Season 12 Episode 1: Lost in Translation

Hello friends & family,

Elder Hallsted and I have had a incredibly busy week!! 

Every single minute was well used, and that knowledge alone is very comforting and rewarding!!

The highlight of the week was last sunday. We had 4 friends attending worship services at the same time, the only issue was that each of them required a different form of sign language.

1 of them is in Brazil, and needed Portuguese Sign language. Elder Hallsted has been teaching her for longer than I have, and knows roughly 40 ish signs, so he took on that task. 

We have another friend who needed a regular ASL interpretation, I decided to interpret for him. 

We had another friend who is still learning ASL and needed a simplified version, Elder Cluff was on that. 

Also at the same time, we had a friend who's mother only spoke spanish and wanted to go to the Spanish church, so Hermana Jacobs interpreted the Spanish service into english, and Elder Ericksen into ASL for her. 

We were all at the Family History Center  (FHC) with about 10 other missionaries at the same time, using different computers. 

Hands were flying everywhere!! 

I feel bad for all the other missionaries in the same room as us, they were not paying any attention to the Mission Devotional.

About Halfway through the talks, we found that our friend Cody was actually watching the Portuguese Sign Language instead of the Gesturing. He was a little confused, but then started understanding once he found the correct person interpreting.

Zone leader responsibilities are super fun! We had our first Zone accountability last saturday. Some excellent goals were set. I never understood how much effort needs to take place for every zone activity/meeting to take place.

*

Elder Hallsted and I visited 2 zones, Ontario and Jurupa to share the Series training. They seemed very excited to post their series, and we have already received positive feedback from each zone.

I want to leave y'all with some homework:
Scroll back to the April 2019 general conference and listen to

Elder Ucthdorf's talk, "Missionary work: Sharing what is in your heart"

Get ready for another unforgettable Conference!!

-Elder Vance

Letter from Mission President Watson

Dear Tiffini Vance & Sterling Vance

It is with pleasure that I inform you of Elder Tyson Vance's new assignment as a Zone Leader in the California Riverside Mission. 

It is an honor to have your son serving in this position. As a Zone Leader he will continue to be an example in all things to those missionaries in the zone where he is serving.

His great efforts and example in his previous assignments have qualified him for this opportunity and I am certain that the experience he will gain as a Zone Leader will prepare him for future callings in the Church and in life.

It is a pleasure to work in the gospel with such a fine young man. Thank you for sharing him with us and for the continued support you provide him. May God's choicest blessings be with you!

Sincerely,

President Edward S. Watson California Riverside Mission 

Season 11 Episode 6: ZL-ASL-SMS

Try pronouncing that title

I dare you... ZLASLSMS

Hello everyone!!

This week gave us transfer news!

We ate dinner with President Watson and his family last friday, and that is when he broke the news of Elder Hallsted and I re-uniting and becoming the Zone Leaders for Riverside. I am exceedingly excited for this responsibility! It is important that I keep my standard of work/use of time up so that I may be of use when the Lord sends me to help another!


When President brought out the transfer boards (on paper) and said,
"Alright... Let's talk"
His youngest son Chris responded with a groan,
"Oh boy, here it comes"

As far as transfers go, we have decided that we won't really move our apartment around, we all thought it would not be necessary nor entertaining.

                     

This week for Social Media, I spoke at the

Hemet Stake conference     

President Watson was asked to go, 

but was unable to attend due to 

a meeting with the Area authorities. 

Sister Gugelman and I were asked

to go in his stead. 

I thought it was superb! 

I only talked for a few minutes, but 

was very happy to visit again and see some of the members I had

befriended during my time there. 

Here are some of my talking points:

We HAVE been prepared for this like no other church, group, or organization!

Elder L. Tom Perry announced: “Missionaries are now authorized to use the Internet in their proselyting efforts.” (“Missionary Work in the Digital Age” [June 2013]

“This represents a permanent change to the way we will do missionary work in the future”
-Leif Ericksen (Aug 28, 2020 NAW Social Media training)

D&C 4
3 Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the [post, like, comment and share];
4 For behold [Social Media] is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his
sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;

This is our proof so far Fact about the California Riverside Mission since COVID began:
Facebook ONLY

• 2.2 Million Views  (SIDE NOTE 1.5 M from ASL alone)
• 1.2 Million minutes viewed
• 20,000 Hours
• 833 Days
• 2.28 Years
• 20K Followers
• 234K Engagements

What can Members do??

Share Missionary made videos to your Facebook profiles and/or groups

Create your own content! Or join missionaries videos!!

Message your friends directly when sharing content.

Add your own testimony to posts you share!

General tips

Avoid Church specific terms
Share experiences rather than testimonies (IE I know this church is true VS sharing HOW you know this church is true)

Zones are planning video series, each companionship should have a episodic plan to teach with.

Contact the missionaries!!

I will be busy, busy, busy...
But busy = Good!
I will not allow myself to look back on my mission and think,
"I could have used my time better"
So work I shall!

I'm sure I will have more to talk about next week!
-Elder Vance

Season 11 Episode 5: Peace out!!

HelHello Family & Friends,
Another week has come and gone!!
This week had a few notable events:
1. Our most recent music video came out! I decided some time ago to focus this on mental health, also to hopefully honor my late friend Aaron Zundel. I came across the song, "Where can I turn for peace" in the Hymns at home album the church released. This fit perfectly with what I wanted to represent, both the lyrics and the sound of the song. Little did I know that I posted during National Suicide Prevention month, I think it is alright to assume the Spirit was involved in the process of this video.


FACEBOOK POST:
To @Aaron Zundel
I miss you bud
Through my short time on this earth, I came into aquantance with Aaron. We quickly bonded over our shared love for anyting Star wars and/or Sci-fi. We would spend hours discussing each episode as though it were Shakespeare. He taught me so much about how to care and love for people in the most Christ-like way! But what I didn't know about Aaron was that He was suffering. Aaron took his life just over 2 years ago. It shocked me, and devastated me in a way that I never knew it could.
You do not have to suffer alone
I am here to tell you that there is Peace to be found! It comes through our savior Jesus Christ. He is the true and lasting source of Joy!
I know this because I have experienced His love for myself, and know of the strenght that comes from relying on the Lord.
If you, or anyone you know cannot seem to find peace, please turn to Christ. If you need help, message us! We are all in our own journeys, but that doesn't mean we cannot love and support eachother on our paths!
#NationalSuicidePreventionMonth
#SuicidePrevention

2. I was able to have dinner with my family!! Steve and Tauni Vance hosted us yesterday for dinner. The canyoncrest Elders pulled me aside one day, I thought they would ask me about Social Media, but rather they invited me to dinner. I asked them why they had done so, and this was their answer,
"We have a dinner planned, but they said we could only come if we found and brought Elder Vance with us".
I found out Steve Vance (My Dad's cousin) was the member they were going to eat with and readily accepted the invite.

We had a great time talking about our family, and especially the Gospel.
I'll admit it was a little strange and nice during the dinner, when I was only referred to as "Tyson",

 but I don't think that will happen again any time soon. :)



3. We have a new Stake President! Don't ask me his name because I forgot.

4. I have been called to as Committee Chair for our SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALISTS in my mission. As the chair I meet with my mission president weekly, the 6 social media committee members in RIVERSIDE CA MISSION weekly. I also meet all with the Mission Presidents in the West and area 70 from SLC twice a month to discuss social media improvements and missionary involvement and success. I have proposed with my mission president budgeting plan for mission accessible equipment. As now we are only using our cell phones and the editing software from our phones to make videos. The great news this week is that, I was approved for some film equipment! Stay tuned for some superb video quality.


The end


-Elder Vance

Season 11 Episode 4: Christmas came early!! Again!

Hello Friends & Family,

This week was full of surprises!

For starters, most of our appointments canceled on us, but we had numerous surprise appointments to fill in! We were also able to eat with the Egberts, they had made some fantastic homemade flour tortillas. Elder Ericksen never ceases to amaze me on how much he can eat. I still think it goes into his legs...

Because of my proneness to ripping suit pants, I purchased a new suit this week, only after the shop-owner confirmed the fabric was stronger than my previous pants. We will see how that goes! (And no mom, I'm not putting on weight, in fact I'm using the next belt hole in, otherwise my shirt comes untucked)


This morning we had a zone pancake party at President Watson's home. After eating a significant amount of pancakes, Elder Whitmore and I joined forces and went 13-0 in a Spikeball frenzy. We humbly accept the title of Undefeated Champions!


President Watson has given Elder Farr and I the task of making a shopping list for video equipment. This is very exciting because; #1 I love shopping for Technology (Mom take note), #2 I know what is useful to the zones in regards to equipment. NO MORE SHAKY VIDEOS!!!


I finished reading "Jesus the Christ" and highly recommend it to any avid student of our Savior! Religious or not, this book provides insight heretofore unknown to the common learner.

Got some new basketball shoes...
Not much else to report!


-Elder Vance
 Ash from the 25 wild fires burning in California, I am doing good and the mission is safe!

Season 11 Episode 3: Goals, Goals, Goals!

Hello Friends & Family,

Elder Ericksen and I have been steadily planning out our goals and also how to achieve them. We set the ideal of 8 Home visits a week, and we hit 7 this past week.

We already have 4 planned and more will follow! 

We also are organizing our areabook into progressing friends, and creating individual plans of "attack" as to best help them overcome any roadblocks on the way to Salvation.

We were able to have a lesson with Stephen again! Stephen shared with us some weaknesses he wants to overcome, and together we made a plan on how to help. Essentially it is as follows: Any time he feels tempted for any reason, he will text us and we can share scriptures or some topic to study to help distract him from temptation.

We are very proud of this week and what we accomplished, and Elder Ericksen's enthusiasm matches that of Peter's! It is very exciting as well as entertaining to watch him plot, plan, scheme (all other synonyms of the word) what we can do to find success in our area.

Elder Hallsted and Ericksen have challenged each other to only eat food that has been blended. This includes any regularly solid foods. I'm not sure why or how this started, but it is entertaining, and slightly nerve-wracking after I saw them drink fish and rice. We will see how long this lasts!

I am roughly 50 pages from finishing "Jesus the Christ". There was a massive buildup to the Atonement being started in Gethsemane, but I will admit I was somewhat disappointed in Talmage's description. It was perfectly correct, but very brief. Essentially it went something like this, "We as mortal humans cannot begin to understand/comprehend what happened in the Garden" and that's it. 

I did learn quite a bit however about the governing powers at the time. Such as how the Sanhedrin initially brought Jesus under illegal pretenses, and also how they accused him of Blasphemy, a crime with a death sentence attached to it, but due to the ruling Roman empire, the punishment of death was reserved strictly for the Roman judges. After the Sanhedrin condemned Christ, they brought him before Pilate, and never once mentioned Blasphemy, but rather tried to convince Pilate that Jesus was guilty of insurrection. They created every excuse to plead the Death of Christ, except for the crime that the Sanhedrin had agreed upon. This is because Pilate would have immediately dismissed any accusation of Blasphemy because to him, a pagan, all of Judaism was Blasphemy. 

Just a cool find!! More will follow!

-Elder Vance