November 29th Week Seven "Drawing Nearer" HMTC

皆さん！

How is everyone! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving! Did you eat a ton of food? Did you spend time with family? Laugh, sing, and just have a good holiday in each other's company? Hopefully you all stayed safe - and though for many, it has been a much different sort of Thanksgiving, I hope it was filled with as much wonder and joy as it has always been. Technology is amazing in that way, isn't it?

For me, Thanksgiving was amazing! I'm so thankful to have been able to spend one more Thanksgiving with my family. It's always been one of my favorite holidays (second only to Christmas <3) just because it's all about family. Cooking together, joking around with each other. Gathering together around the table, talking and laughing together, talking about what we're thankful for... there's a certain magic about the holiday.

Especially so close on the heels of President Nelson's address, some of the things I found so amazing about this Thanksgiving have been because of the gratitude. One of the greatest things about gratitude is the amount our perspective can change - and how much we can change and become better through it. It's amazing to me that just simple sentences of thanks can bring such warmth within our hearts. It's why gratitude is one of the few things that people commonly say can fill our hearts!

I'm grateful for all of you - and all of your kindness and support thus far. I'll keep learning as much as I can - and I'll keep you all posted!

Unfortunately, this week has been rather quiet as well. It's been a lot of studying and preparing lessons. We've shifted into less instruction as much as it's been a ton of roleplaying, with a ton of different situations. Different lessons, different personality types... we've all become actors and actresses here in the MTC, it looks like. But it's been really good to learn and better understand how we can help people to learn more and more as they go along! I think we've all become a little more sympathetic, as well - and we're realizing that if we treat these activities as if they're real people we're teaching (rather than each other), the Spirit can really take hold in our hearts and teach to their needs - even if those needs aren't even explicitly stated, and only thought by the actor or actress. It's fascinating - Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to become the best people we can be, and any attempt to improve will be welcomed and warmly received by Him. It's really cool, isn't it?

But other than that, not much to report! Time is ticking down... and I can feel myself getting more and more frantic. Well, maybe that's not the right word... but I can feel the pressure starting to set in. I know I'll be going to Utah for at least a transfer or two, but I know I need to continue to study as much as I can to be able to speak as much as I can. Even though I have time to study, I know there will be a least a little entropy in my Japanese-speaking ability... so I have to keep working at it! I know the Lord blesses us in our efforts - so I just have to keep it up!

I recently came across one of my favorite scriptures again this past week - found in John 14:15-18. We've been talking about commandments for all of this week, and we were talking about the blessings we receive when we follow them. These are the words of Jesus Christ - and though He says them multiple times throughout the New Testament and Book of Mormon, as well as through many of His prophets... this is Him, speaking directly to His beloved disciples.

"If ye love me, keep my commandments.

And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever;

Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you."

The Lord's hand is always outstretched to us - though we cannot see it, and at times we cannot feel it. He loves us so much, and wants to help us so much - and often, all we must do is ask, having faith that He will deliver us.

But how do we show that we have faith? That's a part of the reason we have commandments.

They may seem restrictive, but in truth, though they serve many purposes, including to guide us and protect us, they are tests. Tests that, when passed, show Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that we are trying our best to become better - to be more kind, more sympathetic, more patient... more obedient.

And as we do so, our Father in Heaven sees that - and recognizes that. And as such, He will send us blessings.

But even more than that... He knows that we will fail at times. Not every test will be in our area of expertise - otherwise, we wouldn't change or grow. We will stumble - we will fall. That's what it means to be human, isn't it?

And even more than that - in the midst of our test, we may feel lost. Discouraged. Alone, without direction.

He loves us too much to allow us to struggle alone.

If the goal is change, often it is best to have someone guiding us, is it not? When in martial arts, there's an instructor to guide us. If it's a sport, we have a coach to help us improve.

Life is the same - but leading us is our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, who know everything. And though, just like how our coaches can't play with us in the game, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can't be with us as we go through our trials, They will give us comfort - shouting inspiration and encouragement from the sidelines through the Spirit, which we can receive if we seek it. As long as we are putting in effort, They will guide us and direct us, give us plays to try, and just give us time to play.

And though we may struggle at first, we gain experience the longer we play. And the more we play, the more we improve... and the more They can trust us to make our own decisions in the field.

All They do will send us comfort and encourage us - and through the Spirit, They can show us that they truly love us and trust us.

I know that as we turn to Them, They will guide us. They know the end from the beginning... and through Them, we can become better, and we can learn and improve ourselves.

I know that to be true - and through the Spirit, I know that if we pray with real intent, acting in faith by kneeling and praying to know if They are there... They will send Their Spirit to speak to us - though the Spirit's voice is quiet, and speaks through soft emotions - blossoms of hope, sprouts of faith that can bloom within our hearts. If we reach out to Them, and listen for that quiet, still small voice... I know They will respond in kind, reaching out to us with love, joy, and peace.

I love you guys! Thank you for all of the emails - keep them coming! :) Talk to you all next week - stay safe, stay warm, and stay grateful! Remember - you are loved, and are worthy of being loved. 

You all are amazing! If you ever need to talk about anything, send me an email and I'll be happy to talk. Take care of yourselves - and keep going strong. You all are such an example to me, and I'm grateful to each and every one of you.

Have a great week, everyone - talk to you soon!

Cheers,

Elder Decker

(p.s. If there's anyone that might want to be added to the emailing list, let me know! I'd be happy to get them on the thread. :) )

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