Fwd: Oh Holy Night

Begin forwarded message:

From: Colby John Decker <colby.decker@myldsmail.net>
Date: December 18, 2016 at 8:17:39 PM PST
To: Robin Decker <Robinlynnd@gmail.com>
Subject: Oh Holy Night

สวัสดี! How is everyone doing! This week has been a good normal one. I didn't do anything crazy for P-Day just went to Indian Town. I didn't even know there was such a thing. Got some cool fabric to make into ties for Christmas.

On Tuesday, we went to Asoke for our interviews. Someone in our district got assigned to be a Zone leader so we had another emergency transfer. Someone from Laos came in to take his place. I teach the intermediate class in English class now so they can at least speak some sort of English which is nice haha. Still don't know how I passed English class.

On Wednesday, I had a greenie switch off with Elder Bair who came a transfer after me so he's brand new. We taught like 6 lessons that day and some crazy stuff went down. I gave a blessing to a Vietnamese mom who hadn't been to church because sometimes half of her body became paralyzed and she couldn't move. Than we taught a member's dad who isn't a member and he went on a rant on how he can't quit smoking but he hasn't received an answer to his prayer. I told him that how can we expect blessings and answers if we don't keep God's commandments. Than he said it's impossible for him to stop. So it'll be fun continuing to teach him. That day I understood so much more Thai than I ever had before and was a further witness to me that the Lord qualifies those he calls.

On Friday, I went to get my Visa renewed. The place is huuuugggeee. It's like a stadium. But a lot of useless space. Later that day we had to practice for the Christmas party on Saturday because I was an angel in the nativity and they sang Oh Holy Night. I don't like singing but I did it anyways haha. I played piano for it too.

On Saturday, we pretty much spent most the day helping the members with the Christmas Devotional/Nativity/Party thing. It turned out really well. I sang in front of people which was weird. But yeah I was an Angel and sang pretty good. A lot of our investigators came and said they liked it a lot. Brother Tea is so close to baptism he's so cool. He sleeps only 2 hours so he can go to church. He quit drinking coffee as soon as he heard it was bad. He loves the scriptures and loves to serve people. He speaks English and Cambodian and he's so humble. He finds joy in making omelettes for people at his work. He's a stud.

I've been really blessed on my mission and know that God has helped me so much with the language and everything. I've never prayed harder in my life and studied as hard in my life, as I have on my mission. The Lord qualifies those he calls and I have no clue how I can read and speak Thai even though I speak it like a 5 year old. I've experienced an emotional roller coaster since I've left, but I've never been happier in my life serving others and teaching people the Gospel. This has been the best Christmas I've had because I'm not focusing on myself but on others. Once you start turning outward instead of inward you become a much happier person. I love the Gospel. I wouldn't be where I am today if I didn't have the Gospel in my life. It's a gift that everyone should have but a lot don't know about it. The Harvest is bountiful but the Laborers are few. Keep spreading the Gospel through your actions and words! I love and miss y'all!!!

Elder Decker

เอ็ลเดอร์ เดคเคอร์

Thailand Bangkok Mission

Fwd: Pics

Begin forwarded message:

From: Colby John Decker <colby.decker@myldsmail.net>
Date: December 11, 2016 at 7:40:47 PM PST
To: Robin Decker <Robinlynnd@gmail.com>
Subject: Pics

Fwd: Light the World

Begin forwarded message:

From: Colby John Decker <colby.decker@myldsmail.net>
Date: December 11, 2016 at 6:58:16 PM PST
To: Robin Decker <Robinlynnd@gmail.com>
Subject: Light the World

Waddi khab thug khon! This week has been fun! Thailand is still Thailand. It's Christmas time in Thailand which means pretty much the same as any other time. But there is a big Christmas tree in Future Park. It's good. No one here knows about Christmas or if they do they think it's about presents and lights because of Western Culture making it about it. They call it a falang holiday. It's fun telling them the true meaning of Christmas. 

So last Wednesday was P-day for our zone and we went to see a sunrise and the Beach in Pattaya and Chonburi. We're allowed to go in the water up to our knees so it's pretty cool. The sunrise was cool. Thailand is cool. We got back and one of our recently baptized members (Brother Day) asked us to teach one of his friends. We show up to Tammasat University and go into the building and meet this college student named Badger. We go up the stairs and into a little class and me and my companion thought it would be vacant and we would teach a lesson and head out but we walk in and it's a full on class going on with like 40 students and 5 international teachers. We sit down and we found out we were his special guests to help discuss his project we have never seen before. It's for his final exam things and they were doing projects on how to make Tammasat a better place. So he shows his project which is like Grade Your Professor from the U.S. and we had to give comments on it and make suggestions on how to improve it. It was crazy haha. But after all of that we talked to him and he used to go to a Catholic school and he liked how at church they ate and sang songs so he wants to come and Brother Day said "Wow that was so easy." Really weird situation haha. 

Friday I went on another companion switch off with the Zone Leaders in Don Meaung (Idk how to spell it in English). It was really cool and we were pretty much teaching lessons the whole day. We were inviting on this bridge to Big C and Central and I've came to the conclusion that Thai people are way more friendly than White people (falangs). The Zone leaders name was Elder Bruce and he's a stud. I learned a lot from the switch off. Saturday another miracle happened. Sister Ice who we've been trying to meet with for like 5 weeks came to church on Sunday and the baptism after. We taught her the day before because she keeps on putting off her Baptism date and we told her to come to the baptismal service after church. So she came but right after the closing prayer she left so fast. Which reminds me Brother Gan and Brother Ben got baptized Sunday. They where the investigators of the other Elders. It was so cool because Brother Gan had a smoking problem but got over it. Another miracle. Being a missionary is so weird but so cool. A lot of people think we're college students though.  

The Church has this Christmas message called "Light the World" which is really good. I again encourage all of you to do it and share it with friends and families. It has activities every day and ends on Christmas to help us become more like the Savior. It's on LDS.org and Mormon.org. The true meaning of Christmas is lost in all the gifts and lights and all the extra stuff. Christmas is really about the Savior and his life. The world has changed the true meaning of Christmas and it's up to all of us to bring back what Christmas is really about. The Savior brings happiness and joy to people's lives I've seen it and can testify that if you have the Savior in your life, you have so much more happiness and peace. He is the way and we should all try and be more like Him. Love you all and miss all of you!!! 

Elder Decker

เอ็ลเดอร์ เดคเคอร์

Thailand Bangkok Mission

Fwd: Pics

Begin forwarded message:

From: Colby John Decker <colby.decker@myldsmail.net>
Date: December 7, 2016 at 4:22:01 AM PST
To: Robin Decker <Robinlynnd@gmail.com>
Subject: Pics

The guy in the yellow is Brother Chay. He lives by the Church and comes into the church whenever we open it. He's my favorite. 

Elder Decker

เอ็ลเดอร์ เดคเคอร์

Thailand Bangkok Mission

Fwd: Safari World

Begin forwarded message:

From: Colby John Decker <colby.decker@myldsmail.net>
Date: December 6, 2016 at 11:38:24 PM PST
To: Robin Decker <Robinlynnd@gmail.com>
Subject: Safari World

Hello everyone. I don't have much time to write this week. Last Monday we went to Safari World and it was so cool and not sketchy at all. We rode in a bus and drove through these exhibits and giraffes and ostriches stuck their heads in the window. It was seriously so cool. I also got to hold a crocodile. haha 

Last Sunday, one of my Investigators got baptized and we had one of the members do it. Her name is Sister Lob. She was a former who came back and wanted to be baptized. Really spiritual experience. It's cool giving someone else the opportunity to baptize someone. 

We had zone conference on Monday and it was sort of a Christmas devotional. We played games, watched It's a Wonderful Life, and exchanged white elephant gifts. Than after we had training and sang carols and stuff. It was really fun. 

I love the mission. Having the opportunity to serve the Lord and bring people unto Christ is the best thing I can be doing right now. Serving the Lord at Christmas time is so special. Thinking about others this Christmas has brought me closer to Christ. No one is perfect but we can all be more like Christ and develop Christlike attributes. I recommend to all of you to do the Light the World activities. I love you all and miss you all!   

Elder Decker

เอ็ลเดอร์ เดคเคอร์

Thailand Bangkok Mission