MARCH--MORE ADVENTURES IN ST. AUGUSTINE

3/5/12

ST. AUGUSTINE WEEK 5 

    It is amazing to hear about all the things the Gebhard's are doing!   Our family is always up to "no good".  I loved to hear that there is finally snow for my older sister to make some smooth "moogal boot" tele-turns on!  I was proud to hear her tackle Snowbird on only her third day.  Now just two left to try teleskis......hmmmm.  Probably not my little sister anytime soon because she will be too busy going on dates and excelling in school, music, and academic team!  Mom will have to try tele next.  How is the snow in BC, that will be an exciting trip.  I confess, I had to rethink quickly if it was better to be here in the warm 80s.

    Brothers, you should buy Padre Nacho, a light teal suit with a red tie and some teal, laced, power high tops!  Good luck on your finals.  Don't have too much fun.

    I got a letter from Elder Chu.  He makes me laugh.  He is serving on UWashington campus for 5 transfers and he thinks he will stay there all his mission because he is the only missionary who speaks Chinese, and they have a Chinese program.  He contacts on the campus, and there are lots of Asians.  He has been blessed with many baptisms. 

    We saw a few people on Villano Beach.  Driving down the coastal highway, we saw views of the beautiful Atlantic Ocean.  There are some amazing beach houses.  We saw one that is underground and has trees on top of it.  We had our first heat this year.  It is perfect weather, but is starting to get a little hot.  We heard about the terrible tornadoes in the Midwest. 

      We were blessed to set two baptismal dates this week!   One boy, whom we started teach a few weeks ago, will be baptized this next Sunday.  He is so excited and so is his family.  It will bring the ward to 2 deacons.

     Another man is still set for his date of March 25th.  We have dinner and a (review) lesson every Tuesday.  He is the most prepared person I've met.  For him, it was just a matter of deciding to be baptized.

     We met a friend of a member.  We were introduced to him on Tuesday.  He just got off some drugs, and right now, only currently smokes.  He is maybe 21 and has had a hard life, bruised with deaths of close family.  We taught simply of the Plan of Salvation, taught him how to pray, and gave him a Book of Mormon.  We weren't sure how well he would be able to understand everything.  He has difficulty reading but diligently reads every day!  Even though he understands little, he feels the Spirit, and it is changing him.  One night, he was getting really angry and tried to call some people to calm him down, but they never answered, so he read in the the Book of Mormon, and it completely calmed him down.  In our lessons, we teach him the doctrine simply, and he is starting to retain it!  Yesterday, he commited to be baptized on March 25th and is serious about it.

     I am blessed to witness another lady's transformation.  Her husband is on fire and loving every minute of it.  He is seeing firsthand blessings from coming back to church.  Yesterday, his dad blessed their newborn, and on top of that, then this young father bore his testimony about how after attaining all the things in life he wanted, he still wasn't complete.  But since coming back to church, he feels complete.  His wife and son will be baptized in the near months, if not in March.

     Another member referred us to her neighbor 7 doors down.  We went and starting talking with a young woman.  During the conversation, she said, "Ok, I'll tell you a secret, but you can't tell anyone.  I was a member of your church growing up."  She since has not been involved and is not interested in going to church.  She believes we are the "best" religion, but she doesn't like organized religion.  Anyway, she goes on, "I grew up in Colorado"

Me: "Really?" 

Girl: "Yeah, in Lakewood."

Me: (amazed expression).  Me too!

   She had moved from Lakewood ten years before we got there, but it was a wonderful connection!  It didn't change her religious desires, but I bore a simple testimony of the need to have organization and administration in the Church.

      Personally, I am so grateful for my companion.  He is purely focused on the work.  His endurance and drive astonishes me.  He is teaching me how to be an example, how to best help missionaries, and how to be a Zone Leader.  He is a wonderful "trainer."  It has been a wonderful blessing to fully obey the schedule.  Now we are in a routine that is unstoppable!  Exercise, eat, on time to studies--> SPIRIT.  We are working tremendously well together and are seeing many mighty miracles here in St. Augustine. 

 

I love you all so much!

Love,

Elder Gebhard

FEBRUARY--ST. AUGUSTINE: THE NEWEST ELDER ON THE BLOCK SERVING IN THE OLDEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY

2/6/12

My new address is:

1845 Old Moultrie Rd #43

St. Augustine, FL 32084

   I have been transferred to St. Augustine, FL.  It is beautiful and has many historic buildings.  We drove by the old Fort one time.  They have a Ripley's believe it or not, an alligator farm, and a beautiful Flagler college that looks a lot like a university in Spain, like Salamanca.  My first night here, we contacted for 30 minutes around the college and talked to some guys going to Trivia night....his forte was geography....we talked for a bit and connected, but not much beyond that.  Most of the street names here have something to do with Spanish.  I love it.  About half of the city just looks like a classic beach city, but the other half is historic and really neat.  The Bridge of Lyons is really pretty at night.

   The ward is the largest I have had on my mission.  At least 200 people were there yesterday.  The missionary work has been going well here.  There are many part member families that have been baptized.  Everyone is so nice.  The Jax South Zone goes from Jullington Creek in the north, to St. Augistine in the East, to Crescent City in south (below that is Orlando) and Interlachen in the West.  We will be driving all over it this transfer. 

   The mission president recently called 36 more Online missionaries in the mission and my companion and I are included!  So I have a facebook now to keep with touch with the ward and investigators and also to teach!  We cannot directly communicate with family on it, but we can be friends and you can even help out in the missionary work.  We don't really know what that means yet, but I will update you as we learn more! 

   My Zone Leader trainer is Elder Snow.  He has been a zone leader since I came out on my mission.  I enjoy his depth of knowledge, experience, and obedience.  I love being pushed to a higher level of obedience.  We are working with a great couple.  They are a part member, and the husband has been reading and taking great notes from the Book of Mormon.  He is finishing first Nephi and loving it.  He will be baptized soon!  I feel the Spirit much stronger as I am more exactly obedient and focus on our investigators.  

2/13/12

ST. AUGUSTINE! MIRACLE CITY!

  It has been a fantastic week.  I learned from many experiences about the workings and necessity of the Spirit.  To start it off, I read today a letter from my uncle!  I received it on Wednesday.  It was wonderful and I enjoyed his commentary on life in Gridley and some missionary small talk.  Turns out, his wife's Dad lives in St. Augustine!  Unbeknown to my uncle, the day after he wrote the letter, his nephew was being transferred there!  I am writing him back and asking if I might be able to meet my Uncle's father in law.  We have a great family!

    In response to some of your letters: I'm glad it finally snowed in the West.  It has been chilly the last 3 days, but I'm sure that will only last a month at the longest. There are some members from St. Aug that just moved to Montrose.  Great job in solo and ensemble.  I have complete faith in GJHS academic team.  My senior year, we were losing after the first day of state, because we were trying to force things and were so afraid of losing.  The next day, we had composure and won the state tournament by 40 points.  Lift where you stand.   

   I am thrilled to hear about the Steele's mission calls!  That is a lot like Lain and Gina Geest.  I had secretly been hoping that Dallin or Ben would come to the FJM and be my companion but I guess not! 

   We had a tradeoff with the assistants on Friday.  I was really nervous and stumbled around our area, but had a good night.  We taught a lesson on the Word of Wisdom and learned a lot.  Just after the tradeoff ended, we taught some of our neighbors, and they came to church yesterday!  It actually worked out best to have the Sister missionaries in St. Augustine teach them, but it was a great miracle nonetheless.  One of the families we are doing some service for on Wednesday and the other we were prompted yesterday to go visit and ended up having a lesson and setting a return dinner appointmentt for some homemade famous Southern fried Chicken and a spiritual feast!   I have a great love for this family after only meeting them once. The best part the lesson was having the new investigator say the closing prayer.  He had been quiet and reserved before then, but getting up from the prayer, he had a big smile and a new found light in his eyes. 

      We are seeing so many blessings from the Lord in the Florida Jacksonville Mission!  This the best thing I have ever done.  I am grateful for where I have come from in life, in my family roots, and my premortal beginnings.  I am forever grateful that Jesus Christ has given all hope in where they are going through life and into the eternities.   

2/20/12

SNOW IN COLORADO; ME AND ELDER SNOW IN FLORIDA. BEAT THAT!

   We are being so blessed over here in St. Augustine.  My companion is the greatest, the ward is incredible, and the weather is divine (70s).

    I did receive your Valentine's package.  I loved the Paper Alligators with M&Ms inside.  My companion and I ate those raspberry bars promptly and shared just two bars with the Sister missionaries in the ward.  I am actually eating right now one of the Gluten-Free Sunkist gummy snack delights right now!  I loved the chocolate cinnamon bears. You are the best family!  I'm so spoiled.  

   This week my companion and I did trade offs with the St. John's district leader.  He is so perky and positive, it's contagious!  I got to go to St. Johns and serve with my former companion for the day.  We reminisced on good times in Timuquana and the converts we love.  He has been keeping in touch with some of our families as well.  We get along even better now and have more of an appreciation for each other.  It is a beautiful thing. 

  We are working with a young family.  The husband is a less active member and the wife is a nonmember.  They have an 8 yr old son, who wants to be baptized, a 7 yr old daughter, and a 2 week old son. They are a beautiful family.  We had a lesson last Monday and committed them to read from the Book of Mormon and pray as a family every night.  They did it!  We went over Friday for 15 minutes and talked about the blessings they had seen so far from doing that.  The gospel truly blesses families.  My favorite quote,

   Elder:"We really appreciate the opportunity to play a small part in bringing you this happiness."

   Son (8):  "I think you're a big part."

 Most of the family came to church yesterday, and calling them last night, we found out they were playing with another active family and the sons were spending the night.  It just warmed my heart so see them so readily accepted and befriended. 

     We went over to another family's home, but their son ended up in the hospital earlier that morning so we didn't get to teach them.  But we had amazing fried chicken, potatoes smothered in onions, and corn.  I ate too much chicken.

   Thank you for being such a great family!  I hope all is well on your side of the Continental Divide!  

2/27/12

ST. AUGUSTINE WARD SPLIT   

Hello family! 

Today I received another letter from my uncle and his family! I was pleasantly surprised to see him respond so quickly.  We hope to visit his father-in-law soon. He painted a beautiful picture of Gridley life.  We have a great family.

      

This week held many miracles and big events, which is becoming common now in St. Augustine.  

        

I'll start with the least pleasant one lol.  After finishing a trade off, I noticed I kept itching my lower back.  To my dismay, my whole back side (and only my backside) was covered in raised, yellowish red rashes that kind of looked like blisters.  It freaked me out!  After moisterizing lotion and some time, they disappeared but appeared in various parts of my body!  It lasted about two days.  A surprise lay in store every hour.  "I wonder where it will be this time?".  At the advice of the mission president's wife, I took a Benadryl, and I don't have any of them today.  Phewf!  I think I had Atopic Dermititis, and it may be a result of allergies to something.  I'll keep my eye out for it again.  It inspired me to possibly name my new blog (Atopid Sermon-itis).  eh eh?  like it?  We'll see if I choose it.  

        

Church was historic and momentous.  The St. Augustine Ward split in two!  My companion and I are still serving in the St. Augustine Ward which is the North half of what it used to be.  The sister missionaries are serving in the new St. Augustine Shores Ward.  It was so exciting to witness the growth of the church!  They had the members of each ward stand and sustain their new leadership.  I was grateful not to be a ward member who will be missing long time friends, but rather being a missionary who will be transferred on eventually.  The ward used to have some 700 members on the roster, but now that is pretty much exactly half.  Our ward has less of the active members and will be calling tons of new leadership positions. The split really didn't affect our missionary work.  All of the people we are teaching live in the North area.

  

One miracle I want to share with you was on Wednesday night.  At 8:30 on a rainy night, we knocked on doors with a member and found a man who said "Sure, I can spare 5 minutes for Jesus."  This was also a special night because it was my first time going to Anastasia Island.  This man is a Mayan, and as we unfolded our message to him, there was a light in his eyes.  He had been questioning his religious beliefs (a Cathli-baptist), and he felt some truth to our message.  He said that several times.  We hope we can follow up with him this week.

       

I mentioned teaching a kid last Monday.  We taught him twice. He has come to church for the last two months with his friend.  He is loving the Book of Mormon and wants to join the church.  

 I love being a missionary!  We get to feel like an apostle for two years.  Doing nothing else but being a witness for Jesus Christ! 

 

 

JANUARY 2012

JANUARY 2012  HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

1/2/12

2012!  OUR LAST NEW YEAR

 I am glad to hear everyone has gotten back safely.  Except Nate, who is going mountain man with eye glasses in Tegucigalpa, Nicaragua.  I can imagine he will have quite the beard afterwards.  Costa Rica!  What an adventure.  Greta, I have only been sunburned once on my mission. That was like 6 months ago, and to be honest haven't used sunscreen much.  You don't need it in the winter, but I will next summer.  For Christmas and New Years it was a perfect 75 degrees, blue skies, and I have nothing to complain about.  I don't notice the humidity at all.  Mom, I LOVE the clippers.  It was much needed.  I actually give myself haircuts, but was using a used old pair in timuquana.  I was excited to get a new set!

   

This week was excellent.  We had 3 people at church.  2 of them were new, Pam and Jason.  They are both in the military. The ward here is pretty close to our ward in GJ, just thinned out on the numbers wise.  It is very well off and lots of wonderful families.  They welcome our investigators very well.  I love seeing the Doctrine of Christ take root into another's life.  I have more fully appreciated it in my own life this last week.  

   

Here is a ridiculous miracle: It was freezing one night and we forgot our coats, but we kept going anyway.  We stop and talk to this kid shooting hoops.  Shaun is a Junior and knows a Mormon and even played churchball last year!  Then this man, Mike, walked over and ask "What stake are you from?"  Turns out he had played churchball 9 years ago, was almost baptized, and loves a member of the ward.  He just moved back into town.  We are meeting with him this week.  It was incredible.   I am really enjoying my time here.  It was great to hear from all of you.   We are playing frisbee golf today! 

Love,

Elder Gebhard

1/9/12

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Happy Birthday  Grant, Annelisa, and Momma!   Howdy yall!  Another great week in Fleming Island, FL.  We had only one cold day this week. Still wearing short sleeves.  We ran 4X in the mornings this week.  That actually was pretty cold thinking back on it.  We run are the FI High School track.  Its really nice, but weird when we cross paths with high schoolers on their way to school.
   Steve has set a baptismal date!!! January 21st is the day.  He is so excited.  He invited all his daughters, their kids, and his own wife and kid.  They should all be there.  Brother Pye is baptizing him.  It is a treat being able to hear his testimony.  We did service for him Saturday.  We watched a member fix his power steering pump.  I learned a bit about cars from that.  I have a lot to learn before I grow up!
     Miracle for the week:  Remember Pam and Jason who came to church last Sunday? We taught her twice this week and told her about the other members who work at NAS Jax hospital.  Well she found Bro Pierson and introduced herself.  When we randomly showed up to the Piersons, they told us that, and they said they want to have her over this week for dinner, and sit with her at church!  It was fantastic.  They sat with her at church and had her over for dinner yesterday.  To keep the miracles coming, Pamela got up in Sacrament meeting and bore her testimony!  She shared how welcome everyone made her feel and that she "will be coming to this church for a while."  We found out that she is only 19 which surprised us.  They don't have any furniture in the house, so we asked around and have come up with a queen bed, box spring, and frame, couch, and dining room set.  What a miracle. 
    Small world story:  We visited Sister Ayers this week.  Turns out she lived in Fruita, CO for 27 years!  Her brother is still there!  His name is Brother Gifford.  It was neat reminiscing a bit about the Grand Valley.  We are preparing Sister Ayers for the temple.  The Lord sends his servants exactly where he needs them.  She is so fantastic and has recently taken up painting.  She gave both me and Elder Fergus a painting of hers.  Mine is of a dark ocean storm crashing on the rocks and Elder Fergus is of a zebra. 
     This preparation day we are going to Lake Asburry and playing frisbee golf at Ronny VanZant Park, which was created by the Lynard Skynard the band.  That band was actually founded and grew up right in my area on College Rd.  They knew our bishop on a nickname basis. Pretty neat.  I really am enjoying this area, this companion, and this Work. 

1/16/12

YOGA CATS

I am so happy to be able to do kitten back bends now that Megan's wonderful yoga cats calendar is now in my possession!    Thank you for the package.  It was well received by the whole apartment!  Swedish Almond Cakes tastes even better than I remember it.

This week was full of great events.  Steve is still set for 21st.  He is so strong already and is inviting everyone to his baptism.  Much of his family will be there.  We have a dinner with the Morris family (skype family from Christmas) and another family in the ward for Friday.  We hope they will accept a return appt to learn even more.  They love us nontheless so we will still be keeping in touch.  Pamela and Jason came to ALL of church yesterday.  They are really progressing well and being welcomed into the ward.  We have found some furniture for them and that has softened their hearts a lot.  Also, the Piersons in the ward are the best missionaries ever and threw a lil' birthday party for Elder Fergus.  They invited Pam and Jason and one of their neighbors too.  That was a blast last night.  We are playing frisbee golf today at Ronny Van Zant Park and Jason is coming to play with us.  We have a lesson with them at the Piersons on Wednesday and are delivering some more donated furniture on Tuesday.  Everyone in the ward wants to share their testimonies with them!

Happy MLK Jr Day!   Everyone here loves the Broncos and were sad of the defeat.  Love you!

1/23/12

STEVE JOHNSON BAPTISM

Hello family!

Word on the street is that Grandma hasn't been going to church for the last month.  Some one needs to get in there and pull her away from her Utah Jazz games!  haha.  just kidding.

I'll get straight to the highlight of the week:  Steve’s baptism.   He is so prepared, he has endured much opposition from friends, family, and health, but he was baptized and confirmed and is ready to rock and roll!  He had 11 nonmember family members who were all so nice and from all around Jacksonville.  We had a great showing from the ward and the Spirit was so strong.  Relief Society provided refreshment, which I munch on the leftovers every morning now ;)   Steve is a truly converted man.  He is on fire and so strong.  He took this road alone in his family, but I know his Mom was on the other side of the veil with him every step of the way.  This gospel unites families

    Yesterday, we went over to the Walton's for a dinner with the Morris family.  They fellowshipped really well and will be great friends.  Our lesson focused on christian charity, but we navigated to our unique message of the restoration.  They knew a bit already.  When bro Morris was in high school, missionaries wrestled with their high school team and had given him a Book of Mormon.  Crazy story.  There are obvious divine preparations in their life, but they still need a bit more before they will be ready to read, ponder, and pray and become converted to this gospel.  they are so wonderful and have great testimonies of Christ.  One thing that stood out: Bro Morris said that just since meeting with us, he was reflected and recommitted more of his life to God and has reached a better understanding of his goals for his faith and family.  What a fruit of the Spirit!  We will continue to see them, but they just aren't quite investigating yet! 

   We found a new gator, Scott.  Before our lesson, he read all the restoration pamphlet and looked up all the scriptures!  He has some crucial questions about coming to know if this is true.  It was hard to answer them, but we hope he will have some of them answered when we meet on Tuesday as he has read the Book of Mormon.  He has a beautiful family.  He is a very sincere seeker of truth, but is confused now.  We have been praying for families daily and as a result have been led to them.  it is neat teaching people that live in the suburbs instead of in Timuquana and on 103rd.  There are way more "happy" families with christian faith.  TQ had so many broken families.  I have heard A LOT of bad things about the TQ area from every one I meet here.  They always say that's the bad part of Jacksonville.  Luckily we had to be inside at 9 ;)   

    Well that is about all for this week.  This transfer has just flown by.  I love serving the Lord every day.  Exercising faith, Repenting and becoming a better person, friend, and leader, committing to God worthy goals I have for myself and renew my covenants, and feeling the holy ghost is more abundance than ever before!  The 74 degree weather has helped :)  Hooray for an unusually warm winter.  I have been quite enjoying myself.

Also, if any cousin would like to hear from me, send me their emails and I can attach them to the group email.

Love,

Elder Gebhard