3-25-18 Ayutthaya Thailand

Hey there Dad!

So this last week I got absolutely destroyed. Monday was fine. Didn't see a whole ton but it was good and fun! Got one new investigator on it. Just in front of 7/11 so it was really cool.

But then Tuesday we had to go up to Lopburi for our District Meeting. We took a train, and we bought tickets for the Sister Missionaries since they were running late but then... The train started moving and we left the Sisters 😅. They had to take a Van over instead, which took a little bit of time. But on top of that, I hadn't been feeling too hot that morning, and I later on found out that I had ท้องเสีย​ (go ahead and put that one into translate). So I spent an ample amount of time in the bathroom. I buy some Imodium to help the ท้อง​เสีย.​ Get back at some horrible time because those days are just full of traveling, and then we plan for English/eat dinner.

English happens, and I just get taken out. Lightheaded, and very tired. So naturally I went to the bathroom and fell asleep until English Class was over. I then diagnosed myself with Food Poisoning. The problem is, I need to go renew my Visa the very next day, at 6 in the morning at a place about 2 hours away. So we had to wake up at 2:30 to get a ride from a very kind member, go to the train station, and then go to the bathroom on the train. It was a squatter. Remember, always have toilet paper with you in Thailand! Luckily, I did so I was all good.

I do my Visa, it's about 10:00 when we actually leave. Get back at about 12:00. Go to the bathroom again. Then we can plan for the day. But then I actually have to go to the hospital because of my ท้องเสีย.​That was fun. They gave me some medicine and antibiotics and sent me on my way. But we didn't really do anything for the rest of that day. Thursday we worked but I had to go to the bathroom pretty often still, but we made it through OK.

The following days I couldn't really go to the bathroom, but everything seems normal now... But that was last week in a nutshell. 😅

If anything, I learned patience and waiting upon the Lord will do wonders for us. Always trust in him. He even has said "Look unto me in every thought, doubt not, fear not" ค.พ.​ ​36:6.

If​ we can truly do so, we will be blessed to doubt not and to fear not. This I know and promise as well. Have faith, and be believing! Everything will work out for our good, for those who love God.

Love you lots! Have fun and be blessed!

- Elder Collin Decker 

3-18-18 Ayutthaya Thailand

Hey hey!

Not much to report on this last week! I sent out! My pictures and such already, so you should be good to check that out! Including pictures of the ties that I got cut. Purple is a good color, especially for Washington... 😁

This last week was a good week. We saw some miracles for sure! We thought we were going to have a lot of people at church but... We only had one investigator 😅 So that was fun! But we met with a lot of people, invited a lot of people.

We had a switch off with the Zone Leaders again. It was OK. But I don't really like inviting in malls so much, though we had to try to use our time effectively. It just seems like an honor thing to me. We're here, representing the Lord Jesus Christ. We are under obligation, duty, and privilege, to lift up our voices in every place, but we are also under obligation to follow the laws of the Land. It's not illegal to proselyte in malls, but they don't allow you to do it per company policy, at the very least don't hand out inviting cards. But as soon as we, of our own free will, step into/onto the mall, we are honor bound to keep the rules there, for we accept as we walk on. I reason that don't go out and proselyte in Laos because it's not allowed there. We don't have Proselyting Missionaries there! We don't go out, thinking that we are bold, courageous missionaries and ignore the rules by preaching the Gospel. It's tough, but it is life, and it is something we teach that we are to follow the laws of the Land in which we are currently in. So, needless to say, I don't like proselyting in malls, just as a matter of following the rules and being honorable, respectable missionaries.

This quote relates a little bit to what I am feeling here. This was given in a talk called "The Divine Standard of Honesty" found in the August 2017 issue of the Liahona and it says:

“My young friends, I have been asked what I mean by word of honor. I will tell you. Place me behind prison walls—walls of stone ever so high, ever so thick, reaching ever so far into the ground—there is a possibility that in some way or another I may be able to escape. But stand me on that floor and draw a chalk line around me and have me give my word of honor never to cross it. Can I get out of that circle? No, never! I’d die first!”

I would commend all of us to do the same. To be honest. Jesus never needed to lie to do those things. The Spirit does not deal in half-truths or lies. The Spirit is the Spirit of truth after all. But as always, this is up to us. I know what white-lies are, and I cannot definitely say that they are wrong or if they are right. But as for what Elder Andersen says, he goes on to say this:

"The world would tell us that truth and honesty are difficult to define. The world finds humor in casual lying and quickly excuses so-called “innocent” deception. The contrast between right and wrong is dulled, and the consequences of dishonesty are minimized.

   To constantly receive the Spirit of Truth—the Holy Ghost—we must fill our lives with truth and honesty. As we become completely honest, our spiritual eyes are opened to increased enlightenment."

Honesty is a virtue and important. We need to keep our word, our commitments when we give them. If we should break our word, we lose our integrity and our honor. Even if no one else knows, we know that a couple do know of our omissions and dishonesty, The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. 

Let us be honest! It might be hard, but true joy only comes through the companionship of the Holy Ghost. It will guide as we seek to come unto Christ and be perfected in him.

All right, love you lots! I'll talk to you soon.

- Elder Collin Decker 

3-11-18 Ayutthaya Thailand

 

Hey hey there Dad!

 

Yep, we had Zone Conference this last week. It was a ton of fun! I love it, being around so many great missionaries. I really felt the Spirit this time around and what we can do to help our area grow, and what I can do to improve myself as well.

 

This last week we went to an old Japanese Village Monument from when the Japanese were here in Thailand, and Ayutthaya was the old capital. A lot of ships came in and out of here and was a big site for trading apparently because of all the water routes coming through here. It was like a museum type thing where we could watch videos about the history as well so it was pretty cool. I've found that I actually like museums about history. Especially here, where it was well done and very cool to see. 

 

We began teaching in Islamic family this last week. I'm sure mom would have a heart attack to know that we were, or maybe she wouldn't. It was a lot of fun, and they were open to talking about prophets. The wife is actually Buddhist but she has to convert to Islam by religious law, because of her husband. Not sure if they want to learn more, but we gave them a Book of Mormon. They are Thai by the way, just Islamic Thai people, so just a heads up, thats the other part of the population here. Don't be surprised if we see some when we come back here. 

 

They and a lot of our investigators live about 11 km out, but riding my bike is fun... and I think I have a weird tendency to scare street dogs with my bike. They bark and chase after us, but in the end, it's all bark and no bite, especially when I chase them back. 

 

Not really a whole ton this week! Just have to remember that when we count our blessings and let our gratitude sink into our hearts, then we truly be happy. We must choose happiness and we must also strive to improve, but let's choose to be happy while doing so. Remember, President Gordon B. Hinckley said

 

How magnificently we are blessed! How thankful we ought to be! … Cultivate a spirit of thanksgiving for the blessing of life and for the marvelous gifts and privileges each of us enjoy. The Lord has said that the meek shall inherit the earth. (See Matt. 5:5.) I cannot escape the interpretation that meekness implies a spirit of gratitude as opposed to an attitude of self-sufficiency,an acknowledgment of a greater power beyond oneself, a recognition of God, and an acceptance of his commandments. This is the beginning of wisdom. Walk with gratitude before him who is the giver of life and every good gift.13

 

I know that as we are meek, and seek a remission of our sins at all times, the scriptures say this:

 

"

11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.

12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.

I know that these things are true and will help us be happy. Just be humble, rely upon the Lord, and we shall always rejoice and be filled with the Love of God.

 

Love you lots Dad! Talk to you soon! 

 

3-4-18 Ayutthaya Thailand

Hey hey there Dad!

 

Hey, its funny that you got sick, because I just was sick over this last week as well! Seems like we're on the same page, even if we are half a world away (literally).

 

I feel like I comment every other email about how time goes by quickly. Last transfer went by quickly. February is gone. This month I'll hit 1 year and 5 months. Then 1 year and 6 months is next month. Time seems to be slipping through my fingers, and very quickly at that. I still feel pretty young in the mission, and feel like I still have a lot to improve. Way scary. I doubt I could get an extension, just as an FYI... the new mission president who's coming in July was a YSA Stake President in Rexburg, Idaho and plus I'd probably miss Thanksgiving at home... so I doubt that they'd let me 😅. I feel like I still have a lot to do, and have a lot to learn and a lot of people to find. But we're trying and lifting where we stand as well!

 

Our investigator, Sister Nang, was confirmed a member of the Church last week! Way good, and way sweet. I don't feel like she needed to change anything in her life, but we're going to work with her to help her friends as well! We have to start here! Then the branch will start growing like crazy! Recent Converts have a lot of potential and a lot of fire, so make sure the Recent Converts are valued in the ward at home as well! Help them have a calling, and help them to keep being taught as well!

 

Last Friday was an adventure... videos and pictures of our massive bike inviting trip are uploaded! Just a tiny section though! The dangerous part, just for Mom! 🐏😎

 

We spent a lot of time inviting this last week, which is good. I actually love being rejected (as a disclaimer, I love being accepted more but...) because it shows that we're working hard, and that the adversary is trying to put up a fight, which means that we are headed the right way! But this week also caused me to reflect on how I am as a missionary, and as an individual. Who am I, right now? How close am I to Jesus Christ? Is there anything in my thoughts or actions that would keep me from being closer to Jesus Christ? I realized that I still had a bit of pride in myself. Not a desire for authority, or a title so much, though there may have been some elements, but the pride in the fact that I wasn't listening to Heavenly Father all the time. I wasn't listening, and I wasn't counseling with him. I would counsel with my companion, but oh, how often we missed to pray to our Father in Heaven! I realized that I needed to humble myself, and approach the Lord, similar to Samuel in the Bible, who said:

 

Speak; for thy servant heareth.

 

Humility is essential in this work. It is everywhere in the scriptures and it is in every place where any missionary scriptures are located. We're seeking the will of the Lord more frequently now, and the Lord has in turn, blessed us with miracles. Let us be like Samuel who said this when the Lord called for him. The Lord calls for each of us, we just need to knock, and tell the Lord that we're listening and that we intend and will do everything that he asks us! The Lord will surely guide us for our good and the good of His children as well.

 

Love you lots Dad! I'll talk to you soon!

 

- Elder Collin Decker