Letter 6-20-11

Querida Familia,

  Happy Fathers Day Dad! Yesterday in church in Gospel Principles we talked about Fathers and read about differen't awesome Father examples in the book of momon. From Lehi down to Mormon. I also asked a list of good attributes for a good father. The hispanics said: Humilde, trabajador, honesto, dispuesto, guia, tiene barba, ejemplo, divertido, paciente, amoroso, y tiene caridad. Delfina really hit home on the last part and having charity. I really like the list because the Ross man is good at all of those things, except for having a beard. 14 hispanics showed to church which is a fairly good number. Hugo y Telma came, and they are doing better. They should be having some kind of dedication this week. Delfina and Eduardo and the hijas came as well. They are doing awesome, they read, come to church, and pray but still don't want to get married. Maybe they just need a little more time with those 3 things. Then there is Rolando. Rolando is a Cuban guy that has been taught by past missionaries but for chastity, and word of wisdom problems couldn't be married. He finally has moved away from his chastiy problems but we just got him to quit smoking. He lives right next to the Bayou in a little town called Gibson. There is nothing out where he lives save it be deer and gators. I really would like to live out there. He is working for the 18th of July. He is really solid and speaks english so he would be really good for our branch.

   Eric and Luz are doing alright. Luz is the only one that is really progressing right now. She wanted to go to Church yesterday but her 2 sons wouldn't go with her or help with the 2 younger daughters. Eric was working. So our plan is to send the Benitez daughters over that have the same age as Luz's boys and persuade them to come. I think it will work. It would have worked on me when I was younger. There are some other people up and coming.

   It's been so long since I've had a baptism that I sometimes feel like an unsuccessful missionary. I just want to do all I can to help these people here take that important step. I've enjoyed working with the people here more so than any other area. It's just so hard to get people to overcome working on sunday or quit smoking. So many things that do easily beset or impide someone from being baptized.

   The last Zone Conference with President Woods was fun. They both seem a little anxious to go home. We had a testimony meeting at the end and President Woods just talked about marriage and stuff. When I talke about mine, I said how when I came to the mission I just thought Pres. expected me to be like Grandpa, Roger, Rick, Ross, Rob, or any of the other Deckers he knows. I explained how I didn't really like that because I will never be as awesome as those guys, but that I should try to be.

  Tonight we will be doing a treasure hunt in the church for all the hispanics. I think a lot will come. Family Nights with hispanic people are the best! Last monday I had a family night with Delfina and Eduardo, the Benitez, and Sergio. Sergio was my companion because E' Rowan had another FHE with Eric and Luz, and the Senior Couple. We played pictionary with bilbe/bom words, watched the Como hallar fe en cristo, and ate some food. It was a good spiritual time. Today we are going to do like a treasure hunt in and around the church. I will explain next week after it is all said and done.

   Our buddy Caleb should be leaving the jail today. Our other buddy Jesus will be entering this next friday. He got in a wreck while drinking and has to go to jail for 5 weekends in a row. I had never heard of such a thing, sounds kind of convenient. We went to his court case, not knowing that E' Rowan and I had to be his official translator. When they called for the translator, I wussed out and had E' Rowan do it. He was super nervous at first but he did a good job. The hard thing about translating in court is that what they talk about is completely new vocab that I don't understand in english. E' Rowan did a good job. He is almost home and hadn't translated in court so it was good for him. I will have my oportunity later on.

  Not too much more is going on. Time just seems to be floating by. I'm about where my trainer was when I served with him and he went home really fast. I'm starting to realize 9 months isn't that much time at all. Some times I just want to go home, especially when I hear my best buddy is home. However, it would also take something jacking up my intestines to get me home. Being a Missionary is so weird sometimes. I am focused in helping people receive something that means so much to me, when about 3 yrs ago I didn't really even think or care about. I don;t even know what I am saying anymore. I just want to work hard and help these people is my main point I guess. 

  Thank you mom for the package! Dad I hope you had a great Fathers Day! I hope Justina didn't give you a hard time on your big day. pegale en las nalgas para mi. I love you all and I hope all is going well back home.

 

Con Amor,

 

Elder Decker

Josh's Letter 6-12-11

Querida Familia,

   It's a sad world we live in. Elder Rowan and I have been planning a 2 Family Home Evening Session. 1 with Delfina and Eduardo and the the Benitez. 2nd with Hugo y Telma, Eva, and Eric and Luz(plus all the hijos). We planned that I would go down with Delfina and them and E' Rowan with the others. Yesterday I called Telma to clarify if we could still do the family night. She told me she was in the hospital because her stomach hurt. While I was on the phone with her I remembered she was pregnant. I agreed with her that she would talk to the Doctor then call us. The call never came so I tried calling her before I went to bed but she didn't answer. I was already thinking the worst in my head. It was weird I just felt in my heart that something wasn't right. Then at about 1:30 in the morning I heard a loud knocking on the door. As I stumbled out of bed I looked at the phone and saw that we had some missed calls, I know something was up. I answered the door and Gustavo(a friend of Hugo and Telma) was there. He sadly told me how Telma had the baby boy 5 months early and he died right after birth. We cruised over to the hospital with Elder Ellyson and gave her a blessing of comfort. It was so sad to see her there like that. I can't even imagine losing a child like that or in anyway. We went to the Mortuary and are planning the funeral. They are going to do a Cremation with the baby so that when they die they can be buried with him. I had to do a lot of translating with a lot of new vocab I don't know. I'm glad I could just help in some way. I really hope Hugo and Telma can grow from this. Hugo is a RM but has kind of gone in-active.

   The Stake Conference went pretty well. Jose Gonzalez drove us there. The Benitez girls and Delfina and Eduardo and their 3 hijas all went in the same van. I don't think Eduardo and Delfina liked it too much, unfortunately. Reina talked to them about being married and baptized on the ride home because they were talking about the temple, that is right next to the Stake Center. Delfina told Reina she doesn't want to be married or baptized. We need to work on her testimony of the Book of Mormon. It was good to see some of the people I worked with in Baton Rouge. I saw the Valenzuela family. When I left that area they still weren't married and Luccio hadn't been baptized. A couple of months ago they got married and he got baptized. I also saw Tanya(the Brazilian), and the Powells. Maria wasn't there.

  Things are going well with E' Rowan. He is a really obedient missionary who acts no hypocrisy. I feel I will learn a lot from him. We only speak spanish to each other so I hope I learn a lot. We have some good potential Investigators right now that need a lot of work. Then there is Eric, Luz, John(14), Jesus(11), Arlett(2), and Mayhte(6m). They are progressing well and are all committed to read everyday. The only hang up is still that Eric has to work every sunday for atleast the next 2 months. The rest of the family will probably come to Church this Sunday. I have never really taught so many people at once, it is a good challenge.

  Things are going well. I miss Elder Terry but who knows maybe I will serve with him again. I have been reading recently in the early parts of Alma. Alma chapters 5 and 7 are 2 of my favorites! 5 helps me see where I need to improve and 7 shows me how to improve because my Savior already did everything for me. It's amazing how our patterns of life can be changed so much if we just 1. Frequently pray 2. Go to church with an open heart and 3. Read in the scripures often, specifically in the Book of Mormon. The hard part is getting that desire in people to do those 3 simpe/profound things.

  

Con Amor,

 

Elder Decker

 

 

Letter 6-7-11

Querida Familia,

  Another transfer and another new companion. I'm on a streak Carranza to Robbins to Groom to Terry and now to Elder Rowan. I replaced Elder Rowan in Mandeville. He is from California and is going home in August. I am really going to miss Elder Terry, he is my favorite companion and also best friend in the mission. He is going to South Baton Rouge where I served. I'm really bummed because we had a lot of good things going. Adjusting to new companions always takes time and I would like to say it doesn't have a toll on Investigators but it usually does.

  We had a really good last week together. Eric and Luz are doing well! They are committed for June 25th and they are married. Only hold is that Eric has to work every Sunday for atleast the next 2 months. To be baptized you have to come to church twice. When we committed Eric he mentioned how when we first passed by he was drinking a little beer. We didn't say anything about it. After our first visit he didn't have the desire to drink anymore and stopped completely. I am really excited for them! Delfina and Eduardo are still really cool but have some problems in between them. Delfina has to go back to Mexico to renew a work visa and Eduardo doesn't want her to go. Then there is also Jessica and Efren, they have a date for the 25th as well. They have 4 little kids. They aren't the most solid Investigators....yet.

   On Saturday we had a big crawl fish boil at one of our only rich members house. He is a Doctor and his house backs up to the River. 26 hispanics showed up including Luz and the family minus Eric. Also Delfina and the fam minus Eduardo. I ate some craw fish and only had the slightest reaction but it got to the point where I didn't want to keep eating. After having 26 hispanics at a Craw fish we expected to have many at church. Only the Familia Benitez, Jose G., Sergio and Miguel, and 2 Investigators showed up. One of the Investigators was this guy named Hector. His son got put in jail and we have been visiting him. He came to Church and had a lot of questions. He is pretty cool and we will start teaching him more.

  Not too much more happened that I can think of. I just got back from being a cadey for Elder Terry on a beautiful golf course. We were out in the sun for like 4 hrs. Yes, I got the pictures. Thank you mom for those. The flood situation is the same, not much. I haven't heard anything about Mitt. Yes I will be in the same address so a package would be nice. I don't really have any requests.

   

May 31, 2011 Letter

Querida Familia,

  I'm having a hard time remembering a lot that happened throughout the week. So I will go off some of the things y'all wrote and go from there. Send the Farnesworth family my love! Sounds like the funeral went well, so thats good. Dad I think I remember the guy from the relay team. You left out another STG missionary who is there. Dustin Neilson is also in Billings. Mom knows who that is. Ellsworth is going to Chile? I have only met one Chilean on my mission. I have pretty much met atleast one person from the central and southern american countries except for Paraguay and Uruguay. Garifuna?!? Do I know about the Garifunas, you ask. Elder Terry and I followed one in our car from Morgan City to Amelia just the other night. They were a bunch of africans who took over a slave trade boat and accidently crashed into Honduras and populated there. So there are tons of them that speak their native tongue, spanish, and a lot speak english too. There are a ton in New Orleans. The other night we saw(what looked like a normal black guy driving around) and saw that he had spanish written on his car. Upon further examine we found a Garifuna flag hagging on his front dash. 

   Mom congrats on finishing up the school year! I'm still at the same address. Transfers are next week though. I hope I stay. 

   Elder Terry and I have stayed really positive! This last week was one of my best weeks in finding people. We found a new family with like 4 kids. Also Eric and Luz are doing really well. Luz had some doubts about why she would need to be baptized again so we talked about authority and she understood. Delfina and Eduardo still have something going on between them and I don't know what it is. They seem to be working it out though. It's only a matter of time until they decide to get married and baptized. Marcero(our black looking Dominican) has date for the 18th of June. We are going to work with him to help understand how important church is. 

   We had a really small turn-out at church. I swear it's like of our Investigators and members call each other every week to say go or no? One week everyone shows up, another hardly anyone. Good news though, Sister Dupre is going to move in our branch and she is from Brazil and speaks spanish perfectly. She will be able to help and support all of the hispanic women we teach. 

  The translator is helping me out a lot. I bust it out quite often. The flood talk is still going but nothing too much is happening. There are 22 ft. sea walls that protect Morgan City. I think eventually there will be some damage in Amelia but nothing too bad. 

  Things are going well. I know I sounded negative but I am really positive. I am positive because we have a lot of Investigators right now, and  alot of potential. That makes missionary work the best. Elder Terry and I have been really good at inviting the comforter with us. We are looking to getting some people committed for baptism this week, and not just to commit but because we have some legit people who are ready for the gospel. I love you all and I am grateful for all the love and support I receive. I will write you next tuesday. I hope Elder Terry and I stay together one more because he has been my best companion. 

Con Amor,

Elder Decker

May 22, 2011 Letter

Querida Familia,

  This flood situation is the most hyped up stupid thing. Nothing has really affected any of the places where our members or Investigators live. Of course there are some places that are flooding, the places that are already right next to the water. I still think it is going to take it's toll on Amelia(Mexico jr) but now they are saying it won't hit til this saturday. Also the National Guard just has more time to keep preparing so I think most all places will be prepared for whatever eventually comes. We aren't doing too much service at the moment but we might again soon. It has just been hard to keep tabs on Investigators when they are moving around from place to place.

  Delfina and Eduardo are being affected by the flood even though it hasn't come. They have had their van set and ready to go for like 2 weeks now. Delfina and her 3 daughters got sick so they didn't come to church and when we passed Eduardo just looked preocupado. We are going to visit them Tuesday and help them have a desire to be married. President Jordan will be key in helping them.

   The family that we helped move their trailer to Patterson came to church yesterday. Moises, Rosario, and Jorge(the son). We also had 13 other hispanics show-up. It's sad because our church building is so small that if we would have more hispanics there it would have been too crowded. The english members don't want to give up the big room neither even though, like yesterday, there were more hispanics than english. It just doesn't leave us much room to grow. I translated all of sacrament while E'Terry sat with our Invs. It was very hard, but I grew from it. It's all about rhthym and relaxation. There were times where I didn't understand what people were saying in english so how I am supposed to translate that? We are in the south. For Gospel Principles E' Terry and I taught a good lesson on sacrifice. We watched "Only a StoneCutter" of the new D&C DVD. That movie reminds me a lot of my own dad. It you haven't seen it, I would recommend it. After the good lesson on sacrifice we had all the members make a sacrifice by staying for the 3rd hour that is only in english. All the members did it.

   Not too much more is going on. Elder Terry both need to work on our spanish to be more effective. I bought a really nice translator the other day to help me out. Elder Belknap bought one when I was with him and I saw him grow from it. We also met a really cool family the other day. We taught the father, an ex-Coyote and look forward to teaching the rest of his family this week.

  I am sad to hear about the Farnesworth family, that is really sad! There are a lot of sad and truly great things that have happened since I've been on my mission. I wish it was always just good news, but I guess there is opposition in all things. Tell Trevor Thompson my congrats for his baptism and the Panthers for their good work in track. The good news of all is that we can superar todo por medio de nuestro Salvador JesuCristo.

Con Amor,

Elder Decker

Recent pictures

Gator on a log

Morgan City

Queen Mary

Turtle meal

May 16, 2011 Letter and photos

Querida Familia,

  Well the missionary life has changed completely. Say goodbye to sit down lessons for a good while. It's good though, I almost prefer it this way. I am better at showing people things than telling them anyways. We have gone around sounding the warning in Amelia to make sure the hispanics will be alright. Delfina and Eduardo aren't married so they weren't abled to be baptized. One day after all this mess cleans up though. They are going up to New Iberia for the flood. We will do our best to try and keep good tabs on them. We are still trying to get safe places to go for some of our members. The Benitez family are going to New Orleans, and a bunch of people are going to Houston. Once they opened that Morganza spill way people really started realizing a flood was coming even though we have been telling them for weeks. It's funny to see how much preperation some people put into saving their houses and others not at all. We have 2 potential people that should start hearing/understanding the gospel message real soon. This couple Moises Y Rosario, we met them about a week ago. They live right next to the river in a 5th wheel in Amelia. They had no idea about the flood. We taught them about the B.O.M. and told them it would be a good idea to get their trailer out of Amelia. They found some friends to stay with in Patterson but no one to take their 5th wheel. Well on Saturday we got President Jordan over there and moved them out. They were really grateful and Pres. Jordan was helping Moises to have a desire to quit drinking. President Jordan served in Mexico and has stayed up on his spanish. It's amazing what service can do!

  It looks like a war zone down here. The National Guard is everywhere putting up sandbags and what not. They will probably have a mandatory evacuation Tuesday or Wednesday in Amelia. Morgan City has 22 ft sea walls protecting it but those or the levees could break and Morgan City would be going under too. That would not be good at all. Eva Luna, the mexican lady with the triplets was thinking about leaving Morgan City but then she had a crazy experience. She woke up in the middle of the night and grabbed her bible. She read a part in the Bible(she thinks in Job) that talked about the River Jordan flooding. In the chapter it talked about being calm and not to worry about it flooding. She went back to bed but marked where she had been reading. When she woke up the next day that same part in the Bible was completely different than the one she read the night before. So she took that as her answer that she didn't need to worry about the flood in Mo City. I don't know those hispanics always have weird dreams and stuff. Hopefully nothing happens in Mo City because she isn't prepared.

  Not too much else is going on. We have extra food and water in case the water gets shut off in Berwick. Worst case scenario is that Berwick becomes an island and we are stuck there. I'm glad President decided to leave us in Berwick to do service. I can't wait to go out and help more people. We also had a very good Family Home Evening early in the week with 20 people at it. The Benitez family, Sergio, Miguel, Buben, Alma Delfina, Eduardo, Wendolin, Damaris, Liel, Jose Gonzalez, and Salvador were all there for the hispanics.

  There is no need to get worried about anything. I just hope none of our Invs or Members are too badly effected. A ver que pasa. Welp E' Terry and I have to go sell and buy a car for some mexicans to drive back to Mexico. I love you and I hope is going well.

 

Con Amor,

 

Elder Decker

First pic is of Delfina, Eduardo y Salvador

The Benitez family: Greyci, Reina, Mario, Reina, Jeymy, y Shelldeen

 preparing for the flood by sandbagging