Week 91: Las Puentes, Mexico.

Week 91: Ministering!
We were able to start off this past week with exchanges with Elder Tidwell and Elder Soares. I was able to work with Elder Soares from Brazil. He recently arrived here to the mission so it was great to work with him and learn a little bit of Portuguese. I always love working with missionaries who have little time in the mission to see all of their energy and love for the people. In general we were able to have a very successful day but we ended the night with a spiritual experience. That same day we ate with a family from the ward and as we ended, we shared a message with them than asked for some references. They passed us a reference of a less active family and they told us that they hadn't seen or heard from them in a long time. We left and kept with our plans that we had for the day thinking that later on we would go by and visit this less active family. However, our 2 lessons that we had planned out for the night fell through. As we were thinking about what we were going to do with this free time, we felt like we should go and visit this less active family. We got to the house and before we knocked the door, we heard people inside the house arguing one with another. We thought if it was a good time to visit them, however the spirit gave us the impression that we should. We than knocked and the mother came out just a little bit angry and irritated but let us come into her house. As we entered the house, we got to meet the whole family. This family consists of a single mom, her 3 daughters, and 1 younger son. The family is very similar to my own family because the age difference between all of the siblings is about the same in my family. This made it a little more special for me. As soon as I met them I felt a lot of love and compassion for them. We got to know them a little bit more and found out that they had stopped going to church over 2 years ago. We got to know as well that the mother was very close to entering into the temple. Really just a wonderful family. Elder Soares and I were able to share a message with this family and the spirit was very strong. I gained a testimony of the power of ministering. It is amazing how we don't have to know everything about the gospel, nor do we need to know a language perfectly for the spirit to do its work. Truly, Elder Soares and I just read a chapter of the Book of Mormon with them and we didn't say a word. However when we ended the chapter, everyone from the family was in tears and knew that it was time to come back to church. THAT IS THE SPIRIT! Its amazing that each one of us has the potential to help other people feel the sensation of the spirit in their lives. Also the Gonzalez family, Juani, Saul, and Emilio came to church yesterday for the stake conference. They are progressing well, please keep paying for them!
Today we had our district activity and we went to a famous lookout here in Monterrey. In our district we have people from Peru, Costa Rica, México, Brazil, Columbia, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, y Nebraska! At this lookout you can see the whole city of Monterrey. I never knew how big it really is! 5 Million people! After we went and ate at a buffet! Life cant get better! Have a great week!

Love, Elder Gibson

Week 90. Las Puentes, Mexico.

Week 90: Family Frenzy!

This past week was awesome, we were able to find a lot of great families to teach! This week Elder Santos and I really focused on finding new people to teach. We spent the whole week with the goal to find families to teach. Its a lot harder to contact a whole family than it is just one person! We prayed to God that he could put not just people in our path but entire families. Than we had to pray again to give us the courage to talk to them when they had been placed in our path.😂 It was amazing how we were blessed by giving these types of specific prayers. Here in the mission I have learned that if we want something from God we have to create a plan a present it unto him. Its just like the story of the Brother of Jared in the Book of Mormon. The Brother of Jared asked the Lord, " Behold, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that we shall cross this great water in darkness?" And the Lord responded, "What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels?" The Lord basically said, "you really just think that I am going to just do everything so that you guys can cross the great waters with light?" Im sure the Brother of Jared felt a little bit discouraged however he than at this moment realized that he had to put in his part to receive the divine help from the Lord. With this knowledge, he climbs a mountain with "exceeding height" to obtain transparent stones. He than prays and asks the Lord again to help them obtain light however this time after him doing his part and acting with faith the Lord gives him a different answer than the first time. Not only did he receive the light that they needed, but he had an outstanding experience by seeing the Lord face to face. When we act by faith and do all that we can do, that is when God will be able to work miracles in our lives.

This past week I had exchanges with Elder Powers from Alaska. He is a super cool guy and I went over to his area. It is in a pueblito (ranch) named El Carmen. Its about an hour and half from Monterrey. His area is awesome though because out in the pueblito everyone is so humble and want to learn more about God. During our exchanges, we had some very spiritual lessons with some good folks. Something very special about the Mexican people is that they are blessed with the gift of visions and dreams. For example, Elder Powers and I were walking down the street and contacted a lady who was sitting in her front porch. We contacted her and said to her, "We don't know why God gave us the impression to talk to you but maybe you have an idea, what do you think the reason is?" She replied and said, "I was praying last night to God before I went to bed about how I can be a better mother and guide for my children." She than said, "As I fell asleep I slipped into a dream where I saw 2 men, one was wearing a blue tie and the other was wearing a black tie." She than explained, "I than saw my family and I dressed in white, but I am not really sure what the dream meant, maybe God sent y'all to me to explain this dream that I had." Man, Elder Powers and I were shocked. I think more than anything we were shocked that we picked out the right color of tie in the morning.😂 Amazingly , many times here in the mission my investigators have received answers from their dreams and or a vision. I have came to know that the gifts of the spirit are real and each and every one of us have them. We just have to pray and seek which ones we have to magnify them.

Also something else super awesome is that it has cooling off a lot here in Monterrey which came sometimes be a disadvantage for us. Let me explain... When the weather gets below 60 degrees here, everyone is freezing! At 50 degrees, everyone has their beanies and big ole coats on like they are in a big ole Idaho winter storm.😂 Sometimes they don't even open their door because they don't want to get cold... at 60 degrees!! Even worse sometimes the members don't even open the door open to us because they are too cold. But its okay I still love them all!! I am trying to take advantage of each moment that I have left here in the mission. I have been blessed to see the Lords hand in this great work, the Regathering of Isreal. I know that this is his work and glory to bring forth the immortality and eternal life of man. As Jesus once taught, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." We are all enlisted until the conflict is over. Love you all and hope you all have a wonderful week!

Week 89. Las Puentes, Mexico.

Week 89: Successful Week.

This week was so awesome! We were able to find an amazing family. This past Tuesday we were walking in the street and we contacting a woman named Monica. She didn't seem to be interested however she gave us her direction and told us that we could pass by some other day. So we passed by on Thursday and we talked to her father outside and asked if Monica was home and we heard her yell from inside that she was busy. However, we took advantage and we talked with her father who's name is Saul. A very humble and genuine man. He accepted to listen to us. Elder Santos and I felt an impression to sing a hymn for the hermano. We sang him a hymn and as we ended, the wife of Saul who's name is Juany came out and asked us who we were. We went on to present ourselves with her and she as well accepted to listen to our message. We sat down with them and 3 of their grandkids came out and listened to us as well. We shared the restoration with them and the spirit was so strong, Elder Santos and I could see in their eyes that they knew that what we were teaching was true. While we were ending the lesson, Juany commented to us that one her grandkids was very sick. Elder Santos and I offered to give the child a blessing. They said that they would love it so they invited us into their house. As we entered we realized that they have a really big family! Their were around 9 people in the house and we explained to everyone about priesthood blessings and than we gave a blessing to the child and after the blessing there was a spirit that was almost tangible. Sunday rolls around and Saul, Juany, and the 3 grandkids show up to church! I was so excited to see them come to church, what a big blessing! We than taught them The Plan of Salvation and once again, we could see in their eyes that they knew what we were teaching was true. This family reminds me a lot of the verse that says, " And ye are called to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect; for mine elect hear my voice and harden not their heart." Many people have been prepared by the Lord to listen to his voice and hear the message of The Restoration. I love this family and I love this work. Please pray for this family that they will continue progressing! I hope that you all have a great week! Oh and Elder Santos completed a year last week.

Love, Elder Gibson

Week 88. Las Puentes, Mexico.

Week 88: Las Puentes!

Well this past week has been very interesting and very busy! First of all I have been in a trio for this past week with Elder Santos and Elder Tidwell. Elder Tidwell will be training a new missionary but he has not arrived to Monterrey yet because he is waiting for his visa in Brazil. However, tomorrow Elder Tidwell will be receiving his new companion and wont be with us anymore. Elder Santos is from Veracruz and has around a year in the mission. He is a really good guy and I am super excited to get working here in this area with him.

This past week we had to go out to an area called Sabinas Hidalgo. It is a small village about 2 hours outside of Monterrey. There is a small branch out there and we had to go and help them out with a few things. It is in the middle of the mountains so it was a good trip out to finally get a breath of fresh air. 😂 It has been awesome to get to know a lot of people and a lot of different parts here in Nuevo León (the state that Monterrey is in).

Here in the area it looks like there is a lot of potential. This past week we were just contacting and trying to find some people to teach! I think for the first few weeks we are going to be focusing on finding new people to teach and to come with us to church. Of course I miss my past area and all of the wonderful people I met there but I am ready to get the work rolling here in Las Puentes. Also to end, I loved this past conference and all of the counsel and guidance we received. I love the missionary work and my time here in the mission. I am just going to keep giving it my all to find the people who need the gospel the most. Love you all and have a great week!

Love, Elder Gibson

Week 87. La Estancia, Mexico.

Week 87: Temple and Transfers!

This past week I had the opportunity to go with Elder Hernandez and Arturo to the temple! Arturo got baptized when Elder Hernandez and I were in La Pastora about 5 months ago. He called us up saying that he wanted to go to the temple for the first time. Elder Hernandez and I called up President Maucotel to ask for special permission to go. President gave us permission so we were able to go and it was a great experience! It was great to catch up on old times with them.

Also, I got transfers this week! I am going to move over to a zone called Anáhuac. This transfer there are going to put together 2 zones into 1 so the zone should be pretty huge! That just means a lot of work. 👍It is going to be fun because alot of the areas in the zone are small country towns. It will be awesome to get to know all of the areas in the zone! I am super excited to work in a new area and new zone these last 2 transfers that I have in the mission! I hope that you all have a great week and enjoy conference weekend!

Love, Elder Gibson