12-25-17 Nong Khai Thailand

Hey there Dad!

First and foremost... MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!! 🐏🐑🐏🌲🌨❄⛄🎉🎍🎁

So it's Christmas here today! I hope that you know that P-Day is today... because it hasn't changed! We'll still be Skyping tomorrow though, probably about 7:00 P.M. your time.

So this last week has been... interesting! It was a great week though, but I felt a little off at the beginning of the week. I don't know if anyone has, and I'm not sure if anyone thinks like this, but I will be the first to say that missionary work isn't easy. I remember thinking "If I can just follow the Spirit, everything will be A-OK and it will all fly smoothly!" But to be honest, it hasn't been like that so far. The Spirit isn't something that is easy to follow at every moment, and the Lord constantly expects us to take thought to those things which we are going to teach, to discern the needs of our investigators, and to figure out solutions to the problems our investigators have. We struggle, even to the utmost of our abilities. Then, we see miracles come more frequently. That being said, the Lord will always give us miracles, such as:

We were riding our bikes to go study at the church after an appointment had fallen through. That day, I had been feeling particularly stressed, about all aspects of missionary work. Preach My Gospel tells us about what a successful missionary does, what their attributes are, but the most outstanding thing in the first paragraph talking about being a successful missionary says that our success is measured primarily by our commitment to do those things listed. For example, be exactly obedient, to find and baptize investigators, etc. Well I had been feeling that the new investigators pool was a little lacking, not that we didn't have any, but we hadn't got close to our goals that we set, that I felt was realistic, so I was feeling pretty stressed about what to do. Commitment is one thing, but I was feeling that commitment should lead to results at some point (for it had been several weeks I felt like, that we hadn't reached our goals).

Then an old guy, along the way to the Church, called out to us, asking in English "Where you go?" And the funny thing that us, as missionaries here, will always reply in the language they ask us questions in. So, naturally, we replied "We go to church!" (exactly like that!). (Sidenote: I hope I don't send my English down the drain by speaking like that...) Then, his eyes lit up, and he waved for us to come onto his property (his yard?). He brought out two chairs and then proceeded to ask us, in Thai, ว่า "What do you have to share with me today, missionaries?" (just about that as far as translation goes.) Turns out he was a former investigator from when the Lao Elders were working in Nong Khai! We didn't know that until he brought out a Book of Mormon from inside his house. We weren't even going to invite him, but he invited us. At that point, I knew exactly that the Lord loves us, and he is preparing people for us to meet and teach. 

After that Elder King and I had a super great switch-off that was full of fire! We met a lot of potential investigators and visited an L.A. It was a lot of fun and I learned a lot. I have a lot of respect for Elder King and how he works. This mission is just full of great missionaries, as I'm sure all missions are. There's nowhere I'd rather be than in Thailand right now!

Later last week, we went to the Ward Christmas Party. It was a lot of fun! Got to bond with the members, and eat food together! They made Elder Smith be Santa... way funny! I had the opportunity to read the Nativity story for everyone there in the very first part (and play the piano as always). I had an opportunity to bear my testimony as well. I'll share one of my favorite scriptures I read in a little bit.

Yesterday, we only had one hour of church meetings (just the sacrament portion, which is the most important one after all!) and then we went off to go teach investigators after doing some Ward Clerk work... Later on that day, we went to carol with the members! I got to map out some way far out members! It was really fun! And that ended our Christmas Eve!

This season truly is a season of great happiness. I hope everyone remembers and thinks to Jesus Christ in the season. He truly is the light and life of the world. 

I believe I've already shared this scripture before, but it's one of the scriptures I read the other day as well, which reads as thus: 

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6, 2 Nephi 19:6)

I know and testify that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. Our older brother, and the Master Healer. Jesus Christ truly is Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. I love Christmas, I love the Church. I'm thankful for the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, and I'm thankful and eternally indebted for the ones who gave us this Gospel, Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. I love them, and am privileged to be a missionary in these latter days.

Love you all! Talk to you soon! Have fun on Christmas Eve over there!

- Elder Collin Decker

Thailand, Bangkok Mission

12-17-17 Nong Khai Thailand

Hey hey there Dad!

So this last week was Zone Conference here in the Udorn Zone! Just on Friday and Saturday. But before that, the rest of the week. We had a miracle in finding one of our old investigators who disappeared a little while ago. Couldn't contact him, couldn't find him at home. But now, we found out that we could meet with him at his home in the late evenings, which is perfect because there is nothing to do in the late evening around here in Nong Khai... besides wander around some neighborhoods and try to talk to people in their homes! (but we can't actually knock or ring doorbells so we just yell to get them outside... hahaha.) I haven't actually knocked on a single door yet... but we might try sometime! We're trying to talk with everyone after all!

Also, for the entire Ward back home, thank you for sending me that letter. It really means a lot to me to know that there are people at home who are praying for me, and missionaries everywhere! But more importantly, the people we are teaching, that they might taste of that sweet fruit from the tree of life. Life is great as a missionary. Life is great indeed, especially as members of the Church, and living according to the restored truth.

Zone Conference was Christmas themed this year! It was really fun. Went to do interviews on Friday (didn't happen unfortunately because of a special meeting that President Johnson had to do to). Everyone else but us and a few other companionships went, but it's all good. It was lots of fun! We had a white elephant gift exchange that night as well! My white elephant gift was really lame because I thought the limit was 30 baht so I got something that was 35 baht but bartered it down to 30... so sad! But I got a Thai-Issan Dictionary, so that was really fun! From my good friends in Lao, the "English Teachers" over there, including one of my old companions Former Elder Johnson (Former because he's just an English Teacher in Lao). We, here in Nong Khai, help the English teachers in Lao whenever they come over, or they need important documents delivered, so it's a ton of fun on somedays when they come over and we get to help them out. Helps bring a good change to the pace of the day.

Back to Zone Conference: We also received gifts as a mission! Just some small gifts, but it included a tree ornament, which was really cool. I missed out last year, but hey, not everyone can be in the MTC for Christmas, so that was a lot of fun! But we also finally got our phones that we bought, and bartered for... I finally got to see my phone, and it looks better than I thought! Now, there are lots of application controls and the whole bit, so it's pretty safe, and I'm thankful for that, but it definitely has the potential to be a huge time waster if we're not disciplined in our use of it. We both individually get a phone, but I'm the one who gets the SIM card... hahaha. So only I can make phone calls and send out texts. No Facebook or Line yet, but coming soon! Right now, we're just trying to get a hang of the planner on our phones. At the very least, we're trying to use it! A little different and it's not like writing, but I can use the microphone to write notes so I might forget how to write altogether... time to start keeping a journal (again!) (in Thai too!). Our crazy 2nd counselor in the Mission Presidency was Santa who gave us those gifts. I love him so much, way funny. Just can't take yourself too seriously around him for sure.

Saturday, we watched "The Best Two Years" in the morning while eating milk and cookies. Way fun and way good. It was funny to watch for the first time and especially as a missionary. Everything seems to make sense about what they're saying... definitely something I will rewatch at a later date, hahaha. Then we played some fun games after that with everyone in the Zone, including President and Sister Johnson. They also took pictures+videos, so those should be up on the mission Facebook I think. Then we received some training from President Johnson, which talked about finding new investigators and what we should be doing. Really great, and I know how I can work even better now.

I really love being a missionary. I really do. It's sad to think about, but this will be my one and only Christmas as a missionary in Thailand. But it's all in the Lord's timing. We're here to grow, and become closer to God, and in doing so, help others to do the same. One scripture I really liked from a recent personal study this week is this:

in JST Matthew 16:

25 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.

26 And now for a man to take up his cross, is to deny himself all ungodliness, and every worldly lust, and keep my commandments.

I know that as we serve God with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength, yielding our hearts up unto God, and denying ourselves of all ungodliness, we'll become closer to our Heavenly Father, to becoming even better than we were before. Let us all remember to look unto the Savior, especially at this time of year. I know the Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior of the World, the Prince of Peace. He indeed is the Master Healer. He loves us, and so does our Heavenly Father. I know this season is a time of joy and happiness. I wish the same for everyone, especially for Kaleb, Kai and Mom, and those in our family! I love you all!

I'll talk to you soon! Take care and have fun!

- Elder Collin Decker

12-10-17 Nong Khai Thailand

Hey hey there Dad!

This last week has been pretty... normal actually. Went out and worked. What more can be said? Working will make missionaries happy. Not working makes us unhappy, even for the missionaries who don't want to work. Missionary work is like a big train. We all have our small part to do on the train. If we decide not to work and then drag our heels while hanging off the back of a train, how do you think your heels will feel after a couple seconds, a couple days, weeks, months, years? When you drag your heels in missionary work, you only hurt your own heels and the part of the train that you're working on, which is a small part since the Lord is in charge of most of it. The train won't stop just because a missionary slacks off. The work goes on and so does time. When we're all on board, working our best to keep our small part of the train in the best condition we can make it, time will fly. Life will feel good, you'll feel accomplished! When we drag our heels, we feel bored, anxious, tired, perhaps lonely. We get stressed, and feel sad. we don't want to be on the mission. But when we're working as hard as we can, we will have the Spirit to be with us, which will bring us an immense amount of strength and joy. So, don't drag your heels, because you only hurt yourself, and that small part of the train you have been given to work on. But the train will keep going, and those souls who hop on board are the converts we help teach, and our investigators, and we are all on the destination to our Heavenly Home, even so in the Celestial Kingdom of our Heavenly Father.

As President Gordon B. Hinckley's father once said: "Forget yourself and go to work." Life is much better that way anyways!  😁

As for the specifics: We received a referral from some of the Sister Missionaries at Temple Square, who is just an awesome referral, reads in the Book of Mormon everyday, and believes in God, and the Plan of Salvation and loves his family. It's amazing how the Lord prepares his people, and how the Lord grants miracles unto us on a daily basis.

We had no investigators at church... but we're working on it! We're working with them even closer now to get them to church on time (or at all).

We're working hard out here, but there's always more to be done, always more that we can do! Indeed, we're going to start to follow the counsel that Christ, the Master Teacher, when he said to his disciples: 

"34 ¶ And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

37 For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it; or whosoever will save his life, shall be willing to lay it down for my sake; and if he is not willing to lay it down for my sake, he shall lose it.

38 But whosoever shall be willing to lose his life for my sake, and the gospel, the same shall save it." (Mark 8:34, JST Mark 8:37-38).

I know that Christ is the Master Healer and he will heal all of our infirmities and all of our sicknesses. I know that the Lord loves us, and will take care of us, if we so trust in him and believe in him. We will find our lives in our willingness to lose them in His service. We will help the people of Thailand! We will help our Brothers and Sisters return home. I love Thailand, I love the mission, as hard as it may be. I love this Gospel, and of course my goodly parents that I have been born too and family as well! I love The Lord Jesus Christ, and I am eternally indebted and grateful for his great sacrifice. So, the least I can do is work hard to further His work, and help these people come to know that He is:

"Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, ...The Prince of Peace." "มหัศจรรย์, ที่ปรึกษา, พระผู้เป็นเจ้าผู้ทรงอานุภาพ,...เจ้าชายแห่งสันติ." (2 Nephi 19:6 ; ๒ นีไฟ ๑๙:๖)

Love you lots Dad! Hope this last week has been good for you, and I'll talk to you soon!

- Elder Decker

12-4-17 Nong Khai Thailand

Hey hey there Dad!

Well, since last Wednesday, not much has happened... except that we had one confirmation! Our investigator Brother Bin, has just been confirmed as of yesterday! So that's really nice. He's doing great, and he has great members to support him along the way as well. He even said he wanted to be an Elder one day, and that he wanted to follow Jesus Christ "ตลอดชีวิต" meaning all his life, so that's really cool to see! We'll keep working hard to help him along the way as well.

This being my 4th transfer in Nong Khai means that I have a 98% chance that I will be moving at the end of this transfer, provided they don't forget about us all the way out here. So this week, I'll have to work harder than ever! I feel like I've managed to get my feet under me, but it is, and probably always be, a challenge to keep up. The goals we have are always just within reach, but they require us to stretch out to get them accomplished. So I'm constantly growing (taller too I hope, but I seem to be taller than almost everyone here already so it's ok.). The hardest part is trying to find people to work with within the city. The people way out of the city seem pretty willing to listen to us, but in the city... less so. That was one thing that Elder Chudchaiyaphum taught me while I was out here, when he related his experience working in Chiang Mai. He said something along the lines "that there are always people to find within the city who are prepared, that's why we work in the city still, but think about all the people on the outer borders who haven't even had a chance to hear the Gospel yet! There are a lot of golden investigators outside the city." Now that's not to say that we go way out in the middle of nowhere, but we do have strong members out in the middle of nowhere so... it actually can be effective to proselyte there as well! But we work everywhere, in the city or out, but we try to work effectively nonetheless and "talk with everyone."

Well, in other extraneous news, I crashed my bike again. I tried to do a running start and then ate it, but I came out without a scratch (thanks to my nice coat that I wear all the time... 555+). My bike is doing all right as well! But I'm definitely losing weight out here... so that's a bonus!

I know that the Lord is helping our investigators. We just need to do our part, even our very best. The Lord is surely in charge. We just need to work happily at the work,even so where it says:

"let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we standstill, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." (D&C 123:17)

I know that as we work cheerfully and try out very best, the Lord will help us and our investigators. Counsel with the Lord always, and he will consecrate our efforts and our afflictions for our gain. The mission isn't easy but it is always truly rewarding. The Lord loves every single one of us, every one of our investigators and our members as well! We will continue to serve with all of our heart, might, mind and strength. That's what the Lord has asked us to do, and I know that this is the Lord's work. If we follow the Lord, we will have everything that we need in this life, including those worldly needs. I know the Jesus Christ lives. He is our Savior, and he understands all of our pains, our afflictions, our temptations, and our sorrows. He will help, he will strengthen us, and we will be upheld by him, even so by his Omnipotent hand. All of us missionaries are witnesses of this, and this is the message we share. The Lord won't let us fail if we give it 100%!

Love you lots Dad! We're working hard out here and learning a lot. The Lord is helping us, missionaries and members, every step of the way! Talk to you soon!

- Elder Collin Decker