This week has been crazy. Filled with adventure, sorrow, love, fate, drama, action, adventure, journey, miracles, and faith.
I love the Lord. He always seems to put me in places better than I can try to put myself. Just sometimes, it takes a long time over some really strange paths to get there. It started of strange right after I left the computer shop on Monday and left my [memory] card in the reader [from his camera] because we rushed off to a great FHE with Amy and Rose and Pres Lerson's house to teach the Plan of Salvation. By the time I remembered, we went back, and it was gone. I am still praying for the miracle to retrieve the 1000+ pictures I had since last January in Samut Prakaan on my 3rd area, so at that time, it was torture in my soul. "Why did this happen to ME?" I asked myself. But as I turned to the Lord and prayed for the comfort and council from heaven, I studied about Job the following Tuesday morning and feel like I got an answer:
In the story of Job, it recounts that Satan came to Christ and Christ asked if
Satan knew how great His servant Job was. Satan responded something like,
" Yeah that's just because he's got everything in his life. Take away all
his stuff and YOU'LL see what kind of a guy he is and curse you to your
face." Here, Christ had to make a decision. He decided to test His well
beloved servant because he loved him and had a greater plan for him. So, Job
lost his 1000+ camels and sheep, etc. at the same time he got word that all his
children died in a terrible accident. I love what Job does in reaction to the
loss of all that he had. The bible recounts:
"Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and
shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And
said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return
thither: the Lord gave,
and the Lord hath taken
away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged
God foolishly." (Job 1:20-22)
In this account, we see that Job went through a lot of things, and in the
end, got it back DOUBLE - even his children were doubled counting the ones
he'll see in heaven. I'm SO lucky my camera wasn't stolen, or I couldn't take
more pictures! But the Lord loves me and is helping me take my life in a
different direction. Who knows? Maybe he'll help me get them back by
communicating with all my companions - which will help me keep their
relationships? Anything's possible, and the Lord knows better than I.
The theme that He knows best was made manifest this month in
At-sa-jaanuary (this month combined with the Thai word for "Miracle' where
all the leaders got to get together and talk about the things that are going on
in the mission. In our Mission that has 34 units, there were but three places
who did not see someone enter into the waters of Baptism - a miracle of 165
baptisms.I had a part in another miracle heading back to Roi Et - another baptism happened in Maha Sarakham - the only place I never saw a baptism. I got to interview a sweet man named Sam - such a rad guy named Sam and he got baptized right after that! Such a tender mercy that the Lord allowed me to see someone get baptized in EVERY area that I served in. The sisters had a baptism too and we had 7 investigators at that baptism and that many at church too.
However, the drama comes in where some of the missionaries in my area think we're doing things not right and taking people's investigators. The sisters called and yelled at me a bit and the Elders were cold this whole week. But President really helped as I have been filled with the Love of Christ to love them no matter if their understanding is incorrect. I love them with a greater love than I can put into words as I pray and fast to know how to help them. We're working on it and President has been so understanding. In fact, he even let Elder Wilamas go home to Ubon Provence and vote for his country (it's a big deal here and a member was even injured in a shooting in my 1st area, I don't know who yet). Another trial was that we didn't even get to the polls in time! Another torture for me, knowing he might lose some rights and privileges as a result, but instead, we thank the Lord for the opportunity to be here in Ubon. In fact, I am sitting at HIS computer! I met his mom, Orahwan, and his little Bro who's so cool, JJ. Saw many friends here and even saw Elder Christensen interview someone for baptism here! My little boy I trained! Lol... ;) If the Lord didn't love me enough, we ran into a family who played the violin in Roi-et here in Ubon!
The Lord really IS in charge, and I feel His love as I realize He really knows the big picture and he is preparing the people I'm supposed to influence. The Lord is looking after me and loves me. I hope that when Satan comes to Him that Christ can talk about me the same way He does about Job, and promise Satan that I am immovable. As I trust in His path He takes me down, I know he will
I also know that he is ALSO preparing the same for you and that He wants
to talk you up to Satan who thinks he knows better. Luckily we have
the Savior who died for us and lives again for us - a gift greater than
all of Job's thousands of oxen, sheep, or cattle. I encourage all of
you to ask yourself: "Where do I stand? What can Christ say about
ME?" I promise that peace that the Lord gives will fill your souls as we
learn that the Lord knows better than we - and will bless us more than we can
ever imagine. He has with me, as these 2 years and 9 days stands and testifies
clearly.
I love you all. Keep praying for Amy, Arti, Paradii and her two
daughters: Ma'miaw and Muke (who is another miracle whom we have been led to).
Pray to the Lord to know His will, and He'll show you wonders beyond your
wildest dreams. Just be sure to hold on because it'll be quite a ride!
Love,
Elder Gibbons
