Christmas Skype!

So we are over the Moon that we were finally able to Skype with Stone!   He looked so awesome and sounded even better!  

No EMAIL this week, Due to Boxing day and Transfers and Christmas but I thought I would tell you some highlights from our Skype. 

• He had fun news for us  - He will be transferred this week to Spanish Town - Wait you say he is in Spanish Town - YES, he is staying and leaving in the same breathe!  
• He will be assigned as "ZONE Leader" in Spanish Town with Elder Warren from Gilbert, AZ, and is super excited to be in a truck and not on a bike for a while.  
• He will change residences but be in Spanish Town still!  (I told him no driving cause it's on the opposite side of the street - we'll see how that goes???) 
• We learned that Spanish Town is the Capital of Murders in Jamaica - So That's something I get to sleep on each night... 
• He loves, the people, loves the food;  lots and lots of chicken, Curry Chicken, Jerk Chicken and Fried Chicken - Loves his mission!  

As a Mom, I am grateful for everyone who loves my Son, who writes to him, sends him packages, prays for him, who feeds him, who listens to his testimony and is able to be a part of his daily life!  6 1/2 months down only 17 1/2 to go! I'm posting some photos he sent and some we took on Christmas day!  

This weeks pictures!

IS IT CHRISTMAS??

So this week was pretty chalk full of events that occurred. 

Monday: So this past monday we had the chance as a zone to play football together. Afterwards I was so sore I could barely move. But then today we had the chance to play again as a zone. This time I brought Neiko with me, as well as his best friend Matthew. They are so good. I love them both.

But I have really been craving coconuts recently. They are really good? Are they healthy? Idk.. But we were able to see Vanessa as well. She is still preparing to be baptized, but we may be stuck between a hard place and a rock with her mom. But we will see if we can talk to her and basically gain a relationship with her as well.

Tuesday: We had the opportunity to give service for a member in our ward. We went and we chopped yard for 2 hours. Let me tell you that my rotater cuff was hurting so bad. We were hacking at tall grass for a long time. But I was able to enhance my baseball skills and was able to chop effectively. 

But as I mentioned above we met this young man whos name is Matthew. He is Neiko's friend and he is super amazing. He loves to dance, so I made sure to take a video for you Zoey. You will love him. He loves to dance and play football and he is fast. He does multiple styles of dance and does it as a job. But he wants to know more about Jesus Christ and how he can become closer to him. We answered all his questions and basically told us that he knows it is true.

Wednesday: We had zone meeting this week. And it was super motivational. I basically had a call to repentance and learned how I can better be seen as a representative as Our Lord and Savior. I love being able to have these meetings. They keep me motivated to do my best, and really strive to change. But we had a chance to see this young man named Taj as well. We have been teaching him for a while and he reads his Book of Mormon every night and prays and comes to church. He is going to be baptized on the 31st of December. We are really excited for him.

Thursday: I finally had the opportunity to take Elder Hatch to KFC. He honestly loved it so much. But a coincidence is that we saw our bishop there. But he went to get pizza hut instead haha. Our bishop is really awesome. But we had to clean our whole house on thursday because it was infested with Bush Mites from when we went hiking. So we lysol sprayed our whole house to kill all the germs and then had to wash every single item of clothing. It was super Chaotic..

Friday: So something that we were focusing on at Zone meeting was to get investigators into member homes. We were able to get Taj into neiko home. And the spirit was so strong. He came with a couple of concerns and then when the lesson finished he told us that I no longer have any concerns. Taj is progressing really well.

Saturday: A couple of other missionaries this week had a baptism at our building. We went because we were suppose to have investigators their, but they couldn't make it. But it was one of the best baptismal services that I have seen down here. After the baptism we went out with all the other Elders to lunch. We went to this place called Sakura. It is this really good Chinese restaurant. I love being able to spend some time with them. But we were able to pick up some football jearsy's as well. I got a Liver Pool one.

Sunday: So at church we were expecting to have 5 investigators at church. Turns out we had 4 there. They were Taj, Matthew, Ellousie, and Vanessa. They are all preparing to be baptized either next week or the week after. I am very excited about the teaching pool that we have at this point. But again we were able to head up to Momma Eddies for dinner again, and HOLY MOSES!!! I ate some curry chicken, with Rice and Peas, and some salad. Then When I thought it was all done she brought out dessert. And it was Icecream! I have never felt so fat in my life!

So this week could possibly be my last week in spanish town.. This saturday we have transfer calls, and I can honestly say that I am sad to leave. Elder Hatch has been a really good companion to serve with and we started something really good. But we will find out if I will be staying or I will be leaving. My goal is that Elder Hatch trains. 

But I am thankful for the chance I had to serve here and meet some amazing people. 

I love you all and will let you know what happens next week!!!

Stake Conference 2016

​So this week not to much happened.. But lets get right into it shall we?

So actually ​this morning was really really fun. Our zone got together and we played some futbol. We actually have some really good talent here in Spanish Town. But you could basically say that I am the next Ronaldo/Beckam. JK JK JK. But you could say that my soccer skills are really kicking in haha. I can bend it like beckam. Actually Elder Hatch is really good. He says he isn't but he has got some skill.

But this week Elder Hatch and I were able to give some service to a member of our ward this week. He asked us to help him spread some rock, as well as chop some yard! Thats right we chopped some yard with machetes. I got a gnarly blister on my thumb and index finger. But it was all worth it in the end because they rewarded us with some Jelly! AKA coconut. Super refreshing.

As well this week, we had Stake conference. So for the first session on saturday, all the missionaries got together and had a priesthood executive council meeting. This was really needed to help progress some of the work down here. We came up with some good ideas to get the work moving forward!! Hasten The Work. But afterwards we got fed cake and ice cream, it was so good. I am really craving it right now... But the following day we had the second session where all the members came to our ward building. Let me tell you it was jam packed! Us missionaries got banished into another room. But the topic of discussion was getting a temple in Jamaica. The only way that is possible if we have 5 stakes. It is going to take some work but I know that in 4 years time that there will be one here!! I am so excited.

But that is it for this week!! But as well I learned Some Hatian Creil! Which is really cool

But Mezi Boku (Thank you) for all your love and support!

Elder Gibbons (aka Gibby)

#LightTheWorld

So we had a crazy busy week... Not too much happened on the good ole proselyting, but with the move. So this week was finally the week we moved. It was one of the most stressful events of my whole entire life.. But we got everything sorted out and I can finally relax a likkle bit. BTW likkle means little. Oh and yeah my Patois is coming in real nice. I can basically understand it and speak it haha. When they gave me my call packet and they said that you will be speaking English and that it is an english speaking mission, I think they may have been mistaken! Because honestly I feel like I am speaking a foreign language down here haha. But we are teaching this man that has been in prison for the last 22 years in the United States. Honestly getting to know him it seems like he wouldn't even hurt a fly. But he wants to make a change in his life and Elder Hatch and I bore Sincere Testimony to him and straight up told him that this is the change that he has been looking for. He is progressing very well and is preparing to be baptized on December 24!! I know it is crazy to think that we will have a baptism on christmas Eve! But the one thing that I did want to talk about this week was the Christmas Initiative. #LightTheWorld. I am so excited to participate in this, this christmas season. I love being able to serve Jesus Christ. And now I can do it 25 ways in 25 days. I can't wait for some of the experiences that I will have with this upcoming Christmas season! We had the opportunity to watch the christmas devotional yesterday. My favorite talk was by Henry B. Eyring. It made me think of the christmas tradition in our family that we do every christmas eve. I can honestly remember doing it and getting to play some of those exact roles.  I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ in my life. Through Him I can return to live in gods presence and experience true joy and happiness. I invite you all this christmas season to be apart of this LIGHT THE WORLD. Be the light this christmas! I love you all and I especially love the time I have to serve here in Jamaica!! And for all of you don't worry... I'll dunk one for ya!<3

Elder Gibbons

The New House in Spanish Town

The Beauty and the Bad of hiking!

Elder Hatch & I

The Old  House in Spanish Town