Hello Family and Friends,
Sorry
that last week I didn't say much. It was really kind of a hard time for
me, so I principally talked with my mom and dad - who are the best in
the world for me here. So thanks for being patient and understanding.
This last week was a lot different. In preparing for
Zone Conference in the office, we actually helped the President prepare
for four zone conferences. It was about DESIRE and DILIGENCE.
I'll be honest, it was hard last week as I felt the
Lord was making me get through a hard piece of music so I can perform
the next one with greater skill, and focus.
I asked my great
dad some advice as he, too, was in the office on his mission. He said
some things that were find of funny to me, and I quote:
"All of our
baptisms went through the local bishops or branch presidents. I
remember the missionaries being very involved but I think the final
baptismal interviews were conducted by the bishops and stake
Presidents. Am I gathering that you and other Elders are actually doing
the baptismal interviews?"
Answer to your question, dad: First, happy
Fathers Day. Second, I handle all baptismal interviews in our district;
Zone Leaders handle our companionship. Also about the records - we are
responsible for the President's monthly report for all the baptisms that
flow in from 155 missionaries from three countries.
One can only imagine that I could be feeling some growing pains under the weight of this responsibility.
Actually, it was something President Senior addressed in a special letter to me:
"Dear Elder Gibbons,
I am watching you change before my eyes and it is fun..."
I responded:
Thanks for the letter back. I'm feeling myself
change as well - and so is my perspective on missionary work. The Zone
Conference was amazing, but the Dan Jones day was incredible...We're
supposed to do our best everyday as missionaries. But if we do our best
every day is that enough? No! We are the Lord's servants and every once
in a while, we need to not just do our best but do our ALL; GIVE our
all. We had about 2 hours max to do "Dan Jones-ing," but we taught three
people in between ordering food in Bangnaa, we rolled down our windows
and talked to people as we drove our van around Bangkok, taught two more
people as we were filling up gas, and at the end of the day when we had
about 33 minutes left, we got Brother Yute, who's a new member and kind
of shy, and taught three other member lessons to prepare him for the
mission he doesn't yet know he wants to serve. And most importantly, he
and we taught with power and authority form God that day (well, for the
most part, but that's where practice and the added gift of discernment
come into play) with greater power than I have felt in a LONG time."
Dan Jones was one of the greatest missionaries
in the world. Why? Simple: he taught lots of people, boldly, through
the spirit, in his style or personality. So we had a DanJonesDay where
we were not allowed to hide behind our Free English Class card, and we
were to teach the whole day. In the office, we did our best - or should
say our all we could do, and saw much success and the hand of the Lord
guided our prayers and our following actions as we zipped around Bangkok
that day.
***
Speaking of success, our district had 3
baptismal interviews last night for Pim-Pong, his wife May, and Ali - a
Pakistani man whom I interviewed once already. His interview was
amazing. He couldn't speak English; I couldn't speak Urdu, but the Lord
worked out the rest as the gift of tongues rested upon me according to
my prayers.
Pim-pong and May are so great when at first we were
struggling to know what to do with them. He is so stubborn about certain
things and thinks way to hard about certain things - but in the same
way that I do even now. But one day, Elder Wilko and I prayed for him
and we were both on time to studies and focused. We were at lunch and I
got a phone call. It was Pim-pong. He said: "Elder Gibbons. You know,
I've done some pondering and I know that I need to be baptized. When
would be a good day to do that?" We had him and May interviewed yesterday. If all goes well, I'll be a speaker at his baptism next week.
The
week before has been a refiner's fire, but his week as been one of
harvest, reaping the spirit and finding inside myself a new me - or
perhaps a much older one whom I forgot existed long before this earth
did. With that is added joy, but added zeal for the work that I have
been praying so earnestly for.
On that note, I love this statement my mom sent me. She said: "Keep
up the great work, don’t expect too much out of yourself…you are still
learning and as long as you are on the right path, you don’t have to get
there tomorrow!" Also,the Great Geoffrey Canaan stated in a corresponding letter: "In my life the mission has continued. When we have the desire god always 'calls us to the work'."
I
testify that we are children of God. We are here to help one another,
to give to each other and to give for each other. If your holding back
anything that you should give or do for your neighbor, I encourage you
to just do it. Cain one said, "Am I my brother's keeper?" and lost his
soul.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of hope. Of light. Of righteous desire that leads a man" beyond
this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise" as it done with
me this week. I love you all. May God be with you. But more than that,
may you be with God is my prayer in Christ's name. Amen.
