Reactions, reactions, reactions!

I am often asked this question,

"are you going to meet him at the airport when he comes home?"

It amazes to me, because everyone says it in those exact words.

I always giggle at those people.

I know what their reaction will be when I answer them.

"No."

They gasp!

They question!

"Why not?!"

Truth is I don't think I should.

I think that time is for his family.

Think about it, you little missionary stalkers,

these are the people who

saw him as a baby,

 grew up with him,

raised him to be the man you love.

They missed him as much

if not a little more

than you.

Deal with it.

They had to not only deal with him leaving,

but deal with him not being around the house.

My time will come to be with him, but this is for his family.

I'm not about to rush in and take over after they've been so long without him,

because if someone did that to me it'd kill me.

I trust him,

he'll call me.

What's a little more time waiting?

Christmas two years ago

I'm going to take you back,

two years ago.

I was eighteen and getting ready to wait for a missionary.

Jeff was still around.

He got me a very special Christmas present.

He came to my door, just as he was leaving to go up north with his family.

It came in this little white box, tied with a green ribbon.

This was my Christmas present from Elder Gibson before he left.

Don't think I left it in it's little box,

I wear it almost everywhere.

I love it as it is right now,

nice and clean,

because it reminds me how it was when I first got it

2 years ago.

My pretty aquamarine necklace.

Written November 28, 2011; Sent November 29, 2011; Recieved December 22, 2011

Lunes 28 de Novembre 2011
¡Nikki!
You ran the MARATHON! That's amazing, ya know. . . . We'll have to see about the whole "me joining in" next year. . . I might die. . . and maybe literally. . . ;) No, probably not, we'll see. ;) I think my parents might be stalking you. . . ;) jk, lol! No, it's just that they told me that they saw a picture of you right after ending the marathon, and then later that you had replaced Oreo with a cute new puppy, but that's all. I know you'd do great in the marathon, and that you'd be able to finish! You've got awesome running skills, like that. ;) (but serious, eh.) Can you even read this!? I just noticed that my handwriting has gotten horrid. . .  ,':/ oh well, I hope you can. ;) So, I'm doing pretty good out here. I got changed again, now I'm in Moroleón, Guanajuato. (Everyon works in some phase of making clothes here! Whether it's stamping the image on the fabric or ebroidering, or cutting the pieces or sewing them together, or selling the fabric to begin with, EVERYONE works in clothes here!. . . ok not EVERYONE, but the VAST majority ;) Oh, and everyone and their dog has a motorcycle/mo-ped/scooter, but that's NOT an exaggeration (spelling) There are more of those than cars here! they have their own little parking spaces too! Ha ha! It makes me kind of want to have mine again. . . my little yellow scooter. . . that died. . . :( Ha ha ;) oh well, we can't be on vehicles like that as missionaries anyway. . . :P . . . saftey rules. Oh well, it's there for a reason and I MUST obey! ;) I really like it here. :) ) Ok, I'm not quite sure I put that whole think in parenthasis. . . oh well. ;) But, yeah, if you want to buy clothes in México, this would be the place! It's super cheap. (as in well made with a low price) The members here are a little. . . different, let's say. But they're good people, they just need to stop talking bad about each other. That would help them a TON! But they're good people. Our investigators are awesome! Two of them are teenage brothers (15 and 13). The 15 year old (Jony) went to EFY and loved it and then he came to church for a few months, but then his mom said he couldn't get baptized. . . and  now she doesn't even let him come to church anymore, just to the activities. But he knows that the church is true and wants to be baptized. The 13 year old (Ivan - [ee-vahn]) Is I'm pretty sure the best investigator that I've ever had. He learns SO fast! And he's always saying to his dad, "¡Andale! Dejame ir a la capilla!" (Come on! Let me go to the chapel!) But he doesn't really pay much attention to him. . . sadly. They are some of the better youth that's here. Jony always has his "For the Strength of Youth" and his "Book of Mormon" with him, and Ivan carries his "Book of Mormon" and the pamphlets and some Liahonas. They're awesome. Their parents are good people with good intentions, but they're just a little confused when it comes to religion. . . we're trying to open their minds. . . ;) They just need to feel the Spirit super strong, that's all. ;) One day when we walked out of our apartment, there was a little green parrot. He was there for the whole day, and so the next morning we chased him into our apartment because it was cold out there. We put up signs on the doors of the other apartments, but no one came to claim the bird. So we gave it to one of the young men in the ward, but first we named him "chicken" but in Spanish: "Pollo" [poy-yo] He's really pretty, bright green with several shades of blue in the wings,

Pluma del Pollo

his only downside is that his previous owners cut the feathers of his tail, and it doesn't really look very good. . . but they fell out and new ones come in with time. ;) Anyway. . . Oh! We have a part-member family that we're working with. The ones who are members are kind of inactive (a mom w/3 kids 17, 15, 13) The mom and 17 year old are members . All the kids are kind of punkish. . . Ha ha! but they just make me laugh. Actually, Daniel (17) is going to make us pizza on Wednesday. But yeah, they're going to be a lot of work. . . I'm pretty sure that they all smoke, (maybe not the 13 year old), some of them drink, their language can be rather. . . course? (is that how you say it?) But they're good people, and they have really good questions. We were able to have a good first "lesson" with the mom yesterday. (and her kids too :) ) But yeah, the work's good out here! :D How're you doing? Where'd you go for Thanksgiving? How's school going? How're Lu and Louie? ;) I hope that you're doing well, and that you're happy. Hope to hear from you soon!

1

1. Moroleón
2. The Church
3. Letters
4. Food
5. Investigators
6. The Scriptures
7. Bikes
8. Faithful Members
9. Pens

Merry Christmas from 1,292 miles away. . . About.

This is Elder Gibson's last Christmas in the field.

Also his last package from me.

Weird, right?

No more pictures of packages.

I'm a little freaked out,

because I'm so used to looking forward to what I'm going to send next.

Now I'm just looking forward to him coming home. . .

Ha!

Here it is!

Last, but not least!

 I haven't sent him these in a long time, but these are his favorite and I remember one year we were telling our gifts and he said he asked for a big bag of dried mangoes. . . He got it, of course, but we all gave him strange looks. Who in the world passes an iPod or a phone for dried fruit?! One of the reasons I love him.

 Recently one of our best friends got married. I try to send Elder Gibson the wedding invites.

Of course the Oreos. :) These are new, limited edition Candy Cane Oreos. They are delicious and I had to go through three stores to find them. Merry Christmas, Elder.

 

 

 

 

Elf hats! One for him and one for his companion.

 

  

Musical Ties! Both of them sing Jingle Bells.

 

 

Everything expect the wrapping paper wrapped presents were stuffed into these stockings. One for the companion and one for him. The elf hats had bells on them, so when I set them down on the scale at the post office it jingled just a little bit. . . Hope that didn't catch any attention.

  

Finished project. They probably got smooshed, but that's alright.

Documented my mess. . .

Merry Christmas, Elder. Your last Christmas with that special calling. I hope it's a good one.

2 Months. . .

As Elder Gibson comes

closer and closer

I'm starting to get a feeling of pure and untarnished

panic.

How. . .

When. . .

What. . .

I can't believe he's actually going to come home at some point.

I think some part of me thought this was going to be my life now.

Ha ha!

I have to actively stop myself from imagining how it's all going to go down,

how I will see him again,

because I really don't know what's going to happen.

I'm excited beyond my mind,

but this is it.

The moment I've been waiting for.

Two years in the making.

Life changing.

I waited for him, but I wonder if he is still there too.

He didn't give any indication he's not. . . 

But how am I supposed to judge that from a missionary?

Goodness,

and panic.

2 Months. . .

Never thought I'd say this but. . . Help!

It's in three months. . .

The moment I've been waiting for

for 2 years.

I will see Elder Gibson.

3 months.

Not only are we in the single digits,

but the single syllables too.

What am I going to do?

I've pictured this day a million

billion

kazillion

times

in my head.

I've DREAMED about this moment,

starting the day he left.

But come on, I don't honestly know a thing.

I don't know how I'll react.

I don't know how he'll react.

I don't know what day it will be.

I don't know if I'll sleep the night before.

Will I get off work?

Will I be out of school?

Will it matter?

Will I spend a day with him?

Will it only last an hour?

Will I be allowed to hug him?

What will I say to him?

What will he say to me?

Will he be awkward with me?

Should I have someone else there,

to make him more comfortable?

Will I have to call him first?

I always pictured us meeting at the temple grounds.

I don't know why, that's just where my dreams put us.

But I don't even know if that's the place I'll see him

for the first time in 2 years.

I'm sending off his last package soon.

Last package.

What am I going to do?

I guess I'll fall back on the two things that have kept me going all this way.

I'll pray,

then I'll wing it.

Wish me luck. . .

3 months. . .

A Confirmation

I had spent the day trying to get rid of stuff,

but I'm too nostalgic.

Everything has a memory with Jeff.

A shirt he complimented,

a dried flower he gave me,

the dress I wore when he danced with me,

the shoes I wore on our first date.

I've been trying so hard to hold on to what I could,

and I had a boyfriend.

Life is really confusing for a girl with a missionary

who loves a boy who is there now.

Girls, it's okay.

It's okay to date.

It's okay to have a boyfriend.

Just know how it's going to hurt him,

and you,

when you have to choose.

I chose Jeff.

My boyfriend stayed a little too late at my house watching a movie.

We'd forgotten to look at the time.

My parents kicked him out around 12:30am and they were upset.

It wasn't until my mom looked me in the eye and said,

"who are you?"

Who am I.

I had felt like I was loosing myself all day long.

Thinking of your missionary when you're dating someone else is a guilt trip,

and I couldn't help but think of Jeff always.

It didn't help that his letter was taking four months.

I didn't know if he had moved on,

if he wanted me to move on,

if he had forgotten about me,

if the letters were getting lost,

I didn't know.

I went down to my room and bawled my eyes out,

to the point when hiccups came.

I said a silent prayer to,

"send me someone, please!"

Then walked in my mom.

We talked about everything that was bothering me.

A good talk.

A long talk.

I calmed down.

Then she left.

As I was laying in bed thinking everything over,

how confusing my life had become.

I said another quiet prayer,

"show me what to do."

Then,

it was as if someone whispered in my ear.

"Go and get the mail."

I made me jump!

I looked over at my clock.

Two o'clock in the morning.

I thought to myself,

"It's 2:00 in the morning?! Why should I get it now? Anything that's in there now will be there when I wake up."

But I ignored myself,

wrapped myself in a blanket,

snuck out of my house,

and went to get the mail.

I couldn't see the letters in the dark,

not to mention I was afraid to look to see if one said Elder Gibson on it.

I waited until I was in my kitchen before I sifted through the letters.

It didn't take long to find his.

14 pages long.

A continuous effort since July.

Elder Gibson!

I

gasped,

grabbed the letter,

ran to my room,

read it,

cried,

prayed thanks,

read it,

cried,

prayed thanks,

and went to sleep happy.
A confirmation.
That letter came at just the right moment.

Thanksgiving/Halloween/Happy birthday in Mexico. . .

So many holidays together!

Birthday

Halloween

Thanksgiving

They are all big deals, but I had to bunch them together

into one package.

The last Autumn in the mission.

Happy Autumn, my missionary.

All wrapped up in little gift bags. There are four because one for Elder Gibson and one for his companion, one for our best friend Elder Rough and his companion. Elder Rough and Elder Gibson have birthdays in October.
 

 

  

Because the holidays need hot apple cider and hot chocolate. :)

Birthday cupcakes. I wish I could make them for him. I'll save that for next year I guess. ;)

To carry around with him, or whatever. Just some snacks

For his birthday! It's a boy! Ha ha!

I'm really sad that I thought that these came with the pretzels until I came home. :( All well, he'll enjoy them anyways.

 

Because Jeff just loves peaches. :)

 

I've gotten used to sending him Peanut Butter. Apparently it's expensive there and now I think he has enough. Ha ha!

 

Of course Oreos. Ha ha! This one is the latest Triple Double Oreo.You know me, just givin' my Elder a heart attack.

My family and I went to Disneyland this last summer, so I got Jeff some souvenirs. I lollipop and a t-shirt.

A joke tie. ;) I really hope he wears it. Ha ha! Just once. . . Ha ha! It's a conversation starter. . . Right?

I found it especially funny that the packaging on his noise putty said, "DO NOT EAT." Don't eat it Elder!

Halloween Screamers. When you shook them them screamed. I had to make sure that I got the ones that didn't have the pins pulled, otherwise they'd be screaming all the way to Mexico.

This is actually Silly Putty. I took it out of the packaging before I took the picture.

Decorations for the apartment. :)

Last but not least, the blowouts.

Hopefully he had a great birthday. It's his last in the field.
His mission is coming to an end.
It's nice for me, but he's probably scambling trying to get all he wants to do done.
My wish is the same as the day he left.
Let his mission go fast for me,
and slow for him.

How long does it take to post a 14 page letter? A couple of days!

This letter was wanted and hoped for for 4 months.

Poor busy missionary. . .

It's been a continuous effort since July 25th and it was received November 4th, 2011.

Long and awaited,

14 pages,

And here it is!

25/Julio/2011-->

-->18/septiembre/2011

. . . Sorry. . .

Hey There Nicole!

So. . . Once again I have a billion letters from you that I have not answered. . . :/ Sorry 'bout that. . . So first think first. This letter might turn out really random as I read through your letters quickly. . . You went to Disneyland! Lucky! And I could be you translator in México! Well. . . Guadalajara. . . ;) Well actually. . . the truth is. . . I'm not really too familiar with Guadalajara. . . Well I went there today actually. . . (I'm not forever away anymore. It's like an hour and a half away now, and your letters get to me a lot faster. :) ) to renew my visa. . . because I was an illegal alien in México. . . ;) since Dicember actuallly. . . But I do know a coupld of cool tourist atracting places that would be fun to visit! :) ¡Yes! send me a red rock! ¡Ja ja! JK LOL. . . but that'd be great! I . . . don't have the red dirt that you sent me anymore. . . the little vial broke. . . :,( wow. . . that was more than a year ago now! sidenote: Today is transfers, and my companion is packin' 'is bags. . . and I get a new friend today! His name is Élder Martínez, and he's from Chiuahuah, México (Chihuahua is the correct spelling. . . ;) but I don't see why it makes a difference. The "h" is silent in Spanish. ,':/ ) Aaaaaaanyway. . . So yes and no to I watch General conference in Spanish. I watch some in English and some in Spanish. (I like it in English a lot better.) (I like listening to their original voices. . . ;) ) Kirstie's engagged to be married!?! ¡Ja ja! (That's what my parents wedding invitations said on them. . . I think that what they told me. . . ;) ) Ha ha! Anyway, that's cool! I'll have to meet "that Mike kid" when I get back. Birthdays! Well, actually it was yours a long time ago. . . but I sent a card. . . Did ya get it? Ha ha! Yes, I will be there to "see what's inside and what [you] wrote to [your]self when [you] were a wee lass" in your time capsule! Ha ha! That'll be fun! Alaina ran up and hugged you one time? hmm. . . I don't remember that, but I can totally see that happening. Ha ha! That's kind of just how she is. I don't really know about Garret. He's walking now. . . and the last time I saw him he was just a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes. . . ;) I have an orange tree in my backyard!. . . unless it died. . . but as fas as I know it's still there and producin'. . . well actually it didn't have fruit when I left. . . ;) but anyway, they do grow in St. George! So you can get one and plant one right now if you want! Go ahead! Right now! Stop reading and go! ;) Ha ha! I'm in a wierd mood. . . could you tell? I want an orchard too!! but I'm not sure how I want it yet. . . in rows, or just along the property line. . . I guess it depends on how big the yard is. . . hmmm. . . ;) Yes, it rains quite a bit in "my Mexico" There's the rainy season and the dry season and right now we're in the rainy season. (oh, backtrack sidenote: yes, I agree that you should feed your kids more than just oranges, peaches, pears, and cherries. ;) ) Lately there's been a ton of lightning and thunder. . . and it's kind of scary. . . ;) It's a lot louder than in St. George. . . and it comes like a second after the lightning so it's really close. . . but I'm a missionary, so I won't be struck. . . unless I'm being bad. . . but I'm not, so I'm fine. ;) ¡Pan dulce! Sweet bread! From México! Are you really learning how yo make ?! :D My favorites are named "la concha" or "shell", "la corbata" or "tie," and I'll have to look up the names of some other ones, because I don't remember. . . :/ *sticky note attached reads: "other Brand Names: Volcanes (volcanoes) Cuernos (horns) Paquél (?) Granilladas (?) Trompadas (?) Mante cadas (buttereds. . . ?) ;)"* You're going to have millions of children?! I'm not sure if that's a good idea. . . maybe 15-20, but millions?! ;) JK LOL! If you want millions you can have millions. ;) Amber still hasn't written me. . . ha ha! Oh well. I guess if she gets around to it great, and if not, oh well. ;) That's awesome that she's going on a mission! Tell her she at least has to tell me where she's going. That'll give her an excuse to write me a letter. ;) Hey, I'm sorry to hear that your grandpa passed away. I'm glad that you could meet some cousins that like you! :D And that my brother could be of some use. ;) In the pamphlets that we give away it says that the spirit world is "a place of preparation, learning, and rest from worries and pain." And Preach my Gospel says pretty much the some thing, just a little more detailed. I'm sure that you've already studied this topic much more thoroghly (spelling. . .?) than I have. From what I've heard unofficially (meaning that I don't remember where I heard it. . . ;) ) the spirit world is here on the earth, but on the other side of the veil. Actually, I think that Bro. King told us that. . . I think. . . ;) You've probably found the answer that you were looking for by now. . . (sorry it's taken so long. :/) but if not I hope this helped. :) *sticky note attached reads: ". . . Elder Gibson translation. . . Chap. 41 of Principles of the Gospel: 'The Spirit World in the Life to Come' Ezra Taft Benson, 'Sometime, the veil between this life and the next is very thin. Our loved ones that have passed on are not far from us' Brigham Young taught that the spirit world, where those who have died go to, is on this earth, round about us."* I'm so jealous that you can go to the temple grounds! Because I can't! It's like two hours away! . . . (and St. George's grounds are bigger and prettier. . . but don't tell anyone I said that. . . ;) ) I'm glad you liked you're b-day card! Ha ha! I'm glad you know that I'm not about to forget your birthday. ;) You're right, I've know you for too long! :) I'm doing pretty awesomely. Thanks for asking! I'm really enjoying this period in my mission. It's been the most challenging, but I also think that I've been growing the most in these last few months. So, I have a new companion. . . can you tell how long it's taking me to write this. . . ?. . . sorry. . . but anyway, his name is Élder Tiscareño (Tee-ska-rain-yo) He's pretty awesome. He only has six months in the mission, but he's amazing and he knows what he's doing. Well the marathon's almost here! :D Hopefully you'll get this before that. . . sorry. Ha ha! So. I made you not want to be a "haughty daughter of Zion"? Well, your very welcome. (sidenote: I just burned the brownies! ¡NO! But it's not fault! It's because all the ovens in México just have a know that says 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and I don't know if that's ºF or ºC!! They still taste kind of good, so I guess it's ok. ;) ) And now your want eight kids?! ha ha! You're right, I remember conversations in high school and you always said maximum. . . 5. . .? I think? But now you want 14 kids. Good for you! that's great! ok, I know you just want eight. ;) and that's great too! Ha ha, I told a member in this ward how big my family was, and he said, "Good. That's how mormon families should be." ;) Ha ha! It made me laugh. You're welcome, quarter-pop-gal. ;) and yes, it's POP! ;) Oh my goodness! You keep telling me how much time I have left in the mission! and it's. . . scary! ;) and funny, because when you were telling me that I had 8 or 7 months, I was just like, "that's foreeever away!" but know I have almost 5 and it's freakin' me out just a little. ;) so I'm just going to talk about something else. ;) Ok, so you want the Sacrament prayer in Spanish? ok! Here they are!

 

Well, there ya go! Enjoy! Disfruta! ;) And yes, I'll read them for you when I get home. (These brownies are completely raw on the inside. . . darn mexican ovens! ;) ) (Random note: My companion almost doesn't have a mexican accent when he speaks English and it freaks me out every time! ;) ) So, you quit the pageant. . . that's ok. :) Just as long you don't think that you can quit everything that you start. ;) But honestly, when I heard that you were going to be in the marathon, the pageant, working, and being the crazy cat lady, I thought whoa! You might want to slow down there, Missy! You might explode. . . (luckily it was just a blood vessel in your eye. . . ;) and not. . . you. . . ;) ) but yes, I will be supportive in whatever you do as long as it doesn't involve killing people or committing felonies or something like that. ;) ¿Está bien? (the brownies gave me a headache. . . too much sugar. . . ;) ) You're going to play "Give said the little stream" for me on the piano?! Awesome! I'm learning too, kind of, there just really isn't a lot of time. I've never been to Draper. . .When my brother and Ariane got married, they went to the Draper Temple. But it was snowing really hard and my mom told me to go straight to the church instead of the temple. (she didn't trust my driving abilities. . . and i don't either. . . in the snow. . .) Well, I'm glad that your work is going well. . . or busy/cranky/crazy. . . ;) I'm so excited to go home and speak Spanish to someone! Someone that needs my help to comumicate. :) So your're getting married! I knew it!. . . Oh, it's just cosmetology school, Ha ha! ;) It's ok if you have regrets. Scott sent me a great letter, and in it he said, "Don't have any regrets," great quote, but completely unrealistic. I think I'll change it to "Don't have any significant regrets" And I completely agree with that. Oh, what a wise brother I have. . . ;) Because it's not really possible to live life without regrets at the very least little ones. Do you tell Élder Rough how many months he has left too, or just me? Because HE has FOUR months left, where I have more than FIVE left. ;) *Gasp* my brother's an Élder now! Do you know haw weird that is for me? Soooooooooo weird! But oh well. Did you know that in total, I won't have seen him for about 3 1/2 years? That's almost 2 whole missions! It's ok though, he'll be serving the Lord, FYI his Birthday is May 28th. How about if I help you with his package? ;) It was the Mexican Independance Day last week! Remember when I wrote you a year ago about it?! It's all déjà vu! Ha ha! Well, I hope that's everything's going great, and that your job gets better/you get a better job or whatever that makes life easier! Super GOOD LUCK on the Marathon! That's way awesome! I would totally die! Unless I walked it. . . then maybe I would even beat you! ;) General Conference is in two weeks! I'm so excited! It's my last one in the mission! :,( super sad face! I love General Conference in the mission. . . ¡¡La Conferenceio General!! Nooooooooooooooooo. . .! Oh well. It's still good at home. I'm going to Guadalajara this week! There's a conference for trainers/District liders/Zone liders (Spanish spelling of "Leaders" ;) ) (actually spanglish) and I'm super excited! (Oh, quick Spanish lesson: When you, Nikki, are talking or decribing yourself in Spanish and the work ends with an "o" you're going to change it to a "a" because you're a girl and the "a" is feminine ie: amigo --> amiga) :)

My 10 things that I'm thankful for!!

1. being able to speak Spanish

2. food

3. water

4. Clothes

5. Natural Gas

6. Comfy beds

7. the heat

8. chapstick

9. You and your letters <-- does that count as two? ;)

10. Life

tu amigo,

26/Septiembre/2011

So. . . I already finished your letter. . . buuuuuuut, I got two more letters from you last week. So I'm going to add a tich more to your letter. . . ;) (and sorry that this letter is super random. . . I just read a part of it, and I was kind of like. . . "This doesn't really make sense. . ." but oh well) Well it's cool and all that your going to Paul Mitchell the School, but they make you go emo if you go. . .? ;) JK LOL! I'm sure you'll find ways to express yourself even in all black. I love the smell of rain! I'm trying to decide which I would rather have: 4-5 months all bunched together of a lot of a lot of rain or rain all year round, but not near as much rain. . . Because here in México, during Autumn, Winter, and Spring, it doesn't rain. But in Summer, it rains a ton, like almost everyday! (FYI: In Guadalajara and Michuacán, it's prettiest in July. Super green, especially in Michuacán) But I think that the rain spell better in St. George. ;) You haven't been to Dixie Rock since I left? That's ok, I haven't either. . . ;) We'll just have to go when I get back. :) Sound good? Ok! Ok! I get it! Sorry I haven't written! Ha ha! No, but I really do feel bad about that, so sorry. But yeah, Kevin's gone so I'll try to write you more often. :) Ha ha! I'm glad that you might get a calling and even more glad that you're excited about it. That's a great example of how the members should be. So thanks for being a good example! Actually you've been one for a long time. So thank you! :) "Cup O 'Noodles" oh, my dear, dear Élder Rough. . . ha ha! That doesn't surprise me much actually. . . ;) Those are super cheap here, they're like $4.50 (pesos) right now that's like $0.30 in the U.S. Although I never bought a Cup O' Noodles in the states before. . . so maybe that's actually expensive. . . ;) You're telling me how much time we have left again! Nooooooo! ;) Ha ha, if I have changes again and I go to an area in a zone where not many of the missionaries know me, I am so totally telling everyone that I only have 13 months in the mission! Ha ha! ;) I'm glad you feel ready for the marathon now. . . . sorry that you're going to get this letter after it's all over. . . but. . . Good Luck! :) So. . . now you curl men's hair. . .? ,':/ Ha ha! Actually, I giggled when I read that. Ha ha! We'll have to see about the whole "Élder Jeffrey C. Gibson with curled hair thing". . . ;) I'll let you practice cutting hair on my head any day. . . With a few weeks in between ;) I'd rather not be more bald than I already am. Thank you. . . ;) (but seriously, I'm kinda a bit balder than I was when I left. . . receding hairlines. . . how I hate them! Is Élder Rough bald too? or is it just me by myself?) What a glorious day because you love your school and your in love with you straightener from school! Ha ha, you're right, I do know where you're coming from with the whole "have to wear the same thing everyday." Well actually I don't know, we do get to choose what color tie we want to wear. ;) ha ha! um. . . I''m not quite sure that I know what the word "frackin'" means. . . ;) JK LOL!

 

Randomness

Ha ha! So yesterday, we were contacting in the street, inviting people to church and we found these three people who looked kinda vagabondish (they were coming from the bus station), and they had all their belongings in bags. So we contacted them and the lady turned out to be a member ((two were from Nicaragua and one from Costa Rica)(they had funny accents. . . ;) ) (ie: Aren't you HUNgrey? That's what I'm SAYing. Don't you underSTAND me? that's how they spoke. . . if you can understand this. . . ;) )) but anyways so they told us that they had been traveling a lot and they were hungry. So my companion told them that they could talk with the bishop to see. Now I didn't think that  that was such a good idea because I know how the bishop is when people come in and ask for stuff. (he's kind of a harsh/hard/not very gentle man sometimes) (Random sidenote: This week I made a four layer Jello! Going back to my Utah roots! ;) it's pretty amazing. ;) ) So we went into the church building and we see the bishop they have a little chat he tells them that he can't give them money and two of them get mad and storm off, but the other guy was cool and said, "hey, the elders just said that there might possibly be the chance that someone was going to be able to give us something to eat. They didn't say anything about money." Then everyone was fine and the Costa Rican left too. Then the bishop gave us a talk about what kind of people we should bring to the church. . . but it all turned out ok. I don't know why I told you that. . . Maybe I just liked the way they talked. . . But anyway here's your letter, and sorry again for how long it's taken. . . I feel really bad. . . :( Thank you for being so great and writing me even though you weren't recieving letters back. You're Amazing! And I really do mean that! Thank you!

tu amigo,

. . . really bad signature. . .