Week 34 - Sisagate - T4: W5

First of all,

Love you too mom - like a lot - I think of you every day and I couldn't do this without you! I think of you, dad, Kenz, Megs, Matt and Shae, and "If Ain't got You" is playing right this moment (as is was –phaw dii - last week just before we left the net cafe) which makes me think of my little Bevis [Anna] and Taylor and the rest of the family.  OH and I got Kaiden's first letter in country!  I circled it all up so I can write to him all the similar and different things I've seen too! Do you have his  address?  I'm glad Brayden's getting  better  - I've never met such a stick who is also a tank!  And even the Thai press was covering the DNC [Democratic National Convention for those not politically-minded!] - I couldn't understand anybody, but there was our President (who I'm not the fondest of, but was so excited to see because right now, he represents our beautiful nation).  Keep the faith and know our government's in the Lord's hands ;) I even met a German guy who when I said we're "Mormon" he automatically said "Oh, Mitt Rom ney, right?" So if a nice, drunk, German guy living in Thailand knows who we are, I'm sure many more people do.  Keep up the faith.  Keep holding up that ensign to the world!

So there was a lot that happened this week.  I invited this guy playing a guitar by asking to play with him (I played and sang "Blackbird") and got a return appointment. When we returned, so did 5 of his friends - 6 new investigators in one lesson... fun!  I also led my area as senior comp Friday with Elder Terry!  We've also been finding a lot more people to teach through a really cool method (mom please send this to Bates! Give him some good ideas).  I explained it to my Mission President:

"Just a few things to report.  One, I guess I report on my switch-off this week Elder Terry (maybe that's only for Sisters?) and it was super good even if it was my first time being "Phee" or senior comp.  We're on a low for investigators lately, so we studied well and then went out to find the Lord's prepared. We did a couple of inviting tactics. One, we had some fun by choosing each other's targets and gave each other the topic to invite them. We yielded some good results as one man said he had been "looking for Christ for many years now" (if I understood right). The next tactic was one Elder Chamberlain introduced to us in a district mtg. He said in the past, he didn't feel as effective inviting a neighborhood for 4 hours and almost got in one door, but lately he's tried another way …

How it works is one Elder stands on the corner or off to the side of a busy walkway and lifts up his voice using as PMG [Preach My Gospel] calls "Short, Powerful Statements" - or he asks short statements that provoke one to "exquisite wonder" such as:
"If the true church of God was on the earth, would you like to be a member?"
"Would you like to know the purpose of this life?"
"Have you ever thought about where we're from or were we go after death?" 

just to name a few examples...

Practicing these statements out loud before hand is ESSENTIAL.  My first time wasn't so good because of that.  But through this way, Elders Chamberlain and Terry now have three new investigators - one of which with a baptismal date - all within a week.  We found many potentials too. But the interesting part Elder Chamberlain said is you never seem to find those who are prepared - they find YOU. That's exactly what happened to me too.

That's a lot of info, sorry, but faith is increasing in the earth through this method and I wanted to let you know.  I've always wanted to be a missionary like Dan Jones - lifting up my voice to the people with my power and authority - and I'm getting closer to the faith he had for sure.  There were many instances where the Spirit would guide me to say things, even brief sermons, if you will, and led me to do the Lord's will here in His power.

Also saw a spider about 5" diameter 6" from my face in the shower - thought that would be fun for you to know."

OK honestly, he probably gets bored in that office of his when he's not in Laos or something. Actually, I'll take that back - he's one of the hardest working, inspiring men I've met. This last month of August we had 77 baptisms (including 5 in Lao and 1 in Burma) - which is A LOT!!  But he wants 100 this month.  Please pray of sister Boo our investigator who has a son who's Siah's long-lost twin.  In everything.  Crazy.  But she needs help for sure.

Thank you for all your prayers too. I Love you all and would encourage you to look for those that are prepared too - those who are prepared to receive your love. Contact a friend you haven't in a while, help a old lady across the street, write a missionary ;) or show some charity this week. Report through my mom - I love to hear your stories!

Love,
Elder Gibbons

Week 33 - Sisaket T4: W4

Hello everyone! I'm going to share a little thought today that I was talking with my dad about that I learned this week. In Uncle Rick's amazing letter, he mentioned about being "Homesick." or about being "Trunky" - a term missionaries for generations used to describe want to "pack up their trunks"... For some missionaries, it's a bad thing sometimes because they're focusing on other things other than their work. But this week, Elder Peterson enlightened me this week: He said "I'm looking forward to going home - it's not being trunky, but just looking forward to being home again because of all those people whom you love and who love you. It's like if your mission was life and after your mission is heaven. Someone once told me that whenever you feel sad or depressed in this life, you're just trunky
for heaven."

Cool huh? It's a bit shorter this week, but I know these things are true. If ever you feel like life just not going well or even not worth it, just remember you're trunky for heaven. My commitment to all of you is to help one person this week feel a little less homesick. I'm not going to tell you how, but you can report to me next week ;)

[At least I DID find out where his companion is from!]

His companion’s name is Elder Reese Petersen.  His parents are Brent and Stacey Petersen.  They did live in Ellendale (close to Albert Lee), but now they live in Sartell.  [My Mom will be happy cuz I think my Grandfather was born in Ellendale! J  Mom: you may want to make a comment and give us the scoop!]

Week 32 - ศรีสะเกษ! T4.W3

Hello everyone! Thanks for all the prayers and support. I have really felt it as I have moved to this crazy-awesome area (that hyphen is for YOU, Maxwell Webb...)

Anyway, funny story to start out.  We were about to leave the house today when I felt something stuck in my shoe. So I pulled it off and shook it upside. Lo and behold, a grain of rice tumbled out onto the floor. Realizing the implicitation and connotation of what just happened, I looked up at my district leader, Elder Chamberlain, who had been watching as the episode unfolded; we both were in an uproar of laughter. In the intencity of the situation I exclaimed "I AM IN ASIA!" And so, ladies and gentlemen (I guess I sould say brothers and sisters - that feels more natural), I am indeed in Asia. We made rice on sunday and after I heated it up, I smelled the soft, faint scent that rice emits and felt something stir inside, like coming home after a long walk in the rain. Two kind of experiences that I thought were nice.

Some other experiences out here in the Isaan include doing service by hacking down a branch from an older lady's tree with a rusty machete, having my second plate of eating khao-pat khi-yieo-maa (rice dish-egg-unine-horse), and I smashed a cockroach so hard that his body severed in two and its abdomen shot between my legs (a span of abut 4 ft). I kinda went a little much there because I had another crazy experience just before which I recounted to another missionary: "Can't count the cockroaches I've slain, but I did manage to plant a nice moi-style Chuck Norris-edition classic round house kick-to-the-face to my first dog here. OK, it was really less epic - just a really lucky reaction with A LOT of Heavenly Guidance..."

But despite these adventures, I have really felt the power of the atonement in my life. My companion is awesome - he loves classical music, the Thai language such that that we usually communicate to each other in Thai outside the home in just Thai, he loves weird foods like me, and he has some of the greatest faith. Elder Petersen studied physics at BYU and used the word "homogenius" when talking about different oat brands, but the way he exerts faith is so factual and peaceful that I've learned a lot from him - much more than just Thai.

In fact, I've have to learn patience with him a different way because we're so SIMILAR. For example, we were fasting when we got to an investagator's house and for got she prepared some treats. We both realized it  and said a prayer before to know what to do. Everything worked out all right, but our concept of what was to be done dittered.  At church, I was hungry, tired, and excited to eat with all the members. But Elder Petersen wanted to fast more and refused the member's food which I thought wasn't nice. And I didn't know what to do because he wasn't eating and I wanted to. But I remembered that I prayed that day to have more unity with my companion. So I went into another room and poured out my hungry soul to my Father in Heaven and asked for strength to fast "the extra mile" with him. I did, and the investagator we were fasting for (sister Dan) actually got her work off Sundays after asking the second time. We found two people to teach who when we met them at their gate welcomed us in. They gave us water (a Thai gesture of hospitality toward guests) and we were fixed with another challenge. I put my lips to the glass as a gesture of courtesy, but Elder P didn't. Again, I thought something bad was going to happen, but instead they were very understanding and and Elder Petersen got to bear testimony on the principle of fasting. The best part was, that his testimony was as pure as any balanced equation because he lived it to a tee. My testimony has been strengthened because of his example. 

That's pretty much all. Please pray for Sister Boo and her little son to experience church peacefully. Love you all, I've gtg!

With love, 
Elder Gibbons

Week 31 - ศร๊สะเกษ! T4:W2

Hello again from the Isaan! [I didn't edit this at all, just a few spelling errors.]

The weather is superb, the air is great and we had some good things happen this week.  In my letter to President Senior, I pretty much summed up the highlights:

"Hello again on a beautiful Monday afternoon. I'm just waiting for it to start to cool down into winter, but I guess that doesn't happen here... But growth and changes do happen here as we sustained our new branch president (President Thawansak) yesterday and got to participate in Sister Nat's confirmation, as her baptism was this last Saturday, which I got to play my viola again and give an unplanned talk because the speaker didn't show up!  But it was great, and her testimony is strong.  These experiences are just among the few that have helped me grow spiritually and emotionally.  On missionary.lds.org it says I'm about 25% done with my time in the field (Which seems super short!), as I hit my 7th month mark as a missionary this week too.  People are starting to make more sense and the language is seeming to slow down."

More on those changes, President Sumeed was such a great branch president.  He kind of reminds me of Uncle Troy because his hair's a little longer, he's a little more chill and laid back, but he's so funny!  He'll just say something in his cool voice but you don't know if he's kidding or not!  He's completely opposite from his wife - Sister BOOM who has two volumes: loud and laughing.  She kinda sounds like Aunt Angie when she laughs really hard at a joke that revolves making fun of a Minnesota accent and talking about "Troode!" or "Joan Boagor!"  He teaches me southern words and she teaches me Isaan words.  There are about 3-5 different languages in Thailand and Isaan is like Americans making fun of Spanish (like "Do you hablo?" or "I gusto that ice cream mucho!") but instead of spanish, they mix in Lao!  AH!  It's intense but fun (I"m sticking to Thai for now).

And our convert Sister Nat is so funny! She's this little lady (maybe in her late 30's?) who can't read and can't hear very well either.  Members feed her testimony as they read to her from the Book of Mormon often.  When she's not getting something, she'll let you know by the way her face all screws up and squints her eyes, and then lets us know vocally.  At her baptism, she bore her testimony the went something like: "Well, I'm here and I don't really know what to do... But I really like having friends.  When I was learning I would ask Heavenly Father like 'Heavenly Father, please send me more friends because I like friends,' and he sent me a lot.  Now what do I do?"  The members helped her close her humble, heartfelt testimony which brought in the Spirit because you could see the trust she had in her Father in Heaven and in her brothers and sisters in the church.  For example she wanted President กิจจา (Git-ja) to speak and to baptize her.  Honestly, I would too.  This little man is sharper than flint.  I first saw him as he walked into church in polished cordovan shoes, tan whaled trousers, and a brown leather vest over a brown-pinstriped dress shirt.  He has tight, curly silver hair and large-rimmed black spectacles that sit above his little nose which sticks out over my a thick silver mustache.  My companion and I concluded he's a cross between Albert Einstein and Sean Connery.  His sermon on Faith at the baptism (I say sermon, for it could be accounted as nothing less) was of the best talks I've heard in this country.  He's famous out here in the Isaan and is a blessing to have in our branch.

Blessings.  That's pretty much the theme of my experience here in Siisaket (and of the rest of my 25% of my mission up to this area).  It's so fun out here, but a lot of work to be done.  I would encourage you all to read the Book of Mormon to keep in the right way (because it's so easy to slip into pride - like I did, but that's a different story and everything good and I know now how true these words I tell you are).  My last thought is something my Companion asked me and I'm still puzzling over: "What's your favorite Commandment to Keep?"  Chew on that this week and let me know your thoughts!

With rak (love)
Elder Gibbons

PS: My comp [companion] is from... here it comes! ... Minnesota!
We're getting along great - he is a Physics major from BYU and reminds me of Kaiden's comp - which makes it so much better for ME, right?!  Our first Comp study involved the concept of enetrepy and the atonement.  AWESOME!  more to come next week.  Love you SOOOOOOOO much!

Week 30 - ศรีสะเกษ! T3:W6 (Beginning Tnsf 4 in "Siisaket")

Hello Everyone!

Well first things first...

I'm out of the "เทพ" (Tabe)!!  I'm no longer in Bangkok (กรุงเทพ...) this next transfer but far out into the อีสาน (iisaan) baby!  The Mission is divided into three areas: 1 the middle (Bangkok and other surrounding areas all the way up to อยุธยา or Ayutayaa where "Mortal Combat was filmed) 2 the North (where many tourists go like Chaing Mai or Chaing Rai - all bordering China and Burma) or 3 the "iisaan" (which the closest equivalent is the "countryside."  It's pretty much like Upstate NY vs NYC itself. Much of the iisaan borders Lao and Cambodia.  My Province borders the famous provance of Ubon on the east, "Elephant City" in Surin on the west and Cambodia in the South)

Enough geography, (you're welcome Anna) let me get to the goods surrounding this transfer.  Starting with the second or third-to-last week of the moves, I had a feeling I was moving.  Prataan Thuwit was sad one day and told me Elder Osborne and I were moving - he could feel it too.  As the time approached, I knew I was going on a bus far away... Oh it's weird to describe, but that's how it went, and sure enough here I am in ศรีสะเกษ [Si Sa Ket]!

Tangent: Funny story - President Senior had all the people moving up on a slide show - one slide at a time. He went through the middle, the iisaan and the north but my name wasn't called... I was freaking out!  Was I being sent to Lao or something?!  No, he just forgot and it scared the tar out of me.

But mom - thanks for the letter.  I WILL miss all those people in Don Muang.  It's actually funny - I got more homesick HERE than I did in my 1st area - for my first area.  I could fill up pages and pages, but I barely have time, so I'll recap with a cool event after thanking the Best Branch President in the world.  I love that man with all my heart, and I'll miss him.  One of my best D.M. experiences was with sister "Pim".  We were confirming an appointment that Sister Oomiim was going to teach with us and she asked if she could bring her friend to the lesson.  We said of course and asked if her friend was interested in the Gospel.  "Hold on," she said.  Whispering on the other end.  "Yeah she says 'yes'."  Sister iim has so much faith and I'm so excited to have known her.  As my convert, I gave her a letter of thanks and encouragement to which she gave me a huge artwork book - from Sister Pim.  Weeks earlier Sis Roper was going through iim's phone for referrals and said what about her?  (at S. Pim) iim in her way said, "Oh yeah she needs it; she 's not the best person.  But she can repent for sure!"  She has been swallowed in by the gospel from the world.  The Gospel is changing lives over here because of the many prayers in behalf of the work here.  I must thank you most graciously all you for your help and prayers.  And Dad - your faith in our finding efforts couldn't have been more appropriate: Today we were just riding our bikes and got a phone call.  The man on the other line said straight up that he wanted to learn about Jesus Christ.  If that's not faith, I don't know what is.  Your prayers literally change lives over here.  Thank you x1,000,000!  Oh PS Dad - I saw a man on a non-pedal bike like yours, but it had a lever you pulled to make it work instead.  As he was inching his way along, the man slowly looked up and smiled at me while I passed on my pedal bike I was using with my legs.  It made me think of you, but also made me feel more grateful for my many blessings as well. 

Well, I gtg [got to go - for all us "old people"].  I wish I could tell you everything in more detail – our awesome branch, our awesome Branch President who seriously looks like Paul McCartney, the dead roach on the podium or of all the ants in the Sacrament bread, of the roaches I find every morning just before I shower, the beautiful air, the wonderful people speaking a different language than Thai, our new convert, Sister Nut who'll be baptized this week, our 9 other people with baptism dates, my new Companion who writes Thai in his journal every night and who doesn't know Journey the band, but loves late-Romantic classical music... But I gtg!

Love ya all - ttyl [talk to you later!]

Elder Gibbons

Photos from Don Muang

Photos sent (via Facebook) to us by his friends in the Don Muang Branch (Ploi Jiambun, Puen Jiambun, Imee Possible and Elder & Sister Taber [Senior Missionary Couple])

Game night at the Branch President's house - they said he was very funny and sneaky (they played a game like "Mafia" and he tricked everyone.)  :)

This is his second day in the area

I am just guessing this is at Oom Iim's baptism...

I LOVE this photo - notice where Joseph's hand is!!!  He is such a hugger, that it's so awkward for him to stand there and not put his arm around someone!!  :)  Love my missionary!!

I think this is when he had two companions

Photo of Domuang/PakKret/Chaengwattana District Missionaries - Elder & Sister Taber sent it to me through email.

Week 29 - Thailand! T3:W5

Hello everyone!

So it's been a week and I'm still hangin' in there, although I have been detoxing out of both ends this beautiful Mother's Day weekend.  I had a good night's sleep though, so I feel much better.

The super good part about yesterday was that yesterday was Her Majesty the Queen's 80th birthday and the whole country has been thinking of -their mothers and of Thailand's mother Herself.  I also had the super cool experience to go to District Conference and hear from our Asia Area President, Elder Kent G. Watson.  Before he spoke, he did two cool things and I'm going to ask all within the sound of my email (does that even work?) to do.  But before he started, President Senior (our new mission president) spoke. He and the translator got up to pulpit (translator because he served in Japan - the first mission president of Thailand in 20+ years to not serve in Thailand), but President Senior said all his opening remarks in Thai.  But unexpectedly, he went on.  He started talking about the love of God, how it blesses all people, and that we can share in with everyone because they need it too.  He gave his whole talk in slow, but concentrated Thai and the translator just stood there until he finished and they both sat down.

President Watson then asked President Senior to came up and share his testimony again.  This time, in Japanese.  President Senior, smiling, got up, shook his head - to which everyone chuckled.  And then with that same smile he shot out a sentence or two of Japanese faster than any Spanish speaker I've heard.  The congregation was thrilled, and Thai people don't do a very good job at hiding their excitement - there were even a few Ooos and Aaahs.  He sat down - without a translator - and the Spirit filled that room.  The Area President stood again and praised him again for his faithfulness and dedication.

And then he did something i'll never forget.  He opened his remarks by introducing Mother's Day and giving praise to Her Majesty's 80^th birthday.  He asked the congregation to join him in silence in respect for the Queen for 20 seconds.  Without hesitation, the entire congregation arose simultaneously.  The faraang (white) mom in front of me even smacked her kids to quickly stand too.  There, standing with heads bowed, we all payed respect to the Queen of the ancient land of Siam who's Husband's dynasty started before America had become a country.  That room was hallowed that day as I took part in that special event commemorating a day where we paid respect to all mothers through the highest Mother in the land.

President Watson's remarks were no more diminishing to that atmosphere.  To be brief, he focused his entire message on "what President Monson would say if he were here."  On this special Mother's Day, he delivered a powerful address about the Family Proclamation to the World.  He exhorted every present to study the proclamation and hang a copy of in up in your home (there is one now in our study room).  But he went even further and unfolded unto us the blessings of the Temple - to make all preparations necessary to go, even if might be only for once in your life (mind you the closest temple is across the ocean in Hong Kong) and to always have your temple recommend ready to go to experience the infinite blessings the come from being Temple worthy at all times.

So I challenge all of you to do the same: to have a Proclamation in your study room, in your home, somewhere you can see it, and have a temple recommend ready to go (and then GO as often as your location permits - you in Utah are so blessed because they are in more abundance than where I am).  If you're not old enough to go in, and your parents to schedule a trip where you go and maybe have a picnic nearby and then walk the grounds together.  I do miss the Temple, but I do also miss my แม่ (mom) this week.  The last challenge besides those two would to give your mother a big hug today.  If that's not possible, take a break and call her right this moment and express your love.  And still, if that's not possible, find a quiet place, get on your knees and thank your Father in Heaven for the many blessings that have come because of your own mother.  I know as you do this, you too will feelof the joy and love than ever before.

Don't forget to read your Book of Mormon - see ya next week!
Elder Gibbons

                           The Family; A Proclamation To The World