Season 6 Episode 6: Off to Hemet

Hello 

Hello Friends & Family,

Well, I am being transferred!!

I am very grateful for my Mission President, first of all. We had a long chat this week about ASL work and the placement of missionaries, and afterword he trusted us and followed through with some of our suggestions. I am very thankful that he was willing to listen to our concerns, and then do something about them! Anyway, that is the long story short of why I am going to Hemet.

Elder Lewis and I are staying as a companionship and covering the Valle Vista ward in Hemet. We were doubled out, and doubled in. I am taking all of the ASL work we have had in this zone, and hopefully will be going to lots of Deaf Events. I will see some familiar faces, and also some new ones! Elder Hallsted wants to have a "pass-off" lesson with some of the people, which should happen this week. I am excited to use my hands again!!




Packing and moving is probably my least favorite part of mission work. (That and the paperwork to even get my mission call)
It is essentially a fresh start. All of my groceries, new friends, etc. Is left behind in my previous zone as I look towards a new horizon.
From what I've heard, Hemet is a "fun" place. It has been suggested that I wear my bullet proof vests, bike fast, and basically watch my back.
Sweet!!
I am sure I will get some good stories! I will keep everyone posted.


-Elder Vance

Season 6 Episode 5: I went on Trek!!

Well, not really. But...

We had a slow week with many appointments cancelling. We ended up seeking with faith for at least 2-4 hours every day. Up and down hills, my thighs were burning! We tried many different things, but ended up finding the most success as we stopped by friends we were unable to contact. Near the end of the week, I came across something that I new wasn't a coincidence.

D&C 42:14
14 And the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach.

Am I not teaching because I don't have the spirit? I thought over this for quite some time. I reasoned that I had not done anything to offend the spirit, but was I actively trying to find it? I prayed fervently and over time I began to feel peace once again. I concluded that I must seek the spirit BEFORE I go seek with faith. As I did so, we came across our new friend Brandon. We are teaching him again tonight! I am very excited!

Another interesting story, before my mission I went shopping at Distribution Services, I was in the checkout line and overheard someone say "California Riverside". My ears perked up, and I nudged my (not as hearing sensitive) mom. I told her what I thought I heard, and she was determined to go over and find out for herself! I was a little embarrassed, but then we met Emma Jeppsen (Now Sister Jeppsen). I completely forgot about this story, up until a familiar face asked me about it, and now the dots have connected. Sister Jeppsen in my zone was someone I had actually met before my mission!! Crazy

We had a service project and cleaned up a fence, dug out lots of weeds, and a bit of barbed wire. As we were digging, hoeing, raking, etc. we were approached by 2 people asking if we were selling the lot. But my personal favorite was someone who offered to finish lining the lot with the fence for 5$ a 

fence post (WHAT A STEAL!). Elder Murri broke the shovel within 10 minutes of getting there, and Elder Kam and Tindall biked 10 miles (58 minutes, yes they timed it) to get to service.

 Elder Tindall was not happy with me when I texted him to "Start pedaling". But I offered to buy him a Dr.Pepper and we are still best friends.

We held another Elders only Breakfast, today we were featured with Chef Buttars and his amazing omelettes. I then made some buffalo wings, and the rest is history!

We had an ASLder conference call with President Hammon, and hopefully the changes we discussed take place starting next week. If all goes well, I should have quite a bit more ASL work to do!


-Elder Vance

Season 6 Episode 4: Happy 20th Elder Lewis!

Hello friends & family,

None of our friends attended sacrament, but this week was memorable.

We had several lessons where the spirit led, and our lesson plan took a sidestep. The restoration ended up being a discussion of Paul's epistles and the early signs of apostasy in the church. I found myself sitting in awe as the spirit connected ideas that I had never comprehended. I also knew this was exactly what they needed to hear and probably the only way they would have understood the Restoration.

Any time the spirit leads, I am amazed at where the discussion leads.

This week for service we unloaded food and sorted it to be dispersed. The funny thing was when I was serving in Riverside I helped pack up these pallets of food to be shipped, yes these exact pallets. I unpacked pallets that I had packed up. My writing was on them and I remember the pallets. Luckily it was not perishable foods but coincidence just the same.

Elder Lewis had a fantastic birthday, with many presents and lots of cologne. (our apartment smells... strange) We had some members surprise us and buy us lunch, also later in the evening we showed up for a home visit, only to find it was a cake party for Elder Lewis. The ward's support here is truly amazing. Luckily as a companion I "Had" to go with and eat all this food also. Rough life, I know.

I was able to give a "Finding" training this Zone training meeting. I felt that it went well, I will ask around and see where I can improve. Hopefully I didn't scare anyone!

We have Multi-zones coming this week, and a guest speaker? We will see how that goes. Maybe I will see some familiar faces, but I honestly have no idea what this week holds!

"Stay tuned"
-Elder Chase

"Thats all I have to say about that"
-Forest Gump






-Elder Vance

Season 6 Episode 3: I hate the Super Bowl

Hello Family & Friends,

We had a very good week. Tuesday (I believe) we reconnected with one of our recently baptized friends and began teaching his family. All of his kids (especially Elanie) had a large interest in baptism after seeing how their father had changed. We began teaching them and have a return this week. They are very bright kids and already know most of the Gospel, we just need to brush up a few subjects. We had high hopes for sacrament meeting, estimating roughly 6 friends to come, but we had 2 of our favorites attended. MaryEllen and Debra had another spiritual experience this week, and really enjoyed Sunday school. Debra told me that she doesn't like crying, so she has mixed feelings about it! All in all, we had a fantastic week, and quite the calf workout as we walked around. For some reason we only were in neighborhoods with hills, how strange...

This Sunday was the first Super Bowl I have missed in a long time (sorry dad). However, having a new perspective on this remarkable event made me come to the conclusion... I do not like the super bowl as a missionary. No one would talk to us, Members included. Everyone had "family events" or "too many people over". Of course this was to be expected, so Elder Lewis and I decided to Seek with Faith for a while. We soon found that that would be ineffective also. We would hear distant screams, as well as "Booo". The worst part is, I missed all the commercials. We did have a wonderful dinner with our Ward mission leader though. In his words, "It would be better for you guys to be here in my house, than not talking to anyone out there".

I truly love being a District Leader! The best way I can describe it is Via movie references. If any of you reading this have never met me, a brief background explanation is due. I LOVE movies and also quoting them.
To explain what it felt like, I will turn your minds to the 5th movie in the Harry Potter series. As Harry starts his own "Defense against the dark arts" class, he needs a place to do it. As he comes to find a nifty room perfectly made for his class, he walks around as the class is in session. That scene is approximately how I felt. It was truly, "Brilliant".

I came to the unfortunate news that someone really wanted my family letters more than me, but thank you to everyone who sent me mail! I am sure someone else is also grateful for your heartfelt notes. Maybe they needed it more? Oh well, life goes on!

No one can steal my emails!!

-Elder Vance