OKINAWA AND MORE THROUGH NOVEMBER 2011

October 24, 2011

I am going to do these blogs by months.  So this one will go to the end of November.  I will add on each week and then start a new post at the beginning of the new month.

Helen 


OKINAWA
Dear Family,

It was great to hear from you, receive letters, and get one from Mandell as well.  I love hearing about home and the fun times the family is still having?  Where are Nate's interviews and what residency are they for?  That is so wonderful.  I think he should look for a nice suit at Goodwill or Buffalo Exchange.  He could use my $.75 camel hair brown blazer if he would like to.  A man in our ward has the most amazing suits.  He pulls off purple, magenta, and blue suits all the time.  He is like 65.  

    Greta, already the Christmas music?  That's great.  I think I'll probably just listen to it in December, as that will probably be somewhat touchy on the homesickness side.  Can you believe I turn 20 in a month?  I think my maturity is still around 13.  Once a deacon,  always a deacon.

     Mom, Elaine actually is the same person as Helene.  We first didn't know how to spell her name.  I'll start with talking about her because that is the best news!!!  On Friday, her husband came home from his job (laid off), but he has another one almost already.  This was a huge blessing.  He is the man power which is helping Helene overcome smoking.  They both came to church on Sunday with the whole family.  It was beautiful to see.  James was skeptical before, but after church, he has received his answer that this is the true church.  He said he will be baptized, but doesn't have a date yet.  He actually announced that in Priesthood opening!  Dad, could imagine an investigator doing that in 8th wards opening priesthood?  It was great.  The true miracle came last night.  We had dinner at a member's house, and got a text from the Helene that they had someone that wanted to meet with us.  After the dinner, we went with Bro K and his son who is 7.  We taught Helene's neighbor, and she is very prepared and excited to read the Book of Mormon.  We are meeting with them again tonight.  The last and best miracle is that they quit smoking yesterday!  0 cigarettes!  Thank you Dad from your advice in your letter.  That helped me understand smoking addictions better.

     Now, for the namesake subject of the email.  The bishop took us out twice this week!  We went to his house Monday night and he cooked steaks, corn, potatoes, mmmmmmmmmm, and we listened to Elder Holland’s Book of Mormon testimony.  It was powerful.  Then on Wednesday, he took us out to lunch to Okinawa, a Japanese steakhouse where they cook the food right in front of you.  He and his wife are so amazing.  We learned a lot about leadership and being examples of fun, humor, yet also Spirit.  One joke about the restaurant is that every time you go there, you have "to go" pretty much immediately after, with out fail.  Our Okinawa experience was more subtle than anticipated, but after eating the left overs came to personally understand.  

     We had an appointment with a part member family.  The father has been around the church for 16 years and has seen missionaries off and on.  Our purpose was to see if he was ready and to try to have him begin reading the Book of Mormon.  The bishop came with us.  He and the bishop took off!  They talked for an hour and found so much in common.  It really was a great break through.  He commited to come to church (which he did).  There is so much potential here.  One side note: this father was the No. 1 football recruit out of high school, played on the Florida Gators, is a Florida legend, and played for the Buccaneers for a couple seasons.  I think I'll arm wrestle him next lesson.  If I win, he get's baptized. If he wins, he still gets baptized.

     Elder Beckstead and I are doing great together.    As a companionship, we are getting along great.  We are both more positive and humble and trying to do the Lord's Will.  I love him so much and am impressed with the leaps of improvement he is making.


OCTOBER 31, 2011

What a blessing we have received this week!  Helene was baptized on Saturday!!  We had the service in the chapel and it was very spiritual. Sis. Farnsworth who was involved in the lessons gave the talk on baptism.  She is now her visiting teacher.  Bro Price spoke as well.  We had so much support and fellowship at the baptism.  The Raders and Farnsworth and Kings and Sister Harris were there.  Great active, recent convert, and reactived families.  Elder Beckstead did a fine job baptizing for the first time.

    Last Monday, we went to the Helene's to teach their neighbor but that fell through.  Turns out that was just where we needed to be.  James (Helene's husband) said, "Well I guess it's time that I start my lessons."  We set a baptismal date for Nov. 6th right there!  He is so excited and is already to 1 Nephi chapter 15!  He loves the Iron Rod so much and we had a powerful lesson on Lehi's dream.  Then yesterday at church, a sacrament talk was on "the Iron Rod!"  how perfect.  Then Bishop Rader talked on the family in the combined lesson.  This ward is so wonderful.  

NOVEMBER 7, 2011

HAPPY 11/11/11

We had another stellar week.  James was baptized yesterday.  The best part was that Brother King (baptized on Oct. 2) performed the baptism!!!!  How amazing is that?!  These two families have become great friends and perfect fellowship for each other.  They are the nicest people.  His baptism was very special and much of the ward attended.  We involved a lot of members in the teaching process.  James' testimony of the Book of Mormon is rock solid.  He is almost finishing 1 Nephi.  On Saturday night, we went over and read a chapter with the family.  I loved seeing their 7 year old daughter reading well from it aswell.  As we help them learn about our LDS culture, they will blossom even more.  We are truly blessed in Timuquana!!  

Yesterday, both Helene and Christian bore their testimonies in sacrament meeting.  It was so rewarding and seeing the fruits of my efforts and, ultimately God's preparations.  The harvest is great and the laborers are few, but if we're united we all things can do. 

I will be staying in Timuquana for another transfer!  Elder Beckstead is being transferred.  I will let you know where next week.  I have learned so much about loving others, forgiving, and being patient with others and with myself.  The 12 week training program was beneficial to both of us.  Can you believe I have been on my mission for over 6 months now?  On Friday, I ritualistically burned a tie (from another elder, that he got at good will).  these months have flown by and I have been so blessed with bringing people into the gospel.  I feel so much love for others and a love for feasting in the scriptures that I have never before felt.  Even a year before my mission, my studies were lax and prayers were not a habit.  I have grown closer to Heavenly Father with more sincere and daily prayers and I read from the Book of Mormon, or family history stories every spare moment I get.  There really is no time during the 16 hours I am awake to be lazy. 



11/14/11
Elder Johnson

Elder Johnson is my new companion!  It is wonderful to have more experience in the companionship.  He has been out 13 months.  He is the Senior Comp and I was released as the District Leader.  It is refreshing to only think about my area and my ward.  I am learning so much from him and we are both being exactly obedient, which is the only way to qualify for those golden investigators that change your mission and life.  For that reason, I am excited for this next transfer.  Funny story, he has two older brothers, then an older sister, and a younger sister.  The respective ages are all pretty close aswell, and he only has one grandma left of his grand parents.  He was a kick boxer for a bit.  Him and I indulge in vain humor a lot.  I really enjoy him as a companion and leader.  We are going to see huge changes with how effective the TQ ward is.  He just came from Beaufort, SC.

Also grandma sent me a letter and told me a joke: "Two elderly ladies were driving down a street.  Ruby, the driver ran through a red light and did the same thing at the next light.  Mary, the other, commented on the fact and Ruby said, "I did?!  Who was driving?"  haha I sure do love you, Grandma!   

The Kings invited the Vetere's over on Saturday.  We joined them for the lesson portion, but left to let them have fun with video games and such.  It was wonderful seeing friendship sprout and testimonies with it.   I truly have been blessed to see the bring in of two families into the church: the Vetere's and the King's.

 

11/21/11

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

 Thank you for the wonderful birthday presents!  I can't wait to pick up the next two packages today at the post office.  We were out proselyting when the UPS guy came knocking.  Luckily that was a wonderful day and it was well worth being out working.  Elder Johnson and I are getting along so well.  We both love vain humor and making fun of ourselves; we have a lot of laughs.  We both are being obedient which is priceless.  I am excited for my birthday AND Thanksgiving this week.  IT's going to be a good one for sure. 

   

The most exciting developments has been in the Timuquana Ward's missionary work.  The Relief Society is AMAZING.  Sister Henderson has a dinner calendar set up where we have 5 or so meals a week.  Beyond the ridiculously scrumptuous Southern cuisine and BBQ, it has been a great tool for missionary work.  We were at the Figuiras, a part member fam, and had a great lesson.  One of his son's friends had randomly shown up at the same time as us and we taught her about the Book of Mormon and gave her one.  He said she was pretty interested and we will followup with that later this week.  Also, the Relief Society had a Super Saturday and they invited us to be the waiters for the dinner.  Luckily I had all that practice from Hamlet.  It was a wonderful event and we built even more trust with the ward. 

Next, a less active family we found two weeks ago.  The Mom, Charity, and daughter are members, but the husband and other daughter are not.  We had our second lesson with them on Thursday and it went very well.  Their daughter, who is 10, wants to get baptized.  THEN the husband volunteered to give us a ride to our next appointment.  He opened up so much about his impression of the church and how he had tried the book of mormon when they were first married, but didn't understand it.  He also said he was "positive that eventually he would come to know the book of mormon was true."  They invited us to their huge thanksgiving dinner with family and we are SO excited about that!  Our other Thanksgiving appt is with the Kings!  They have sure talked it up for that last couple weeks.  We knew they were all business when they asked us what pies we wanted.  Christian is doing fantastic and has that wonderful new member fire!

Last night we had a dinner with the Hernandez Family!  They are officially my favorite family.  They are from Mexico and are great missionaries.  We had flautitas and spanish rice.  So good.  I love using the Spanish I know.  They said I don't have an accent.  Anyway, we had a great lesson and the Spirit is so strong in active members home who are actively implementing the gospel.  They are giving Christian King the new member lessons.

    

I love this work. I love my companion.  I love the Lord.

11/28/11

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

  

Happy Thanksgiving!  I truly have so much to be thankful for.  Thank you for the amazing birthday.  I got LOADED with goodies and presents.  I love the ties, They are now my top 4 ties that I own lol.  Moms are always better at fashion that men.  The sweater is pristine and I love the belts. Alex Boye's Christmas album has blessed our ear drums all week.  It is ridiculous.  I love the Echoes of the Sabbath album as well.  It reminds me of Sunday afternoons.  It sounds like all of you had a great holiday.  Nate was surfing in Hawaii so I'm sure he is the happiest of them all. 

   

I had a fantastic Thanksgiving.  We had a dinner with the Dorings (less active, part member) and then the Kings (the best!).  We had literally everything we usually have at home, except the cranberry salad.  It was delectable!  I was so grateful for their love and to be apart of bringing them (back) in to the gospel.  They are on fire and that fire is fueled by their gratitude.  Sister King bore a thanksgiving testimony at church and I never appreciated how far she had to come back, along with her husband being baptized.  I love them very much. 

 

I doesn't sound like I will be transfered this time either.  Because transfers lie on Dec 21st, they are only transferring 7 trainers.  So I don't think I will be moving, but who knowS?!  I would absolutely love to spend 7 1/2 in Timuquana.  I am so blessed.

   

I love my family so much.  Thank you for your prayers and support.  I laughed really hard when I heard about Christmas in Costa Rica!  That will be exciting for everyone.  I am jealous, but more blessings for me I guess haha.

Love you all,

Elder Gebhard

 

July-October--- Elder Gebhard in Jacksonville, Florida

My apologies for not blogging the last three months. Lots of things got in the way such as remodelling our house which required us to move out. I just had rotator cuff surgery so now I have some time to get caught up. So here we go.....back to July.
 
First of all, current address (as of 10/17/11) is as follows:
 
Elder Michael Gebhard 
6870 103rd St., #203
Jacksonville, FL 32210


JULY 11, 2011
Michael has just been transferred from Brunswick, Georgia to Jacksonville, Florida to an area called Timuquana.
Hey Ya'll! 
My new area is Timuquana, FL, which is an area in the city of Jacksonville. Jacksonville is the largest city in area in the US. It's like 860 sq. miles. Crazy. All these suburbs decided to combine into a city a long time ago. I am loving it here! My new companion is Elder Craig. He is from Emmett, Idaho. He is the district leader and previously served in Kingsland and Brunswick, Georgia, so we know a lot of the same people.
 
This morning, we rode to a Powerhouse Gym where we do service one day of the week and then can use it for free for the 
 
I can't wait to tell you about Brother Price! He is the most amazing man in the world. He is 84, has ridiculous Old man glasses, and he loves and lives for missionaries. He drives us around twice a week. He feeds us on Sundays. He brings us gatorade (Yankee Juice) every time he sees us. He is awesome. He was in the Navy for 29 years and fought in 3 foreign wars. So many stories. He drove the Presidential yacht for Kennedy and also drove around the Dept. of Agriculture Ezra Taft Benson (who tried to reactivate him lol). It's awesome and brings to much happiness and peace to me when I look at that stunning man. You will definitely get pictures of him. He has a 125 pound dog Dukester who is a Red Doberman.


 
JULY 18, 2011

This week was great. Elder Craig and I are seeing much success with our efforts in finding. We found 8 new investigators and taught 23 lessons. The problem was that none of them came to church on Sunday! This was disappointing but showed us where we needed to grow the most. We need to become better in our teaching and in helping them feel ready to make commitments such as reading, praying, and coming to church. All of these smaller commitments lead them eventually to be ready for baptism. My studies each morning have been so rewarding and spirit filled. I find that after ten o'clock, I am pumped up and inspired for the whole day. Thus far on my mission, I have memorized a scripture everyday. This helps me to internalize them and be more apt at finding certain scriptures.

We went on a trade off with a doctor for the Navy. His name is Bro. Vance. He does Internal Medicine and did his fellowship and St. Joseph's in Denver. He said that was in the late 80s. He founded the Colorado Mormon Chorale and is asked to come back frequently to conduct it. Also, he plays organ. He played for priesthood yesterday. He said he used to play at the chapel in St. Josephs and that one time he went over into the catholic mass that followed and they let him do prelude for that. That's so cool!
 
We had another sweet trade off with Bro. Carrin who used to be in the Seventy. He was amazing and I learned a lot about discerning and following the Spirit. He was with us from 2 to 9! He took us out to a Chinese buffet too. While there I had the best idea ever after seeing a rice cooker they had. It was partly buried in the counter and just the top was sticking up. They need to make an R2D2 rice cooker! That would sell like hot cakes! Just saying, the top could pop off and all.
 
Words of Wisdom for the indestructable Bro Price. He's been through 4 atomic and 1 hydrogen bomb. He has so much radiation in him that I don't think he will die. He is probably actually becoming younger by the day....Anyways, the missionaries are well treated here. We have a lot of members (mainly high priests) come on trade offs with us.

My spanish skills have led to giving 3 referrals to the Spanish elders! I am so grateful that I can navigate a little in the language and at least set up appointments for the spanish elders. I am thankful for all of my talents that can now be applied to missionary work. I used to be a little shy that I could remember pretty much everyone's names. It's kind of awkward at school to remember someone's name, but they don't remember mine. But here, it is so sweet. I enjoy this chance to meet hundreds of people, catch of glimpse of their life and testimony, and come out so much the better. Being on a mission provides a unique perspective for me with my talents. Before, talents had always been about me, my accomplishments, my pride. Now that the focus is on helping others, and I am aligning my focus with that as well, I see my talents in the light of how much they can help others. This is a perspective I never want to lose.


 
JULY 25, 2011

Jacksonville is beautiful. There was an epic sunset yesterday that was made even better with palm trees, but it still can't beat the GJ skies! Yesterday, President Barry popped in at church and gave Bro. Price some "missionary tags" for him. He was so touched he just about cried. I love Pres. Barry so much. He is a great temporary dad. I'm in good hands. Bro. Price takes us to his house every Sunday, feeds us, we watch an short LDS film and then he drives us around to people's houses. He is so legit. His navy stories make all of this WAY too much fun. I love all of the pictures he has at his house. They are Napoleon Dynamite-esque with big ol' glasses and he is just posing with this red dobberman Dukster. Man, I love it!
 
The bottom line with brother Price is that he gives selflessly and freely to make up for 60 some odd years of inactivity. It makes me think that we all are infinitely indebted to Jesus Christ and our great God for their wonderous plan and His atoning sacrifice. What He asks of us really doesn't even scratch the surface of our debt to him. All he asks for is our heart, our agency--the only thing we have to give Heavenly Father that he doesn't already have.


 
AUGUST 2, 2011  MIRACLE BAPTISM!!
Hey Ya'll! Well the two most exciting events from this week are that we taught 30 lessons and had a surprise baptism! Both of these were our goal for the end of July and our prayers for the last two weeks. It is amazing to put your trust in the Lord, especially when you do not know the means whereby that goal will be accomplished.
 
The miracle came when we were visiting a less active on Thursday. We invited her to church and asked about her son (9) needing to be baptized. She said that he was going to be baptized at eight, but wasn't for some reason. Since then, she would never commit to a date. Well, this time she said "as soon as possible!" so it was yesterday! It was a surprising answer to our prayers. Michael's nonmember dad came to the baptism and ended up connecting really well with a Brother Kurtz.



 
AUGUST 9,2011  TIMUQUANA, FLORIDA

Sorry for the weak sauce email last week. We were at Bro. Price's using his computer. We are having a great time in Timuquana, Florida. I love Elder Craig so much. He is from Emmett, Idaho. I had a lot of practice with an Idaho roommate at college. He is the district leader here and doing a tremendous job. We both find a passion in doing this work. Last night, neither of us could sleep because we were so excited about the work going on here. That pretty much sums it up . We have a lot of fun together and a lot of laughs, but at the same time are diligent and on top of things. We work very well together.
 
Being on a bike has not been bad at all. My bike is a majestic stallion so I can't complain. One of the most evident areas where I see the Lord's hand and angels lifting me up is how the weather doesn't affect us. We don't notice it. This last week the heat index was around 115 degrees. Luckily, we get a lot of Bro. Price time where he drives us from place to place, but when we are biking, we are so focused on the people we are seeing that we don't have time to notice how hot it is and how much we are sweating. This makes me so happy. The best thing to do is just to keep a smile glued to your face and you won't be able to be sad.

So now I'll fill you in on the Work. We had 5 investigators at church on Sunday! Breanne is 15 and will be baptized next Sunday. She is SO solid and is already heavily involved in Young Women and tells people about her baptism. This will be such a pivotal point in her life where she truly becomes happy and has many wounds from her past healed.


On Thursday, we had an appointment fall through so we visited some less active members around the area. One of those was Bro. Pedersen. After talking at the door awhile, I invited him to church. That triggered his memory about a dream he had that last night about him being at church and he had also just been thinking about the bishop! I had never had a "dream the night before/next day missionaries come" miracle!


 
AUGUST 16, 2011

This week was delicious. On Friday we went to a hurricane prep class put on by the Red Cross. Every missionary in the FJM is volunteering at the Red Cross in the case of emergencies. This will be an amazing opportunity to share the gospel and it really sounded appealing to me to help out in the emergency shelters. Pray for a hurricane! <knock on wood>, but seriously. Elder Taft bore his testimony afterwards and the two directors asked for Books of Mormons. Always look for an opportunity to teach, testify, bring the Spirit, and invite.


Elder Craig is being shipped off to an undisclosed location (transfer meeting is Wed.). I will be staying in Timuquana for 3 more months at least, as I will be training a new missionary coming in on Wednesday. I am, of course, both nervous and excited for this new venture. On Day 1, there will be only 3 months of experience between both of us. I am grateful for the trust Pres. Barry has in me. As I humbly do my best to lift and lead this new missionary, great things will happen. It was great to hear that I'll be here for 3 more months. The work here is on fire and I love the people here. The only downside is that the new apartment we moved into reeks of smoke and so now we reek of smoke 24/7. Kinda frustrating, but we're working on a solution.


ANYWAYS- yesterday was such a special day. Breanne was baptized right after church. We had 50 or so people there (Pres. and Sister Barry surprised us and were there). The Spirit was incredible. Elder Craig baptized her and I confirmed her. This is such a pivotal time for Breanne as she was so welcomed into the ward. All the Young Women were there and the whole bishopric. As I confirmed her, I fully came to a grp of the significance of baptism. This opened the doors to celestial marriage and true happiness in this life, as she can now fully access the blessings of the atonement.


 
AUGUST 22, 2011

This week was transfers. Elder Craig was transferred all the way to Orange Park, which is actually the closest area he could've gone too lol. He is still in my zone so we'll see each other a lot. My new companion is Elder Beckstead. He is from Brigham City, UT. He is clean, orderly, and works hard. I love him already. He has a great story and testimony about how the gospel blesses families. His family was reactivated and sealed a year ago. I am excited to help him develop the skills necessary for being a great missionary. We will be companions for 3 months. This is the first trial of the new 12 week training program for new missionaries. It will help me so much as well. After 6 months, I'll essentially have been trained twice. I am also looking forward to helping him gain that confidence and testimony of preaching the gospel.

Yesterday we had Brandon's baptism. This way my first time ever baptizing someone! It was truly a neat experience. The Spirit filled me as I said "having been commissioned of Jesus Christ" and I was filled with a clearer vision of my purpose and how personal is the call to serve. I can't wait to baptize more people! We met with him on Friday and he told us how he and his mom were reading the Book of Mormon every morning before school. He has a brilliant memory and he will make a great missionary.

Elder Beckstead and I had a great miracle. We were tracting for a couple hours and we gave the first vision to a 17 year old kid named Malcolm. He told us to come by around 5 and talk with his mom. We did and she told us that the only reason she would listen is because Malcolm was so excited about us. She said he told her about us right when she got home and said "he felt that these were spiritual men" and were different from others. So we taught her the restoration and she accepted it. We emphasized the importance of priesthood authority. She said: "wow. You awoke me to think more seriously about which church I am going to".

 

AUGUST 29, 2011

Another miracle and with Jamie and her two kids. She had a powerful experience with the Book of Mormon, Moroni 8. It answered a question she's always had. Her faith is increasing and we have a joint FHE tonight at the church with her, the Hernandez family, and a young couple. Hopefully all will go well and they will feel more comfortable and come to church. Once they get over that step, they will love it and never look back.


Vicki and Lecora are the sweetest member missionaries. They share the gospel with everybody. Always on the bus or at the store or the laundromat. They have 5 or 6 people we are trying to start teaching. They gave us two referrals this week. Their neighbors, Cobby and Amber, who have three kids, and Carrie, who came to church yesterday for the second time. We met Cobby and Amber on Friday and they are so prepared. They are looking for a church where they progress, learn, and are involved. They have not found that church up until now. Cobby came on Sunday and loved it. He was so amazing at how loving everyone was and that everybody introduced themselves and showed him so much love. make sure you are looking for strangers and church and introducing yourselves. Side note, Cobby is permanently in a wheelchair and is at least partially paralyzed in the legs and hands. He manages really well and travels by bus, on his own, to church. At first sight he looks like a gangsta. He has gold teeth with dollar signs, hearts, spades, and club designs in them. Lots of tattoos too. But he is so sincere and earnest. Teaching families is so powerful.


We had another miracle come as we were riding down 103rd. A man yelled at us and asked us when church was. He pulled off the road and we talked. He was with his aunt who is a member from Jupiter (FL) lol. He said he would be at church. His name is Alejandro. He came to church. Loved it. Looking for direction. He volunteered to help a member move today. He is going to the Elder's Quorum activity on Saturday, etc. It was ridiculous. I love being a missionary here in Timuquana, FL in the great FJM.


 
SEPTEMBER 6, 2011   

 Here's a unique miracle. We were seeing an old referral and then a former investigator in the Chase Ridge Apartments. We walked out of a building and turned to our left. Elaine and her 3 little kids were running at us saying "Wait! It's the elders! We found you!" She moved from Montana, and previously Colorado Springs. She's been around Mormons for 15 years, lived in Ogden, Utah, and the missionaries always found her "because we are God's CIA" as she put it. After all this time, she finally was ready. We have had two lessons with her and she is so ready. She came to church with her family. They were instantly absorbed into the ward and they are set. She really wants to join the church. Her husband is on the road as a truck driver, but really wants to join the church aswell.

I got a letter from Lain Geest and he said he is serving in Jaen, Spain. How cool is that. He is so faith filled and an amazing missionary. (Jim and I think this great because we both served in Jaen during our missions. It is a beautiful little town amidst the rolling hills of olive trees.)




SEPTEMBER 19, 2011

This week was another great week. Believe it or not, the weather is cooling down. It is only like 80 and it feels so so good and refreshing. Yesterday we didn't sweat and it seemed very unusual. I would like to talk about our investigators, especially because mom asked for more information.
We are working with a woman named Natasha, who works 2 jobs and has 5 kids (oldest is 10). She has been looking for the truth and pretty much search everywhere. She requested missionaries in January, but was too busy. Luckily, we kept trying her and eventually she set up her own appointment and is very interested. We stopped by on Saturday night and she was really stressed. We don't know any specifics, but she broke down about 4 times just talking to us. We prayed and gave her a blessing. She was so grateful.


We had a miracle with Leroy. He is the man who used to play in the NFL for the Jacksonville Jaguars. We were a stand still, he didn't read the Book of Mormon at all and is super active in his church. I was reading in 2 Nephi 27 and had the impression that he needed this. We went and read it with him, and he started pulling up all these bible references. It was ridiculous. He was engaged in it and commited to reading chapter 28. We are meeting with him on Wednesday.
Lastly, Justin and Patricia are our best investigators, but are between and rock and a hard place. He was fired, they will be evicted if they can't come up with rent. They want to be baptized so badly. Patricia is living the Word of Wisdom and went cold turkey off of coffee. She said it "sucks" and almost started crying. She has so much faith, and they want this "church to be OUR church." We need a financial miracle and then to come to church. When we visit them, I feel like I am fulfilling my purpose.


I saw my first alligator in Florida! It was a dead baby one that was road kill.




SEPTEMBER 26, 2011

Last Monday night we received a phone call from a less active member of the ward, Sister King. She said over the last month she and her husband began reading the Book of Mormon and watching BYUTv. What followed was a fascination of Joseph Smith and the early saint's commitment, which led him to open his heart to believe that there must have been at least a thread of truth. He felt the Spirit at another ward, where his wife's brother is the bishop. Last Monday morning, he felt he needed to pray to know that all this was true. He did for about 45 minutes and had a powerful witness of its truth. We had not talked or met with him until Saturday night. By then, he had his baptismal program all set up, people invited to sing and give talks, and he is getting baptized on October 2nd and 10 AM!! (Conference doesn't start till 12 here). We had dinner with them last night and another lesson tonight. My heart is filled with joy as I see him changing. He used to be VERY against the church and he and his wife had a terrible fight about it. But slowly he was prepared and now he cannot deny the effect it has already had in his life. It will be wonderful bringing a couple in and helping them go to the temple.


I got a call this morning at 10 right after comp study and I will be called as the new district leader. I did not expect that at all, but thought it was going to stay the same. This is happening at the same time as two more companionships are joining our district. This will be a large challenge for me and I look forward to the lessons I will learn, the missionaries I will get to know better, and help out two other trainers who are training for the first time. It will also be unique that a former district leader and former zone leader will be in the district. They are so great. I appreciate the trust Pres. Barry has, but do not feel qualified as I am new.



OCTOBER 3, 2011

Yesterday was the best day possible. Christian was baptized at 10, then more conference. Wow. We had much of the ward at his baptism and he had a lot of family from the Orange Park ward there. The program was great. Powerful testimonies and music. Elder Bass and Elder Fuller gave a restoration lesson while Christian was changing out of the wet clothes. That brought the Spirit. The treasure came when Bro. McAloon asked if Christian would like to bear his testimony at the end. He said "There is not a shadow of a doubt that this gospel is true." At that moment I was so grateful for the chance I have to serve mission and find and teach people like him. Sister Harris is actually his neighbor so she came to support him. Also, the Hernandez family came. (they are neighbors as well). The Hernandez family has got to be one of my favorites. They are from Mexico, speak broken english, and have the 3 cutest kids.


Helene (miracle from a month ago) came to the baptism. On Saturday, she watched both sessions of conference with her husband and had ALL of her questions answered. She was so excited and texted us that she was going to prepare for baptism. Having done that, when she actually came to the baptism she was touched by the Spirit and committed to be baptized on October 29th!!!! Hopefully her husband will follow that example as well.


 
OCTOBER 10, 2011


This week I'll fill you in on how it has been serving as a district leader. Our district has been so blessed this week. We have 8 investigators with baptismal dates and 7 of those were at church. Our goal is to have 8 baptisms within the 3 companionships this month. Having already had Christian King, we are on our way to acheiving this goal! Mainly, I help missionaries become more accountable for their efforts and ultimately help them become accountable to the Lord. I love going on trade offs and making plans with a missionary of how to improve the area.
On Friday, we had Zone Meeting. Pres.Barry was there and so was the area doctor, Elder Staheli who gave me a flu shot!! I was so brave and only cried for 30 mintues this time (probably because Elder Beckstead held my hand through the hard times).


We were spiritually fed and then went to the Southern Carl's Jr called "Hardees".


Helene came to church with her three kids. They looked so cute in their Sunday best. She is very excited for her baptism on Oct 29th. It will be at 1:00 and then we will have the Trunk or Treat from 6 to 8. Talk about a power day. I think I'm going to be a missionary for Halloween!



OCTOBER 17, 2011  TODAY IS ESPECIALLY DELICIOUS


This week was really great. I feel like I have come to a better understanding of my companion and we have worked so well together. As soon as you find that you are really out here for the same reason, and that if you don't get along then you can't fulfill your purpose, things just work themselves out. I have treasured the opportunity to be a leader and learn how to truly be patient. I feel that I learn how it feels to be a father, by this small example of being a trainer. You want to make the "kid" get everything right and obey all the rules because you know how much better it is. But I have learned that you cannot force this, but you must patiently love them until they find it for themselves. If you force it, they will rebel and go opposite than the desired direction. This is a great lesson I have learned.


Normandy District had 3 baptisms yesterday. Helene came with her kids. She is so excited for the 29th. She is down to 3 cigarettes a day and is so close to being completely off. Her husband found a job IN Jax, so he will be home this week and will be home to stay. He has been reading the Book of Mormon while on the road trucking, and hopefully, we will be able to teach him more. I wish so much to unite this family in the gospel and help them reach temple marriage. This was really the first lesson we have had in a members home. Elder Craig and Grant challenged us to do more of those. The home is compared to the temple in sacredness. It plays a big role in creating an environment where the Spirit can testify.


The update is complete. I hope you enjoy hearing about Elder Gebhard's experiences in in his mission in Jacksonville, Florida.