We were saddened to hear of the recent passing of Jayne Van Langeveld, a member of our Dana Hills congregation. Jayne had spent the last two years serving a volunteer service mission teaching California history to local elementary school children. Prior to her passing, we had asked her to share her experiences, and we thought it appropriate to share them now.
“In 2017, I joined the recently established California Living History Service Mission. The mission consists of a team of dedicated history specialists who teach about courageous pioneers who came to California in the 1840’s, with the Mormon Battalion, the Ship Brooklyn, and Gold Rush. Our target audience is fourth grade students studying California history, but we also teach some fifth graders and other young adults preparing for pioneer treks.
Each missionary assumes a pioneer character and tells their story in first-person, which makes the details and obstacles of the pioneers real and interesting. Pioneer Day presentations are 1 – 3 hours of hands-on activities for the students in the following: Rope Making, Panning for Gold, Log Cabin Construction, Doll Making, Butter Making, Washboard Laundry, Printing Press, Roadometer, Pioneer games, songs, and stories.
I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve in this exciting and rewarding mission. We spent a lot of time studying and preparing for the presentations in the beginning. Although we started with few schools, we have booked 16 schools this year. Every school we attended last year asked us to come back this upcoming year.
Each time we present to a school, I leave feeling the boys and girls will always remember the fun they had at Pioneer Day. One little boy expressed to one of the missionaries, “This is the best day of my life!” Many of the schools have parent volunteers who join in helping us in different ways. They seem very interested and ask lots of questions. We receive written letters from most of the students and teachers. The program is very well received and expressions of gratitude come to us for our expertise and dedication.
I love being part of a way to show such gratitude for church pioneers. This has been the most exciting and active mission I can imagine participating in, and I know seeds are being planted for others to respect and one day want to learn more about certain pioneers.
