Happy New Year

Que Tal Familia?
   Things are going good here in Panorama City, Elder Benavides and I have been working really hard with Angie but unfortunately the cysts in her daughters eyeballs have kinda been holding her back from coming to church and allowing us to meet with her. We had to drop her baptismal date but will continue teaching her and helping her to progress in the gospel. Sounds like Christmas was pretty good for you guys. We had a pretty good Christmas as well, we got to video call you guys but we also got to spend time with some of our favorite families in the ward who are less active or inactive. We had Panes con Pollo and Pork Ribs for Dinner and then we visited a lot of the other families who are less active. Hermano Manrique is the coolest he is the one that you said Hi to. Dang it thats a bummer that buddy was sick on  his birthday and on Christmas. Tell him that he better start feeling better soon 😁. I wrote buddy a card and also sent a package with gifts for the sissies and then for buddy (His stuff is in the black bag) and then Mom and Dad I got something for you to share. Its an instrument from Peru and I can't remember what the name of it is.
   The coolest thing happened this week. Hernan brought his kids to church with him and he told us that he wants us to come by and start teaching him. And then when I told him that he could baptize his son he was so happy. So coming soon in our area Hernan will baptize his son and we have as well another Family Silvia Perez who has a 9 year old daughter and she will be put on date soon as well. Other than that for our area theres not to many updates.
  Since today is New Years Eve we have to be in our apartment at 6pm so we bought some stuff to make empenada's for dinner and tacos as well (we kinda feel hispanic😂). You'll see in the pictures I send that we had a zone breakfast on Christmas and then also theres a video of us doing the gift unwrapping challenge at the Manriques and then I ate a spoonful of Tapatio with one of the Mejia kids and that same night I ate a habanero, so I was feeling fairly crappy that day.😂 Anyways we had a pretty fun time and I'm so grateful that I get to serve the Lord. I love you all so much Feliz Ano Nuevo!!! (pretend like that N has an accent over it because I can't figure out how to do it on this computer). If not though it'd be kinda like saying happy new butt hahaha😂😂. Les Amo espero que tengan un ano prospero. Se Cuidan!!
Elder Gibbons

Feliz Navidad

Hola Familia
OK so I have to explain myself and why an email didn't come from me last week. So I had typed out a very long Email about how everything went the first week and then I added photos to the email and pushed send and I think that the email was to big so it didn't send the email but sent the pictures instead. So now I have to retype everything from the past two weeks. So I'll do my best to remember.
  OK so I'll have to start from Tuesday morning. We had Elder Neale and Elder Yorgenson come over the night before to check to make sure elder Terry was ready to go. We'll right before they were about to leave elder Neale pulled out his guitar and sang God be with you till we meet again and everyone was crying. Anyways that next morning we said goodbye to Elder Terry and then he was gone. Hernan Ramirez our recent convert gave him a ride to the airport.
 So while Terry was getting ready to salir we were headed up to the temple for the new trainer training. When we got there they gave us a 30 minute training and then the new missionaries came into the room and they announced who would be their trainer. So it got announced that Elder Benavides would be trained by elder Gibbons. So they let us get to know each other for about 5 minutes. And then after that they let us know what we should do to find success within a companionship and then we got his bedding supplies and suitcases and then we were off to the area. Elder Benavides is from Arizona and is one of the funniest jolliest guys you'll ever meet. I'm super excited to be able to train him and be his companion. So when we got back to the apartment I made sure we went right to work. I decided to give him the classic first day experience so we knocked a lot of doors and we contacted a lot of people. We basically did a mini KO😄😄. Well as it turns out we met some of the crazies from Panorama City. We met one guy who stared directly in the sun for like 2 minutes to show us that he could do it. He also told me that I'm more of a business man and told Elder Benavides that he is a true follower of God (I was kinda like what the heck?) and then he turned to me again and told me that I would be in hard drugs and alcohol in 5 years. So I'm not sure what I did but for some reason he didn't like me very much🤣🤣.
   Since we've been together we have a done a lot of role plays and a lot of practicing to help him learn Spanish and the lessons pretty well. The cool thing is that before the mission he went door to door selling pestacides so he is a naturally born pounder. (that's what they call missionaries who like to knock😀). He's an amazing teacher as well. Training is a super fun experience and we have a great time.
  So something that I'm trying to do within my district kinda like an initiative is I'm focusing a lot on finding. On Friday of this week we were able to do a creative finding activity in Balboa Park where we went around asking people to come to the booth that we set up, where the people could watch the light the world videos. We then would talk to them afterwords and try and set up a return appointment. Then on Saturday we were able to serve at the Northridge Fashion place mall by helping them wrap gifts. However we also were asked to carol because they had to many people there helping. So in the middle of this huge mall a couple of us started singing Christmas hymns. And then  by far my favorite activity I have done is we went actual caroling door to door last night. We helped so many people and were actually able to get a return out appointment out of it. I was able to bring my ukulele around and was able to play as we sang😀.
  I have a strong testimony of music and the power and spirituality it has. I have seen hearts be softened by the affects of the hymns and the power that music holds. It's one of the many ways that the spirit speaks to us and thus answers our prayers. I love the Hymns!!
  So I was able to get all the packages from you, the Belnaps, and from grandma and grandpa Gibbons. Thank you so much I really appreciate it. A lot of the gifts that are sent to me I give to others we are teaching or families in our ward who don't have very much because I feel that they need it more than I do however I do still enjoy the many things that you send the cards and letters always bring a smile to my face.
  So the plan for tomorrow is that we will call around 5 or 6 (I can Google hangouts you tomorrow to see what time will work best for you so we won't be completely In the dark just make sure that your phone is on and stuff during that time that way I can chat you. I'm so excited to be able to see you guys again and I can't wait to talk to you.😀
  Something I read recently was the story of Samuel the Lamanite and his story of preaching to the wicked. He tells them and warns them of the saviors coming but they don't listen. In fact they start to try and kill him. However we know that the savior did come and that the wicked feared that terrible fate that they had in store. I though a lot about it and we all as members and missionaries are like our own Samuel the Lamanite and we are trying to prepare others for the saviors second coming. I would invite you all to remember the importance of the savior in your lives and realize that we are here because of him. I know that this church is True and that the savior has established his true church on the earth again. I know that the book of Mormon is true and that in we can find truth and light. I know that the light of Christ is real and that we can share that light with others. Sigan fieles y feliz Navidad de la ciudad sin nieve🤣 ( here it's going to be 72 degrees). Les amo.

-Elder Gibbons

Trainer/District Leader Assignment

Dear Brother and Sister Gibbons,

Elder Andrew Timothy Gibbons has been appointed as a District Leader in the California Los Angeles Mission. This assignment comes to him because he exhibits high qualities of leadership, demonstrates excellent teaching skills, and earns and retains the trust of his fellow missionaries. In this leadership position, he will be an example of conduct, appearance, and performance to his fellow missionaries.

As a District Leader Elder Andrew Timothy Gibbons will supervise the activities of between 4 to 8 Missionaries in his district.  His responsibilities will include demonstrating and teaching missionary skills and attributes to each member of his district.  One of his most important responsibilities will be to interview candidates for baptism to determine their worthiness for this most significant ordinance.

Elder Andrew Timothy Gibbons has also been appointed as a trainer in the California Los Angeles Mission. No more important position exists than that of training a new missionary.  New missionaries need to be properly taught immediately upon entering the mission field.  Initial experiences truly influence the remainder of one’s mission.

Sister Haynie joins me in extending to you our sincere appreciation for your fine son.  We realize that your example, training and love have contributed in large measure to his success as a missionary.


Sincerely yours,

Robert M. Haynie
President
California Los Angeles Mission

Training and the Blessings of the Temple!

Hola familia,
  Transfers are going to happen tomorrow and we got our calls last night. So the result is I will be staying here another transfer (six and counting), and Elder Terry is going home 😭. I'm really gonna miss him but I'm excited for him too. Anyways someone will have to replace him and it turns out that I will be training this transfer!! I'm super excited to finally have un hijo😄😄. So I will pick him up tomorrow.
Really big news Bernadinos wife accepted a baptismal date for the 29th of December she'll be baptized this month she said that she is ready to accept baptism and all blessings that come with it!! Other big news for this week is that Hernan finally went to the temple to do baptisms for the dead and he was so excited. So the story goes like this... We walk into the door to do baptisms and elder Terry and I scan our recommends and then Hernan goes to scan it and it doesn't work. The hermano who was scanning our recommend had to call a person from the presidency to come fix the problem. And the hermano that came with us to do baptisms had an expired license. So after everything got sorted out the Hermano had to wait outside and Hernan was finally able to go in to do baptisms. He said that he had never felt so peaceful in his entire life and that he was ready to go again.
  Also we had a Visitors Center trip on  Sunday night the night of transfer calls. It was the one and only VC event they were doing in Spanish for the devocional navideño. So as you can imagine it was packed! there were so many people  there that we had to wait outside for the whole event. Hernan said that he enjoyed the event and stayed after to watch videos about Jesus christ.
  Well I'm really excited this transfer to bring a new greenie into the CLAM and I can't wait to tell you all about him next week. Hope that the girls and buddy all play hard and that they have fun. Remember hit hard hit first no mercy served. Les quiero mucho!
-Elder Gibbons

Mission busy

Hola familia,
 I have zero time this p-Day because we had a practice at 10:30 this morning and then elder Terry was meeting up with someone his last P-day so we went to the LA auto show and we just barely got back. Well Hernan wasn't able to go this week to the temple but we are going next week. He bore his testimony at a baptism and it was super spiritual and powerful he's changed a lot. We've been doing a lot of things to prepare for Elder terrys departure so we are still going 100 miles per hour. Bernardino and his wife were able to come to church today this week!! We've been trying so hard to get them to come to the Visitors Center but they haven't ever been able to make it. P
Missionary work in the LA mission is a lot different then what we would do in San Fernando. Now we work a lot with members in fact if you go down town and try and OYM to everyone it would be impossible because there's so many people. I have learned how to be more efficient and how to adapt to different areas and missions. Love you all I know that the gospel is true.
Elder Gibbons

Gratitude

Hola hola familia!!

  Well Elder Terry and I got a lot done this week and it feels like we've been going 100 mph. The weeks are going by to fast for me😣. Anyways so I'm not sure if I said anything about it last week but Elder Terry and I are doing a musical number with some other elders and sisters for the Christmas devotional so we have been practicing for that. Elder Yorgenson and I got put on the Bass so we will see how it goes maybe next P-day I'll send the recording of it so you can see how we sound😄. So other than that we have been working with Hernan to get his temple recommend. So 2 Sundays ago he got the Aaronic priesthood and this sunday he got his temple recommend interview!!! We set a day and time to go to the temple to do baptisms for the dead on Saturday and even better before that on Wednesday we have an appointment at the family history center so that he can be baptized for his grandpa😀. He is so excited and always tells us, "Hermanos!! Estoy bien motivado!!" He is so ready to go the temple and he loves it when we share new things with him.
  Our Thanksgiving was super crazy also. We had 3 dinners set up that day but we only got to sit down and eat with 1 of them, the familia Sanchez. We didn't have a normal white person Thanksgiving we celebrated it like they would in El Salvador and had Pan con Pavo y crema or in Mexican Spanish torta con pavo. It was super good and we had a great time with that family.
  So I guess another fun story is that as we were doing morning stop bys for church we came out of the last house that we were gonna stop by and we tried to start our car and we just heard clicking. So we were kinda stranded in our area and we had to get to the church so Elder Terry could play the Prelude music. Luckily there was a nice person nearby and we asked if they could help us out and they did.
  So long story short we have the elders take us to  church and back cause we don't wanna risk the car dying in the church parking lot. So we get back we change and we are about to head out to an appointment and we hear a super loud bang and then like a continuous rumble. So we go to leave and our garage door to get out is just destroyed. So it's not moving up or down and then some guy came and fixed it. So we're like, "ok we can leave now."  so we get in the car to leave and the car just clicks again nothing!! So we had to try and get rides everywhere we were going for the rest of the night but we were definetly blessed to have a lot of people willing to help us with transportation.
  So to answer some of your questions, yes I was able to get the package thanks so much for sending it we have already almost eaten all of it. Elder Terry finishes Dec 12 so basically the last day of the transfer. In my interview with President I asked him how he would want us to maintain better contact with the ward mission leader and the ward council because we have recieved a notice from the first presidency that missionaries shouldn't go to ward council meetings anymore. As well we received a message from the area seventy that said we have to finish eating dinner by 5 o'clock everyday and we can't eat with active members mon-fri. And we can't meet with active members 5-8 mon-fri either. So this new change is gonna be a little bit harder for this mission because thats what most of our work is. We go to and work with the members so now we have less time to do that. But I know that we are doing this for a reason God has called those men and we are here to listen to and obey their counsel and their advice. Thanks for all you guys do for me I appreciate it. I love you all!! The basement looks really good tell everyone I said hi. Les quiero.
-Elder gibbons
Also we are making pupusa in the pictures with the aprons😂😂. Love you!

CPR, Priesthood and the Power of the Book of Mormon

Hola Familia,
  Elder Terry and I have been tearing it up here in Arleta, however, this week was a little bit trickier to get people to come to church. On Thursday or Wednesday they put a note on the door of the church saying that they are going to be repaving the whole road in front of the church so it was going to be closed on Saturday and Sunday. So we had maybe a half or a third of the amount of people we normally have in sacrament meeting there. Hernan was still able to come though luckily. This Sunday he received the Aaronic Priesthood. He was so happy to able to receive it. On Thursday we had a lesson with him about the priesthood and we explained the different duties of it found in D&C 20. He said that it was very interesting and that he couldn't wait to receive it. The family of 7 are doing O.K. its been a little bit harder to meet with them this week just because they haven't been responding very well to texts but we still got to see Karla (also it turns out here real name is Carolina). Anyways we taught her about CPR and how important each of those three things was. We also read with her in Moroni 10:3-5 she really liked it and started crying because of the power of the Book of Mormon, it testifies of truth because it is the truth. There was a part of a talk that I really like that I listened to this morning that said that any book that carries that much power with it must be true. No false book could ever testify with that much power. I'm continually reminded again and again of the importance and power that the Book of Mormon has. If we are not reading it everyday we need to be. It is like a shield of protection against the adversary and it will strengthen you so much.
  Well I don't have very much time because we had to go with the other Elders to play Pickle Ball (Pictures). But for Thanksgiving we will be having it with Bernadino and his wife so hopefully we can teach her a little more then. We also tried to do a visitors center tour with them but they canceled last second so hopefully we can go a different time with them. I would say my happiness level is very High I have not been this happy in all my life I would not trade anything for this time right now. I have slowly but surely started to bond with the other missionaries, Its just hard because I really only know the ones within our zone which are quite a bit, but they've been here since last transfer as well. We won't be having zone conference until the end of the transfer because of the Christmas devotional. Love you all have a good day Love you!
Elder Gibbons

Hernan's Baptism and Blessings

Hola Familia,
  So to answer all your questions, yes I am in the Arleta ward, I am in what used to be the Granada Hills zone but ever since the mission merge Granada Hills disappeared and we became part of the San Fernando all Spanish zone. So I am more specifically proselyting in Panorama City. I did get your package from them as well they were so excited to give it to me and Elder Fluckiger gave me a big hug one from mom and one from dad. I appreciated the package and all the cards and I'm sure was a lil bit cheaper to send it with the Fluckigers😂😁. So to answer your questions about the Fires, there was one day where it was really bad and the air quality was terrible. A lot of missionaries west of the 405 were evacuated out of their apartments but luckily we were on the safe side of the 405. The fires however did not affect Hernans baptism but a lot of members did not show up so it was a little hard on him I think but he really enjoyed that day so much. Hernan has got to be the most prepared and the best example of a change of heart I have ever seen. He gave up hard drugs, Alcohol, Coffee and a lot of other things that before he didn't know was bad for him. I can testify that the atonement works not only because of the change it has brought me in my life but because of the change it has brought in Hernans life as well. Let this be an example of how powerful the effects of the atonement reach. There is no such thing as a lost cause and I promise you that if you just can give it a try it will work.
  So other than Hernan's baptism we have found a family that's ready to receive the gospel in their lives. Their names are Carlos and Carolina Victor and they have 5 kids the oldest one is 13 and the youngest is a couple of months old. This family has been through so much in their lives. They started off their family in the streets literally and have started from absolutely nothing to now living in a 2 bedroom 1 bathroom apartment. All of their furniture table and cooking materials have been found on the street, something kinda difficult about the kids here in this area is that they don't know how to get out of poverty they start living in terrible conditions and they have no help or any idea how to get out of it, this has made me very grateful for the things that I had I don't know where I would be if I had to go through what some of these kids have to go through. Your love for these people especially the kids is so high that you just want to help them get out of poverty so bad but you can't (because your a missionary). However something I've come to realize is that the message that we share is so important that its even more important than getting out of poverty or obtaining riches in this life. Be grateful for the gospel in your lives and the many blessings you've been given because of it.
  Also this week we had interview with president It was super spiritual. Something I really like about the new mission is that we can go to the temple every other transfer and this transfer we got to the temple again!!! I had an amazing experience I went in with a question that's kinda been on my mind lately and as I was pondering in the celestial room I felt that I had received the answer. I wish I could share more but it was very spiritual and something I've learned is that we have to show God that we are willing to keep these super sacred experiences confidential that way he can give us more. But I can testify that the temple is the house of the Lord and that the spirit is stronger there than anywhere else in the world.I love this gospel and the work but especially the people I hope that you all had a good week the basement is looking good send more pictures when there's more progress on it. I love you all les amo.
Elder Gibbons
Hernans Baptism
CLAM (California Los Angeles Mission) I'm the "L"
Mission life is good!

Gospel message and happiness

Hola familia!!
Well this week has been super good for elder Terry and I. We started our the week kinda slow Elder Terry had a lot of leadership responsibilities that he had to complete at the start of the week and so we kinda got off to slow start. However while he was doing leadership stuff me and another elder who just got here were able to go out and work for a little bit. It was super cool to be with a greenie and you can definetly tell that the greenie fire was burning inside this Elder. Me and him contacted a couple people and then we did a few studies. It's interesting to think that at one point I was in the same spot as this Elder coming from the México CCM.
A couple days later Elder Terry and I had a super powerful lesson on eternal marriage with Hernan. He was so excited when we told him that families are sealed for eternity, which means that not only in this life will you be with the person you love the most, but in the next life as well. We had a member present there Hermano Manrique who is one of the coolest members I have ever met. Him and his wife testified of the power and the happiness that comes from within a sealed family. After the lesson he told us that his only goal right now is to marry his girlfriend and then in one year from now get sealed with her in the temple he said he was pumped for that day.
Anyways after that on Saturday night he had his baptismal interview. He was super nervous but he said he would do good😂. After his interview we started setting up his baptismal program and he asked me to do the baptism. I was so excited and happy for him. He is going to get baptized this Saturday so please pray for him😊😊.
We also were able to contact Bernadinos wife on Saturday. She was so nice and has really opened up to us. She told us how she's seen such a change in Bernadino and that she is going to start going to church with him! We got so excited when she said that. Then she invited us over for lunch on Tuesday and Thanksgiving dinner as well. I think this will be the start of her conversion process.
I've also been doing a lot of reading in the book of mormon. And one scripture that stood out to me was 2 Nephi 5:27 which says, " And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness." I thought about it a lot and I realized that it's true. We as members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints live after the manner of happiness. Why? Because we know that God has a plan for us and that he still talks to us through a prophet today and that he is still revealing more and more scripture to us. So share this happiness with others. That's how missionary work is done. You don't have to have a badge or anything like that. But what you do have is knowledge of and about the eternal nature of your life. I would invite you to help others understand theirs as well.
I love you all so much I hope that you can get the basement finished up before Christmas and I hope that everything goes good with school work and with your Callings as well. Les amo!! 😄
-Elder Gibbons

Staying in Arleta...five transfers!

Hola familia,
 Well it sounds like BYU is pulling their classic choke nation. Transfers are happening tomorrow and we got our transfer calls last night to determine where we are going. Turns out I'll be staying in Arleta for another round with Elder Terry. Which means that I'll be able to finish him off (this is his last transfer.) So I'm going to be 5 peating. I'm pretty excited to stay in this area its an awesome area and a lot of the people we are working with are progressing really well. I feel like there is definitely a reason why I stayed in this area I'm thinking that there is something I haven't done that Heavenly Father is just trying to help me do. But we will see, I'm definitely going to be paying closer attention to the small and simple miracles that happen in this area.
  Somethings that have happened this week is 1 I got to try pulpo for the first time (Octopus). It was pretty cool not gonna lie to be able to try something like that. It was cooked Peruvian style, which I'm not sure what that means because I've never had any other style of octopus before. But It was still really good. Also we had an event at the Visitors Center where me and Elder Terry sung in the choir. we sang a couple of Spanish classics such as Recuerdame and I think that I'm ready now to join a mariachi. Haha just kidding. It was really cool though a lot of Hispanics were able to make it.
  So a day in the life of an L.A. missionary looks like this: 6:30 we wake up and then head to the stake center to go exercise and play soccer with the other elders in the zone. Then from there we come back plan our day shower eat breakfast and start personal study at 9 then at around 10:15 we are out the door working on the ward list usually to verify if members actually live where it says they live. occasionally we have a lesson or two in the morning but not to often. After that we have lunch at 12:30 and then around 1 we start comp study and then at 2 we start language. After that we either do online proselyting lessons and part member families until dinner which is usually at around 6:30. Then after dinner we usually have a couple lessons to finish out the day. However in L.A. there are also a lot more events and opportunities to find people so often we will try and prepare for and participate in those. For example the Visitors Center event. Then at 10:30 we go to bed.
  Well it sounds like its been kinda a bummer week but remembering that we have the gospel and the atonement of Jesus Christ always makes me happier. Love you all hope you have a good week. Les Quiero!!
Elder Gibbons

Love this work

Hola hola familia y amigos!!
This week was incredible!! We were able to get Hernan (our baptismal date) as well as Bernadino's wife to church!! Which for us was incredible because we are now turning our focus to the wife in our teaching visits with him. We were also able to teach Hernan about the word of wisdom. It's amazing to see the faith that these people have even though they have so little material possessions. As soon as we taught him about the word of wisdom he stopped drinking alcohol and coffee which isn't an easy thing to do.
We also had zone conference this week and it was a huge learning experience. We talked about the different ways that you can receive revelation or how to recognize it. One of the huge things that I learned from it was that repetition of one thing is often a way that revelation comes. For example we repeatedly learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ as we are growing up as well as mean other things. But the reason that they are repeated so much is because they are true. So next time you are wanting an answer look for all the things that have been repeated in your life and you might find something.
We also spoke about the correct way to address the church. And the fact of it is, is that we are not telling people that we aren't Mormons to act offended. We are doing it Because it's what a prophet and therefore God has commanded us to do. I would invite each of you not to fear what one will say think or do if you invite them to correctly use the name of the church. We cannot fear what others will do.
A challenge that we are doing as a mission is reading the book of Mormon in 84 days and while we are doing that we are marking all references to Jesus Christ. As I've been doing this challenge I have truly noticed how much the Book of Mormon testifies of Christ and things that he did for us. It's something really cool that I've noticed where as I think before I took it for granted almost. But I can Testify to you all that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and that inside the book you will find so many witnesses and testimonies of the savior.
Other than that Elder Terry and I have been doing well. I love this work and I love the people. I appreciate all the prayers and wishes. Les quiero mucho. Ciao!
-Elder Gibbons