Argentina - Entre Rios #57

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Amanda Gibbons

Date: Tue, May 24, 2011 at 10:39 AM

Subject: a todos!

To: Bonnie Gibbons <bonnie.gibbons@cox.net>

Hey all you back home,

   Wow can I tell you this has been a great week.  On Sunday, I was asked to teach the Gospel principles class because the teacher wasn't there.  The topic was on faith in Jesus Christ.  We started off naming other words for faith (to believe, to have confidence in something...) and then it somehow turned to the temple, and how that is our goal.  Daiana and Dario (the coolest couple ever) were there and were asking a ton of questions.  We have been teaching them for about 3 or 4 months, and they love everything about the gospel, they just need to get married.  I just felt prompted to ask the whole class about the temple and what blessing we can receive from them.  Dario said that we do all things because we have faith, without faith, or Christ, there is no meaning...to what we are doing or to life.  I then asked him to give the closing prayer, but he said I have an announcement first.

     "We are going to be baptized, 2nd of July!!!"  

  They are soooooo excited and they are telling everyone, today they are going to set their date with the Judge to be married (they are shooting for the 26th of June).  Daiana was really scared before and about a week ago I left them with a written invitation to their own baptism, I put the date for the 2nd of July and she kinda freaked out...but with this picture of Christ and the wonderful things that they have felt from the gospel and the things they've learned, they prayed together and they want nothing more than to be baptized!!!!!!!  Oh my gosh, I wanted to scream and jump around and just show them how much God loves them and is excited for their decision.

  I love them with all my heart and I know that God blessed me to be here with them.  They are 21 and 22 years old, and they have one kid, Thiago and hopefully one more on the way.  They have embraced the gospel and they are going to be great examples for their family!

  Yesterday, we had a FHE (family home evening) in a members house with them.  Dario said, in his neighborhood he always saw 2 young men walking around, they never stopped by his house, but they were always there.  He and his friends would make fun of them, yell things at them, some of his friends even went so far as to spit on them and rob them of their cell phone.  He teared up a bit and said, if I had known that the message they shared was so beautiful, I would have gone running to them and begging them to forgive me and teach me.

  Then Daiana said, when the sisters first came over, they were teaching my mother-in-law and she would let us know they were coming, so we would either leave or go hide.  One day we just sat and listened and after they left we just felt peaceful, but we didn't really understand why.  They came back again and taught us some more.  Once again we were filled with this peace...we talked together and both agreed, its them, they are bringing this into our lives.  From then on, we kept asking...when are you guys coming back???

  I know that each one of you has a testimony of the gospel and through your example you can touch the hearts of others.  For those of you who have not heard the message that The Church of Jesus Christ offers, please go to the nearest church, email my mom or look for the kids the ride around in suits and a black tag, you will never regret your decision to listen.  I love that I know that families can be together forever, that Christ heals all types of pains and afflictions and with this knowledge, we can overcome anything and do it with joy!

  I love you all!!!!

“Es duro fracasar en algo, pero es mucho peor no haberlo intentado.”

"It’s hard to fail in something, but it’s much worse to have not tried"

Ralph Waldo Emerson

--

Con amor,

  Hermana Gibbons

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

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

Argentina - back in Entre Rios #52

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Amanda Gibbons

Date: Tue, Apr 12, 2011 at 7:45 AM
Subject:  transfers

HEY,
 

SO transfers and you are not going to believe it!!!  Hermana
Mitchell and I and staying together for a 3rd transfer!  So so crazy,
but we are pretty stoked about it!  We are so excited to get out there
and help those people we have met get baptized! I have learned a lot
with her, how to enjoy life while working hard!  I don’t know how many
of you have seen the movie “Charly”, but I feel like I kinda like Sam,
who just works and Hna Mitchell is like Charly, goofy, and enjoys life,
but still knows what’s right and has a very strong testimony!
 

Our wonderful converts are still going strong, and I love them so
much!  They are growing so much.  Agustin, 12, just received the
Aaronic priesthood this week and next week he will pass the sacrament!
 He is so excited, he has is white shirt and tie and has been talking
‘bout how he can’t wait to go on a mission and how he can’t wait to
marry a good Mormon girl!  There is a member kid who was saying bad
words when they were hanging out, and Agus said, hey that’s not cool,
that’s not what God wants us to do!
 

I felt so blessed last week to be able to hear the words of our
beloved leaders!  They are so amazing!  Its one thing to read their
words, but another to actually see them and hear their sweet voices.
Then it hit me the other day, we were reading 3 Nephi 11 with an
investigator (for all of your returned missionaries out there you know
we use this one a lot), this is when Christ comes and visits the
Americas, and I couldn’t help but think how amazing that would be to
hear the voice of our Savior.  I think we would recognize it, because
we lived with Him before and he is our brother.  I love that, knowing
that as we continue to study about His life, apply His teachings and
keep his commandments, that when He does come again, we will be ready,
we will recognize his voice of love.  What a glorious day that will
be.  I am so grateful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ! We
are so blessed to know the truth and to know that we can be with God
forever!  I love you all!!! Keep the faith!
 Love
 Hermana Gibbons!



cool paintings in Rafaela




So bored at the Mission Home...can't wait to get back to work!




Jumping for joy to be back in Entre Rios with her companion Hermana Mitchell