Hellow everyone!
Happy b-day Siah [Holker]! We actually had this investigator (Boo) who has a little one who looks, runs walks, screams shivers up your spine, has huge brown eyes, won't talk, is a little stick, and is the cutest little one year old just like Siah was when we was at that age, but to see him grown up when I get back will be fun :) Love Orchestra analogy - it's totally happening here through overflowing amounts of great faith. [This is the "orchestra analogy" I shared with him in my letter: Today at church, the missionaries got up to bear their testimonies and one of the elders said something that I LOVED!! He bore his testimony that God is orchestrating everything around us and that we need to trust Him. He gave an example of something that happened to them last week. They were leaving an appointment and instead of going the normal way to get to their car, they went down another path. He said he thought to himself how stupid it was that they were going that way because it was much longer. Then they saw a couple standing on the path ahead of them. They actually got another appointment because they stopped and talked to them and they also knew that God was orchestrating them meeting on that path. But the funny thing was, as they approached this couple on the path, he thought to himself, “It’s after 9:00 and we can’t stop and chat because it will make us late getting home”. But the spirit said to him, “Don’t you dare walk by this couple!” And he said it sounded a lot like his mom!!! That part totally cracked me up!!!]
Happy b-day Siah [Holker]! We actually had this investigator (Boo) who has a little one who looks, runs walks, screams shivers up your spine, has huge brown eyes, won't talk, is a little stick, and is the cutest little one year old just like Siah was when we was at that age, but to see him grown up when I get back will be fun :) Love Orchestra analogy - it's totally happening here through overflowing amounts of great faith. [This is the "orchestra analogy" I shared with him in my letter: Today at church, the missionaries got up to bear their testimonies and one of the elders said something that I LOVED!! He bore his testimony that God is orchestrating everything around us and that we need to trust Him. He gave an example of something that happened to them last week. They were leaving an appointment and instead of going the normal way to get to their car, they went down another path. He said he thought to himself how stupid it was that they were going that way because it was much longer. Then they saw a couple standing on the path ahead of them. They actually got another appointment because they stopped and talked to them and they also knew that God was orchestrating them meeting on that path. But the funny thing was, as they approached this couple on the path, he thought to himself, “It’s after 9:00 and we can’t stop and chat because it will make us late getting home”. But the spirit said to him, “Don’t you dare walk by this couple!” And he said it sounded a lot like his mom!!! That part totally cracked me up!!!]
This transfer ended rather well as everything we predicted: I MOVED!!! ......... downstairs with Elder Terry from Sisaket E to Sisaket W area - so I moved areas but stayed in the same house. Elder Fronberg (our new missionary here in Sisaket) is doing well with my old comp Elder Petersen (it was kinda funny and cute that I had to help him bear his testimony from the front row when he forgot a word...he he) Also, Elder Mondragon (my first district leader who was a second father to me) joped or finished along with our AP [Assistant to the Mission President] Elder Bender who was my zone leader. Now Elder Warren who was my ZL [Zone Leader] is now AP. Its a great time of change. Almost everyone in my group is going พี่ (Phii) [Trainer] - INCLUDING ME AHHHHHHHHHHH! Even Elder Davies is training! But this week I have seen the heavens shake for my good as I've had to take the reigns of one of the most fruitful areas of my mission that I've seen. The Lord helped translate for these 4 African investigators that we have. Eseme was from a rich family in Cameroon until his father died and his life and family fell into poverty. The only thing he had was his Bible and teaching him in my native language through the spirit was a heaven-shaker experience indeed. Shelter, his friend, said probably the most intense spirit-filled, spirit-led prayers I've ever heard. He prays with the power and gift of faith. Something I'm going to ask all who read to do as well after you read a letter our Mission President sent out for us. If this man's not called of God, I don't know WHO is;
"Dear Missionaries of the Thailand Bangkok Mission [TBM],
As we begin this last quarter of 2012, I am pleased to report that the condition of the Thailand Bangkok Mission is excellent. We are seeing the blessings of the Lord upon Thailand and are witnessing the fulfillment of an increase in faith. We have seen an increase in Sacrament Meeting attendance among the Stake and 5 Districts. We are seeing an increase in new membership with many more coming to Christ through the waters of baptism. We are seeing many more rescued, returning again to the community of Saints and enjoying the fellowship of the Church. I know that this significant accomplishment does not happen except by the great efforts of Leaders, Members and our Missionaries. No Mission President could be more proud of his missionaries than I am of you. Each of you has increased in faith and "labored without ceasing"1 and worked along side the Lord, gathering in His vineyard. President Hinckley said: "We have become as a great army. We are now a people of consequence. Our voice is heard when we speak up." Our voice is the voice of Christ and it is being heard in Thailand as He gives Apostles and Prophets and Missionaries for the edification and coming in unity of faith unto a perfect man. Each great work will be met with opposition. The TBM is not without adversity and we will see an increase in opposition as we get the attention of the adversary in the great work being performed. To illustrate, Newton's laws of motion are three physical laws that describe the relationship between the forces acting on a body and its motion due to those forces....As members of this "army" described by President Hinckley, may we consider the following:
Sharpen the swords of the Spirit, which is the word of God. The whetstone of our swords will be our acts of obedience. Through obedience, dull blades will become sharp. Perfect obedience will give power to use the word of God in a manner that can call upon Heaven for help and bring about miracles. I encourage a continuation of our faith and pace of the work. Let us adopt the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith which can find applicability in our cause: "Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad."
Sister
Senior and I want you to know of our love for each of you. There is not a prayer that goes by that you
are not mentioned. I have complete confidence in you as a disciple and
representative of our Lord, Jesus Christ. May His most choice blessings
be upon you.
Sincerely,
President and Sister Senior"
HE"S SO AWESOME!!!! Please don't forget to fast this Sunday for something that you need. We also fasted for our investigator : "Patty" whom I describe as Mulan - she's a young, beautiful woman who has found truth and is fighting for it. She's in Alma already and is on fire. Only problem is [she has] school on Sunday. If she could not come this week, she couldn't get baptized on the 13th. So we fasted with her all Saturday. That night I called her and she said she did all the things we asked her to do and she wasn't even hungry. That Sunday was amazing to see her among the many investigators at church this week. As my awesome new Comp said, "Fasting Works." So I will encourage everyone to engage the powers of heaven yourselves for yourself through this sacred commandment.
I love you all and I will always,
Keep the Faith,
Elder Gibbons
