Oct 11th Week 52 (One Year) Radiant Wings Centerville Utah Week 1(T1 Elder Fairbanks)

皆さん！

 

I promise I'm gonna be better about writing weekly. I can't go into details at the moment, but things have been a little rough over here - but things have gotten much better. But it's alright - that and a sinus infection that took me out for a week didn't help things, either. So it's alright. We're making it work.

 

With transfers come change - and I've left West Layton to... basically return. I'm in Centerville now - covering the Centerville and Centerville South stakes. It's literally felt like coming home. That, compounded with the clouds and rain that we've been able to receive the past few weeks have made this entire week feel like I'm back in Washington. 

 

I'm grateful for my time in West Layton - I've learned so many lessons about myself that I don't think I could have otherwise. I'm looking forward to seeing the miracles that will come this transfer, too.

 

I have a darn good companion in Elder Fairbanks! We get along great, and have a ton in common. He's a little bit of a jovial guy, always cracking jokes - especially dad jokes - and is just generally a good guy with a great heart. We teach together well, though we're still getting used to each others' teaching styles, and we're making everything work as best as we can!

 

I have a good feeling about this transfer. So many small little things - the weather, the people, the connections - it seems the Lord really is looking after me. I'm excited to see what the future holds for me from here on out.

 

"I have often pondered what it means to hold on to [those we love] with faith. I believe it includes simple acts of love, meekness, kindness, and respect. It means allowing them to develop at their own pace and bearing testimony to help them feel our Savior’s love. It requires us to think more about them and less about ourselves or others. That usually means speaking less and listening much, much more. We must love them, empower them, and praise them often in their efforts to succeed and be faithful to God. And finally, we should do everything in our power to stay close to them—just as we stay close to God." - Elder Erich W. Kopischke

 

This whole talk just resonated powerfully with me - most of you probably know the parallel drawn is why:

"Frankly, few of us would probably write into our stories the trials that refine us. But don’t we love the glorious culmination of a story we read when the protagonist overcomes the struggle? Trials are the elements of the plot that make our favorite stories compelling, timeless, faith promoting, and worthy of telling. The beautiful struggles written into our stories are what draw us closer to the Savior and refine us, making us more like Him. [...]

The sublime principle of agency does, of course, allow us to write our own stories—David could have gone home, back to tending sheep. But Jesus Christ stands ready to use us as divine instruments, sharpened pencils in His hand, to write a masterpiece! He is mercifully willing to use me, a scrawny pencil, as an instrument in His hands, if I have the faith to let Him, if I will let Him author my story." - President Camille N. Johnson, Primary General President

 

And of course, whenever the prophet of the Lord speaks, it's always worth listening -

"My brothers and sisters, I plead with you to make time for the Lord! Make your own spiritual foundation firm and able to stand the test of time by doing those things that allow the Holy Ghost to be with you always.

Never underestimate the profound truth that 'the Spirit speaketh […] of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be.' 'It will show unto you all things what ye should do.'" - President Russell M. Nelson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

 

 

...Am I forgetting something?

 

Oh, yeah. Right. Most of you are probably keeping track, so...

 

My one year mark will be on the fifteenth - making this my one year email.

 

...

 

I'm not really sure what to say, to be honest. This mission has meant - and continues to mean - everything to me. I think most of you know me I'm fairly altruistic in nature, so this has been a dream come true for me. Being able to spend every day serving others, helping them to find light in life and meaning in every day... there's no better feeling than seeing someone's eyes light up when they realize they really are lived. That there really is a Savior that knows them, because He's felt everything they've felt. That they have people who so desparately want to help them - and that more than anything, they have hope in knowing they are loved by both Heaven and Earth.

 

I wish words could convey just how powerful that is. How powerful our message is. But any metaphor or simile would only be a pall shadow in comparison.

 

Love, hope, and joy. Those are the gifts that this Gospel provides. Perspective and identity - a release of enmity. This, all because of our Savior, Jesus Christ, whose name I have the privilege of bearing every single day. To walk in His footsteps, to follow His path... to love as He loved, with an infinite charity for those that we meet.

 

I'm so grateful for all the friendships I've formed, and all of the miracles I've seen. Most of all, I'm grateful for the opportunity to be able to serve everyone as best as I can, throwing myself into the work and becoming the best light that I can be for them. Being able to focus all of my energy on helping other people is exactly what I've wanted to do for my entire life - and this past year has been one of pure joy. Though I wish I could say it was all happy... I have experienced so much joy and have seen so much light. I've learned so much, and look forward to learning even more in this next phase of my mission.

 

Thank you all for being a part of it - for coming along with me in this wonderful merry-go-round of life.

 

 

Love you all - you all are amazing. Take care!

Elder Decker

デッカー長老

 

Sep 13th Week 48 Administration and Activities Layton Utah Week 39 (T3 Elder Favro)

皆さん！

 

I wish I had more to report on this week! Kickstarting an area comes with all sorts of its new challenges, and so it's been a lot of organizational stuff. When we're not talking about leadership, we're walking and talking with as many people as we can. Most people don't go outside around here, but at the very least, we've been able to talk to a few people! 

 

A few lessons sprinkled here and there, and that's about how life has been. Again, wish there were more to report on, but such is life. We have a couple of people who we're going to begin teaching soon, but that all starts next week. Fingers crossed!

 

Hey, I'd love to hear from you all, too! I've had a few people talk here and there about their weeks and things like that, and that's fantastic! I can't promise I'll respond every week, but I'll try my best to do what I can!

 

So... yeah. I don't like writing short emails, but hopefully I've gotten everything said what needs to be said. The people here are amazing, and the area is wonderful. It's four miles to our area, though... and the loaner bike that I have has had three flat tires already. I'm cursed. Perks of the desert - uhhhh... very flat. Downsides - very dry and goatheads. So. Many. Goatheads. You can't walk around without getting a few in your shoes, stabbing you or puncturing your tires. It's... not okay.

 

Hey, one more thing I thought was important. We had a day of service dedicated to those that lost their lives that day on 9/11/2021. It was a good turnout - so many people working alongside each other to make this world and at least this area a better place. Twenty years since that happened... The wounds are still fresh for a lot of us. Take care of each other for me, okay? Be kind to one another - you're loved and you're worthy of being loved. Make sure other people feel that love too, okay?

 

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His  Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

 

"[As a child in World War Two,] while the world was drowning in cynicism, bitterness, hatred, and fear, the example and teachings of these young people filled me with hope. The gospel message they offered transcended politics, history, grudges, grievances, and personal agendas. It gave divine answers to important questions we had during these difficult times.

The message was that God lived and cared about us, even in these hours of turmoil, confusion, and chaos. That He actually appeared in our time to restore truth and light—His gospel and His Church. That He speaks to prophets again; that God is among us—and is personally involved in our lives and actively guiding His children.

It is astonishing what we can learn when we look a little closer at our Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation and exaltation, the plan of happiness, for His children. When we feel insignificant, cast off, and forgotten, we learn that we may be assured that God has not forgotten us—in fact, that He offers to all His children something unimaginable: to become 'heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.'

What does this mean?

That we will live forever, receive a fulness of joy, and have the potential to “inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers.”

It is so humbling to know that this magnificent and supernal future is possible—not because of who we are but because of who God is.

Knowing this, how could we ever murmur or remain embittered? How could we ever keep our eyes on the ground when the King of kings invites us to take flight into an unimaginable future of divine happiness?" (Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "God Among Us, April 2021 General Conference)

 

Love you all - take care and have a great week!

 

Elder Decker

デッカー長老

 

August 30th Week 46 Change Layton Utah Week 37(T1 Elder Favro)

皆さん！

 

The long-awaited transfer email. Did I keep you all waiting? Heheh.

 

...

 

We had expected big changes... but I don't think any of us expected what proceeded.

 

I've been transferred out of Farmington North, cutting Elder Roland's training short. He, in turn, has been transferred down to Bountiful... Spanish speaking. Yup - he's speaking Spanish now. Thankfully, he's taken six years of it in school, so it shouldn't be too hard to pick it back up. I'm excited to see how it goes and what he can do with that!

 

As for me, I've been transferred up to the Layton Legacy stake. We live four miles outside of the apartment, so it's a little bit of a walk. Thankfully, it's relatively flat, so we can ride bikes now!

 

The issue, of course, is getting bikes.

 

Oh, right - where are the cars?

 

With this transfer, President Johnson, under the direction of the Lord, has seen fit to readjust the boundaries of the mission, as well as where all the missionaries are focused. We have nearly doubled the Spanish missionaries in the mission, while increasing the number of companionships in the YSA wards from four to fourteen. As such, we now have over twenty companionships focusing on Spanish-speaking areas, and fourteen companionships focusing on YSA. Because they have such wide tracts of area to cover, all of the cars are going to them.

 

Which leaves us in the Syracuse zone with three cars - two going to a set of sisters and the STLs, and one going to the ZLs. Also, did I mention that we're not supposed to get rides from other missionaries anymore?

 

So the entire transfer has been something of a logistical nightmare. And with missionaries shifting all over the place, it's been kind of crazy. We've as of yet been able to get a bike for Elder Favro - who I'll talk about in a second. So we've had to rely on members giving us rides, and they've been more than generous on that front. It feels like we're inconveniencing them, but if we weren't to do so, we would be losing two to three hours every day where we could be working...

 

My new companion is Elder Favro! He's from the Pasadena area - and he's fresh to the field. That's right - apparently, the Lord has seen fit for me to train once again. It's only been a few days, but we're getting along well.

 

... So, uh, about the area - this is the third set of missionaries in two transfers. One of them went home, and the other became a zone leader. As such, there's not a ton of things going on here. We have a couple of leads we're pursuing, but it's hard getting things going again. We've had some amazing members that have helped us get acclimated and get to know some of the progress the area's made, but it's just hard to get everything sorted. That, on top of all the administrative things we've had to do, getting the district in order, and everything like... it's been such an adventure the past few days!

 

We're keeping busy - which is good. It's been an emotional few days. I've been in the Farmington North stake for nearly eight months... it's hard to leave a place and a people I've grown to love. I've learned so much from them, and it feels like I've grown up with them. There are such amazing people there - and I'm so grateful for the time I've been able to spend there serving them. I've seen miracle after miracle, and I've seen so many wonderful people draw closer unto Christ and assisting in the work. That, and we've seen amazing miracles as we've found people to teach!

 

We're excited to see where things go from here - change is hard, but miracles await this transfer, as they always are.

 

"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? 

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."

 

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

 

Elder Decker

デッカー長老