Argentina - Entre Rios #61

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

Date: Mon, Jun 27, 2011 at 12:56 PM
Subject: Argentina
To: Bonnie Gibbons <bonnie.gibbons@cox.net>

So I really can't believe I am writing my last letter home, it doesn't feel like it.  This feels like what normal life is, what I should be doing, that there is no other style of living.  I love this, I love people staring at me wondering what is this tall blonde girl doing here?  She speaks so funny.  I love having little kids run to me with open arms, knowing that I will show them love or give them some candy.  I love the look on people’s faces when I share the story of Joseph smith, the Plan of Salvation or just answer a question that they have always had. 

  I don't know why God sends us...weak little punks who still don't know what we want in our lives...to teach His kids.  He trusts us, even though we make mistakes and sometimes don't do all that we should.  This work moves on and we are part of it.  It’s kind of cool, I like learning about the blacks right movement, I always thought if I lived back in that time, I would be walking right alongside with my black brothers and sisters.  I would not allow people to treat them the way they did just because of skin color.  I would have loved to have been part of something so big and something that changed history......but LOOK, I am, along with all the other missionaries and members too!!!  We are in a movement WAY BIGGER and a movement that lasts for the eternities.  It’s cool to think, all the missionaries (like Elder Mathews, Rogers, Birtcher, Sister Whipple (I think she's home) are all walking alongside our brothers and sisters to help them fight off Satan and his ways of getting into our minds and our homes.  It's pretty cool. we look at that number increase in members for the year...and in some way we've helped a little with that...maybe just a little...but we made a difference.  I love knowing that even though I will be in my house and I will not be doing this full time anymore, that I can still be a part of the movement.  This is one that will never end, never get old and always has new challenges, believe me!!!!!  haha

   Well I hope you all have a wonderful week, thank you for all of your support throughout my mission and for being there for my family!  I love you all and I can't wait to personally thank you for your kindness and prayers.  As always...keep the faith

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Con amor,

  Hermana Gibbons

Argentina - Entre Rios #60

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

Date: Mon, Jun 20, 2011 at 1:44 PM
Subject: goodies!!!!!!!!!
To: Bonnie Gibbons <bonnie.gibbons@cox.net>, Vince Gibbons <vinceg@tri-core.com>

Ok, so I have really enjoyed reading the talks from this last conference!  It is so amazing! I love the one

More Than Conquerors through Him That Loved Us

Wow what a powerful talk!  So incredible! he says some of the most amazing things about trials...man I know we have trials but they are so important...because if everything was easy we would never grow...we need to grow...that’s the whole reason we are here!  To grow, to gain experience, to be better than we were before...to become like Gods and receive everything that he has.

^"I doubt many of us would label our afflictions light. Yet in comparison to the blessings and growth we ultimately receive, both in this life and in eternity, our afflictions truly are light.

We don’t seek out tests, trials, and tribulations. Our personal journey through life will provide just the right amount for our needs. Many trials are just a natural part of our mortal existence, but they play such an important role in our progress."
Sometimes we want to have growth without challenges and to develop strength without any struggle. But growth cannot come by taking the easy way. We clearly understand that an athlete who resists rigorous training will never become a world-class athlete. We must be careful that we don’t resent the very things that help us put on the divine nature."

 It would be so great if I could just enter into a house, ask people to get baptized, they say yes and boom bam bang, they get soaked, get the gift and then live perfect lives....haha ya no it’s not that easy. Plus I’m pretty sure I wouldn't love the people as much as I do. 
  Dayana and Dario, are not getting married this weekend, Dario had an accident in work and now he can't get married,  I’m way bummed, but we are seeing if it is possible for next week!  Pray that it can happen, if not they will be members soon! I know it!
I feel that sometimes we forget how blessed we are to have trials...but more than that to have the help and the love of a God, someone who is more powerful than all the things in this world!  I feel that I am an imperfect daughter of God, and for that reason He sends me hard times...I know I have nothing on Joseph Smith or the early pioneers or even our Savior Jesus Christ, but man life is hard.  Life throws things at you when you least expect it.  BUT we don't have to let it take us down...we can choose to push through it...climb that really steep mountain to be able to see that sunrise over the city!  Practice for hours and hours to play that one championship game and put your all into it!  Invite someone to dinner, share how the gospel has changed your life and then a few years later see them in the gospel with the joy that you have.   Loose a family member or friend, that helps you better understand the plan of salvation.
  Never give up or give in to the bad thoughts that Satan puts into your mind.  You can do it, with God’s help you can do it!  I love you all! Have a wonderful week!  Keep the faith!

 

Con amor,

  Hermana Gibbons

Argentina - Entre Rios #59

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From: Amanda Gibbons

Date: Mon, Jun 13, 2011 at 9:37 AM

Subject: goodies

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

Hey all you friends back home!

  Wow, I don't know why Heavenly Father keeps making miracles happen.  Yesterday after church, we went to stop by a contact we had, that said the only time they are in their house is medio día...oh sorry..middle of the day, on Sunday, so before we went home to eat, we went to find them, ya it wasn't their house, but this girl came out and I decided to contact her and then come back another day.  She seemed really uninterested, but I kept talking, I asked her about her son and she went in to go bring him out to us.  He is adorable!!!  I took a moment, asked God to help me say something to help her (usually I just talk...so bad), I started saying something about how our message will help her become a better mother and wife.  Her face change, and she asked us to come in before we could even ask.  We met her boyfriend and we started to talk to them about the importance of having God in our relationships...They are so amazing, they talk about everything, they are very united and they do everything for their son. They live in a teeny tiny house and he works a ton, but they make it by.  There were tears and I could feel the spirit so strong. I felt the spirit confirm the words I was speaking; I felt that they both were touched.  They (Gonzalo and Vanessa) are excited to read and to pray!

   I know that God always has a reason for things. We were lied to, about where this other couple lives, but it took us to another couple that was prepared to hear our message!  So when things don't go the way you planned, try and find guidance from God, because you never know what could happen.  Ok so maybe you’re thinking...right Gibbons, that only happens in the mission...no, you can have this guidance every day, every minute.  WE are so blessed to have someone that is with us always to give us the answers, we are just too stubborn or too "busy" to listen.  I read a talk the other day and there was a story about José Smith, he was talking to a reporter and he was asked...”What is the difference between your church and all the others?"  He simply replied, we have the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Don't take this gift lightly, we are given the "Mercedes Benz" type of gift in this world and we sometimes treat it as though it were a broken down, rusty "Geo" (sound familiar family?? hehe) 

  I love you all, try to be guided by the spirit!  Try to be a little better every day!  Remember all the good things in this life aren't easy to have...you got to work a little! hehe!  Keep the Faith my friends!

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Con amor,

  Hermana Gibbons

Argentina - Entre Rios #58

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

Date: Mon, Jun 6, 2011 at 11:41 AM
Subject: all
To: Bonnie Gibbons <bonnie.gibbons@cox.net>

Hey all you fine and wonderful people back home,

   Can I just tell you how amazingly cold it is today!!!  Woo hoo, the wind and rain just cuts right into those bones! Hehe!  But hey, whets the misión without a little rain!  I love the rain, in fact, those of you close to me know that if it rains, I find a way to be out in it!  I just love how it feels, the smells and I don’t know, it just makes everything seem… Better! Clean again! 

  Well I can’t believe that I am once again writing you, this week went flying by!!  I had a crazy week of emotions.  Dayana and Dario are sooooooooo excited to get married and baptized.  We had some really awesome lessons with them and then Friday we dropped by to invite them to a baptism at the church, but we ended up helping Dayana with something she was reading in the Book of Mormon.  She’s so amazing, she has a little fólder that she takes a ton of notes in, it’s got definitions of words and then all her thoughts and feelings about what she read!  Man, I don’t even think that half of the members keep as good of notes as these!!

  Then Dario came home and he joined in the conversation, way awesome…THEN…they just blurted out, we are not going to get married on the 24th which means we won’t be getting baptized before you leave.  Ok can I just tell you I cried my eyes out, not because I wouldn’t be here to See their baptism, but because they KNOW what they need to do and they are putting it off…well the whole thing was they couldn't pay for the place they wanted to rent and Dayana doesn’t want to be married until they have their own place.  You can bet your bottom dollar that I immediately went out looking for another place for them and I found it!  One of the members has a place, so we checked it out together and it looks like it just perfect for them.  I understand why she wants out of that house.  They drink, smoke and yell a lot.  They others in the home also talk bad about us and are annoyed when we come over.  Dayana and Dario are an amazing example of diligence.  They want to follow God, but they want to do it right. 

  I am so grateful to God for all that he does and for all that he blesses me with.  I read once again "the love of God" by Uchtdorf, such an amazing talk!  I love what he says... 

For what we love determines what we seek.
What we seek determines what we think and do.
What we think and do determines who we are—and who we will become.

       ...it’s so true, what we think and love is who we will become.  I believe that we all have to sacrifice something at sometime in our life to follow God.  But when we prove that God is the most important thing in our life, we see blessings and miracles we never thought possible.  Who ever thought that I could learn Spanish and live in a different country without my mom, my friends, or the normal commodities of life...I didn't hehe! Or that the hard hearted could become soft and choose God?  It’s possible, pray for those to soften their hearts!  They need the blessings of the Gospel!  I love you all!  Keep the faith!

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Con amor,

  Hermana Gibbons

Dayana, Dario, and Thiago
I love them sooooooo much!
They told me they are going to kidnap me
and make me stay with them!  hehe!

Dayana, Dario, and Thiago

Argentina - Entre Rios #58

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

Date: Mon, May 30, 2011 at 9:18 AM
Subject: noticias!
To: Bonnie Gibbons <bonnie.gibbons@cox.net>

Ok so I have a huge testimony of prayer and fasting.  It was Saturday and we have found a ton of new people, but we’ve only been able to teach them once, not really progressing.  And we really wanted people to come with us to church this Sunday which means just that much closer to being baptized.  So we started our fast and set out for the afternoon, man the first 3 hours were rough, every said no or weren’t there! We even had 2 citas (appointments) with a member that totally fell through.  But we continued on and I felt like we should stop by a contact we met a while ago, a cute little girl.  We met her sister, who then let us in to met her mom, brother and other sister.  They loved what we taught and told us we are welcome to come whenever we want.  The 2 girls came with us Sunday!!!!!!  It was so cool and they loved it, and can’t wait until we come by again! 

Remember nothing is impossible with Heavenly Fathers help, even though we have been knocked down over and over again, we will see the miracles…they are there.  I know that God loves us and does give us trials, trials that make us stronger and happier.  I know I can look back and some things I have experienced and say, I am a little stronger than I was back then.  Never forget that we are to live in the world, but not of it.  Take that to heart, see what you can change in your life to be…even more peculiar than we already are.  Who wants to be like everyone else anyway?  Let’s show the world how God lives!  I love you all have a great week!

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Con amor,

  Hermana Gibbons

a main street in rafaela, centro



Juancito, just after getting out of the water!



futbol!



MI HIJA EATING HER FIRST ALFAJOR

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

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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!

  

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Con amor,

  Hermana Gibbons