Way too much to write in the short
time that I have. Kalasin has been the greatest blessing I've had for a while.
I really do miss it. Also my mother turned a glorious 50 and celebrated well
and even shot off balloons to commemorate. Likewise, I did unknowingly too and
Sister Madsen and I left Kalasin. Sister Dtaan was devastated and Sister Tom,
one of my favorite members, will be greatly missed along with Sister Greenwood
and Elder Christensen, whom I love very much. I teared up saying good bye to
Gaeo and Rough on the phone who were way funny. I told him that I was leaving,
and Rough was like: "Oh. Hey good luck." Haha... If only you know
him, you'd get just how funny that is. Oh how I love these people! Oh how the
Lord LOVES his Asian people. We had "Area Conference" where we
watched church leaders direct us. Elder Holland is excited about taking Elder
Oaks's assignment over Asia - it was like getting a new Zone leader whom you
really love - which now I have two that I do - Elder Marchell, who's great and
I love, and Elder Terry - my 2nd companion from Sisket. Speaking of which,
Somsak, Ribbin, and Biw will reach their one year anniversary this week! They
gave me a package with Thai treats, cashews, and a letter that was sweetest of
all, with a goal to go to the temple as a family next year. Super awesome all
over Thailand.
But I LOVE my new area: PHRA NAKHON
SRI AYUTTHAYA!! That's long for "Ayutthaya," the ancient capital of
Siam for 417 years, but who's counting. Or doing research... What we ARE doing
is seeing miracles! Elder Watkins [his
new companion] is actually [from] the same group as Elder Christensen so
I'm training for the 3rd time! Fun! We have been going around the town that I
visited with MY trainer, Elder Osborne, my Mae (mission mom) Sister Roper, and
Sister Wiganda - then, a New Missionary, and now who just went home to her
native Maha Sarakham. Let her rest in peace, as the mission will miss her.
Speaking of mission friends, the "King of Korat" (Elder Wilamas)
moved to the nearby Provence of Lopburi - please pray that we will be able to
work together again! But we've been teaching lots of people - even though it's
so hard to understand their accent here in central Thailand... But the lord has
led me to many who are from the Isaan and I have seen miracles talking to an
American who was searching for the purpose in his life. We are teaching a
husband and wife whom we found because I was missing the Isaan and wanted Issan
food. I talked to the guy in Isaan and caught the attention of a couple who
sell meatballs next door. I gave them a pass-along card with the Hong Kong
temple in it and they wanted us to return again, and we did! We're going over
again today, so please pray for Sister Gwang and Brother Tae, along with Boo
and Bah, as these are the people who I think of when I miss you or my friends
in places elsewhere. I love them and I love you. Thank you for your prayers and
you faith. Hope this update was good, now that I have to go.
Love,
Elder Gibbons
[A
little more from another note he sent me: “I'm asking yet again for you to
pray for me. I have a lot of added responsibilities here in my new area and I
am concerned how 1) how I'm going to do it all and 2) how I'm going to do it
all WELL. But the success so far in these past 4 days have been wonderful. I
miss Kalasin and the Isaan, but I absolutely LOVE it here! I am sad I couldn't
send that letter off to you sooner [I got
an email from a random person from Thailand, Joan Sowards, and she forwarded a
letter from Joseph for my birthday – made my day!], but Sister Sowards was nice
enough to do that for me. She and Elder Sowards were with me in the office when
THEY first got in and I love them so much. Sister Sowards is a composer and I'm
singing one of her songs (in Thai) this next week - and teaching Elders Quorum!
Fun fun. Also, what's fun is that we got a referral from the branch here from a
sister's mother. That sister is on a mission and just so happens that I know
HER from my service in the office as well - she's a bright, bubbly girl named
Sister Yui. She's serving her mission in SLC Temple Visitor's Center!! Isn't
that where Liahona's going?? Hopefully she can train her or at the very least
befriend her there.
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| Joseph's new area: PHRA NAKHON SRI AYUTTHAYA |
