Here is an excerpt from Liz's email that we received today! It's hard to believe she has only one week left at the MTC!
"life is so good! it's like a crazy life, seems like i've lived a lifetime crammed into 2 weeks! but i'm learning a lot! we've taught quite a bit and sis ireland and i have learned to be united as we teach. all the feedback we've gotten has been very positive! our teacher said the only thing she had as advice was that we were teaching awesomely and that we just need to stay humble and recognize that it's the spirit and not us! boy do i know it. there was one lesson i felt like i wasn't teaching well at all, but the teacher we were teaching said it was one of the most spiritual lessons he's heard in a LONG time, and he gets taught by missionaries all day every day! that's when i knew it was the spirit :) so yeah, there's some emotional rollercoaster-ness . . . going from feeling just excited, to very inadequate, to feeling like i'm doing great, to being humbled and relying on the Lord. but all i know is i've gone to bed really happy every night!! i know i'm supposed to be here and i'm getting REALLY excited to go git 'er done in seattle :) i got letters from some sisters from my mission and they got me excited! there's 8 sisters there now out of 160 missionaries!"
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
first p-day, first email
We just received Liz's first email! She is loving the MTC! I hope you enjoy reading these excerpts (actually most of her email--it was all so good I couldn't leave anything out!):
"it's my first p-day and it's glorious to get a day to kind of wind down and get things done! but i am LOVING it here! it's very busy and i get kind of tired by the end of the day, but i've had no trouble getting up in the mornings! for those of you who have never been to the MTC, here's a run down. our district is made up of 8 of us (i think i told you a little bit about them) . . . 4 elders and 4 sisters. all 4 elders will be going to seattle with me so that will be fun! the district is pretty much my family here. we are together most of the day, usually in class with one of our 2 teachers: bro lovejoy and sis higginson. they are both awesome! i'm learning a ton here. a lot about the gospel and the scriptures, but mostly how missionary work is all about forgetting yourself to serve the Lord. it's ALL about learning to get the Spirit, understand how it speaks to you, and follow it. I've realized that no matter what our backgrounds are, all of us missionaries are trying to learn to depend on the Spirit. It's been pretty humbling, and i have a long way to go, but i'm enjoying every minute of it!
"so yeah, other than class, we have personal and companion study time (companion study with sis ireland is pretty much amazing. we love it), MDT (missionary directed time where we practice teaching, go to workshops, and study), meals (oh so AWESOME: there are these caesar wraps in the cougar eat that i love, and they have a wrap bar here so that's what i get every day for lunch. yesterday one of the servers said, oh you're the caesar girl!), get ready for the day (i'm now the master of having 1/2 hr to get ready and actually looking cute at the end of it hehe), have gym time (i pretty much just play 4 square with this group of elders every day, it's probably my favorite sport. the elders went easy on me at first, then they discovered i could whoop them haha), and devotionals (every tuesday is a general authority . . . pretty sweet).
"So exciting things that have happened, Sheri Dew was our Relief Society speaker on Sunday!! in person! we sisters get the royal treatment here. she talked about how we can affect people in the mission field without even teaching them. just through our purity, they will know we are different from women of the world. we also got to watch the joseph smith: prophet of the restoration movie on sunday night! loved it once again!
"I am the coordinating sister for our branch, so i get to go to branch council meeting and represent the sisters. our branch presidency is awesome and it's fun to get to hug their wives. we don't get to hug many people seeing as how we are the minority. it's fun to be here though and see all these fabulous elders. they are all going to be fabulous missionaries. i love being able to see the training ground that has produced all the wonderful men i know in the church. . . . it's definitely hard work, but it's the most important work there is! i didn't expect to be so caught in the bubble. it almost seems like i didn't have a life before this."
"it's my first p-day and it's glorious to get a day to kind of wind down and get things done! but i am LOVING it here! it's very busy and i get kind of tired by the end of the day, but i've had no trouble getting up in the mornings! for those of you who have never been to the MTC, here's a run down. our district is made up of 8 of us (i think i told you a little bit about them) . . . 4 elders and 4 sisters. all 4 elders will be going to seattle with me so that will be fun! the district is pretty much my family here. we are together most of the day, usually in class with one of our 2 teachers: bro lovejoy and sis higginson. they are both awesome! i'm learning a ton here. a lot about the gospel and the scriptures, but mostly how missionary work is all about forgetting yourself to serve the Lord. it's ALL about learning to get the Spirit, understand how it speaks to you, and follow it. I've realized that no matter what our backgrounds are, all of us missionaries are trying to learn to depend on the Spirit. It's been pretty humbling, and i have a long way to go, but i'm enjoying every minute of it!
"so yeah, other than class, we have personal and companion study time (companion study with sis ireland is pretty much amazing. we love it), MDT (missionary directed time where we practice teaching, go to workshops, and study), meals (oh so AWESOME: there are these caesar wraps in the cougar eat that i love, and they have a wrap bar here so that's what i get every day for lunch. yesterday one of the servers said, oh you're the caesar girl!), get ready for the day (i'm now the master of having 1/2 hr to get ready and actually looking cute at the end of it hehe), have gym time (i pretty much just play 4 square with this group of elders every day, it's probably my favorite sport. the elders went easy on me at first, then they discovered i could whoop them haha), and devotionals (every tuesday is a general authority . . . pretty sweet).
"So exciting things that have happened, Sheri Dew was our Relief Society speaker on Sunday!! in person! we sisters get the royal treatment here. she talked about how we can affect people in the mission field without even teaching them. just through our purity, they will know we are different from women of the world. we also got to watch the joseph smith: prophet of the restoration movie on sunday night! loved it once again!
"I am the coordinating sister for our branch, so i get to go to branch council meeting and represent the sisters. our branch presidency is awesome and it's fun to get to hug their wives. we don't get to hug many people seeing as how we are the minority. it's fun to be here though and see all these fabulous elders. they are all going to be fabulous missionaries. i love being able to see the training ground that has produced all the wonderful men i know in the church. . . . it's definitely hard work, but it's the most important work there is! i didn't expect to be so caught in the bubble. it almost seems like i didn't have a life before this."
Saturday, April 18, 2009
first letter home . . .
We were so excited to get Liz's first letter home today!! She sounds so happy . . . I thought we should share some highlights with you:
"Well I said goodbye to you all about 6 hrs ago, and I am just having the best time! I am very happy and excited! Turns out being one of the 1st missionaries to say goodbye and exit the orientation room has its perks . . . I didn’t have to wait at all to get all my packets, etc & had tons of time to unpack! Everyone is SUPER friendly. I’ve never been greeted in so many different languages! An elder even invited me to be baptized in Spanish to practice (I said yes of course :)). I was so grateful to run into 2 sisters just as I went back for my luggage. They got one of my suitcases and showed me where the ELEVATOR was! Anyway, tender mercies . . . the luggage was NO problem . . . so far . . . hehe. So my companion, AWESOME. Sister Ireland. 28. Only member in her family. From Canada. She was baptized 3 years ago today! She is a sweetheart . . . a kindred spirit I might say :). We’ve already had two, no maybe three “tender moments.” She is a hard worker and a MORNING person she says. I told her she’ll have to make me get up and she was excited. Her goal for our 1st couple of days is to stop losing everything . . . name badge, key, etc. My goals are to remember not to wander off (I’m getting used to the companion thing. When I forget, Sister Ireland chases me and we laugh) and call everyone elders & sisters instead of “guys” hehe."
"Well we just got locked out of our room and had to trek over to the front desk in our pajamas. Won’t do that again! So random story, earlier today we went to a big meeting with all the new missionaries and when we got there, there was an usher in the aisle. All the elders were sitting in the middle and all the sisters were on the side section. I asked if we had to sit on the side, and he said no, that’s just where the sisters sat. So, Sis Ireland and I mixed it up and sat amidst the elders (other sisters after us joined so we weren’t the only ones though!)."
Can't you just see Liz sitting down "amidst the elders" and mixing things up! Haha!
"Well I said goodbye to you all about 6 hrs ago, and I am just having the best time! I am very happy and excited! Turns out being one of the 1st missionaries to say goodbye and exit the orientation room has its perks . . . I didn’t have to wait at all to get all my packets, etc & had tons of time to unpack! Everyone is SUPER friendly. I’ve never been greeted in so many different languages! An elder even invited me to be baptized in Spanish to practice (I said yes of course :)). I was so grateful to run into 2 sisters just as I went back for my luggage. They got one of my suitcases and showed me where the ELEVATOR was! Anyway, tender mercies . . . the luggage was NO problem . . . so far . . . hehe. So my companion, AWESOME. Sister Ireland. 28. Only member in her family. From Canada. She was baptized 3 years ago today! She is a sweetheart . . . a kindred spirit I might say :). We’ve already had two, no maybe three “tender moments.” She is a hard worker and a MORNING person she says. I told her she’ll have to make me get up and she was excited. Her goal for our 1st couple of days is to stop losing everything . . . name badge, key, etc. My goals are to remember not to wander off (I’m getting used to the companion thing. When I forget, Sister Ireland chases me and we laugh) and call everyone elders & sisters instead of “guys” hehe."
"Well we just got locked out of our room and had to trek over to the front desk in our pajamas. Won’t do that again! So random story, earlier today we went to a big meeting with all the new missionaries and when we got there, there was an usher in the aisle. All the elders were sitting in the middle and all the sisters were on the side section. I asked if we had to sit on the side, and he said no, that’s just where the sisters sat. So, Sis Ireland and I mixed it up and sat amidst the elders (other sisters after us joined so we weren’t the only ones though!)."
Can't you just see Liz sitting down "amidst the elders" and mixing things up! Haha!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
"missionaries to the right, families to the left"
It's official! Liz is a missionary, name tag and all! The whole family took Liz to the MTC at noon today in the middle of a spring snowstorm! We took some pictures and then went into the chapel for the orientation meeting. Little James was not too happy to be in the meeting and kept saying "Go, go go!" When it came time for that "missionaries to the right, families to the left" moment, we realized that we were right by the missionary exit, so Liz was the first missionary through the door. It was hard to say goodbye and we all shed some tears, but we know that Liz will be such an awesome missionary! We are so excited to get her emails and hear about all the good things she is doing! Her address at the MTC is:SISTER ELIZABETH GIBBONS
MTC Mailbox#171
WA-SEA 0505
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604-1793
She will be at the MTC until May 5. I know she would love to hear from you!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
well I'm off!!
Well, I get set apart as a missionary in about 3 hours! CRAZY! I'm so excited :) Now I just need to pack . . .
We had such a wonderful day on Sunday! So many people showed up to hear me speak, and I'm so glad I got to tell them all goodbye. I'm so grateful for my wonderful family (immediate and extended). I'm going to miss you all!!! Also I'm so thankful for all the wonderful friends I've made throughout my life. I hope I can find you all when I come home :)
My mom's going to keep this updated with what I'm up to, so feel free to check back! I'm off!!
We had such a wonderful day on Sunday! So many people showed up to hear me speak, and I'm so glad I got to tell them all goodbye. I'm so grateful for my wonderful family (immediate and extended). I'm going to miss you all!!! Also I'm so thankful for all the wonderful friends I've made throughout my life. I hope I can find you all when I come home :)
My mom's going to keep this updated with what I'm up to, so feel free to check back! I'm off!!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
*SEVEN days to go!*
well the countdown is coming to an end! i can almost count on one hand :) i moved back to my parents' house today to spend my last week with the fam! i'm really excited to be with them! i'll be honest, it was kind of weird to leave provo . . . 4 years of memories! secret confession: i shed a few tears! good thing i'm coming back so it's not SO bad. it is a little sad realizing how many of my friends will be graduated and moved off to timbuktoo. plus i just have a hard time with goodbyes and big change anyway. my mom and i realized that this was my TENTH time moving since i came to BYU. haha we're pretty good at it by now. good practice for the mission. anyway i tried to live it up these past few weeks, doing all my favorite things for the "last" time! here's a taste of my partyings -
our strike celebrations (yeah we're that good!):
lab girls night: bowling!
our strike celebrations (yeah we're that good!):
last BYU sports game. . . men's volleyball with jane, kenny, and the gang!
janelle's bridal shower! (sorry it's blurry . . .)
festival of colors at the hare krishna temple in spanish fork!
(i got lots of compliments on my ninja turtle-ness)
last lab party! good times at the bells'
here's a big one: last night country dancing!!
. . . and the black eye that resulted . . . hahaha
last girls night with jane! complete with . . .
MUDDY BUDDIES
and YOU'VE GOT MAIL!
("you are so lucky . . . you could . . be . . . dead")
traditional gibbons kids life-size board games the friday before conference!
that's all the pictures i've got, but i WISH i had pics of my last poker night, my last ice cream run with ky and anne marie, my last hot tub sesh with the guys, and my last days in the lab.
last lab party! good times at the bells'
here's a big one: last night country dancing!!
. . . and the black eye that resulted . . . hahaha
last girls night with jane! complete with . . .
MUDDY BUDDIES
and YOU'VE GOT MAIL!("you are so lucky . . . you could . . be . . . dead")
traditional gibbons kids life-size board games the friday before conference!
that's all the pictures i've got, but i WISH i had pics of my last poker night, my last ice cream run with ky and anne marie, my last hot tub sesh with the guys, and my last days in the lab.
OH MY GOSH! I JUST REMEMBERED I DIDN'T SAY GOODBYE TO THEO (my goldfish) :( maybe we'll have to stop in on the way to the MTC . . . i'm a horrible pet owner.
anyway, SEVEN DAYS :)
anyway, SEVEN DAYS :)
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
2 weeks from TODAY! :)
well folks it's finally here! (well almost) i enter the MTC 2 weeks from today! i'll be serving a full time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Seattle, WA for the next 18 months! i'm getting REALLY excited and pretty antsy. i'm having a hard time focusing on tying up the loose ends of my thesis project because i'm so ready to get out there! to give you an idea of how long i've been waiting for this, here is a pic of me and my daddy the day i got my mission call (the date on the picture is wrong by the way), and then one a couple months ago around the time i finalized the mission plans for April 15th! he has worked so hard and now is in WAY better shape than i am. i can't even tell you how proud i am of what he has accomplished . . . i can't even find the words. i love him so much and i'm going to miss my datty like crazy :)
.JPG)
so as you can see, a lot has changed since that day i got my mission call!! all good things! i get to head out to seattle with my masters thesis project done, tons of adventures/new friends/memories i would've missed out on if i had left back in august, and feeling SO prepared, ready, and excited. i wouldn't trade this crazy ride for anything. i just think life is so great :) 14 days to go!!
.JPG)
so as you can see, a lot has changed since that day i got my mission call!! all good things! i get to head out to seattle with my masters thesis project done, tons of adventures/new friends/memories i would've missed out on if i had left back in august, and feeling SO prepared, ready, and excited. i wouldn't trade this crazy ride for anything. i just think life is so great :) 14 days to go!!
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