Headed to Vacaville!

Dear family and friends,

Hi for the last time from Vallejo!  I am transferring tomorrow to Vacaville, which is only about 30-minutes east of Vallejo haha.  I haven't been very north in this mission, mostly southeast.  

But hey!  I love it - no complaints.  I am going to be serving in the Solano YSA ward - the YSA ward in Vacaville.  Haha #foreverYSA.  Seriously, though.  It's crazy.  I love working with people my age, though.

Also, I am staying a sister training leader and going to be with Sister Kwan, a sister from Hong Kong!  Yay!!  Two international companions in a row!  I loved learning about Fiji from Sis. Naqia this transfer, so I'm sure I'll love learning about Hong Kong from Sis. Kwan next transfer!

My love for learning has only increased since I've come out here.  Man.  It's just the best.  I get to learn about different people each day, how they work, how God works in their lives, how God answers prayers, how to say random phrases in Fijian ("Bulumakau, Yava i va, na ose tale ga.  Na toa yava i rua, ke iau tale ga" - A cow have 4 legs and so does a horse.  A chicken has two legs and so do I...haha).

Learning is just awesome.

Something that E. Wright, my zone leader, said this week in a meeting really struck me, and I agree with it.  He said there are so many people who spend YEARS and thousands of dollars trying to "find" themselves.

If they only realized that life isn't about "finding" ourselves, but about creating ourselves.  We have gifts given to us that may just remain hidden if we specifically search them out.  However, if we work on creating something new and beautiful, we end up revealing those gifts we have been searching for.

I know that that is true.  Life is so beautiful, I am so grateful each day when I wake up and my lungs and my heart and my brain and my body work.  I am grateful for the opportunity to run every morning and feel my heart pounding in my chest and my legs burning.  I am grateful that I am safe and live in a house with a roof over my head.  I am grateful for so many things.  I just love life so so much.

I know this is where I am supposed to be.  I also know where YOU are right now is where YOU are supposed to be, too.  Work on creating something new in the situation you are in right now, with the people you are with.  Stop searching and just DO.  Like Yoda always says, "Do or do not, there is no try."  Haha. ;)

As for my last week here in Vallejo, it went well!

I'm just going to attach what I wrote to President Alba for what happend this week:

I have loved serving with Sister Naqia the past transfer. She has been such a blessing in my life, and now I have a reason to go to Fiji ;) Haha but in all seriousness, Sister Naqia has helped me to relax and enjoy the journey so much more. We have seen so much success in our area lately - we have 7 baptismal dates with 7 super solid children of God! I am sad to leave the area with so much going on and so many wonderful people, but I am happy that I left the area MUCH better than when I came in.

I feel like God is pleased with my work in this area, and it makes me happy happy happy to feel that way.

Holly Yoho, who has a date for October 25th, is the most elect sister I have ever taught. I love her like she really is my sister, and I am sad to say good bye to her. We are going to FHE tonight, so I get to see her one more time before I leave. She is just eating everything up and absolutely loves the Book of Mormon - she is in ALMA!!! 

She told us the other day, "I was going to finish the Book of Mormon before I came to church, but I just couldn't wait!" She is incredible. She also came to the General Women's Broadcast and afterwards, there was a baptism for David Sanchez in the St. Helena branch, so she was able to attend a baptism! She loved it and it made her excited for her own. She is looking forward to October 25th and is already inviting all of her family and friends to come.


Aside from Holly, we are also teaching just amazing and wonderful people right now. Anthony and Isaac Ray (YSA family! Yay!!), Tom Wise, Phoua Vang, Pepe Gallegos, Thierno Diallo, Alex Doria. 

These are all such amazing people. I am so happy I got to meet them and that God put them in my life at this time!

Life is good, life is good.

I do know that God exists.  I know that Christ is His Son.  I know that Christ suffered for each and every one of us and that because of Him, we can receive relief and peace and love.  I know this because it just makes sense.  I also know this because I have felt that peace come directly after praying, or even during my prayer.  If God is just a fairytale, then He is the realest, most tangible fairytale I have ever been in.  But I know God is not just a fairytale.  He is real.  I have felt His love.  He has let me know He is there.  But not all at once.  I often doubt, but I always receive confirmation that melts those doubts away.

If this isn't it, then what else is there?  

I know this is true with all my heart, might, mind, and soul.

I love you all and hope you remember these three simple words this week: God loves you.

Choose the right!

Love,

Sister Kolee Decker

P.S. Thanks to Mom & Dad and Justin for the letters this week.

P.P.S. Just send letters to the mission address this week, as I will not be in Vallejo for much longer :)

September 22 - Last week of the transfer!

Dear family and friends,

Hi hi hi!  Shout out to Mom and Dad for their letters this week - thank you so much!  I always love getting mail...*hint hint wink wink nod nod*

Haha but hello!  This week was SO GOOD.  All weeks are good, but this week was especially good!  You know why?

Because Sis. Naqia and I are teaching the most elect young woman EVER named Holly.  I talked about her last time, and she still does not fail to amaze me!

This week we taught her the Plan of Salvation and she kept tearing up and said, "This just feels right!"  We taught her again after church and she said she just loved it.  She said, "I don't know why, but this already feels like home!"

You all would LOVE her.  She is so excited for her baptismal date on October 18th and is progressing perfectly :)  She told us that she was feeling sad on Saturday, but the things we've been teaching her just helped.  She knew that the sadness would go away and she prayed and it did!

I know that God does answer prayers and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints truly is Christ's church restored on the Earth through a prophet.  I also know we have a prophet today, Thomas S. Monson, and that he receives revelation directly from Christ and Heavenly Father for what we need to do to come back to Them again.  

Isn't just amazing we have a prophet?  I am stoked for the General Woman's Broadcast this weekend!  For all you ladies 8 and up, GO!  Listen to the prophet and have a question in your mind that you need an answer to, and I promise that God will answer it through one of the talks!

Also, General Conference is coming up in a couple of weekends - GO!  Or watch it online or on BYUtv.  It is SO worth it.  They speak for the benefit of the whole world, and you are a part of this world, so General Conference is meant for you! :)

Anyway...for the rest of this week haha:

We set a date with Thierno for October 25th, and with Dennis for November 8th.  Dennis didn't come to church yesterday, though!  He had too much studying to do since it is his last semester of school before he graduates.  Gah!  Agency.  I was kind of annoyed but then Sis. Naqia said, "You know Sister Decker, we all have the gift of agency."  Haha she has such a good attitude.

It's a great feeling to trust and love each and every missionary in this zone.  Sis. Naqia has also helped me to feel more love for others.  

You know what else we did?  We went to the temple!! Yay!!!  It made me so so happy.  It was JUST the boost I needed.  I love the temple so much.  I am so grateful for the temple and know it is the house of the Lord.  For anyone who is not worthy or who is not a member of this church and cannot enter the temple, I invite all of you to repent and be baptized so you may receive the blessings in the temple :)  I know this is God's true church on the Earth once again.

Well, that's all I can think of for this week!  I love you all and hope you know how much God loves you :)

Love,

Sister Kolee Decker

P.S. Pictures to come!

P.P.S.  I was in the newspaper! We did a service project the other day and a guy photographed us! It was cool haha. My moment of fame. (Click on the picture and go to #2.)

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v1/url?u=http://www.timesheraldonline.com/breaking_news/ci_26575414/less-trash-more-volunteers-mark-vallejos-coastal-cleanup&k=wlPCrglRP6kzT4RbABWMaw%3D%3D%0A&r=mx%2Bd8%2FrwWmoxRijwTBIs0hRUI%2BKEh19hldy%2BbjzX1Qs%3D%0A&m=R5z8RcE2nAd%2FIn1tnOuJk9fPt%2FlY3wNFOukDHZyIC84%3D%0A&s=127fd5c25819254f90c00545542a66ede87b5f37ac23b45eb3efda67ed8b6b4c

September 15 - SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED!!

Dear friends and family,

Hi from Vallejo!  Hope you all had a fun week :)

I wanted to start my letter with an excerpt I wrote to President Alba this week, and then I'll end with not as serious stuff:

"I've felt a little bit in a funk this transfer, for some reason.  I love Sis. Naqia and she is such a wonderful example, but I felt like I was plateauing again and I didn't want that to happen.

So this week I decided to do something about it.  I really tried to stop thinking about myself and do two things: have a good attitude and serve others.  And guess what?  I feel much better.

Amazing how if we just stop thinking about ourselves, everything works out well.  It takes me a while even now to figure it out, but when I feel stuck, the solution is to push a little further, ask God for help, and just serve.  Amazing how simple it is.

We taught Akesa Nakatouga this week and she shared her favorite scripture in Alma 26:27 with us:

"Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success."

:)  It struck me really hard that I needed to take time out to feel God's comfort, and keep pushing through.

So I did just that this week, and I feel like I'm breaking through once again.  And oh boy does it feel great!  

Our area is doing so much better!  We picked up 3 really, really solid new investigators - 1 missionary contact, 1 member referral, and 1 from ward council.  We have been able to talk to 20 new people almost every day this week, and WILL every single day this week :)  We have been working HARD this week, and it feels so good.

Sis. Naqia is doing great and we are working well together.  She is so fun and desires to be obedient and kind and loving.

Thank you so much for putting me with Sis. Naqia.  She is teaching me so much.  She is so kind and humble and patient and loving and genuine and bold.  You know how?  She prays for it in every prayer, but not rotely.  She really MEANS it.  I love and respect her so so so much.  

As much as I want to stay with her for the next transfer coming up, though, I really, truly feel she would be a wonderful trainer for the new sisters coming in.  She teaches SO well and so powerfully and she talks to EVERYONE.  She is full of love.  She has been improving by MILES on timing (keeping with the schedule).  She is obedient.  She has started to really open up and be more vocal about what she feels prompted to do (And I love that - open communication is key).

She is helping me raise my vision of who I am.  She is just so happy!  I love being around her.  And I know a new missionary would especially love being around her.  She is amazing.

I just wanted to write specifically what I have learned from her this transfer:

1.  It is okay our investigators don't talk to us at times.  "Sister Decker, they are just using their agency.  It is okay."

2.  Laugh often and be happy.  It is the best way to be.

3.  Sing loud and proud even if you are off-key: "I will be the first Fijian on the Mormon Tabernacle Choir."

4.  Just be yourself.  She is so quirky and embraces it and I just love her so much for those quirks!

5.  Give hugs often.

6.  Pray like you are talking to God.  I have never met anyone who prays so sincerely.

7.  Talk to EVERYONE.  "We need to raise a voice of warning and hope, Sister Decker."

So again, thank you President Alba.  I feel so grateful to be with Sister Naqia in this ward at this time.  

Okay funny story from language study this week.  Sister Naqia wanted to learn more conversational English so we worked on learning to talk about dance.  I told her about ballet and how ballerinas usually wear tutus.  In reply, she said,

"Oh, okay, a pupu?"

Hahaha

"No, a tutu."

"Oh." *Cracks up laughing*

She is such a goober and I love her tons."

Alright, so I want to tell you all about our three new amazing investigators!

First:

Holly Yoho.

1.  Her last name is hilarious

2.  Her story: she downloaded the BoM on her Kindle and really liked it, so she Googled where the nearest church was and showed up at church yesterday!  She stayed for all 3 hours of church and at the end told us how much she loved that is was 3 hours instead of 1.  She said that just one isn't enough!  She loved how interactive church was and she set up an appointment to meet with us again on Wednesday!

3.  She loves the Book of Mormon and reads it whenever she has a free moment.

So excited to teach her on Wednesday!

Second:

Dennis Erfe.

His story is cool, too.  He was dating a member of our congregation, Alanna.  Alanna broke up with him because they were in love and she knew she couldn't marry him in the temple.  It was really hard for her, but after praying she knew she needed to do it.  She let Dennis know and he said he would become a member for her, but she told him he could never do that.  If he wanted to join, he needed to do it because he knows it is true, not for her.  (I respect that.  This church is not just a "baptized and you're done" deal.  It is the Church of Jesus Christ, and as such is a lifetime commitment - a way of life)

They were both really sad and Dennis was pretty turned-off to the church after that.  However, one day he asked Alanna's mom how she joined the church (Alanna's parents are both converts to the church).  She shared her story and Dennis was really touched, and decided to ask to meet with the missionaries and see what this church was all about.

We had a first lesson with him last week (and he has actually come to church 3 weeks in a row now)!  We asked what he wanted to get out of it, and he said he wants to learn who Joseph Smith is and how the Book of Mormon is connected to our church.  He also wants to learn what it is that makes Alanna so devoted to the Church.  He prayed at the end for the first time EVER and really felt the Spirit!  He also accepted the invitation to be baptized and is reading the Book of Mormon!  We are meeting with him this coming Saturday!

Third:

Phoua Vang.

She is Hmong and is our ward missionary Kristen Parker's best friend.  She is so open and willing to learn more.  We had a first lesson and it went super well.  We are meeting with her again tonight :)

Alright, so other random quotes and stories this week:

1.  Sister Naqia has taught me how to blow up balloons!  Finally!  We blew up 10 of them for Sis. Anderson's birthday (she is a sister in my zone) on Tuesday!

2.  We gave 18 elders kazoos to blow for Sister Anderson's birthday and it was a horrible idea haha.  SO STINKIN LOUD. Hahaha.

3.  The elders left a fake arm on our doorstep the other day for some reason...anyway, I hid the fake arm in Sis. Naqia's sheets and that night when she was getting ready for bed she let out a HUGE scream and yelled, "Sista Decka!!!"  Then she saw it was fake and we both died laughing hahaha.  Oh good times.

4.  For some reason, all the members have been taking us out to eat this week.  I thought I liked eating out but nope I do not haha.  The food has been making me feel HORRIBLE.  I would rather eat a PB&J than go out to eat again.

5.  I ate mussels for the first time this week! They were pretty good...very chewy.

6.  Sis. Naqia and I have been feeling SO sick this week from all the heavy restaurant food haha.  Funny quotes from her about it:

"Fish from Fiji, please swim over to California and get in my belly so it can stop hurting." (She's used to only eating fish for her meat)

"Why can't people just feed us some bread and butter?!  No more meat."

"I feel like a bear."

Haha poor girl.  If MY stomach has been hurting a lot this week, I can't imagine how HER stomach is feeling.  So next time you want to take the missionaries out to eat, think again!!!  Haha.

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful week!  Remember that you are worth so much in God's eyes and that He loves you.

Love,

Sister Kolee Decker

September 8 - Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!

Dear friends and family,

I realized from my subject title it sounds like I'm dying haha.  But no.  I had a much better week than last week!  Thank goodness!

So first off: shoutout to my mom for the cleaning tips!  And thanks to my family for the letters this week!  I love getting those letters on Saturday night :)  Also, Justin: your handwriting in cursive is SO good.  A lot better than your regular writing...haha ;)

I taught in zone meeting (it was my second time, but it was still scary)!  We learned some great stuff at missionary leader council about obedience, sacrifice, and sanctification, and after much prayer and preparation, I feel pretty good about my parts on obedience & gossip.

The assistants to President Alba came to zone meeting, and one of the elders, Elder Bettridge, came up to me after and said, "Look at my notes."

Haha so the first time I spoke:

"Sister Decker. Obedience.

Throwdown."

Second time I spoke:

"Sister Decker. Gossip.

Throwdown #2"

Yup.  But hey, the gossip has stopped and the obedience has increased, so hopefully our zone all took it to heart.  I did it with love, though.  I know we as servants of Christ can do better.  We can do great things, sometimes we just need a little push in the right direction.

We also had interviews with President and Sister Alba and that was happy :)  I love them so so much.  They are such wonderful leaders.

The work is still going slow right now...all of our investigators are sick!  But I understand, because I have been feeling sick too haha.  I'm hanging in there.

Highlights this week:

We were sung to by two black men on two separate occasions.  It was the BEST.

#1

We were contacting by the bay in Vallejo when I realized I dropped my favorite pen!  So we backtracked to find it and ended up at a crosswalk with this black guy and his girlfriend.  He saw our tags and immediately burst into song:

"I got the power

No no no

God's got the power

Oh-h-h

He got the power"

Hahahaha it was awesome.  He had an AMAZING voice!  

And #2

We were contacting in a park near RQ's house (he is doing great, by the way - preparing to receive the priesthood in a few weeks and also to do baptisms in the temple!!) and there were a whole bunch of people cooking some food.  We walked over to talk to them and this one guy says, "Hey!  Want some fried chicken and fish?"

We said, "Sure!"

So we go over and eat some DELICIOUS chicken and fish and are talking to them, and the same exact thing happened when the guy saw our tags.  He bursts out:

"Praise to the Lord!

Oh

Praise to the Lord!

Sing it now

Praise to the Lord!"

Good times, good times.  I love being here in Vallejo.  

I was looking back from the beginning of my mission and I feel like I am a totally different person.  Not in a bad way.  God has been picking and burning away at this piece of coal and slowly transforming me into a diamond.  It's going to take much longer than just a mission haha, but it's getting there.

Here's a few reflections from this week:

I realized I can do hard things.  I can be a leader.  I can always be more humble.  There is always more to learn.  Every soul is of great worth in the sight of God.  I know Jesus Christ is my Savior now.  I already knew that, but He is more real to me now.  I know that missionary work is not just something we do when we have a badge pinned on our chest, but is something we covenanted to do when we were baptized.  I know what it feels like to have my heart ache for someone who chooses the wrong, and what it feels like to have my heart rejoice when someone chooses the right.  I learned that every companion I am with is so inspired.  God knows who I am.  God hears my prayers.  He also hears our investigators prayers, our members prayers, the prayers of the homeless man down the street, the prayers of the struggling addict, the prayers of the faithful (or not so faithful) Catholic, Jew, Jehovah Witness, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist, Baptist, etc.  We are ALL His children.  

There's also a lot more sadness in my heart, but it's a different kind of sadness.  I wasn't aware of how many people are so far away from God until I came out here.  But I also smile and laugh a lot more, because I am filled with hope.

I love you all!  Keep your heads up and remember that God loves you so so so much!

Love,

Sister Kolee Decker

September 1 - One-Year Mark!!!!...on Thursday

Dear family and friends,

Hi!  

I hit my 1-year mark on Thursday!  Craziness.  Time flies, time flies.

Well, to be honest, this week I had a rough time...I've been SUPER stressed out because of some major struggles that have been going on in our zone and some problems in my companionship with Sister Naqia.

BUT!  I am still doing alright.  I'm sure I will have a better week this week :)

Laughter is such a good medicine though.  I tried telling Sister Naqia about scatting in jazz music and she thought I was talking about beat boxing.  

She said, "Oh like this?!"

*Horrible attempt at beat-boxing*

Haha I just love her so much.

We only felt one bigger aftershock on Monday night haha.  It woke us up again!  It was at 5:30am.  Why are they always late at night?!  Oh well.  We haven't felt any big ones since then so we are doing well.  

Other highlights...MLC!  (Missionary Leader Council).  So stinkin good.  We talked a lot about obedience, sanctification, and sacrifice.  And gossip.  Our mission (especially our zone) has really been struggling with many things lately, and it makes me so sad.  I felt myself even slipping down and it was really hard.

MLC gave me just the boost I needed, though.  I know that our leaders are inspired.  Listen to them.  Humble yourself.  Ask God for confirmation that your leaders really are called of God.  God will answer your prayers.

I also realized that Satan is so real this week.  Don't let him in!  And when you feel like turning back to old ways that are not righteous, remember that "God doesn't care nearly as much about where you have been as He does about where you are now and, with His help, where you are willing to go" (Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Best Is Yet to Be").  I do know that God loves us and cares for us.

Satan does not care.  He will never be there for you in the end.  He will leave you alone and stuck in addiction, pain, sadness, sickness.  But God will always be there.  He loves us so much He sent His Son, even Jesus Christ.

I love you all so much.  Sorry for not a lot of info this week - I promise I will write more next week!

Choose the right!  I wanted to leave you with a scripture:

"Then Jesus said unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.  And we believe and are sure that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (John 6:67-68).

Who else will you follow if you are not following Christ?  He is the way, I testify of it in His name, even Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love,

Sister Kolee Decker