Monday, October 21, 2013

"I'd rather be an optimist and a fool, than a pessimist and right"

Hola Hola!!!

Como estan!!!!?? Well fall has officially hit Mississippi. It is
FREEZING! I know I know, I'm being a baby. It's not that cold and I
know I could be somewhere where it's snowing (like Russia ;) Sorry
Grandma and Grandpa) so I wont complain. Still, it has been pretty
cold. Dear Sister Wells has a hurt arm so she got the car all this
week and Hermana Barroso and I were on bikes. I LOVE my bike... and
that's no joke, I really do :) But I'd rather not ride it in a skirt
at night in 30 degree weather. But WO is me. I've done it before I can
do it again :p I do love this time of year :) I love fall clothes,
smells, changing leaves, pumpkins, etc. And Christmas is almost
here!!! Woot!

President told me in my interview about a week or so ago that he had a
lot of appreciation for the difficulty it takes to start a Spanish
branch. Well… me too. We really are searching for that one person who
can be the back bone and they really need to have a strong strong
conversion. Not just have a testimony of these things, but be truly
converted to all of it. I have met too many people out here on my
mission  that have a testimony of the things we are teaching them, but
they aren’t living it! It’s like what Elder Bednar said, “A testimony
is knowing what you live, and conversion is living what you know.” I
know that one is out there, it will just be the finding them that we
will have to rely on the Lord for. I have hope for the future of this
area! It’s like President Hanks said, “Someday, 10 years from now,
you’ll come back and there will be a whole Spanish ward here and you
will be able to say, ‘I started that’.”

Jesus came to church this week again! This will be his 5th time at
church :) I just love him! But I wish he would just get baptized
already. I honestly don't know what his worry or doubt is because he
won't open up with us as much as I'd like him to. He is so humble and
wise, but he won't commit! (which seems to be a problem with all
Latinos... marriage to one will probably never happen since they can’t
commit to anything;) ). So we are trying to figure it out. One of our
members has been super helpful in all of this and all of the members
are always very loving when he comes in even though he doesn't speak
much English.

His son Rey didn't come to church this week :( apparently his alarm
didn't go off. He and his dad basically are the same person. I think
they love having us come by and love the word, they just don't
understand that this is the REAL DEAL! I give props to them though for
coming to church all these times even with my horrible translation ;)

We have 3 baptismal dates! Woot! All are English. One is with an
investigator named Shay. She is just so adorable. She is a true seeker
of truth and loves the spirit that we bring into her house. She is
going through a lot right now and her home isn't really helping with
her progression. There are too many bad influences. She is a young
mother and she and her husband have a not very well paying job and
it's just all drama drama drama. We had a really good lesson with her
last night though and we told her we are going to help her get to
where she wants to be. We will do all we can and the rest is up to
her. Our other Baptismal dates are with an aunt of a less active named
Gladys, and the other is with Chrystal who is not happy with the new
pastor at her new church. Chrystal has the cutest family so I hope
they will feel the Gospel touch their hearts.

We went to transfers this week to pick up Sister Wells new companion.
ister Schendiman from Sandy Utah :) She's great. It was fun to see
everyone there. Hermana Hazelgren is still Sister Training Leader but
they moved her to Lorna in Birmingham (now she's been to all 3 spanish
branches that lucky duck) and get this, her companion is Hermana
Child! :D My two old companions. I just love them. They will be the
best Sister Training Leaders ever!

Other than that we raked some leaves for a blind less active, I went
on exchanges in Tupelo with the beloved Sister Murray from Pittsburgh.
She has been Sister Training Leader since I was called so we had fun.
She's great! We had a missionary just come home from New Zealand! He
has a funny accent now :) ... I hope I don't come home with a funny
accent.

Eli, I love you too and I will be expecting those hugs when I get
home! Kate, you are the cutest little pink lady ever! Serph, you look
like a stud! Grandma, I love your sense of humor! Thanks to everyone
else for all you do! MOM! I didn't forget your birthday! I have a card
that I had since last week I just sent it today though :( sorry! But I
love you and Happy Birthday! And my only request is possibly pumpkin
bread :)

Les Quiero muchisimo!

Love, Hermana Decker

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