Your Name

What an amazing week it has been. The weeks fly by here on the mission because it is such a fun adventure. It is tiring and hard work, but at the same time I am having more fun than ever. You just have to enjoy it. Elder Lenon and I have seen some great miracles during this past week. Lupe continues to progress; she went to a Spanish fireside with Elder Gavarret and loved it! She also came to a baptism the other day and she felt such a special spirit there. She continues to read and pray and I know that in these upcoming weeks she will be baptized. Elder Lenon and I are so excited for her, as we have been on this journey with her, and it is amazing to see how the gospel of Jesus Christ strengthens and changes people. We have seen the changes in her and seen how much she now depends on the Lord. We love being here with our people in Santa Rosa and serving them and I hope stay for a while.

This past week we were privileged to have Elder Gavarret from the Quorum of the Seventy come and speak to us. He is from Uruguay. He spoke to us with such power and conviction. The very first few things he said struck a chord in me and I was filled with the spirit of God. He said, "You don't know the effect of your success. You can cut open an apple and count the seeds, but you aren't able to cut open the seeds within the apple to count the apples that will come from those seeds. Pray for others. Serve others. They will not forget you, they will not forget your name." I thought about all the people I have met on my mission and about those I have had the opportunity to teach and bring closer to Jesus Christ ... all the people I have loved and continue to love. A wave emotions swept over me and it brought tears to my eyes. I thought about those I will never forget ... those that I will have a spiritual connection with forever on into the eternities. In that moment my love deepened for my people here. I looked back into the pool of memories to see those people that will be in my heart forever. I know that I have needed them and that they have needed me. I will remember their names and it was special at that moment to hear that they will not forget mine. Elder Gavarret continued, "All of you are winners ... you decided to come here. The best way to help your family members is to do your best here. Pray for your families, stand up and go to work." I want to be the best missionary I can be so that my family can be blessed and so that those in my family that are struggling can find hope through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

"The Atonement of Jesus Christ brings hope to all. As missionaries we are the bringers of hope and we receive hope through the Atonement. When we sin we experience spiritual death, or in other words, we separate and further ourselves from God. Jesus Christ has already done the work, it doesn't need to be done again. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is a conditional gift, which means, we must do our part in order to access it." - Sister Alba

I can testify to the truth of that statement. It is through repentance that those burdens we carry are lifted off of us. We must repent (do our part) to be saved. Christ has already suffered, but we must access that precious gift through repentance. When we do, those burdens are lifted and we feel the light of Christ grow within us. We have a desire to improve because we feel the warming sensation of the Savior's arms around us. It gives us a fresh view of our lives and with that comes the hope we all can and need to endure to the end.

I love this part of a song: "He knows your joy, He knows your pain, He knows your heart, He knows your NAME."

I know that Jesus Christ knows your name. I know that he knows YOU because He died for each and every one of us. When we are going through a trial or a challenge in this life, He knows. Not only did He suffer for our sins but also for every physical pain, emotional sorrow, and affliction we have or ever will experience in this lifetime. He suffered for hours in the Garden of Gethsemane and bled from every pore. He did it so He could walk beside us. He did it so He could lift us in our darkest hour. He did it because He loves us. I am forever grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We bring this to everyone so that all may have faith, repent, and come unto Christ through baptism. I am grateful for this privilege to be a bringer of hope. It is never over ... no matter what you have done or how lonely you may feel, always know that there is someone that knows you. There is always someone that has felt what you feel. There is always someone that knows your name.


Los Amo Mucho,

Elder Vance

Everything's Not Lost

Well folks, we got our transfer doctrine this past week and I will be staying in Santa Rosa for another 6 weeks with Elder Lenon! Woohoo! I am so excited to become even closer to the people here that I already dearly love. I know that the Lord has many adventures and experiences in store for Elder Lenon and me here in the beautiful country of Northern California. 

It seems that the Lord never stops testing us. The last week and a half has been such a roller coaster ... many highs and a few lows. Elder Lenon and I are continuing to try to improve ourselves as missionaries. We know that it is so important to be unified and to be a team here on our missions. You learn so much by having a companion and I am grateful for Elder Lenon and for his example in my life. We are becoming closer as the weeks go on and I know that I still have plenty to learn from him in the weeks to come.

Over this past week I have really been thinking a lot about how our trials or difficulties sometimes cloud our vision or stop us from progressing; how at times it seems that everything is lost. A death in the family, a divorce, job loss, or whatever the trials we face in this life may be, are the storms God throws at us. Some may wonder, "Why would God give us trials?" The answer is not always one we like to hear; he give us trials because they make us stronger and they help us become more like Him.

"The storms of life no more indicate the absence of God, than clouds indicate the absence of the sun."

Recently we have seen so many changes in one of our investigators. We have been on such a roller coaster with her and it has taught me so much. This woman has gone through so much in her life. She has four children and is from Mexico. She has always had a strong belief in God, but when we found her she was very confused about which church was the right one. As we have been teaching her, we have learned a lot about her life and her past. Her second husband was deported two years ago due to abuse within the home and other series of events. One night about two weeks ago her husband called her to let her know that he was with someone else down in Mexico. I will never forget talking to her on the phone that very same night. She just cried on the phone and told us how hard life was and how she didn't think she could go on in her life. We went over and visited her. Her heart was broken and she did not know what to do. As I was looking into her tear-filled eyes I saw her as a sister, and could see how the weight of her trials and her situation were pushing down on her. She was hopeless and her future seemed dim. As we met with her we turned her to our Heavenly Father. As missionaries we are the ones that turn the hearts of the people to heaven above. We gave her a blessing of comfort and invited her to pray for strength, to ask in faith for peace and comfort. We promised her that He was looking out for her and we shared our testimonies about how our Heavenly Father gives us challenges to make us stronger. That was about two weeks ago ... since then she has been reading in The Book of Mormon, visited the Oakland Temple Visitors Center, and received strength through prayer. She has exercised so much faith and it is such a testament to me to see how her trial has been turned into an increase in her faith. She is an amazing individual, and notwithstanding her trials, has put her faith in God and Jesus Christ and seen the happiness that comes from that. The gospel of Jesus Christ gives hope and happiness to all that receive it with an open heart. We are continuing to teach Lupe and her children and hope that someday soon, in the upcoming weeks, she along with her children will follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized.


Sometimes it is hard to be a missionary. You see so many people struggling day in and day out. There are so many people struggling and trudging through life without the real answer, the answer that everyone needs ... that God is our loving Heavenly Father and that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. God has created ONE plan for us and Jesus Christ is the center of that plan. We have been sent here to this earth to be tested. Our faith is to be tried and stretched so that when the storm clears away we are more polished and fortified in our faith. I am grateful for my faith. I know that it will continue to be put to the test, but I know that through difficult times I will become a better disciple of Jesus Christ, that I might follow him more faithfully in my life as the days, years, and decades pass by.  I love my mission. It has been such a journey to look back and see the storms I have passed through and to see the renovations that have come forth in my life because of them. I know that even if things are dim, a tiny flame will always be there to grasp onto and grow. God loves us ... always remember that with Him, everything's not lost.

Los Amo,


Elder Vance

Miracle Of Life

This past week Elder Lenon and I have experienced so much together. Sometimes I wonder if I am worthy of all the many blessings I receive here in my mission. I know I am forever indebted to my Savior, Jesus Christ, and to my Heavenly Father. I feel the Lord working through me and in that I have felt His love for His other children here in Santa Rosa. More and more people are opening their hearts to the message of the restoration and it is a marvelous sight to see. Right now in our mission there is a big push to "FIND" and talk with everyone. Our purpose as missionaries is to find those who are ready to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ, teach them the doctrine of Christ, and baptize those that are willing to follow the example of Jesus Christ. As missionaries we have been praying to "have more faith when we find". Elder Lenon has such a great attitude and we both have been filled with that faith over the last week. Even though we are not perfect we have been doing our best and the Lord has once again opened the windows of heaven and blessed us. This week has been filled with amazing experiences, blessings and miracles.

One of the best things about serving a mission is that because you give everything up in your "normal" life you can SEE everything else. You see everything in a whole new light and you see things for what they really are; not as the world views them, but as God sees them every day. That has been one of the reasons why my life has been changed on my mission. I know I have been set apart from the world, and that even though I still live here on earth I know I have been called to be a representative of Jesus Christ. I know that I can be a disciple of Jesus Christ forever. I have also seen how the Lord tries our faith and how big a part He plays in our lives. I have been filled with such exeedingly great joy as I have seen the miracles He has put in my life. I think it all began with the people. Before my mission, I couldn't just walk up to a stranger and love them instantly, but now that I have been on my mission I have begun to see everyone I meet as my brother or sister.

Last week we couldn't make contact with one of our investigators, Lupita, to figure out a ride for them for church. As we were driving to an appointment, we saw her on the sidewalk and quickly pulled over to talk to her. I know that she was there for a purpose and it was no coincidence. That is one tiny example of the many miracles the Lord has worked in my life.


"If you don't believe in miracles perhaps you've forgotten you are one."

My eyes have been opened to the miracles of God. As I have prayed every night before bed I have come to realize that my own life is a miracle. The very air I breathe on a daily basis is a gift from my Heavenly Father. I know that I am here for a purpose and that I am one of His sons. I know we are all creations of our Heavenly Father and we were made in His image. Families have been given to us to guide us and love us so that we can have happiness in this lifetime and the life to come. I believe a miracle happens when we recognize that God is our loving Heavenly Father and He blesses us, His children.

The ability to love is a gift from Heavenly Father. I am grateful for that because I have come to love the people here in Santa Rosa. They feel like my family because they are my family. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve the people here and to bring them closer to Jesus Christ. Elder Lenon is such a great example to me and I have learned so much from him. Yesterday we taught a brand new family together. They are from Mexico and they have two young sons. We taught them the restoration and about how through Joseph Smith the true authority of God was restored. It was such a powerful lesson and the Lord blessed us with this family. Today they came to church. It was a miracle because a lot of people work on Sundays. They came and I know they felt the love of God. Two other investigators also came to church and it was such an amazing Sabbath day. I love my mission. I love my life. I love my life because I know it was given to me by my Heavenly Father. This universe and world was created by our creator, Jesus Christ, under the direction of God, our Heavenly Father. I invite you all to open your eyes to the wonderful miracles that surround each and every one of us today ... and think about those in your life who would benefit from meeting with the missionaries. You can send a referral through the link in the blog side bar for missionaries!

Los Amo,

Elder Vance

His Hand

The last week has been filled with amazing spiritual experiences. There have been so many people that were put in our path this past week that I know were placed there by our Heavenly Father. There are so many people out there that are searching and waiting to hear the fullness of the gospel. I know that is true because last week Elder Lenon and I were able to find many new people and our area continues to grow and be blessed. Elder Lenon and I continue to work on our Spanish. We both love testifying about and teaching the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to all we come in contact with in Santa Rosa. At times when I go on exchanges to English areas it is difficult to teach in English! I love the Spanish culture and I am grateful I have been called to this mission here in California. Elder Lenon has taught me so much. He is such a diligent missionary and I am grateful for his worth ethic and the sacrifices he has made to be here. I hope I can serve with him for another transfer because I am learning a great deal from him. Every day I am reminded that the Lord's hand is in this great work because I see the changes and blessings that come to those that open their hearts to this great message that we bring.

This past week I attempted to ask myself this question at the end of every day:

"Have I seen the hand of the Lord today?" -President Henry B. Eyring

As a missionary it is a rare occasion to have everything go as planned. Appointments fall through, you maybe feel sick or tired, people don't want to talk to you, or maybe your spirits are just not where they should be. I think in this life, things don't go as planned. We all are thrown into the perfect storm every once in a while and wonder how the Lord could possibly be reaching out to us. I want to testify that His hand is always in our lives and He gives us those tender mercies that we can all see. So last week I tried to ask myself the question above, and throughout the week I recognized that I always felt happy because I could see how the hand of the Lord blessed me or helped me throughout the day. No matter how long the day was, how many appointments fell through, or how many times we were rejected, I could always name off things that the Lord bestowed upon me and blessed me with each day. That is what has brought me happiness. That small question, "Have I seen the hand of the Lord today?", has helped me open my eyes and look for those tender mercies of the Lord. At the end of the day it brings me back to One who watches over all of us every day. I know He watches over us and listens to our prayers.

We talked to a woman named Lupita on the street last week. She was so open to the gospel and the message of the Restoration. She wanted to find out which church was true because she had attended so many throughout her life. Elder Lenon and I both bore testimony to her about the plan of salvation, the plan that God has made for us as His children and for our families. The plan, if we follow it, will grant us eternal life with our families. I told her that families are meant to be together forever and that death is not the end. She had such a special light about her and she was a true seeker of the truth from the moment we met her. She has four children and wanted to to know more. We got her information and told her we were going to stop by in a few days. The next day we went by to see someone. We knocked on the door and no one answered, but the next door over opened and it was Lupita. We taught her about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the prophet Joseph Smith. It was such a spirit filled lesson. I know that Lupita and her family were put in our path by the hand of the Lord. In another lesson we had with her recently, she told us she was so confused and she wanted to know what was true. I remember saying, "Lupe I know that your search for the truth has ended. I know that this church is true with my whole heart and the only way you can know whether what we have taught you is true or not is through prayer. If you pray we promise you that you will recieve an answer through the Holy Ghost that all that we have taught you is true." Her final prayer at the end of that lesson is one that I will never forget. She pleaded with our Heavenly Father to show her the way and to give her an answer; to put an end to her confusion so she could follow Jesus Christ in the fullness of His gospel. There are so many people out there today that are confused and lost. Just like the young man named Joseph Smith in the year 1820, there are many who desire to know among all the churches today which one is true. I love all the opportunites we as missionaries have to testify to people and to promise them blessings. Lupita came to church today with one of her sons and that was such a blessing to see. I know she was given to us as a tender mercy from our Father above.

 I love being a vessel for the Lord in which the gospel of Jesus Christ is brought to my brothers and sisters. It has been such a blessing to be raised in a home that was founded upon the principles and doctrine of Jesus Christ. I do know that our Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ live. I know that what we bring as missionaries to the homes of the people here in Santa Rosa is true. I know the Lord's hand is in every one of our lives. At times for me it can be hard to see, but when I do, I treasure the tiny tender mercies in which my Father above shows me that He knows me and He loves me. I know it is people like Lupita that are put in the paths of missionaries around the world, because God is our Heavenly Father and we are His children. I love you all and I invite you, as you go about your day, to ask yourself, "Have I seen the hand of the Lord today?".

Los Amo,

Elder Vance

The Road To Take

I have learned so much in the last week or so in Santa Rosa. Elder Lenon and I are loving it here. This past week has not been the easiest; I was sick and it seemed like that the people were not being very open or receptive. I know that the Lord was stretching and testing us.  

"In your life there have to be challenges. They will either bring you closer to God, and therefore make you stronger, or they can destroy you. But you make the decision which road you take." - Elder Busche

I have seen in my mission how challenges have helped mold and refine me. We talk to a lot of people every day and it seems like almost everyone is dealing with some sort of challenge in their lives. There is a difference though; the people who choose to see their challenges as burdens seem to get down on themselves. They begin to blame God for the things they are going through. Others see challenges as blessings, and they take the road that leads to receiving strength and to change within themselves. I know this past week was hard for me, and there was a time that I was thinking, "Why isn't this happening?" or "Why is this happening to us?". I realized that the Lord was testing me and that it was my decision as to how I was going to react to the trials He put in my path. As the week went on I felt much better. I began to pray for more faith and more strength so that I could see every day and moment as a blessing from my Heavenly Father. My week did change and now that I look back on it, it was a blessing because I learned a valuable lesson. The lesson I learned is that I must always be humble and follow the will of the Lord. I must align myself with Him so I can follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost.  Life is not easy, nor is it suppose to be. We all will come across things in this life and wonder if we will be able to cope with or overcome them. But I know that if we pray and ask God to turn our challenges and trials into blessings, everything will change.

Last week Elder Lenon and I had a really long day. It was a very hot day here in northern California and I also was feeling under the weather with a cold. We didn't have too much success in finding new people or teaching some of the people that we are currently visiting. The day was coming to a close, and as we were driving out of an apartment complex, we saw one of our investigators named Jesus. It was such a blessing to be able to talk to him. I know the Lord grants unto us tender mercies. Jesus was put in our path that day for a reason. It was such a joy to talk to him and to see how he was doing. He is doing so well and the light of Christ beams from within him. It was amazing that just a little thing like that changed our day. I know that God lives and that he does grant unto us those little tender mercies.

On my mission I have recognized how much I have been blessed throughout my life. I know that the things that may seem hard at the time will become easier and lighter with the help of our Heavenly Father. Again, we must be humble and go to him in prayer on a regular basis so that we can align our will with His.

"A bend in the road is not the end unless you fail to make the turn."

As missionaries we meet with many members that are not active in the church. Many have gone through divorces, job loss, deaths in their family, and many other challenges that have a heavy impact on them. In all these cases, it was not the challenges themselves, but their attitudes toward these challenges and their lack of faith, that led them to leave the church for a time. I have found that all of them have one thing in common. Their faith has slowly faded. I believe they all deep down in their hearts still have a testimony that they know this gospel and church are true, but their faith has been lost. Faith is an action. Faith is not just a belief, it is what drives us to act. The way we acquire more faith is through praying for more of it, acting by keeping the commandments of God, living the gospel of Jesus Christ, reading the scriptures, going to church, and turning our hearts over to the Lord. It is through these small yet powerful ways that we increase our FAITH in God, our Heavenly Father, and His son, Jesus Christ.

I LOVE this quote below.

"The faith that can't be shaken is the faith that has been shaken." -Randy Alcorn

Throughout my life my faith has been shaken. I know that because my faith has been tested that it is now stronger than ever before. This life is a test. We can come closer to our Heavenly Father through these challenges, thanking Him for the hard things so that we can see them as blessings. I know that through that our faith will grow and we will reap the blessings of heaven and see the change within ourselves. Let us humble ourselves, repent of our sins daily, and follow the example that our Savior, Jesus Christ, has set for us. I love my mission and I look forward to the many challenges ahead of me in this life, for I know that those are the times in my life that the Lord is preparing me to return to His presence once again. The road to take is the one that leads us to thank God for our trials and tribulations so that we may be strengthened and prepared to be led home to Him and His Son in their celestial glory.

Los Amo,

Elder Vance

It's Worth It

This past week has been an amazing week with Elder Lenon. The Lord has blessed us with so many people that are prepared to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. Santa Rosa is going to be an adventure. A new chapter has been opened in my mission and I am grateful to be here. As many of you may know, tomorrow I will officially have been out for a year on my mission. What a crazy thing! Time does fly by. I remember a year ago today, I was set apart as a missionary and was preparing to enter the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah the following day. I look back and see all the ups and downs, but more importantly I see the change in myself. I recognize that I have changed a lot. It is a change that has come through gaining knowledge of my Savior, Jesus Christ and feeling the truth of the things I teach as a missionary. For one to come to know if this church and this gospel are true, one must pray and ask God. I do not know that these things are true through my own knowledge of scripture or of the life of Jesus Christ ... I know that these things are true because I have felt the spirit of God in my heart and soul testify to me that this church is true. Those feelings are somewhat hard to describe. They are feelings of joy, happiness, and peace. I know that they were and are sent from God. I know that I am a missionary, a literal representative of the Lord, Jesus Christ. I know that His church has been restored in these latter-days through the prophet, Joseph Smith. I know that The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ; that it also contains the truthfulness and fullness of the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ.

My faith has grown because I have acted upon the feelings I have received. Faith is action, and if one wants to know the truth, the only way to do so is ask the one that holds ALL truth. God, our Heavenly Father, will let us know through the Holy Ghost what is true and what is not. I know that this gospel blesses families and that through this gospel we can have more happiness and peace in our lives. We know where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going. I am filled with gratitude because over the past year I have come to realize that it is because of this gospel of Jesus Christ that my family has been so blessed, and that I have had the life I have because of it.

I look forward to another year of experiences and learning. This message we bring is for all who are willing to hear it. Everyone is our brother or sister. I know that all of these things are true. There are going to be challenges ahead but I know it is because I have this gospel, Jesus Christ, and my Heavenly Father that all will be well. I hope you all enjoy this poem below. I have slowly been adding to it over the course of the past year and it was inspired. I would like to thank my family for all the love and support they have shown me through this past year. I love being with my people and I love serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It has been a life changing experience and it has definitely been worth it.
                                   

 "My Best 2 Years"

I've waited my whole life to be here today.

Saving up penny by penny,

It didn't matter what I had to pay.

My testimony becoming strong and pure.

Now it's my turn to take them the cure.

Two by two we walk and knock on doors,

Someone hollow or someone very poor.

Sometimes the great and spacious mocks,

That's all we hear, it's their heart that locks.

As a representative of Jesus Christ I do all that I can,

But it's sad to see Satan have power over man.

We are stronger when we choose the right.

Praying to God or singing with all our might.

The philosophies of man,

Confusing the children of God.

The armies of Helaman press forward,

Every step we trod.

I know that the trials and hardships
Of my life have been felt before.
By the one I worship,
The one who knocks on my door.

I remember what He had to pay

As those drops of blood fell for me.

While he hung from a cross on that dreary day,

And suffered in a garden called, Gethsemane.

Nails driven through his hands and feet, a spear pierced his side

The world He created, was the one for which He died.

For the pharisees He was dead at last,

The believers believed, it was 3 days that passed.

He rose in His glory and light,

The face of our Savior illuminating and oh so bright.

The light of Christ fills us from the inside out

As human beings it is this, that is often forgotten

Without it, we are merely living in a drought.

The Son, The Only Begotten
In whom we cannot live without.

Side by side He walks our same pace,

It is up to us to look and see His face.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

Is something I can never deny.

The joy of bringing the truth to others,

Is the same that makes angels fly.

My people, my people every night I say.

It is them for whom, I hope and wish and pray.

Thank you Father for this opportunity.

I wish I could be here with them for eternity.

I hope they call me on a mission,

That wish has been fulfilled.

Here I am trusted to do God's will.

To lead them home to our Heavenly Father above,

Which I do, solely out of love.

I Love My Mission.

-Elder Spencer Guy Vance

The Bittersweet

As of right now I am in a tornado of emotions. Everything is whirling around me because I found out that I will be leaving the Davis area. I am headed to the heart of my mission ... Santa Rosa! I have been assigned to be a zone leader in the northern half of Santa Rosa with Elder Lennon. I feel like I am being ripped out of here. It is so hard to leave a place where you have served, especially if it has been for 6 months, but I knew that my time was up. My 6 month stay in Davis has probably been the hardest time of my life, but it also has been the sweetest and most rewarding time, and has been filled with the most joy I have ever felt in my life. Selena and Luis both got baptized on Saturday, which was such an amazing experience. It was my last weekend here and I was able to be part of their baptisms. I had the opportunity to baptize Luis and Elder Richins baptized Selena. The Lord has truly blessed me. They were so excited about their baptisms, and to see their faces after they were baptized was priceless. That is what missionary work is all about. You can't put a price tag on the feelings and joy I have experienced. There is no substitute. Yesterday they both were confirmed members of the church and received the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. They now have the Holy Ghost as a constant companion to guide them in their lives and to help them choose between right and wrong. It was a great day to be here. I love this family so much and I know that, more than they needed me, I needed them. I saw how this gospel changed their countenances and their hearts. Through teaching them, I learned how to love and how to be more like Jesus Christ. They are being so blessed for the decision they have made to come into the fold of God. They will forever be in my prayers and have a special place in my heart for them. I feel like I have fulfilled my purpose here, which is to invite others to come unto Christ. I do this by helping them receive the restored gospel of Jesus Christ through faith in Him and His atonement, and through repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.

The next chapter of my blog will be taking place in Santa Rosa. It will be a new adventure and I am so excited to go and serve there. I have only heard great things about the people in Santa Rosa and I cannot wait to dive into the work. The best way to determine your future is to create it, and that is one thing that I have seen in all of the transfers and areas. Attitude really is everything. Bad areas in missions do not exist. If there are people there, then there is opportunity for the Lord to use you as an instrument to help bring His children back home. In the mission there is always change, and you are regularly being transferred from place to place with new people and new companions. I really enjoyed this quote about change:

"You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you." -Sri Ram

I just love being a missionary. A piece of my heart will always be here in the Davis/Woodland area. This place has changed my life forever. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to love these people and be their guide. This whole experience has helped me catch a glimpse of the eternal perspective; of what is really important in this life and how I can help others see that as well. I will definitely be back to visit, whether it is by receiving another assignment to come back here during my mission or if I have to wait until after my mission, I will be back! These are my people and I love them. I loved the people in Fairfield and I love the people here in Davis. It is such a blessing to gain charity in my life, to ask for charity and then to see how much your love grows for those in your area is a testament to me that God bestows that which is asked for, if it be for the cause of righteousness.

Tonight I leave and it pains me to do so. I know that God has much in store for me, and I look forward to that, and to the experiences ahead. I hope you all enjoy these blog entries; they help me recognize how, with the assistance of prayer, trials turn into blessings and that God is literally my Heavenly Father. He is always waiting to bless us; all it takes is a humble heart and a call to the heavens above. This is real. This is who I am becoming. A change every day in the right direction is a step toward dwelling in the presence of God and our Savior, Jesus Christ, for eons to come. Our lives on earth are but a small moment of eternity, and our actions determine who we are forever. Thank you all once again for the love, support, prayers, and letters.

Les Amo,

Elder Vance