"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

Keeping our Eyes Single to the Glory of GOD!

Hey Fam!

It was so good to see everyone on Christmas! It was nice to see that home is still home and it will be there when I get back. It was really good for me to talk to everyone. Nat, the necklace works! I've been wearing it the rest of the week thanks so much! Steph, I wear the scarf everywhere too! It's all to fun. Alyssa, we have yet to eat the Ice cream. Thanks everyone for the love and support. I love you guys!

Not gonna lie my mind has started to slip into the bad habit again of finding the negative instead of the positive, but Heavenly Father showed his love to me again this week.  I read in pmg it says that no effort is wasted and that Disciples of Jesus Christ don't fall into discouragement. Yes it happened, but that doesn't mean there's not more people waiting to be baptized and waiting for my testimony. God is good.

Yesterday we biked in the cold, but not Utah cold and found a ton of people to teach.  We decided to fast and so many blessing poured on us. My love for the work increased and Sister Layton and I felt good! The Gospel makes us feel good when we follow the promptings to talk to someone and show sincere concern, we don't have that guilt of what might have been! That's for everyone in this world not just full time missionaries, our sorrow in life from not following these promptings builds until we feel a weight that we've forgotten where it came from. Follow the promptings to visit one of your friends or offer sincere help to a family member or a stranger and the sorrow of life will disappear. We have to push Satan out of our heads who tells us to think of only ourselves. I know this Gospel brings happiness my friends :) I love you! 

Steadfast in Christ.

Love,

Sister Gibbs

Sis. Layton and Sis. Gibbs

Christmas Devotional and Talent Show

 

Special song from the Missionary Christmas Devotionals, lyrics written by Sister Hanks

A special moment captured at each of the devotionals: Missionaries singing a song Sister Hanks wrote upon the birth of the Hanks' first child.  

May you all have a beautiful and Christ filled Christmas!

One Little Angel

(Liz Hanks, for Emily 1985)

One little angel, polishing the stars

Up in the heavens, working very hard
This little angel has a very special job
She will polish all the stars for God

All heaven waited for a special birth

Our Brother Jesus was coming here to earth
Each angel hoped to send a gift – it must be from the heart
Of this the little angel wished a part

All day she polished a great enormous star

Light from one of this size is sure to travel far
She held it over Bethlehem for all the world to see
This is where the new Christ child will be

Shining over Bethlehem for all the world to see

This, dear Jesus, is your gift from me

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!! We love Jesus :)

What a great week! We taught some amazing peeps and Christmas is in the air, Christ is in the air :)

The other day, as we are doing our usual Walmart contacting, we met a man who asked us great questions and then started to bash with us. Oh the South :) I find it strange that when some people see us they have the urge to approach us and look at us as if we aren't people and say we don't worship the same Jesus. His eyes were popping out of his head! I couldn't answer all of his questions, but there were angels by my side. The people of Walmart had yet another unexpected adventure. We were teaching in the middle of the cereal aisle.

There is nothing that gets me more than when people say I don't know Jesus Christ, but the testimony that follows is always full of the spirit. Sister Layton was awesome and fearless. She boldly told the man, "We save up our whole lives to come and share this message to people who are ready and it seems that you aren't willing to listen, but thank you for your concern." Something along the lines of that. Isn't she great? She knows her purpose and doesn't let anyone get in the way of it! She's doing amazingly. 

Afterwards, I was a little angry. After bearing my testimony of the Savior and the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and the Bible, he wouldn't even shake my hand. I wish I was like Mary when she found out that she was going to give birth to the Savior and bounce right back to work, but I guess that's why I have a companion. Sister Layton started inviting everyone to watch the He is the Gift video as we left Walmart. What a great missionary.  

I am truly grateful for the Savior and the personal relationship he is willing to have with each of us. I know He lives! I know He is right by my side. I know He loves me. I know his Grace is what saves me. What a fantastic season of service we are in. I love Alabama! It's not every day you find people preparing their Christmas meal of Chitlins! :)

Merry Christmas! I love y'all and I'm so extremely grateful for my family and the examples they are to me. I'm the most spoiled missionary in the world. Thank you so much for all the Christmas Gifts! :)

Love you and talk to you soon :) at 2:00 on CHRISTMAS!!!

Love,

Sister Gibbs

“Bountiful Missionaries and Sis Gibbs from Kaysville”

(Picture from Elder Hamblin)

Merry Christmas to Y'all and to Y'all a Good Night!

Sister Layton is amazing! What a cute missionary! I absolutely love her :) She's from Ohio and has 13 kids in her family! Sister Layton is such an inspiration to me! It's so fun to be around an excited new missionary! She is ready to go! Training is too fun! We get to hand out her first Book of Mormon together and knock on her first door! Oh man, look out Decatur here we come!

Thank you so much everyone for thinking of me! It means so much to me and Sister Layton :) Thanks so much for the 12 days of Christmas! Tell thanks to Steph for the presents! and Grandma! :) 

The Mission Christmas Party is tomorrow! We are going to have a talent show and devotional which I'm singing in! Don't worry it's a quartet but here in the mission they think I'm pro so I have to fake it till I make it. Oh well their choice haha. This isn't the first time! We know how to party like missionaries. :)

Christmas in the South is a dream! Wow! So many friendly people, so many acts of kindness and everyone feels the spirit of Christmas and service aka the HOLY GHOST! Christ is everywhere if you are searching. The “He is the Gift” video is a dream! People love it here because they love Christ! We are going to see a cute family tomorrow who we showed the video to in Walmart. 

I am truly grateful for the experience I have to serve here in the South where so many people love the Savior. They act on this knowledge with all kinds of enthusiasm that I hadn't experienced before my mission. Although the excitement and enthusiasm is fun, there is a time where we MUST find a quiet place to pray, ponder, and remember our Savior. This is key to feeling the Spirit wash over us. This quiet time is often forgotten. You can sing and praise all day long, but until you find a quiet moment to be with the Savior your testimony isn't complete. This Christmas strengthen your testimony of the Savior and act on it with all the enthusiasm in the world and the peace He brings :) I know my Savior lives. I know he walks with me. I know He trusts me and I know he is enabling me in everything I do. I love y'all! Take care and be safe!

Here is a poem from Sister Brunner:

'Twas the month of December, and all through the mission,

Elders and Sisters were baptism wishin'.

Investigators were taught the gospel with care,

In hopes that on Sunday they all would be there.

The missionaries were obedient, they loved all they taught,

They studied and prayed, the spirit they sought.

Their President's council was given with love,

They followed his lead to bring blessings from above.

The gift of the gospel was all they could give,

To the Alabama people, a better way to live.

The missionaries exclaimed as they worked morn til night,

"We love the Lord, we'll serve with our might!"

Love,

Sister Gibbs

P.S. I sent a picture of the Multi Stake Christmas Festival. Ivy came! Jasmine wouldn't leave our side the whole time. This is something more to add to our love of the Savior my friends :)

Here is part of one of Abby’s previous emails about Ivy and Jasmine to help you remember who they are….

“I don't think I've told you about Ivy. Ivy was a member referral from Dianna:) She is the most happy, amazing, and charitable person I've ever met. Her personality reminds me a lot of Lisa Tuttle :) This is one of those people that you know you've met in the pre-existence. She met her husband on a bowling team! She also is an amazing quilter. She is a grandma of the sweetest girls in the whole world. One of them is mute and requires a little more attention from Ivy and her mom. Whenever Jasmine see's the sister missionaries she does the sign language sign for sisters and asks when we are coming back. Every day she gets off the bus and asks "Sisters?" She is the most precious spirit I've ever met! Ivy watches her reaction to the sisters and says there's a certain glow about us and because of Jasmine’s reaction we must be special. I swear she is already a member. She also said she knows us from somewhere and asked Dianna if it was possible that we knew each other before we came here!!!!!! Ivy is amazing! She is so prepared!

We told Ivy about our Book of Mormon challenge and she committed to do it with us!!! We wrote our testimonies in the front cover. She said but I can't promise I'll join the church!!!! Funny Lady haha. She gave Sis. Wittwer and I those quilts in the pic. She gives quilts away to charity and was showing us all the ones she had made and then without hesitation she said and these are for you! She is the most godly person I've ever met. There is so much potential it's insane! I'll definitely keep you updated.”

 Merry Christmas! Your Decatur AL friends...Ivy and Harold, 

Lisa, Maggie and Jasmine with Uncle Jeremy

Sis. Gibbs and Sis. Layton

Sis. Gibbs, Ivy, Sis. Wittwer (Sept. post)

Sis. Layton and Sis. Gibbs

Guess What Friends!

I'm training!!!! I have no idea what's ahead of me.  I'm basically in denial.  Wahooo!!!! This Sista is going to be the most loved missionary in the world.  I'm happy to be staying in Decatur for Christmas!

We went to the Temple this week!! Guess what, I went twice! Sister Parsons helped Bobby get baptized a year ago and she just received her endowments! What a blessing to be able to go to that! The temple was awesome!!! Oh man I love that place. It is so neat to stand in the Celestial room and think, yup, it's true. :) Heavenly Father really does have more and more opportunities for us to be more peaceful, happy, and joyful people if we have faith and do what he has told us to do so many times, live the Doctrine of Christ! Heavenly Father answered some lifelong prayers that day. God is so good!

This week, in Decatur, there was a ward Christmas party. It was awesome! I told you in a letter way back that we have been doing a chain reaction missionary tool in the ward. Chain reaction is where the members do missionary experiences and then make a paper chain with all the experiences they've done! The Christmas party is where we connected the chain. It's so long! I'm really proud of the ward, they are amazing missionaries. It's fun to see the progress we are making. 

Sister Parsons is doing great. She will be in Provo this January so you will have to contact her. Home life isn't going to know what hit em! She is going to be the best member missionary in the world!

I got your Thanksgiving letter today and Decia got my package! That's really neat about Emilie and all the fam in the temple! I missed you on Thanksgiving too. I'm so happy you got to talk to Sister Wilson! Tell the Bovee's and the Lincoln's that I love them! Tell the Starks I love them too.

This week I had the most amazing experience with the sacrament. I love studying about the atonement and applying it more fully in my life. I'm able to have peace daily because of my Savior. Keep remembering to #sharethegift! 

Love y'all,

Sista Gibbs!

Temple Trip!!!

President Hanks with all the beautiful Sistas

 

Sis. Gibbs, Pres. Hanks and Sis. Parsons

  

   

Elder ???, Elder McKay, Sis. Gibbs, Sis. Haslam

This is Sandra. She's awesome. Also this is our chain reaction chain! It is so long! 

Thanks to our Decatur ward!!!! Yay for missionary work!

#sharethegift

Hey Fam!

Thanksgiving was awesome! We ate a ton of food! We ate at our friend Patsy's house and ate with her family. She's not a member so that was fun! We got to talk about us Mormons a lot! Then we went to a member's home and had more dinner. I'm telling you it was a blast!

We are teaching a lot of people but it's hard for the gospel to stick on some of them you know! It's sad when we have a bomb.com lesson with people and then they drop us. Hey the church is still true!

This week I decided to ask Heavenly Father if Jesus Christ is my Savior and I had some really peaceful experiences. Lately I've been praying and asking specific questions about doctrine to put solid walls around my testimony. I now feel these truths truly placed on my heart. 

This whole week as I have prayed about the Savior I have felt his love. Sometimes the feelings of the spirit will wash over me randomly when I hadn't even realized I was pondering about the Savior. Also Sister Parsons has found me saying randomly "I just love Jesus" all week long. I just want to tell everyone about him. Plus it was Thanksgiving so counting all my blessings only adds to this sweet spirit! My testimony is growing with a firm foundation. I love this gospel! IT’S TRUE!

So has everyone seen their December Ensign?! There's a present inside....pass a long cards for He is the Gift initiative! Everyone needs to watch the short clip and post it on FB, Twitter, you know all the good stuff and then had out cards to friends! Or mail them to non-member friends outside of Utah :) SHARE THE GIFT! Jesus Christ and his infinite atonement! Share it!

Love Y'all so much! I'm so very grateful for my family and all my many blessings. Thank you Fam for everything! I'm the most spoiled person in the world. So much love!

Love, Sista Gibbs :)

Sister Smith:) What a great ward mama :) 

We helped her decorate the ward Christmas Tree!

 Zone Conference

 Sister Butterfield!!!!! We had a zone activity before zone 

conference so we had a missionary sleep over!