Dear family and friends,
First of all, Happy happy birthday Miss Robyn - in comp study yesterday [we] sang hymn 98 for ya!
And for everyone else as well, thank you again for your thoughts and prayers. This week has been wonderful as I am officially not a teenager and how in 4 days I will be "over the hump" as my smally service as a full time missionary. These small but monumental events to me made me think of all my memories and fun times from Broadway Kids, Orchestra events, chillin with Geoffrey and Stevo and Emilie and everyone, with Max and Drake, and Kirstie (whom I have rejoiced greatly about their decision to serve as I have) and everyone at APA. Thought about my great mentors and teachers - Miss Federick, Mr. Mattingly, Doris, (gotta giva shout out to Mr. Sorensen), Mrs Wilcox, and many others. I thought about how much I love Siah and Elly and my little cousins. I often think of McCrae, Shanae, and big Brayden (sorry man, I probably destroyed your name - forgive me cuz Asian languages will do than to you like I forgot what a pulley was called today...) I thought of Jordan and Grant in the states my Grandma Gibbons and Grandma and Grandpa Holker and Schlappi. Thought of Bates and McKenna wearing funky beaver hats preaching to less actives and seeing miracles in the snowy part of the world. I thought about Matt and Shae , Meegs takin a break from school, Kenz drivin her new ride, Anna listening to Opera and almost passed out on the floor of a large super market-entertainment center and almost made a fool of myself greatly. I thought of dad on his side of the couch asleep and my mom helping the world with everything.
All this has caused me to deeply reflect on my life and reflect on my blessings and dumb, perhaps rude sometimes, selfish I probably was before God sent me to Asia. My desires have changed so much and i Love it. I have seen miracles happen right in front of my face. Sister Roumsap's daughter got baptized just barely and Brother A (a man I decided to sit down next to instead of my companion on a random bus one day) is getting baptized this 27th along with others, but no time to relate. We made a huge Book of Mormon for the cutest funniest old man named Supachai an now read it.
But recently I've been thinking about all these things and been thinking of what have I enjoyed most as I am not a teenager and I am approaching my 1 year mark from stepping into the MTC with Nick [Alvarez] in 4 days. I'd like to share with you a story my mom shared with me about an experience while at the [Draper] Temple lobby to illustrate my thoughts:
"So, as I was sitting there, two different “grooms” came out and one sat next to the other who had been waiting a bit longer for their brides to come out. They started nervously chatting and getting to know each other. Then a temple worker came and asked for one of them and told him his bride was coming out. He had the biggest smile on his face and he couldn’t wait to see her and walk out of the temple with her to the crowd of people waiting outside. As he was about to leave, he turned and shook the hand of the other groom and said, “Have a ‘happy forever’”."
Such a cool story, huh? Well my mom told me she cried and wanted to wish me a “happy year”. I relate all these experiences to you this day because all these memories I have from my life have amounted to my "Happy Eternity" as your love - whoever you are whos reading this- has had an impact for good on me and I want to thank you.
This has been a wonderful mission as I have helped others have happy eternities too.
Love you all,
Elder Gibbons
PS this keyboard is horrible - sorry 4 all the mistakes
First of all, Happy happy birthday Miss Robyn - in comp study yesterday [we] sang hymn 98 for ya!
And for everyone else as well, thank you again for your thoughts and prayers. This week has been wonderful as I am officially not a teenager and how in 4 days I will be "over the hump" as my smally service as a full time missionary. These small but monumental events to me made me think of all my memories and fun times from Broadway Kids, Orchestra events, chillin with Geoffrey and Stevo and Emilie and everyone, with Max and Drake, and Kirstie (whom I have rejoiced greatly about their decision to serve as I have) and everyone at APA. Thought about my great mentors and teachers - Miss Federick, Mr. Mattingly, Doris, (gotta giva shout out to Mr. Sorensen), Mrs Wilcox, and many others. I thought about how much I love Siah and Elly and my little cousins. I often think of McCrae, Shanae, and big Brayden (sorry man, I probably destroyed your name - forgive me cuz Asian languages will do than to you like I forgot what a pulley was called today...) I thought of Jordan and Grant in the states my Grandma Gibbons and Grandma and Grandpa Holker and Schlappi. Thought of Bates and McKenna wearing funky beaver hats preaching to less actives and seeing miracles in the snowy part of the world. I thought about Matt and Shae , Meegs takin a break from school, Kenz drivin her new ride, Anna listening to Opera and almost passed out on the floor of a large super market-entertainment center and almost made a fool of myself greatly. I thought of dad on his side of the couch asleep and my mom helping the world with everything.
All this has caused me to deeply reflect on my life and reflect on my blessings and dumb, perhaps rude sometimes, selfish I probably was before God sent me to Asia. My desires have changed so much and i Love it. I have seen miracles happen right in front of my face. Sister Roumsap's daughter got baptized just barely and Brother A (a man I decided to sit down next to instead of my companion on a random bus one day) is getting baptized this 27th along with others, but no time to relate. We made a huge Book of Mormon for the cutest funniest old man named Supachai an now read it.
But recently I've been thinking about all these things and been thinking of what have I enjoyed most as I am not a teenager and I am approaching my 1 year mark from stepping into the MTC with Nick [Alvarez] in 4 days. I'd like to share with you a story my mom shared with me about an experience while at the [Draper] Temple lobby to illustrate my thoughts:
"So, as I was sitting there, two different “grooms” came out and one sat next to the other who had been waiting a bit longer for their brides to come out. They started nervously chatting and getting to know each other. Then a temple worker came and asked for one of them and told him his bride was coming out. He had the biggest smile on his face and he couldn’t wait to see her and walk out of the temple with her to the crowd of people waiting outside. As he was about to leave, he turned and shook the hand of the other groom and said, “Have a ‘happy forever’”."
Such a cool story, huh? Well my mom told me she cried and wanted to wish me a “happy year”. I relate all these experiences to you this day because all these memories I have from my life have amounted to my "Happy Eternity" as your love - whoever you are whos reading this- has had an impact for good on me and I want to thank you.
This has been a wonderful mission as I have helped others have happy eternities too.
Love you all,
Elder Gibbons
PS this keyboard is horrible - sorry 4 all the mistakes
