Arrival in Thailand

Jacob made the 36 hour long trip from Utah to Thailand, leaving the MTC at 3:30 a.m. on Monday October 3rd and arriving in Bangkok at 2:00 a.m. on Wednesday October 5th. We got to talk to him on the phone while at the airport in Salt Lake and later in Chicago. He sounded great! A little nervous understandably, but excited to move on from the MTC.

05 Oct 2016

Dear Brother and Sister Wilcox,

We are happy to report that your son arrived safely in Bangkok late last night, clearing passport control early this morning. He spent what was left of the evening in a hotel room with his companion, where he will also stay this evening. He is in good spirits and is anxious to begin laboring in the Lord's vineyard in Thailand. We are thrilled to have him as a missionary in the Thailand Bangkok Mission family.

Elder Jacob Bryan Wilcox will join other newly arrived missionaries, together with Sister Johnson and me and the Assistants to the President, at Lumpini Park for a morning devotional. Lumpini Park is the site where then Elder Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the land of Thailand for the preaching of the Gospel in 1966. Elder Wilcox will have the opportunity to dedicate and consecrate himself to this most wonderful work.  The new missionaries will be trained by Sister Johnson and me, and later oriented by the Office Couple, Elder and Sister Grange, and the Assistants to the President. New missionaries will have their first experience street contacting in the area followed by dinner at the Mission Home.

Your son will receive his first assignment tomorrow morning. Preparation day will be on Monday and he will be able to email you each week.  I am sure he will have much to share regarding his experiences in Thailand, missionary activities and his first Sunday in his assigned area. Your expressions of encouragement and spiritually uplifting email correspondence will be of great support.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions during your son's term of missionary service.

Sincerely,

President and Sister Johnson

Thailand Bangkok Mission

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Then a couple of days later we found out that he was assigned his first area in Pakkret which is I think a city in the northern suburb of the Bangkok metro area. His companion is Elder Gremillion, the nephew of Jim and Sandy Gremillion our former ward members before the Shepard View ward split. 

8 October 2016

Dear Brother and Sister Wilcox,

We are pleased tell you that your wonderful son, Elder Wilcox has been welcomed by the Thailand Bangkok Mission and has been assigned to serve in the Pakkret, Bangkok North Zone of the Thailand Bangkok Mission.

The missionaries arrived happy, healthy and well prepared from their MTC experience.  Sister Johnson and I hosted the group in our home and we were able to share experiences and a fine meal together while feeling the strength and conviction of their testimony. They are very valiant and carry with them a strong spirit and desire to serve our Heavenly Father.

I have sought the direction of the Lord and have chosen one of our finest missionaries, Elder John Christian Gremillion to be Elder Wilcox's  training companion.  I believe this companion will help your son to get a great start as a missionary and to experience the joy and vision of missionary service.

Sister Johnson and I thank you for your support and ask that you continue to write weekly letters or emails of encouragement.  We promise to love and care for your son like one of our own, and to do everything we can to help him succeed and prosper as a missionary in Thailand.  We know that Elder Wilcox and your family will be richly blessed by his service here.  Please pray for all of the missionaries and for the wonderful people of Thailand.


Sincerely,

President Kelly R. Johnson
Thailand Bangkok Mission

And we thought Jake would look like a giant among the Thai people. Together they're a couple giants. He looks happy!