Week 49 - T7.W1 Samut Prakan: Better Than I

So we have a curfew tonight because it's new years, so I'll have to be fast.   Thank you for the prayers - it all came together this week as I have never seen miracles happen like this in my life.  Nowhere to begin.  Basically, Bro Nat was baptized yesterday.  He's sooo awesome and super solid!  But a week and a half ago the other elders (we have four here) gave us a record of Sister Mild - a supper sassy stubborn daughter of Sister Gaid who has been learning with the Elders for so long she has three different records.  But basically we've been learning about faith this week and with the combined efforts of our district, we determined to achieve our goals which included 2 baptisms for us and one for the other district.  During our intense prayer sessions, we both felt that Sister Mild could be that second baptism, even if the odds were impossible.  I am here to tell you today that with God nothing is impossible.  I know that because I have DONE the impossible through God.

We fasted twice, they once and Sister Mild opened her heart for the first time ever because we just knew she would be baptized on the 30^th because I gave Elder Merkley a blessing because we were both getting attacked by the adversary earlier than I thought that week.  Basically, I was rejected more this week than in my entire mission.  I invited more people to be baptized  - even right off the street - than I ever happened before.  Anyway, so she was doing great...almost too great...so sure enough all of the sudden we couldn't get a hold of her – she moved to Bangkok 2 hours away.  But I felt the promise of God.  Thurs, Fri, Sat rolls around and we have been working our tails off.  Sunday happens and Nat is baptized.  Super cool, but it was disappointing that she want's [to be] baptized with him (because they're good friends and will eventually get married).  Then that night her mom called.  She had got an answer of the truthfulness of this way of life and wants to start next year a "new person" and will come down and be baptized.  When Sister Gaid called, it was the still the 30th - the day I stepped into the font today and baptized her a member of the restored church of Jesus Christ it was Dec 31 here - but the world was still the 30th.  God answers prayers and fills his promises.  Not nobody not no how can tell be otherwise.  Signs follow those that believe. I believed; the signs followed.  As for the others?  When I was in Sisaket, we met an awesome investigator named Uang but she moved out of town.  Turns out I moved into her church boundaries - she should go to our branch!  Put it short, we called and called, no answer.  This morning, the last day of the year, she called back.  We talked.  The Lord told me to give her a baptismal date right there so I did - for next week because I taught her everything already myself in Sisaket.  Our goals were fulfilled by the Lord's hand in His way.

It's interesting on one’s mission the things that grow belief: faith, love, etc.  It's more interesting to see the things that grow in unbelief: today, I learned to disbelieve in coincidence.

Don't believe me? Ask God yourself. Read the word cuz he makes all things manifest to those who ask (Moroni 10 4-5).

Love,
E Gibbons

Week 48 - Christmas Eve 2012

Words cannot express how happy we were to see and hear Joseph on Skype - from a 5 level mall in south Bangkok on Christmas morning (for him, Christmas Eve for us)!!  Every Christmas Eve we gather all of our kids together and play games, open presents, and we have a "candle lighting ceremony", so we told Joseph to call us when we would all be together.  Of COURSE, there was a problem on his end with Skype, but he was finally able to work it out and we got to talk to him for almost an hour.  

There were a few highlights of our conversation with him. He smiled the whole time and he looked great!  (see photos!)  He told us that in his last area he had eaten a cricket and he rode an elephant (he told us the elephants' name, but I can't even attempt to spell it!)  He was just transferred to a city (I could never hope to write or pronounce this one either!!) in the south part of Bangkok.  He said he had a feeling that he would be transferred back to the city.  His companion is Elder Merkely from Corrine (?), Utah and they are getting along great.  We asked Joseph a question, so he turned to his companion and had about a 4-5 minute conversation with him in Thai!  We were all so amazed at his language skills so far!!  We just listened in amazement and gratitude that our prayers are being answered!  And the best thing of all...as we were getting prepared for him to call, I took out our candles to set them out on our table like I do every year for our candle ceremony, and as I opened the box, there was a letter from Joseph!!!  At first, I thought Joseph had sent it to Mike and that Mike had slipped it in there so he could be a part of our candle ceremony this year.  But, no!  It was written on Mike's stationary and Joseph had crossed out Mike's return address and put "Thailand" on it.  A few days before he left for the MTC, he had written us a letter and put it in the box.  What a great surprise and shock to see that letter!!  Joseph got to be a part of our traditional candle ceremony after all.  As when we read it, we were all bawling!  It was a very special evening that we will never forget. 

Our family photo this year!! 

Talking to us (on Skype) from a 5 level mall in So. Bangkok.

Kenzi and Anna giving him a kiss!  :)

Week 47 - Sisaket - T6; W6

Hello dear family and friends,

First things first - thank you for all your prayers.  I have truly felt them and know that prayer is real.  I have felt the influence of the spirit more abundantly especially when we tought or dater ต๋อง (Dtong) and the daughter of one of the most special investigators: ก้อย (Goy, daughter of Ruamsap, the awesome 60 yr old powerhouse who is now on her 6th time through the Book of Mormon).

2nd big piece of news is that transfers is early this time around! AND I'M MOVING FROM SISAKET!!!

Other news, happy 109th anniversary of the first human flight that took place in Kitty-Hawk, NC. Besides making me thinking of Wilber and Orville, it made me think of the bevis [his nickname for his little sister] for naming our dog "Kitty..."  After the email last week we went to the Zoo here in Sisaket.  I saw my first Hippo (crazy big!) and introduced Somsak's family and Sister Boom to my ancestors in their cages, as there were Gibbons Monkeys there.  Calling people specific animals in this culture are like the different degrees of swear words, so seeing them react to that was fun.  Also, we fed them anything we wanted to (sketch?) which was fun.  Rabbits and deer eat bananas? Believe it; I saw it.

[He shared a personal story about receiving an answer to prayer that he didn’t want me to post on his blog, but I wanted to post what he said after…]  But with God, there is always a way. And usually His way is the BEST way - It just lines up with the theme of my mission life: the Lord blesses the faithful more than they can even imagine in ways they CANNOT even imagine.

Also: Thanks for your encouragement pops - it really does help.  And please know I celebrated your birthday in my heart this Friday.  Probably ate some ice cream at your favorite spot on the little red couch, :) (The Zoo also really made me remind me of Dad because all the wildlife and nature before you even walk into the zoo park. If we ever come back, dad, remind us to go there...) But this holiday season, I know I'll be able to skype and say hello, I'm teaching people why we even HAVE Christmas, and with all this in mind (and especially with the knowledge that I'll be hitting my ONE YEAR MARK next month confirming the my amount time out here is next to nothing), I haven't really been homesick. My companion, on the other hand, has - so this Christmas season, please send your love for me by sending it to him as well.

It's really been fun out here, and I'm sorry to leave.  I'm just kind of anxious right now more than anything.  I could go anywhere, but I feel good about it, wherever I go.  I had a great last Sunday as a family came back to church that we've been working on for 2 transfers now.  [We had] 84 people at church was so great and I just remember feeling love and warm and peace.  Just this moment do I remember praying specifically to feel the spirit at church more that day. and I did.

I'm going to miss all the members - some of the strongest I've ever met (or ever will meet) in my life. I'm so going to miss Ruamsap – it was so great to see her and Goy dressed so beautifully and even classy sitting together at church.  I've just kind of felt everything coming to a close lately and my experiences here have cadenced well into these last few weeks.  By the way dad and Meegs - thanks for sharing those experiences about the wonderful Amish people and sharing the greatest Christmas gift - the Restoration - with them.  The best answer, dad, about getting people to believe in Jesus Christ?  I do absolutely nothing besides helping them feel the spirit - the spirit in the Book of Mormon does the rest.  There is a senior missionary that was a missionary here from 1975-77; the Book of Mormon came out in the last 6 months of his mission.  I asked how he did any work without the Book of Mormon. "You wanna know how many people I baptized?  None," he said.  The power in the book (or the absence without it) is more apparent than you'd ever believe in the culture where Christmas is virtually non-existent.  I invite you and all who read to continue to read and ponder and pray about the book that changed the world.  This Christmas season, I invite you all to draw nearer to God by reading the way to draw nearer to him "than any other book."

I love this book.  I love Sisaket, and I love all of you so much.  Hopefully "SEE" you later! ;)

Elder Gibbons

PPS VERY IMPORTANT:
The mission is moving P-day to Tuesday, so that means I'll talk to you all on your Monday.  They discourage bringing in all friends, distracting girlfriends (which I have so many of, right?) and others.  I think that's all...

PPPPPPS Happy Father's day too, Dad.  The King's birthday was this month (and so was yours) so that was nice.

I am so grateful that his friends from Thailand post pictures on Facebook so I can copy them!!

Week 46 - Sisaket - T6; W5

Hey Mom, I just found out I have no time this week to email, so I will first thank you and tell you that our stake conference was great too; we jumped on a big tour bus and headed to Ubon with our incredible branch.  We heard some great things, but perhaps the most memorable part was in the new member's meeting.  Our branch President got up and announced all those that were baptized and that all recent converts were to shake President and Sister Senior’s hand and then it hit me - that the Lord let me have a personal influence on each of the investigators who stood up and grasped the hand of my mission President since the first week I was here is Sisaket.   As I watched Sis Dan and her two kids: Ball and Prae (who I actually baptized), Sister Patty, Sister Nat, Somsak and his two daughters Ribbin and Biw (whom we're going to rush off to the zoo with right now), and then the most interesting investigator of all time: Sister Roamsap, all shake his hand, it was a personal manifestation to the promise that I would have great joy in bringing many souls to Christ. I felt like the most blessed missionary in this world in this area.  It was almost a certificate of success that the Lord gave to me that day that He loves, blesses his missionaries, and will always do so if we try to be obedient.

[A note from his Mom to preface this next paragraph: Just before Joseph went into the MTC, he found a little, chubby Hop toad outside our front steps.  We brought him in and made a “home” for him in a terrarium and Anna named him “Toady Romo”.  Joseph even carried a photo of Toady in his wallet in the mission field.  Toady finally passed away last night and Anna wrote Joseph to tell him about the sad news.  She was heart-broken because she was really hoping he would hang in  there until Joseph returned.]  

Something else worth mentioning is that last night, I really missed Anna a lot - more than usual. When I read about Toady my heart really dropped.   But when I put two and two together and realized that we missed each other at the same time at the same moment, tears also swelled like your temple experience realizing that as Aunt Fe "prophesied" that we had a special bond.  I believed it, but now I FEEL that that is true.  Anna - I love you so much and can't wait to sing with you again soon.  Love you more that I can tell.

Joj

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)