08-15-17 Nong Khai Thailand

Zone Conference! (Whitewashing Part 3)

Hey there Dad!

I feel like I forgot to update a couple weeks ago that... I finished the Book of Mormon in Thai! July 27th, 2017. It's been a couple weeks since then... but I thought that would be worth telling! I got it finished in the last week of last transfer, so right now, I'm back in 2 Nephi 22, all the way since then. The reason I've been trying to read the Book of Mormon so much was because of some wise words that I received from a missionary in my first switch-off while I was in Pakkret: "The best times you will learn are when you feel the Spirit, because the Spirit is the best teacher for us. That includes the language! So the best ways and times to learn the language is when you read from the Book of Mormon, and when you are teaching." So I've spent a great majority of my time trying to read and understand the Book of Mormon and undoubtedly I've seen blessings from doing that. As well as trying to learning the language whenever I can... but it's been fun! But the dialect/accent here is just a little different... So back to square 2-3 (not quite square 1, hahaha).

As for exploring adventures: We went to Udorn last week to do some activity with the District! Udorn is about 1 hour away, so it's not all that far from here at all. So we all went to a member's shop who is a physical therapist, of some sort or some odd like that, but she had a fancy "scale" that would measure your body fat, your bone density, and the whole bit... So that was interesting! Told me I was 80.4 kg (about 175 pounds, give or take, so that's pretty normal). But the funny part was: It told me I has 60.4 kg of muscle and 3.3 kg of bones. So... the rest goes to fat/water/organs(?). But I thought that it was funny because my companion weighs about 67 kg, give or take, so I almost have as much weight/density in muscle as he does altogether... so maybe working out in the morning has payed off! Have to try to keep my legs strong at least... hahaha. Then we went ice skating that day, and my feet cramped, as usual. And I almost fell several times, but it was fun! 

So last week was Zone Conference! It's always a great blessing to see the leaders here in the mission, especially President Johnson, and the Assistants to the President. I can feel how much love they have for the work, and how much they love Thailand. In other words, how much FIRE they have. They're great examples for all the missionaries. Plus, all the missionaries in the Zone are great people, and hard-working missionaries, so I enjoy learning from all of them as well. I still have a lot to learn, so I'm glad to be able to learn from them, and the Zone Leaders here too. (on a side-note: I've been with one of my Zone Leaders, Elder Lovelock, since he first became a Zone Leader and have been with him in the same district for 4 transfers now, so that's been pretty fun!) Just being at Zone Conference helps me to have more motivation for the work and to try harder to be better for the people here in Thailand. It's also a great privilege to be able to interview with President Johnson every Zone Conference and just discuss how things are going for me and the area as well!

We actually live in a house, and we rent it for, about 150 dollars a month or so? So I think that's pretty fair. The kitchen is kind of outside, kind of not, meaning that air from the outside comes in, but nothing else (besides tiny tiny bugs).  Yep, the entire kitchen! And that's actually true! If I set something on fire or burn something, it doesn't destroy the house as well... :)  Tiny flies come in, and that whole bit, sometimes a tiny gecko might wander in, but we let those stay because they eat the bugs and they're cute.  Generally the bill for water and electricity is about another 70ish dollars or so, so all in all it's about 200 dollars, plus some, I think, to rent that place out! Not that big though, that's for sure!

The area is still trying to grow! The trouble that we're finding here is that it's a little more difficult to find new investigators. We're looking for good places to try and invite people to learn about the Restored Gospel, but no one really has wanted to listen to us as for as that has been going... but as we try to follow the Spirit, we'll be blessed for sure! We're getting this area back on its feet and helping it grow again! I know that as we're obedient, and try to be successful missionaries (as said in PMG), we'll be blessed for our efforts, and our desire to serve God with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength. We will receive exactly what we need from Heavenly Father, and the people around us will receive exactly what they need, because God loves us!  The branch might take a little while to grow, but we're working on it! It seems like the members like us so far, so i'm glad about that one!

I love Thailand, and these people! It truly is a privilege to serve the Lord. Love you, and talk to you soon!

- Elder Collin Decker

08-06-17 Nong Khai Thailand

Apparently my Left Hand Doesn't Do Very Much... Ever. (Whitewash Week 2)

Hey hey Dad!

So this week we only are emailing for one hour... again. I'm not particularly happy about that but, it is what it is. Anyways, onto the email!

So, as I turns out, we don't have anyone to help us play the piano at church, and no one can read music... except for me. So, as it goes, I have the wonderful opportunity of playing the piano! So now I'm learning how to play the piano... I can at least make it through a couple hymns! Thank goodness we had a keyboard at home! Now we have a fancier one that you got... but still! Also have a keyboard at the house here in Thailand, which I can play, so I'm sure learning the piano will take most of my evenings. The hardest part is using my left hand, because I don't think I've used my left hand for anything other than playing games, driving a car, and possibly picking up stuff if my right hand isn't available or enough. So that will be fun!

Right now we're in Udorn, which is about 1 hour away from Nong Khai. I'm going to go find a camera to use, but also we're going to have a district activity, so that will be fun! Not quite sure what's going to happen! I'll try and get more time possibly later on today, but probably not. I'll definitely try to get more time next week though!

The week has been good! Just trying to work hard and teach. We're consistently getting new investigators! But also losing some along the way as well. it's a little difficult, but that's the way it goes! We have one person getting ready to be baptized in about two weeks, so we're getting him ready for that, but we're going to need to work hard to find other people to teach as well, because this guy is progressing way fast, and understands a fair amount already! It's great!

All right, that's it for me this week! Love you, and talk to you soon!

- Elder Collin Decker

7-31-17 Nong Khai Tailand

Whitewashing and Exploring (Back in the Issan - Udorn)

Hey there Dad!

Sorry, for real this time, I don't have a whole ton of time because whitewashing an area = you go find your own internet place to email from. Which means... We biked for an hour or so looking for one. But, that's ok!

I understand how that feels when you enter into something/someplace new and... it's not quite organized the way you expected. But, that's ok! We're getting things in order here. Getting the area book filled out, and getting food for ourselves in the house, as well as establishing good relations with the members here! From what I heard, there have been a few Elders who served here who were in the last little bit of their missions, so the members may or may not have been feeling that... but we're working on it. The first step for us when we whitewash in is to establish good member relations! Member work brings friends, and friends become investigators. Investigators, in the end, lead to more souls brought unto Christ through baptism!

Speaking of which, we had a baptism on Sunday! Her name is Sister Pim (my camera is still broken so I don't have any pictures to upload...). She had a great understanding of the concepts in the Gospel, and the Commandments, so I appreciate the service of the Elders who came before us and helped her to be a solid convert. 

Went to Church on Sunday, and turns out there are only 35ish or so people who attend church regularly... we'll work on it, but it's good so far! We've talked with a lot of leaders here, and we're trying to bring some energy into this branch, and otherwise, just working hard and inviting!

Miracle from Sunday (other than baptism): We were biking around in the rain on Saturday (by the way it rains all day some days here... Good thing I have a rain jacket!) and we met a guy, invited him, set up an appointment for Sunday evening, and off we went in the rain. We go back, and he brings 4 of his friends to learn with us, so they all had a chance to learn as well! We'll be going back today, so it should be great!

In other news... the house we're in is a new house that the Elders have only been in for about 3 months so it's pretty clean! We also had an opportunity to work with the First Counselor in the Mission Presidency yesterday! President Tiger, lots of fun! We taught a Christian lady, and he helped us out a lot! But it was hard to teach her, because, as said in 2 Nephi 29... She already has a Bible. So, we'll keep working on that one!

All right, that's it from me! We'll get to another internet place faster next time.... love you lots! Talk to you soon!

- Elder Collin Decker

P.S. We have to go at 10:30

P.P.S. I'm getting along with my companion great! He's a little quiet, but he works hard (and works out hard as well...)