So we're singing The Morning Breaks
and the phone rings.
President calls.
Fewer times have I ever stopped
singing in mid-syllable.
Elder Wilko picks up the phone and
after some talking says, "Yes, he's right here," and hands the phone
to me.
"Hello President!" I
say...
President and Sister Senior called
me personally to thank me for my service in the office and my service, as they
- like me - have seen such a wonderful change within me. They wanted to
personally thank me and prepare me for my next transfer, which I will be
serving in the province of Kalasin - no Dad, it's pronounced
"Ga-la-seen" - and it's smackdab in the middle of the Isaan.
It's back to sticky rice, Somtam
phet phet ja dai (Papaya Salad that's hot enough to burn the devil out of
hell), and bicycles for me! I'm super happy to be headin back out, but also a
bit melancholy, as expressed in my weekly President's letter:
"Dear President Senior,
"I want you to thank you for
the phone call this morning - one of the highlights of the transfer for sure to
get a personal phone call. So I'm headin to Kalisin... I'm more than excited as
I pack up to get back on a bike in the อีสาน [Isaan]. I'm going to miss seeing you and Sister Senior and
the Jones' around everyday [the lovely mission office couple who are
some of my favorite people ever and I want to be like]. I feel like once I
FINALLY get my act together and position myself just right to launch, the Lord
pulls me out. I told the AP's my grand scheme that Elder Wilko and I were about to
do to explode Asoke to which Elder Mateos answered me something really
interesting:
'Well, just bring all that to Kalisin.'
"And, President, reactivating two families per companionship a transfer is what we're going to be doin up there for a while. Until, that is, I get another great idea and the Lord pulls me away before getting TOO dangerous.
'Well, just bring all that to Kalisin.'
"And, President, reactivating two families per companionship a transfer is what we're going to be doin up there for a while. Until, that is, I get another great idea and the Lord pulls me away before getting TOO dangerous.
"It's been more than a blast,
and more than a honor to work here. My prayers go out to you.
"Godspeed President, see you at transfers!
"Godspeed President, see you at transfers!
"Elder Gibbons"
I'm finally getting this Asoke
District Leader thing down and planning with Elder Wilko to explode this place
with success planned down to mid-August. But as I shared in my President's
letter which I will share to illustrate my feelings today, I am ever more grateful
that The Great God of Heaven leads and directs this work always. Not only am I
heading up there, but two of the eleven new SISTER missionaries are going to be
OPENING up there too. This isn't the first time I opened with three new people,
and I;'m just stoked to blast it away up there with my probably very new
companion and our new Sister training set.
It's kind of a nice wrap-up as
President Tuwit's last day was Friday [Pres. Tuwit was his Branch President and great friend from his first area] and we sang a flawless version of How
Great Thou Art for his going-away luncheon. The Spirit really helped and it was
a great way for ME to end here. I love you all, I LOVE "the BEAST," as
President Smith referred to as the Asoke-Din Dang area in the heart of Bangkok.
I've always wanted to serve here in the big city, and I sure got more that
I wished for. May we all get what we wish for as we center our Desires in
Christ. But watch out - because once you do, then do it well, the Lord will
make you leave; he'll make you change; but he'll do it to bring us to our
promised land as he did with Nephi (on multiple occasions), Alma, Mormon. Now
it's my turn to move to a new land of promise, and soon it well be yours as
you follow faithful in His Light.
Follow faithfully please, is my
prayer, in Christ's name. Amen.
