Week 58 - Samut Prakarn T8.W4

Hello Everyone,

It's just after lunch and Elder Merkley and I ate this soup thing at this new restaurant that just opened by our house. It's nothing NEAR as good as the one right outside the mouth of our street, but eating the soup with raw chicken, pork and pig liver that you just pot in a little boiling clay pot with some prik sauce (pepper sauce?) and vegetables was pretty enjoyable. I was still hungry, so we bopped over to 7-11 and I got a Sausage and Cheese sandwich. But then we passed a guy selling "ไก่ปิ้ง" or chicken on a stick, so I got a fresh one and I feel so great right now I think "it's gonna nain" because the clouds are dark and it’s super cool outside - I almost got a little chilly (which isn't hard to do here if the sun's not out). But I love that kind of weather. I'm trying to be more grateful so I was writing some nice things that happened today.

As for this week, there were many cool things that happened, specifically concerning the influence of the Atonement in my life recently - Phaw dii phaw dii, the same topics Dad about in his email. We had a great zone mtg where our Zone Leaders posed a question: "What do we remember about Christ?" We talked about His miracles, etc. Then they asked another question that really made me ponder: "How can I forget about Christ?" It really made me think of how special of a life He lived only to die for doing nothing wrong. We sang "I Stand All Amazed" where Elder Merkley and Elder Staten all sang especially well together. The Spirit of the Lord in that room was very thick and real. We then prayed and during the prayer I caught myself saying: "Why am I sitting down in this chair praying to my maker who has given everything for me? So I followed the promptings of the spirit and knelt in reverence of the Savior. I then heard a sound to my right and Elder Merkley had done the same. I wish to say we all did, but it was just us two. It was a very touching moment that has followed  me this week. I am so grateful for the one "who cared for me enough to die for me."

So I ask you as Alma did: "And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts? Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?" (Alma 5)  If you haven't experienced this change, I encourage you to get on your knees as I have and thank Him for the blessings we cannot even imagine. That you would pray for love and to feel this mighty change of heart in the One who is mighty to save is my prayer in Jesus's name, Amen.

With Love, 

Elder Gibbons

Week 57 - Samut Prakan T8W3

Hello Everyone,

Thanks for reading again, and I want to thank you for your support and love. Thank you mom for reporting your wonderful faith by bringing that someone back to church.  If they didn't come the first time, it's ok- Sister Soni didn't either but because we didn't give up on her God could use us as His instruments to help her the following week.

I'd still love to hear your stories because it's not too late.  I also promise as a servant of God that He will help you in your endeavors to help Him if you let Him.  And you let Him by not giving up.  My dad always had this funny saying where he'd say something like (now correct me on this one dad):  Do you know Micheal Jordan?  Do you know Bill Gates?  Do you know Peter Billings?  No, because he gave up."   Haha thanks for your words of wisdom, Father.

This week has been crazy, packed with adventures, and pizza (which is a scarcity here).  I might start backwards:  I JUST got back from seeing a big Thai warship, a fort, and eating at a water market with two of our recent converts: Sister Mild มายด์ (and her mom Sister Gaid เกษ) and Brother Nat นัท.  Super fun, but I'm exhausted.  Church was awesome because Sister M'am แหม่ม came - she was the only investigator who came - and we really called everyone else but her.  I've felt as if I didn't have a lot direction this week; as if the Lord wanted to see what we would do before He told us.  So we worked really hard and planned for many long hours for many investigators, and M'am came - goes to show the Lord has now let us know what direction He wants us to go.  If your ever feeling like you need some direction and you don’t know what to do, it may be the Lord TRUSTS your judgment enough to let you "try it out" for lack of a better term, and will eventually show you the way if you but keep the faith.... Or as we say here: สู้ สู้!!  (Fight fight! Keep Go-ING!)

IF NOT HOWEVER, please take the advice that Sister Snell taught me in a letter I recently read.  She said she has been trying to feel the Spirit more strongly by praying REALLY hard for it - but she was not just praying for it, but by praying sincerely and with all her heart to receive those blessed gifts that come when a concentrated effort to have them is made through her agency.   Thanks Sister Snell - keep the fight with your new companion from Kstchrthgyht-stan or wherever she's from.  And Elder Worthington with his new native companion!  That's SOOO cool!  I mean I bet even Elder Reynolds has a native companion and I never have.  [Elder Jordan Reynolds is his cousin serving in Virginia!]  However, this is the first time I've ever lived in the same house as one!  Elder Schad is SOOO awesome and funny.  I have become more and more like a ลูกครึ่ง (half-child, or half Thai, half American), so we get along great.  In fact, we've had the opportunity to work together a lot; and even during that time that I was reading those letters, I was on a switch-off with him- so that means Sister Snell, Elder Worthington and I all had native companions together!  Besides that, it's been so great to hear their success stories that come with their trials.  And now with the Great Elder Grant Gibbons back home, I feel a great responsibility to carry on this work in the Gibbons’ name.  So cool to hear about his last week and the blessings that come to such an incredible man such as him.  Love ya Grant.  Thanks for your example you have set on your mission that has affected people not just in Arcadia.

Speaking of great missionaries, Elder Merkley and I also celebrated our birthdays together (His was just this month) by eating pizza and Swensen's Ice Cream - where a super creepy server kept coming over to our table to refill our drinks so she could give us a good look over.   One time Elder Merkley hadn't yet took a sip and she refilled it anyway!  Oh funny.   But then the members wanted to celebrate again, so they asked if we wanted pizza AGAIN, so we did... CHEESE IS SO GOOD but I'm so bad at eating western food.  Gimme a plate of rice and I'll go to town but western food... We'll see what happens when I get back...

But perhaps the crowning event was when Elder Gong from the Asia Area Presidency and Elder Evens, who is the executive Missionary person in the church came and spoke to us in Bangkok. They taught with the spirit and with authority about true repentance and about how to love your companion so that when you see each other after 35 years, you can have a 4 1/2 hour conversation with him or her like Sister Gong did... Super inspiring and we got to immediately apply the doctrine and see blessings that come from our inspired leaders.

I know that as we follow their love that council and love people with an eternal prospective, we will have better joy and love than ever before.  If you haven't yet invited that person to come back with you, I re-challenge you to become God's instrument by taking that first step on your own.  If you step into the dark, He'll be your light.  I know it because I've felt it myself.  I know these things are true in Christ's name. Amen.

With love,

Elder Gibbons

Week 56 - Samut Prakan T8W2 RCLA work works!

Hello everyone!

This week has been a great one, but it wouldn't be complete without admitting of my thinking about Meeegs this whole month. I love ya so much Siiiiister! and I want you to know you’re beautiful and I had been thinking [of] you [so] much since the 8th ;)

Along with special birthdays (hats off to our great President Abraham Lincoln this week on the 13th and Delanny Olsen's on the 19th, Baby Chase's and apparently Kitty's too), this week has been filled with blessings, but some of the greatest blessings come from seeing those once lost come back. Sister Soni, a sweet but playful girl who is going to college and living with her family (of whom her older sister and brother-in-law are members), was a Less Active whom Elder Merkley has been trying to come back since before I got here 8 weeks ago. We finally saw her and taught her family one evening to invite them back; she agreed. Then, she didn't come to church. But we knew how much it would bless her, so we continued to help her in little ways. First we invited her to English class on Tuesday and she came! Then when we were about to teach a gospel lesson to some of our students who were interested to learn about Christ, we invited her to help teach. We gave her the opportunity to share her testimony and she helped wonderfully.

Later that week, one of our appointments dropped, but we had asked for Soni's help again and she was coming. We called to cancel but she said she was bringing one of her friends, B. Yes, that's her name. ;) So we actually just taught her and her friend instead with my first convert here, Brother Nat. The five of us really hit it off and Elder Merkley and I even sang for them on condition they share their Thai poetry (which was beautiful). We taught about the Restoration, Joseph Smith, and gave her a Book of Mormon. Soni once again delivered powerful testimony of the book she knew to be true.

Then next Sunday and there was not a single investigator there that we invited - one whom I called at 6:00am even came only to leave saying that she had other business. And on top of that, I was drafted back to the piano again. Although my piano skills are getting better, it still hurts when every one of those people you teach and love don't come. But after the meeting had started, I looked over at someone I hadn't seen at church before. It was Soni! She wearing a lovely yellow blouse and dressed up so nice. Then the High Councilman spoke about all the blessings we receive from worshiping the Lord at His house at church. After Sacrament Meeting was over, I welcomed her gladly; and in Sunday School she shared how she liked his comments as well. After I asked her to help Sister Mild feel more welcome and she was uneasy because she hadn't been for a while. But I think this is the beginning of a great new start for this wonderful girl. Please pray for her to remember the blessings and covenants she has from coming, if you can. Thank you.

On another note, my dad asked me a good question about the people seeing an eternal perspective beyond this Earth. To which I answer: About the people not seeing far - when you think that you'll just become a cat after this life, it's hard to get a grip on why you should raise your children well, be faithful to your wife, etc. But that's why we invite everyone to read the Book of Mormon. Remember Aaron and Ammon "unfolded the scriptures" unto the kings, the counts and all the people. Once they get a hold of the Book of Mormon, it's only a matter of time. I just finished Alma 26 to 29 in the Thai BoM and it's wonderful to draw comparisons to all the work I do here include preaching to them all over in all places. But all it takes is to get in touch with the Spirit for conversion to happen.

I believe that is what happened with Soni. She was simply exposed to the Spirit that she once felt. We're all children of God and we've ALL felt that before when we were with our Heavenly father. SO My challenge to you - my family on all three sides, my friends from school, work, or any other crazy place we've met - is to invite ONE person to come with you back to church. It's not as scary as it seems. If you love church but are scared to invite friends, that's like holding two ice cream cones and worrying that your friend will blow up at you and never be friends again if he or she doesn't like that flavor of the one you offer. It's their dang choice to eat it! They aren't going to steal your ice cream cuz that's mean; that's why we must OFFER it. If they eat it and don't like it, that's fine - you'll still be friends. But who do YOU know who doesn't like ice cream? I know very few. I know very few people who would get livid if you followed this challenge.

However, it might be that you forgot how good the sweetness of the gospel can be and have drawn yourself away from the "Smorgeous board of the Restoration". If in your heart there is something telling you "That's me," I invite you to come back to the feast with me and 'give that ice cream' to yourself. If bringing that ONE person back to church means you, please come. But if you've NEVER been to church and tasted off this feast I invite YOU to come! And bring your friends like Soni did to "come buy milk and honey, (and metaphorical ice cream) without money and without price."

If you're thinking "Yeah that's fun just cuz he's just a missionary," you try it! Then report your stories to me through my mom's email (<tamischlappi@gmail.com>). Remember you're not alone in your efforts. Pray always. Soni didn't come the week we thought she would, but the Lord used our efforts to bring her happiness. I know that as you do this, you will have greater joy than you can even try to understand. I pray Godspeed in your efforts, my friends! Looking forward to hearing from you.

Love always,
Elder Gibbons

Week 55 - SP T8.W1 - Surprise at Church

Dear family and friends,

As week one of this round 2 with Elder Merkley kicked off, we've been doing some WORK. We've been teaching all of our recent converts and less actives the "After-Baptism lessons and been feeling the spirit so strong. We have been teaching everyone we see as we can. We show up to church and not only am I drafted to the piano again, no investigators show up and half of our RC’s [recent converts] are missing. We felt like we set those goals so well through the Spirit, and no one came. But we keep our spirits high as we try to stay positive. We see two of the other Elder's investigators, and I talk to them, a young couple. I find out one is named Nuke.

Then my mind turns back to when the other Elders up in the north have said that they taught a golden couple all the lessons and were ready to be baptized until they taught the Law of Chastity. They were unmarried and living together (which is more common than it is not), and had to marry or live in separate houses before baptism. Exercising their faith, she made plans to move back to Samut Prakan to keep the commandment. The Elders up there had called multiple times, but we couldn't get a hold of her; she had no callable number. All we knew was that her name was Nok or Nuke, her boyfriend's name was Gob and she was told to contact us somehow...

I turn to her friend and ask his name; he answers: "กบ" or "Gob."  I light up and we immediately round up some members and go teach them upstairs. Basically, we talked to them about getting baptized on the 23rd of this month and getting married this week. Although Gob works in Bangkok (which is like an hour four from here), but she lives in Phra Pra Dang - which is in our area over the river.

Our goals and numbers aren't the most important, but they were met.  Elder Merkley and I went into another room after that and poured out our thanks to God for His blessing that day.

Sorry this letter's short, but it is a blast being here. Prayer works and God talks to His children, so please talk to Him. He wants to hear from you because he loves you. How do I know this? Because a girl traveled 400 kilos away to keep His commandments. If you're struggling, look to her as an example and pray to start to conquer it TODAY. I promise as the Lord's servant that as you do this, you will begin to feel the peace of Christ "which passeth all understanding" fill your soul (Philippians 4:7) and you will feel peace you didn't ever know you could (John 14:26-27).

I love you all. Pray always.

Elder Gibbons

Week 54 - Samut Prakan T8.W0 "Arm of the Lord Revealed and My Fun Little Bike Accident"

Dear family and friends,

Brother A was confirmed this Sunday and it was such a privilege to be a part in his story - and to continue to help him through callings and letters throughout my mission and beyond. I also got in my first bike accident! Elder Merkley and I were speeding home and went passed this neighborhood while someone was trying to pull in. Unaccustomed to the patterns of Mormon missionaries, the driver thought it safe to go after the first white falang sped by on his bike and went ahead. His companion saw it coming, slammed his brakes, but was going too fast to avoid collision. This is where I come in because I was on my bike. Well, then I wasn't because I was on the ground. What happened was my front tire bounced off the front fender and sort of bounced me back to where I was, but I lost balance and as gracefully as it was possible landed neatly on my right hand. I got up and there wasn't a single scratch - not even on that hand. I got up and placed my hands on my hips and said with my body language: "You BETTER not drive off and get out of your car." A flustered lady probably in her early 50’s stepped out in a nice pink dress and a gold necklace. "I am SO sorry!" she said. "No, that's totally fine - I'm not even hurt," I responded. She asked if I needed to go to the doctor but I assured her it was fine. But then I stopped, puzzled, and then asked, "Wait, how do speak English so well?" We had been having this whole conversation in English and her accent was so good that I forgot to speak Thai. She was a university professor and was super nice. Well, I absolutely couldn't pass up an opportunity like this, so I explained that I was a missionary and I wanted to teach her about Jesus, and got her number. Her name is "iim" and she lived in that neighborhood. By that time Elder Merkley pulled up and we all said goodbye. Then I remembered Elder Mateos and I did some running in those neighborhoods that were very wealthy. I remember only now to have prayed to someday get into one of those houses. Wow how the Lord works in mysterious ways. If it takes me running into a car late at night in Bangkok to help one of God's daughters open her heart, well so be it!

But perhaps the most stunning news came at transfers. I played "A Child's Prayer" with my two Zone leaders (ธนาวุฒิ and Bantha - the two funniest ZLs together) and we got two more Elders: Staton and ชัด (Chat). I've never had a Thai Elder in my district before let alone in my house. [He must be living with another set of missionaries] He's super cool and humble. Ironically, his name is ชัด which means clear as in sound or performance - and some mornings I wake up in the mornings before language study and can't understand a word he's saying! But it'll come and I'm praying to understand more and more.

But the really important news came at transfers after all was done. I will share but a small part of my experience in my journal [which] is much more accurate. After everyone was called, President Senior talked about our mission's history - from Elder Gordon B. Hinkley's dedicating our mission in the midst of the Vietnam war until the six first missionaries transferred from, I believe, the Philipines, Mylisia and Hong Kong. Now I think back on it, we get a referral, and we can telephone anyone in the mission to anywhere - 150 possibilities at all time. Then I think of Elder Chat: living, breathing results of the first's missionary's efforts in establishing the kingdom of God in every nation... President then went on to talk about a package from the First Presidency - announcing the first ever Lao Book of Mormon translated. The man who did the proof reading (Elder Luangraff) got the last copy to approve - and had 20 days to do it. The Thai BOM has 707 pages, and the Lao one is similar. He was overwhelmed, but prayed. He said as he prayed he felt a light illuminate his entire frame. He proof-read the entire copy in one and a half days...

Then President Senior pulled up another slide to announce one more transfer: to Vientiane, Laos.

I have never been inside a room that was as still and silent and reverent than that one at that time. It became a hallowed place as my former Issan Zone Leader Elder Kunz stood up to accept with my friend Elder Tozanis, Elder Crawley from my first area who's always been a strength to me, and finally my Zone Leader in the MTC: Elder Wright. The Arm of the Lord revealed at that moment was almost unbearable. Months earlier in Sisaket I had been under the impression to pray for the Lao Book of Mormon to come forth and that those in the government here to open their hearts; this week I found out why. Tears, unstoppable tears, started pouring down my face as President Senior broke the long silence and held up a framed picture of six, smiling young men in dark suits in 70's style fashion.  He announced that these four Elders would too shortly appear in a frame in the office marking the beginning of the Salvation of God forth and His making bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations.

There was a catch though - they are but service volunteers, as President Senior has asked us to spell out in the letter that follows:

Dear Missionaries,
Please use this verbiage regarding Laos in your email to your parents this week:
"By invitation, the Thailand Bangkok Mission received approval to have four young service volunteers to labor in Vientiane, Laos.  These service volunteers will work with Deseret International Charities under the direction of the Senior Couples who are located in Vientiane, and will be involved in a variety of humanitarian and educational service opportunities, including clean water projects, hygiene, neo-natal education and English language instruction.  The young volunteers will also support the Branch activities of the Laotian Saints in Vientiane, Laos.  The Church is not yet officially recognized in Laos and this recent activity is for the purpose of providing additional educational and humanitarian service."

But regardless of their calling, the knob is turned, the door's still closed, but it is OPENING. May God continue to open the vast doors placed in front of you through diligent prayer and scripture study as you seek the Salvation of God is my prayer, in Christ's name. Amen.

Elder Gibbons

Week 53 - Samut Prakan T7.W5 Brother A's Baptism - Kaiden's Surprise

Hello Everyone and a VERY happy happy birthday in the states (or "und geberstag viel gluch" if you will) to one of my very best friends, Wolfgang A. Mozart who was born into the world to grace it with music divine 257 years ago! And phaw dii phaw dii the THAI hymnal has one song about missionary work that's taken from an excerpt from one of Papageno's Arias in "The Magic Flute"! [written by Mozart]  I was waiting ALL month to sing that with my vocal-major-companion (he was so weirded out as to what the big surprise was going to be that day) and he's the only companion I could sing other parts on in as well. Then after Branch Conference this super good pianist played some Turkish March after playing his most famous piano sonata that I can't even remember that name to cuz I'm trying to be a great missionary...

Anyway, a year ago that day I was in 2nd full day (the big Friday) of the MTC where I also celebrated Mr. Mozart's 256th birthday. That day I also taught my first investigator named Aphiwat - all in Thai! I remember his big eyes and sort of giggly personality as Elder Creer and I switched turns reading sentences out of our book and communicating with his "speaking dictionary" where we'd find a word and show it to him, he'd say one back, look at our faces, and then look up one to show us himself. Oh great times, it was a great day...

And this was a great week! Brother A was baptized! We had a nice service and we four Elders sang "Come Unto Jesus" and then went to the font in the other room. There, I had the privilege to baptize him. I brought him out of the water and he couldn't turn around and face anyone because he was just crying. At first I thought I hurt his knee as we were wading in a watering trough, but I realized he was feeling an overwhelming power of the Spirit and then embraced his soaked frame and let him feel the power of the Holy Ghost wash his burdens away and let a few more tears fall onto my shoulder. It was a great moment for me that I appreciate more now in retrospect, but was wonderful embracing this 40 year-old little Thai man who had found that "more excellent hope" he had been lacking in Christ (Ether 12:34). We got changed after we dried ourselves with paper towels...

**BATES AND MCKENNA: DON'T FORGET THE TOWELS** [2 of his cousins serving missions]
Grant and Jordan [2 other cousins serving missions] probably know that as Grant's 2-YEAR mark is coming soon, but we lived. He was too shy to share his testimony after so I took his hand and we went to the pulpit together. I thanked everyone for coming and I forgot after that - the Spirit taking its course. But I do remember mentioning how we met:

One day Elder Merkley and I were heading home and this crazy lady (no, but really) stopped us to ask for something I still don't understand.  In the meantime, two 145 buses passed - the rarest and only ones that get us home. Frustrated, we waited for a third and got on. Elder Merkley went to the back but I decided to just sit by some random guy who I found to named "A." We talked, he was Catholic and I invited to Church. Over the course of a lot of hard work to get him comfortable with members and our church, we set him up to be baptized on the 27^th of January.

Then he related to the congregation HIS experience: He was going the market I believe, and he waved down a 145 bus - one of the rarest and the one that goes to the market. It passed him by. This same thing happened 2 - 3 more times until one finally stopped and he got on. Then two falangs (foreigners) stepped on the bus and one sat by him... The rest is history. And a miracle.

On my mission, I've learned a lot of things. I've learned to believe a lot of things. Typical, right? What I wasn't ready for was that I learn to DISbelieve a lot of things: Status-Quo, that government is my field of study, and, the biggest of all: coincidence. Was it "random" that we missed 4 - 5 together to sit on the same bench? I'll just tell you - nope. It wasn't. God love His children and makes things work out for them. จบ

Speaking of 'coincidence', that's SOOO พอดี ๆ (phaw dii phaw dii – or just so happened that or fancy that that thing happened which) that Miss Adria Packard will be serving a mission and speaking Thai.  Super awesome. [Joseph wanted me to explain about Adria...His cousin Kaiden, who is serving a mission in Russia, met Adria at Snow College.  Kaiden and Adria dated until Kaiden left on his mission.  Kaiden thinks she's pretty special and I'm sure there are plans to pick up where they left off when they get back!  She just got her call to the Thailand Bangkok Mission where Joseph is serving!!]  :) 

This gospel's true - believe it!

Elder Gibbons