Hola Family!
Holy cow. So so many things happened this week.
My last night in the MTC (which seems like years ago) was so super sad. I miss all of the cute friends I made there... even those who came to Florida with me because none of them are in my zone or anything. I reported to the MTC Travel Office at 3:45 a.m. We all got on a bus that was blasting Tabernacle Choir music and that took us to the front runner which then took us to the airport. Before I got on my flight to Atlanta, I ran into Sister Harper and Elder Draper, who were both headed to Peru on their missions! We were on the same flight to Georgia, but had to say goodbye at that airport! Good luck my friends!!
I got to Florida and the heat and humidity hit me all at once. I LOVE IT. My hair doesn't though, haha. We went to the mission home, then to a hotel to stay the night. I met President and Sister Garns, who are just so awesome.
The next day, I had to say farewell to my cute comp., Sister Toone. My trainer's name is Sister Lindsey Edmunds! She is from Ogden Utah, and is so so cute. This is only her fourth transfer, so she's really good at what she does. We have been assigned to the Boynton Beach Zone in the Boca Raton Ward.
My new address is:
23090 Post Gardens Way Apt. 315
Boca Raton, FL 33433
Although, if you want to send me important packages or anything, you might consider sending them to the Mission Office instead, unless you need things to get to me right away.
Sister Edmunds and I room in the same little apartment with a Portuguese companionship: Sister Affonso and Sister Paniagua. They are the coolest cats in all of southern Florida. Sister Affonso is from Brazil, and has been teaching me Portuguese!!! I know how to say things like "We are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints", "Can we give you a card of Jesus Christ?", and "thank you". And then Sister Paniagua has been teaching me the same stuff in Spanish. This mission has four official languages, and they all meet at our church building in different blocks: English, Haitian-Creol, Portuguese, and Spanish. We also have some Visa-waiters going to Tahiti (speaking French and Tahitian) and some going to Madagascar (speaking Malagasee). Super cool. My companion has picked up on some of the languages, so there is a little hope for me to learn something.
The rest of the week was mainly just spent talking to and meeting with members, less actives, referrals, and friends (formally known as investigators).
There was actually a baptism in the Boca Rio West Ward (Portuguese Ward) yesterday and Sister Edmunds and I went because there was a friend there who only spoke English and wants to know more. So I think we'll being to teach him. But after the baptism, we went to a Brazilian Barbecue and that was some of the best food I have ever had. Holy cow. If I ate that every day, I'm sure my pant size when I come back would be the same as the diameter of the earth.
I loved going to church most of all this week. I always find myself taking for granted the sacrament. Don't do that. The sacrament is prioritty #1 when we go to church!
If you read nothing else of this letter, I implore you to read this, especially if you are preparing yourself for a mission.
The first few days here for me were so stinking hard. There were no familiar faces and I still had not caught up on sleep. On top of that, we went knocking ("tracting") and got yelled at by a few people.
What you need to understand that I didn't, was that most of the things that you see and read in missionaries letters are the good times and highlights. You don't see the negative aspects, and feel the same pain that these missionaries feel when a door slams in their face or when they feel the disproving stares of those around them and wish that this tag over their heart didn't stand out as much as it does. Missions are difficult, and mine will only continue to be. I find myself wondering all the time if this work is really "hastening" because it feels so slow, especially when you give it your all and see nothing come from it. I struggled this week a lot, especially with adjusting to missionary life and all the darn rules we have to keep. I knew before I came that a mission would be challenging, but sometimes I wish it was easier. But like Elder Holland says in a talk, "How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him?"
I really do love it here. I know it will take time to adjust, but it is great.
I love you all. I really do. I love hearing from you, and if you ever email me, I promise that I read it and smile, even if I don't get the time to respond. I wish you all the most stellar week. If it starts snowing anytime soon, send me some pictures!! I love the heat here, but I will miss the beautiful snow!
LOVE LOVE LOVE
Sister Sydney Gibbons
Matthew 10:13-14,19-20,39-40
Sent from the Sunshine State
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