Fwd: What's up

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Begin forwarded message:

From: Seraphin Decker <seraphin.decker@myldsmail.net>
Date: December 1, 2014 at 6:15:24 AM PST
To: Robin Decker <robinlynnd@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: What's up

Hey everybody! How's it going ? I hope all is well in Las Vegas :) I'm doing really well here in Brazil. My Portuguese is coming along and we're teaching and serving and having fun and eating a lot, it's great. It's because I watched the other side of heaven this last week and I was thinking that his mission is a lot like mine. Or maybe I just want my life to be like a movie I don't know ha but we walk into people's home and as I look around, compared to me, they have nothing. But we start talking and sharing experiences and things and I realize that they have everything, compared to me. There houses are as big as my bedroom but have such faith and charity and power behind their voices that I could never match.To be surrounded by a group of saints like this is such a blessing for me.  We had an activity at the church the other day and it was so fun, I love Brazilians ha. We had some investigators and less actives come and they chose a good week to come because it was a lot of fun. We had games and food and I don't really know where I'm going with this but it just amazes me that people can be so full of light. 

We're are teaching a few people right now. We made contact with this yound family (Romário, Manoela, and I forgot the name of their 7 year old little girl because she came in right when we were leaving) who I think could be baptized tomorrow if they were married and took all the lessons in one day. They said they've been looking for something different and that they feel that with us. They had a friend their while we were teaching and he was so funny because he kept talking. Elder Oliveira Neto was really annoyed but the Spirit was still their when we could sneak a word in.  We're are still teaching Pedrinho but it's hard because his mom has just stopped taking lessons and he's only 10 years old so if he doesn't come to church we have to drop him too and I really don't want to. He has friends within the church who play soccer at the church but a lot of those kids that come and play aren't members and so I think he hangs out with them more.  We're teaching a 28 year old named Lucas and he's amazing. He's so smart and is really looking like a future baptism. I think he could a huge plus for the church so we're bringing in a sister for the next lesson to kind of bribe him hahahaha is that bad ? She's an RM so she'll be able to contribute really well to the lesson.  We're also teaching Lucas' mom, Cristina. She comes to church every Sunday but isn't baptized, so I get to invite her to baptism today O_O I think she'll say yes though, she's an awesome lady. We had lunch at her house yesterday and talked a lot. She loves that I'm black and from the U.S. just like every other sister in the branch ha. She said we're cousins because my ancestors are from Africa. I don't know but she's great.  And finally, we visited a less active sister, Joelmí, and she came to church ! Her and her mom ! Joelmí is single 18 year old with a son, Mateus, who's like 1 or 2 years old idk but he was a lot of fun. Obviously, she's had some rough days with her situation but we're going to keep being friends for her and hopefully she'll keep coming to church. 

Well since Thanksgiving just passed I guess I'll talk about some things that I'm grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and for his Atonement and for a far from perfect, over-confident kid from Las Vegas, NV can be forgiven for his imperfections and live with my family for all of time and eternity. With Christmas coming up I hope to give someone the opportunity to partake of the goodness of this gospel. I'm grateful for my companion who loves me and cares for me and has only known me for about a month. I'm grateful a Heavenly Father that loves unconditionally. That I can fall to my knees and pour out my heart to and know that he is listening and will take care of me. That his love is true and eternal. I don't remember if I told y'all about Elder Lee in my district but we were talking about a lot of things but one thing he said about how the mission makes you need your Heavenly Father. I don't know anybody here so I pray and as I'm learning what it means to need my Father in heaven and become close to him and do his will 10 out of 10 times I'm so grateful to know that I can have him with me if I let him. I'm grateful for all of you ! My family and friends I love all of y'all so much and I want you to know that I pray for every single one of you everyday single day without fail. You all have done so much for me and I couldn't begin to try and pay you back even if I tried. I'm grateful for all of you ! Thank you so much for all of the letters, I love hearing all of the stories and things. I will talk to you all next because I am late for a Subway appointment. 

Tchau tchau

P.S.  1st picture is Caio (Lucas' brother and Cristina's son) and Marcos

        2nd picture is me and the Elders on Thanksgiving Day