Elder Jared Gibby - December 30, 2009

Britney's Christmas Present

Britney opened her Christmas present before we took her and her brother, Jonathan, to the airport to fly home for Christmas. I think she liked it.

Elder Jordan Gibby - December 22, 2009

From Jordan Mission

From Jordan Mission

From Jordan Mission

Grandma Gibby Funeral - December 29

Today I attended the funeral service for my Grandma Gibby. She had just turned 94 at the end of September this year. She had been in relatively good health for her age until she fell and broke her ankle the day after Thanksgiving. She passed away peacefully in her home where she had lived for almost 75 years. It was a beautiful service on a cold and blustery winter day. I felt bad for my sister, Rachelle, and her family that were unable to attend the funeral because of bad weather. I am grateful that I was able to know my Grandmother for so many years. It was good to see so many friends and relatives from my father's and mother's families.

Elder Jared Gibby - December 23, 2009

From Jared Dec 2009

Elder Jordan Gibby - December 22, 2009

From Jordan Mission

Elder Gibby finally receives all his packages!

From Jordan Mission

Reeses - a candy you can't get in Brazil - the Holy Grail of Candy for missionaries.

From Jordan Mission

Not sure what this is, but it looks fun.

Elder Jordan Gibby - December 15, 2009

Elder Jared Gibby - December 16, 2009

A Couple of More Telling Visual Commentaries

A Commentary on Modern Life

I saw this and busted up laughing. Isn't it true.

MOTAB Christmas Concert

WOW! What an incredible concert. The choir, the orchestra, the dancers, the bell ringers and the guest artists - it was a night to remember. I am so grateful that we received tickets. Even the weather was nice (much warmer than the Devotional last Sunday).

Elder Jordan Gibby - December 7, 2009

The guy in the hat is our one of our wards mission leaders, he hunts wild pigs for fun and has 7 dogs that help him. its pretty crazy haha.


Jordan had his first transfer this week. It sounded like he was staying in his area and getting a new companion. He likes his area and is making progress with the language.

First Presidency Devotional - December 6, 2009

Wow, we had the great experience of attending the First Presidency Devotional in the Conference Center tonight. We had seats just 8 rows back from the stage. The talks given by the First Presidency were wonderful. The choir sounded angelic. It was just the right event to put me in the Christmas spirit. Britney and Lizzy came up from Provo. It was a cold walk to from the parking garage, but it was so worth it. THe family sitting behind us was from Richland. David Volmer, who I knew growing up, is the Bishop of their ward. They flew down for the First Presidency Devotional. She told Sherrie that they have been trying to get tickets for 10 years. I guess there are advantages to living close to the Conference Center. While I haven't gotten them every year, we have gone twice and had seats close to the front both times. This coming Saturday we get to go to the Conference Center again for the Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert with Natalie Cole as the guest artist. I am so excited for that concert. I was able to get tickets to tall the events this year that I wanted to attend on Temple Square. I guess it must be a blessing from having 2 sons serving missions this Christmas season.

Elder Jordan Gibby - December 1, 2009

A long way from home


Elder Gibby being attacked by a dinosaur on p-day


Helping a Church member build a brick addition on his house


Elder Gibby met the real Santa Claus and he speaks Portuguese!

Elder Gibby is really enjoying his mission in Brazil. Last week a lightning storm zapped his battery charger. I was trying to figure out how to buy one online in Brazil and have it shipped to him inside the country. It is astronomically expensive to ship things from here. He let us know this week, "Asfor the batteries one of the elders here had an extra battery charger! Woo, I am so happy that he did because he said I can have it." So his camera is up and operating again.

The language is progressing. "I heard that 6 months is pretty much the normal time for people to understand the language." That is pretty much what I have heard from missionaries who have served around the world - give it six months and you are speaking and understanding well. Elder Gibby wrote, "One thing that is kind of hard is saying everything backwards. I practice by thinking that I am speaking like Yoda, it seems to work for a lot of the phrases. I write down words I don't know all day and study them throughout the day."

Elder Gibby is coming up on his first transfer, "We have transfers in 6 days, crazy hu? I will be getting new comp. My comp right now is named Elder Miranda, he has the same time left as Jared."

Feliz Natal!