No God, No peace. Know God, Know peace.

My dear dear family and friends,

This week has been so spiritual and at the same time, so draining. I don't know what is up but I have been more exhausted lately than I ever have on my mission. I guess I'm just getting to the point where it's all catching up to me. Seriously though, I'm falling asleep everywhere, and in studies, which usually only happens to Hna Hazelgren ;) It's no bueno. But what can you do. I am definitely planning to take a nap today... but we know how that usually goes. Too much to do!

We had the AMAZING opportunity to go to the Temple this week! It was AMAZING! (did I say that already?). We got to see the new video. Wow! that's all I can say. Wow! I loved the emotion behind it all. That's not something you got to see in the old one. May have shed a few tears or so :) I love the temple. I love what president Hanks talked to us about it too. "Sometimes we go to the temple looking for some new and great insight… and perhaps the greatest insight that lies right in front of us all along is that the temple is really about us making promises to God, that we will comport our life in some small way to be similar to the life the Master lived while he was on the earth." He's a smart guy he is.

We also had a general authority come and speak to us yesterday! (this would be why I am emailing today). And we got to go back to Huntsville! That's where we met. My old stomping ground. I sure do miss that place. And I got to see all of my Sisters and Hermana Hazelgren which was such a blessing. Sure do love them! Elder Erich Kopishke from the 70 came and spoke to us. Him and his wife are from Germany and his wife is just the cutest, most energetic person you ever did see. I wish I had her enthusiasm about life. His training was 6 hours! So we were there most of the day... well all of it because it takes 2 and a half hours to drive there. He is an inspired man. Truly called of God. It's so amazing how he can be talking to a whole group of people and know exactly what I needed to hear... I guess that is mostly the spirits doing, but he created the environment to allow the spirit to dwell with us.He talked a lot about having dreams and desires. "Do not lose your dreams!" He said. He shared Ether 12:19 and told us our dreams, when made a reality through our faith, will make us glad. He told us to "Stop walking down the street waiting to see what happens." It was definitely something I needed to hear. I don't know why but this new area has been a struggle for me. We are doing the work and things are happening, investigators are progressing, so all SEEMS to be great. I just feel so out of it. I'm not quite sure why. It's never really happened on my mission. Ever since the beginning I've been ready to go, but lately I'm doing the work, but I feel a bit inadequate. I know, I have got to stop feeling sorry for myself. I just need to get back in the game with the arrows pointed outward, forgetting myself, all will be well. And it's good to have a dream. Every morning from now on I'm going to wake up and just dream of that golden investigator family going through the temple and ask the Lord to help me find them that day. That was Elder Kopishke's invitation to us. Remember our dreams, work for them, and ask the Lord to make them a reality.

Corinth is great! It has definitely been a great experience for me to be serving here and it has only been a short time. Already I am learning a lot and I have seen the blessings of having spanish missionaries here. There are quite a few Hispanics in our area. Our investigator pool just keeps growing! It's fantastic! Our investigator, Rey, is doing great! The elders used to stop by every once and a while and talk with him and help him with service, which really opened his heart I think to listening to us. He speaks english well enough to hold a conversation but he prefers Spanish. He wants to be baptized! We have met with him a few times now and he won't commit to a set date, but he told us last time that he doesn't want us to feel like we are wasting our time with him because he really loves what he is learning and he is actually keeping commitments! That's always a plus. He didn't come to church last Sunday because he was waiting for a text from us and we forgot... bad on our part. But next week he will come! He may take some time, but it is really a breath of fresh air to meet with him because he has so much DESIRE. Which is what Elder Kopishke talked a lot about. He just doesn't want to jump into it. He wants to be sure he is ready to commit.

Other investigators. Last week I mentioned our run in with the less active members Reina and Enrique. Enriques wife, Anna (who is not a member), just had a baby! We brought them some cookies and a little gift and he seemed genuinely happy to see us. He asked when we were coming by to see them next and if we could bring the Joseph Smith Restoration movie so we could watch it with Anna and his little sisters who are not members either. We are hoping to get their records over here soon. We have great hopes for them though!

Hermana Barroso is doing amazing! She really came pre-trained. Her Spanish is phenomenal! It really is. She doesn't realize how advanced she is in the language, but she could probably be training right now and be better off than some of the other sisters I have worked with in the past. I keep getting amazing trainees they probably train me more than I train them. First Hermana Child and now Hermana Barroso. I think God is trying to teach me a bit of humility in all of this :)

Mucho amor to all of you! I miss y'all! Thank you so much for the package! It was cute :) and thanks to Eli for the drawing! It's hanging up by my bed.

Love, Hermana Masey Decker