30 April 2018 WEEK 97

This week was awesome! I think the first thing that needs to be addressed is my Brothers desire to serve a mission. I am very excited for the people of Chile to receive him. He is going to bless the lives of many, as he has been a big blessing in my life. I love you Brotha, Keep killen it!!

We had some awesome Family Home Evenings this last week. The Robinson Family allowed us to come by and we talked about the foundation of the church using 3 cups and 3 knives. They loved it, considering they thought it was magic haha. Then they died over the Brownies that I made them!

Then we were invited to the Johnson Home, in which the daughter gave an awesome lesson on understanding people that are different. It really made me try to put myself in the place of Jesus Christ when he Taught the Golden Rule. "Treat others the way that you want to be treated." The Scripture Reference is- Luke 6:31 "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise."

Also Quadre and Omari came to church with us this week. We walked to their house and picked them up, then walked down to the church. They said they had and awesome time. What is even more of a miracle is that Both of them love reading the Book of Mormon. They read every commitment we leave with them. 

Remember charity, love, and kindness. “Kindness is the essence of a celestial life. Kindness is how a Christlike person treats others. Kindness should permeate all of our words and actions as work, at school, at church, and especially in our homes. Jesus, our Savior, was the epitome of kindness and compassion.” Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, as quoted by President Monson in a session of General Conference. Later in that same talk, he said, “let us examine our lives and determine to follow the Savior’s example by being kind, loving and charitable. And as we do so, we will be in a better position to call down the powers of heaven for ourselves, our families, and for our fellow travelers in this sometimes difficult journey back to our heavenly home.”

Filter your words (and thoughts) through these 3 questions;

Is it true?

Is it Kind?

Is it necessary?

Remember that you are a CHILD OF GOD, we hope you have already put up your mini-poster and are saying this aloud to yourself at least 10 times per day, if you haven’t, please begin to do so as you follow the counsel of Elder Taylor in his General Conference address. As you feel inspired, please give out that saying and the advice to say it aloud at least 10 times per day. As we truly internalize who we really are, we will be spiritually enriched, and our behavior will change to reflect who we really are.

A reminder of the needs of every person; to live, to love and be loved, to feel needed, valued & significant, and to have variety. There are many ways of naming and expressing these needs. Understanding what people really need will help us help others and ourselves, as we evaluate how we treat others and what may be motivating them, in constructive or destructive ways. These are tools to use now and throughout your lives. Developing good “people skills” is a lifelong pursuit.

Go to heaven for those inspired questions when teaching. Take your time. 

Pray inspired prayers; let the Holy Spirit guide. Pray for what God wants, not what you want. 

-- 

-Elder Gibbons-

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

23 April 2018 WEEK 96

I think the most interesting thing that happened to Elder Hudson and I this week, is that we saw someone give birth! Literally haha. I know really weird but we were walking on the street and Heard some lady screaming bloody murder, are eyes both shot towards the noise and one lady was giving birth in a car. You always seem at least one crazy thing happen a day in Jamaica. 

But we met with a less Active past week and have been developing a really good relationship with her. She has not been to church in a while and has a son that needs to be baptized. The family home evenings are amazing. We even got her sister involved who is not a member, and got permission to teach her son as well. The sons names are omari, and quadre. They are brilliant. 

We have also been working with another less Active. He goes by Bro. Smith. We have been having family home evening with him, and now his mom who is not a member has been joining. 

We even involve her and asked her to give a lesson. She is doing awesome. 

A quote from President Gordon B. Hinckley: Great is your power for good. Marvelous are your talents and devotion. Tremendous is your faith and your love for the Lord, for His work, and for His sons and daughters. Continue to live the gospel. Magnify it before all your associates. Your good works will carry more weight than any words you might speak. 

Our power for good, as President Hinckley states, is great. Why is that? It is because we are partners with the Godhead in this great work! Our Heavenly Father has provided the plan. It is perfect; exactly what we need. Our elder brother, Jesus Christ has perfectly fulfilled His part of the plan, and set a perfect example for us to follow. The Holy Ghost, the member of the Godhead about which we know the least, can be our closest divine companion, guiding, prompting, and inspiring us with minute by minute revelation if we need and ask for it. 

But wait, there’s more! If we could see through the veil, we would see the spirits of ancestors past, and descendants to come (angels!) working feverishly to make all those “coincidences” that hasten the work come to pass. 

Does this all not give us a good reason to be optimistic? President Hinckley was the poster child for “optimistic”. As prophet, he saw the evil and opposition in the world more clearly than most. But he kept it in perspective. He knew that we are on God’s team, and that God’s side wins! Our work should never be casual or routine. This is exciting work. Every day should be a new adventure, powered by your love, obedience, diligence, and guided by the Spirit. 

We’ll sing and we’ll shout with the armies of heaven,

Hosanna, hosanna, to God and the Lamb!

Let glory to them in the highest be given,

Henceforth and forever, Amen and amen!

-- 

-Elder Gibbons-

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

16 August 2018 WEEK 95

Things are beginning to pick up! Elder Hudson and I have really been working hard with the members. We have a couple of family home evening set up for this week, and going to be having potential investigators coming from those members. Elder Hudson is doing awesome, continues to be improving everyday. Still working with him on becoming comfortable with talking to people. Today was DLT and it was really good. We learned about providing correction, and got to practice it. The focus was on helping us to do less teaching during district meetings and more practice practice practice! 

I testify that the first presidency and the quorum of the 12, and all general authorities are called of God, are leading us in the way that we should go, and are filled with so much love that it is overflowing continually. What wonderful examples they are for all of us!

Moroni 7:48 – Wherefore, my beloved brethren(and Sisters), pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with his love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons(and daughters) of God; that when he shall appear WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

--

-Elder Gibbons-

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

9 April 2018 WEEK 94

One of the many challenges we face as missionaries is being God’s servants while at the same time being ourselves. This requires balance, maturity, and a deep understanding of our purpose. Some may struggle with this balance. I believe this comes from a misunderstanding of our purpose. We all understand that one day we will be like Jesus. This is everybody’s goal. But we are all unique, so how is this possible? Are we all going to end up as Jesus clones? I think not. 

Perhaps an easy way to find this balance is to ask, for any situation you are in, or action you are considering taking, what would Jesus do or say? Let’s look at a few examples:

Would Jesus love everybody, even that “difficult” companion, and how would this look?

Would Jesus help somebody fix their motorcycle or computer, or help clean the house?

Would Jesus serve somebody who had no chance of being baptized?

Would Jesus ever refuse to talk to someone?

Would Jesus love and serve the unlovable just as much as the “golden investigator”?

Would Jesus gossip about the perceived shortcomings of other missionaries?

Would Jesus ever reprimand another without showing more love afterwards?

Would Jesus ever hold a grudge?

Would Jesus ever be part of a “less obedient” group of missionaries that looked with disdain or derision at fully obedient (less fun) missionaries?

Would Jesus turn every possible interaction with other people into teaching moments? (meals with friends, meals with strangers, interactions on the way to an appointment, huge groups, single individuals, when reproving and correcting, P-day activities)

Would Jesus teach using the most effective method for his audience? (Parables-stories, scriptures, by example, metaphors-the Kingdom of Heaven is like . . . )

Things went by too quick this week. It felt like I just got Elder Hudson yesterday. Elder Hudson is from St. Elizebeth Jamaica. He just recently returned from the MTC is the Dominican Republics. He is From a small town called Junction. He is a big boss, we have been walking Endlessly trying to figure out our area. My feet have been in so much pain it is crazy haha. 

And to top it off we have been playing a lot of basketball lately, with my feet hurting it did not make them better, but my basketball skills are improving haha. We are thinking of setting up a 3-on-3 basketball tournament in a community in our area.

I love you all. May God bless you!

 

--

-Elder Gibbons-

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

3 April 2018 WEEK 93

    It was invigorating to see the changes that were announced - in how we who hold the Priesthood will meet together as Elders and High Priests, and how we will be “ministering” rather than Home and Visiting Teaching, and to hear the additional new temples that will dot the Earth in the future. 

“The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth.” -Theodore M. Burton. 

A Happy Easter to all this glad season of Remembering our Dear Savior and beloved Older Brother, and his resurrection!

We had 2 miracles happen this week that I am pleased to share with you! A member from Kingston asked us to come by and give her son a blessing. She informed us that his memory and been taken from him and he was left dumb you could say. They asked if I would give the blessing, and a couple of days later we received a call from the mother, and she rejoiced in telling us that her son had been healed. 

Another miracle happened earlier this week when we had to bring a missionary to the hospital as he broke out in hives. Before we departed for the hospital, he suggested we give him a blessing. Again he asked me to do it. After we attended the hospital that night and early the next morning the hives were gone. Truly these are the works of God!

Transfer calls were this week, and I will be receiving Elder Hudson who is a native to the island of Jamaica. First Jamaican companion! We will be serving in Kingston as added missionaries to the Constant Springs Ward. I will also be serving as the District leader of over 20 missionaries. How exciting is that! 

-- 

-Elder Gibbons-

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