Hello everyone!
So it's been a week and I'm still hangin' in there, although I have been detoxing out of both ends this beautiful Mother's Day weekend. I had a good night's sleep though, so I feel much better.
The super good part about yesterday was that yesterday was Her Majesty the Queen's 80th birthday and the whole country has been thinking of -their mothers and of Thailand's mother Herself. I also had the super cool experience to go to District Conference and hear from our Asia Area President, Elder Kent G. Watson. Before he spoke, he did two cool things and I'm going to ask all within the sound of my email (does that even work?) to do. But before he started, President Senior (our new mission president) spoke. He and the translator got up to pulpit (translator because he served in Japan - the first mission president of Thailand in 20+ years to not serve in Thailand), but President Senior said all his opening remarks in Thai. But unexpectedly, he went on. He started talking about the love of God, how it blesses all people, and that we can share in with everyone because they need it too. He gave his whole talk in slow, but concentrated Thai and the translator just stood there until he finished and they both sat down.
President Watson then asked President Senior to came up and share his testimony again. This time, in Japanese. President Senior, smiling, got up, shook his head - to which everyone chuckled. And then with that same smile he shot out a sentence or two of Japanese faster than any Spanish speaker I've heard. The congregation was thrilled, and Thai people don't do a very good job at hiding their excitement - there were even a few Ooos and Aaahs. He sat down - without a translator - and the Spirit filled that room. The Area President stood again and praised him again for his faithfulness and dedication.
And then he did something i'll never forget. He opened his remarks by introducing Mother's Day and giving praise to Her Majesty's 80th birthday. He asked the congregation to join him in silence in respect for the Queen for 20 seconds. Without hesitation, the entire congregation arose simultaneously. The faraang (white) mom in front of me even smacked her kids to quickly stand too. There, standing with heads bowed, we all payed respect to the Queen of the ancient land of Siam who's Husband's dynasty started before America had become a country. That room was hallowed that day as I took part in that special event commemorating a day where we paid respect to all mothers through the highest Mother in the land.
President Watson's remarks were no more diminishing to that atmosphere. To be brief, he focused his entire message on "what President Monson would say if he were here." On this special Mother's Day, he delivered a powerful address about the Family Proclamation to the World. He exhorted every present to study the proclamation and hang a copy of in up in your home (there is one now in our study room). But he went even further and unfolded unto us the blessings of the Temple - to make all preparations necessary to go, even if might be only for once in your life (mind you the closest temple is across the ocean in Hong Kong) and to always have your temple recommend ready to go to experience the infinite blessings the come from being Temple worthy at all times.
So I challenge all of you to do the same: to have a Proclamation in your study room, in your home, somewhere you can see it, and have a temple recommend ready to go (and then GO as often as your location permits - you in Utah are so blessed because they are in more abundance than where I am). If you're not old enough to go in, and your parents to schedule a trip where you go and maybe have a picnic nearby and then walk the grounds together. I do miss the Temple, but I do also miss my แม่ (mom) this week. The last challenge besides those two would to give your mother a big hug today. If that's not possible, take a break and call her right this moment and express your love. And still, if that's not possible, find a quiet place, get on your knees and thank your Father in Heaven for the many blessings that have come because of your own mother. I know as you do this, you too will feelof the joy and love than ever before.
Don't forget to read your Book of Mormon - see ya next week!
Elder Gibbons
The Family; A Proclamation To The World
So it's been a week and I'm still hangin' in there, although I have been detoxing out of both ends this beautiful Mother's Day weekend. I had a good night's sleep though, so I feel much better.
The super good part about yesterday was that yesterday was Her Majesty the Queen's 80th birthday and the whole country has been thinking of -their mothers and of Thailand's mother Herself. I also had the super cool experience to go to District Conference and hear from our Asia Area President, Elder Kent G. Watson. Before he spoke, he did two cool things and I'm going to ask all within the sound of my email (does that even work?) to do. But before he started, President Senior (our new mission president) spoke. He and the translator got up to pulpit (translator because he served in Japan - the first mission president of Thailand in 20+ years to not serve in Thailand), but President Senior said all his opening remarks in Thai. But unexpectedly, he went on. He started talking about the love of God, how it blesses all people, and that we can share in with everyone because they need it too. He gave his whole talk in slow, but concentrated Thai and the translator just stood there until he finished and they both sat down.
President Watson then asked President Senior to came up and share his testimony again. This time, in Japanese. President Senior, smiling, got up, shook his head - to which everyone chuckled. And then with that same smile he shot out a sentence or two of Japanese faster than any Spanish speaker I've heard. The congregation was thrilled, and Thai people don't do a very good job at hiding their excitement - there were even a few Ooos and Aaahs. He sat down - without a translator - and the Spirit filled that room. The Area President stood again and praised him again for his faithfulness and dedication.
And then he did something i'll never forget. He opened his remarks by introducing Mother's Day and giving praise to Her Majesty's 80th birthday. He asked the congregation to join him in silence in respect for the Queen for 20 seconds. Without hesitation, the entire congregation arose simultaneously. The faraang (white) mom in front of me even smacked her kids to quickly stand too. There, standing with heads bowed, we all payed respect to the Queen of the ancient land of Siam who's Husband's dynasty started before America had become a country. That room was hallowed that day as I took part in that special event commemorating a day where we paid respect to all mothers through the highest Mother in the land.
President Watson's remarks were no more diminishing to that atmosphere. To be brief, he focused his entire message on "what President Monson would say if he were here." On this special Mother's Day, he delivered a powerful address about the Family Proclamation to the World. He exhorted every present to study the proclamation and hang a copy of in up in your home (there is one now in our study room). But he went even further and unfolded unto us the blessings of the Temple - to make all preparations necessary to go, even if might be only for once in your life (mind you the closest temple is across the ocean in Hong Kong) and to always have your temple recommend ready to go to experience the infinite blessings the come from being Temple worthy at all times.
So I challenge all of you to do the same: to have a Proclamation in your study room, in your home, somewhere you can see it, and have a temple recommend ready to go (and then GO as often as your location permits - you in Utah are so blessed because they are in more abundance than where I am). If you're not old enough to go in, and your parents to schedule a trip where you go and maybe have a picnic nearby and then walk the grounds together. I do miss the Temple, but I do also miss my แม่ (mom) this week. The last challenge besides those two would to give your mother a big hug today. If that's not possible, take a break and call her right this moment and express your love. And still, if that's not possible, find a quiet place, get on your knees and thank your Father in Heaven for the many blessings that have come because of your own mother. I know as you do this, you too will feelof the joy and love than ever before.
Don't forget to read your Book of Mormon - see ya next week!
Elder Gibbons
The Family; A Proclamation To The World
