Sorry I couldn't get this through
last week. But I 'll try to answer one at a time: [I asked him a few questions.]
I can usually only do emails on
Saturday; I personally think it's great for the Family to do on Sunday night
- a great Sunday activity that I would like to continue in our home when I
get home - but for while I'm in the office, It'll have to be Friday. I'll
be in here no more than 6th months so it'll go back to normal.
Being District Leader over the
Heavy-Hitters is super fun because I still receive revelation for each and
every one - like I gave some council to Elder Heap after he and Elder Segura
(one of our Zone Leaders) took flack and got chewed out by someone in the church
office. Elder Heap was upset, but his personality will not let him show it. But we talked about it to him and then told him something strange: I told him
that this experience was one that will prepare him for a bigger trial in the
future. Weird huh? But later that next day he said he was comforted by those
words when he and Elder Mateos missed their flight to another zone in the
Isaan. The Lord works with us and I'm grateful for it.
I live with the APs on the 4th floor
in a 14-story condo. Just give you a picture: In Mahasarakham, we slept and
studied in a room that had two mattresses in it; both mattresses touching
each other and three walls. Then we had two study desks that almost touched our
beds - not to mention our chairs. Now, my bedroom is bigger than the front
walkway and our sleeping quarters of the house in Sarakham. So "itz preedy
sweet, I guess" (that's supposed to be Kip's voice...) [From Napoleon Dynamite]
So that was last week. This week has
been a real challenge - just like when Nephi broke his bow. It takes true
perspective to see the big picture. Challenges in the office work, getting
along with someone new, and other things were challenges, but in the hind sight
are just stumbling blocks that take some energy to crawl up and hoist yourself
over. But then sometimes in the hoisting yourself over part, you just get
stuck. You're flat on your belly just trying to get higher but you can't do it.
So you pray and Christ helps you up. I don't really know how He does it, but
all I know is that I couldn't do it, I prayed, and it was eventually worked out
after all we can do. "It's by grace we are saved, after all we can
do." -Nephi
And grace played a big role in
helping me get through my first two baptismal interviews: ตาต้า (Tah TAH), a whiny funny 19 yr-old
Thai girl, and Esther, a 23 year-old student from The Congo (yeah, she's black,
ok?). Ta ta was so ready and so fun to talk to about her conversion story.
Esther has some kind of elegant grace that makes me think she is way older than
she is. She has been prepared to find this place by too many miracles to count.
During her interview, I was touched by many things she said like, "When
you dress appropriately, you attract the right people." Profound, as she
related that she and her parents had some disputes when she was younger like
when her dad burned all her short-shorts... To my lady friends who read this:
if you want a solid guy, follow Esther's advice, filter your options, and
your Prince Charming with find YOU. Ask yourself "what kind of a Prince do
I want to find me?" Weird thoughts coming from a guy, but these experience
have helped me in my life.
Too much more to say, but too little
time. Thank you for your time. Thank you for your prayers. Thanks mom for those
scriptures - I never understood those gifts of administration until I had to
administer... Sweet. Keep praying for our district, my companion who is in the
top 10 greatest people I may have met, who has insomnia.
It's time to go, I love you all,
Elder Gibbons
PS: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BABY
SISTER!!!!!!!!
