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 :)