Week 45 - Sisaket - T6; W4

[Not that I'm counting or anything, but Joseph has been out 313 days today!!!]

Happy December Everyone!

I'm so glad to hear everything's still going great at home this Christmas season, although it doesn't feel like it at all with 25 degree weather (78F?).  Of Bates - please roll in the snow for me or something.  McKenna that might not be such a great idea in your skirt, but enjoy the chill for me.  I'm missin snowmobiling (dang, that's SOOO hard to describe to members in Thai) and Christmas music, but other than that, I'm just fine.  I'm so happy to hear about decorating the tree again!  I am a bit sat I'm missing it, but I'm enjoying the traditions here in the Isaan too.  I wasn't really homesick until you talked about the song in Joseph King of Dreams.  That song is like the story of my life...

Speaking of traditions and illustrating that fact of my life, I took part it one of my favorite events here yet.  Every November, Thailand gives little boat offerings to the แม่นำ้ (lit "mother-water" which means river) and sends of lanterns to the sky - which brings blessings from the rivers and streams of the land and to bring forth rain (I think).  Now-a-days it's just a huge cool gathering were everyone goes to celebrate (members can go to as long as we don't wai them - or place the palms of the hands together and give alms to Buddha).  But where there are lots of people, there are lots of people to contact. The four of us passed out over 400 English cards that night.

One miracle was that I passed one out to this one girl about my age and she laughed and said, "Hey are you the missionaries?" in perfect English.  Remember the Mexican girl Daniella who we met at church looking for Portuguese friend Maria?  We tried to contact her but would never pick up after one or two calls.  I had ordered 2 copies of the Book of Mormon in Spanish and Portuguese for them and prayed so hard that they might be interested someday.  Well, I'll just say I found Maria.  She told us Daniella and she really wanted to meet, but Daniella lost her phone and couldn't contact us.  But the Lord provides in His more excellent ways, as always.  So I awkwardly evaded a picture with her, sent off my little candle-boat, and then went to send off my lantern.  Seen Tangled?  Yep.  Exactly like that.  Except instead of launching a lantern with my beautiful, beloved, blonde-haired beauty, I launched my โคม (khom) with my beautiful, beloved, black-haired former branch president.  Almost as enchanting, but super fun nonetheless.

Here's another story from this week that I shared with my mission president about the Hand of the Lord that is really rather neat:
"Dear President Senior...
"One blessing worth mentioning is that we received from the hand of the Lord another baptism dater named ต๋อง (Tong).  We found him in kind of a funny way: At church yesterday there was a small primary girl who called me over to talk to her friend who apparently wants to be baptized she said.  Puzzled, then I watched a small boy run up and join her; he looked about 8 or 9.  The first thing he asked me was, "If my parents are พุธ (Buddhist) can I be คริสต์ (Christian)?"  I couldn't help but chuckle a bit and tell him that it's up to his parents.  I was then surprised when he answered,  "I already have, and I want to be baptized.  Is that possible?"  We had a small lesson with him after church with our branch president and his little friend.  "I want to be คริสต์ and be baptized," he said again in the lesson.  "How long will it take if I can?"  We knew the other Elders were planning on having a baptismal service on the 29th of this month, so we told him just that.  He accepted that date.  We then asked him why he wanted to be baptized so eagerly in the first place.  He related how past Elders visited his house, talked about Christ, and he doesn't want to drink and smoke.  This confident, 12 year-old walk-in (as we found out his real age) was seen as a shocking and warming fulfillment of God's promise to us here in ศรีสะเกษ (Sisaket) that people are being prepared by the Lord everywhere (Alma 16:16-17)."

All of these blessings, festivities and miracle has really helped our companionship grow greatly.  It's still a getting used to, but the Spirit's back (I felt a lot like McKenna described as being "hard-hearted" and not knowing why).  Elder Fornburg on our switch-off this week said if there's ever a conflict, I just have to do what I know is right, and he'll follow.

Don't forget He knows better than you and to rely on Him in all that you do!

With love, Elder Gibbons

PS:  Elder Christiansen's father has to have another back surgery  -  on Christmas Eve (that's MST so that might interfere with talking with family for Christmas if his father is just out of surgery or not) so I would ask to please keep him in your prayers.

PPS: Dad - I have a สมอ (anchor) drawn on my planner this transfer.  Read Ether 12:4 Thanks

Photo of the Ubon Zone, with an Area Seventy - Elder Watson (Joseph is in the second row between Elder Watson (L) & his mission President (R), President Senior)

Week 44 - Sisaket T6.W3 Thanksgivin's!

Hello Family and beloved friends!

I haven't much time, but I just want to give a shout out to my girl Kenz! Sweet 16 baby! AND WITH A CAR?!?! WHAT THE-? I've totally forgot how to drive a car.  But I've not forgotton all your love for this Thanksgiving weekend (although I kind of forgot about Thanksgiving day here).  I actually fasted for an investigator on thanksgiving day and weekly planned.  But it was still a special day.  Kenzi's sweet 16, a month till Christmas and talking with family, and it actually is my 10^th month mark as a missionary and I'm very grateful to have been a missionary for this time.  I'm totally a different person and I'm loving it.

Right now its been sort of tough.  All of our investigators feel like they're falling through the cracks.  Training a new missionary is a challenge because you need to adjust EVERYTHING - your studies, your goals, your habits, your teaching style, your language, and everything you can probably think in between.  For instance, we were rushing to a meeting after a fun sports event but couldn't take a shower in between.  I knew my routine, how long it took, so I was dressed and ready to go and peddling hard.  My comp was a bit slower, so I urged him to hurry.  I could tell he was upset that we had to rush, but it's the work of the Lord, got over it, right?  I raced in and out of the typical Asian traffic, and he was still behind.  "He'll catch up" I thought.  Then I heard tire screechings.  I a turned around.  His face look more frustrated, but he was ok, so we raced on.

At the meeting, he had a bad attitude for some reason and I asked him what was up.  He gave me an awful look and said he didn't want to talk right then.  Fine. I'll just do the meeting myself, I thought.   But there was that spirit of disunity that was eating on me.  Finally I asked myself, Did I do something wrong?

Ask and ye shall receive right?  I immediately the thought hit me: What if those tire squeels resulted in something more than just frustration?  What if a collision was the result?  Then a feeling sunk deep in my heart.  I started to really think about what could've happened if the worst really did occur at that hectic intersection?   Weight and guilt together pressed upon my very soul that whole meeting.  Suddenly getting to the meeting by 4.00 pm wasn't as important.  Suddenly having all the lessons with a member present started to seem less relevant to my purpose.  My baptismal date slipped away from my mind as I started to realize that "Inviting others to come unto Christ" starts with the very person nest to me.   I was reminded of moments I couldn't feel love from my trainer sometimes.  I realized that if I was to be successful, I have to love my companion first, worry about investigators latter.  "Love first, lessons later" has become my motto and I have felt the Peace of Jesus Christ enter back into my soul.  I sometimes have a hard time loving him, but as I'm starting to love him as Heavenly Father does, it doesn't seem as hard.  Sometimes if I cant love someone myself, I just have to ask Christ to love him for me through His love.

It's my 10th month and only now am I starting to understand how and why to love someone.  I encourage you to love more and ask for Charity this Thanksgiving, because it's not about just being thankful, but expressing gratitude to everyone you love.  I encourage you to love someone more this season.  Don't believe you can or don't know how?   Well, turn the expert of love, get on your knees and ask for help we all need.

Thank you again everyone for letters, presents, and many, many prayers I've felt daily.

Love you all,
Elder Gibbons

Week 43 - Sisaket R3 - T6; W2

So, the first week of Transfer Six has been awesome. Training is going well as my luug liang (step child) is learning quickly and well. It’s been really cool for me to go back to the beginning and remember what it was like being so new; re-learning old lessons is helping me gain a stronger faith in the Savior and a stronger knowledge that God has His royal hand in all our doings love for me.

In fact, I want to share something my awesome mother sent me to illustrate that. "...I taught in RS today and I felt really strongly that I should teach the sisters about self-esteem....I also gave the example of Heavenly Father actually calling Joseph Smith by his name.  He was well aware of Joseph and the plan He had for him....

"I honestly believe that self-esteem comes from a person's relationship with God.

"That is why the youth have such a hard time with it...they look everywhere else to get their self-esteem because they don't have a personal relationship with God.  They don't know who God is, who they are, and that God truly loves them....I have tried to teach you that your whole life - how SPECIAL you are!!  You are a chosen son of Heavenly Father's!!  He loves you so dearly and has a special plan in store for you too.  I hope on your mission you are able to love and know your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ on a deeper level you never dreamed possible.  There is nothing more important!! (John 17:3)"

That really helped me as I've been struggling with training, dealing with investigator problems, and everything a missionary struggles with. Thanks mom, I hope you know I this son of God loves you too.

Another instance that helped me see the reality that God is there and watching over His children was my experience with 嗤组艇 ("Uang," one of our investigators who has a date to be baptized) and the power of fasting.

She had never talked to white people before us and she is so meek, humble, pure and innocent.  She's also been reading like crazy and is in Alma.  She changed jobs and had to confront her boss, and can now come to church (yeah, I sure fasted that morning too).  But her teacher at the massage school where she works at wanted her to go to Pattaya for a month.  Pattaya is a beautiful beach resort in the south region and is great if you go with a Thai friend who knows what's going on - because if you go anywhere outside the beach, the most heinous acts of crime and sin are there - things you cannot even imagine that exists in the world - and it is very dangerous.   As a missionary, you deal with life and death situations – saving people from spiritual death is a big task.  But her going to this place  - one as pure, virtuous and innocent - was sending her to an instantly-killing fate.  But from stories I've heard about crime and civil war in the south since I've been here, it also meant she would very likely not come back alive - physically.   She was insistent on going, and we couldn't stop her.  I had a feeling nothing we or the members could do would change her mind.  So we all fasted Saturday afternoon (including Uang) if this was the right thing to do.  Sunday Morning came, and Sister Pat (her fellowshipper and the one who referred her to us) said her door was locked.  Her Phone was off.  She didn't come to church yesterday and she was to leave on Monday.  Then that night we got a call from Sister Pat.  She said that Uang came home and informed her that her mother and sibling were sick, and she would not be able to go to Pattaya tomorrow.  Sister Pat said that she explained to Uang that this was the answer for the Lord for her, and Uang said she agreed.

Fasting works.  Got off the phone and told my companion to get on his knees.  I sank down on mine and my soul poured out thanks and tears as we prayed together, as we thanked our Heavenly Father for watching out for his daughter -  嗤组艇.

I know that God lives and that we can too when we know that.  If you have ever wondered that in YOUR life, I would exhort you to do as I did - drop on your knees and thank him for what he has given you and then ask Him if He loves you.  God cannot lie.  He loves His children.  He gives liberally to those who ask.  And he will give unto you according to your desires.  Don't know how to call on God?  Just do it; just give it a try and He'll take care of the rest.  Do you feel He's silent even after that?  Well, then get on your knees and drop a few meals and He will manifest himself in ways only you can understand.

Love you all and I leave you these things in Jesus' name, Amen.

Elder Gibbons

[Joseph's response to hearing about his friend's mission calls...Emily Sciammarella, Kirstie Leavitt, Sara Clark, and Ashelle Denning]...

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SISTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AND ASHELLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS:  We had a mission tour where Elder Watson of the Seventy came and it was so cool!  President Senior spoke about the gathering of Israel and blew my mind. The BOM is sooooooo cool!

I also got a pic with a 70 ;)

Elder Watson sent me this photo! :)

Week 42 - Sisaket ROUND THREE (T5.W7 and T6.W1)

Happy Vet's Day, dad (as its still Nov 11 there).  [Mike was shot 35 years ago on Veteran's Day]  I'm glad to see everything is turning white there. With a few baptisms this last transfer, it's been pretty white here too. There was one service everyone in our four-Elder district was chosen to baptize someone – we got a really white picture too with all of us and our investigators.

McKenna's in Ukraine already? SOOO awesome! I hope you have the perfect (weather) date up there where it's not to hot, it's not too cold, and all you need is a light jacket!  Lol, but my new companion oves quoting movies so I'll throw that in there.  My new companion is Elder Christiansen.  He's in Elder Fornberg's group, so that means I'm finishing up his training (which makes me a Phaw-Liang - step-father - in the mission) and it's so great.  I had to get him, three sisters, and two zone leaders who weren't there with me to the train station, onto the train, and then on to Sisaket and Ubon almost by myself...But good thing the Lord through the spirit is always my 3rd companion.   I'm going to miss my old one, Elder Terry - who was SOOO funny, and so great.  We probably got along better than any other of my companions.   So, I'd ask you to please pray for me to have similar bonding experiences with my step-son.  Maybe dad can help me with this one, but I'm a little nervous holding up our area and training someone who's never seen a different style of trainer and might be as trusting to a foreign way.

But he's super cool - he's in Bryce Chamberlain's stake (BRYCE! THANKS TO THE PROPHET YOU CAN GO ON A MISSION NOW!!!) AND WAS IN THEATER AND CHOIR AT JORDAN. Dumb caps lock... Anyway, he's super good at the language so far (I sometimes feel I'm going backwards, but we Su Su!  "Keep Go-ing!"  Speaking of Keep going, someone who reads this, tackle Elder Geoffrey Canaan in a bear hug for me this month as he comes home soon I believe.  Love ya brotha!  See ya soon.

And thank you Shanae, Ex-Elder T-Bone, Brayden, and Kylie for the notes - your words of love propel me for days.  And as for many Bobby, Kylie, Kenzi and Tylee - สุขสันต์วันเกิด!!  Or HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN THE THAI LANGUAGE!!!!!

I also heard about the news concerning the reelection of our President - to which Pres Senior said he was thrilled because that means the 2^nd coming is sooner than we expect.  I cannot give my opinion as a missionary, but I thought that was funny (and Dad, I totally agree...).

This week was a little wacky, sorry but I'll end with another thing Pres Senior said about our new goal as a mission (100 Baptisms this month Nov 2012): He said, Thomas Jefferson was once asked what he thinks of "luck" to which he responded: "I absolutely believe in luck; and I find the harder I work, the more luck I have."  Please continue to work hard and pray hard so that "LUCK" (God's will and blessings and success) will follow you.

Thanks so much, and I love you all!

Elder Gibbons

 

Week 41 - Sisaket T5; W6

Hello friends and family!

This could be my last week in Sisaket, but after today, it is highly unlikely. The office Elders informed me that President Senior has asked me to do a special musical number entitled "For Our Day" (which I've never before heard or sung) for a special mission tour where Elder Watson, the Asia area Seventy, will visit every zone in Thailand - pray for me, na? :)  I'm super blessed to be here in Sisaket representing the Lord in the Ubon Zone.

Speaking of representing, I want to give a shout out to my home-ward-hommies Zach and Josh! Zach and I will be right next door - probably in the same time zone!  But all three of us will be preachin' in short-sleeves!   And I want to give another shout out to Jess and Katelyn who will be preachin' with many Elders wearing short-sleeves as well.  (Kirstie I hope you can come back to your native land here in Thailand and hopin to hear from Em Sciam!)

Roll up those sleeves, because missionary work is runnin hot this time of year (unless you're Elder Worthington tearing it up in the snow!   Keep it up Bates and also Sister Snell who's not far behind him) especially with the baptism of probably one of my favorite investigators - Sister Ruamsap.  A 65-year-old spurt of fire, Sister Ruamsap had a much different background growing up in a very different family situation - let's just say that between picking up her sister from school she was busy in her shooting classes with rifles, pistol, etc.  She has three cars from her previous occupation (of which I cannot mention at this time), two of which are Mercedes Benz, and she likes the green one best.  She's maybe 5' 1" and rocks her sunglasses.   But she also rocks the Book of Mormon harder than any investigator I've met.  I started teaching her a month after Elder Chamberlain left Elder Terry here.  She went to a different province forever and then called up and wanted to learn again.  We'd go into her house and sit on the chairs and she's get her little pillow and plop down on it in front of us to listen.  She's a little older, so her memory isn't as good, but she won't ever stop bearing testimony.  There's not a lesson where we wouldn't hear: ฉันไม่พูดเก่ง แต่ฉันจะปฏิบัติตามเก่ง! (I don't speak gang, but I'll follow the teachings gang) Gang (เก่ง) is the only word to describe her - which is the word for expertly, with skill, etc.  She loves speaking the two or three English things she now and always waves goodbye saying "Goodnight, Sir!"  Other Ruamsap highlights include: in her prayer to thank Joseph Smith that he saw the Holy Ghost, the lesson where in the prayer she thanked Heavenly Father for "Terry" (my comp) and "gosh, that other guy who's name I can never remember, ok?" referring to HIS comp - me.  After she got my mane down, she worked on "Tomat Ed Monsaen", and really did "ปฏิบัติตาม gang" everything else.  When we taught the Ten Commandments, she got up from the lesson, went to her car and pulled out all the idols and trinkets, rings and bracelets of Buddhism she had and put them on the table - including a priceless heirloom that came from His Majesty the King Himself.  But perhaps one of the best moments was when we in a lesson talking about the Book of Mormon - which she FINNISHED once we found out before that - and learned that she finished it before that.   Even the member, Ma Pet, actually grabbed the book from her hand and asked, "Sister, you mean to say you've finished THIS before that time?"  "Yeah, this will be my fifth time through," she answered calmly and confidently.  Yes.  Sister Ruamsap has read up to Helaman for the 5th time round and hadn't even know how to donate fast offerings.  At her baptism, she bore the greatest testimony I've almost ever heard: "I used to be an angry person, but now I will follow everything.  In the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen."  E. Terry baptized her but it was almost Elder Frondburg (our New Missionary) because when we asked her who she wanted to baptize her Elder Frondburg snuck into the room to grab his Preach My Gospel and left.  She then turned to Elder Terry and said "oh how about that guy who just came in and grabbed his book?"  But after we just started laughing in surprise she said, "Well, actually I'll have Terry do it cuz I'm tightest with him."  She looked so great in her white baptism gown (that she just tried on in front of all of us the first time) while we took pictures.  She was stone-faced in all of them because when she says something, she'll do it.  But finally as everyone was going into the church I caught her just standing there, so I said, "Sister, Smile!" and gave me one of the greatest grins I've seen that expressed on one who has repented through faith on Christ and is ready to follow everything gang.  

[This is my favorite part...his English is terrible!  So, that can only mean his Thai is improving!!] 

May we too, all ปฏิบัติตาม gang" everything the Lord has in store of us.  Thanks everyone of your prayers.  The fruits of your heaven-sent thoughts were definitely manifest this week for sure.  That's all for now!  Love y'all.

Elder Gibbons