Making the Mish Most Enjoyable :)

Hey Fam!

Tupelo is amazing! Wahoo! It's a big change from Decatur that's for sure. It's a big city so there's a ton of people at the mall and Walmart of course. There's two Walmart’s! It's a missionary gold mine! I'm extremely grateful to be in Tupelo. It already feels like I've been here before and met these people before; I must be in the right place.

STL life is normal so far. I think the biggest change is being in Tupelo. It's a totally different experience than Decatur. We do a lot of mall contacting. It's a big city! We start going on exchanges this week. We have the biggest zone in the mission! We have 7 sets of sisters to look after. I'll go on exchanges about twice a week. Yes a lot of driving but it's going to be good :)

This week I'm going on a couple of exchanges with some sweet Sisters. I'm so excited! I get to see so many areas! I am feeling a little inadequate, but that's to be expected. That darn Satin. I'm just going to act like I've been in Tupelo and an STL my whole mission. Wahoo! Bring it on!

Sister Allred is my companion!!!! Yes from Davis High! I love her! She is going home this transfer. Crazy! I'll be in Tupelo for a while. Sister Allred is a stalwart missionary. She is so good at teaching lessons in the mall! Holy cow:) I'm such a lucky missionary to have so many companions who are so experienced! Don't worry I'm getting there. 

"I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me." Philippians 4:13

I know Christ is on my side. I know this because he's told me through the Holy Spirit. I can't count how many times He has helped me through his Grace. Sometimes I pray on my bike. Last week I prayed for patience and I felt calmer right then and after my prayer. It's the little things that are the big things. Don't worry it's all good in the hood. :) He's going to help me do my best here in Tupelo. I'm not alone!

I'm sorry for not answering all of y'alls questions. I love you and feel your prayers often. Can you believe how much our Heavenly Father loves us? 

Yesterday we attended a baptism for a recent converts little girls here in Tupelo and they bore their testimonies in the sweetest way possible. They are elect! They told us how much they loved their Heavenly Daddy:) Melted Everyone's heart. Tupelo is on Fire. Amazing things are about to come! :)

Love you!  Stay Steadfast in Christ :)

Sister Gibbs

HELLO MISSISSIPPI!!!

 Sis. Allred and Sis. Gibbs

"Too Blessed to be Stressed"

We asked a man how he was doing as he was walking to his car and he said, "Too blessed to be stressed."  I love the South :)

This is the last one from Decatur! Crazy Crazy. I love Decatur with all my heart.

This is also my last couple of days training! Crazy right? It's been so fun! Sister Layton has so much excitement for the work. I'm going to miss her. It was too fun to hand out her first Book of Mormon and knock on her first door :)

We had some pretty amazing miracles. I had the opportunity to speak in sacrament meeting and it went well. It was fun to address the ward and invite all of them at one time to do more missionary work. It felt good! I was a little nervous, but the spirit definitely directed me. I'm working on being more crisp in lessons and in talks and I'm progressing! I love Decatur and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be a missionary here. I've changed so much and learned so much here that will help me throughout my life. Decatur will forever be a part of my heart :) 

I will always remember the experiences where Christ has walked with me here. He has strengthened me every day of my mission. I know I'm weak, but He makes me strong. Something I read in Preach my Gospel this week on pg 97 reads, "...our confidence should not be in ourselves, but in Christ." That hit me hard. I have confidence in Christ and I know He will help me succeed. He already is! I know my Savior lives.

I love you! Have the best week!

Love, Sister Gibbs

Transfers!!!

Abby was transferred on January 21, 2015 to Tupelo, Mississippi.  Abby and Sis. Allred
will be Sister Training Leaders in Tupelo. Forever grateful for the good people of Decatur
who loved and took care of the missionaries. Off!! to her next missionary adventure!!

Sis. Gibbs and Sis. Allred  

Kaysville Sisters!!!

Goodbye and Good Luck Sis. Layton!!

Sis. Hall (MTC Companion) and Sis. Gibbs

The Decatur and Athens Elders

Last time to see Stacey!!! Stacy gave me that cute headband!!!

Sis. Layton, Stacey, Sis. Gibbs, The Browns

Decatur Days:)

What a happy Day it was when Stacey was baptized! Holy cow! We love her so much. The spirit was so strong in the baptism and I'm sure angels were just smiling away:) Stacey said she felt tingly all over and said she skipped to the car:) She is so happy! Brother W. is so happy! The ward is happy to have her:)

The Baptismal service was awesome. Stacey wanted "There is Sunshine in my Soul Today" to be the last hymn because "You are my Sunshine"is their song! They are too cute:) Brother W. even spoke at the baptism about the Holy Ghost and he was just filled with joy. When Stacey was in the bathroom, he told us that a year ago this was completely out of the picture and thanked us. What a neat experience to be an instrument it the Lord's hands to bring joy to his children! It was such a happy day!

It's been cold here in Decatur. Riding on the bikes in the humid wind can be rough, but seeing the happiness on their faces made everything worth it. I love Decatur. I tell everyone, including strangers, that we love them. Sister Layton has to remind me that people will might think we are crazy hahah. I love her. She is such an amazing missionary. She is always thinking of our investigators and loves the work! She spoke in church on Sunday and totally pumped up the ward. She is going to baptize nations:)

I love y'all and have a happy week:)

Sorry for the short email. We have a zone activity today for p day. We gotta get goin:) love you!

Love, Sister Gibbs

BAPTISM!!!

Sis. Layton, Stacey's Husband, Stacey and Sis. Gibbs

We Live in Joy My friends :)

Guess what!

STACEY IS GOING TO BE BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D Wahoo!

Stacey's husband is a member and we have been working with her for 5 months! It's been long and hard, but she received her answer!!!

Sister Wittwer and I first went to their house, back in August, after a long day of biking in the scorching sun, and I being a new missionary bluntly asked,

"So do you want to have the lessons?" 

She had no idea what missionaries did, who we were, and she had no idea what was ahead of her. Yup toasty. From then on we taught and basically the whole experience was the toastiest thing I've ever had to do. In part member families I always feel like I'm somewhat pushing it on them because their family wants them baptized. That's what it looks like, and that's kinda what it is. Throughout her lessons, we were super sensitive to her situation. We had some ups and downs and in result, she is extremely prepared for baptism. 

This has been 5 months in the making! We even went through 5 sisters (Sister Wittwer, Wilson, Parsons, Layton, and Gibbs) in the mix of it all! Thank you to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, because there's no way we could have done it without them. SHE'S GETTING BAPTIZED!

We didn't even know that she had received an answer when we started the Gospel of Jesus Christ lesson. She decided to tell us after we had boldly invited her to be baptized explaining that she knew it was true and she didn't have to know everything right now. #spirit (She's read the whole Book of Mormon, D&C, and various other essays including some on polygamy) She told us after we prayed for the date,

"You didn't even know I knew it was true!"

Then she proceeded to tell us that she had an answer to prayer at work while she was just sitting at her desk. The spirit told her why not? You already know! 

We have been praying for this forever!!!! Best day of my whole life. Plus we went from lesson to lesson that day, and when people weren't there, Heavenly Father literally gave us the next door neighbors to teach. I couldn't stop screaming Stacey is getting Baptized!!!!!!!!!!!! The whole day:D God is so good.

So this has been a big week. We are also moving! There's a member in the ward who is leaving his house for two years so we are basically house sitting! There's a pool, TV, Couch and a garage! Tempting I know. We get to mow the lawn in the summer:) Crazy! We are moving on Tuesday. 

We also had zone training this week. It was too good. Our goal this year for baptisms in the mission is 500. #Faithfor500. #hourofpower. To accomplish this goal the whole mission at 5:00 pm to 6:00pm will invite someone to baptism. Wahoo! It's too fun :) Love Y'all and have a blessed week :) Thanks for everything.

Remember we live in Joy my friends. This gospel brings us Joy! Live it (serve everyone) with your whole might, mind, and strength and no matter our situation we will have Joy :)

Love, 

Sister Gibbs

Sis. Layton, Stacey and Sis. Gibbs

Decatur Zone