My dear family and friends, I have very sad news. I never know how much we can disclose to our families about what happens here, but I was given permission to say what is happening and why are are being kicked out of Laos. As missionaries in Lao, we run under the direction of DIC (Deseret International Charities). We are volunteers, and we teach English at many places around Vientiane. We have legal agreements called MOUs (Memorandum of Understanding) with each of the places that we teach. The elders' visas and anyone who works for DIC comes in with visas that are “attached” to these MOUs. So as long as the MOUs are finished and OK, the elders are OK.
For whatever reason, this year the process of getting the MOU is not OK. The process is not complete. Our visas, which expire at the end of 2016, are attached to the MOU. Because the MOU is not completed, the elders have to abide by Lao law and leave the country. The process of all of this takes a very long time, and the senior couples, Hong Kong staff, and the Lao Government are all trying to make these things happen. Thank you for all the work you have done in trying to make this happen! Once the agreement (or the MOU) is completed, the elders will come back. But not I. I don’t think I will make it in time. In fact, President Johnson isn’t sure any of this group will make it back. I will be serving the last 6 months of my mission in the Kingdom of Thailand.
President Tiger
I want to thank all of you for your prayers and your fasting. I don’t know why the Lord is having this happen. I don’t know why everything seems to be falling through. The day we found out we were going to be leaving, we called every Church member in our phone telling them how much we loved them. Tears were streaming down our faces as we testified to these members that the Lord has not forgotten them. The elders are not abandoning them…we have to go because of English visa stuff - not because obtaining the new church building isn’t finished.
To see these people in their hardest time has been the hardest thing for me on my mission. I cannot stand seeing other people suffer, and I cannot do anything to help them. All I can tell them is to rely on their Savior, and that is what I need to do too.
Lao will always be my home. I consider it my second home. The members are my family…and I am going to miss them so much. They have taught me more about the Savior and sacrifice than anyone I have ever met. They deserve to see the fruits of their labors the day the church opens. When that day comes, when 6 new elders are called back to Laos because the MOUs are complete, when we can finally worship together as a family united in Christ, oh how my soul will sing, “Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna!” It is my hope that I can be there when that day comes.
This photo was taken at a Hmong cultural festival we visited with some of the Hmong members last Saturday. It is in an area north of Vientiane near where the new church building is supposed to be.
The Stevensons
I will visit Laos again with my family in July. If any members are reading this – I can’t wait to see you in July! Keep going! You can do this. Hang on. The Lord will bless you if you hang on. He is counting on his strong members here in Lao to make it until the church comes. Until then, we must LIFT each other. I promise you all that as you LIFT together, the Lord will fill you with the Holy Ghost, and you will be filled with hope. As Alma 26: 37 says, “Now [my dear Lao brothers and sisters], we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever.” God has not forgotten you. Your elders have not forgotten you. We pray and fast for you every day. You mean the world to me. I love you so much. God is mindful of you. Hang on. Hang on. We can do this if we do it TOGETHER.
ພຣະເຈ້ົາຈະໄຫ້ພອນພວກເຈົ້າ. ພຣະອົງຢາກໄຫ້ພວກເຈົ້າສູ້ໆ.ໄນເວລານີ້ແນ່ນອນວ່າພວກເຈົ້ານາດຈະຮູ້ສືກວ່າບໍ່ມີຄວາມຫວັງ, ແຕ່ວ່າຄວາມຈີງແມ່ນວ່າພວກເຈົ້າຍັງມີພຣະເຈົ້າແລະຍັງມີສະມາຊີກທຸກໆຄົນ.ພຣະເຈົ້າຢາກໄຫ້ພວກເຮັາຊ່ວຍກັນແລະກັນ.ໃນເວລາທຸກຍ້າກເຮັາຕ້ອງມີສັດທາຄືເກົ່າແລະອະທິຖານຢ່າງຫນັກຄືເກົ່າ.ເຮັາເອລເດີຮັກພວກເຈົ່າຫລາຍ. ຄິດຮອດຫລາຍ. ຢ່າລືມພຣະເຈົ້າ….ເພາະພຣະເຈົ້າບໍ່ລືມເຈົ້າ.
My prayers are with you always my dear brothers and sisters. Until we meet again,
ເອລເດີ ອັບຣາຮາມ ສະມິດ-ດິກສ
Elder Abraham Smith-Driggs
Love the Lord and Laugh,
ອັບຣາຮາມ ສະມິດ-ດິກສ
Abraham Smith-Driggs
Asia is so cute sometimes hahahahaha
Caught him sleepin' hahahah. Gotcha Bouw.
Mom comment: More photos in the series I call, "Sleeping Elders." These guys get so worn out. Maybe I'll make a compilation of all the "sleeping elder" shots that Abraham has sent home over his 18 months in the mission field, including photos others have taken of him while he's been asleep;)
Last time with the deaf kids.
No comments:
Post a Comment