12/5/11
KEESHAUN
Hello family,
The Christmas Spirit is in abundance
here. There is zero snow. Zero cold. and Little christmas lights.
Most peoples favorite thing to do is have inflatable rudolphs or snow
men. This will be a new experience and hopefully I will learn the true
meaning of christmas a little better, now that I don't have all the
distractions of wreaths, trees, cold, ice, snow, and a cozy house.
Everyone always tells us that the only time it snowed here was in '89. It
sounded legendary. I am very excited that doing what I'm doing, it isn't
cold. I don't look forward to the very colds that will
come....eventually. Right now it is about 78 degrees. sunny with a few
clouds in the sky. I have passed through my first hurricane season
unscathed! The Christmas cheer is definitely here. Our ward party
is on Saturday and hopefully the ward will seize the oppurtunity to invite
their friends.
This week has
been unbelievable. We were so blessed. Every night in planning we
had 3-4 lessons already planned, with members along with them. It seems
like every family in the ward has great desires to help us out and share the
gospel. This week we had another lesson with
Cindy, who goes to a lot of Relief Society events. We also had a lesson with
the Kuikens. They are a part-member family. The husband is not too open yet, but they
came to church on Sunday! We picked up a sister who had not been to church in 30
years. This was a huge miracle yesterday. She met Sis. Carrin whom
she remembered from 30 years ago!! They talked for a while. Then we
told Sister Harris to go meet her and they totally bonded. They live
practically right next to each other, and Sister Harris will be giving her rides to
Wednesday night class and church whenever she wants to go. She was such
a "missionary," as she put it, and will really be able to relate to Sister Carrin.
Last, the miracle with Keeshaun! We taught her a lesson this week at her friend Chris's house. She wants to be baptized on December 18th. Then we had a church tour with her on Saturday night. She really liked it. We taught her the main commandments she would need to keep before baptism. She accepted everything and now it's up to implementing it. She came to church as well and is doing great. There is a baptism in Normandy she will be able to attend next Sunday which will greatly prepare her for her own baptism. Chris bore is testimony as well. He had never done that in Sacrament before and I was really touched to see this goofy, hilarious kid grow in his own beliefs and desires to share the gospel.
I am enjoying
southern eating. I have never been so loving of vegetables. Last
night we had broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and peas at a member's home.
That plus roast beef is a delicious meal. Elder Johnson makes some mean
grits. He puts bacon in it and chesse. Very good. Vick and
Lecora have made us probably the best Southern cooking though.
This week I
ate Ribeye steak for the first time in my memory. The Kings had us over
for his birthday dinner. They are doing fantastic and we got to watch the
Devotional yesterday at their house. My favorite line was the comment
from "The Mansion" on how John Waithright did everything so he could be recognized. I feel like that is a common weakness of mine that prevents
me from fully giving my heart to people or doing as much as I can for
them.
Elder Gebhard
In a few short months, his kids have learned to pray, become better workers in school, and have developed many social skills. The parents were about to leave, when they announced that I was leaving and was going to bear my testimony so they stayed and were beaming as I looked out at them. After church, we went over and got pictures with their family. They are amazing pictures. Louis expressed his gratitude to me for changing his kid's lives. He said whenever they heard the Elders were coming, they dropped whatever they were doing and came. He said they were ready two hours early to come to church and kept looking out the windows for their ride to come. He said before his son gave his "talk" in the last testimony meeting, he practiced all the time and kept coming to his Dad and repeating his 30 second little snippet. After doing that, his son has been more prompt on completing his homework. What a wonderful Christmas gift the Lord could give me. Being transferred at this time has helped me appreciate the relationships that I have formed in TQ and will continue for many years.
12/12/11
SHEETAW! WHAT IS IT?
That
quote was from Keeshaun at our church tour last Saturday. She is
hilarious. She was unable to come to church yesterday because she
already had a Christmas photo shoot scheduled, but she is good to go
from now on! She is planned to be baptized on Christmas now and
confirmed on New Years Day. Hallelujah! We spoke yesterday and she
went a whole day without swearing, she ordered tea instead of water, and
rejected alcohol. She is doing swell.
We had an excellent Christmas Party. The Louis family (the
haitians) came and had a good time. We are making much progress with
them thanks to a member who takes the kids to church every Sunday. This
is the family with Lewis and Camelita in case you were mixed up. We broke out some Xmas sweaters
under our suits for our pictures with Santa. It was hilarious and we
had a great time with the ward.
My favorite quote from Grandma would be when we made her say "What
now Homeboy?" while playng a Skip Bo down in Skip bo. That is the
genious of Jeff Hanson. I love all the letters I get from her too. She
is amazing.
Elder Gebhard
It was hard to say goodbye to the ward this
Sunday. Many people expressed their love for me and I reaped a little bit
of the harvest of love I spent 6 months sowing. I love the people in the
Timuquana Ward. They are so great and will be lifelong friends. Two
memorable experiences were 1) The Kuikens- They are a Part Member family who
came to church for the second time yesterday in years. They were sad to
hear my departing testimony in sacrament meeting and I never realized how close Brother Kuiken had gotten to us. You are probably surprised because
I never told you about them. We visited with them about 4 times and taught him about the Book of Mormon. It didn't seem like he was receiving it at all, but
Sister Kuiken said we had made a big difference. 2)The Jean-Louis family came to church today. Their two young children
sang with the primary in Sacrament and their teen sang with the Young men and
women. In the back were their parents, so proud. They have been touched
by the spiritual progress of their kids by attending this church. I have
come to a better understanding that THIS church helps people BECOME instead of
simply BEING.
12/19/11
Meowy Christmas Gebhard Fam!
I got the call on
Saturday night that I am being transferred! President Barry also called
me to be a District Leader again. I will be going into this completely
blind. But that usually helps us to rely on the Lord when we do
that. He said I will be going to an area where there will be members who
have capabilities to do video skype (wealthy) so we will be able to do that for
40 blessed MINUTES. I wish we could go longer, but that was straight from
President today and he bolded, underlined, and capitalized it so.....I guess I
should follow it. I know we will make the most of those 40 minutes.
It is sure great
to hear how good everyone is doing. How much snow does P-horn have
already? Bro. Price keeps us updated on the Colorado weather lol.
In a few short months, his kids have learned to pray, become better workers in school, and have developed many social skills. The parents were about to leave, when they announced that I was leaving and was going to bear my testimony so they stayed and were beaming as I looked out at them. After church, we went over and got pictures with their family. They are amazing pictures. Louis expressed his gratitude to me for changing his kid's lives. He said whenever they heard the Elders were coming, they dropped whatever they were doing and came. He said they were ready two hours early to come to church and kept looking out the windows for their ride to come. He said before his son gave his "talk" in the last testimony meeting, he practiced all the time and kept coming to his Dad and repeating his 30 second little snippet. After doing that, his son has been more prompt on completing his homework. What a wonderful Christmas gift the Lord could give me. Being transferred at this time has helped me appreciate the relationships that I have formed in TQ and will continue for many years.
You are a wonderful family. I look forward to talking with yall on
Sunday and setting it all up on Thursday. Enjoy Costa Rica.
12/22/11
Christmas phone call
Great! Well we had a
bit of a miracle. We tracted into a lovely family who are letting us use
their house and computer to skype! I am in Fleming Island, FL.
Still in the same Jax West Zone. My companion is Elder Fergus.
You have TWO Christmas
cards in the mail already so you'll get them after Costa Rica. I can't wait to
talk to you in three days.
Elder Gebhard skyping on Christmas Day
|
Well I don't have much to say. Skyping at the Morris' was so
great. They were so kind and we will stop by again sometime and have a
lesson with them. Yall look great and sounds like our vacations haven't
gotten any calmer, easier, or relaxing haha. Enjoy the humidity while
it lasts. I think I am used to it now, or else really like it. Today
we cleaned, going to zone p-day to play ultimate frisbee, and going to
Moe's for some great burritos. ;It was so gurrrreat to talk to yall
yesterday!! But don't worry, I'm not homesick at all. It is such a
blessing from the Lord. I was worried about Christmas, but the Lord has
blessed me with a great, hilarious, Nate-like (vain humor) companion,
with two other great elders in the apartment. Time is flying and I
can't wait to become a better missionary everyday and help others do the
same (members and elders alike). Elder Turner, who is in the other
Fleming Island ward knows about Tecktonik! Remember that tecktonik
video of that guy running in the lion costume? That was a personal
favorite, but I forgot the name already. I think it was to a Yelle song
though. Elder Turner also has Sufyan STevens Christmas
album....haha....cool elder.
Merry CHristmas!!!! Talk to you in a year!!!! (2012)
Love,
Elder Gebhard
My new address is
2285 Marsh Hawk Lane
Apt 3-305
Orange Park, FL 32003!
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