Hello everyone!
This week WAS as crazy as predicted. Had my butt kicked in
Badminton by my investigator Nuch. She's kinda dainty spacy and a
dumb-blonde who's super book smarts (she got lost in Chaing Mai when she tried
to find our church and walked right onto another congregation! So funny). We
played with her best friend Tuk (or Duke)and with Nong the coolest member
from Bangban. Then we the Esaan after. :) :) :)
The rest of this week consisted of Elder Wilamas and I swapping interviews, teaching investigators, etc. Unfortunately Duke and Nuch (pronounced "Nute" by the way) did not pass their interviews. We were all devistated. But we told them to watch the Joseph Smith video of the restoration and they understand. They are doing great now. In fact, we just got back last night from Duke's parents house. The night before that (Sat) we got back from my old church in Don Muang where I conducted our Christmas program complete with Thai period instruments called Angloons.
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| I saw this on the Facebook page of a cute Thai girl that we follow. I assume this is the program he was talking about! If you want to see more photos from the program, you can find them on her page (Ploi JP), or on my wall. |
"Another
great and crazy week. 3/6 Baptized and confirmed. Satan woke up and attacked
back, but to our advantage - seeing that our investigators who didn't get
baptized are getting better nourishment now. We had three investigators alone
participate in the Christmas program and nine at church; four of which are
getting baptized at the end of this month. Two of those four were the same two
that I was in the car with on our way to Ang Thong [a province of Thailand
north of Ayutthaya]. It's a magical place, it truly is. Sister Duke (ตุ๊ก) took us to her
parents house where we spent some great time. While I was talking with her and
her dad, she asked if I could give her dad a blessing because he was having
problems with his prostate gland (yeah, try saying or understanding THAT in
Thai - gift of tongues is real because it was whispered it to me by the
Spirit), which blessing was received well with reverence, along with her mother
and Sister Duke herself. It was a very special day yesterday with another three
confirmations as well. Elder Watkins did one of the ordinations very well, I
might add. We also had our 3 baptisms the day before. Sister Taa (ต้าร์) is going to be
a key figure in the church someday (probably in the Ubon Stake in Amnat Charoen
specifically [close to Sisaket]), or she needs to raise of of the future
leaders as nine year old Brother Non was baptized with Pim, his cousin/sister.
Non even asked if he could say the opening prayer for his baptismal service!
That's just the kind of kid he is. Bro Nat (age nine as well) said the closing
prayer. Our youth group is growing and we have two new deacons (why isn't that
a key indicator?)...
"Thank you again for all the blessings you let me see and experience here in Ayutthaya. No matter what happens this next transfer, I'll be forever grateful for these experiences with Elder Watkins, Elder Smith, Elder Winsor, Elder and Sister Sowards and even Elder Wilamas. The Lord is with us when we drew closer to Him through faith and repentance. Thank you President. You are a great man among men."
"Thank you again for all the blessings you let me see and experience here in Ayutthaya. No matter what happens this next transfer, I'll be forever grateful for these experiences with Elder Watkins, Elder Smith, Elder Winsor, Elder and Sister Sowards and even Elder Wilamas. The Lord is with us when we drew closer to Him through faith and repentance. Thank you President. You are a great man among men."
With that
being said, I may be out of here. President called me and asked: So what would
you think if you companions with Elder Wilamas again as Zone
Leader?" To put a 30 minute conversation into a nutshell, I said I would
and he said he'd pray about it. DOES NOT happen often. I love Elder Wilamas
with all my heart and he love me with his. I was go grateful to work with him
so closely this transfer and help him too. He's so great and even baptized one
of my converts - little bro Non. Turns out we had a baptism together
after all. The Lord looks after us and always. That's all folks!
Love,
Elder
Gibbons
[I wanted to add this obituary of a very special sister in Thailand]:
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| Srilaksana Suntarahut was the principal translator for the Book of Mormon in the Thai language |
November 7, 2013 - Sister Srilaksana Suntarahut, the mother
of the LDS Church in Thailand, passed away on November 7, 2013, in Bangkok
Thailand.
Srilaksana Suntarahut (1924-2013) was an early convert to
the LDS Church in Thailand soon after the first missionaries arrived in 1968.
Her testimony came powerfully, after reading just a few verses, from the
English Book of Mormon. She and two sisters, were raised by the widowed and
childless Queen of King Rama VI, with the support of her parents. She became
the principal translator of the LDS Scriptures into the Thai Language
(1970-1979), receiving revelation to solve challenging issues. While she could
not be their priesthood leader, she was the shepherd to the young flock of
early converts, hosting them at her home every Sunday
afternoon. She shared her testimony with all who would listen. Her story is one
of the most remarkable in all of LDS Church history.
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| Some of those who attended the memorial service on November 9, 2013, at the Asoke chapel in Bangkok Thailand. เราจะคิดถึงแม่ศรีเสมอ และตลอดไป |
