February 25, 2018

I Have ลูกสองตัว


Hello everyone who still read my emails. 
My week has been good. Last Thursday, I went to the Mission office to pick up my new greenie. He's from General Santos, Cebuano Philippines. Fresh out of the MTC. He's way awesome and loves to play basketball. I feel tall standing next to him. But he is on fire. 

A miracle story is that yesterday, someone I found in my first transfer in Ayutthaya got baptized. Her name is Sister Nang. She has been learning for over 6 months and now she has decided to get on the path to Eternal Happiness. So cool!

One of our investigators, Brother Phang, decided that he wanted to quit smoking. Yaaaay. He told me before it was good for the Ozone because it makes clouds. He's on date for baptism he's gone to church a lot and has a lot of faith.
 
We've been video calling teaching another one of our investigators and she comes back this week from a different province. She's starting to believe the Book of Mormon is true because there's a real city in it. Jerusalem. Progress. 

We went to a school to teach English to parents and their children. The kids were like 4-7 haha. We taught the parents how to teach their kids English. Very fun. 

I just want to share a couple of verses from the Bible today. It is in Luke 12:8-9.

8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

Don't be afraid to stand up for your beliefs and for Christ even when it's not the popular thing to do. In the end, we will be rewarded for not being afraid to bear witness to others that Jesus is the Christ and the Savior and Redeemer of the World. I love you all and hope you all have a great week! Until next time. สาธุ

Pics: Some pics of the service project at the school, new companion, big road in Nontaburi, Picture of the members in Ayutthaya and baptism, and a picture of a homie from Ayutthaya, FHE at a members house, and other stuff

Elder Decker
เอ็ลเดอร์ เดกเกอร์
Thailand Bangkok Mission

February 21, 2018

Another One in Bangkapi

Hello Everybody and everyone! 
I'm staying another transfer in Bangkapi. My companion who just got here is leaving for the Isan. I will be getting a new missionary fresh out of the MTC. I'm excited. I'll have another child. 

This past week has been good. We had a lot of miracles finding. We were talking to these two ladies asking them if they needed help cutting down a tree which of course they said no, when another old lady walks up to us and invites us into her house and she fed us oranges and juice. She said she wants us to come back again and will read the Book of Mormon!!! It's so cool. She has a family too who will be at the lesson next time. 

We also met this christian who lived in the U.S. before and he's way down to learn with us. He's just way busy right now.
Walked by an older guy teaching a child English and asked him if he wanted more happiness in life. Turns out he's catholic and goes to a church by his house. It's really rare finding Christians so it was way cool!

We also had interviews with President Johnson. Those are always my favorite. Best mission president.
I went on a switch off with Elder McWhorter who is on his 4th transfer. He's a way good missionary and works hard. 
We gave a little 9 year old boy with cancer a blessing. It is so sad. Someone needs to find a cure for cancer. 

This week I want to share a quote by President Gordon B. Hinkley. It's a short little quote but I love it. He says "Get on your knees and pray, then get on your feet and work." 
Prayer is so important. It will bless our lives when we take our time to sincerely pray to Heavenly Father. We should pray everyday. It is a commandment to do this. But if we just pray and not do anything it has no worth. We need more than just belief and knowledge of the Gospel. Part of having faith is action. "Faith without works is dead." It's important to pray often but it is also important to act on the promptings. To not wait for your prayers to be answer, but to actively work towards doing God's will. 
On my mission, I have prayed soooooooo much. It's been an amazing experience to focus on others and pray for the welfare of their souls. But if I just prayed to find those that God has prepared for me and don't put any effort into finding them, it most likely won't happen. You need to act on all of God's prompting and actively strive to do his will. I'm still loving this mission. Definitely the best choice I've made so far in life. It's sad to think I only have 4 transfers left. I might extend haha. I love you all and miss everyone. Have a splendid week!    

Pics: pics throughout the week, chair pic, tower, Victory Monument selfie, little fighter, took me to eat dessert

Elder Decker
เอ็ลเดอร์ เดกเกอร์
Thailand Bangkok Mission

February 11, 2018

and more pics



More pics

Crocodile Farm


Zoo pics

Elder Decker
เอ็ลเดอร์ เดกเกอร์
Thailand Bangkok Mission




สบายดี. Progress.

Hi. I am still alive and well here in the tropical paradise of The Mall Bangkapi, Bangkok, Thailand. I love the city life. So many people. The rice is so ready to harvest. I couldn't imagine serving anywhere else. The Thai people are so nice compared to everyone else. A people ready to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And a temple in the not so distant future (hopefully). 

My week has been another great one. Last P Day was way fun. We went back to Chonburi and Sriracha. We went to an Island and to a Zoo. The Zoo had Rhinos. They are so ugly. 

We have a cool investigator. She's from Laos. She learns at the University by here. She has problems with waking up on time and reading the Scriptures. Like most of the youth today. 

I met a couple of taxi drivers who played classic rock and country. That is very rare here in Thailand and it happened twice in a week. I heard the song "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" (I think that's the title) more this week than I have in my lifetime. 

Anyways, we are trying to find some solid Investigators by walking the streets of Bangkok and talking with everyone which has produced some interesting encounters with people. I am not from Thailand by the way. 

A miracle that happened this week is one of our Recent Convert's son talked to us when we visited his house. He said he is สบายดี. Progress. 

Today I want to share a hidden gem I just recently found in 1 John 4:14-19. It is about God's love. I ชอบมาก.​ It says: 
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.

These 6 verses are so good. God's love he has for us is explained in these scriptures. In God's perfect Plan of Happiness, there was needed someone to redeem his children of their sins. We needed a Savior. He sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to this earth to atone for the sins of all mankind and made this Plan of Happiness possible. We can all return to live with God again, and with our families for eternity, and have more happiness than we can even imagine, more than we can even explain, comprehend, more than anyone has ever thought of, because of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and the sacrifice he made because of the love he has for each and every one of us. It doesn't matter if you're rich or poor, black or white, light skin or dark skin, a sinner, a Republican, a Democrat, a teacher, a lawyer, a drunk, a smoker, an addict, a scientist, a doctor, an actor, and even a Patriot's fan. Through the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can all partake of the waters of eternal life. We can all make it into the Kingdom of God. It is all possible because of Jesus Christ. I love Jesus Christ because he first loved me. 
I love you all and miss everyone!!! 

Double Pictures this week
Pics: p day mostly

February 4, 2018

Zone conference

Fwd: 1 and a Half Years and Facebook

Hello everybody. I hit my 1 and a half year mark on the 3rd. I'm still not at 6 months until the 10th because I'm serving overtime. It's crazy to think I'm almost dead. It felt like just yesterday I was getting on a plane to go to Provo. It's been the best 1.5 years of my life. No regrets. 

This last P-Day we went to the Crocodile Farm and a old fort island in Samut Prakan. It was way fun. We didn't get to feed the crocodiles because there was no chicken. Very sad.

Last Wednesday was zone conference. It was so good and we learned a lot about having members help teach in lessons and we got permission to use Facebook to proselyte. I am not breaking the rules, I have received permission I promise. I can only talk to friends and family on Monday however. I may or may not post spiritually uplifting stuff. I'm still learning how to use it for good purposes.

Some random guy walked up to us to say he was catholic and went to our church before. He was down to meet again though so it'll be cool.

We met with a former investigator. A member thought of her and called us and asked us to make an appointment with her. It was pretty cool too. Her mom is a member in Australia.

I guess the Superbowl is going on right now. The Eagles and the Patriots again. Not that exciting haha. Patriots win too often so hopefully the Eagles win. 

I finished the Book of Mormon again. It's so true. And blue. In Moroni 10: 32 in the end of the Book of Mormon, 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.

Such a fire way to end the Book of Mormon. Through Jesus Christ we can be perfected. He wants all of us to come unto him and be perfected in him. We just need to be humble enough to follow the call. I love you guys and hope you have a great Superbowl Sunday. 

Pics will come when I get wifi haha


Elder Decker


January 28, 2018

หนูเป็นผู้สอนศาสนา

Hi. 

This past week was good. Last P-Day, we went to Chonburi (Islands and beaches) again. Very fun… 

We gave a lot of blessings this week it was cool. I never blessed a one year old before. He had a fever and might have RSV. I don't know the vocabulary for it though.

We went neighborhood inviting a lot this week. We are trying to find some solid people. We met a Christian from Vietnam. He had a bunch of Vietnamese workers that couldn't speak Thai. He'll be back next month. We also met this lady who went to Salt Lake City Utah with a Baptist preacher. It was also a very hot and humid week. 

Our investigators are currently facing some challenges. We will อดทน and hopefully they will to. 

We had 2 investigators come to church this Sunday. One has gone 8 times and doesnt want to meet with us yet and the other one is a member's wife. We want to teach her but they are having problems finding time. She is always busy and they don't show up to appointments.

Sorry for this short email. I'm tired. I'm getting too old. I hit my year and a half mark on the 3 of February. 

I want to share a verse in the Book of Mormon in Moroni 8:26-27. I'm almost done reading the Book of Mormon again and I always love the book of Moroni. It's such fire book to end the Book of Mormon. It says:

25 And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins;
26 And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.

He teaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ so well and how it's all connected. After we are baptized we have faith which leads us to keep the commandments. Keeping the commandments cleanses our sins when we go to church and renew our covenants. After the remission of our sins we become humble, develop more faith in Jesus Christ and trust in God and do his will. This brings the Holy Ghost which will direct us to do good and comforts us. The Holy Ghost will fill us with hope and love which leads us to pray which in the last day we will receive eternal life. It explains it so well. I've learned so much about the Gospel on my mission but there's still so much to learn. The more I learn the more I know it's true. You can't deny the feelings you get and all the miracles you see in life because of the Gospel. It's so amazing to be part of God's work which "No cause, no force in the entire world can stop the work of God" -Thomas S. Monson. 

I love my mission and am so grateful for all the people in my life that helped me on the right path. I love you all and miss you also. Have a great week!!!

Elder Decker
เอ็ลเดอร์ เดกเกอร์
Thailand Bangkok Mission

Pics: i'm not sure the order but it's some pictures of a couple of dogs that looks like a lion wolf, a picture of the canal, picture of pday, a big church here, and i found scooby snacks