Wow. What a week. From getting the water turned off on us,
teaching a lesson in French with a world-class boxing champion, and getting a
new companion, I don't even know where to start. Oh Just kidding - I do:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHWEEDIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [That is his sister, Anna!]
I've been thinking of you this whole week and I'm sad I wasn't able to see you or sing to you directly (but I did to myself, even though I felt like a weirdo when I sang Happy Birthday by myself). Just know that I am constantly thinking and praying for you. Happy 14th :๖ (That's me making a weird fat face for you)!
I'll also graciously thank you, mom, for sending me that much-needed package! If sent on the 20th, I think it came on the 25th or 26th! It's faster to send here than for me to sent there, fyi. And CONGRATS AnnAlysse!! OMGosh, I'm so excited!
So, like I said, it's been a weird week. First of all, I have a new trainer! SURPRISE! Oh, the Lord's sense of humor is hard to follow sometimes... Jk ;) To give some more detail, I'll share you this week's president letter:
"Dear President,
"My Hand of the Lord experience was a little different this time around. It really has to do with all the switching up that took place this week. It has been hard, but necessary to the work here in ดอนเมือง...with this switch, it's been that needed blessing I was missing. For some reason, I needed the training of more than one trainer. Right as Elder Osborne got here, he has been non-stop trying to plan for these investigators. Now we are organized and ready to go...we have great plans for the area and our companionship.
"But even with the switch, I didn't think I was ready. I was really struggling...But President, I spoke better Thai, made better phone calls, understood more and had more strength than I had ever had before in my entire mission. I am starting to receive a witness from the trail of my faith - that Lord was there for me then, and He is directing the affairs of his work now and always. That's my experience this week - that the Lord does what's best for everyone, and guides his servants to accomplish His will."
So during our switching around, our water was turned off and we had to stay the night at the the AP's and office Elder's house (Dad, you should see these houses - or maybe you shouldn't cuz it would cause you nightmares), where I slept right by the bed of Elder Goodmansen, our Senior AP, and we talked about some awesome things about inviting, seeing the President's vision, and just other sweet stuff. But before all that happened, we had to get the area book all straightened up, so we drove to Asoke - the center of Bangkok - to talk with my old "Pa" about the area. As Elder Jensen and Osborne exchanged info of each other's former areas, I went on splits with an Elder Grover to teach this lady named Annie from the Congo with a world champion boxer also from the Congo. Yeah, so I guess they speak French there? Anyway, relying on the Lord, and Tyler - our interpreter-boxer friend, we were able to help her come closer to Christ through the scriptures. Oh yeah. Commitment for this week - read everyday. It's good for you. Anyway, it was an awesome experience, much like Sport's day was seeing Elders Bennett, Gilly, Kramer, Adams (who were in the group ahead of us in the MTC), and especially Elder Engle. In the MTC, everyone tells you, "Just make it to Sunday." After talking to Elder Mondragon, our awesome DL, we decided to "just make it to sports day." I still don't understand this rich language all that time nor am I understood always, but after seeing him, eating at a Mexian restaurant, and having a few Ovaltine shakes (*not to mention fresh mangos this season), I think everything will be ok and we'll be able to do this. I say we, because I have continually felt your prayers, buses have continued to not hit me, I have still not got outrageously sick, and I am happy in this work. I often think of Dad's little saying I've heard
time and time again - "It's ok to have a bad day, but don't let those turn into bad weeks or bad months (or transfers like a lot of missionaries)..." Then I can't remember what else you've said, Dad, but maybe that's a good thing because elements of your attitude therapy seep into my mission right when I need them.
Really, thanks for everything, and I love you all!
กับรักเสมอ, (With love always,)
เอ็ลเดอร์ กิฺบบันส์ (Elder Gibbons)
PS: I'm just going to try to send some pictures later, and fill in the gaps later.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHWEEDIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've been thinking of you this whole week and I'm sad I wasn't able to see you or sing to you directly (but I did to myself, even though I felt like a weirdo when I sang Happy Birthday by myself). Just know that I am constantly thinking and praying for you. Happy 14th :๖ (That's me making a weird fat face for you)!
I'll also graciously thank you, mom, for sending me that much-needed package! If sent on the 20th, I think it came on the 25th or 26th! It's faster to send here than for me to sent there, fyi. And CONGRATS AnnAlysse!! OMGosh, I'm so excited!
So, like I said, it's been a weird week. First of all, I have a new trainer! SURPRISE! Oh, the Lord's sense of humor is hard to follow sometimes... Jk ;) To give some more detail, I'll share you this week's president letter:
"Dear President,
"My Hand of the Lord experience was a little different this time around. It really has to do with all the switching up that took place this week. It has been hard, but necessary to the work here in ดอนเมือง...with this switch, it's been that needed blessing I was missing. For some reason, I needed the training of more than one trainer. Right as Elder Osborne got here, he has been non-stop trying to plan for these investigators. Now we are organized and ready to go...we have great plans for the area and our companionship.
"But even with the switch, I didn't think I was ready. I was really struggling...But President, I spoke better Thai, made better phone calls, understood more and had more strength than I had ever had before in my entire mission. I am starting to receive a witness from the trail of my faith - that Lord was there for me then, and He is directing the affairs of his work now and always. That's my experience this week - that the Lord does what's best for everyone, and guides his servants to accomplish His will."
So during our switching around, our water was turned off and we had to stay the night at the the AP's and office Elder's house (Dad, you should see these houses - or maybe you shouldn't cuz it would cause you nightmares), where I slept right by the bed of Elder Goodmansen, our Senior AP, and we talked about some awesome things about inviting, seeing the President's vision, and just other sweet stuff. But before all that happened, we had to get the area book all straightened up, so we drove to Asoke - the center of Bangkok - to talk with my old "Pa" about the area. As Elder Jensen and Osborne exchanged info of each other's former areas, I went on splits with an Elder Grover to teach this lady named Annie from the Congo with a world champion boxer also from the Congo. Yeah, so I guess they speak French there? Anyway, relying on the Lord, and Tyler - our interpreter-boxer friend, we were able to help her come closer to Christ through the scriptures. Oh yeah. Commitment for this week - read everyday. It's good for you. Anyway, it was an awesome experience, much like Sport's day was seeing Elders Bennett, Gilly, Kramer, Adams (who were in the group ahead of us in the MTC), and especially Elder Engle. In the MTC, everyone tells you, "Just make it to Sunday." After talking to Elder Mondragon, our awesome DL, we decided to "just make it to sports day." I still don't understand this rich language all that time nor am I understood always, but after seeing him, eating at a Mexian restaurant, and having a few Ovaltine shakes (*not to mention fresh mangos this season), I think everything will be ok and we'll be able to do this. I say we, because I have continually felt your prayers, buses have continued to not hit me, I have still not got outrageously sick, and I am happy in this work. I often think of Dad's little saying I've heard
time and time again - "It's ok to have a bad day, but don't let those turn into bad weeks or bad months (or transfers like a lot of missionaries)..." Then I can't remember what else you've said, Dad, but maybe that's a good thing because elements of your attitude therapy seep into my mission right when I need them.
Really, thanks for everything, and I love you all!
กับรักเสมอ, (With love always,)
เอ็ลเดอร์ กิฺบบันส์ (Elder Gibbons)
PS: I'm just going to try to send some pictures later, and fill in the gaps later.
