Fwd: Happy New Year!!!

From: Seraphin Decker <seraphin.decker@myldsmail.net>
Date: January 5, 2015 at 6:02:42 AM PST
To: Robin Decker <robinlynnd@gmail.com>
Cc: Brayden <brayden.decker@myldsmail.net>
Subject: Re: Happy New Year!!!

Olaaaaa! It's great to hear everyone is doing amazing! I honestly love hearing about all that's going on at home even though I don't know how to reply it all. But there's a missionary here Elder Morgan and he was serving state side in Alabama and he thinks he knows Masey so yeah the world is very very small, I mean I'm serving in the same mission as Elder Pollard...crazy. I'm so happy right now, people are thinking I'm from São Paulo!!!! The Lord is blessing me so much with the gift of tongues. 

This week was filled with pure amazingness except for the fact the I'm having to learn patience. These people are so close to being baptized but something always comes up like girlfriends and trips out of the city....*sigh* it's all good though, I'm trusting in the Lord, his timing is perfect so I'll keep doing my job and he'll take care of the rest. We had splits this week and I was with Elder Alencar and I've grown so close to him this last week, my companion Elder Oliveira Neto too. Our house was having some problems and come to find out the problem was me ha -___- I've been working really hard to have more charity, just with everyone I come in contact with. That's always been a goal of mine, as a disciple of Christ, to teach and talk with the love that Christ has. 

We had lunch with 5 other companionships this last week at the Branch President's house. He and his wife honestly are the most humble, spiritual, loving people you'll ever meet. They're always hesitant to talk about themselves but everyone wants to talk about them with them. He baptized 300 people during his mission, including someone in the 70's and he was companions with M. Russell Ballard. He's literally the dude haha. We spent New Years with them and the Elder's quorum and it was so fun. I love the people here in Jacobina. I wish I could tell y'all every single experience I have but it's hard to cram it all in and rush and all that jazz but just know that you should be jealous of me haha. I was sitting in sacrament meeting and couldn't believe what I was not only hearing but feeling, these people have something special that can't be explained. 

Just an experience that I had..Elder Ward (the other americano) and I went to visit a recent convert and we were conversing/sharing a message about the new year with her and her husband. And she just started crying like a baby and they started saying like, "you two remind us of the missionaries that taught us " and I couldn't believe what I was hearing, that the Lord can use me to have an effect like that. Not just because she cried but I was able to help her feel the spirit that way. In the scriptures, it says I am weak but the Lord makes weak things strong or something like that ha but it's true, I'm weak but with my Heavenly Father I can do all things. The New Year is a great time to make goals that will help you grow spiritually in Christ. He gave everything for our happiness and only with him can we know what that feels like. I love you all so much and I can't wait to hear from you ! HAPPY NEW YEARS AND UNTIL NEXT WEEK :)