Week 98. Valle Verde, Mexico.

Week 98: Mission Completed

Well, this will be my last email that I send out before I come home. I would like to start out by saying that I will be coming home Thursday the 27th at 1:00pm. I will be reporting on the 30th at 9:00am at the church building located on Ustick and Cloverdale. I would love to see you all there.
This past week Elder Valencia and I were able to go to the temple with 2 recent converts. One of the recent converts name is Guadalupe, she is a widow who is 70 years old. She did the family history work for her parents, husband, and daughter who have passed away and got the cards ready for the temple. At the temple Elder Valencia I were able to do the work for her father and husband. As we came out of the water we saw that her eyes were filled with tears. I went over to her and she told us with a calming voice, "They are now free." She said that she felt the presence of her loved ones in a way that she could not explain. I testify of the power of the temple. I testify of the Spirit World, and of those who are eagerly waiting to receive all of the saving ordinances.
This past week Ruiz and Caudia were able to get married! What an amazing experience. It truly was a miracle. In 2 weeks we got everything ready for them to get married. The judge came on Saturday afternoon and they even had a little reception with their family and friends. Ruiz has been progressing a lot! The best part is that he is now living the Law of Chastity and he and his wife couldn't seem happier. We are planning his baptism for the 26th, the night before I come home. I testify that God is a God of miracles. If we act righteously with all diligence God always provides us with his divine help to make miracles happen. I have been a witness of many miracles in the mission. God truly does want to bless us.
I testify that this work is of God. I know that God is our living father heaven. I know that Jesus Christ is his only begotten and beloved son, he is the redeemer of us all. I know that no injustice in immortality is permanent thanks to the heroic atonement preformed by the Lord Jesus Christ. I know that true and permanent change comes through his atonement. When we are tested in this mortal state, the only way we can find true protection from the adversary is drawing ourselves nearer to the Savior. He is our perfect example. He is the light and the life of the world. I am thankful for each memory that I have been able to obtain here in the mission. Enjoy the Christmas Spirit and I will see all of you very soon!

Love, Elder Gibson

Week 97. Valle Verde, Mexico.

Week 97: Progressing!

Well this week has been good! We have been working alot with the investigtors that we have. Alicia and Ruiz are just one step away from being baptized. They both just have to get married and they are ready! Elder Valencia and I have been really busy going to several civil registration centers to get all of the information and dates for their marriages! However when we go in it is always awkward because they always think that elder Valencia and I are the ones who are wanting to get married haha! Alicia has been progressing alot. She told us that she wants to be baptized to always have the spirit. We have taught her a few times and during some of the lessons she will interrupt us and say, "I am feeling something really wierd and really comforting right now, what is it?" We go on and tell her that it is the spirit. She has 2 little girls and she wants the best for her kids. She also told us that she wants to be baptized to set an example for her family. Ruiz is so excited to get married so that he can get baptized too. Him and his wife Claudia have plans on getting sealed in the Mexico City Temple in a year with 3 children. Claudia wants to get sealed in that temple because her grandfather was one of the workers who constructed the temple over 40 years ago. They are great!!!!
Elder Valencia and I have plans this week to go with some of the members to a nearby hosptial to donate cookies and share a message about Jesus Christ. We have been highly blessed these past few weeks. I am so thankful for these last few weeks that God has given me to work in his vineyard. Have a wonderful week!! A picture of the zone and the backroads of our area.

Love, Elder Gibson

Week 96. Valle Verde, Mexico.

Week 96: Miracles!
Wow this week was absolutely amazing. Elder Valencia and I have been so blessed with so many spiritual experiences. This past week we had 2 exchanges with other missionaries. The first exchange I was with Elder Bermudez in his area. He has about 3 months in the mission and we were able to work hard and find a lot of new people for them to teach. Than on Friday we had exchanges with the assistants and I was with Elder Richies. I was in their area and Elder Richies and I were able to find a lot of success. It was also a good time because he is a huge sports fan so we were able to get a few chats in about sports.
On Thursday Elder Valencia and l had a very cool experience. We taught a family where the mother and daughter are recent converts to the church but the father still hasn't decided to be baptized. However, he has been coming to church for a few weeks now. We were able to finally teach him and his wife together. We were able to talk about the family and how his family can be together forever. This drew his attention and Elder Valencia and I know now that he knows that the church is true. The only thing is that this is the first time in his life that he has been attending a church. We are going to keep working with him to help him feel like he is ready to be born again and be baptized.
This week we also had an incredible experience with our investigator Alicia, she{s a young mother with a little girl and a newborn girl, before we arrived to her house she was praying to know the path she would follow to be closer to God, protect her family, and to leave behind the fear and depression issues she was having. During the lesson we shared a scripture in the Book of Mormon about how the pure love and faith of Christ wipes away fear. She felt as if the scripture was talking to her, she expressed that she felt a burning sensation in her heart, then we talked about the Holy Ghost and how it reveals the truth through feelings and thoughts. Also that burning sensation in her heart, she mentioned to us that she has never felt like that but she loves it. She then asked, how can I feel that more constantly in my life_ We started to talk about the gospel of Jesus Christ, baptism, and the gift of the constant companion, even the Holy Ghost. She had some questions and fears about being baptized and then after fail with the commandments but we taught her about the sacrament and repentance. She was more determined to follow Christ, what a powerful lesson. The only need is that she needs to get married to her boyfriend, but we think it can be done easily. At church this past Sunday she came with her friend and with another young family (future investigators) to have their babies be blessed during sacrament meeting. I was the first time my companion and I had ever blessed a baby. Elder Valencia blessed Alicia´s baby girl and I blessed the baby boy of this new family that came to church with Alicia, it was super spiritual.
Also Saturday was very special. I am not sure if you guys can remember in my last email that I talked about that guy who isn't a member but came to church with his family and we had a lesson planned for Saturday? The mans name is Ruiz and we passed by on Saturday and had one of the most special lessons I have ever had here on the mission. We showed up and they were waiting for us to get there. We started off by singing the hymn families can be together forever. During the song the wife who is a member started crying. Later she expressed her gratitude to God that he had made it possible for her husband to change and to accept and listen to our message. We than taught the restoration of the gospel but focused on the family. Ruiz had a lot of questions. He was raised a family with different beliefs so he had a lot of questions. Despite all the questions, Elder Valencia and I were able answer each questions according to what the spirit dictated us to say. We could see that the Spirit was testifying to him the truth of our message. At the end of the lesson, Ruiz{s wife told us that her greatest desire was for Ruiz to get baptized and than be able to baptize their 8 year old daughter and than to finally be sealed to have an eternal family. Ruiz is now very encouraged to keep learning and to come to church. We are working a lot with him so that he can get baptized the 23rd, receive the Holy Ghost, The Aaronic priesthood, and baptize his 8 year old daughter the same day. God has been showing us that he truly is a God of miracles. I am so thankful to participate in such a great work. Have a wonderful week!