20 March 2017 - Week 73

Crazy week. So Thursday we had interviews with the mission president. He said there are only like 2 missionaries coming to the mission this transfer so not a lot of changes are happening for the next few months. Our Zone went to the zoo last week! It was pretty cool. I've wanted to go to the zoo my entire mission!! It's a smaller zoo but still cool! We had to drop 2 investigators last week because they weren't keeping commitments, and didn't really seem to care. It's so frustrating.... We drove up to Birmingham with my boy Mezz which was fun. Got to see the city again, it's been awhile. Today we woke up early, and went out to work on the deck some more. We added the railing to one side of it. Then we had to leave so there's still more to do. We had to leave because we had to head home to get our apt. Inspected. Fun, I know.. Then we went to blue bell afterward. Comin' up on 17 months! Thanks for all the support form everyone! Love y'all!!!

  -Elder John M. Gilbert

27 Feb, 6 Mar, 13 Mar 2017 - Weeks 70, 71, & 72

Good week, not a lot to talk about this week. The branch got a new implant (Brother Perry) to be the clerk. We lost another investigator this week....but hopefully he will come around. We had zone training this past week and zone conference this week. So lots of meetings. We went fishing! We found a lake like 5 min away from our house! My companion caught his first bass! I'm so proud of him! Thanks for all the support, sorry i don't have any exciting stories! We're just grindin'!
- Elder John M Gilbert 

21 February 2017 - Week 69

Cool week! So the transfer ends on Wed. Elder Standifird and I are staying together for another one! We are both super excited! The highlight of last week was we built a deck. There is a sister in our branch that had a deck once upon a time, but not anymore. She wasn't even able to get up to her front door. So Elder Standifird and I learned how to build a deck this week. And to be completely honest, we are super proud of it!! It turned out to be 12' x 16' and works great! We were able to keep teaching our investigator. She's had a few hiccups recently but she is still awesome and still progressing! Thanks for the letters and support! It's crazy how fast time is starting to wind down. Almost to 8 months! Thank you to everyone. Your missionary- Elder John M. Gilbert

13 February 2017 - Week 68

Not a bad week. So nothing super exciting to write home about. We had another really good lesson with our investigator. She is definitely progressing. They took us out to eat at a really nice Italian restaurant! So that was cool. It was kinda funny and super ironic to teach the word of wisdom while stuffing our faces at an Italian restaurant... but it was still a really good lesson! I'm super excited for her. We had another death in the twig so we held another funeral. Because of that, family was in town, so there was an unusual amount of people at church. We ran out of the sacrament by one cup!! So annoying!! So we had to bless it again just for one cup! But its fine. V-Day is on Tuesday..... definitely not a fun one on the mission.... but it's whatever. Thanks for all the support from everyone! Love yall. -Elder John M. Gilbert

6 February 2017 - Week 67

Awesome week. We were able to have  another lesson with Kristy. We taught them the 3rd lesson. She had just had tooth problems and we were able to give her a blessing. She asked me to say it and I don't remember what I said (I never do) but when I finished there were tears everywhere so I guess it was good. She said that her nausea went away immediately after the blessing. We had zone conference this past week which was pretty cool to be able to see everyone. But yeah, I got to break in the new camera this week which I'm super exited about it! I'll attach some pics to this and thanks for all the support from everyone! Talk you y'all next week. -Elder John M. Gilbert

30 January 2017 - Week 66

Awesome week! There is one young women in our branch. So we usually go and help out every Wednesday for young women. We show up this past wed and nobody is there.... We decided to hang out for a few min to see if anyone shows up. So we kinda wait around and check up on some referrals we had, double checking their addresses. And someone randomly knocks on the door to the church. The man tells us that he is less active and he just recently got married about 2 months ago and his wife is not a member but in interested in taking the lessons. Turns out she's just waiting in the car, so we invite them in and give them a tour of the church. We continue with an almost 2 hour long restoration lesson. It was super awesome, super spiritual,  there were tears everywhere. We were able to meet up with them on Saturday as well and teach the Plan of Salvation. It was another really good lesson! I am super exited for this couple! Elder Standifird is the man! He is a great missionary and we are really figuring out how to teach really well together. I'm super exited for this upcoming week! Thank you for all that you do. -Elder John M. Gilbert

23 January 2017 - Week 65

Good week! 

So I had a weird but super spiritual experience this past week. So the branch here is super small and we are basically the only priesthood. So a member of the branch past away last week (I didn't get to meet him). The funeral was Saturday and it was the branch president and us that dressed him. One of the most spiritual experiences of my mission. I could literally feel him and feel his gratitude and for my service when I didn't even know him.

Then earlier today we went to the Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory! Which was super cool! There are only 2. One here in Sylacauga and one in Texas. It was awesome! They have a whole parlor upstairs and a huge scoop of ice cream is only 1 dollar and there's no tax lol so we might be stopping by there more often :P 

   

But yeah, those were the highlights of my week. Hope all is well :)

         

Your missionary, -Elder John M. Gilbert