June 7th  Week 35  Transfers and Transitions  Layton Utah Week 25 (T1 - Trainer DL W/Gibson)

皆さん!

 Holy heck it's been something of a week and a half. I'm just... still reeling. Brace yourselves everyone - this is going to be something of a longer email back home to you all... 

 Last Monday after I emailed you all, we received the transfer board - essentially, the chart that highlights where everyone is going during that transfer. To explain how crazy things have gotten, let me take a step - or five back:

 Within the mission, there are sort of geographical slices that dictate how the organization of that area is. Within the mission, there are zones that usually cover the entirety of a city, and all of the missionaries within a zone are led by zone leaders. Within the zone, there are districts of about eight to ten missionaries (four to five companionships) or so, led by district leaders. And then there are the individual areas that a single companionship has jurisdiction over. 

 Before the transfer board, we had roughly seven zones - Layton, Layton Spanish, Bountiful, Syracuse, Farmington, Kaysville, Roy and Centerville. We figured that one of the zones would be dissolved this transfer, but...  with this transfer, two zones have completely dissolved, Kaysville and Centerville. That just leaves Layton, Layton Spanish, Bountiful, Syracuse, Farmington, and Roy.

 That means some pretty big changes have happened. Lots of missionaries going to their original assignments means we can't maintain as many areas as we have been able to up to this point. And so the Farmington Zone, to accomodate, shrunk immensely. What was four districts combined into two, and we took the north and south parts of the zones above and below us.

 But that means that as of now, almost every single stake is now covered by a single companionship - and that means that ours was fated for the chaff, too.

 Elder Thompson was transferred out of our stake up to Roy (his area the literal northwest corner of the mission, so the Lord and President Call trusts him!). Elder Caryotakis is joining Elder Gibson and I, and now, their area is merging with ours. And not only that, we have about a week and a half with Elder Caryotakis before he leaves to his original mission - Aguas Calientes, Mexico.

 And what's more than that, my entire district has basically dissolved. The Sisters got moved up to Layton, and of course, Elder Thompson left and Elder Caryotakis is leaving soon, too. Elder Davis, too - one of the ZLs - got moved to become DL over Farmington A, which means we have a new zone leader in the district. I have a completely new district I'm working with now - and the only people I really know here are Elder Gibson, Elder Caryotakis (who leaves soon) and Elder Cope (who's still zone leader - they finally got moved back into our district. not sure why they left in the first place but who am I to judge the Lord's ways).

 I've met the other elders before, but it's still been a little bit of an adjustment. Saying goodbye to everyone was one of the hardest things I've done on the mission so far - Farmington C (Farmington "C"hamps) as we call it - will live and have a place in my heart forever. Goodbyes are always hard, but it's alright - that's what a mission is! Adapting, improving, continuing to change - it's our people's way, after all. Is it hard? Absolutely. Is it necessary? Absolutely. I wish them well in their new areas, and I know that the Lord has placed them there for a specific purpose and reason. I've prayed about it - I've gained that testimony. After all, I know that it is through the Lord's providence that I am able to be here - I know that I'm here for a reason, as well, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to have met the people I have and to serve and teach the people I've been able to. 

 Plus, I suppose I'll see them at zone conference and things like that. So we'll still get to say hi! We just don't be a district, is all... 

 I'm grateful for the hard work President Call puts into receiving revelation on behalf of the mission. The Lord places us all in specific places, for specific reasons and to teach specific people. He puts in hours upon hours upon each transfer board in order to make sure that the Lord's will is done, praying and looking at the board, seeking revelation constantly as to where each missionary is to go - sometimes forty hours a week, as well as the other work he has to do as mission president. Every piece affects another, and it's a giant puzzle to slowly be put together, piece by piece affecting the rest of the pieces, just as even a pawn's movement can shift the entire positioning and strategy of the chessboard. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be able to serve underneath him. He and Sister Call put so much effort and so much love into everything they do - along with all the senior missionaries working in the mission office - and I'm so grateful for all that they do for each and every one of us. Bless them!

 Now I have five new elders in my district, and making sure I'm getting to know them and everything like that has been good. It's a different dynamic and I'm finding myself having to adjust, but we're working on it. District activities, nightly call-ins... however we get the chance to bond and talk with each other, I'm all for it!

 But unfortunately, we have another puzzle to be solved.

 As a result of my stake converging into one set of missionaries, it's turned into something of a logistical nightmare to try to figure out everything. Ever week, we meet with members of the Elders Quorum, Relief Society, and youth committees, as well as our ward mission leader within each ward to coordinate missionary efforts within. They're called missionary coordination meetings. And now that we're jumping from five wards to ten, there's a lot more to coordinate - as well as a lot more work to be done.

 We're basically trying to reset expectations - and really trying to push how effective we can be. We've worked with our MCMs - mission coordination meetings - for a while now, and we know what they're capable of. They're amazing - they've given us so much support and help, and they've truly helped us to become the best missionaries that we can be in numerous ways. It's good to be able to work with them and push how much further we can get this work going in the wards we cover. But the macroplay here is more complex than I thought. We have to continue the work we're already doing, while at the same time basically raising the bar for what we're expecting our missionary coordination meetings to do - because they're capable! But the North half of the stake hasn't had nearly the same expectations that we've had for the south half of the stake, just simply because of different missionary styles. On-boarding them isn't going to be the hardest challenge in the world - they're already plenty capable - but it's going to be a slow and intensive process. The dilemma we face right now is what path we take to get them on board - do we take a slow approach and ease them into the expectations that we have already set for the south half of the stake, and then ramp them up to what we expect now? Or do we hit the ground running with the same expectations as the south half, and then push the work forward together? We've been leaning more towards the latter - and so far, they've responded well. I think the Lord gave us the revelation we needed in order to make the best choice for this take. But that's not even talking about the scheduling that has to be reconfigured for ten wards instead of five. That means time cuts and less time to get everything done within the coordination meetings. At the same time, we're recombining our efforts within the stake, shifting and broadening our focus to be able to accomodate for the work which has to be done within five more wards, with different distances and different members to work with. It's a lot of people to meet and get to know. And on top of that, we have to combine teaching pools, learn where each person is in their progression, and try to seek inspiration on how best to help them to draw closer unto Christ. And that's not to say the members of the ward that are struggling with hardships themselves!

 tl;dr - All in all... it's a lot to keep in mind, and a lot to coordinate.

 But we're doing our best to make sure we're continuing to be as effective as we can, while still doing what we are here to do - to invite people to come unto Christ. Yesterday in particular, we focused on getting everything in order - figuring out the schedules (who's going to be when), readjusting how long the MCMs/weekly huddles are, and setting expectations again for all of them in what we're looking for. It's a lot of things to juggle - but we're trying our best to get it done. We know they're capable - and we know the Lord is blessing us as we work our hardest to get as much as we can done.

 When we're not reorganizing and refocusing the efforts, we've been contacting people to set up inspired walks - or as of late, we've been going on proactive walks ourselves. Especially with a new area to learn about, and Elder Caryotakis slated to go in a week in a half, it's been a bit of a scramble to try to learn all of the streets and people within the north half of the stake. But I think we're doing a pretty fair job. During those proactive walks, we've been able to share a remarkable amount of scriptures with those we meet, now that summer has come and everyone's been out in their yards. It's interesting to see the productive hours flip from 5:00-7:30 to 7:30-9:00. 5:00-7:30 is still decently productive, but we've seen the most success from 7:30 to 9:00 for sure. And now that school's out, scheduling is going to be hard - but we're going to be trying to find as many opportunities to serve and to help out as many people as we can!

 We've had a ton of miracles we've consistently seen as we've continued on and working as hard as we can. The Lord knows us and wants to help us - and I'm convinced we're able to get this done through His grace and His will. I'm truly grateful for His guidance and support - and I'm grateful for the love and support I feel from you all, as well! We'll keep running forwards, doing all that we can to be the biggest blessing in others' lives as much and as best as we can!

 I'd like to share something out of Moses 5 - talking specifically about Jesus Christ as the Only Begotten Son of the Father:

 4 And Adam and Eve, his wife, called upon the name of the Lord, and they heard the voice of the Lord from the way toward the Garden of Eden, speaking unto them, and they saw him not; for they were shut out from his presence.

 5 And he gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord.

 6 And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.

 7 And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.

 8 Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore.

 It's interesting to think of how many things in the church we do as a similitude of the Only Begotten - even Jesus Christ. If it wasn't established by Jesus Christ Himself in the meridian of time, it is commanded by the Lord as a symbol of He who lived, bled, and died for us. His kindness saves us - and all that we do should repay that kindness, that charity… that love. For it is through love that the Atonement came to pass. Because of the Atonement, the Lord could know our circumstances and our hearts - and could know whether or not we have truly repented within our hearts. And because He knows that, He can show Heavenly Father that we aren't in need of the consequences of our actions - for the divine consequences of our actions are for us to learn more than any other reason. But if we've already learned those things… then there is no more need for those consequences. And as such, the Only Begotten of the Father becomes the Arbiter of our guilt and our learning - our Advocate to the Father, sent from the Father.

 It's going to be a good week. Hot - we're averaging about 90 degrees here now - but it's going to be a good week. Lots of things to do, so we're keeping busy. Hope you all are able to do the same - or, conversely, I hope you all are able to take some time to relax, as well, too!

 Take care - have a great week! You all are amazing!

 Cheers,

Elder Decker

デッカー長老

 

May 31st Week 34  Spirit and Fire  Layton Utah Week 24 (T6 - Trainer DL W/Gibson)

皆さん!

Hope you all are doing well!

On this Memorial Day, I wanted to take a moment to thank those that have served our country, no matter in what capacity. But I wanted to especially thank those that paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we can remain free.

My poetry is a little rusty but it's fun to write again for a little bit! Here you go:

Brave and true, the thin line stood

With heart in hand, where no one could

When silence rang with lion's roar

They testified of freedom borne. 

They watched the setting sun that day

With hope in promised futures laid

For now their journey's final end

Had come, so none would needless bend. 

Does still their story fall untold? 

Have yet their praises fallen cold? 

Will life continue silently

Unrecognizing souls yet grieved? 

So let our hearts remain in tune

And soul ring out with song anew. 

For those that died for sorrow's fall

Let us remember, now, for all. 

So when that sun with freedom rings

Ascending, bright on phoenix wing

Shall we remember those that die

To grant us freedom now to rise? 

This week has been something of a miracle run. So many miracles happening as we have the faith to see them - and so many coincidences that have happened that can't just be coincidence. But at the same time, the tempests and trials have continued to grow. Our faith has been strengthened, but that doesn't mean it wasn't hard! 

Wednesday was sort of our miracle run! We were able to talk to a ton of nonmembers and get our name out there we shared scriptures with them and they were well received, though they weren't interested. But we'll continue to make as much contact as we can - hopefully we'll be able to see their hearts turn soon! 

Thanks to you all for your get will wishes - I'm all better and getting going! 

It's interesting to see how involved the Lord is in our lives. We had an experience this week after Elder Gibson got his second dose of the vaccine. We decided to do a little bit of a proactive walk - walking about the neighborhood and sharing scriptures with whoever we meet. We felt a pretty strong prompting to take one street… but didn't see a single soul. And then on top of that, we were prompted to take another street that would have looped us back to where we started! 

We were confused… but we went forth with faith. We have sort of a motto between the two of us; if it might be a prompting, and it's good, then pursue it - as much and as best as you can. 

We found one of the Sisters in the ward on a little bit of a stroll - and we got to talk to her for a while and walk with her. Her name is Sister Stahle - she's a blind widow, but has lived in this street for long enough to know where everything is, and she can see contrast… but that's about it. But she later confessed that the person she was going to go with couldn't make it, but she wanted to go out and walk because she wanted the sun and exercise. She was nervous and worried - and she related that she had asked Heavenly Father to send her someone to help her. 

"Thank you," she smiled sweetly. "You were my ministering angels today. Remember that when you feel like you're not doing anything special… You've been in exactly the right place at exactly the right time today. And that's because you were following the Spirit of the Lord. You were my blessing, today." She sniffled quietly. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

It was humbling. We've been checking in on her regularly for a while now… she's an amazing woman, and courageous as anyone I've ever met - and she's one of the sharpest people I've ever met, and she's nearly 87! Bless her heart for sure. She's wonderful. 

The Lord works miracles in our lives, whether we realize it or not. As we trust in Him and seek to have Him guide our thoughts and will, He will never lead us astray. He is our rock and our redeemer - our hope, our deliverer, our all. No matter what happens - no matter where we may be - if we reach out, He will always be there. 

6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.

7 For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers, after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him, for he showed himself not unto the world.

8 But because of the faith of men he has shown himself unto the world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift, that they might hope for those things which they have not seen.

9 Wherefore, ye may also have hope, and be partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith.

Have faith. Look for the hand of the Lord. He will always be with us, if we just believe - both with us, and with our loved ones on both sides of the veil. 

Take care, everyone - you all are amazing! 

Elder Decker

デッカー長老

 

May 24th Week 33- Peace and Petrichor  Layton Utah Week 23(T5 - Trainer DL W/Gibson)

皆さん! 

Hope you've all been well! As per Utah volatility, everything's cooled down quite a bit. It actually feels like Washington - white skies, drizzling rain, humidity and a slight chill in the air... it's comfy. I kind of missed it. ...Is that weird?

Because of the cloud cover, one of my companions has taken to drinking a lot of juice - he says it's for the vitamin C, but I'm pretty sure it's just because it tastes good (although, can confirm - cranberry apple juice is fantastic, even with a fruit allergy!). All the more power to him!

Hey, I know a lot of times these emails and letters back to you all can seem like sunshine and rainbows, but there's a lot that goes into the mission that maybe we don't see beneath the hood at times. Believe me, it's a lot of fun - and I've seen so many miracles while I've been here, and the joy I've been able to feel has been life changing. I've come so much closer to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, as a result, and I'm forever grateful for this opportunity.

That being said, there are weeks where we get discouraged. Where things seem hopelessly difficult. This week has been one of those. I've seen so many miracles this week as I've pushed forwards - but it was riddled with struggles and chaos. Last Saturday, I got sick with a cold - nothing new. I pushed through it and did some service for some members of the ward, and then almost passed out. Turns out I had blown up my cold through overexertion and heat exhaustion.

It took me out for most of the next week. I could barely get out of bed - but I forced myself to. We attended church last Sunday, but after two of our ward mission leaders saw me - Brother and Sister Pergler - they urged me to receive a Priesthood blessing. Afterwards, they took us home and forced me to get some rest. They brought over lunch later, too - they're amazing. Love them a ton! 

I asked for another one on Tuesday when symptoms didn't get much better. I felt impressed to have Elder Thompson give it - and what he said in that blessing was exactly what I needed at the time. And what's amazing about one who's in tune with the Spirit and speaking from the Spirit… there were a lot of personal things within the blessing that I had never told anyone - and had only prayed about. I know for a surety the Lord is watching over us and is listening to our prayers. Recovery was still slow… but I'm feeling much better. I could feel your prayers and support - you all are amazing.

But that wasn't even the end of it. With sickness comes being locked indoors. My focus was to make sure we were still being effective, and that Elder Gibson was able to continue to work at maximum efficiency. But being trapped indoors creates a little bit of friction - and Elder Gibson and I had some struggles this week. But we talked about it together - and we were able to come to an understanding and feel an increase of unity together. 

It's hard being a trainer. It's hard being a district leader. My mind is constantly focused on them - how to help my district, especially Elder Gibson, to become the best missionaries that they can be. It's fun, for sure - but it's hard. It's a lot of work. I have to keep going. 

So there's been a lot on my mind this week. I've spent a lot of time on my knees… when I was physically capable to do so, anyways. But I've felt the Lord's presence strengthening me, helping me to find peace and solace. There have been many times where I've found my burdens being lifted, and revelation flows as a fountain of light and faith.

Discouragement, I've found, comes in waves. Sometimes it comes in paths and routes we don't expect, and in bursts of such strength that at times, it feels hopeless. But at times, I think the Lord expects us to keep going… even if sometimes, keeping on going means resting for a short while. It's a frustrating lesson I've had to learn this past week. There are times I feel like I'm not doing enough - last week being a prime example. But the Lord knows our capabilities - after all, He knows us perfectly. I've always thought of it as a graph - where as we continue to move forward through life, our abilities increase. And yet, the Lord's expectations follow that graph exactly - but just a little bit above. 

Wait, what? If the Lord knows us perfectly, and knows exactly what we're capable of, why would he ever expect anything more than that? Why would he constantly expect results above what we are capable of?

The truth of the matter is that the Lord wants to help us. No loving older brother would ever leave his younger siblings to struggle alone. It's as it's written in James 1:5 - "If any of  you lack wisdom, let Him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." The Lord is willing to bless us with so much - but it's predicated on our asking. He wants to help us, but He can only do so if we are willing to accept His help. 

Think of it like a present. Jesus Christ has already held it out for us to take - but we have to choose to grab it. We have to choose to accept it. Otherwise, the present just hangs there. If He were to throw the present at us, it still wouldn't be open. It would just be there, still - tied up in a bow, the present waiting inside. We have to accept the gift. Open it up. Take the present out… and utilize it. Otherwise, it's a nice box.

Thus, the Lord expects us to act. He wants us to accept what He offers, but we have to act in order to do so. And yet, just as when someone gives a gift, they expect it to be opened, the Lord's expectations are set higher above what we could do… without his help. His hopes are that we utilize what He offers - His Atonement. After all, it was not just a one-time suffering for our sins. I've referenced this scripture before, and by heck will I reference it again:

"And He shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith He shall take upon Him the pains and afflictions of His people.

And He shall take upon Him death; that He may loose the bonds of death which bind His people; and He will take upon Him their infirmities, that His bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that He may know how to succor His people according to Their infirmities."

This passage, out of Alma 7 within the Book of Mormon, makes it clear - the Atoning sacrifice, paid for with drops of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane, was never meant to just be an offering for sin. This was meant to turn sympathy to empathy - a way to allow the Lord to feel and know each and every emotion, pain, and struggle we would ever face in this world. Was this - taking upon Him the suffering of the world - necessary to overcome sin? Perhaps. After all, it is truly knowing us that allows Him to stand as our advocate with the Father in the day of judgment - to plead our case and our repentance. But I'm of the belief that wasn't the primary purpose.

Have you ever been frustrated with someone? Have you ever thought, "If I could only get into their head! Then I could understand how I can help them to become better."

Is this not the same?

The Lord, above all, loves us. If He didn't, it is my belief that He would have never gone through the grueling, agonizing hours within the Garden of Gethsemane. And because He loves us, He won't abandon us. He wants to help us. He is our Shepherd, the Great Redeemer - the Prince of Peace, and Savior of the World. He took upon our tribulations and our sorrows so he could heal us. To bind our broken hearts. To mend our shattered souls. And to ultimately, innately understand us - how we feel, what our circumstances are, what we are struggling with. He knows it because He has descended below it all - and is helping to push us upwards.

Are we worthy of redemption? Yes. Absolutely yes. 

Paul writes in his epistle to the Romans:

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine… or peril, or sword? … Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."

The Savior Himself said it himself: "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which as lost."

No one is ever beyond redemption. His arms are outstretched still. His gift - the Atonement - is still there.

Reach out. Take it. Open it. Use it. He suffered for you. You are loved. You are worthy of being loved.

It is my belief that He would have done it all again if it were for even just a single one of us.

"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." - Isaiah 53:3-5

Take care, everyone - you all are amazing.

Elder Decker

デッカー長老

 

May 17th Week 32- Heat  Layton Utah Week 22 (T4 - Trainer DL W/Gibson)

皆さん! 

 Hope you've been doing well! Weather is heating up here... and simultaneously cooling down. It's... Utah. Not sure what I'm expecting at this point. Hope you all have more... temperate weather than we do. Rain, thunderstorms, wind storms, blazing heat... it's been a whole thing. 

 We've continued to try our best throughout this week. Our focus has been shifted to the members here - we're working hard towards that goal of meeting with everyone from the stake, and we're so hecking close! Just a few more now... it'll be good. 

 We also have a couple of new opportunities that have presented themselves to us, and so we're going to keep going towards those. In addition, those we are teaching are progressing well and are slowly learning more and more, and letting go of more and more of their fears. It's been pretty fun! 

 We were also able to help teach the baptism lessons to a young girl in our ward. (Different from the returning family I talked about last week.) It's so special to be able to see the faith that these eight year olds have, and how excited they are to perform this ordinance! It's such an amazing spirit there - it was our honor to help! She was already super prepared, and we just added onto her knowledge a bit and helped get her excited. It's been something we mentioned we could do when we first taught her family as member lessons, and every single time she saw us, she would always say, "I can't wait until you teach me about baptism!" Literally. This started about two months ago. 

 And for the actual baptism - which she asked me to play piano for, and asked Elder Gibson to conduct music for - she was just glowingly radiant and excited. And to see the love her parents have for her, and the talks that they gave... it was just such an amazingly sweet moment. It's such an important ordinance - and we're glad she chose to make that decision!

 Other than that, I caught a pretty nasty cold which got blown up by heat exhaustion after I tried to push through it... so I've been out of commission for the past two days in terms of physical activities. We've been setting up appointments in the meantime. No time left unused! But that does make this email a little shorter...

 But first, happy birthday to Elder Caryotakis! We siphoned time from lunch to have a little party in the apartment. He's amazing - and we're glad to have him for a little bit longer until he gets going to Mexico! He's pretty great. But that's in another couple of weeks, so... yeah! 

 For the scriptural thought, I've been looking at Jesus Christ, Savior, and I found this little gem out of Exodus 15:

 2 The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

 I did a little bit of research before this, and this is the song they sang after the events of the Red Sea. They witnessed firsthand the power of the Lord, and this was their praise. What's interesting is that this theme of praising the Lord was passed down from generation to generation, and not only that, they took the traditions of their fathers and made it their own. I think it's important that when we see the Lord, we not only look to Him with the same lens as our parents and leaders, but it's important to also see Him and study Him for ourselves, in light of our own experiences, choices, and situations in life. That's why the points of light are so powerful - they enlighten the mind to a new awareness of Him and how involved He is in our lives, and how to tap into the power of His love. He is all knowing and all powerful, and for that I am eternally grateful!

 Thank you so much - you all are amazing! Take care, and have a great week!

 Over and out,

Elder Decker

デッカー長老

 

May 10th Week 31- Serenity in Revelation  Layton Utah Week 21 (T3 - Trainer DL W/Gibson)

皆さん!

 So sorry for the late email! Today has been a little bit crazy with all of the things going on.

 I wish I had more to report to you all, but this week got blown up by so many things, it's not even funny. So.

 Monday we received our second rounds of Pfizer vaccines (except Elder Gibson who received his first) - and except for a sore arm, we were all fine!

 I woke up the next day, and it felt like I was walking amongst the living dead... It was kind of funny at the moment. Every single one of them were dazed out of their minds, and most were just barely awake. I felt bad, and I tried my best to help our where I could.

 ... And yet, it felt like something out of a weird dream, everyone else stumbling along while I'm just watching everything seem to walk in slow motion. It was kind of surreal, to be honest.

 But it's okay, because the next day that became me. So that was fun. Basically, we did the best we could. And we got a lot done! Well, we got a lot of seeds planted, at least.

 Thursday was Zone Conference! It was all about using questions in teaching. It was really good information, and though it wasn't anything particularly new, it was really good to be able to just review and talk about it! It was great. Also, did I mention I performed a musical number there? Because that happened. I played a piano arrangement of Lord, Is It I? from the musical Lamb of God. It was so much fun! Not my best performance... but I think that the Spirit was there.

 Then, us district leaders were informed that afternoon that the next day, we would be teaching all the other districts a principle of our choice. So that was... exciting. Luckily, it was only a ten minute lesson, so it wasn't too bad or too hard at all. It was good to get to know everyone in the zone and talk to everyone there!

 The rest of the week has been pretty quiet. We've seen miracle after miracle - running into people, learning new things, and finding new ways to help other people. I'm grateful for the Lord's hand in this work - we can feel Him consecrating our work as we try our best to do His will!

 And that's my testimony - that He will be with us every step of the way. Even when struggles and problems and issues come our way, we can always rise up and continue forwards. I've shared this scripture before, but I'd love to share it again - revelation given to Joseph Smith from within the dark confines of Liberty Jail - where there was no food save that which was smuggled in, hardly any water, no practice of hygiene, and all within a dark, cramped room.

 In the midst of this darkness, Joseph Smith cried out to the Lord - "O God, where art Thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth Thy hiding place?" (D&C 121:1).

 The reply? "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment. And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands." (D&C 121:7-9). I love that the Lord refers to Joseph as "my son" - there is such power that comes with that familial connection. Because it's true! Heavenly Father is truly our Father in Heaven - and if we pray, seeking with pure intent and with a genuine, innocent desire to learn and know for ourselves... the answer will come in a still, small voice.

 I'm not sure why this scripture came to me, but Alma 34:38 came to me:

"That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ... and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth, and that ye live in Thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you."

 I know that this church is true. As we listen to the promptings of the Spirit with full purpose of heart, we can receive the answers we desire. If we have a pureness of heart, and real intent, the answers, the blessings, the miracles - they will all come.

 Take care for now, everyone! Love you all - you all are amazing!

 Elder Decker

デッカー長老