February 15th Week 19 Sorrows and Salvation, Layton Utah Week 9

Week 19 Sorrows and Salvation, Week Nineteen Layton Utah Week 9 

 皆さん! 

 Hope your week has been good! I heard it snowed pretty heavily up in Washington for everyone that's up there - did you all get a chance to enjoy it? It's been on and off over here, but it never sticks to the ground... Little bit shorter of an email this week. 

 This week, we've done a lot to help the members. It's been a crazy couple of days. Last week, a neighbor's garage burned down because of an electrical fire, and so we've been trying to help them out as much as we possibly can. They're sweet people - really ice. But the work isn't nearly as physically taxing as much as it is emotionally taxing. Watching them try to smile and crack jokes about everything, but seeing the sadness behind their eyes... it's heartbreaking. And they'll often point out different things they see unrecognizable, charred beyond belief. It's hard to watch. We're trying our best to help them as much as we can. 

 Other than that, we've been meeting with a lot of people who are struggling during this time - whether it be through loneliness, anxiety, or the loss of loved ones. Being able to bring them peace and love has been one of the highlights of this week. Seeing how the Gospel is able to bring so many people peace is incredible to see - and the Spirit is always incredibly strong there. We had one of the older sisters in the ward say to us, "After my husband passed away, I don't know what I would do if I thought I wouldn't be able to see him again. I'm just grateful to know I will be able to. It gives me strength to keep going, you know?" It's incredible to see. 

 The balance of this week has been pretty half-and-half between service and teaching. Honestly, however we can help the people here, we're trying our best to do. I just pray that we're doing enough. Life continues to move forward - and though each day brings with it new challenges, in the end, I can say that it has brought me so much joy. Being able to help people out of their burdens, to help them find peace... it's been interesting to see I've found my own. Perhaps that is why the Savior reaches out to so many people - throughout all of His ministry. 

 A story that struck me this week was from Matthew 14. We know it as the feeding of the 5,000, but it did not start out that way. It starts with the passing of John the Baptist. Jesus and John had been very close throughout their entire lives. They had grown up together. Had learned together. And ultimately, it was John the Baptist that had been the one to baptize Christ. So when news of this reached Christ, it devastated Him. He and his disciples began making themselves ready to board a ship on the Sea of Galilee, to spend some time apart. And yet, when they approached, they found a vast multitude of people, who had heard Christ was nearby. They were ready and eager to learn. The Lord could have easily said, "No, not right now. The time is not well." But He didn't. He reached out in love. He taught them. He worked miracles amongst them. And when the hour for eating had passed, He wrought a mighty miracle to feed all of them - insomuch they had more leftover than when they had started with a simple, meager lunch. And every wound was healed. 

 I've found this principle particularly poignant throughout this week. I've seen people with enough struggles on their own reach out in love and kindness to others. I've seen the miracles that have been wrought in their lives. And I've seen as we've reached out, that we've been able to find that peace and joy, as well. It's amazing to see. And I've found that the Lord grants us just enough strength every day to get through what we need to do - and at the end of every day, though we are exhausted, we know that we have been doing His will. And that through us, He has been able to bless His children. I think that's beautiful. 

 Take care, everyone - and take care of each other. You all are amazing. Take care! 

 Elder Decker デッカー長老

 Feb 8th, Week Eighteen - Winter of Springwind, Layton Utah, Week 8  

皆さん!

Oh, before I forget! I have yet to receive the final confirmation, but we're all clear if you'd like to listen to my talk! I'm giving a talk (sermon, essentially) this coming Sunday at 9:00am in the Compton Bench Ward! I... can't promise that the church Wi-Fi will be happy afterwards, but you all are more than welcome to tune in! 

http://mywebcast.churchofjesuschrist.org/farmingtonutahnorthstake (Choose Compton Bench Ward!)

How has this week been? I've heard it was the Super Bowl yesterday - but we have no idea who was playing. Did you all do anything fun for that? And aside from that, did anyone do anything exciting this past week? 

The weather here this week has been absolutely beautiful. We've had pretty much everything far and in between - snow, rain, clouds, sun, clear skies... it's been almost magical to see. And here I thought Washington weather was volatile... haha. Most of the pictures I'm sending out this week are nature pictures. We've had some really interesting phenomena happen with the weather - rays of light bursting through the clouds, snow in temperatures there shouldn't be snow, and visibility as far as the distant mountain ranges a few days after another snowstorm. It's pretty crazy - but it's beautiful!

It... sums up this week quite nicely, actually. It was a veritable whirlwind.

We've been teaching lessons nonstop this past week. Our stake has set a goal to have a lesson with each family within the stake with records in the Church system. Although this week hasn't been nearly as populated with lessons as when the initiative first started, this week we've seen miracle after miracle with these lists - honestly! This week we've dubbed the "final call" - we are calling everyone who has not had a lesson and has not said they are not interested. If they don't respond, we're placing them on a list of names to see if we can find another way to contact them - whether that be by email, or contacting through a person who they know well, or safe visits. There have been people who we have been trying to call and get a hold of for a literal year - and this week we've been able to get in contact with them! Our ward mission correlation meeting members have also been working with us non-stop to try to get as many of these people in contact with us as possible, on top of continuing to help us to reach out to non-members through door knocking (from a safe distance and with the proper procedures! it feels like a hit and run where we knock and then run back as quickly as we can...). Already, we're seeing miracles happen time and time again. 

And honestly, these meetings are part of the reason that make being a missionary so amazing. While it's true we are trying to find people to teach and bring them to knowledge of the church, I've always had a firm belief that every person is important and significant, both outside of the church and within. We've seen COVID affect so many people in so many ways - and we've seen people really begin to struggle and come to grips with everything. Being able to help them and answer their questions, and to lift up their spirits and invite the Spirit into their home... it's a miraculous and wonderful feeling to know that we are helping people to heal after this virus has scarred so many of us. We've met with so many amazing and wonderful people - many of which have really struggled emotionally. Some have struggled with questions with their testimony. Some have struggled with health. Even more have struggled with isolation.

I understand there is an order to everything - and I understand that it is the responsibility of members to help each other and bear each other's burdens. But I cannot turn a blind eye when so many are hurting and suffering around us... so we've been lifting where we're standing. And it's brought me so much joy to have people say, "Thank you - what you're doing has really helped me to find comfort at this time."

I can't take credit for much of it - nor would I ever want to. It's amazing to see what good we can do if we lead with our hearts, and doing our best to help as many people as we can. We're only going to be able to make it through this together, after all.

But to see the Lord working through us missionaries - to be able to see the small little intricacies of what we're doing really making an impact, and to be able to see how much joy we're bringing people is truly humbling.

We met with an older woman this past week, and in getting to know her a little bit before we discussed a principle from the scriptures. Towards when we were about to start, she happened to mention that she was a convert - and the Gospel has really brought her peace in these times. As the son of a convert myself, I've always loved hearing conversion stories - but unfortunately, we were running out of time. We asked her if she would be willing to tell us Monday evening (tonight) when we had a little bit more time. She paused a little bit before nodding, "Yes, that would be perfect."

We didn't learn until yesterday during fast and testimony meeting why that was. She bore a powerful witness of how the Lord has truly wanted us to prepare for these days - strengthening our foundations and testimonies. I can't remember exactly what she said, but it went something like this:

"I met with the missionaries just recently," she smiled, "and as many of you know, I am a convert to the church. I mentioned that to the Elders, and they said they wanted to hear it! But we didn't have a lot of time, so they asked to reschedule for Monday at 7:00pm. And I just knew that was the Lord reminding me how important it is that we strengthen our testimonies for these times. It happens that tomorrow is the anniversary of my baptismal date, which was in the evening of February 8th."

It took us by absolute surprise. There was no way for us to know that - we don't have access to any of that information. All I remember from that moment was wanting to know more and wanting to hear the story, but not having time for it. It's a testament to me that if we continue to move forwards with faith, trying our best to do the right thing... the Lord will influence us to work miracles through His Spirit. We don't necessarily recognize it at times - but the peaceful feelings of doing the right thing, and seeking after those good things... that is the Spirit. 

It made me think of Moroni 7:13 - "But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God." And I think it's so true - that as we are doing good, and trying to do good, we can find ourselves working miracles for others. The Lord wants more than anything to bless His children - and I promise that if we are willing, we can help Him to accomplish that.

We also had a chance to meet with a blind woman who we've been trying to get a hold of for the past year, as well. She has had scam callers who have set up false caller IDs before, so she only answers the phone if it's a name she recognizes. With the help of one of the members, we were able to set up a call with her - and being able to meet and chat with her was absolutely fantastic. Her testimony is so strong, and being a blind widow in the midst of COVID has been hard for her. She's a very social person by nature, and so staying inside and having little to no contact with others has been really, really hard for her. Being able to share a scripture with her, to be able to just talk with her... it was amazing. She's a wonderful woman - and we've set up a weekly time to call from here on out! She gets her second booster vaccine next week, so she's really excited about being able to go out again!

There is so much that has happened this week - but I think these are some of the biggest highlights. It's been a lot of fun - hard work, but a lot of fun.

You all are amazing! Take care!

Elder Decker

デッカー長老

 

February 1st, Week 17, Monochrome Snowfall, Layton Utah Week 7

皆さん!

How's everyone doing? We've finally gotten a taste of a real Utah snowstorm! Sort of. Kind of. ...and it was gone the next day. Seriously, the weather here just cannot make up its mind for the life ot it. Literally snowing on Friday (got a few inches), and then 45 degrees plus the next day. I thought Washington weather was volatile...

Hope you're all doing well, though! Everything going good, I hope. Everything's slowly settling back into the rhythm of things, so hopefully that's good for us! We're slowly easing into this new normal of ours...

For me? Heck. I think the word of this week is "contrast."

My companion and I are doing well! We've had a couple of spots of trouble where we haven't gotten along quite as well as we'd like, but thankfully we're both willing to talk about it and take steps to move forward. It probably came to a head on Saturday, where we ended up having an hour long discussion on what's going on, what's causing underlying friction, and what we can do to fix it. Since then, there have been just small moments (which in reality, none of us were worked up, we were just misunderstanding each other), but we're working much better in unity. Friends and family, communication is key in everything!

But it's been a rollercoaster of ups and downs. I think my lack of good sleep is compromising my immune system a bit, and that compounded with being out in the cold for about 8-10 hours a day may or may not have gotten me sick again. I can feel the symptoms creeping in, but thankfully I'm still operational.

And no, it's not COVID. Don't worry. :D

But as we've worked to push through what obstacles have come up, we've really began to see miracles happen. All of our preparation the past six weeks have really begun to pay off, and we're beginning to get in contact with more and more people we haven't ever seen before. A few of them were interested in a message from us - and we're currently working to set those up with them. In fact, we have one set up tonight, which is exciting! We're preparing to teach to the best of our abilities - and though I am worried a little bit about how to best approach this (we've only talked to one of them once or twice...), I really do know the Lord is going to be with us. We'll just have to keep on going and keep trying our best - listening for the Spirit and helping them as much as we can!

Our miracle for this week was on Friday, with one of our favorite inactive families. 

This is a long one, but I thought it worth sharing.

They're beginning to read the Book of Mormon more consistently, even though work has really begun to pick up for both of them. They made it all the way to Jacob 5 - which, if you are not familiar, is a 76 verse-long parable that compares the scattering and gathering of the House of Israel to a grove and vineyard of tame and wild olive trees. Peering past the imagery, it is indicative of Heavenly Father's love for us, and how much He is working in order to try and help us to become happier. That being said, it is rather dense. We ended up giving them a study guide to go through all of it while we're not there with them. But they ended up reading all of it, and understanding most of it! We talked for a while about its meaning, significance, and why it's important. But one of the things that one of them pointed out was a quote from the study guide - that it was the seal of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. They had mentioned that it struck them - in order for them to have gone inactive, they had to convince themself that it was false.

That, in turn, struck me. Especially for someone who had served a mission, had worked for the Church for a long time - after all of that, to convince themself that it wasn't true.

I know the joy I've been able to feel through this Gospel. The peace. The happiness. The light. And I'm sure they had felt that, as well. But I think what struck me most about what they said was the sadness in their eyes... as if they felt hollow.

That sorrow is what really pained me.

The conversation went on, but my mind found itself repeating the same thought, my eyes scanning the small copy of the Book of Mormon that I held in my hand -

How do I help them?

How do I help them feel joy again? How do I help them feel happiness again? How do I help them find light, which has guided me through so much? And how do I help that light return within their eyes?

The more I thought about it, the more I realized how much I loved this family. How much I wanted them to be happy.

But as I focused on that love, trying to find a way to help them overcome their grief, apparent in nearly everything they did...

A sensation trickled into my heart. It was as if the light reflecting off the gold lettering of my Book of Mormon had seeped into my very being. And slowly, but surely, the love I felt grew. Larger, and larger - until it seemed to me that my heart was glowing with warmth and light.

I realized then that those emotions were not just my own, anymore. Through the Spirit, I was able to feel the love of two Heavenly Parents. Of a Savior. Of generations of ancestors, cheering them on from the Spirit World.

I could feel their love - their infinite love for this one family. It was an honor - and a blessing - to know I was entrusted with those sacred emotions.

And naturally, I started to tear up.

One of them asked me if I was okay... and I remember feeling my heart swell again. I gazed up at them, and bore testimony - of how much their Heavenly Parents and Jesus Christ loved them. How much they meant to them. How much we, as a companionship, loved them. And how much those that have passed on love them. 

A thought came to my mind again - this time, a thought that I had earlier. I said a short prayer in my heart, and a swelling confirmed to me what our invitation to them should be - to pray, without preconception, on whether or not the Book of Mormon is true. And as I extended that... I could feel that was what I needed to say.

And so, to those of you who have yet to know, and want to -

Try it for yourself. Approach the Book of Mormon. Read the introduction. Perhaps even a chapter - or a few! Then, without any preconception or opinions, find a quiet place, and kneel and pray to Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, asking if it is true.

I promise that if you are willing to listen, He will answer your prayers - whether that be through a calm, peaceful feeling, or a comforting warmth. He is there - and He loves each and every one of us. And I see that every single day I am here.

Other than that... it's been a lot of service. A... lot. Of service. We've had at least three hours of service every day. Elder Cope has joked we should start a garage cleaning service, and charge thirty minutes for us to teach lessons. But we've been doing as much as we can with COVID limitations - we're allowed to help in garages, but not inside the house. So we've been raking leaves, cleaning garages, organizing shelves, installing shelves... anything that we can do to help people. We've especially been reaching out to the older people in the ward - yard work for those high risk, and garage cleaning for those not. It's been a lot of fun - and being able to see how much joy people have when we're helping is amazing to see. Sharing scriptures with them has also really helped them as well!

Lessons have been pretty normal this week. We've done a lot of work with one of our wards, who have had quite a few move-in as of late. So we've been reaching out to them and making sure that they feel comfortable!

Other than that... it's been a pretty great week. Hopefully you all have had the same!

Cheers!

Elder Decker

デッカー長老