25 September 2017 WEEK 66

So we had a very productive, and interesting week! But at the same time it was so fantastic. 

To start things off, this week my companion got kissed by a mad women. We were walking home from a lesson at the church and this crazy lady stops to talk to us. And we casually tell her that we need to keep moving, and she shakes all of our hands but begs Elder Evans for a hug. So he goes just in for a side hug and she fully grasps him and starts kissing his neck. I thought she was going to suck the life out of him haha. All I could do was just laugh! He is all good though, just a learning experience.

But this last week we also had zone conference, and it was so good to be able to see the missionaries from our zone that I have been around in my mission. The theme of Zone conference was Joy. How can we find more joy in our missionary work! 

We have been working really hard with a couple of our investigators who are preparing for baptism. Patrick is still preparing for the 8th of October. He committed to living the word of wisdom, and he came to church this last week, which was a total blessing. We have also been working with a lady named Cemoya. She knows that what we teach is true, and even more the Book of Mormon to be true. She loves to meet with missionaries, and is very open with us. She was very open about her issues with the Law of Chastity, and everything that she has done. Not going to lie it was very awkward haha, but she trusts us enough to open up to us.

This week on the 23rd was Elder Millers Birthday. Who just so happens to also be my cousin. It was so fun to continue the Jamaican tradition of flouring him. But we wish him a happy Birthday. It is cool to be serving around my cousin, who just so happens to be 5 Days older then me haha.

We were also able to attend Seminary graduation for some of the youth in our branch on Sunday. I still know that attending seminary and institute was and is a blessing. 

-- 

-Elder Gibbons-

Keep Trying. Keep Pushing. Keep Believing. Keep Growing. Heaven is Cheering You on Today, Tomorrow, and Forever.

18 September 2017 WEEK 65

Training week 2:
This week has been so fun. There has been guts full of laughter and joy!

To give you an update on the work here I mandeville, we have been working with a couple of really solid investigators. As you may know we are still working with Patrick to prepare him for October 8th. We had a really solid lesson with him, and he believes the Book of Mormon to be true. We are trying to get him to understand the importance of keeping commitments! But on the other hand we have been working with a woman by the name of Michelle. We have had 2 solid lessons, as we picked her back up after the sisters taught her. She believes this is the right path for her and committed to prepare herself for baptism on October 15.
She trusts us so much to help her and it is a privilege to get to help her along her journey.
We have also been working with a part member family. We are teaching her two children; Ahkeem, and Ahkaliah. Ahkeem is 16 and Ahkaliah is 14. They are on date for the 30th of September. We are working close with them as they seem to be the average teenager. Wow that is weird to think that I was that age once. Sorry Mom and Dad... 😘

But Elder Evans is killing it as a missionary. He is a very fast learner, and is such a goofball. We have been working very hard and are finding joy in the work. Not a day goes by that he does not make me laugh to the point of where my abs are eating themselves. I love to giggle haha.

I have been able to spend the day with my mission father, Elder Smith. We were able to go golfing and catch up a little bit. We got shut down early, because of the darkness, but made the most of it and had a blast. I did not do to bad, I shot a 34 in 8 holes so grandpa you better be proud of me.

But mission life is good. A relatively cool temperature, so I can't complain. We have Zone conference this week and I am excited to get to learn from the leaders of the mission.

Be safe out there this week and Nuff Love!

Be Still my Heart... He may need to bring her home to me! 

11 September 2017 WEEK 64

Sunday, Sep. 10 was the official start of our new study program. I am going to enjoy reading and pondering the many attributes and roles of our Savior over the next 7 months. He is everything. The better we can know him, understand his role, and love him, the better off we will be.

So I am officially back in the land of Jamaica. I just received my new companion and trainee Elder Evans. He is from Lewiston Utah. Right on the border of Utah and Idaho. But he is just a ball of fire 🔥 We get a long very well and I am grateful for this opportunity to help him become the best missionary he can be. But I am currently serving in a big part of Jamaica called Mandeville. This is where the church was first established on this island. They have a nickname for this place, cool cool mandeville. And they are not wrong. The weather is relatively cool, so I can't complain.

We have been working with a man named Patrick! We have had two really solid lessons with him and he is on date for the 8th of October. He has a hard time remembering things so we have to repeat it multiple times for it to click haha. But he is such a sweetheart and overall is amazing.

We met with a lady named Michelle this last week too. We had the sisters show us around a little bit, and they introduced us to her. We had a bomb plan of salvation lesson with her and she began to weep as the spirit was so strong. Even in her prayer she said that she felt like this is the true church.

Other than that I am living in a 4 man house with 6 Elders and it is a blast. They are all just so funny and so easy to get along with. We have been able to bond in so many ways that we have all become so close.

Hope you all have a fantastic week, and be safe out there!

Love Elder Gibbons

4 September 2017 WEEK 63

Lots of stuff is fixin’ to start happening in the JKM. We will be receiving 16 new Elders and one new Sister on Tuesday. We will be sending another Sister off to her mission in the Northlands of Canada. Four Elders will be returning home to the US, plus one Elder and one Sister will be going home to Jamaica. Part of the mission may be hit by a major hurricane in about a week. And finally, we are concluding our unified Book of Mormon reading. I have truly enjoyed this reading of the Book of Mormon more than the many, many others that I have completed over the years, and I have received lots of feedback that many of you found this reading experience very spiritual and enlightening. 

I especially enjoyed Moroni’s exposition on faith/miracles in Ether 12. As he talked about many of our Book of Mormon heroes and the miracles that resulted from their faith, I could not help but think of you Elders and Sisters. My missionaries. There have been so many miracles wrought because of your great faith. What a wonderful testimony this is that the Lord is with us. If it were needful, I believe you could see the finger of the Lord. 

But this week we received transfer calls. And long story short, I left Turks and Caicos. I am currently back in the good ole land of Jamaica. I am so excited for what is going to happen. I will be opening a new area that has been closed for a while and will also be training another missionary. I don't have to much time to get to all the details but when we left Turks we had a man named gabriel who is on date for the 9th of September, and I really wish that I could have been there for it. But I am very excited for him!

So that is my update for this week, I love you all will keep you posted about how everything works out. 

--

-Elder Gibbons-

Keep Trying. Keep Pushing. Keep Believing. Keep Growing. Heaven is Cheering You on Today, Tomorrow, and Forever.

Stone is white washing the Mandeville Area and is excited to be back to Jamaica and training a brand new missionary.