tell us how the interviews went with the familia Muñoz, and they were good to go!! Elder Thurgood just said "Wow, that is one amazing family, congrats you guys!" and that just started the suspenseful weekend wait!

 

So Friday morning we switched companions back and I went back home to shower, something I hadn't done for two days, gross, and then we went to the wedding! It wasn't anything like a wedding they show in movies or anything, but it was legal, and they just wanted to do it and get baptized the next day! So the next setback comes, and they showed up almost 30 minutes late because their ride never showed up, and they even ended up leaving Lucila at home! And their older daughter who was going to come didn't get to come either, so it wasn't the whole family even. But they came because they knew they had to to be able to get baptized on Saturday. So we met some more of their family Friday, and then Saturday we had everything set up, planned for 6 o clock.... and we are at the chapel at 550 waiting for ONE PERSON to show up, or better said, for ANYONE to show up, because no one had yet. And it was because of this school parade they had, that was supposed to start at 4 and ended up starting at 5:30, classic Argentine schedule. It's even worse than Mormon standard time hahaha! But they all showed up. Maria's dad came with his wife (her stepmom) and her younger sister (way weird, her younger sister is only like 10, but it's becuase her stepmom had her recently) and their oldest daughter came too! And then a bunch of members flaked out, which made me pretty frustrated, but they didn't care much, they were all just super excited and happy. So I baptized Maria and Valentin, and the bishop baptized Fabian and Lucila. Maria asked me to do it because I had "changed their family so much" and I just said well, I just kinda helped, but I felt super special that she would say that. That's the phrase every missionary wants to hear, for a couple reasons. One, you fulfilled your goal as a missionary, and two, it's a family that's getting baptized! So I did that, and Maria´s reaction before entering the font was classic, she got super nervous and emotional, but she stayed strong and was so anxious to get in there after a minute or so. It was a really, really good experience. And then Elder Fullmer and I brought out our 100 brownies we had made, and they were all GONE in about 10 minutes, even though there were only like 18 of us there. Crazy huh? Now everyone wants the recipe. So I'll have to do that too.

 

But then Sunday, we called a taxi in the morning, a good friend of one of the members who gives us a huge discount, and we went and picked them up, and Maria was pretty sick from having stayed out and talked with her family members who came over AFTER the baptism (what's up with that, too scared to come to the chapel but theyll take advantage of the event to have an asado!). So Maria had no voice yesterday, and Lucila was getting sick. But they all came, and they all got confirmed! And the scariest part, Bishop asked me who was going to do it, and I just thought well, you´re the bishop, you do it! But he said "Elder, are you going to do it?" and saw my hesitation and decided that we would each confirm the people we baptized. So, for the first time in my life, and second actually, I confirmed someone, in Spanish! It was super scary, but it turned out well, and the ward was way receptive and excited, even though half of them hadn't come to the baptism Saturday.

 

But that was the end of a really amazing weekend. Actually not quite, today is a holiday, so was yesterday, so the parties continue. But we are having a FHE with them tonight too, and it's going to be awesome!!! So four straight days of amazing experiences with this family. And it won't end yet either, because next week they will get the Aaronic Priesthood! I´m super excited. I don't know if the bishop will ask me to do that, but then again, I don't think I can? Maybe I'll study that just in case...

 

So that was the week! Pretty amazing, right? :) Can I just say, I am super happy, of course!

 

Anyway, sounds like things are just picking back up this last week, with school and sports and jobs and everything! I can't believe Oscar is the JV coach, that's so perfect! He will help out a lot, and now he´ll be friends with three tall gringos that play soccer :)  I love that guy, I can't wait to see him again. I´m glad he hasn't forgotten about us! And I'm glad he´ll get to work with Nathan, and I'm glad to hear Nathan made the team!! And Kate is working too... what the heck, that's so weird. I guess I'm used to everyone following the lawn cutting trail. I guess I keep forgetting Kate is a girl. Hahaha not really, but it's weird to think she is in high school now. What the heck. 

 

Wow, I can't believe the Hiddlestons' cabin is just ash now! That's so weird, I always remember that camping trip.

 

Alright so I just tried to convert the brownie recipe I have from Elder Day into Spanish measurements. I think it looks alright, I'll just have to experiment. But if it doesn't work, I can always tell them that we bought them in a box haha. But I can't do that yet, I want to show them I can make them too!! :) But they all loved them. Could I maybe have Grandma Gibbons' recipe too? I love those brownies, and no one would steal it since I'm all the way down here! If it's not a secret, of course.

 

Well, that's bascially all the news I have from this last week! Really good news, isn't it? I'm very happy. I hope all of you have an amazing week this week! I'll let you know how things are going next week! I love you Mom! 

 

By the way, I saw Malcolm's email, and that is so crazy thinking he is in the MTC. They can't email from Tonga? Why is that? That's pretty cool I guess though, getting to write so many letters, it's old fashioned! Hopefully it's not as snail-like as it is down here. Wow, that picture of Malcolm just shocks me, he seemed so young when I left. But he looks older already. And a lot more like his dad haha. I´m just super excited that our stake and 4th Ward have so many missionaries out, all at the same time!! It's really cool to think about. :) I love being an Elder! There´s nothing more satisfying for me right now than to be doing this. All of you who could possibly try it, should do it!

 

Elder Tyson Gibbons

Hey Mom and Dad!!!

Wow, today´s cyber session has just been crazy...so many things to do. I had to print out a bunch of forms for our binder, and then thankfully Elder Thurgood, our ZL, had invitations to baptism forms already made, so he sent that to me and I printed those out for tonight... I guess I´m kinda getting ahead of myself? :)

So... the familia Munoz is getting baptized this weekend!!! They took out the turno for marriage... guess what day... Friday! And then they´ll be baptized Saturday, and confirmed Sunday! What an awesome weekend, right? :) We were worried about Fabian and smoking, since they didn't make it to church yesterday (it's alright, they have already met that requirement, and it was because they couldn't get a taxi since they were all busy with voting and stuff. It was a crazy day yesterday), but we texted them today, and they answered back literally ten minutes ago, telling us that they got the analysis done (a requirement for the marriage), they are set to get married Friday, and Fabian hasn't smoked for 4 days now! It helps that Elder Fullmer gave him like 50 Dum Dums to eat when he wanted to smoke. And they told us that they were excited for tonight´s visit, a FHE, and we are going to plan the baptism and just review all the questions for the baptismal interview! And then Maria´s birthday is tomorrow. So we will see them again tomrorow as well to bring some brownies or something, and the invitations for their family we are going to make tonight! What an awesome day, right? :) I'm just super happy, can you tell? 

 

So then more interesting news I just got about 5 minutes ago, was that on Wednesday night I have to go to Mendoza! With Elder Wright and Elder Braithwaite, so I´m pretty sure it's to renew our visas. So that was a BIG shock since this week is going to be SOO important. But Elder Fullmer will still be here, although in a trio and in a different area, and to answer your question Dad, yes he is definitely ready. He doesn't think so, but he is way beter off than I was after my second transfer here. He will be a very good leader in the future as well. Only thing is, I have to think now of a calm way of telling him that ALL the plans we have to do this week are now up to him haha. Any suggestions? Just kidding, I have to tell him today since it's kinda a big deal! 

 

And HOLY COW! I had no idea Adriana was listening to the missionaries or anything! What a stud Tony has been. I was worried about him and his mission and all, but that news came a few weeks ago, so now I´m just super happy for him. And for her! She looks very, very happy, and it's good to know since the last news I really had was that they had fought and then gotten back together. But yeah, thanks for the picture! They both look happy. and he will be a super good missionary, and then he'll be able to speak Spanish with all us cool Spanish speakers :) 

 

I´m glad all the crazy things happening last week turned out well! What--I can't believe you made ribs for the first time, without me! I love ribs. The ribs down here are actually kinda disgusting, even asado style. Probably because they don't have the same expectations as we do up there. Oh well, just a little more time...  Wow, I can't believe Kate is in high school now. What the heck. But I'm glad she is having so many offers thrown at her!!! She´ll be very well rounded jobwise by the end of high school. And I bet Nathan is nervous about seminary. I'm sure the teacher will be just as cool, but Brother Sell definitely has a special spot in my heart. He helped me out a lot, even though he probably never saw much of that help blossom or anything. I'll have to make a trip to visit him sometime.

 

I´m glad to hear the reception went well! And that Tindall is doing good and is happy! Still working hard though, like always. That's pretty funny about the pool. I guess I never thought about it before, but she was definitely getting to be one of the older ones working there. I would get annoyed after working with 15 yr olds too, or at least I would have before the mission. I think I could get along pretty well now! I seem to have more ability of adapting myself to situations and people than before. 

 

That sounds rough for Chris! I am just super glad that our mission isn't getting divided and that President Avila doesn't leave until June nex year, so I'll be leaving the transfer before them! It will definitely be weird for the missionaries that came this past June, having President Avila and then another president, each for one year. But also very cool I suppose! But I'm content that it isn't happening to me:)

 

So this past week I had to give a talk again, like I told you. But it turned out SOOO much better than last time, I had a lot more time, and I actually ran over into the stake president´s counselor´s time. But he didn't mind at all, he actually came up to me after the meeting and thanked me for my "excellent talk." So I felt a lot better about it. One interesting thing that probably is different about me... I feel like before the mission, it was hard to get me to talk for longer than a few minutes. And now I have realized that it's super hard to get me to stop talking now... you probably can't believe it, but you´ll notice when I get home probably. Haha Bishop Rhead should probably give me like 20 minutes or something, I dunno. Just a heads up. But anyway, what does that have to do with anything? Well yesterday and the week before, I planned my talk but then went through multiple times to just cut out any tangent that I had put in, because I just wanted to teach the most basic doctrine. And I've realized that a big reason I talk so much is that when a tangent presents itself, I almost always take it. So I figured if I started now, planning for a very basic talk, it would help with lessons too. We´ll see. I haven't had a lesson since yesterday :) and tonight probably won't be a very basic lesson since we have a lot to talk about with them (teaching, no--just plans for this week since I'm going to Mendoza, and then for the baptism). I'll let you know more about that!

 

Oh yeah! the familia Munoz(or will be Muñoz on Friday) came to the bishop´s son´s baptism! And they came by themselves too! I think their curiosity brought them haha, but they LOVED IT! All of bishop´s wife´s family was there, or a lot of them anyway, and they just took them into their arms, even though they´re from necochea and retiro wards. But they got to know them, and the BEST part of the baptism was when I was standing by Maria and Fabian, and she was talking to one of the sisters of Bishop's wife, and the sister asked when they were getting baptized, and Maria said "well first, we are getting married the 16th, and then we´ll be baptized on the 17th" just in a completely normal voice. And then I wanted to just say YES in a very not normal voice. They are already set on it, and we are seeing the results. Also, I was talking to Maria a little bit, and she just told me "I cant believe how the people are here. They are incredible, so nice and loving and accepting. Everyone is equal here, aren´t they?" And I just said "Well, since we all have the same goal, we are all imperfect, and we need help, everyone is willing to give a hand to anyone else, because then we´ll all be happy up in heaven together." And she just started crying and agreed. It was amazing. 

 

And then yeah, they didn't make it to church, but Fabian still hasn't smoked, so everything is going good!! 

 

Well, I am goign to try and get pictures with them tonight, but if not, Saturday we will have more pictures, and I'll get those to you on Monday. :) 

 

I don't really have much else to say, haha I have already spewed out all my excitement and everything. I just hope that you all have a really, really good week! And just a little quote that I shared in my talk, from President Eyring in the 2007 conference, I believe. 

 

 

"There is a danger in the word someday when what it means is “not this day.” “Someday I will repent.” “Someday I will forgive him.” “Someday I will speak to my friend about the Church.” “Someday I will start to pay tithing.” “Someday I will return to the temple.” “Someday …”

 

The scriptures make the danger of delay clear. It is that we may discover that we have run out of time. The God who gives us each day as a treasure will require an accounting. We will weep, and He will weep, if we have intended to repent and to serve Him in tomorrows which never came or have dreamt of yesterdays where the opportunity to act was past. This day is a precious gift of God. The thought “Someday I will” can be a thief of the opportunities of time and the blessings of eternity."

 

Please don't procrastinate anything important, what he says is true! I've seen it in the lives of members in every area down here, active or less active; I´ve seen it in the lives of non members; I´ve seen it in my own life, and the result is ALWAYS the same. The goals and dreams that we hold so dearly might appear to be within reach even if we aren't fulfilling our responsabilities or living the commandments, but thanks to a modern-day apostle, we are warned as to what will happen at the last moment. In the final moment, all of those dreams and goals will be taken away, if we haven't made the necessary changes in our lives. We don't want that; neither does God, he wouldn't be happy taking away all those blessings from us, but because we didn't obey as we should have done, He has to do it. Like it says in the quote, I have no doubt that we will cry and He will cry, if we dont change TODAY. Don't let your eternal goals be hindered by a small challenge or problem in this life that we already view as just a mortal life, a dot in the eternity of God´s plan. It's just not worth it. I wasted lots of time, eventually decided to change that, and if I hadn't... well I wouldn't be here, sharing this with you, or any that I have shared. It helps to think in a bigger perspective!!

I love you all, and hope you can all decide that TODAY you will make some important change in your life, whether it be something big or small, like the familia Muñoz´s decision to be baptized, or just a simple prayer at night and morning. Every little decision has its consequences, which can be more than we can handle if we choose the wrong road.  So make sure you choose the right ones this week! :)

 

Elder Tyson Gibbons

 

with Elder Fullmer

 

Calle la Laja

 

 

largest pizza ever

 

Grido's ice cream

 

Dog bite

 

 

Hey Mom!! So, again, this week has been AWESOME! Just as good as last week. You can send Dad´s email to people as well because I explained pretty in depth about the familia M_____. But they all came to church again!!!! It was so cool. And then A_____ showed up as well, which was really cool too. So we had a lot of investigators, and the best part is that the bishop's son is getting baptized this Saturday, and one of the questions that the flia M_____ has had for us recently is what the baptism service is like, what happens, and the clothes and everything, so then bishop announced that yesterday and invited them personally.  And I just told them, well, looks like we can answer your question very easily now if you come to the service! The thing is, they have their date for the next Saturday, so I think that would be a GREAT way to start off the last week before their baptism, seeing a baptism! So we are going to make sure they make it there :) But yeah, for more details, see Dad´s email. Basically it explains how cool this whole situation has turned out to be, and how she is pretty much already a member missionary, sharing with her family members. And the next best thing, last night a member told us he knows their whole family, and that it's a HUGE family, so obispo´s face just lit up, and mine too! There are a lot of big things going to happen here in Albardon, whether soon or in the future. :) I'm glad to be a part of it!

 

Wow, that whole youth conference sounds pretty good, even with the sort-of-strange temple trip. I'm glad the youth still got to participate though, even if they couldn't do anything for their own names! 

 

Alright, I will be looking for that package! Hopefully I'll get it soon, probably the end of this month though. And I will let you know when I get it!! 

 

So we have some extra changes this week, Elder Smith is going up to Zone Leader in Godoy Cruz, so as far as we know, Elder Pyne, his trainee, is going to get a mini missionary, and so our district is going to change a little bit. But Elder Hone came from one of the other districts in the zone and is our new zone leader. But now Elder Smith doesn't know when he´s leaving, so today we are going to celebrate a little bit, eat some tacos in a bag (AKA: taco filler put into a bag of mashed Doritos. Sounds delicious right? We missionaries eat SOO healthy) and play some games. It will be nice. He´s helped me a lot these last two transfers so I'll miss the guy. 

Wow, that's so cool you have the opportunity to do some missionary work. You just have to be confident! Remember what Elder Holland said in the broadcast, that an invitation born from our love of the Savior and our friends will NEVER be taken as offensive. I know that's true. You just have to do it with love! I'm glad you are all being examples to me still of how to be a missonary, since I am still not the perfect missionary! Keep me updated on that, and I'm glad to know you think outside the box too. Instead of just trying to shove it down the whole family´s throat, so to speak, you need to focus on the needs!!

 

So we did intercambios this week, I was with Elder Smith in Albardon, and it was a really good day. We got a lot done, and then he had to go to Mendoza, so we ended up being in a trio for the next two days, which actually turned out to be SUPER fun and it worked out really well! We just overwhelmed the whole town. I'm already used to getting stares, but us three gringos had EVERYBODY staring, everyone was probably thinking "oh no, now there are THREE of them!!" haha but we talked to a bunch of people, and had some really good visits. We also went to the end of the Calle la Laja, where we found the end of the world, or civilization at least. There was just desert with one road that we could see, I'll send some pictures! It was the siesta, and we had already had three citas drop, so we went up there and talked to the people we found. It was an adventure I guess you could say. But the day turned out to be super good afterwards. But that was the first and probably last time I'll ever be in a trio. So I enjoyed it! We went to Grido´s and bought two kilos of ice cream, it was awsome, and then we all regretted it the next morning, yet we ate french toast as well and that was pretty good too. So that was our very healthy late night snack. But then on Saturday we did the opposite, and we literally ate an entire plate of vegetables. It was two potatoes, a batata (not sure what it is in English, but it is like a sweet potato but not orange. Looks like a normal potato but with green parts), a HUGE carrot (still don't like them...) and like half of a squash. It was actually really good, mostly because I didn't feel fat after eating it, but I was still full! So that motivated me to eat like that more. Haha I don't know if that's the first time I´ve said that...

 

So I'll keep you updated with the new elders and everything! And with the familia M_____.  Another cool thing I forgot to mention in Dad's email is that they have already told their family members that they are getting married, and all their family members are just shocked, but instead of acting weird they are super supportive! Some have already told her that they want to know more about what's going on, so that will help in the future too. :) But they've told all the family already, so it's going to happen! Yeah!!!

Well I need to get going, I love you Mom! I hope the funeral turned out well, and that people can understand the love that Christ has for us, to be able to feel comforted. And I hope that you get back home safely! Enjoy the last week of summer! :) Change is neccesary though, without it we would never have to grow up or adapt or learn. So take the best out of everything that happens! That's what God wants, after all. This is all here for us, and He has given us everything we need. We just have to step up and actually use it, and not sit on the fence or the sideline. I imagine that any fence-sitters will be choosing one side or the other soon, who can be comfortable sitting on top of one?? As for me, I am completely happy and content with the decisions I have made, even in the last few weeks! I actually have never been happier on my mission. :)

Elder Tyson Gibbons

 

p.s. I have to speak next week again, hopefully they give me more time! But I'm going to try and keep it super simple. I´ve realized my mind goes off on tangents too easily sometimes. We all have things to improve, right? 

 

 

Hey Dad! Well I´m happy that the first thing you asked was about the familia M______, because they are getting married!!! But, the other news... yes they came to church again! All of them. So that was a really good sign, and all the members were super welcoming and I know they already feel at home. After church, all the members with cars left just flying, and they were left with us and a few other members, and so they were late to their lunch with their family (they do what we always do, going to Grandma and Grandpa's house) but, even though they were rushed to get over there, I noticed that at the same time, they were in no rush at all. They were just standing outside talking to a few members, and then we went over and talked for 20 minutes or so, and that's when I realized that they are a lot more solid than I would have ever hoped!! They have found that Pearl of Great Price that we are offering, and they want it sooo much.  But then, to add to that already frenzied excitement we have, we visited them this week and she told us that her family members are starting to ask how they have had so many good changes in their family, their house, if they are really going to church on Sundays, and she just tells them well, yes! These visits with the chicos and the church and the members have given us what we have been missing all along. And she told us that she talked to missionaries 25 years ago, twice, and then shut the door on them. And she even told us that she can't believe how things happen so perfectly, that now we found her and she was willing to listen because of the situation with their oldest daughter, and now they´ve found the solution to their problems. Basically, I was just sitting there crying because I had a small, fleeting glimpse of God´s infinite wisdom and planning for even the seemingly insignificant life of ONE of his children, let alone their family. It's those moments that lead you to a stronger testimony, and I told her that they have given me just as much as I have tried to give them, and so then we were both crying, and it was a really good experience. So yeah, that's the familia M_____.

 

Elder Johnson was training, yes, but some of the elders had already received half the training or the whole training in the States (Elder Fullmer didn't because he got put with his MTC comp, weird right?) and also he went up as Zone Leader, that's why he´s already coming here. So hopefully I will get to see him sometime before I head out! If I head out soon. I actually really love it here! Just like my other areas. But, the odds are against me, I've been in all areas three transfers now. It's a trend, I call it! 

 

I'm glad youth conference went well, and the wedding too! It's weird hearing that Becky's married. She´s the first one from our little group that has chosen that path! But if she´s happy, then that's the important thing. And I am sure that her parents are super happy too. 

 

Well I'll send some pictures with this email since it's a little shorter, but just of some fun stuff that we´ve done recently! I love you Dad, and thank you for all your advice and help! Many of the quotes you have sent have stuck in my mind, and they are helping me improve the little details, like the last two weeks. I don't know if it's obvious, but I am just happy. Happier than I have been in this whole time.

 

Elder Tyson Gibbons

 

Hola

Hey Mom! Well, as you probably guessed already, this is going to be a short email, since it's already late. The guy told us the cyber reopened at 5, so we wasted an hour and five minutes waiting, then right as we leave to go work, he comes back, so now I´m here to give you a five minute summary of everything I was goign to say! So please forgive me.

 

But yes, this week was really good!! We didn't get any church tours which was a little bit of a bummer, but it doesn't matter because the rest of the week was just really cool! We did so much better with talking to people and have found some really cool ones, so that should help us in the future when the investigators that we have right now get to their goal or drop off. Hopefully the first! So anyway, the bad news first, I got sick again on Tuesday and was feeling bad all Tuesday and the first hours of Wednesday, but I got over it after a very long night Tuesday night. I was in the bathroom until 530 in the momrning, so naturally I slept an hour extra in the morning, But then we had to be in centro for a meeting with President Avila, just my luck, right? We got to the meeting a little late but made it, and I ended up talking with Hermana Avila on the phone for the first 15 minutes, then joined the rest of them. It was a really good meeting. He talked about the church tours and how to better use them as a tool for teaching everyone we meet, and the assistants tricked us and told us they had "The District 3" (remember "The District 1 and 2" that we had to watch before going into the MTC?), and then it was just a video that they made themselves about doing the church tours. It was really funny at least! Then starting that day we got back and worked super hard. We found lots of other investigators and we´ll be doing our best to teach them! 

 

So after having a few days of just focusing on finding, and also having some good visits with the familia M_____, we had an activity on saturday, a Family Home Evening, but they called it a Friend Home Evening, and we all had to bring a friend. Naturally the only people who did that were the familia Montana, who brought their cousin! And then.... WE DID!!! guess what? The whole familia M_____ except the dad came to the activity, and they really, really enjoyed it! They met a lot more members, and were laughing and having fun the whole time! We knew it would be a turning point for them. Then afterwards I took them to see the Sacrament Meeting room, and we sat down and listened to Facundo and Natali and Jose Alganaras practicing their musical number for Sunday, and M_____ remembered that we had a FHE planned with a family that the two kids played instruments, and she guessed it was them! Cool that she remembered, even though it didn't happen. Then the best part was when the kids were just awestruck, saying how awesome and lindo the capilla was, and then asking when the Alganaras were going to play their song, and I said "Tomorrow... you guys gonna come??" and they immediately said "Yes!" M_____ was smiling super big, she's been doing everything alone up until this point.

 

So yeah, that activity turned out golden! And I was super happy to have a soccer ball, even though flat and worthless, to kick around for just a few minutes. And I was playing around with V_____ M_____ and the other kids, and I kept looking over at M_____ to make sure she was having a good time, and she was just looking at both of her kids having a blast and meeting people and was just smiling the whole time. Made me feel super happy!

So, I guess I have kinda forgotten the meeting with President, he also talked a little about some of the visits that we may or may not have been doing, but he read the part about visiting anyone of the oposite sex without an adult of the same sex, and the sad thing was that all of us elders, leaders or no, were like "oh freak, I guess we do have some visits that we´ve been making that wouldn't fit in that rule." We realized our lunches on Friday are with a family of girls, although thankfully all older women, like I have exlained before, like three generations of members, but President read the line that says "even when the situation appears innocent." So, we have cancelled those lunches, and realized that a lot of our 555 visits as well we can't be doing nearly as often, even sitting outside, because it counts as a visit. It's really sad how years of elders doing something can blind the elders that come in the future into doing the same thing. When we cancelled these visits we asked them all, so how long have the missionaries passed by without bringing someone? And they ALL said, well they have never come by with anyone else... so yeah, we have definitely fixed a problem. And it's funny that some elders looked at it as "oh man, we just dropped ALL our invesigators, and half our visits each week," but we look at it as "well, we were being disobedient, even though a little ignorantly, but now we will be more blessed, however hard it is!" The members are all still under that first one at the moment... but we will fix it. We just have to work more with members! Just goes to show that no missionary can ever be perfect in everything!

 

But, with all that craziness, there was one little miracle that shows the reward for being obedient.... so, on Sunday... the WHOLE familia M_____ came to church!!!! I was stunned!! I walk to the door and see first M_____ get out, so I was at least happy that she came, but then I saw the two kids, and was SUPER excited, and then the Dad even got out!!!!! So they all came, and they all LOVED IT! And all the members were being awesome and inviting them to everything and meeting them, and they said they felt like it was home, they met people they already knew in the chapel and they were well received. So we are really focusing on getting them married this month, and their whole family will be able to be baptized!! We were so excited. That made the whole week just the best week ever.

 

And now with transfers, oh yeah I forgot, it's transfers, haha. Well don't worry, I'm staying here with Elder Fullmer and I guess Elder Johnson is coming to San Juan, so I'll be seeing him soon probably! Oh yeah Mom, I left my patriarchal blessing copy in Rodeo del Medio, I haven't been able to find it, and I asked Elder Johnson to look for it, but he just told me today that his old companion, my "son" Elder Gutierrez threw EVERYTHING away... so could I somehow get another copy of that?? That would be cool.

 

But anyway, this transfer is going to be the best yet! We are going to work sooo hard with this family, and the others that we have found, and we´re going to have a baptism! So obviously I will keep you all updated :)

 

Well, we need to get going, but I love you Mom! And I hope you have a good week without Nathan and Kate, or without Nathan, I can't remember who gets home first! Just enjoy it I guess haha!

 

I know that the hardest times in our lives (AKA the last three weeks, for me) ALWAYS have the final reward, just like Christ promises multiple times in the scriptures, one of my favorites being D&C 121:7. And it always turns out well in the end. Always! You just have to trust Him and give Him everything, and it's never as hard as you think! Just do it. :) Look how this week turned out??

Elder Tyson Gibbons

 

P.S. I'll send pictures of my leg next week, we are in the other cyber like I told you, so next week we'll be in the better one!   Oh, and about the photos you sent, the Meridian Temple looks AWESOME! Like the one in Canada that doesn't have the Angel Moroni. And then what the heck??? How does Chris get so lucky with all these Ferrari pictures and having an NFL coach in his ward? And being with his MTC comp again?? That's just way cool. And then Jalen and the Lamborghinis... need I say more? You would never see any of those pictures from me haha, the nicest car I have seen is an Audi TT, and those aren't even that nice. Tell them to keep on enjoying it! Haha but thank you for the pictures. And can you tell Jalen to buy me a new Bayern Munich blue jersey? Since I think Nathan stole my smaller one, even though if it doesn't fit him now, it might not fit me, since he´s huge. But whatever, I still miss it! Thank you! I love you!

Hola

Hey Mom!  So now it's officially three cousins that I haven´t met! I have been telling people three for a while, soon it will have to change to four once Jenn's baby comes! I don't have any nieces or nephews still though, and that's something that bascially all Argentina has in common, no matter their age, it's pretty sure that they have a niece or nephew already. That's why their families are so big down here haha.

Sounds like Nathan and Yeager are having a blast over there! I wish they had a water obstacle course when we went! I remember going scuba diving and everything, but that sounds like quite the thrill. I have no doubt they´re going for the top 5 or top 3 scores! That would be cool if they made it up there. Hopefully they´ve been doing merit badge stuff too, though! And Kate went to Silverwood??? Lucky, I´ve always wanted to go there, just to see how it is! I wonder if it's more exciting than Lagoon? And it's a good thing that she likes rollercoasters now, or that could've been a not as fun trip!

Well I´m glad to know that my room isn't a complete disaster! (How ironic, it seems like it didn't bother me that much before, right?) Why do Nathan and Kate spend so much time in our rooms??? I know they´re jealous of my awesome paint job and everything (sorry, you painted it all, I´ll give you the credit), but they have their own rooms! I miss my bed a lot. I think I´ve mentioned that before. 

Wow, why are so many people leaving the ward??? That's so weird, it will feel quite different getting home, but I guess that's just life! But that's cool that Chris is working for BSU now, he is definitely good at what he does! And they´re living in Meridian! Any news on the Meridian Temple?? I haven't heard anything since it was announced haha, so I don't know if that's still going good or if there hasn't been much progess? I always brag to people that our state has like the 4th or 5th highest number of temples! And we only have 5 (4 working, but 5 total) and then there´s California and Arizona and Utah of course. Maybe they´ll be there when it's finished! That would be super convenient!

 

I think the farm has bad luck! Or maybe Dad´s knee just can't handle all that work. Where are Nathan and Kate when he needs them?? That's definitely not a good sign though... he might not be playing much soccer with us when we get back! Hopefully surgery is in the far future though. And hopefully he doesn't have a problem in DC or wherever else they´re planning on going! Although I´m sure there are plenty of people around to help, especially in the mall with all the museums and monuments.  So you're taking Nathan and Yeager to the Holocaust museum?  Are they required to have an adult with them?   I remember it all too well. Very depressing, but very well designed. I remember when we went to the Jamboree, Brother Hall wouldn't take us there, he refused, I guess we were too young?? But then we went with you a few years later.  But it's definitely a good  learning experience, they´ll talk more about that in the next few years in school anyway.

So as for the sickness, yes I feel just fine now! Just some repercussoions from the flu and not to mention the now below-freezing temperatures down here. I think it's hard for the body to repair itself when it already had the flu during a rather warm week, then the next week the temperature drops drastically. And as I was explaining to Dad, all the little weird tweaks in health that have happened this last week have given me quite a few scares. And I guess I can explain why haha. So... I didn't mention this last week, but last Sunday I got bit by a dog. It was a member´s dog that I´ve seen and petted during my whole time here, but we were chasing the same ball, and I got there first and I got control of it, then next thing I know, I feel a bunch of pressure on my leg, and I thought it was one of the little kids, but it was the dog! So of course, like all injuries, it started hurting once I saw what had happened. We went inside and cleaned it very thouroughly and painfully with alcohol, and then when we got back home, I read the health guide thing from our mission and was pretty annoyed, to start off, with all the stuff I had to do now. So this whole week I had to keep an eye on the dog, make sure he wasn't sick, or acting weird, or worst case, died, and I had to clean the bite marks (he left three of them, (I´ll send pictures next week, forgot my camera) every day, and bandage them and put antibiotic stuff on them. So I did that, but there was always one sentence on my mind the whole week, that I read in big bold red letters in the health guide, "If you have the disease (rabies) and are showing symptoms, it is too late to take the vaccines, and death will occur within 7 days. Survival rate is about 8%." Some encouraging news, right?!?! So everytime my immune system had a little tweak, I freaked out, got really stressed. Thankfully it's nice to have the Spirit, who is best known as the Comforter, because I definitely needed that this last week! But anyway, that was a very stressful week. I wasn't worried about dying as much as what I was going to have to tell people and my parents if something serious happened, etc. Weird how priorities get a little mixed up sometimes, isn't it? But I talked to Elder Ence in the mission office (senior missionary couple--I think he's a nurse) repeatedly for the last week and today he asked for some information, I gave it to him, and he said well, don't worry, you would be in a lot more pain and more miserable if you had any serious problem. I think you will be fine. So that just made my day! Haha, oh yeah, Dad, I was going to ask you, I think its just from the stress and everything, but my eye has started twitching randomly and uncontrollably. Well it's not my eye really, it's like the eye lid muscles, and everytime I trigger it with a sneeze or a yawn or straining my eye too much, it starts and goes for probably half a minute, and I can't stop it. Occasionally I have had some pain like behind the eye, and also in the inner ear, I was worried I was about to have an ear problem like those last two times, but nothing has happened, so yeah. Any advice?? It doesn't usually happen when I'm reading or anything, it's all random stuff. 

Anway, yeah, sorry I didn't mention that last week, Mom! But I figured it would be easier to handle when I knew more and all. Forgive me! Don't freak out, haha. And Elder Fullmer just had a day and a half of sickness, but not anywhere near as serious as mine. He´s still got an untouched-by-Argentina immune system! Mine has been weakened by a year or so.

Haha, I think I have heard that quote before! (I sent him one of my favorite Winston Churchill quotes:  "You can always count on Americans to do the right thing, after they've tried everything else.")  Sadly we fulfill that too much, and just one time would be too much. Hey, we´re all imperfect right?? But yeah, I really liked that talk, definitely very inspiring. And on Saturday we watched that mission broadcast again as a ward, and that was really good too!! Sadly, none of the less actives that we invited and visited came, and then the church tours we had planned during all the week all fell as well, but on Sunday Hermana S____ came, even if it was only because she had to give a talk. But she gave such a good talk! I just wish she had a little more support from her family. They are so close to just coming back. As for the Ma_____ family, they have a few more problems I think, and they didn't come to church or the activity. We´ll keep trying though. But as we wateched the broadcast, I learned a lot more that I didn't remember from the last time, and the videos and songs really got to me. Especially the one that starts with the little kids and saving for the mission, then leads up to people opening their mission calls, so that just makes me remember that moment, and it was very hard to not cry. I can't believe how much time has passed since then! And how little time I have left. I don't like it!! But it's just a little gentle reminder that I have plenty to do still! And I have to use all the time wisely! A good life lesson, I think. Doesn't help that the songs were very touching too, since they reminded me of some very specific instances in the past. Thankfully the bishop´s 1 year old son came over and started playing with my magnet plaque and getting super super excited when he would stick it to the chair and take it off again. I think he´d never seen a magnet before, so he was SUPER happy, and it made me feel even happier to know that I guess I can get along with little kids after all! And he always comes running to us elders and wants us to pick him up, which we're not allowed to do, but he just follows us around. It's awesome. :)

So after this last week of stress and frustration, we didn't have anyone come to church again, and we didn't see them more than once in the week, so it was a little frustrating. The winter is just SUPER hard down here. It gets cold up there, but I guess it makes a difference that everyone has a warm car to get to church. It's sad how different of a world it is in some ways. And we only had one visit with each of the progressing people, because in each of those visits we set up the next visit as a church tour, and well we know what happened with those--they all fell through. But the show goes on, as always. The bishop was super excited to watch the broadcast again. Sadly, I think he was one of the only people super-charged about missionary work after still, so that makes... well, us three! It's a little difficult, but oh well. We have to work with what we have, and since many members aren't coming to church or fulfilling their duty, we just have to make do without them! I think I took for granted our ward back home,with good leaders and teachers always! It's so hard when people won't step up, whether they are lazy or feel like they are inadequate! One lesson that is important to remember is that the Lord qualifies those that He calls, to whatever position it may be. It's a hard lesson, because you have to trust a lot, and sacrifice a lot, but it always turns out true in the end. What a great thing to know, that all truths from God are eternal and there are no exceptions! Haha it gives quite a bit of peace to the mind and heart and soul. Like the comforting feeling you have after drinking a nice big cup of hot chocolate. But seeing as how that doesn't exist very often down here either, that comparison just made me a little sad that I couldnt drink any. Haha. But the lesson was still learned!

Well today we are going to buy food and everything and go back to the pench. We´ve gone to the other elders' pench the last few weeks, and it's always fun, but we just waste an hour on buses, an hour to do other things! So yeah, we´re going to take it easy today. I´m pretty tired of always being the elder that goes to someone else´s area, can't wait until I´m in an area where everyone wants to come to mine!! Although I´ve realized I don't like being in the city, so it would still have to be out in the country. Thatss definitely a result of being in Mountain Home for 11 years. The good news for today is that we have an appointment with the familia Mo_____! And they sounded excited when we set it, so hopefully that turns out all well! It can be frustrating how one little decision can halt the sometimes normal, sometimes alarming progression spiritualwise, and it's hard to get it going again, but we´ll do our best! 

I hope all of you enjoy the rest of July, and what remains of summer! Do something fun, enjoy the warm weather, and eat some frozen blueberries for me! And other fruit that I can't find down here very easily. (Mom, just ask your Aunt Carol about the frozen blueberry comment, she emailed me and we were talking about that a little bit!) Most of all, just keep on pushing through life! But not just pushing through, you have to enjoy it! That's the only way to be happy, is to find all the moments that you can enjoy and not focus on the ones you can't! It's all a matter of perspective.  As everyone says, our mind can only entertain one thought at a time, so just change it from the depressing or stressful to the good and happy and sunny thoughts! It works miracles, trust me.

I love you Mom! And I miss your cooking, especially this week! Don't worry, we haven't starved, but we just haven't had any variety at all, and I miss the different dinners every night. Can I make a list of food I want for the fist couple weeks I'm home?? :) Just kidding. anything will be good for me!

 

Elder Tyson Gibbons