Notice: NEW MISSION ADDRESS
Hello from ประเทศไทย!
That says Thailand, I think...
Anyway, this week was awesome! There's a lot of stuff and cool experiences, so again, buckle up.
Well remember Sister Ton? Well, the Laksii sisters had her baptism this Saturday (our area was split with the Sisters, and Ton went with them)! We began teaching her, but she was very difficult because she wouldn't ever listen - instead she would talk at speeds I literally couldn't imitate in English. Now, at her baptism, I got to watch my first convert named Oom-iim (who happened to be the first investigator I ever met) say the opening prayer for Sister Ton, who happens to be my first investigator I found and started teaching from the beginning...
[MTL (Mini Thai Lesson): These situations are called พอดี ("paaw-dii"), when things just work out like this!]
... Anyway, her whole countenance has completely changed. She is calm. She is peaceable. She talks NORMAL! If anyone says that the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ doesn't change people's lives for the better, they are confused, or extremely deceived. I know that this gospel brings people through the darkness of confusion into greater light. Sometimes it takes a long time to GET THROUGH that dark shadow, but that's what faith and repentance are when used together - the act of walking on the path from darkness to light. I've experienced this, I've seen it work, and for those who don't know where to go, I encourage you to start walking. "God guides walking feet" someone told me once, and I know if you start walking toward Christ, the only true path will appear (see 2 Ne 31).
Speaking of truth and new paths, we had the pleasure to welcome President and Sister Senior on Saturday. In fact, Elder Engle, Elder Kramer and I (we all were in the same entering group) had the privilege to provide a musical number of "I Am a Child of God" with a violin, viola, piano trio. His wife spoke just before, which really helped me feel that with God, nothing is impossible - even though it might be for you. It really helped me. We played; then President Senior said, "Let's be sure to them in the same Zone," as we went back to our seats. Wouldn't mind that one bit - I love those two Elder's so much. But really, wow. This man truly is a man called and inspired from God. I'll try to convey some of my thoughts/feelings relating to his remarks.
His whole talk centered in that "eye hath not seen nor ear heard the things with Jesus spake" or something like that. He began by explaining the crazy story of his call: He want thought the long process of becoming a Mission President. Got a call to North Carolina. Happy! Then, got a phone call... Switch! But he didn't know what the Lord had in store for them and for the people of Thailand. Then he told us that the best camera in the world was made by this company that's awesome; best quality is about 14. something pixels. The human eye (Grandpa would like this) is 576. What a change! But the Nephites said that eye has not seen things greater than the things Jesus did. That's what this mission is totally about - submitting to the Lord's will and trusting that His ways are higher than ours. That's kinda been the center of my thoughts these couple days - that the Lord's ways are higher than ours and He loves us more than we can possibly imagine. I know this to be true. I know this man is called of God. It also helped that he related the entire story of Beethoven's 9th to illustrate the point that even the deaf can hear things greater than we could ever imagine. He's awesome. The work's awesome, and so is his Thai! Funny that he has a Japanese accent (he served there), but it's awesome.
Thanks for the support. I feel your prayers all the time.
Till next time,
Love, Elder Gibbons
PS: Mom! Thank you for your message. [I wrote Joseph cuz I wasn't really happy with his letter last week.] I appreciate your love for me and everyone whose reading! I would only just like to mention - and I think Dad did mention it to you - that I love uplifting people. That's why I love music, people, etc. I also believe that telling some of the funny things that happen WILL uplift and inspire people too. Like my companion said, "We write a lot of emails; it's hard to make every one the best." Sometimes it kinda distresses me to just talk like a normal person - yeah, I KNOW I'm a missionary, but I'm still Elder GIBBONS and I love to uplift in my own ways. It's selfish, but sometimes telling the funny stuff helps me when I'm dealing with a problem, difficulty with Comp, etc. Speaking of which, I love Elder Osborne. He's amazing. Once I swallowed my pride (which took me a while cuz I have A LOT of it!!) everything started going well, and I could then start LEARNING from him, instead of just feeling "O woe is me!" about everything. This lil' princess is growing up, thanks to your prayers and your faith in me. Thanks for loving me, and know that I always love you too ;)
Anyway, this week was awesome! There's a lot of stuff and cool experiences, so again, buckle up.
Well remember Sister Ton? Well, the Laksii sisters had her baptism this Saturday (our area was split with the Sisters, and Ton went with them)! We began teaching her, but she was very difficult because she wouldn't ever listen - instead she would talk at speeds I literally couldn't imitate in English. Now, at her baptism, I got to watch my first convert named Oom-iim (who happened to be the first investigator I ever met) say the opening prayer for Sister Ton, who happens to be my first investigator I found and started teaching from the beginning...
[MTL (Mini Thai Lesson): These situations are called พอดี ("paaw-dii"), when things just work out like this!]
... Anyway, her whole countenance has completely changed. She is calm. She is peaceable. She talks NORMAL! If anyone says that the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ doesn't change people's lives for the better, they are confused, or extremely deceived. I know that this gospel brings people through the darkness of confusion into greater light. Sometimes it takes a long time to GET THROUGH that dark shadow, but that's what faith and repentance are when used together - the act of walking on the path from darkness to light. I've experienced this, I've seen it work, and for those who don't know where to go, I encourage you to start walking. "God guides walking feet" someone told me once, and I know if you start walking toward Christ, the only true path will appear (see 2 Ne 31).
Speaking of truth and new paths, we had the pleasure to welcome President and Sister Senior on Saturday. In fact, Elder Engle, Elder Kramer and I (we all were in the same entering group) had the privilege to provide a musical number of "I Am a Child of God" with a violin, viola, piano trio. His wife spoke just before, which really helped me feel that with God, nothing is impossible - even though it might be for you. It really helped me. We played; then President Senior said, "Let's be sure to them in the same Zone," as we went back to our seats. Wouldn't mind that one bit - I love those two Elder's so much. But really, wow. This man truly is a man called and inspired from God. I'll try to convey some of my thoughts/feelings relating to his remarks.
His whole talk centered in that "eye hath not seen nor ear heard the things with Jesus spake" or something like that. He began by explaining the crazy story of his call: He want thought the long process of becoming a Mission President. Got a call to North Carolina. Happy! Then, got a phone call... Switch! But he didn't know what the Lord had in store for them and for the people of Thailand. Then he told us that the best camera in the world was made by this company that's awesome; best quality is about 14. something pixels. The human eye (Grandpa would like this) is 576. What a change! But the Nephites said that eye has not seen things greater than the things Jesus did. That's what this mission is totally about - submitting to the Lord's will and trusting that His ways are higher than ours. That's kinda been the center of my thoughts these couple days - that the Lord's ways are higher than ours and He loves us more than we can possibly imagine. I know this to be true. I know this man is called of God. It also helped that he related the entire story of Beethoven's 9th to illustrate the point that even the deaf can hear things greater than we could ever imagine. He's awesome. The work's awesome, and so is his Thai! Funny that he has a Japanese accent (he served there), but it's awesome.
Thanks for the support. I feel your prayers all the time.
Till next time,
Love, Elder Gibbons
PS: Mom! Thank you for your message. [I wrote Joseph cuz I wasn't really happy with his letter last week.] I appreciate your love for me and everyone whose reading! I would only just like to mention - and I think Dad did mention it to you - that I love uplifting people. That's why I love music, people, etc. I also believe that telling some of the funny things that happen WILL uplift and inspire people too. Like my companion said, "We write a lot of emails; it's hard to make every one the best." Sometimes it kinda distresses me to just talk like a normal person - yeah, I KNOW I'm a missionary, but I'm still Elder GIBBONS and I love to uplift in my own ways. It's selfish, but sometimes telling the funny stuff helps me when I'm dealing with a problem, difficulty with Comp, etc. Speaking of which, I love Elder Osborne. He's amazing. Once I swallowed my pride (which took me a while cuz I have A LOT of it!!) everything started going well, and I could then start LEARNING from him, instead of just feeling "O woe is me!" about everything. This lil' princess is growing up, thanks to your prayers and your faith in me. Thanks for loving me, and know that I always love you too ;)
