8-19-18 Samut Sakhon

Hey hey there!

Sorry​ for getting back late... But here it is!

So not much happened this last week. We went out to a different province. Then it rained...​All day. So we weren't able to do very much. But we took some fun pictures! I'll try to get those up later but... You should already have some! Then it flooded there right after we left so... We were lucky!

We had District Council. That was fun. We played a game called hot seat where basically the district nails you with any question for 1 minute. It was fun.

Otherwise it was a good working week. We have a couple progressing investigators. One is getting close to getting a date but she still hasn't got an answer yet from her prayers so we're waiting on that.

We had switch offs with the Zone Leaders the other day. It was way fun but it rained.... Hard... All day. So needless to say it was a little difficult to invite... But we did. And walked through dirty street water. It was fun! We also met a really cool guy who might want to learn so it will be great for them. 

Not a ton at church... Our international model investigator is going back to Singapore... 😅 So that's sad but it will be ok 👌. 

Otherwise, not much to report! The Asia Area President will be coming to do a Mission Tour so we will be receiving training from him. 

Anyways, the only thing that I've learned this week:

"Hearken, O ye people of my church, saith the voice of him who dwells on high, and whose eyes are upon all men; yea, verily I say: Hearken ye people from afar; and ye that are upon the islands of the sea, listen together.

   2 For verily the voice of the Lord is unto all men, and there is none to escape; and there is no eye that shall not see, neither ear that shall not hear, neither heart that shall not be penetrated.

   3 And the rebellious shall be pierced with much sorrow; for their iniquities shall be spoken upon the housetops, and their secret acts shall be revealed.

   4 And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days.

   5 And they shall go forth and none shall stay them, for I the Lord have commanded them." (D&C 1:1-5)

Do​ we have eyes to see and ears to hear right now? Or will we wait until the judgment day?

Are we willing to see things the Lord's way, or our way? Hear the things He has prepared for us, or hear the voice of the world? Let us open our eyes, that we may see, and open our ears, to hear and see the things which the Lord would have us know and see and experience. Pray and study the scriptures and we take a big step, as well as partaking of the Sacrament. 

Love you lots! Talk to you soon! 

7-15-18 Samut Sakhon

Hey hey there Dad!

So this last week has been great. Lots of miracles that I can't even name them all. In short, it was a fun week. 

Monday we had family home evening with the Bishop. It was great and we were able to share a message about receiving personal revelation. In the end, missionaries can't tell all the members what to do to be member missionaries, or to solve their problems. But Heavenly Father can and surely will help them succeed as they seek after Him and His Son. Personal Revelation is great because it's not just about blessing missionary work, but about blessing all aspects of our lives. Hopefully they can apply what they learned in their lives! 

Tuesday was District Council and English Class, as normal. But our investigator, ซ. เจมส์​ moved up her date again! More on that, but it was way awesome. Suffice to say about English Class: I kind of know what I'm doing but... Not really. 

Wednesday was a fun day of straight proselyting. Just kidding, we had to go to Bang Bua Thong to get a Work Permit for Elder Bird. That took half the day, but it was fun to see the other training companionships again. Then we proselyted and got lost while taking public transportation but got a new investigator out of that adventure so it's all good 👍. 

Thursday: Scripture Class and a Review of the Baptismal Interview Questions for ซ. เจมส์.​ Way great. She passed our interview with flying colors! So now onto the real interview... She's super awesome! We found her mom in a neighborhood we got kicked out of once. Her mom brought her to English Class but then learned with the Sisters. But the Sisters moved out so we began to teach her again but she had no problems so she progressed really fast and really wanted to be a member of the Church! So we prepared her for the interview.

Friday: Taught our Catholic Investigator. Said he likes the Book of Mormon, and was asking a lot about Baptism. We'll keep working closely with him. Then we had the Baptismal Interview for Sister James! She's super awesome! Baptism for: Is Sunday the 15th.

Saturday: More proselyting, seeing RCs Members and LAs all in one day. Basically running around at a million miles per hour. Way fun. Then had a great dinner at the house of the First Counselor in the Bishopric, Brother Go. That family is so great. All the members her are so great. 

Sunday: Baptism! 🌊 

Not much else to say! Our other investigator was confirmed a member of the church and Sister James was baptized! She was so happy, and I was happy for her! I was glad to see her be baptized and choose to follow God. Then a member also brought 3 referrals to church for us to teach which was way awesome. So many miracles out here! The Lord is really blessing the ward of สมุทรปราการ. (Samut Prakaan). 

This​ week. I've learned that prayer is something that is truly important for us, everyday. Preach My Gospel asks us these questions about our prayers:

Are they edifying and refreshing? 

Are they focused on others or on ourselves? 

Are they specific, or general? 

Are they guided by the Spirit, or not? 

If we learn to pray sincerely, really counseling and talking with God, our Heavenly Father, we can access the powers of Heaven. We pray to Him about anything. We will see miracles. A Light from God will come into our hearts, The Spirit will be with us and all of our efforts will be consecrated for our good. My advice for anyone, educated or not, religious or not, knowledgeable about the Gospel or not, is to learn to pray. 

This​ scripture pretty much sums up what I want to say. 

2 Nephi 32​:8-9

"8 And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray, ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray.

   9 But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul."

Pray always, and watch that we might be led in the paths of righteousness always.

Thats it for this week! Love you lots! Talk to you soon!

- Elder Collin Decker