Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Argentina - Entre Rios #54

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Amanda Gibbons
Date: Mon, May 16, 2011 at 1:19 PM
Subject: everyone
To: Bonnie Gibbons <bonnie.gibbons@cox.net>
(I think we lost the beginning of Mandy’s letter here!)

They went around first asking what some talents people in the Bible had and then the teacher asked about people in the ward. What were the talents of Leanor…Hna Hoyo…and in that moment, God gave me an amazing gift.  I felt as though I could see these women in a different Light.  I could literally see their talents and see that God had so much more in store for them.  I was overwhelmed with love for them, I couldn’t help but cry!  I love these women.  What an amazing branch we have  here.  These women do so much, they have their families to take care of, jobs, their callings and many of them take the time to feed us and go out with us to some appointments. I love them, I can’t describe how much I just wanted them to feel that, to feel how much their Heavenly father wanted to bless them.
  I love the way the spirit Works and how we can always receive answers or we can learn things even when we are not expecting it!  I hope you all know how much God loves you.  Don’t ever forget it.  He wants you to be soooooo happy and so do I!  Please keep talking with Him and keep reading your scriptures.  They may sem. Simple, but they are soooo important.  I love you all, have a wonderful week!
  


--
Con amor,
  Hermana Gibbons



Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Argentina - Rafaela #56

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Amanda Gibbons
Date: Mon, May 9, 2011 at 11:09 AM
Subject: everyone
To: Bonnie Gibbons <bonnie.gibbons@cox.net>
Hey all you mothers back home!!!
   Wow, happy mother’s day!  Can I just say thank you for you sacrifice and the time that you spend raising your kid’s right!  First I have a few friends on missions as well as many of them already returned and married!  I just love seeing what they have done with their lives.  They are trying to serve the Lord and all of their brothers and sisters! Also a ton of your sons and daughters have been an example to me in times of trial and in times of big decisions.  I have wanted to serve a mission because of all the things I have heard from my friends, as well as receiving an answer to my prayers.  Thank you for being mothers, for putting all your effort to teach us kids to be more like Christ.
  This Sunday was so amazing.  I don't know if I have been telling you about Dario and Daiana, but they are this cute couple that I can't wait for them to get married and then get baptized.  Dario makes sure that they pray together every night and he's been the strength to help them get up and go to church in the morning.  It was so cute, I tried to call them Sunday morning and the phone cut off twice so I thought they were annoyed or just didn't want to come.  But then about 15 min into sacrament meeting, they come in, holding hands, smiling faces and their son walking alongside.  Dario tried to sign to me that the phone was not working and then after the meeting he came running up to me, I’m so sorry about the phone.  He said he loved sacrament but had to go early today because he had a soccer game (he’s trying to go pro).  Daiana stayed the whole time, she loved it sooooo much!  In the Gospel principles class she was asking questions and at the end she asked if she could have the book that goes along with the class so she can study at home!  She loves reading and loves learning and she can't wait to come back and loves when we come and teach her anything!  Please pray that they will be able to set an appt. so they can get married before I head home!
  I love being a missionary and I can't believe my time is coming closer and closer to an end.  I was reading in Enos, and something that my trainer showed me when she was ending her mission as well (out here we say dying)
 
 26And I saw that I amust soon go down to my grave, having been wrought upon by the power of God that I must preach and prophesy unto this people, and declare the word according to the truth which is in Christ. And I have declared it in all my days, and have rejoiced in it above that of the world.
 27And I soon go to the place of my arest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall brest. And I rejoice in the day when my cmortal shall put on dimmortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the emansions of my Father. Amen.
  I hope that I can say this at the end, that I have declared the gospel all the days of my mission.  That I can go before God and tell him that I did all that I could.  I love this gospel and I know without a doubt that it is true!  That God lives and loves us and wants us all to be happy, even if we don't want anything with him or we don't feel like keeping his commandments, he still loves us and will always bring us back into his arms.  I love you all and I hope this made sense...the sickness that Mitchell gone has gone around the whole house and I can feel it a little bit right now...but it’s all good...
Keep the faith my friends!

--
Con amor,
  Hermana Gibbons

Argentina - Rafaela #55

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Amanda Gibbons
Date: Mon, May 2, 2011 at 11:30 AM
Subject: everyone!
To: Bonnie Gibbons <bonnie.gibbons@cox.net>
Sorry I have been horrible at writing!  Miracles
  Dayana and Dario:  came to church, told us their life has changed since they started listening, they received answers when reading the book of Mormon, are so excited to get married, might be pregnant with their own!, just amazing!!

Familia Aguilar:  they are progressing soooooo much and I just feel bad, the mom has a tumor and is on morphine until they can start chemo. 
 
I love you all so much, oh I am training a newbie!  Hna. Olivares is from El Salvador and she is pretty cool!  I am a mother, man I’m so old!  I hope all you mothers have a wonderful mother’s day! 

--
Con amor,
  Hermana Gibbons


Argentina - Rafaela #54

Mi hija!
From Amanda Gibbons
To Bonnie Gibbons <bonnie.gibbons@cox.net>
Date Mon, May 2, 2011 at 11:03 AM
Subject Re: we get to talk to you next Sunday!!!!!!! (from a letter to me)

So I got a call Tuesday night and they said, Hna Gibbons you are going to Train.  So I have a newbie, Hna. Olivares for El Salvador.  She is a cute girl and as we say in the mission I am her “mom” and she is my "hija" (daughter/child)!  So crazy, I’ve got to teach her the ropes, so you bet I’ll be working hard!  Right now we are working in a trio until we can find a mini (another companion, I think!) for Hna Mitchell, but I am still in Rafaela and I am pretty sure that I will be dying (finishing out her mission) here!  I love it!  I am sooooooooooo ok with that! 
Love ya, Hermana Gibbons


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Argentina - Entre Rios #53

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Amanda Gibbons
Date: Mon, Apr 25, 2011 at 12:13 PM
Subject: (a response from a letter to me/mom)
To: Bonnie Gibbons bonnie.gibbons@cox.net

Well I had a really cool experience.
   We had a girl in our agenda and I, for some reason had put a star next to her name, but we could not remember who she was for anything!  So we decided to go anyways, and when we were about to turn the corner to her house, we remembered who she was.  Just a girl that didn't seem too excited or interested and we almost decided not to go.  When we got there a cute lady opened up and told us we could come in.  This family is SOOOOOO AWESOME!!!  They are reading and praying.  We've had some really awesome experiences with them. They love the message we bring and they just make me sooo happy!  The oldest daughter has the most interest.  It’s funny, because sometimes you can ask people and they'll just lie and said they have read, but she said to us...so those pamphlets you guys leave, they teach exactly what you just taught us.  Is that what you wanted to give us? Haha, I love her.  Then we came by Saturday night to invite them to church, they said they wouldn't be able to come because everyone was coming to their house for Easter and they would love to come next week.  They said of course, but you guys are going to come by before net Sunday right???  Mom it’s just soooo cool when you can see and hear people begging to hear the truth!  The mother has a tumor in her arm and is in pretty bad pain, she is going to start chemo here in a little bit.  I love this family already, maybe you can put their name I the temple for me.  Maria Cristina Aguilar.
   … I will keep working hard!  … Keep the faith …
Con amor,
  Hermana Gibbons