This Friday
marks a special day. On the 25th this month, I will hit my 2 year mark of being
a missionary. There's been miracles and miracles when I exercise my faith in
the face of trails. My Birthday was last week, and as a present, the Lord
decided to answer my prayers and give me some trials. I want to apologize for
not sending out the greatest letters as of late, but this last's president's
letter sums up some of the things we're been facing and the miracles we've been
having in Zone Khon Kaen. We've had some
trials even with some of the leaders in the mission who have accused us of
doing wrong. After addressing it to President, I said to him:
Dear
President,
This week
really took the wind out of our sails. Doused the fire. We got a phone call
from the APs that really startled me and left me sick to my stomach for the
rest of the week. During studies on Saturday
we picked up the AP's phone call and got showered with many brunt and probing
questions. Earlier we got a call from you, so at this point I'm trying to
figure out what's going on (and at the same time trying to translate the right
context in Thai - which I wasn't sure because I felt dirty or like I did
something wrong from all the questions). I finally just ASKED what the heck is
going on and didn't get an answer. "We've just heard things,"
"We've just heard things and we're concerned," I kept getting.
Finally we proceeded to hear a list of several things we were doing wrong -
including going to church only once this transfer, switching off too much, not
calling my district leaders the right way, etc. etc. etc. Refusing to tell me
by what sources this false accusations were from, and we were then rebuked of
the privilege to switch-off and received a fair portion of shouting at after
trying to explain why we were training.
Yes, we got
an apology before hanging up, but we've got several calls from our leadership
that ask us strange questions and press down on specific goals that week, which
is against the Zone Leader Handbook, isn't it? Can the leadership call us
out without talking to us and set quotas and goals for us now? Do they not know
that we have had more concubines to teach and interview than I've ever seen and
how many branches to balance out because they are ready to send missionaries
out of their city? Do they know that we've not only trained in our districts
after MLC, but returned on our District leader's request to help our super 200
goal, or know that we've met with, taught, and calmed down members who started
to find and teach their own investigators? Did they ask us if we have been to
church all 4 weeks here? Do they know we haven't had an unbalanced week? Do
they know that our potential investigators section of our planners are full
now? Do they know we are literally bleeding out of our heads and arms while
dragging our bikes across the Esan on buses so we can work WITH our districts
instead of just standing at the bus station until the call us a Tuk Tuk [little
Thai go-karts taxis]?
President,
I have sacrificed a lot of things to get this zone from 0% to where it is.
Elder Wilamas has sacrificed even more in terms of fatigue and not faltered. We
are not perfect, but we have done nothing but the Lord's work these past few
weeks. We told our district leader in advance if we were going to be gone, and
just did the work that needed to be done to achieve 200 baptisms. We received
no training, so we called on the Spirit to help and He is helping. We did the
work the Lord wanted us to do and had a dang good ol' blast while doing it. But
after this week I've felt very alone this week because I was scared to tell you
anything, fearing that you wouldn't understand because you just had the info
the APs have - coming from WHERE? I don't know. I feel little trust from people
now and feel that our leadership is losing trust in us.
But Faith
in Jesus Christ has helped us. I need to thank you for your prayers. We really
needed them this week. In a lighter note, our zone applauds District Korat with
their 4 baptisms this last week. Kalasin has seen a miracle as the whole District
had balanced for the first time this transfer. Elder Tirrell and his district
has been working closely with the branch and seeing results. Sister Painter's
and Sister Embly's time up there was like fresh water to the branch and to
those missionaries.
As a
matter in fact, we've recently seen miracles as we help our districts as the
Holy Ghost directs us do. Kalsain Sisters just had to see what it was like to
be enthusiastic about the work. That's what we have been doing with the
district leaders in our zone and Elder Sanguansak and Elder Smith are
progressing in Korat. I felt prompted to go to Korat to train and we were an
answer to their prayers. We switched off with only Khon Kaen this transfer
which helped them work more effectively, as Elder Naosuwan is sick as of late,
and They are having problems getting along. In Sarakham, we had a special
training and they are on fire - both the Elders and the Sisters. Our zone is
getting back on its feet at last.
Sorry this
one was a little fiery, but I hope you see that I love our work and our
missionaries who do it. "The assistant to the president is not any more
important that any other missionary," says the missionary handbook, which
we follow closely and read daily. We are trying to see how every missionary in
our zone has an equal part in lifting up the weary and strengthening each other
and the people they work with - members or those who are not yet members.
Thank you
President, as Elder Wilamas and I are excited to work till we drop for the next
5 weeks. He is amazing and is my strength as well. Thank you for your strength
and we both love and pray for you and our assistants, fellow zone leaders, and
districts.
With Love,
Elder
Gibbons
Thank you
for your prayers as well. We're teaching a miracle girl "Best" who
drove to church for her first time on a flat tire, and teaching a man named
Rangsan who is the CEO of a major bank in the Esan. Please pray for both
of them. I share this close email because I haven't the time to re-explain
this week and I feel you will feel the need to please remember Elder Wilamas
and me in your prayers for at least 5 more weeks. It's gonna be a race to the finish, all right,
so thank you for your service in this regard.
I love you
all, and say goodbye until next time! PS: It's still pretty cold here! Haha ;)
Love,
Elder Gibbons
thank you very much
I love you Really like a
family. Christmas cards I am very glad that you like it. Thank you pray
for us helped us a lot I can feel.
Love forever
เอ็ลเดอร์ วิลามาศ :)
