Week Number Something

HELLO! My week has been fantastic. I got a new companion named Elder Todd. He is from Kaysville, Utah. He's been missionary since last July, so he'll be hitting his year mark soon. He plays piano which means I found my replacement. He's also runs and stuff. He's way cool. Very chill. 

We didn't have to go to Bangkok because his last area is pretty close to Khon Kaen so we got more time to work this week which was good. We've been trying to find Less Active and Members' houses by using the pins on our maps but all the pins are out of place so it's pretty hard finding the actual houses. Finding houses in Thailand is very difficult. The number system makes no sense. If we can't find the members house we just street contact by their houses. 

Well one day when we were doing this we went to a little pin to find a member but the pin was way off and we had no clue where to go to find the house so we decided just to invite people in that neighborhood. While going down a street we ended up passing a side street and we went down the next one. After going down the street and getting a lot of people telling us they're not interested, I got a feeling we needed to go down the street we passed so we went back down the street that we passed and there was no one there. On the way back out of the street, however, we saw two people in their house sewing shirts and stuff. We talked to them and eventually they let us into their house. They said we could come back again. Definitely a miracle. It was another sign to me that this is the Lord's work we just need to follow the promptings of the Spirit even when you're not sure if it's just yourself thinking them. 

Last Sunday, we had District Conference, so all of the Udorn District went to Udorn which includes Udorn, Laos, Sakon Nakhorn, Khon Kaen, and Nong Khai. It was way good. It was President Johnson's last time going to the Udorn District Conference because he's finishing his mission next month which is way sad. Definitely the best mission president. 

Today I want to talk about a book by Elder Henry B. Eyring that's called To Draw Closer to God, which is like a bunch of his talks rolled into a book. I forgot to bring the book with me, but there's one I would like to share. He talks about making the most our of our sabbath day. If we feel like we're not getting a lot out of church or want to get more, he recommends 4 things. 1. Pray diligently. Pray for the speakers and the people who are preparing lessons to be blessed with the Holy Ghost and be inspired to speak what God wants you to hear. 2. Study. Study the lessons and the scriptures beforehand so you can participate in the lessons. Sometimes the things you say in class are the answers to someone else's prayers so it's good to be prepared. 3. Service. Instead of asking yourself "how is this person trying to convince me" ask yourself how you can help with the lesson and help the teacher. 4. Live Righteously. Living righteously will allow the Holy Ghost to be our companion which is the greatest teacher. Only through the Holy Ghost can we learn and develop our testimony of Jesus Christ's Gospel. You will also be able to receive revelation not just for yourself, but also for others. We sometimes forget that the answers to prayers and questions come in different ways from God. We might receive it through prayer, through reading the scriptures, or even a dream. But sometimes we forget that other people can answer our prayers and questions. Doing these 4 things will make Church so much better and we'll get the most out of it. God wants to speak to us. We just have to be willing to listen and to work towards receiving revelation from Him. 

I love you all and hope you all have a great week!

Pics:Pics

Elder Decker

เอ็ลเดอร์ เดกเกอร์

Thailand Bangkok Mission

Picture from kohn Kaen

More pics from Another One in Khon Kaen

Pics of Another One in Khon Kaen

Another One in Khon Kaen

Hello everyone! It was great talking to the family! Miss everyone! I will still be here in Khon Kaen for another transfer. I will probably be here until I go home. 2 transfers left! So crazy. Elder Todd is coming to replace my old companion. I ate Durian the other day. It's not too bad. Yesterday, two chickens lost their lives but they ended up winning in the end. Love you all!

More pics

Me with bananas, the members house we visited, the mall, and some cool clouds

ลาบเป็ด

Hello everyone again.

Good week like always. I'm into the double digits of days as people like to tell me. Time is flying.

Last Wednesday, we went to a members house that lives in the middle of nowhere. We got there and he tells us to catch the duck and kill it haha. So we caught it killed it, feathered it, gutted it, cut it up into pieces, and made it into a Thai dish called Lab Ped which is like a spicy minced duck dish. It was pretty good. I can't say it was the cleanest thing though haha. Very fun. Much happiness.

Thursday we went to Udorn for Zone Conference.

Friday, we had interviews and I interviewed with President Johnson for the 90 day temple recommend they give missionaries when they go home and it was way cool answering the questions again. They have so much more meaning now that my testimony has grown so much. It was a cool experience. I miss the temple so much!

Saturday, we had Zone Conference. It was way good like always. Learned a bunch of cool stuff to help me be a better missionary!

This week I want to share a verse in the scriptures in Jacob 6:12. I'll have you all read it for yourselves but the verse gives the best advice.

I can't wait to Skype you all next Monday! Miss all of y'all. ขอให้มีสัปดาห์ที่ดีนะครัช

Pics: Me and my companion Elder Xaiyavong (Laos), Zone Picture, Me and a duck and a waen, another one.

Elder Decker
เอ็ลเดอร์ เดกเกอร์
Thailand Bangkok Mission

ลาบเป็ด pics

Clouds, Me and bananas again, Rice fields Cuz Asia, and Thailand

Elder Decker
เอ็ลเดอร์ เดกเกอร์
Thailand Bangkok Mission

ครับ

Hello Everyone!

                

 This week was great! We had some new people at church and have been averaging 40's in attendance these past two weeks. It's so cool. We have a new investigator who wants to serve in the American army. He's a way interesting guy. I can't really remember what happened this week. It's been a blur. But it's been way fun. Helping people come unto Christ. 

My companion is so funny. I'm speaking English with him because he wants to go to BYU. So I'm teaching him a little before he goes back to Laos. 

I'm still playing piano. Probably will be until I die haha. I taught piano to a kid that doesn't want to learn but the mom does haha.

We go to this park that has a lot of people to find new investigators. Recently it's been raining so no one goes there. 

We went to a members house for dinner. He lives 15 minutes away but it's in a different province. He lives on a factory in a nice house. His family is cool. 

Today I want to share a verse in Moroni 10:32. I just finished the Book of Mormon in Thai. I took a long time reading it because of some reasons but the Book of Moroni is so good. Moroni said he didn't think he'd still be alive and then he wrote out some of the most fire chapters in the Book of Mormon. Anyways it says: 

32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

When reading this verse it made me think of a video on Facebook which I saw recently. It's about a family where the son, Beau Richey, passed away in an accident. After he passed away, the mom noticed an alarm going off on his phone every hour which said "Make Christ the center of your life". When it would go off he would do three things. He would pray, or read a scripture, or do something good for someone else. It helped him become closer to the Savior and live a Christ Centered life. I'll put the link down below and recommend everyone to watch it. It's something that we should all be doing. Christ should be at the center of our lives and thoughts. We should all be coming unto Christ, and being perfected in him. Stories like this remind me that there is still good in the world. It's so awesome! I just want to challenge you all to make Christ the Center of our every day lives and by doing so we will be more happy. Living the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings true happiness and I can testify that it does because I've seen it bless my life, and the life of others on my mission and before it. Jesus Christ lives and he loves each and every one of us. Thank you to everyone that still reads my emails. I'm striving to find the desire to write it every week haha. I love you all and miss everyone! Have an awesome week!​​​​​​​​​​​​

Link to the video
https://www.facebook.com/MormonHubCom/videos/10156223821817954/

Pics: Thai book of Mormon, A Songkran Pic (Kao Niaw Street), The big Central in Khon Kaen, a beach, and some insects I ate haha. I don't really like the taste to be honest. 


Elder Decker
เอ็ลเดอร์ เดกเกอร์
Thailand Bangkok Mission

Fwd: The Prophet

Hi.

This week was a very good week. We had the 3 day water festival which was way fun. Got soaked.

Had my first Sunday in Khon Kaen. I have to play piano here haha. My first area I had to play and now my last area I have to play. I'm so rusty haha. 

Sunday night, went to Udorn for switch offs. I went with Elder Flygare who's a way good missionary. It was fun. Udorn is a big city too. 

It's hot.

Friday morning, we took an airplane to Bangkok to see the prophet. It's just an hour plane ride but a way long bus ride. When the Prophet walked into the room it way way cool. You could feel the spirit fill the room. President Nelson talked about temples and Elder Holland talked about great days that make up our life, and the greatest day in the history of scripture which is when Christ visited the Nephites after he was resurrected. It was way cool hearing and seeing the prophet of the Lord in person. Hopefully it's not my last. 

I just want to share a quick scripture in 2 Nephi 1:15 which says

15 But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love.  

I feel this every day on my mission. I bear testimony that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can be redeemed from our sins and feel of his love he has for all of us. 

I love you all and miss you!

Elder Decker

เอ็ลเดอร์ เดกเกอร์

Thailand Bangkok Mission

วันสงกรานต์​ Songkran Water Festival!

Hello everyone.

Not much to say since it's been like 4 days. The next 3 days is Songkran which is the water festival where people just party and have a water fight all day for 3 days. Yesterday some people started early so I got soaked.

Last P-Day we went to the Laos border in Nong Kai for our Laos missionaries in our district.

It is now hot season.

My next P-Day will be on the 23rd after the Prophet comes to Thailand. Only 10 days haha

I just want to share a quick little thought and quote by the prophet from last General Conference. President Russell M. Nelson in his talk "Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives" he said

"Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again."

I'm excited for what works and miracles will be happening in the coming years. There has been so many amazing works and miracles in the past, but in the days to come there will be even more works and miracles that will be some of His mightiest yet. The World is a brighter place when you know the Lord is on your side.

I love you all and miss everyone heaps!

สุขสันต์​วันสงกรานต์

Elder Decker
เอ็ลเดอร์​ เดกเกอร์
ประเทศ​ไทย, กรุงเทพ​ฯ​ มิชชัน
มิชชันดีที่สุดในโลก

Pics

Khon Kaen and a pen a member gave me

pics Khon Kaen and General Conference

More pics which are having trouble sending and toothpaste

Khon Kaen and General Conference

ສະບາຍດີ Hello everyone. It was a short week and now I'm in Khon Kaen which is in the middle of the Isan. It's a lot smaller than Bangkok, but it's still a pretty big city like the 4th in Thailand I think. It's cooler here and the air is more clean. Last Saturday got to 68 degrees and it was freezing cold. It's hot season too. This week is Songkran which is the water festival and apparently it is way fun in Khon Kaen. You can't do much proselyting because everyone is throwing water at each other and drunk and it lasts for 3 days. They're washing their sins away. Buddhism. I'd be down if it was a Christian festival. It's way fun. So we have another P-Day so we use our time effectively on the 13th.

It's a 9ish hour bus ride to get to Khon Kaen so we didn't much on transfer day, and than we had General Conference which was way good. So much change that was definitely revelation and came at the perfect time. Sustaining President Russell M. Nelson as the living prophet was such a spiritual experience. The spirit testified to me that he is called by God to lead us in these latter days. Crazy how cool the church works. No elections or fighting and all that stuff. Just a quiet, peaceful transition. Another testimony that this church is the true church, Christ's original church. No one really did home teaching so might as well retire it anyways haha jk. Ministering is definitely revelation from God in order to help the church in these latter days. It's not just showing up to a house and sharing a lesson from the Ensign, it's now requires us being in tune with the spirit to help us know how to help God's children. The work of God is moving forward!

So I was watching General Conference, and loved every talk from President Russell M. Nelson. Every one was sooooo good. I also liked Elder Lynn G. Robbins talk about success and failure, Elder Bednar's talk about meekness, Elder Massimo De Feo talk about pure love, Elder Holland's talk on ministering, both of Elder Oakes talks, and Elder Uchtdorf's talk about Jesus Christ's atonement of course. But today I just want to share a part in Elder Russell M. Nelson's talk about Personal Revelation. It's a step by step process in recieving revelation for ourselves that God wants to reveal to us and all we have to do is do our part. He says

In like manner, what will your seeking open for you? What wisdom do you lack? What do you feel an urgent need to know or understand? Follow the example of the Prophet Joseph. Find a quiet place where you can regularly go. Humble yourself before God. Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. Turn to Him for answers and for comfort.
   Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will "grow into the principle of revelation."

He lists out what we all need to do to recieve revelation. I encourage you all to apply this principle in your lives. I will be doing the same because the Prophet of God told me to, but I'm excited to see what God has in store for me. The church is true, God's Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, leads and guides his church through Jesus Christ who is the Savior and Redeemer of us all! It's such a great time to be alive when God is hastening his work of salvation among his children. And I'm lucky enough to be devoting all my time to him these past 20ish months. The change I've seen in myself is more than I could have hoped for. The real joy I have felt is helping God's children, my brothers and sisters, learn of him and help them along in the Journey back to him. I love you all and miss you heaps! Until next time. 

Elder Decker

Fwd: Khon Kaen

Hello again. I am moving! To Khon Kaen. It's in the middle of the Eastern Part of Thailand which is called the Isan. I will be with an Elder from Laos so it will be fun! I'm back to the bike! I thought I would never use it again. Elder Hatch who I served with in the office will come and replace me. I'm excited! It might be my last area which is crazy. I have like 4 months left which is even crazier. Time flew by way too fast. I still feel like a greenie. 

This past week was fun. I don't remember what happened though haha. Sister Pam wants to be baptized now!!! So she'll be getting baptized sometime this month. I won't be here to see it though which is sad. 

We met some cool guy named Aod at the park who is interested in learning more about the church. He's been to a couple different churches and says it's hard to develop faith but he's down to meet again!

I have heard about General Conference and I'm so excited to watch it this weekend. I was preparing for conference by reading conference talks and I came across one from awhile back which I thought was interesting. It's called "The Great Imitator" by Elder James E. Faust. It's from the October 1987 General Conference so it was just 30 years ago. It was interesting because it was a talk about the devil which isn't usually talked about in conference but Elder James E. Faust felt impressed to warn people about the dangers of "The Great Imitator". It's a great talk and recommend everyone to read it. But I'd like to share a little part in the talk. It is also partly a C. S. Lewis quote. 

C. S. Lewis gave us a keen insight into devilish tactics. In a fictional letter, the master devil, Screwtape, instructs the apprentice devil Wormwood, who is in training to become a more experienced devil:
"You will say that these are very small sins; and doubtless, like all young tempters, you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness. … It does not matter how small the sins are, provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. … Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts" (The Screwtape Letters, New York: Macmillan, 1962, p. 56).
C. S. Lewis also wrote: "A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is. … You find out the strength of a wind by trying to walk against it, not by lying down" (Mere Christianity, New York: Macmillan, 1960, p. 124).
The Prophet Joseph Smith related from his own experience, "The nearer a person approaches the Lord, a greater power will be manifested by the adversary to prevent the accomplishment of His purposes" (in Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1967, p. 132).
However, we need not become paralyzed with fear of Satan's power. He can have no power over us unless we permit it. He is really a coward, and if we stand firm, he will retreat. The Apostle James counseled: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). He cannot know our thoughts unless we speak them. And Nephi states that "he hath no power over the hearts" of people who are righteous (see 1 Ne. 22:26).

The righteous good people know what temptation feels like, and I feel like they know it better than the people that always give into temptation. When you are trying to resist temptation and do good and be righteous, Satan is trying his hardest to bring you down. He uses most his effort on those who are faithful and keep the commandments. The ones that don't he doesn't really have to try as hard. The devil is a real being intent on destroying you. He wants to bring you down with him. He's not a happy guy. He's miserable and he wants to make all of us miserable too. We need to fight against the Great Imitator. We do this by having faith in Jesus Christ, reading the scriptures, praying often, and going to church. In the end, good will overcome evil. We just have to pick the winning side which is of course God's side. I love you all and miss everyone!!!

 
Elder Decker
เอ็ลเดอร์ เดกเกอร์
Thailand Bangkok Mission