Week 78 - 32 emails; T12; W3

Thank you everyone! As I opened my email to see 32 in my inbox, I was so overjoyed. I love you all so much and hope all is well, because it is getting much better for me. I wish to share with you a special experience I shared with my mom about the Adversary:

"He's been working EXTRA EXTRA hard. I had a hard day yesterday too, so I just went downstairs and ate some food (I didn't buy any the day before), and read the Book of Mormon. It was as if the Lord himself knew where I was at and then spake to me. I then said one of the best prayers of my life to not just defend truth, but to attack evil - to take an offensive approach on the sin and darkness that so easily oppresses me. It's not enough to endure. Being a saint in the covenant is a lot more on my part. It's to fight against the adversary which as Joseph Smith recounted, was an unseen force from the unseen world."

Opening up to 32 new emails was a surprise I'll never forget. I need to remember that there are others who are supporting me too from the SEEN world. I love you all so much and cannot thank you for all your support. 

Love you so much.

Elder Gibbons

Week 77 - Kalasin W2

[Joseph's sister, Anna, his cousin Jaeden, and their friends Bailey and Cade, were in a car accident last week on their way home from a music camp.  They rear-ended a car that was stopped in the middle lane of the freeway going at least 50 mph.  This was a miracle that they weren't all killed!  They all walked away from it - a bit sore and bruised - but they were able to perform in their final show on Saturday night.  This is the experience Joseph is referring to...]

To be short, a lot has happened, I've run through a thousand emotions, and I'm a bit disappointed in myself that I'm not perfect or I'm not the man the Lord wants me to be yet. I feel that my talents as of yet underused and now worry that if I try to use them, I'll be relying on my own arm, get over confident and lose the spirit because humility was defeated. 

I'm very grateful for Anna's example after the accident - in that she performed. "The show MUST go on" is a common theme in Broadway and also in the Lord's work.  Jaeden is also a shining star of example that those wallowing in self-pity like me today can look up as an example. Count your many blessings, right? Sure thing. But sometimes, you just have to get by by counting others blessings, like Anna and Jaedan and Bailey and Cade being saved. Like that I still have a change to move on in the Lord will pull my butt out of this rut. He's done it before, and I only assume He's bound to do it again. 

I don't really have a "resounding message" that will come from this, as I'm not in a position to deliver such a one. 

This was a clip I sent to my dad as I have been struggling with myself in this work. I call it growing pains. I also call it shifting gears; I was in the office. Now I'm in the boonies. But it's like a car - you start from a stop and go to gear 1. But you rev your engine until it's at its peak and then the Lord shifts UP. Notice that when you shift UP the sound goes down - but your speed grows faster even with you feel your engine is slower. These are like set backs - small things that seem like they make us slower, but really give us the speed to go faster. 

I've got to go, but I love you all. Don't be afraid to gear up when you're called. 

Elder Gibbons

Week 76 - Kalasin: T12.W0

Sabai di BAAAW? 

Thanks for all the prayers and thoughts. I love ya all and wish you well. The Office I will miss, but it's fun getting back on a bike and getting a little more smelly than usual. I'm sitting next to Elder Martin on my left and none other that Sister Madsen and Sister Greenwood on my right.  Elder Martin, is half-Indian and works like a banchie. He super cool and just wants to do the work of the Lord. The biggest struggle we have is just that - after driving around Bangkok for 3 months, it's been an adventure getting back on the saddle (or the bicycle seat because I'm using a girl one until mine is fixed).  Sister Madsen and I are super good friends as Sister Wiganda trained her while I was in the office. In short, we (Elder Wilamas and I) were good friends with the Srinakharin sisters, so when I heard from President's mouth she will be opening-training, I was overcome with joy and it's been a blast ever since. Speaking of which, we had French toast last night -

Speaking of France, congrats Kenz [his sister who is going to France this week to stay with Liahona and her family] and Liahona [friend from France who was recently called to serve a mission on Temple Square]! There is a Thai sister from the office that will be serving in Temple Square very soon - maybe she'll train Liahona! And after Kenzi learns French, she'll probably get called to Paris with Ashelle [friend on a mission in Paris]!

Ok, back to French toast.  We (our district) ate French toast together and had a blast. But I now respect the advice from my leaders. In Mahasarakham, Elder Benjamin, a Thai AP whom I love, told me of the importance of taking the quiet advise from your branch and ward leaders. As I moved into his area in Asoke, I tried to do just that. So when we came here and the branch president told me not to eat the fried omelet that was made that afternoon, I resisted and ate it after French toast that night anyway. This morning, I paid the price in the bathroom - spewing French toast and rotten omelets out from both ends. Wow, that was graphic, but true... But if I would have listened to him, I would've been spared a very uncomfortable morning. 

I testify of the power of the priesthood and it's healing power - both physically (as I made it to this internet cafe today) and spiritually as we can be warned and protected by obedience. 

Love you all, more about the area later, as I'm still new. Pray for us! Pray for your leaders! Love!

Elder Gibbons

Week 75 - THE OFFICE SEASON FINALE T11.W7

So we're singing The Morning Breaks and the phone rings.

President calls.

Fewer times have I ever stopped singing in mid-syllable.

Elder Wilko picks up the phone and after some talking says, "Yes, he's right here," and hands the phone to me.

"Hello President!" I say...

President and Sister Senior called me personally to thank me for my service in the office and my service, as they - like me - have seen such a wonderful change within me. They wanted to personally thank me and prepare me for my next transfer, which I will be serving in the province of Kalasin - no Dad, it's pronounced "Ga-la-seen" - and it's smackdab in the middle of the Isaan.

It's back to sticky rice, Somtam phet phet ja dai (Papaya Salad that's hot enough to burn the devil out of hell), and bicycles for me! I'm super happy to be headin back out, but also a bit melancholy, as expressed in my weekly President's letter:

"Dear President Senior,

"I want you to thank you for the phone call this morning - one of the highlights of the transfer for sure to get a personal phone call. So I'm headin to Kalisin... I'm more than excited as I pack up to get back on a bike in the อีสาน [Isaan]. I'm going to miss seeing you and Sister Senior and the Jones' around everyday [the lovely mission office couple who are some of my favorite people ever and I want to be like]. I feel like once I FINALLY get my act together and position myself just right to launch, the Lord pulls me out. I told the AP's my grand scheme that Elder Wilko and I were about to do to explode Asoke to which Elder Mateos answered me something really interesting:
'Well, just bring all that to Kalisin.'
"And, President, reactivating two families per companionship a transfer is what we're going to be doin up there for a while. Until, that is, I get another great idea and the Lord pulls me away before getting TOO dangerous.

"It's been more than a blast, and more than a honor to work here. My prayers go out to you.
"Godspeed President, see you at transfers!

"Elder Gibbons"

I'm finally getting this Asoke District Leader thing down and planning with Elder Wilko to explode this place with success planned down to mid-August. But as I shared in my President's letter which I will share to illustrate my feelings today, I am ever more grateful that The Great God of Heaven leads and directs this work always. Not only am I heading up there, but two of the eleven new SISTER missionaries are going to be OPENING up there too. This isn't the first time I opened with three new people, and I;'m just stoked to blast it away up there with my probably very new companion and our new Sister training set.

It's kind of a nice wrap-up as President Tuwit's last day was Friday [Pres. Tuwit was his Branch President and great friend from his first area] and we sang a flawless version of How Great Thou Art for his going-away luncheon. The Spirit really helped and it was a great way for ME to end here. I love you all, I LOVE "the BEAST," as President Smith referred to as the Asoke-Din Dang area in the heart of Bangkok. I've always wanted to serve here in the big city, and I sure got more that I wished for. May we all get what we wish for as we center our Desires in Christ. But watch out - because once you do, then do it well, the Lord will make you leave; he'll make you change; but he'll do it to bring us to our promised land as he did with Nephi (on multiple occasions), Alma, Mormon. Now it's my turn to move to a new land of promise, and soon it well be yours as you follow faithful in His Light.

Follow faithfully please, is my prayer, in Christ's name. Amen.

Week 74 - THE OFFICE - T11; W6

HELLO Everyone. 

I love you all and I wish you well. This week has been crazy stress-filled and exciting.

Our investigator Pim-pong took a downward spin after his baptismal interview. Wasn't answering calls, etc. We may have not handled the situation the best, but the Lord does. He sent his brother-in-law who is a RM in the form of a phone call and we worked things out. Please keep Pim-Pong and his wife, Sister May in your prayers this week as we prepare to handle the situation much more sensitively as he is "just a sensitive guy," as I told my Aunt Angie once as a little boy.

"Well, what won't kill you will make ya stronger!" Elder Wilko recounts. And this week definitely has.

I was having one of those days yesterday - you know - where nothing is ever wrong or bad, but it seems like every thing you try to do gets changed or stalled. Well, it was like that yesterday until we got home and talked to the guard out side our building where we live.  We talked to him the first time the day before, so we were going to follow up with him. He then he just came out and told us of his life and how it was so hard in his family. He doesn't know his wife is faithful, etc. "I don't know what to do. I don't know where to start," he told us.

We brought him to a quieter area and knelled down with him and prayed. He felt better and even walked us to the elevator. 

These stories and more fill my life after hard times. If any of you are having a hard time - don't know what to do or even where to start, I encourage to start where YOU started from: 

Your Heavenly Father.

Get on you knees and you'll be able to get back on your feet, I promise in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Love you all. 

Elder Gibbons

Week 73 - THE OFFICE - T11; W5

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.