26 October 2014
Valparaíso (paraíso
means paradise)
Dear Grandchildren (all
21.61),
Yes, Eve – “y” en español means “and”.
And,
No, we have not baptized anyone yet.
But, we have accepted Elder Heflin’s challenge; and this week have read nightly a conference talk and chosen a goal
from each talk for ourselves. The
district meetings the past two weeks have also talked about developing
Christlike attributes, and we are working on having hope, being obedient,
diligent and humble.
We cannot believe that
Ellie and Clark will turn 5 this week.
Look at this picture of our two buddies born 1 day apart in Las
Vegas.
When we saw pictures of Ellie
when the Bishop family was in Hawaii, we were amazed how long her hair is and
how grown up she looked!!
Grandma told me the
story of the night that Clark and Bryce were spending the night and sleeping on
sleeping bags in our room. Apparently,
you were having a great time jumping on our bed and Grandma said, “I came in to
tell you to hop in to your sleeping bags and go to sleep. Bryce was not too happy about that. He had such a hard time that there were a few
tears –
and I remember Clark saying, “Maybe we should sing a song.” I said, “Clark, that is a great idea! What is your favorite song?” And Clark quickly said, “Wonderful to
Me.” I said, “I don’t think I know – Oh,
wait a minute, do you mean, (and I began to sing): “I stand all amazed at the
love Jesus offers me.” And you said, “Yes, that is it!” So we sang all together, “I stand all amazed…..” And Bryce and you hopped in and fell
asleep…. That was a special experience
for me.”
So, Clark and Ellie, we love you and hope
your 5th birthday parties are terrific times!!! Tell us what kind of cake you had and what
you did.
When it is Grandpa’s
turn to say our family prayer, he always says, “And help our grandchildren be wise enough to
listen to their parents.” Every night
after we have read our scriptures and said our prayers, we look at the pictures
of all our “nietos” and are very thankful for all of you. We are so proud of Elder Heflin – he will
make a great trainer to his new “greenie”.
Grandma laughed when she saw all his poses with this beautiful earth and
all its fall colors in Connecticut and when he compared getting his first
“greenie” to train as similar to a mother’s feeling of responsibility with her
new little baby that has just arrived.
What a responsibility!! Then, we
turn out our lights and look at this beautiful world and the hillside facing us
with all streets lighting up and winding to and fro - like the lights on a Christmas tree…. How
beautiful!
Because of our work at the cemetery every day, and as we look out at
the many lights of homes that need the gospel, we think of hymn #92 “…friends on earth and friends above….” who
all need the gospel and the ordinances of baptism and confirmation.
As we read the General
Conference talks, we particularly enjoyed these thoughts from the nine talks we
have read this week.
Jörg Klebingat – “It’s
a lie that Heavenly Father is disappointed in you and that the atonement is
beyond your reach.” Our goal is to “Joyfully”
repent every day.
M. Russell Ballard – Be
like the sons of Mosiah and listen to our “River Guides” (the apostles and
prophets). Our goal is to have conversión
continuando… (work on Christlike attributes every day).
Tad Richards Callister
– We remember his grandfather – Elder LeGrand Richards
Great-Grandpa Merrill, J.A. Kartchner, Elder LeGrand Richards, Great-Grandpa Gibson
– and our reading of
Elder Callister’s book, “The Infinite Atonement” – and know Elder Callister
speaks for the Lord. We reflected after reading that talk that when our
children were about the age of our grandchildren now – that we began to truly
find our children to be enjoyable. We
recalled dinner times, where we had Johnny Jump-ups and those who cleared the
table and brought out the dessert, and where we had “meaningful conversation”. Then you all took turns to wash and dry dishes,
etc. Jobs, jobs, jobs. Parents,
this is the time for truly enjoying your children!! Our goal with Elder Callister’s talk was to
ALWAYS have morning prayer. Elder Heflin is probably the best at
this! Grandchildren, if you are
forgetting your morning prayers, tell your parents that as your prime gospel
teachers, THEY can correct this!!
How are all the nietos
doing with reading PERSONAL scrips? (We know that family scrips are going
pretty well….) Are you keeping a journal
of thoughts you have about a certain verse?
Do you know the name of Nephi’s horse?
[See bottom of this post for this answer – we learned this at the MTC!]
So, today your grandpa
was sustained and set apart as the clerk of the O’Higgins Barrio (Ward) and
Brother Smith is now the 2nd counselor in the bishopric. Our work at the cemetery is 8-5 Monday
through Friday, and now there will be many visits in the evenings for Dad and
Brother Smith with the Bishop and his other counselor. Grandpa is now jogging again. His broken collarbone is healed. He is keeping up daily with the “Clean Chrome
Challenge”!!
He washes the dishes and I
cook. Grandpa made a clothesline on our
balcony and we hang our bath towel and his jog clothes out every day since
inside the humidity keeps things cool and damp.
We shop for the week every Saturday at Líder (a giant WalMart) in Viña
or Jumbo in Valparaíso.
We miss you all.
Love you all. As we travel those
speedy “Disneyland” buses, we see the vastness of the work to be done. During the week we wear badges that have our
name and the FamilySearch name, but we know we are still representing Jesus
Christ and many inquire as to what we are doing. There are so many wonderful people who need
the gospel.
Love,
Grandpa and Grandma
Gibson
[Beuntohim is the name
of Nephi’s horse because Nephi was always saying “Whoa, Beuntohim….” See 2 Ne
28:24,25,26,27, and 29].
Elder Oaks said, “And
let your preaching be the warning voice, every man to his neighbor, in mildness
and in meekness (D&C 38:41).
