My New Miracle Friend

Hello everyone, or at least those who read the blog.  I know there are at least a few because I have been asked by several people when the next version of “As Spain Turns” will be published.  Well not to think that these epistles will ever rival those of Paul, but I will do my best to inform, entertain  and testify.  Just to give you some scriptural references of Paul specifically referring to his journey in Spain please refer to Romans 15:24,28.  I could quote it here for you but that would be too easy.  If Linda has to learn Spanish then you can at least look up a scripture or two, haha.

A few things of interest have happened since our last chat.  Linda and I are thinking and praying for ways to support the branch, support the young Elders and develop our own methods, using our experience and hopefully wisdom (at least Linda’s).  One thing we have implemented is to select a different family each week and hold a family home evening with them.  We have developed a lesson which we took from a talk given by Sister Marriott.  The talk is entitled "Spiritual Nourishment and Long Handles Spoons.  If you haven't heard or read it then I recommend you Google it and read it.  It has a great message.  We coupled the talk together with an article in the March issue of the Liahona (page 23) entitled "I'm Feeling….."  We printed out scripture cards on card stock and put them in a cup  for the members to keep.  We also purchased long wooden spoons which we found in the "Chinese store" near us that carries all kinds of "stuff".  Have you ever heard a Chinese person speak good Spanish?  Nope, me neither.  Anyway…….after the lesson we left the cards and a long wooden spoon with each home.  We think the lesson has been well received and we will continue to hold the FHE's until we get to each home.  We will then probably make another lesson plan and continue on.  Oh yeah, to add a nice touch, Linda tied a pretty ribbon around the wooden spoons.  The women really liked this added flair.

The people here really do not know much, if anything, of the Church (I am referring to the non-members). Because of this, we are on a "crusade" to present a happy countenance and always try to bring a smile to each person's face that we meet.  In my mission to Uruguay the people were very friendly and a greeting expressed was a greeting returned.  Here we have found the Spanish people to be very closely guarded and a greeting in passing is a rare thing.  This does not detour us in the least.  We constantly greet people in the streets and in the stores.  The popular way of greeting here is "buenas" or "hasta luego", even though "hasta luego" really means see you later (literally, until later).  We have always been the first to invoke the greeting and most people will at least grunt a quiet response as we pass them.  The older the person, the better the response.  Sometimes the people's eyes literally open wide in surprise as they can't believe someone greeted them.  Yesterday we had a marvelous success.  As we were coming home to our "piso" (apt), a younger lady saw us and greeted us loudly and happily.  I think we had greeted her in the past and she recognized us.  We felt so pleased with this simple success.

Now, I know this blog is getting a little long for those whose attention span is challenged but I would like to share what I feel is a minor miracle.  We had an interesting experience on our first day here in our piso.  Elder and Sister Redd came to Cáceres to show us around and introduce us to some of the members.  The Redd's are the couple we replaced.  They will finish their mission in May and are now traveling around the mission the check on the picos of all of the missionaries.  While the Redd's were at our piso showing us around, a knock came at the door.  Elder Redd and I went to the door and when we opened the door we were greeted by a very angry Spanish neighbor who said he lived just underneath us.  He started out on a rant that went on and on.  I almost laughed at his outrage but I didn't think that would be proper.  After all, I am a missionary.  He continued at length until the humor I felt morphed into a "we believe in the laying on of hands" attitude.  Again, I had to remind myself that I was a missionary.  Anyway……his beef was that he had put up with tons of noise, for months and he had already mentioned it to the Redd's before and he had had it.  The funny thing is, the Redd's hadn't even been in the piso for two weeks.  He didn't seem to care and even reminded them of the noisy kids who had been there way back during Christmas time.  After he finished his rant and left, I looked at Elder Redd and said: "thank you". 

A couple of days later we passed the neighbor on the street and he actually acknowledged us.  I told Linda that my goal was to meet this guy in more favorable circumstances, become friends and introduce him to the Church.

My plan almost backfired before it got started.

Fast forward to yesterday……….We came home and found a long letter from the same neighbor.  His name is Jose Antonio.  His letter almost sounded like a legal eviction notice with great flowery language (of course in Spanish).  He said that he was sick and tired of the constant noises from us at all hours of the night and day.  He went on and on but there is no room to write all of his complaints.  The just of the letter was that he had already sent a letter to the piso management and was going to begin legal proceeding to have us evicted.  Well well, Elder Gibson really had to be reminded of his missionary calling.  The thing is, we are very quiet and his ranting had absolutely no basic in fact.  As I re-read his letter I noticed that he was complaining about noises and furniture being dragged around the piso, etc.  The things he complained about actually were coming from another neighbor because we had heard the same things.  I decided to go down and talk to the guy.  When he opened the door I think he was surprised to see me.  I put on my best "I'm a good guy face" and eventually he let me in.  We sat down and I went over his letter with him in detail.  I told him our schedule and that we didn't stay up half the night and didn't get up with the chickens.  There are too many details to tell you about but when I left his piso after about 40 minutes he had profusely apologized several times.  He said he would immediately call the management and tell them that he was gravely mistaken and that the other neighbor was at fault.  I asked him to leave us out of the "snitch" business with the other neighbor and he said not to worry.  After we had drunk the nectar of friendship, José Antonio told me his father and two brothers were in the police business here is Spain.  Hallelujah, an opening I couldn't let slide.  I told him I had a gift for him that I would deliver the next day.  He seemed quite pleased with the idea.

Today I delivered to my new friend, a patch from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department as well as one from the CHP.  Dave Montijo was kind enough to give me some CHP patches before I left.  I have quite a stash, so there are more for the cops (if needed, haha).  José Antonio was more than pleased with my gift.  So what started out as a very inauspicious beginning is now literally blossoming into a legitimate friendship.  We have exchanged cell phone numbers and the future looks bright.  He is a professional man with military experience as well as legal training.  He is exactly the type of person who would make a great member.  Now I'm not predicting he will be baptized but a minor miracle has already happened.  Sorry for the length of this story but I hope you see that even when things seem bleak, the Lord helps us figure things out.

Yesterday (Mon) we met up with Brent, Austin and Tyler Moore in Old Cáceres, which is a wonderful historical part of Spain.  If you really want to see “Old Spain”, then “La Cuidad Monumental” is where you need to come.  It has an incredible history that dates back before Christ.  I’m sure I will blog about it in much more detail in a future blog.  To peak your interest here are a few pictures.  It was nice to visit with folks from home.  The Moore's are on an epic trek.  They are walking from Sevilla Spain to Salamanca and possibly even farther.  I am sure we will eventually walk more miles is Spain than they will, but we have 18 months to do it.  They are performing quite the feat.  Linda was especially grateful for the opportunity to speak English.  If it wasn't for me, she would have nobody to speak her language to.  Elder Bailey is from England but sometimes we have to ask him what in heaven he is saying.  He has only been here about two weeks longer than us.  Between his basic Spanish (he is getting much better) and his English terminology, it is quite comical.  We have yet to meet an English speaking person on the street or even in a store in Cáceres.  When we were eating lunch with the Moore's a greyhound puppy ran under our table and refused to leave.  His owner profusely apologized and tried out his English with is but it wasn't quite the King's English.  I actually quite liked the puppy, but alas he went to his master.

This picture doesn't begin to do justice to the Old City.

Notice how narrow the streets are.

Austin, Brent, Dennis, Linda in the Old City

Tyler, Brent and Autin Moore enjoying lunch with Elder and Hna. Gibson

Saturday evening we had a branch council.  I was asked by our branch president to train the brach leaders on presidency meetings.  I thought long and hard on how I wanted to go about this training I was asked to deliver.  One thing that I have noticed is for the members to not be too concerned if someone who is assigned to teach a lesson just doesn't show up.  What has been the practice in our limited time here is for the branch leaders just to ask someone to fill in at the last minute.  Obviously the person filling in isn't prepared and the result isn't always good.  I have been asked twice to teach Sunday School when the teacher didn't show up.  The first time I had luckily read the lesson ahead of time and I somewhat have the gift of gab so it went ok.  The second time I prepared a full lesson ahead of time, anticipating that the teacher may not show up, and he didn't.  I was prepared and the lesson went well.  I told the branch council that there are two ways to serve in the church.  One way is by custom or tradition or "this is how we have always done it".  The other way is the way the Church has outlined, by handbooks, lesson manuals, leadership training, teacher instruction training, etc.  I didn't want to step on any toes or bring in the "American way of doing it", so I was very careful on how I taught them.  The participation by the branch council was awesome and I think they were relieved that we had this discussion. 

The members here are wonderful and faithful.  Our hearts are so softened towards them as we listen to their stores and hear of many of the struggles they have endured.  We are so blessed in our lives and we want to do everything in our power to help lift these wonderful people.

Hermana Abuela Gibson

This is one talented Hermana!

Yes we do more than just eat!

Each week (usually) I write letter to our Mission President giving him an update on our labors here in Cáceres. In my letter I told President AndersenI about the leadership training and my thoughts on this subject.  He called me this morning and talked with me for a long time telling me how much he agreed with the approach we are taking,  He also said that he is certain our coming to Cáceres is the will of the Lord and that we have a great work to do here.  It was a special phone call.  He also invited Linda and me to join him and Hermana Anderson, along with a member of the Mission Presidency and his wife to spend some time in Mérida next Monday.  Mérida has a great deal of Roman ruins.  He said he doesn't get to be a "tourist" that often and invited us to join them.  I guess he likes us.  We love him and Sister Andersen and were please to accept the invitation.

I have more but I'm sure you are tired of reading, if you are even still there.

We love and miss our family and friends but know that we are where we are supposed to be for a season.

Next blog coming soon………..

Hasta Luego

Dennis and Linda

Elder and Hermana Gibson

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