Pics

20

Hello everybody! Thank you all for the birthday wishes. It's crazy I'm already 20. Time is really flying by fast.

This week was a way good week. Every week is great. This week Brother Go got out of jail. It was way cool. We went to go pick him up at jail with the Branch President and Brother Go comes out and hugs the branch president. We helped him get on his feet and on the right path again. It's way cool the desire he has to change and be a better person. 

I might have accidentally held a baby this week. It was forced onto me. Invited a bunch this week. One of the investigators I taught in Asoke got baptized. She was an investigator for a long time. Shows that in the end, if you're looking with sincerity for the truth, you'll eventually find it. Her name is Sister Milk. She's dope. 

Thursday was a way special experience. It was the King's Cremation and we went to the ceremony here in Ayutthaya. We had to wear all black. You wait in line and put a flower down on a plate at the Temple they built. All of Thailand wore black for that day. It was way cool how the whole country was unified.

There's these four 17-18 year old kids (Moss, Tip, Nat, and Wan) that go to English and a lot of the church activities. They're way dope. We haven't had the opportunity to teach them yet but they go to sports night and will be coming to the Halloween party tonight. 

We went to one of our investigator's house and the uncle pulled up and told us we can't teach her anymore. Very sad. Just have to hope and pray now. 

Met with one of the Branch President's friends. He likes to vacation a lot. He's been all over southeast Asia.  He's way cool. He'll be baptized for sure. 

Saree came to church. His girl friend stays outside or walks to go get food. She won't come in. It's sad. 

Another Investigator was reading a book about black magic and I had to put an end to that fast. I had no clue what he was talking about at first until I read it. I was like Bro don't read that. Bad. 

Today I want to share 2 verses in Helaman 3:34-35. It's talking about the Church of Jesus Christ and how there was some people who weren't following the right teachings and were persecuting the more righteous members. It says 

34 And they were lifted up in pride, even to the persecution of many of their brethren. Now this was a great evil, which did cause the more humble part of the people to suffer great persecutions, and to wade through much affliction.
35 Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.

A lot of times we will face persecution and trials and temptations in life. We wade through much affliction. But in verse 35 it teaches us what we need to do to overcome these things. We need to fast and pray often, so that our faith is strengthened in Jesus Christ. When we do these things we will have happiness and joy in our lives. When we yield our hearts unto God and not yield our hearts to the desires of the common man, we will be happy and have peace and joy in life. Through faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ, we can get through the hardest of times, and find joy in the journey. I know He lives and he loves each and everyone of us. We just need to follow the will of God. 

I love you all and miss everyone! Have a great week!!!

Pics-  some pictures of the park we sometimes invite at, before the funeral, and Sister Milk's Baptism
   
Elder Decker
เอ็ลเดอร์ เดกเกอร์
Thailand Bangkok Mission

Hello. It's me.

Hi fam, friends, and other people who get my emails who are probably my friends too. It was a short week this week. It's flooding in Ayutthaya but luckily not our house! It's been raining heavily and the canals are rising. It's supposed to be the end of rainy season but it's definitely not. It's a week until my birthday too. Way weird. It felt like it wasn't that long since my last one. แปลก. But it was another great week.

Last Wednesday, we had a party for Sister Tuk who ended her mission. Gave some balloons I got for my birthday to Four Wheel who had his 7th birthday. He was pumped.

Thursday, I met someone who's been Baptist since birth which is a rare find in Ayutthaya.

Friday, some homies from English class played basketball with us. I had to wear an ankle brace but I was still balling.

Saturday, everyone canceled their appointments with us. But we met Brother Mong who is awesome. He'd be such an awesome member. His thoughts about the gospel and his views are spot on. He just doesn't like the idea of a lot of people and church haha. He's way dope. Good guy.

Sunday, had church. Church is cool. I like it a lot. It makes me happy. I wish other people would feel the same way. Church is a good thang. It was also the primary program and I almost had to play in the Primary program again but I got saved. There is two kids in the Primary. We went to a park to invite and we parked our bikes, I looked to the left and there's a guy chilling in a van. Talked to him about Jesus and he thought I was half Thai. It made me happy that I don't sound like a white American anymore. I'm a half white American. Even better. It'll help me with my college applications 👍. Visited a Sister with Lou Gehrig's disease. She's doing much better. Way cool family. The husband is so awesome right now. Happy man.

So for this week, I want to share a little bit in the Book of Mormon in Mosiah 3:19 that says:

19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child,submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.

Watching the primary programs and hearing the little kids say stuff like "I love God" "I will obey Him" was way awesome. We all need to like a child and willing to obey our Father in Heaven. In the scripture it relates our earthly father to our Heavenly Father. On earth, a child will obey his father because he knows more than the child. The same goes with Heavenly Father except he knows everything. We need to submit to the will of Heavenly Father and trust that what he wants us to do is best. He knows what is best for us. We just need to humble ourselves, be filled with love, and be like a child. 

I love you all and miss everyone. Until next time...

Pics: Some pics of the church's backyard, pic of the big jaedee that I see everyday, little park by sister Brajob's house

Elder Decker
เอ็ลเดอร์ เดกเกอร์
Thailand Bangkok Mission

Mission apartment

Birthday gift fun

pics from Another One in Ayutthaya

Bridge pics, we cleaned up some stuff outside I don't know what it is, it's flooding, something is coming out of those pipes, and tesco lotus.

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Elder Decker
เอ็ลเดอร์ เดกเกอร์
Thailand Bangkok Mission

Another One in Ayutthaya

Hello family, friends and อื่นๆ. This week has been another great week in the old city of Ayutthaya. I'm staying another transfer and finishing up training Elder Byers. I'm excited and ready for a transfer of miracles. It's been raining every single day. I thought rainy season was over but nope. It's just rain and rain and rain. and rain. and rain. Soaked everyday haha. But it's cooler now.

I always forget what happened this last week when it's time to email. I went on a switch off with Elder Ingleton in Don Muang. He's from Orem. Also a ZL. He dies this next transfer coming up. He's a way good missionary and it was a good switch off. 

We have done a lot of contacting this week. Went way far out to find a guy named Dang who fights chickens. It was pretty much in the middle of no where and he was interested in Jesus Christ and wants to meet again. miracle. We went to this market to meet with one of our investigators and we show up and sat with him for like a minute. Before this it was pouring rain while we biked 30 minutes to this market. He asks us to help him take down his shop and we did and then he got in his car and said goodbye elders. i thought it was funny.  

วันนี้ I want to talk about something I read in my personal study. It is in Alma 48:15-18.
15 And this was their faith, that by so doing God would prosper them in the land, or in other words, if they were faithful in keeping the commandments of God that he would prosper them in the land; yea, warn them to flee, or to prepare for war, according to their danger;
16 And also, that God would make it known unto them whither they should go to defend themselves against their enemies, and by so doing, the Lord would deliver them; and this was the faith of Moroni, and his heart did glory in it; not in the shedding of blood but in doing good, in preserving his people, yea, in keeping the commandments of God, yea, and resisting iniquity.
17 Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.
18 Behold, he was a man like he was a man like unto Ammon, the son of Mosiah, yea, and even the other sons of Mosiah, yea, and also Alma and his sons, for they were all men of God. 

When we keep the commandments of God we will prosper in the land. It says that a lot in the scriptures but it's because people need a reminder of that a lot. When we put God first over everything else, everything else falls into place and the other parts of life are blessed. Iin verse 17 it says if we were all like Moroni, this world would be a pretty awesome place. Satan would have no power over us. But everyone is not like Moroni. This world is a a very worldy world. It looks down upon good morals and righteous beliefs. But what we can do is be like Moroni and stand for our beliefs and have faith, because God is on our side, and if he's on our side who can stand against us. Keeping the commandments of God will bring countless blessings into our lives. We don't know everything but God knows everything. We need to put our trust in him and endure with joy. I love you all!

Elder Decker
เอ็ลเดอร์ เดกเกอร์

Thailand Bangkok Mission

การประชุมไหญ่สามัญ

Hello this is Elder Colby Decker. This was another fabulous week. My first name sounds weird. But it was a very solid week. For P-Day, we went to Art in Paradise in Bangkok. It's like a 3d art museum thing. It was pretty solid. Took some pictures. Fanny Packs are in style. It's true. They're so handy.

Tuesday, I went on a switch off with an elder in my district who's serving in Lopburi, Elder Whitaker. He's a way good missionary and talks to everyone. He's way funny too so that's a plus. Taught English to some people. That old guy Jian that I talked about last week is pretty funny. He's reading the Book of Mormon and is in Mosiah already. His dog got a hold of the Book of Mormon and ate some of the pages. He really wants a cross and he doesn't understand why we don't wear crosses even after I explained it to him like 50 times. He's pretty funny. Everytime we come back he's say's "They're back again." His problem is he has to watch 2 houses to make sure nothing happens to them and says he works 24/7. But he can sleep but just can't go anywhere. It's confusing to me. 

This week, no one really wanted to meet with us or keep their appointments. It was pretty frustrating but it's just missionary work. It's just sad because they're missing out on a bunch of blessings. The work is true so it's gonna keep on going. The rice is yellow, already to harvest so there's other people out there that need saving.  

There's some fat pigs here. The dogs here scare me. Thailand is dope. 

The best time of the week was the weekend. We got the opportunity to watch conference. It was so good. I've gotten to appreciate more how awesome General Conference is since I've been a missionary. Before it was a time to sit on a couch and eat candy and good food. Now it's a time to receive personal revelation that will help people come unto Christ. It's just filled with inspired words and teachings. It's refreshing to hear the words of God's chosen leaders on this earth. You can't watch General Conference and say that the speakers are not called by God and that this isn't his true church. The spirit just testifies to you that it's true. Elder Russell M. Nelson learning Chinese in his 50's is just insane. It was him following the words of the prophet and he received blessings and help by doing so. 

วันนี้ I want to talk about one of the talks in General Conference. It was God's Compelling Witness: The Book of Mormon By Tad R. Callister in the Sunday Afternoon Session. It was such a good talk. It just proved that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It is true. It added factual evidence it is true. I loved when he said "How do the critics now account for these and similar unlikely discoveries? Joseph, you see, must also have been a very, very lucky guesser. Somehow, in spite of all the odds against him, against all existing scientific and academic knowledge, he guessed right when all the others were wrong." I know for a fact he wasn't a very very lucky guesser that he was inspired by God. It had me laugh when he said that but it's so true. People try to disprove the Book of Mormon but they just can't. Why? Because it's true. Elder Callister said "the critics are intent on disproving the Book of Mormon, but the obstacles they face are insurmountable because this book is true." You can't disprove a true book. You can try but when you read it and read it with real intent, the Holy Ghost will testify to you it is true. You can't deny the feeling you get when you read it. It has power. The words are the words of God and you can tell that each time you read it. Even if it is factually true, you need to know it's true in your heart. You need a testimony of the Book of Mormon to help you overcome life's trials and tribulations. It was written for us in these days. We need to take time out of our days and sincerely read it, wanting to get something out of it. You need to read it with real intent. 

I love you all and know that this work is true. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and is the sickle that is harvesting souls. I've never been happier in my life. Until next time...

*Pics: some photos from a couple weeks ago's p-day when we visited the King's Palace, we both wore shorts (yes i'm a bad father) so we had to buy these awesome pants, and pictures from P-day of the 3d art

Elder Decker
เอ็ลเดอร์ เดกเกอร์
Thailand Bangkok Mission

Pics from 1 Year in the Land of Thais

More pics of stuff that i took with my orange camera

Elder Decker
เอ็ลเดอร์ เดกเกอร์
Thailand Bangkok Mission

1 Year in the Land of Thais

Good Morning everyone! This week was pretty awesome. Tomorrow I hit my one year mark in Thailand. It's still crazy to think it was that long ago but also it flew by way fast but also long. I don't know. It's been the best 14 months of my life and I wouldn't of imagined doing anything else. The experiences, miracles, and the people you meet couldn't be exchanged for anything. I also am in the best mission. It's literally in the name TBM Thailand Bangkok Mission, The Best Mission, The Best Missionaries, Temple Building Missionaries. I'm so excited for the temple here in Thailand. I miss going to the temple so much. It might be a little while before we get one here. But in the meantime we're gonna save souls. The church is true no matter where you go.

Last Monday for P-Day we went to The King's Palace in Bang Ba In. It was way cool and big. It's a way pretty area. It would be a nice home. It's like a mixture of cultures. It's pretty cool. I had to buy some chinese pants cause I forgot to wear pants to it. 

Tuesday we had interviews with President Johnson. He's honestly the best mission president. There's no one close to him. He's such an awesome guy. The area he has to cover is so big and a lot of missionaries to take care of. I don't know how he does it. 

Wednesday we visited Sister Nang and Sister May way far away. They are investigators that are from the Isan. They accepted a baptismal date but their problem is they said that bringing their kids to church would be sin. I thought it was pretty funny. It's so true haha just kidding. They're way cool though. 

Thursday, we met Sister May who is going to go to England for a Foreign Exchange student thing for a month. Met this old guy named Jian who actually is 75 but looks like he's 60. He's pretty buff. At night we headed over to Bangkhen to stay the night for Zone Conference.

Friday we had Zone Conference. It was way good. I always love getting some inspiration and direction from the people called by God to lead. It's way cool. Talked about the Book of Mormon and the power it has in people's lives. That's what I'll talk about in a minute. Not there yet. 

Sunday, church was good. We were asked to teach the youth for some reason. I don't know. But it was cool. Reminded me of teaching the 11 year olds haha. Just kidding they are good here. Met some catholic guy who said he has been catholic from birth but he was so drunk. It was pretty funny. He kept on calling me John cause he thought I was one of the twelve apostles. I'm happy that he thought I was John. John's my favorite. We'll talk to him when he's less drunk though. Visited Sister Brajob who is suffering from Lou Gerig's disease (I dont know how to spell it. I can't do English anymore) She's doing way better. Three kids from the street came in and sat in when we gave them Sacrament. It was cool. Kids are so dope sometimes.

This week I want to share a couple verses from the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. It's in Alma 34 which is just a fire chapter. In verse 37-38 it says:

37 And now, my beloved brethren, I desire that ye should remember these things, and that ye should work out your salvation with fear before God, and that ye should no more deny the coming of Christ;
38 That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.

The whole chapter has a bunch of good verses but today I'll only talk about these two because right now I feel really blessed. I'm blessed to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I'm blessed to have the knowledge that my family can live forever. I'm blessed to be serving a mission, bringing people the truth and experiencing all these miracles. I'm blessed to be able to be born in a time where I can take part in this glorious work. I'm blessed that I have the Book of Mormon, the only book God said was true, at my disposal. This work is God's work. The Book of Mormon is evidence of God's love for us. I'm in a spirit of thanksgiving with all these blessings the Lord has bestowed on me. Looking for the blessings is something we all can do in life. Keep track of the blessings that you have and you'll realize how blessed you actually are. God blesses those who keep his commandments. I love you all and miss everyone. Hope everyone has a good week and remember those who are in need of your prayers!!!

Pics: A cool statue thing, cool building, the views from the tower in the middle, A Christian Church turned into a Buddhist Temple, inviting pic, I had to buy these pants to wear in the Palace

Elder Decker
เอ็ลเดอร์ เดกเกอร์
Thailand Bangkok Mission