December 23, 2013

Ok, so for Christmas Morning we are going over to a family's home. (The Conovers.) They are very nice, and both Brother and Sister Conover served missions. Some times we go to work out in the morning with Brother Conover.

I don't know exactly what time we will be calling but I will make sure that I call the house so we can get facetime set up. They have an ipad that I can use. The white hand book says that we only get "30-40 minutes" of time to call.

Thank you for the plethora of packages and cards. I will not be needing any more packages for a while, I have plenty of stuff. Thanks for the 4 frisbees. I don't really know what to do with all of them. The Captain America one is pretty neet, I think I may give that one to a kids in the ward for Christmas.

The weather has been pretty strange, it has been like 80 degrees the past 3 days. Doesn't feel like Christmas. I am not being transfered this transfer.

December 16, 2013

The members have just been showering us with treats and candy. I am wonder what will come first, diabetes or my VISA.

Not very many people notice the name tag is in Portuguese, it usually takes them a while.

Next transfer is 2 weeks.  I don't know how much notice I will get.

Elder Christmas Elf

My District - Me, Elder McNaughton, Elder Parks, Sister Parks, Sisters Martin, Tanner, Elders Plain, Boekweg, Mora, Park

December 9, 2013 - it is warm

Yeah, it actually was pretty warm on Friday, didn't have to wear our jackets. I don't know if it was 80 but at least 77. Don't get me wrong, it still does get cold here.

I went to the Eye doctor at UNC again last week, the doctor said my eye was getting better. The spots are going away.

December 2, 2013 - Post Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was fantastic, all the missionaries went to the Turkey Bowl  (played football). (We are not allowed to proselyte on Holidays.) It was my first one, it was very fun. I was very very glad I brought the hand warmers. After the football we went to the Talbot families house, with the Pollards. Bro. Pollard is a nonmember but very nice. We helped them prepare and clean up dinner and dishes. We even helped them put up their Christmas tree and decorations. I ate an absurd amount of food.  We had all of the Southern classics, such as collard greens, sweet potato fluff and pecan pie, lots of pie. I don't like collard greens at all. tastes bad, texture bad. 

Thanksgiving!

A Thanksgiving Cookie Bouquet from mom.

Thanksgiving was fantastic, all the missionaries went to the Turkey Bowl (played football). It was my first one, it was very fun. I was very very glad I brought the hand warmers. After the football we went to the Talbot families house, with the Pollards. Bro. Pollard is a nonmember but very nice. We helped them prepare and clean up dinner and dishes. We even helped them put up their Christmas tree and decorations. I ate an absurd amount of food, We had all of the Southern classics, such as collard greens, sweet potato fluff and pecan pie, lots of pie.

November 25, 2013 A Baptism!

I got the package and the letter, I really like them, I thought the card was very funny.  (It was a Happy Thanksgiving from the Cat card.)

I am not having problems with the stress any more. The problems where from not getting very good sleep, a and the stress made it worse. One the Senior Missionaries in our District, Sister Parks, gave me some Melatonin vitamin supplements, and they have been helping me have normal sleep. So I am doing just fine now.  I got to the UNC doctors in Raleigh for my eyes. They said it was a rare thing and should go away by its self in a few weeks, so yeah.  The doctor said, that it might be a virus, and it will just go away after a while

The weather here is warm most days, but when it gets cold, man it gets COLD. It was some where in the 20's last night.

We had our first Baptism this week end, Amanda. She was found by a member and she was SUPER prepared to learn about the gospel. Elder McNaughton baptized her and I confirmed her in sacrament meeting. I would send pictures but we are at the Library, and the Library is ghetto.

As far a buying me things, a Frisbee to take to Brazil would be nice, they don't have Frisbees down there, and that would be a good way to find people or what ever.

I have one the 18 year old ward missionaries giving me a bunch of missionary appropriate music I can listen to.

Being a missionary is joyful. Teaching people and seeing them feel the spirit is great. Giving service is super fun too.

For Turkey Day we are not allowed to proselyte, so we are just going be making rounds a member's houses to eat their food

Love, Elder Gibb

November 18, 2013

Most of our district and our assistant ward mission leader.

When I wake up in the morning my head feels super cloudy. I always have a little headache, my right eye has blind spots in its vision, my eyes can't focus very well and it makes my head worse.  We will see if the doctors can find whats wrong with me.

November 13, 2013

The family we had dinner with and myself making fun of my companion's thinking face.

Picture makes me look a little fat. Wouldn't be surprised, if I gained a little "wait" while in NC. It also wouldn't be the south if I didn't gain weight.

 I am not moving this transfer.

November 4, 2013 - Post Halloween

The Trunk-R-Treat was also a chili cook off, so I was able to eat lots of chili.

We don't hang out with the bishop that often, we do hang out with the ward mission leader and ward missionaries a lot.  Elder McNaughton has been in the ward one week longer then I have.

 

We eat so much food in North Carolina. There will be days where we eat dinner at a members house and then we go with another member to a buffet. In the SAME NIGHT. I swear I am going to gain like 15 pounds before I leave.

 

My companion and I switched name tags for a Halloween costume

 

Our district, (like 8 missionaries living close) carved pumpkins last Monday. Most of the carvings where scriptural references. One Elder did a cyclops and put the reference for " An eye for an eye".

 

I have met one other Elder who is a "visa waiter"  He as been waiting longer then I have, is in the same mission in Brazil.

 

October 28, 2013

We didn't do much last week. Elder McNaughton was sick, so we didn't see that many people.

I felt great all last week until yesterday I started feeling a bit sick. I swear if I get sick I will go insane.

I take my vitamins every day.  It's a cold.

 

We went to our wards Trunk r Treat with an investigator. One of the guys in the ward had a real suit of armor from Italy that he wore.  He was in the U.S. Military Stationed in Italy.
 

Day 82

How often do you get to eat with members?  Like every day

Any good southern cooking?  Grits? Yes, that have good chicken and pork and barbecue, and fried foods. Their Asian food isn't that good. I do like their southern buffets, they are pretty tasty, a nice change. Haven't had grits yet. I am sort of in the sudo-south because of the military fort.
Tell us about your companion  My companion  hasn't gone to college yet. He played foot ball in high school. From Elkridge Utah. He makes good pancakes. I don't  cook for him, his birthday is in April. 

 

Yeah, its pretty flat here.

 

We have an investigator who I am pretty sure is going to be baptized. She is married to a returning less active. He is pretty gung ho about going back to church and they both are quitting smoking together. I have seen a real change in both of their countenances as they have stopped smoking and we have given then blessings of comfort as she had a loved one pass away.  Even though she hasn't been baptized yet her whole family looks happier.

 

I miss Corbin and Weston and Arden a lot. Tell Weston to get better. I do really miss hanging out with them.

 

Oh, and a side note. We finally had dinner with the Portuguese speaking family. Then the Mom and Dad spoke just to the kids they spoke in Portuguese. (Like for correcting behavior or whatever). I was able to understand it all. It was really fun. Sister Krengel (from Sao Paulo) cooked Brazilian food. It was really good. Bro Krengel didn't actually serve in Brazil. He just learned it from Sis Krengel. He actually served in North Carolina.

 

 

 

Visa Status

October 11, 2013

Missionary Department
Salt Lake City, UT 84150-5400

Elder Nolan Harker Gibb
Raleigh NC 27615-6845
United States

Dear Elder Gibb:

Thank you for your diligent service in the North Carolina Raleigh Mission. We know that, during this time of waiting, you have gained valuable experience in faith, knowledge, and perseverance that will help you feel the blessings of our Heavenly Father in your work. The people you are working with are truly blessed because of your service.

We continue to work through established procedures to obtain your visa to Brazil. Church Travel tracks the progress of your visa, is in regular contact with the consulate of Brazil, and receives on-going updates as to your visa status. Your current mission president will be notified as soon as your visa is granted.

May the Lord bless you as you continue to focus in your current assignment and strive to reach out to those who are seeking the truth.

Sincerely,
E. G.

Assistant Executive Director

October 7, 2013

I just have this sort of sinking feeling waiting on the Visa, it is really hard.

 

This week was a good week. We watched general conference.

I can't send pictures this week and maybe not for a while because we do not have a place that will allow us to plug things into the computers.

 

Love, Elder Gibb

September 30, 2013

How do you decide who drives when you have the corrolla? The senior companion always drives.

 

We had a general authority come to our Ward Conference this week. We went to the adult part of the third hour, I was the only one in the ward that could answer question of why we don't have sacrament in Stake or General Conference.   It was because the Bishop, the one presiding the Ward, have the keys over the Aaronic priesthood, and sacrament is an Aaronic priesthood ordinance. So, I impressed the General area authority guy.

 

I am pretty sure my hair line has started receding just a tiny but on the corners of my temple. It make me look a little older and actually very good, sorta why the hair swoosh works. But I would like it if it stopped receding, if that is so the case. Or maybe my brain is just getting bigger, so my head has to grow.  You want grandbabies eventually right?  I am probably going to go Walmart and just buy some simple multi vitamins anyways just cause it is good for me.  

I Like Trains

This week was very interesting. Last Wednesday I was able to go on splits with one the the Spanish Elders. We had dinner at a members house, all they spoke was Spanish and I spoke broken Spanish/Portuguese. Very fun. I fully understood 60% of everything that was said. I had an idea of the other stuff said. Very good food.

An Elder wanted me to ask, do we know a Steele Family in our stake?  (In the West Seattle Ward)

Oh, make sure that with the Wii, don't delete any of the data on there or throw it away. I have all of my Pokemon from Diamond Version on there.

Good news, we have a family in the ward that is fluent in Portuguese. The Dad served a mission to Brazil, The wife is a native and they taught all of the kids English and Portuguese. The Dad is out on training right now so I can't talk to him yet.

We will start Facebook at the beginning of next month if everything goes well.

Cool story of the week. Bro. Conover (he is in the air force Special Forces) hurt his back a bit, so we helped him mow his lawn. I did a lot of weed whacking. In turn he gave is a bunch of cool army swag. A water proof case, (I will be using to transport my xbox when I get home) and a old ammo can, useful for lots of things.   Ill be sending them home soon. And he also taught us how to use throwing knives. (mom says REALLY??)

Yup they are horses. I am not sure what language they speak, but I don't think it is Portuguese or English.

Home Away from Home

We did get to the Raleigh temple on Friday.  The temple was very small, everything on one floor.

A lot of people don't show up for lessons. We have taught a couple of first lessons. I am anticipation teaching more full lessons this week.

We have a lot of dinners with members.
We are also working with a lot of part member families, due the the nearby Fort, a lot of moms and children converted without the father while he is away serving.

There also a lot of stubborn baptists who won't listen to us. There are some truly humbled ones though.. Member homes are powerful tools in inviting the spirit to testify to the investigator.

Home in Raeford North Carolina.... It has air-conditioning!!!

Living Room

Kitchen

Our Study Room upstairs

Raeford North Carolina!

Moms note: I pieced this letter together fromm about a dozen one line emails he sent.  He writes emails like he was on twitter.

 

Yesterday we where picked up by the Mission President and taking to the mission office, where they told us a lot of stuff.

 

Then we went to the Mission home, had interviews and dinner. Then I spent about 2.5 hours in a car dropping off Elder Stephens and then myself. I spent the night with some Spanish Missionaries, they were very nice. Then we met with Elder McNaughton. We went to Walmart to buy food, then we went to a Literacy Center where we are now using computers.  And we are using windows XP :)

 

I am serving in the Hope Hills Second Ward.  My companion is Elder McNaughton, he is from Utah.  He has been on his mission about 8 months. (He is not a visa waiter)

My camera is out of charge so I am having a hard time getting the pictures off of it. I forgot the USB, so you shall have to wait for next week.

We live next door to the missionaries for the Spanish speaking branch.  One was from Mexico another from the States. The apartment has a washer & dryer and air-conditioning.  

The apartment address is:

146 Crumpler Dr.  Raeford, NC 28376   

We are apartment #2 the Spanish Missionaries are in apartment #3.

We are about 1 hour 40 min away from the mission home.

We saw paratroopers jump out of airplanes today.  (Moms note: He lives near Fort Bragg)

This Friday I think we get to go to the Raleigh Temple.

Nolan 

MTC Photos

My District at the MTC

Elder Ng from Hong Kong

Elders from all over the world.

Visa Status Letter

Dear Elder Gibb:

Visa Status

By now you are aware that your visa to Brazil has not yet been approved. While this is undoubtedly a disappointment, please know that we are doing everything possible to secure your visa. We will notify you immediately when it is received. We ask that you and your family members not do anything, such as call or e-mail the consulate, to try to secure your visa more quickly. Such actions may actually slow down the visa process already in place.

While you are waiting, your mission experience in the United States will prove to be a great blessing in
your preparation to serve in Brazil. We encourage you to work hard, remain focused, and be involved in all aspects of missionary work. As you serve the people in the North Carolina Raleigh Mission,  your testimony and ability to teach will increase, you will set the pattern of study and hard work for the rest of your mission, and you will come to love the people.

May the Lord continue to bless you and your family as you dedicate yourself to  preaching the gospel to those who are seeking and ready to accept your invitation to come unto Christ.

Sincerely,
E. G.
Assistant Executive Director

Reassignment

Elder Gibb:

At this time, we have not received your vise to travel to your mission  You will be serving a temporary assignment in the North Carolina Raleigh Mission until your visa arrives.


.......I am excited. I kinda wanted to go East Coast for reassignment.  Elder. Blackner is going to South Carolina, I am able to go and look at my mission boundary.

Nolan 

You Will Find Me Here.... When the VISA arrives.

The MTC is great, but I want to be here!

Overall doing pretty well. I have been thinking and even if it took  3 months from my Visa after leaving the MTC.... if I at least got the last year and a half in Cuiaba I would be happy.

Last Tuesday we had Elder Richard G Scott come to our devotional. And on Sunday we had Vai Sikahema come and speak, Google him.

MTC Week 3 - Half Way Through the Training

Minha Querido Familia,

 

Picture of our Room and Elder Phipps, my companhiero who got his Visa, and has left for Brazil already.

 

I want videos for me to watch of Corbin on goofy meds when I get home from Brazil.  (Referring to Corbin's tonsil surgery today.)

I have plenty of food. Good job, those where the exact shorts and pants I wanted.  And I love the Wasabi Nuts.

Keep your eye out to see if they make a MoTab and Lindsey Stirling recording

I haven't heard any news about doing missionary work through facebook yet.
 

I found out that we have a couple rooms of international missionaries on our floor. Very cool, I like to practice my Portuguese with the Native Brazilians who live there. The are also Elders from Tonga, Chile, Mexico, Tahiti, Micronesia, Hong Kong and Tonga on our from. I got to help  an Elder from Belgium write a letter in English to his family.
 

I am doing pretty well, my sore throat is going away. Just studying hard.

Tell Corbin that I love him. And if you could remind him to download the Free Xbox game for this month to my account that would be cool.

Tell Weston that I love him too, I hope he has fun with my computer.

Arden knows I love her.

Amor,

Elder Gibb.

Second Week at the MTC

I am doing very well; the indigestion from the cafeteria food has seems to have subsided. I did start getting sick on Thursday night; I got a blessing from Elder Phipps on Saturday and started to feel better the next morning. My ears were still plugged up yesterday so I went to the Doctor and he gave me some antibiotics from my ear infection. I am doing pretty well now.  (Oops....Mom is feeling very guilty about that, she had untreated strep when Nolan left.)

Elder Phipps got his Visa last Friday and left last night for Sao Paulo.  Elder Phipps entered the MTC same day as I did.  I am now companions with my other two roommates, Elder Foster and Elder Blalock.

Elder Blackners' class is right down the hall from mine, he is in the same class with an Elder from my BYU ward.

Music is working just fine. If you guys would find a recording of The MoTab Choir with Lindsey Stirling (Violin), that would be top notch.

Care package is great just what I needed. The days are starting to melt together when we are this busy, at least I am not bored.

Oh, if you find an Elder Lowe in the Seattle Mission. I know him from BYU summer. 

I might not be able to send pictures this week.

Love, Elder Nolan Gibb

My First P-Day

Dear Family,

My P-day is Tuesday. I'll usually email about this time, (12:45 MDT)

If you guys could send some snacks in the mail, that would be pretty cool, the Brazilian district has dinner at 4 so I am hungry again by 9. (Almonds)  (Mom’s note: he finally sent the snail mail address.  It is on the right side of the blog.)

Good news, my BYU Signature card works on the vending machines (hint hint)  (mom’s note:  I got the hint and added $ to his account.)

First week at the MTC has been pretty cool.  I recognized a bunch of people from my BYU ward.

The first few days of the MTC had a lot of information but after Monday it has started to mellow down and we are getting used to things.

The food in the cafeteria is decent; I am allowed to eat as much as I want. The food does kind-of do weird things to your stomach, but I think I am getting used to it.

We had started learning Portuguese on the first day. We have been teaching a fake investigator. Our first lesson was on the second full day of being in the MTC. We had to teach the full lesson 30 minute in Portuguese. We have had two more lessons with the Fake Investigator since then, they went much better then the first lesson.

Portuguese has been coming along pretty well.  We have learned to pray and bear testimony and some other talking stuff. I think Portuguese is easier then Spanish. It is a lot like Spanish, some of the letters are pronounced differently and words are slightly different but all of the conjunctions are the same.

My companion is Elder Phipps, he is from Kansas. He cool person and very nice. He sleep-walks. We have some very funny stories about him. 

My roommates are pretty neat. 

I didn't take any pictures, haven't had a lot of time to.

Love, Elder Nolan Gibb

Headed to Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah

Elder Blackner is serving a mission in Brazil too,  but in a different city.   He is in my Grandma's ward, and his older brother was my Young Men's President for awhile.  Small world. We met up at the gate.   Watch out MTC here we come!!!