April 19th Week 28 - Hope and Harmony  Layton Utah Week 18 (T6)

皆さん!

 

… 

 

I'm tired. lol. 

 

But seriously, this week has been a whirlwind. combining the stake has literally doubled the amount of work that we have… but it's brought some amazing miracles. Being to meet all of these new people - seeing them, talking to them… it's been so much fun. It's so much work, but it's so worth it. 

 

And the nice thing is that I have two amazing companions that are hard working! We became best friends almost immediately, and our apartment is just filled with laughter… well, wherever we are is, anyways. 

 

We've done basically everything under the rainbow - service, teaching, helping members, and performing musical numbers. I mentioned this before, but my companions are both phenomenal singers. Remember how I talked about singing at a girl's baptism, and how the Bishop asked us to perform a musical number? There's a little bit of a miracle with that. We definitely saw the Lord's hand in our lives - for sure.

 

As I mentioned, we accepted, and began preparations immediately… though at first, we were a little stumped on what to perform. 

 

I recorded the following events in retrospect at a member's request:

 

...and more than that, what can we prepare in a week? As we sat through the sacrament, we slowly got lost in the messages.

I remember looking up at the speaker, and he smiled fondly as he spoke the words, "One of my favorite hymns is In Humility, Our Savior."

A surge of the Spirit flooded into me - a reminder. This is it. This is the song you're to perform.

 

I mentioned it to my companions after the meeting, and they agreed - we would move forwards with that!

But that wasn't the only impression that I received.

Listening to that song, I remember writing in my notebook, "In Humility, Our Savior - New Verses?"

It was an idea I just threw around in my mind… but I found myself idly jotting a few ideas down. It wasn't anything particularly fancy.

Later that night, I showed it to the other Elders, and they liked it! So we began brainstorming new ideas… and as it progressed, we realized that this was something that we felt very strongly that we needed to pursue.

 

So before we went forward, we realized we needed a message. What kind of message did we want to leave with the audience? We had a few ideas, but collectively we felt strongly that we should focus on Church worship. We didn't particularly know why that was… but it just was.

We finished the lyrics, and polished the arrangement together in the limited time that we had. We arrived at the church a little bit early to rehearse, and then moved to our seats.

We were a little bit nervous. Would the congregation appreciate the message? Would they understand it? Would they feel it?

We fervently prayed it would.

 

It wasn't long before we saw Bishop Young walk through the doors after his morning meetings. We said hello, and talked for a while.

"By the way," he smiled in his gentle way, "we just received a message from the stake Presidency last night at 11:00pm. We just learned that we're going to be returning to two hour church."

My heart skipped a beat. Returning to two hour church?

Immediately, I understood what that prompting was.

It wasn't just a good message to share with the congregation. Only the Lord could have ever known that the timing would have been this way. Who could have ever guessed that our song, written to talk about the importance of gathering, would be delivered on the same day that two hour church was announced to begin?

 

Only the Lord.

 

And through the promptings of His Spirit, we were able to create something that we hope resonated with the people there that day and at home, listening.

That would be the greatest blessing we could ever hope for.

 

Music has always played such an important role in my life… being able to share that has been a wonderful and amazing blessing. I hope that through the songs we write and the pieces that we play, all that listen can know of what our hearts and spirits sing - of comfort, of peace, of joy, of love.

 

The rest of the week went by in a flash. So much has happened… it's incredible.

 

Inspired walks through areas both old and new. New faces to meet - messages to share - friends to find. And ultimately, lifting where we stand! We had the opportunity to serve someone in the community that doesn't belong to our church - and he is just an amazingly friendly man. We're grateful that he allowed us to help, and hopefully we can continue to help out whenever and however we can!

 

We've also continued to help out wherever we can - sharing messages with those that are a bit downtrodden, serving those unable to do so for themselves, and helping others to find and come unto Christ in every opportunity. Sharing principles and scriptures to enrich their lives is something that has brought us immense and unimaginable joy!

 

It's a wonderful blessing to be able to spend every single moment helping other people. It's interesting that by focusing on others, I've been able to find more of who I am in the process. I think that can be true of all of us!

 

...And I suppose I have a little bit of a way of testing that.

 

I received a call from the APs earlier today, who informed me that as of tomorrow, I will become my district's DL - or, district leader! My responsibility as a missionary remains the same, but now I will be watching over and taking care of four other missionaries in my district. Essentially, I'll be helping them to be able to do the best work that they can do, and help them to achieve their own goals. The Lord trusts me enough to do so - and so I'll try my best!

 

But that's not all the Lord had in store for me.

 

Also starting tomorrow, I'll have a new companion - and not only that, someone straight from the Missionary Training Center. The Lord trusts me enough to become a trainer! That's… certainly something, too. I'm excited and more than a little nervous - I, myself, am still learning a lot! - but I want to be the best trainer that I can be!

 

Exciting things await in store for us - and I can't wait to see what the future holds! Nervously, but filled with joy, onto the future we go!

 

I find strength and comfort in the words of our prophet, President Russell M. Nelson:

 

"The Lord understands our mortal weakness. We all falter at times. But He also knows of our great potential. The mustard seed starts small but grows into a tree large enough for birds to nest in its branches. The mustard seed represents a small but growing faith.

The Lord does not require perfect faith for us to have access to His perfect power. But He does ask us to believe."

 

I know this is the Lord's church on the earth. As we draw closer unto Him, and learn more of Him, we will be able to find such happiness and joy - such that we might never find anywhere else. The Lord knows us, and loves us. He does not expect us to be perfect - only that we try our best. And as we reach out to Him, His hands are already outstretched. Go forward - pray with all of your heart, truly seeking if He is there. I promise that if you do, with a sincere desire to know,,He will help you to know... and will help you to overcome whatever trials you have.

 

I can testify of that. I can testify of His miracles which He has sent for us as we've looked to Him. Both here on the mission... and evenbefore.

 

"I will not leave you comfortless," He urges. "I will come to you."

 

Love you all - have a fantastic week! Take care - you all are amazing!

 

Peace, love, and joy be with you all!

Elder Decker

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