Week 93 - Ayutthaya: T14.W3 "ทำอะไรจ๊ะ​"

Dear Family and Friends,

I would like to begin by saying how grateful I am for my Savior. This week has been fantastic and hard as usual. But we have really been striving to plow ahead for our district vision that I had and that Elder Watkins really drilled home: 

17 Miracles means the seventeen convert baptisms needed to make our total membership from 133 to 150, thereby qualifying to be a ward in the next stake created in Thailand.

70 at Church will help us get the actual number of people here back up and give us a super-functional branch that could be a ward and support the future temple.

OFF (Operation Find Fan แฟน) is in full effect to find all the cute YSA people to come to church and find a fan (a boyfriend/girlfriend) - especially for Brother Nong, a sweet member who's pretty much the Bomb.com and taking us to go see cool stuff today pretty soon.

Some of those miracles have been emerging as our district is working smarter and more efficiently. This week we've been helping little Bah get ready for baptism. This week she prayed aloud to her Heavenly Father for the first time - tears rolled down my face to hear her sweet, fervent prayer. The next lesson, she volunteered to say the opening prayer and then she shared a scripture about faith with us. The tears came back. She also came to the activity we had for youth and made good friends with another investigator, Cake, whose a little sassafras. Elder Watkins also overheard Sister Bah invite Cake to her baptism on the 17th of this month. So sweet, and I think it made Cake a little jealous that SHE didn't yet have a baptism date hehe! Unfortunately Bah didn't come to church this week, but just to see the improvement from her mom being inactive to her teaching her daughter the Restoration without our asking is breathtaking when I think about it. THAT's why I love my Savior: He changes the things that seem impossible, and makes them a reality right before our eyes through the power of His Atonement. 

Speaking of His power, we have seen many more miracles happen. Old investigators have dates, members have been doing missionary work and finding those prepared for us to teach, and we've been seeing people waltz into church wanting to be baptized and change their lives. We found a family who was super receptive and came to an activity that the mission office couple, Elder and Sister Jones, put on for us. It was a tender mercy for me because I love them so much when I worked in the office and they are leaving this month. 

It seems as if all is going really well, right? Well, it is. We are just being blessed by the Lord in great abundance. I also got a DearElder letter from my mom (and if any one else would like to send one off to me that'd be great!! ;) ) with Elder Kaiden Worthington's experience of walking into the church and stepping through sewage buildup that flooded the church. He talked about giving it your all no matter what circumstances appear. What I really like was his focus on being desperate in GOOD circumstances. His mission president talked about the early missionaries who had nothing but the shirts on their backs and an occasional Book of Mormon in hand. They were desperately dependent on the Lord, Elder Worthington pointed out, and that it was because of the desperation that they relied on the Lord and saw miracles. They saw them because they relied on the grace of the Atonement. The Lord told Moroni: 

 

"My grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them" (Ether 12:27).

Elder Worthington mentioned that sometimes we as missionaries forget to be desperately reliant on Him because we really don't need to in the way that they needed to of old because of our money we get monthly or our warm apartments (our I would change Elder Worthington's words here to our "air-conditioned apartments").



Joseph's cousin, Elder Worthington, (left) serving a mission in Yekaterinburg, Russia

 This week in district meeting I'm excited that we will have a great guest speaker who's a Zone Leader in Russia as I share some of Bates' experiences to fuel our expanding vision with humility and reliance on the Lord.

May we all allow the Lord take our weaknesses and make them our strengths is my prayer this week. Love ya all! Please pray for Bah and her mom and for Thailand to be filled with the Love of the Lord because there are rumors of unrest here. This world needs love. May we fill it with Charity - the love that never faileth!

Love Always,

Elder Gibbons

PS: Remember Ruamsap? The sweet little Grandma I baptized in Sisaket? She is now a member for a year today! She's as strong as ever and still love the missionaries. And Somsak, Ribbin and Biew? They hit their year mark the week before. Still strong as ever and even sent me cashews and flower treats that taste kinda like burnt ear wax... You'll love 'em someday... ;)



This is Bah!  :)



This is Sister Saaw, our Relief Society President, with Sister Bah and her mother Boo!





These are little geckos that are EVERYWHERE. I'm glad I didn't come here when I was little or I would be catching them always and not focusing on anything!!!  I think Eden Cope also said she loved to catch them too! [If you can't find the gecko...look on top of his ear!!]

I think this is his companion with a gecko friend!

Week 92 - Ayutthaya Round 2 T14.W2

Dear Family and friends,

Sorry this one might be short, but time is eating away more than ever before. But there are great things happening all over the map in Pra Nakhorn Sri Ayutthaya. I sang in sacrament about standing in Holy places - written by Sister Sowards herself (check it out on youtube not me singing it: Stand Ye in Holy Places). I taught an Elders quorum lesson on the same topic about putting on the full armor of God - that's what the youth activity was about too and we dressed up Brother Arm, a funny 16 yr old goof who's awesome. Our young 12 yr old investigator, Cake, is this little sassy poop who's a riot as well. It really doesn't matter how old you are, Thais still play together all the time and it's so fun. Brother Now is great and we're working with his mother, Sister Mote and his younger Bro, Boon. Please pray for them to have the strength to come to church as a family. 

We've really been working with 12 yr old Bah and her mom Boo. Boo came to church - a first time in a month! Also a heavier lady named Phon came. She's a singer from Khon Kaen (Isaan), but I haven't spoken Isaan with her yet. I do with Boo, which is super weird because she's from the Center of Thailand, but she likes it when her friends speak (or "wow gan") so whenever one of us answers the phone, the other answers in Isaan in a horrible accent... We're a couple of 'posers', but it got us to be good friends. We're just really trying to get Bah into the activities and to church but her mom is really concerned about it for some reason. Please pray for her (Boo) and her mother to have their hearts opened and feel good about letting Bah partake of the strength that comes from being baptized and having the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Our last adventure that I have time for was with one of the former Branch Presidents, Brother Cherd-sak. He's been inactive for a while (2yrs-ish?), and so has the 7 people in his family. It's interesting how one man's actions can really take a blow on a whole family. But when we went over there, I biked my viola over there too (which is not an easy task) and brought the love of church and Christ to him because he couldn't come to church. He engaged in scripture study discussions, etc and we, Elder Watkins and I, really felt the spirit. I played How Firm a Foundation - which is like my favorite hymn now and my Pump-up-go-to song in Thai or my iPod... So that was sweet and really was cool. Another girl who hadn't been to church for a long time came to the activity and saw my viola. She said she'd bring her violin the next day to church, and she came! "She came just the same!" (Grinch...)

Speaking of pumpin-up fun, every day with Elder Watkins is a party. We have like a billion inside jokes and stuff and we are great friends. We know each other well and love each other. He's diligent but just so funny. We're really trying to find young single adults to bring into the church for our friend, Brother Nong, and it's a blast doing it. Please pray for us to grow this branch by finding Nong some friends. Yes, we would like them to be lady friends for him... ;) And men too who can support us here. 

Well, that's all I have time for, but I love you all and I wish you all well. Thank you for your prayers, as I feel them every day.

With Love, 

Elder Gibbons

 

This is my Jockey Face. 

 

Week 91 - Leaving the Isaan - อยุธยา again at last! T14.W1

Hello family and friends,

Way too much to write in the short time that I have. Kalasin has been the greatest blessing I've had for a while. I really do miss it. Also my mother turned a glorious 50 and celebrated well and even shot off balloons to commemorate. Likewise, I did unknowingly too and Sister Madsen and I left Kalasin. Sister Dtaan was devastated and Sister Tom, one of my favorite members, will be greatly missed along with Sister Greenwood and Elder Christensen, whom I love very much. I teared up saying good bye to Gaeo and Rough on the phone who were way funny. I told him that I was leaving, and Rough was like: "Oh. Hey good luck." Haha... If only you know him, you'd get just how funny that is. Oh how I love these people! Oh how the Lord LOVES his Asian people. We had "Area Conference" where we watched church leaders direct us. Elder Holland is excited about taking Elder Oaks's assignment over Asia - it was like getting a new Zone leader whom you really love - which now I have two that I do - Elder Marchell, who's great and I love, and Elder Terry - my 2nd companion from Sisket. Speaking of which, Somsak, Ribbin, and Biw will reach their one year anniversary this week! They gave me a package with Thai treats, cashews, and a letter that was sweetest of all, with a goal to go to the temple as a family next year. Super awesome all over Thailand.

But I LOVE my new area: PHRA NAKHON SRI AYUTTHAYA!! That's long for "Ayutthaya," the ancient capital of Siam for 417 years, but who's counting. Or doing research... What we ARE doing is seeing miracles! Elder Watkins [his new companion] is actually [from] the same group as Elder Christensen so I'm training for the 3rd time! Fun! We have been going around the town that I visited with MY trainer, Elder Osborne, my Mae (mission mom) Sister Roper, and Sister Wiganda - then, a New Missionary, and now who just went home to her native Maha Sarakham. Let her rest in peace, as the mission will miss her. Speaking of mission friends, the "King of Korat" (Elder Wilamas) moved to the nearby Provence of Lopburi - please pray that we will be able to work together again! But we've been teaching lots of people - even though it's so hard to understand their accent here in central Thailand... But the lord has led me to many who are from the Isaan and I have seen miracles talking to an American who was searching for the purpose in his life. We are teaching a husband and wife whom we found because I was missing the Isaan and wanted Issan food. I talked to the guy in Isaan and caught the attention of a couple who sell meatballs next door. I gave them a pass-along card with the Hong Kong temple in it and they wanted us to return again, and we did! We're going over again today, so please pray for Sister Gwang and Brother Tae, along with Boo and Bah, as these are the people who I think of when I miss you or my friends in places elsewhere. I love them and I love you. Thank you for your prayers and you faith. Hope this update was good, now that I have to go. 

Love, 

Elder Gibbons

[A little more from another note he sent me:  “I'm asking yet again for you to pray for me. I have a lot of added responsibilities here in my new area and I am concerned how 1) how I'm going to do it all and 2) how I'm going to do it all WELL. But the success so far in these past 4 days have been wonderful. I miss Kalasin and the Isaan, but I absolutely LOVE it here! I am sad I couldn't send that letter off to you sooner [I got an email from a random person from Thailand, Joan Sowards, and she forwarded a letter from Joseph for my birthday – made my day!], but Sister Sowards was nice enough to do that for me. She and Elder Sowards were with me in the office when THEY first got in and I love them so much. Sister Sowards is a composer and I'm singing one of her songs (in Thai) this next week - and teaching Elders Quorum! Fun fun. Also, what's fun is that we got a referral from the branch here from a sister's mother. That sister is on a mission and just so happens that I know HER from my service in the office as well - she's a bright, bubbly girl named Sister Yui. She's serving her mission in SLC Temple Visitor's Center!! Isn't that where Liahona's going?? Hopefully she can train her or at the very least befriend her there.

 

Joseph's new area: PHRA NAKHON SRI AYUTTHAYA

 

Week 90 - Kalasin - FINAL ROUND?? T13.W9 Conference and Coasters

Hello Family and Friends,  

I hope everyone had a "Merry Little Conference" complete with snow for the Gibbons/Schlappi family as of late. 

A few happy birthdays to two of my best friends in the whole wide world: Max Webb (Oct 11th) and of course, my great mother's (Oct 18th). They will be 21 and 35 respectively. Please give them your regards too.

There was great things shared and revealed to me this weekend. There were many themes that were present, but I wish to echo the words of Joseph Smith, that "after all has been said, our most important duty is to preach the gospel." And we got a deadline too, didn't we? Next Merry Little Christmas! I hope this Christmas will be extra special as you will focus your prayers toward spreading the gospel - the TRUE Christmas cheer. How great will it be that by this Christmas we can sit around the tree and share our experiences of how we SHARED Christmas with others in response to this conference! It will be much more meaningful knowing we spread the message of Jesus farther beyond the walls of our home. I also noticed that we must pay attention with our homes more than ever, as joy and happiness are truly achieve with there's love at home. Even if there's not much love in your home, you, too, can pray to make a difference by this this Christmas just within your home. After all we are taught that "no success can compensate for failure in the home." When we pray earnestly for Charity (Moroni 7:48) and take up Christ as our leader, failure in the home won't be an option. I express my joy and with you blessings as you apply conference and spread the love of Jesus Christ to those around you this year.

Now about my ministry here, just when I thought that weeks couldn't get crazier, found out Bun wasn't married to Pat, that he said she was quitting investigating the church and the he himself was going to a different church. Then we would call Bun who would share with us scriptures and then said that Pat is just super sensitive (even more than ME, Angie!!) and we offended him and he said some not super nice things... Bun really calmed us as she said that he just gets in weird mood but settles down. Pray for us to go back into that situation tomorrow.

As for Rough and Gaeo - Gaeo asked about the 10 Commandments and if she can be Buddhist and Christian together - and because it was a phone lesson (cuz she can't meet us in person), and I was not helping Elder at all, she and Elder didn't really understand each other about that question/concern. So, Gaeo just asked if was could just so see her at work instead - the God blesses His New Missionaries in mysterious ways! So we went there to her work with our Elder's Quorum President (whose name is Bro Bon and was actually a missionary in this mission when I first came in). She said she'd follow the 10 Commandments - that that was what Elder Oaks really hit on in the only session she made it to! The Lord truly does work in mysterious ways.

More on transfers, a possible new area this week, etc. Next week!

May he continue to bless us all in sharing His Good News is my prayer.

With Love, 

Elder Gibbons

 

Week 89 - Kalasin T13.W8 Marriage Council

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been crazy and fun and ended with a great lesson. TO be brief:

I ate Goey today (spicy, mashed up raw meet with herbs). ;) Saeb!! ("delicious" here in the Isaan)

Bun went to Bangkok for two weeks after she showed us to TEN people whom she introduced the Gospel to!!! She's so awesome and coming back to the house after sending her off from the bus stop, tears rolled down my face. We'll be working with her more over the phone, but I might not be here as transfers are fast approaching. Gaeo and Rough weren't at church this week, but are progressing as they see the blessings that come as they pray every morning as a family now. We also met a GREAT new couple, Lek and Tong, who are photographers and wedding studio designers and who have an autistic son named Zoom, and are SUPER great! Please remember these great couples in your prayers...

Speaking of couples, I now speak to and audience that I don't usually focus toward. I would like to thank all those people in my life who have set a good example concerning marriage. Whether married now or divorced now, it doesn't matter because I love you and know that the Lord does like 8,000,000,000x more, and that your example to press forward no mater the past before is astounding, in light of an instance I had this week. I look up to each of you because I have not yet got to that step in my life; but being with someone 24/7 can give one a good guess. 

I am also so grateful to all of you for your prayers, as I might have seemed a little distraught last email. Indeed, I was, because Elder Christensen has been having some struggles for a while even up to the last day of this week... During this week, I learned a lot about Charity, that it suffereth long and doesn't expect anything in return. I think that was the greatest thing I have learned this week. I have learned a lot about the atonement as I have REALLY had to be patient to help a companion who is REALLY struggling, amidst my trying to help him, in his personal work and ministry. The Zone Leaders followed up with us and Elder Yuen (who came into the mission with me and such an example of Christ-like leadership) diagnosed that we had an actual problem. They decided to come up from Roi-Et to help us the next morning (today). After that phone call last night, I went back into the room and carefully explained two things. One, we had a problem in our companionship. Two, we needed to plan for our investigators. With that, we had a very successful planning for those we loved. I was surprised that we planned so well. We both really loved each other, but we had a problem.

Today, I have learned that it is OK to admit that there is a problem and one or the both of you are not happy for any reason. If there is any within the sound of my voice today who are married or who have been, or will be soon, I encourage you that admitting there is a problem when it's there really is IS OK and is helpful. Is it embarrassing? Gosh it is! Is it uncomfortable? It is, more than you'd like it to be. But I know that the fixing of the problem and going through the natural emotions that accompany it is a process that is healing and so much more fulfilling than letting a problem wedge between you. It's weird because that's just what it is: a wedge between the two of you - NOT your love. 

Some people think that if a relationship has a problem, love has been damaged - or in some sad cases, destroyed. I want you to know that this is not the case. Love and Charity are the things that endure and are everlasting. Elder Cahoon (who came into my first district when I finished training in my first area, who's also a history/politics guy from Canada and awesome too) really helped me see how when everything else fails, Charity "suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." (Moroni 7:45)

I felt like I was taking marriage council class because I still loved him, I wanted help, but we did, indeed have a problem. Going into a room with Elder Cahoon today made me feel as if I was going into a marriage council interview. I felt awkward and nervous - like I did something wrong - that we had to get help like this. But it really was the  thing that was needed as the Lord is shaping and molding us into the people that we are to become.

I know that if there is a problem between you and the one you love, council from church leaders or professionals is not just the last resort nor is it embarrassing. It is brave and worth admonishing. Because I had a problem, was humble and received help, we are closer as friends, and you can do so as well as companionships. Sometimes I feared that I would say something that he wouldn't accept or hear, but as we placed things in the hands of those who loved us and cared for us, the Lord was able to transform us through the power of the atonement. I ask all of you who are married, or who were and are not any longer for any reason, to get on your knees and pray for His (Christ's) grace to save you this day. Pray for strength and then for Charity with ALL THE ENERGY OF YOUR HEART as I did after my "interview" with Elder Cahoon, and the Lord promises that you will be filled with that love enough to talk about your problems. 

My prayers go out to you and I am so grateful for these lessons I've been learning -  I've even been much better with my time, thanks to your prayers! May the Lord bless you as we all let the Lord fix our problems through the grace of His Atonement. It is by His grace, we are saved after all we can do (2 Nephi 25:23).

In closing, President Senior helped me see this the best. I said to him concerning our challenges last email "'We can work it out' (I don't know if you're a Beatles fan??)" to which he responded the following:

I loved your letter. I would encourage you to see yourself as I see you and not dwell on weaknesses. We all have them, but we'll "get by with a little help from [our] friends", especially if one of them is the Savior. ;)

Let us get a little help from our best friend, the Savoir Jesus Christ, so when we think of our problems, we can "Let it Be" taken care of. Remember that Charity never faileth and we get it through prayer. Love you all; may the Lord be with you, as my love already is.

Elder Gibbons

 

Week 88 - Kalasin T13.W7 A Week of All Seasons

Sawatdii Family and Friends,

My Grandma Holker wrote me a wonderful email about learning in this life and going through the trials from this month's Liahona (or Ensign over there?) about being "A Saint for all seasons." This transfer has been a quick but eventful one as we are now at 9-weekers here in Thailand (which I actually LOVE). This week has been eventful but full of joys and sorrows:

Monday made an area map.

Tuesday didn't teach English but taught a crazy lesson on accident (I wrote about it in my Mission Presidents letter:

"Our solid trio we're working with is progressing (Rough, Gaeo, and Bun) and we're finding more and more investigators as we meet more of the families we're teaching. I taught such a lesson to one of our investigator's mother (Rough's) who can't read, write, or speak Thai. I taught the whole lesson in Isaan - which as you might know is the Lao-ed up version of Thai people out of the city speak and people in Bangkok can't understand AT ALL. I did it with the help of a member and with Elder Christensen's fervent prayers. So that was fun."

Wednesday we biked down to Kamalasai (a city 12 kilometers out of town) and taught a man there and went back. It wasn't the best lesson and I've been worried about the quality of my teaching. But it's all a learning process, right?  I love the ancient, American proverb:  "What doesn't kill ya makes you stronger."

If anyone can get me the author of that, I'd love it. But I wrote also that "I find that as I master my time management (which is probably one of the greatest struggles for me ever since the beginning) I start to get less worried about everything. I LOVED the quote by Maestro Lenard Bernstein that you shared at Zone Conference:

"To accomplish anything great you need two great things: a plan, and not quite enough time."

It's only true 108% and if ANYONE can "keep time," it's gotta be him who picked up the baton of the New York Philharmonic at the age of 25. Although I'm not taking the baton of the New York Phil, I feel my role is a great one to take on. But I think all will be well with another thing any musician knows: PRACTICE. The สี่เต่าทอง also once said in the 60s: "We can work it out!" (I don't know if you're a Beatles fan???)

I pray that we all will through "Him who is mighty to save" (2 Nephi 31)."

Thursday and Friday we've been teaching Ple (Bun) and she's been progressing. Gaeo can now pray by herself - which is WONDERFUL, and all three of them were at church again, so all your prayer have been working! To you, I owe a thousand thanks.

Saturday we want to a District Talent show for Khon Kaen, Roi-Et, Maha Sarakham (one of my  FAVORITE old areas and got to see many friends), and Korat, which of course I got to see the King of Korat himself - Elder Wilamas. He is so great and laughed hysterically when the Kalasin youth put on this WAY funny skit - but I was also laughing just at his laughing - a great  end to a week!

May we all continue practice patience as we all pick up our batons. I encourage you to laugh a little, or go spend some time with someone who makes YOU laugh. "NOW is the time for men (and women) to prepare to meet God" and thank goodness we don't have enough time to do it. So set your priorities straight NOW and love your neighbors. Put down the People magazine or the remote and pick up your scriptures first. Tell your loved ones you love them. Trust Him as you take up your baton with a limited and very special time to practice in our short seasons in this life.

I love you and will leave you until next time,

Elder Gibbons

Week 87 - Kalasin T13.W6

Thanks mom for your sweet words - I've been missing you a lot this past 2 weeks and I'm so grateful to hear your testimony and your words. 

Yesterday was a very special day indeed, with the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. I thought there was something special about this day be I couldn't remember. Thank you for that. Also this week on the 17th was Constitution Day - something Sister Madsen and I rejoiced about as I told her on the trip back down from Udornthani - she, also being a former Poli-Sci major.

Which brings me to the remarkable Zone conference this week up in the province of Udornthani (or Udorn) where I got to see many of my best friends - I ran into the Lao Elders at 7-11 (the only four Lao Elders who are pretty much as solid as you can get with the exception of Elder Worthington's testimony and/or arm muscles compilation) Elder Wright and I embraced and rejoiced in each others safety like Moroni and Pahoran. Elder Wilamas had many similar experiences and he also gave me a great treat (like the one you eat) and it was great to see him up there. I also got to say "Happy Birthday: to him as the 18th of September was his 3-year anniversary of his baptism. I told President, and he made a rather tender mention of it too. I learned about conversion and miracles - and how through Faith, the Atonement, and Faith IN the Atonement produces them. 

During the lunch break, Elder Christensen and I actually experienced a miracle with แก้ว Gaeo, the almost-wife of our investigator เราะ Rough (say the word ROCK but take away the K sound and you get the correct sound of his name). We challenged her to pray for an answer if the Book of Mormon is true that last Saturday and when we called her she told us that she had a dream. She said as if we saw a man in a picture - that it was a man wearing a red robe like the one in her Book of Mormon - and he came down and then sort of came into her and her face became hers. She said that she dreamed this same thing three times and she felt warm and good. "Sister - does this mean you have got an answer that this is true?" There was a pause and she gave a quiet but reassured "ค่ะ" or "Yes." 

But then I thought back on this rather unique experience. At first I was surprised.  Rough said he was surprised too. "Yeah," he said to me over the phone a few days later, "I wish I could see Jesus like Gaeo did... I've only just FELT the Holy Ghost... She must be really good or something." He's so funny... But anyway, I thought that this might be a little weird but then remembered the words of Alma: "I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day...having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?" (Alma 5:19) Well, I think she is on the right track. 

The only thing she and Rough lack is getting married and working on Sunday. But to get married requires a lot because she's Laotian. It costs money and time. We taught her the Lord's law of Tithing and they agreed to pay it - and they did this Sunday at church. But she's been growing in faith and reading the Book of Mormon I stole from the office that I gave her. ("I did it! I placed my very first Lao Book of Mormon!" - Kirby as Elder Calhoon, The Best Two Years, edited, Gibbons) 

They have so much faith. They are so ready. It's just like another two investigators the Sisters are working with - Mae (which means mom) Muay and her granddaughter Oui (oo-ee). The only thing holding them back is their marriage situation (where the children of their husband's first marriage don't want for them to get married because they fear their inheritance is in jeopardy) and keeping the Sabbath Day holy (because her husband is a really controlling man and if he says she's working, she's working, and if she's going to church, he gives the OK). Through the grace of God already, he has given her the go to be baptized and he's talking with his other children. 

If you ever feel like you need to pray for me, I thank you, but I ask you to reconsider. If ever you get together in your families and pray for the missionaries, I thank you for doing that, but I ask you to reconsider. If ever you ever pray for anyone in the mission field, I ask you to pray for their investigators. If you want to help someone in the mission field, I ask you to pray for their investigators by name. Miss your missionary? Want him to be happy and succeed? Everything hinges on the success of these people's progression for your missionary. 

I ask you as a friend, a cousin, a brother, or a son to please pray for the welfare and success of these four people. My investigators have been found, blessed, and in many cases baptized due in large part to the prayers of my mother, whom I thank from all the depth of my heart. She told me of a story that I will share with you, as quoted by Elder Ballard:

Like great parents of all ages, Lucy turned to prayer for divine help to sustain her family. During the march from Ohio to Missouri known as Zion’s Camp, Joseph and Hyrum were seriously ill with cholera, and their lives were almost taken. At one point, “Hyrum sprang to his feet and exclaimed, ‘Joseph, we shall return to our families. I have had an open vision, in which I saw mother kneeling under an apple tree; and she is even now asking God, in tears, to spare our lives. … The Spirit testifies, that her prayers … will be answered.’” (Lucy Mack Smith, History, p. 229.)

I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet. I know that he was a GREAT prophet because of his mother. I know that my mother's prayers can get my investigators through this trial if God wills it. I have been saved from serious injury and even death in Asian traffic because of the prayers of my mother and father. Now, I ask you all, if you have a minute or two in your day, to remember the Lao girl named Gaeo and her family in their challenges of marriage, finance, and Sabbath Day observance. To remember the woman the Sisters are trying to set free - from sin and from the world's pressures - in a similar fashion.

I know God is a God of miracles and miracles come when righteous people pray for righteous things. I ask for your help and know this is true. I feel like the Stripling Warriors when they said that "they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them" (Alma 56:47).

May He who loves us all deliver us all through repentance and faith through prayer is my prayer. In Christ's name I say things, amen.

 

Elder Gibbons