So, the first week of Transfer Six has been awesome.
Training is going well as my luug liang (step child) is learning quickly and
well. It’s been really cool for me to go back to the beginning and remember
what it was like being so new; re-learning old lessons is helping me gain a stronger
faith in the Savior and a stronger knowledge that God has His royal hand in all
our doings love for me.
In fact, I want to share something my awesome mother sent me to illustrate that. "...I taught in RS today and I felt really strongly that I should teach the sisters about self-esteem....I also gave the example of Heavenly Father actually calling Joseph Smith by his name. He was well aware of Joseph and the plan He had for him....
"I honestly believe that self-esteem comes from a person's relationship with God.
"That is why the youth have such a hard time with it...they look everywhere else to get their self-esteem because they don't have a personal relationship with God. They don't know who God is, who they are, and that God truly loves them....I have tried to teach you that your whole life - how SPECIAL you are!! You are a chosen son of Heavenly Father's!! He loves you so dearly and has a special plan in store for you too. I hope on your mission you are able to love and know your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ on a deeper level you never dreamed possible. There is nothing more important!! (John 17:3)"
That really helped me as I've been struggling with training, dealing with investigator problems, and everything a missionary struggles with. Thanks mom, I hope you know I this son of God loves you too.
Another instance that helped me see the reality that God is there and watching over His children was my experience with 嗤组艇 ("Uang," one of our investigators who has a date to be baptized) and the power of fasting.
She had never talked to white people before us and she is so meek, humble, pure and innocent. She's also been reading like crazy and is in Alma. She changed jobs and had to confront her boss, and can now come to church (yeah, I sure fasted that morning too). But her teacher at the massage school where she works at wanted her to go to Pattaya for a month. Pattaya is a beautiful beach resort in the south region and is great if you go with a Thai friend who knows what's going on - because if you go anywhere outside the beach, the most heinous acts of crime and sin are there - things you cannot even imagine that exists in the world - and it is very dangerous. As a missionary, you deal with life and death situations – saving people from spiritual death is a big task. But her going to this place - one as pure, virtuous and innocent - was sending her to an instantly-killing fate. But from stories I've heard about crime and civil war in the south since I've been here, it also meant she would very likely not come back alive - physically. She was insistent on going, and we couldn't stop her. I had a feeling nothing we or the members could do would change her mind. So we all fasted Saturday afternoon (including Uang) if this was the right thing to do. Sunday Morning came, and Sister Pat (her fellowshipper and the one who referred her to us) said her door was locked. Her Phone was off. She didn't come to church yesterday and she was to leave on Monday. Then that night we got a call from Sister Pat. She said that Uang came home and informed her that her mother and sibling were sick, and she would not be able to go to Pattaya tomorrow. Sister Pat said that she explained to Uang that this was the answer for the Lord for her, and Uang said she agreed.
Fasting works. Got off the phone and told my companion to get on his knees. I sank down on mine and my soul poured out thanks and tears as we prayed together, as we thanked our Heavenly Father for watching out for his daughter - 嗤组艇.
I know that God lives and that we can too when we know that. If you have ever wondered that in YOUR life, I would exhort you to do as I did - drop on your knees and thank him for what he has given you and then ask Him if He loves you. God cannot lie. He loves His children. He gives liberally to those who ask. And he will give unto you according to your desires. Don't know how to call on God? Just do it; just give it a try and He'll take care of the rest. Do you feel He's silent even after that? Well, then get on your knees and drop a few meals and He will manifest himself in ways only you can understand.
Love you all and I leave you these things in Jesus' name, Amen.
Elder Gibbons
PS: We
had a mission tour where Elder Watson of the Seventy came and it was so cool! President Senior spoke about the gathering of Israel
and blew my mind. The BOM is sooooooo cool!
I also got a pic with a 70 ;)
In fact, I want to share something my awesome mother sent me to illustrate that. "...I taught in RS today and I felt really strongly that I should teach the sisters about self-esteem....I also gave the example of Heavenly Father actually calling Joseph Smith by his name. He was well aware of Joseph and the plan He had for him....
"I honestly believe that self-esteem comes from a person's relationship with God.
"That is why the youth have such a hard time with it...they look everywhere else to get their self-esteem because they don't have a personal relationship with God. They don't know who God is, who they are, and that God truly loves them....I have tried to teach you that your whole life - how SPECIAL you are!! You are a chosen son of Heavenly Father's!! He loves you so dearly and has a special plan in store for you too. I hope on your mission you are able to love and know your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ on a deeper level you never dreamed possible. There is nothing more important!! (John 17:3)"
That really helped me as I've been struggling with training, dealing with investigator problems, and everything a missionary struggles with. Thanks mom, I hope you know I this son of God loves you too.
Another instance that helped me see the reality that God is there and watching over His children was my experience with 嗤组艇 ("Uang," one of our investigators who has a date to be baptized) and the power of fasting.
She had never talked to white people before us and she is so meek, humble, pure and innocent. She's also been reading like crazy and is in Alma. She changed jobs and had to confront her boss, and can now come to church (yeah, I sure fasted that morning too). But her teacher at the massage school where she works at wanted her to go to Pattaya for a month. Pattaya is a beautiful beach resort in the south region and is great if you go with a Thai friend who knows what's going on - because if you go anywhere outside the beach, the most heinous acts of crime and sin are there - things you cannot even imagine that exists in the world - and it is very dangerous. As a missionary, you deal with life and death situations – saving people from spiritual death is a big task. But her going to this place - one as pure, virtuous and innocent - was sending her to an instantly-killing fate. But from stories I've heard about crime and civil war in the south since I've been here, it also meant she would very likely not come back alive - physically. She was insistent on going, and we couldn't stop her. I had a feeling nothing we or the members could do would change her mind. So we all fasted Saturday afternoon (including Uang) if this was the right thing to do. Sunday Morning came, and Sister Pat (her fellowshipper and the one who referred her to us) said her door was locked. Her Phone was off. She didn't come to church yesterday and she was to leave on Monday. Then that night we got a call from Sister Pat. She said that Uang came home and informed her that her mother and sibling were sick, and she would not be able to go to Pattaya tomorrow. Sister Pat said that she explained to Uang that this was the answer for the Lord for her, and Uang said she agreed.
Fasting works. Got off the phone and told my companion to get on his knees. I sank down on mine and my soul poured out thanks and tears as we prayed together, as we thanked our Heavenly Father for watching out for his daughter - 嗤组艇.
I know that God lives and that we can too when we know that. If you have ever wondered that in YOUR life, I would exhort you to do as I did - drop on your knees and thank him for what he has given you and then ask Him if He loves you. God cannot lie. He loves His children. He gives liberally to those who ask. And he will give unto you according to your desires. Don't know how to call on God? Just do it; just give it a try and He'll take care of the rest. Do you feel He's silent even after that? Well, then get on your knees and drop a few meals and He will manifest himself in ways only you can understand.
Love you all and I leave you these things in Jesus' name, Amen.
Elder Gibbons
[Joseph's response to hearing about his friend's mission calls...Emily Sciammarella, Kirstie Leavitt, Sara Clark, and Ashelle Denning]...
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SISTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AND ASHELLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AND ASHELLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I also got a pic with a 70 ;)
| Elder Watson sent me this photo! :) |
