This week has been crazy and fun and
ended with a great lesson. TO be brief:
I ate Goey today (spicy, mashed up
raw meet with herbs). ;) Saeb!! ("delicious" here in the Isaan)
Bun went to Bangkok for two weeks
after she showed us to TEN people whom she introduced the Gospel to!!! She's so
awesome and coming back to the house after sending her off from the bus stop,
tears rolled down my face. We'll be working with her more over the phone, but I
might not be here as transfers are fast approaching. Gaeo and Rough weren't
at church this week, but are progressing as they see the blessings
that come as they pray every morning as a family now. We also met a GREAT new
couple, Lek and Tong, who are photographers and wedding studio designers and
who have an autistic son named Zoom, and are SUPER great! Please
remember these great couples in your prayers...
Speaking of couples, I now speak to
and audience that I don't usually focus toward. I would like to thank all those
people in my life who have set a good example concerning marriage. Whether
married now or divorced now, it doesn't matter because I love you and know that
the Lord does like 8,000,000,000x more, and that your example to press
forward no mater the past before is astounding, in light of an instance I had
this week. I look up to each of you because I have not yet got to that step in
my life; but being with someone 24/7 can give one a good guess.
I am also so grateful to all of you
for your prayers, as I might have seemed a little distraught last
email. Indeed, I was, because Elder Christensen has been having some
struggles for a while even up to the last day of this week... During this
week, I learned a lot about Charity, that it suffereth long and doesn't expect
anything in return. I think that was
the greatest thing I have learned this week. I have learned a lot
about the atonement as I have REALLY had to be patient to help a companion who
is REALLY struggling, amidst my trying to help him, in his personal
work and ministry. The Zone Leaders followed up with us and Elder
Yuen (who came into the mission with me and such an example of Christ-like
leadership) diagnosed that we had an actual problem. They decided to come
up from Roi-Et to help us the next morning (today). After that phone call
last night, I went back into the room and carefully explained two things. One,
we had a problem in our companionship. Two, we needed to plan for our
investigators. With that, we had a very successful planning for those we loved.
I was surprised that we planned so well. We both really loved each
other, but we had a problem.
Today, I have learned that it is OK
to admit that there is a problem and one or the both of you are not happy for
any reason. If there is any within the sound of my voice today who are married
or who have been, or will be soon, I encourage you
that admitting there is a problem when it's there really is IS OK and
is helpful. Is it embarrassing? Gosh it is! Is it uncomfortable? It is,
more than you'd like it to be. But I know that the fixing of the problem and
going through the natural emotions that accompany it is a process
that is healing and so much more fulfilling than letting a problem wedge
between you. It's weird because that's just what it is: a wedge between
the two of you - NOT your love.
Some people think that if a
relationship has a problem, love has been damaged - or in some sad cases,
destroyed. I want you to know that this is not the case. Love and Charity are the
things that endure and are everlasting. Elder Cahoon (who came into my
first district when I finished training in my first area, who's also a
history/politics guy from Canada and awesome too) really helped me see how when
everything else fails, Charity "suffereth long, and is kind, and
envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily
provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the
truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth
all things." (Moroni 7:45)
I felt like I was taking marriage
council class because I still loved him, I wanted help, but we did, indeed have
a problem. Going into a room with Elder Cahoon today made me feel as if I was
going into a marriage council interview. I felt awkward and nervous - like I
did something wrong - that we had to get help like this. But it really was the
thing that was needed as the Lord is shaping and molding us into the
people that we are to become.
I know that if there is a problem
between you and the one you love, council from church leaders or
professionals is not just the last resort nor is it embarrassing. It is
brave and worth admonishing. Because I had a problem, was humble and received
help, we are closer as friends, and you can do so as well
as companionships. Sometimes I feared that I would say something that he
wouldn't accept or hear, but as we placed things in the hands of those who
loved us and cared for us, the Lord was able to transform us through the power of
the atonement. I ask all of you who are married, or who were and are not any
longer for any reason, to get on your knees and pray for His (Christ's) grace
to save you this day. Pray for strength and then for Charity with ALL THE
ENERGY OF YOUR HEART as I did after my "interview" with Elder Cahoon,
and the Lord promises that you will be filled with that love enough to talk
about your problems.
My prayers go out to you and I am so
grateful for these lessons I've been learning - I've even been much
better with my time, thanks to your prayers! May the Lord bless you as we all
let the Lord fix our problems through the grace of His Atonement. It is by
His grace, we are saved after all we can do (2 Nephi 25:23).
In closing, President Senior helped
me see this the best. I said to him concerning our challenges last email
"'We can work it out' (I don't know if you're a Beatles fan??)" to which he responded the following:
I
loved your letter. I would encourage you to see yourself as I see you and not
dwell on weaknesses. We all have them, but we'll "get by with a little
help from [our] friends", especially if one of them is the Savior. ;)
Let us get a little help from our
best friend, the Savoir Jesus Christ, so when we think of our problems, we can
"Let it Be" taken care of. Remember that Charity never faileth and we
get it through prayer. Love you all; may the Lord be with you, as my love
already is.
Elder Gibbons
