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.

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.

 

 

 

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