Because I hit 18 months, I had to burn an old pair of pants. It was fun.

I'm getting transferred to the Idaho Falls area. I'm a sad panda. Lina and her son are getting baptized on March 7th and I won't be here. She's been progressing a lot. Yesterday we taught her and the Spirit hit me, almost made me cry, and I realized how grateful I am to be a missionary. I have the opportunity to see people change their lives to be closer to Jesus Christ. Lina really is like King Lamoni's father who said (Alma 22:18)

 

"O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day."

We should all be willing to sacrifice all sins to know God. He is is waiting for us to be willing to follow. Will we be like Peter or will we be like the "Young Rich Man"? Be willing to not only hear, but to do. 

We've had a lot of awesome things happen. In my last week we taught many more than we've ever had. God helped me to know and feel that I've done a good work. 

Funny story: I destroyed three pairs of pants in one week...

Pants 1: They were burned in the traditional ceremonial manner. At 18 months missionaries burn pants. It's a thing. They were irreparable anyway.

Pants 2: A massive hole was procured while I fake roundhouse kicked my companion in the face. 4 inch long hole in the butt along the seem. Easily repaired.

Pants 3: They were destroyed approximately 1 hour after I acquired  my newly repaired Pants 2. They exploded as I picked up a log. The hole was 8 inches long. 

I may be buying new pants today...

Honoring God

Elder Decker

3 pictures: pants burning- I look like wolverine

Bro Carrillo my best friend

Lina, her son Patrick, The Mower Family, and us.

Week 76

When you get sad. Know that you're cooler than this guy... who puts a cardboard spoiler on a Honda Civic.

The other picture is our fantastic district! Sisters Crone and Vargas, Elders Johnson, Mortensen, Pyrah, and Me, and our Zone Leaders Elder Rabe and Olson.

We got some romantic mormon valentines taped to our door by a mysterious human... hopefully human. 

I've seen myself slip a little bit this past week. My intestinal bothers are bothering... I think I might be soy intolerant now too...

On Sunday there was a really nice story read that really helped me. It was about a kid named Robert who started off with simple problems like 1+1 then he advances. He then has more important problems to face like "If you fall off your bike and break your leg, is it your fault, your parents fault, the bike's fault, or the sidewalk's fault? then "If you're a teenager and you feel alone and that you have nowhere to turn do you a) Do drugs to drown life out b) kill yourself c) be depressed d) find another solution" then finally "If you've had 2 heart attacks and breathing gets harder and harder to do, how much did you love?"

The whole point was that we cannot chose the problems that we get, but we have to find answers. 

With my challenges this really hit home. I can't control the problems that I get, but I have to figure out solutions. The problems aren't punishments, they're my chance to grow. 

I love the gospel and church which both help me to find purpose in my life. I know that there is purpose. 

If you are searching for purpose in your life I highly advise prayer and significant time reading the Book of Mormon.

Honoring God

Elder Decker

Week 75 (I only have 6 months left... That's not ok with me.)

This week was awesome! Some sad stuff happened as usual, but as Paul said in 2 Corinthians 11:

30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

I'm glad that God can trust me to remain faithful when hard things happen. That's why they happen! My back's still bothering me... well so are my knees, but I'm glad for the challenge. 

Thank you Ward family for the delicious package! 

We've had a few really awesome experience this past week that are really testimonies of God's hand in the work. On Saturday we had 2 such experiences. I felt a distinct impression that we should visit someone that we had planned to visit an hour later, so we went to see him. We found him about to go ride him dirt bike. we wouldn't have seen him if we had gone any later! I asked my companion later where we should go. He felt that we should visit someone else. We went to their house and they were about to leave to go to Pocatello for the evening. I love the Spirit!

Then last night we both had a distinct impression that we needed to go to a Devotional in Pocatello that had already started, we didn't have anyone going, and we could have gone teaching. But the impression was there, so we went. We were only there for the last 15 minutes, but we asked everyone if they knew anyone in American Falls who might be interested. We finally talked to a Sister Missionary who talked to another Sister Missionary who had someone who they were teaching who moved to American Falls! We hadn't heard of them and they were apparently really interested! If we hadn't gone to that Devoional. we wouldn't have ever heard about them. 

God's hand is in this work. 

This work is the best, I'm kinda sad to be returning home in 6 months. 

I love you all. Stay cool, stay faithful.

Honoring God

Elder Decker

Week 74

We had several miracles happen, but at the same time many challenges, well one main one. 

I've been sick for the past 5 days.

I don't know if I have the stomach flu or if my surgery pains are coming back, either way "I'm not happy Bob, NOT HAPPY." (We were allowed to watch The Incredibles for New Years a few weeks back) Being sick is not my favorite thing, but we've just got to keep on keeping on. 

A miracle that happened: on Friday we contacted a media referral and he is amazing. He's working to completely change his life. He was once a gang member in Juarez Mexico- drug trafficking, seeing people killed, everything. Now he wants to know Christ and to have Christ as the center of his life. He is an inspiration to be about the Atonement.

Christ is the center of everything. Through him we can change our lives.

There was a man in the Book of Mormon who was rather like this young man that we found. He did many wicked things and desired to change. His name was Zeezrom and he caused the death of hundreds of women and children before repenting and changing.

3 And also Zeezrom lay sick at Sidom, with a burning fever, which was caused by the great tribulations of his mind on account of his wickedness, for he supposed that Alma and Amulek were no more; and he supposed that they had been slain because of his iniquity. And this great sin, and his many other sins, did harrow up his mind until it did become exceedingly sore, having no deliverance; therefore he began to be scorched with a burning heat.

4 Now, when he heard that Alma and Amulek were in the land of Sidom, his heart began to take courage; and he sent a message immediately unto them, desiring them to come unto him.

5 And it came to pass that they went immediately, obeying the message which he had sent unto them; and they went in unto the house unto Zeezrom; and they found him upon his bed, sick, being very low with a burning fever; and his mind also was exceedingly sore because of his iniquities; and when he saw them he stretched forth his hand, and besought them that they would heal him.

6 And it came to pass that Alma said unto him, taking him by the hand: Believest thou in the power of Christ unto salvation?

7 And he answered and said: Yea, I believe all the words that thou hast taught.

8 And Alma said: If thou believest in the redemption of Christ thou canst be healed.

9 And he said: Yea, I believe according to thy words.

10 And then Alma cried unto the Lord, saying: O Lord our God, have mercy on this man, and heal him according to his faith which is in Christ.

11 And when Alma had said these words, Zeezrom leaped upon his feet, and began to walk; and this was done to the great astonishment of all the people; and the knowledge of this went forth throughout all the land of Sidom.

12 And Alma baptized Zeezrom unto the Lord; and he began from that time forth to preach unto the people.

As we change our lives and strive to be better. Christ will heal us. I beg that you make the changes that you feel that you must.

Honoring God

Elder Decker

picture: first picture of me and my "Son" Elder Pyrah (I'm training him)