20 July, 2015 - First week in the mission!

Hello everybody!

So I just got through my first week in the mission. I am doing well. It has seem to fly by rather quickly but I'm not going to pay any attention to that or it might drag on.

So I finished my stay at the MTC and took a bus and a train to SLC Airport, a plane to Ontario, CA and a car to both the mission home and Hemet which is about an hour or so away. So it was a lot of sitting and waiting...especially if there was an hour delay at the airport. The Mission President's Fireside was really amazing as President and Sister Mullen taught us about the true meaning of the gospel and missionary work. I got to spend the night with two missionaries who both had been here for 20 months and they helped us understand missionary work a little better.

So on Wednesday, we had training for 5 hours and then I left with my trainer, Elder Manson, to go to the Park Hill Ward area in Hemet. It was crazy! I just got there and we had a dinner appointment an hour or two later. I got to share a little scriptural thought and enjoyed Little Caesar's. It kinda reminded me of home a little.

Thursday was super busy! We had several lessons and a few baptismal dates. So I got here and there are 3 or 4 dates already! So Thursday was an amazing day. I meet many people and they were amazing.

Friday however was a little harder. It wasn't as successful but we got to ride our bikes a little more. We only had 2 or so lessons but I guess everyday can't be a perfect day.

Saturday was pouring rain all day! I guess I really should have brought an umbrella or something. Oh well. Elder Manson had something I could borrow. Of all days to go finding, it had to be that day.We walked for hours with no luck. Well, at least the rain cover on my bag works well and my shoes are really waterproof.

Sunday was amazing! I got to meet the people of the Park Hill Ward and they are amazing people. The ward only had like 60 or so but it was great. So apparently they have a person serving in the Spokane Washington Mission. I wonder if he meet Elder Shirk at all. Sacrament meeting was all about their girl's camp which kinda reminded me of home but it was great nonetheless. For Sunday School we had a great lesson on keeping the Sabbath Day holy. I actually got to go to Priest's Quorum with an investigator and he is what we call GOLDEN. He was so excited to learn about covenants and Pachriodical Blessings (or however it is spelled). 

And now it's P-DAY! My first one since last Thursday. I am SO glad to finally get another P-DAY! The zone is amazing and we had fun playing Hawaiian Football, Ultimate Frisbee, Volleyball, and Basketball. Don't worry, I didn't hurt anybody...yet☺.

Well I miss all of you. Please let the rest of the Family know that. I guess I'll write again next week.

❤Elder Jewkes (The California one)

 Sorry I forgot to mention the Pioneer Day celebration we had Saturday...in the pouring rain. There were inflatable water slides and the kids were still using them. Crazy! The party also had real handcarts that youth were pushing for the primary children. I though that was cool. The dinner part was fried chicken and potatoes with beans.So far there was only one day where we didn't have a dinner appointment. That is so cool! One day we had a watermelon the size of like 3 put together and it was in an almost perfect sphere. I had seen a Zebra and an Ostrich in the same street! It reminded me of the Llamas (or whatever it was) at the end of the road on the way to church. Alright I hope I remembered everything.