Well lets go with the General Authority meeting. Elder Paul V. Johnson of the 70 came to do a mission tour and went to Pueblo for the Pueblo, Valley, and Garden City zones of the mission and then up to Fountain for Fountain, Springs, Northeast and Parker. Ours was first so we really didn't have any heads up from the north end of the mission of what to expect. They made us all prepare 5 minute talks on how our purpose is related to Lesson 3, and how that should influence our teaching of it. So I prepared of course and so did Elder Park. We both thought it was going to be Elder Park because he is new and foreign and stuff. So Elder Johnson and Elder Hillier (Dad I think he interviewed you once) were there and before the meeting got started we got to shake hands and talk a bit with them. Elder Hillier remembered going to Edmonton about a year ago to reorganize the Bonnie Doon stake and remembered President Mendenhall. Elder Johnson remembered President Card and mentioned he'd be up in Red Deer in a couple of weeks for a conference. So it was cool that they could connect that with us. Then we ate some lunch. Then the meeting started.
Elder Johnson started off by asking one of the AP's to pick 2 numbers from 1 to 120. Elder Schmidt (Previous district leader and one of my best friends in the mission) picked number 2 and 19. I happened to be sitting 2nd from the right on the front row. I got to give a talk. In front of a General Authority. All I could think of as I began to walk up to the pulpit was "thank goodness I prepared". I did an alright job I think. THEN if that wasn't enough, afterwards one of the AP's walked up to me and Elder Park "Elder Johnson would like to meet with you afterwards". asghsdgjkahdsjhkalsdhfa (This is to show the thoughts coursing through my mind at this stage of the day). I thought for sure I had spouted false doctrine, he thought I was a bad Elder, or who knows what. But I guess they pick random missionaries to interview to get a feel for the mission. It was pretty cool, he asked about our areas, our families, our companionship, the training schedule, and it was cool to go back and forth with a GA. I regret though, I had a few questions I wanted to ask in the question setting but not in front of other missionaries because they were....well they were Elder Gibb questions and we'll leave it at that. But then in the interview I was so nervous that I forgot all my questions and now I sit back wishing I could go and ask him some of them. Not big deal questions or anything, but, for example, how much money do apostles make? Ok I've just always wanted to know! Why was president Monson late for conference? you know, weird unimportant details that I didn't want to ask in front of other missionaries. Hopefully he doesn't speak in conference
"I always remember this one mission. And I always remember this one missionary. He was a little guy. He liked to crack jokes. He told me during my interview that his morning excercise consisted of about 10 pushups and then falling asleep on the floor (I know right? hardest part of my day/mission right there. Right after morning prayers. Why did I tell the General Authority...at least I was honest)"
Anywho, that was a crazy day. And because of the interview we couldn't meet with Chris, because his day off was Thursday and we were gone Thursday.
We also had a baptism this week! yay! "Bishop" John Tesch got baptized! It was so awesome we call him "bishop" because he is so solid in the gospel. Watching him get out of his car in his suit to come to the baptism building, me and my ward mission leader just looked at each other with a look of "man. he could be a mission president". He is definetely the most solid person I have ever had the privilege of teaching! Only one problem ensued. The person baptizing him didn't say his middle name, and it was me and Elder Park as the 2 witnesses. I knew he missed the middle name but when John came up out of the water he looked so happy that I just didn't want to kill the moment. And I figured "meh....it's just a middle name" After the baptism I shared this with the ward mission leader. He looked worried. Bishop called the stake president. We had to redo it. Unfortunately by that point the font had already been drained. So we rescheduled the "correcting of Elder Gibb's dumb mistake" baptism for the next morning at 8:00 am. A sneaky baptism before church. Now looking on this, there was a whole bunch of places where this went wrong; it was kind of like Chernobyl. I accept a lot of the blame because I've been a missionary 14 months, know the handbook (both missionary and church leadership) handbook pretty well, and Elder Park really doesn't know a lot of whats going on. But the guy baptizing John has been on like 6 missions and he could have asked John before he did it "hey, what's your full name". But he just assumed John didn't have a middle name and etc etc. Oh well. He got baptized, confirmed, and recieved the priesthood all on the same day. Saturday night was a long night for us, tossing and turning, "I really hope he shows up tomorrow". But he thought it was kind of funny. Man, his car got stolen 2 days ago in D.C. Satan has just been creamin this guy.
So it was a nice sneaky baptism. It kind of reminded me of Jesus Christ's baptism. Really simple, really short, just got down in the water and got baptized. We had a little prayer to start, but that was it. And his wife loved it all.
Other than that, lots of driving, organizing, and setting things up this week. Last week of the transfer here we come. Don't worry though we won't get transferred. I'm not done yet in Sanford, though not to sure what's going to happen the transfer after this one. But that'll make 7.5 months in this area. 7.5 months in a town with a population of a junior high school and smaller than West Edmonton Mall. (I think). Maybe we'll shoot for 9!
And this week I hit my year mark of entering the San Luis Valley for the first time in my life. Also my year mark of being on a bike. Which is why I can't gain any weight, I bike everything off. Also, October 21 was when that preacher dude corrected his prediction that the world would be burned. I totally forgot about it. But I didn't notice anything. I wonder how he's going to save face now?
Wellllll I think that's all! Love you so much!
Elder Gibb
No comments:
Post a Comment