26 October, 2015 - To Mom

Don't worry, I had always known that my siblings are LOUD. It's nothing new. You should tell Charlee about the do not procrastinate the day of repentance scripture and apply it for school. Maybe even for FHE. The football game sounded intense! Did you guys go to watch it? Doesn't someone always get sick or have swollen cheeks from wisdom teeth at Halloween time? Trip to Disneyland? You are living the spontaneous life! For Elder Turner, he might go back depending on how bad it is. His Visa went through so if he was to go back, he would go straight to Australia. We have dinner with the Nunley's every Wednesday and Turner said he would Skype for conversation's sake. Elder Falou went home on Friday. He had been out for 22 months so he's done. The 4 of us in the Lasselle Ward have 2 apartment so Elder Warren had been apartment hoping but stayed at my apartment since it is nicer and bigger. Among all that, Elder Warren was also acting District Leader until Elder Olsen got that call Thursday. My new companion is Elder Dunn. He will move in later today. His companion, Elder Catchatoorian, will be with Elder Warren...until he goes home in 3 weeks. Warren just likes to send all his companions home. Elder Dunn has 3 weeks of training left so I'll get to finish that. Yay. The best moment (which is also the funniest and the one that made it all worth it) was Elder Turner and Falou acting like kids all week and last week since they were stuck inside and drove Elder Warren a little crazy. We had a family feed us "Mexican Spaghetti". I don't exactly know what makes is Mexican other than spicyness but it was really good. I got the package and I love it! "The 1B4 your b-day" Hehe. So I guess rain gear won't be needed anymore because Elder Falou gave me a bunch of his stuff before he left and it all fits. It was like Christmas! Since the crazy weeks are over, I'll try to start writing some letters home, especially to Kyall. Pronto.

26 October, 2015 - Crazy Week!

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been a crazy week! I had 2 companions sent home early due to injuries and I get a new one later today. When will the craziness end? One notable thing that happened after I e-mailed last week was that we went by a member's home so that Elder Turner can say Goodbye and He and Elder Falou, both being on crutches, decided to have a race from the car across the street to the front door and crutches were literally flying! Elder Falou is an interesting person.

Tuesday we did some service for the Salvation Army. They wanted us to throw out wet, disgusting cardboard boxes where a colony, no empire of cockroaches thrived. Luckily, there were a few lizards to eat some of them. Not the highlight of my week. After, Elder Turner went to the mission office to be sent home. A member took him. We had 2 set appointments so we had to bring crippled Falou with us to the first one. Teaching in a Trio is difficult, FYI. Then, we stayed in until Dinner so that Falou can start packing since he was going home on Friday. For our other appointment we were able to have a member babysit Falou while we were gone. Interesting start for an interesting week.

Wednesday was our weekly district meeting. Beforehand, we had gotten Spanish contacting training by the sisters so we can get them referrals since they give us referrals. All that spanish in high school did little to no help whatsoever. After lunch, we went on splits with a soon-to-be missionary in our ward. I went with him and the other two stayed home. Not much really happened after dinner.

Thursday was a blur. All I really remember is that we basically stayed in all day since we didn't have anything set up. There was another split in the afternoon but Elder Warren went this time so I stayed home and did nothing but study (Lehi's Dream)... and scriptures too!

Friday was the day we dropped off Elder Falou at the mission office. We were there in the morning and Elder Falou needed to be back at around 3 so we just dropped him off and he hung out in the mission office all day. After we got home, we managed to get some stuff done. We visited a recent-convert to get his paperwork done and had a lesson with a Part Member Family. Things are starting to look normal today.

Saturday was the first real missionary day all week. After we gave one of the Spanish sisters a healing blessing, we found a few more people we can possibly teach, which is good because my area is low on investigators, but that'll soon change. We also saw a few less-active members and got some lessons in. Then we had dinner with "Mom" (Sis. Tatum). She's "Mom" because she treats us like her own kids... and her mom is "Grandma" who's Catholic. We had pizza and Ice Cream. She really spoils us.

Sunday was fun. After Meetings in the morning, we had a few investigators come to church and a recent convert got her Patriarticle(Don't know how to spell) Blessing. After Sunday School, we got to go to primary because they needed a piano player and Elder Warren could play. It was the Primary Program or "Children's Sacrament Presentation" so we had treats and watched "The Restoration". Best day of church yet! We then had lunch with a Part-Member Family. The mom isn't a member, her boyfriend is Less active and the kids are recent converts. We took one of the kids to Mission Prep. Then we visited with the Ward mission leader since he was gone for a few weeks so we caught him up on the work...and he fed us leftovers for dinner. This ward spoils!

Well, crazy week. I best be get going. I need to get ready for my new companion to move in later today and hopefully have a more normal week. Love you all!

Elder Jewkes

19 October, 2015 - Interesting week

Dear Family and Friends,

This past week has been really interesting. Crazy things has happened and more will come.

Tuesday we were inside for most of the day. With Elder Turner injured and out, Elder Warren ( one of my Zone Leaders) stepped up and took me out to work while my companion and his are injured for the whole week and I really appreciated it. I don't think I can be stuck inside for 10 days. Work in my area was slow but the work in the whole ward isn't too bad. It is kinda interesting to do work in both areas.

Wednesday was Multizones in Jurupa, which is about 20 miles but it took 50 minutes to get there (stupid CA 60 traffic). It was a really good training on finding people and working with the members. Elder Turner went and was on crutches, but he was in so much pain. Poor guy. That took up most of the day, yet we were able to meet a Recent Convert in the evening so it wasn't a total waste.

Thursday was weekly planning, which I basically did myself since Elder Turner is going home. The other Elders in the ward found a Less Active who had his name removed from the church list, but wants to come back and with the current situation, I was there for it. We had a Book of Mormon study with some Recent Converts and Less Actives. We were also able to find more potentials, but nothing has come out of them yet. Since Elder Warren is a Zone Leader and Elder Falou is injured, I went to Stake Mission Coordination Meeting. This might be a sign for leadership. I am purposely saying this so I won't get it until I am a little more experienced.

Friday Elder Falou and I got the opportunity to teach our beliefs to a Roles of Religion Class an Moreno Valley Community College. It was... interesting. I was out with him because Elder Falou wasn't officially on house arrest until Saturday night. Not much happened that day. Falou and I had only been in the ward for 2 weeks so we had no idea who to see.

Saturday I went with Elder Warren to see our potentials. One wasn't home, another said call today to set up a time, and we have communication with another. We also saw a few other Recent Converts and Less Actives. This week has been a long week for sure.

Sunday Falou and Turner were able to go to sacrament meeting, but that was it for them. After church we saw a Recent Convert family who were kinda upset at Falou and Turner... mostly Turner because he was there longer. Luckily, Falou had ripped his pants down is lower areas between the legs and it lightened up the mood. We have dinner every Wednesday with them and Turner will Skype from home to be in the wild and fun conversations.

Today we went to Riverside to get Turner's Itinerary and Falou went with President Mullen to get a new suit. We recently got back and we only have time to E-mail at the Library where there would be enough computers for the 4 of us.

It's sad that Turner is leaving and that Falou will leave soon as well. It has been crazy this week and next week I'll tell you the results from the craziness.

Elder Jewkes

12 October, 2015 - A new transfer

Dear Family and Friends,

So, it was the first week of a new transfer. I am officially done training (ALL RIGHT!!!) and getting to work in Moreno Valley. I am currently with Elder Turner. He is a visa-waiter from Justin, Texas and has a possibility to go to his called mission in Perth, Australia in a few weeks. He finally finished his visa paperwork this past week...which means I'll probably have a new companion next transfer... again. I am also companions with the District Leader...again. We are also on bike...again. The exciting thing is I went from a district of all sisters in Hemet to a district of all elders in Mo-Val. That's a big change. I am in the Lasselle Ward, which is split with the Zone Leaders and we are in the North part of the area.

Tuesday I learned that we have a weekly service with the Salvation Army so we did some stuff with that. After that, we went to Riverside to finish Elder Turner's visa paperwork. The work is a little slow right now because the week before, the area lost all of its investigators...great. Now I only have to know the area. There were a lot of Recent converts and Less actives to see so it isn't too bad.

Wednesday we finished up with the Salvation Army. We did see a Recent Convert and tried to find more people to teach. After walking around, I learned that Elder Turner has some knee issues because he was icing after we were done. I got him to call Sister Mullen to get it checked. We had dinner with the Nunnly's, which are the coolest people in the ward. Sis. Nunnly is a Recent Convert and Bro. Nunnly is a Less Active that came back. It was a good meal and day.

Thursday was our weekly planning so we didn't go out until later, but we did get to go to a Book of Mormon study that a member of the ward sponsors and Less-Actives come so it's a good thing. Our dinner appointment had something come up so they gave us $12 each (12x4=48) and we went to a steak house. It was good. Still trying to find more people to teach.

Friday my companion and another missionary's companion went to Riverside for a District Leader meeting so Elder Gogan and I did some contacting in a Spanish area since Elder Gogan was called to be a Spanish missionary and he is currently being an English one for now. After that we waited for our companions to come back. They came about 1 1/2 hours later than planned. Then we contacted a few referrals we got from the Spanish Sisters and got one return appointment. That's a start. Then we went home after dinner and got ready for exchanges.

Saturday we had exchanges and I went to the Canyon Springs Area with one of my friends who came out to the MTC with me, Elder Mayo (like the spread). That was a fun little reunion. Out of the 4 missionaries living in that appartment, 3 of us came out together and 1 was out for 16 months. It felt like living in the MTC again. Good times. We were stuck inside all morning because he had a car in the shop that was in there longer than it should have been. We did get work done and since Elder Mayo didn't have a license, I got to drive for the first time in my mission! It was exciting. There is a monitor called a TIWI that talks back when you drive too aggressive or speed and it didn't go off once. PERFECT RECORD!!! After we got back I found my companion in crutches. Apparently, he fell on his bad knee and it got messed up. He has an appointment right now and keep him in your prayers because he was already sent home once after 3 months in Australia to resolve issues at home and has waited for 9 to go back. At this point, it's rather a plane ticket to Australia or back home to Texas.

Sunday we managed to go to church, but Elder Turner had to go home after sacrament meeting because he technically wasn't supposed to leave the house. So Elder Falou and I stayed while Elder Warren took Elder Turner home. After church, we stayed in all day and had dinner brought to us so I finally got to break out Trevor's toy kit he sent while I was in the MTC. 

Today we played chair soccer as a zone. We also did Zumba with the Somoan ward and it was really fun. Elder Turner is in his appointment and I am E-mailing currently. 

So that's the first week in Mo-Val. Keep Elder Turner in your prayers and I can't wait to E-mail again next week... hopefully with the same companion.

Elder Jewkes

5 October, 2015 - 3rd transfer

Dear Wonderful Friends and Family,

With the conclusion of General Conference this weekend, we are now at the beginning of a new transfer. After spending 3 months in Hemet, I am being transferred to the Lassalle North area in Moreno Valley. My companion, Elder Turner, is a Visa-waiter and will leave in 6 weeks to go to Australia. So I will probably have 4 companions in 6 months. I haven't left yet so next week I'll tell ya'll about the new area and companion.

Tuesday was good. We helped a member of the ward move, had a lesson with a family of 6, and gave a blessing to a Less-Active that is returning back to church activity. The sad part was that the member that was going to feed us dinner had her car window smashed and purse missing. Everything is alright now and she managed to supply us money for dinner. She is a sweet lady.

Wednesday was our quarterly temple trip to the temple in Redlands. I was so shocked how tiny the temple was compared to the ones back home, but it was still great and spiritual. We got 10 names done for a member of the ward. It was awesome. We ate lunch at Cafe Rio on the way home since there isn't one in our mission boundaries. We left at 10am and got back at around 5pm so not much was done for the rest of the day.

Thursday was the 3 month mark! That is so crazy! We played B-ball at 6 in the morning and hung out with some elders from the San Jacinto ward above our area, weekly planned and managed to get 2 lessons. This week had been slow but hopefully, things will pick up in the new area.

Friday was the best day of the week in terms of work. We got 5 lessons and 2 new investigators so that was alright. I also learned that Elder Cornia's mom put my name in the Logan Temple Prayer Roll. I can't believe that she did that for me. That's so unexpected! We had a member put Book of Mormons at his table in a flea market at his Senior Community Center, so we need to follow up on that.

Saturday was General Conference! It was awesome! We watched it at the Stake Center and we didn't do much because we were basically there all day (almost). We managed to get some grub at a tailgate party before the Priesthood Session for the San Jacinto ward because the San Jacinto elders were our ride. Then after conference we had our transfer calls where I learned that 3 out of the 6 new sisters are going to be trained by Hemet sisters. Hemet is a good place to be trained. Elder Cornia and one of the San Jacinto elders, Elder Page, are going to be trainers as well. Crazy things happen on transfer call day.

Sunday we watched the rest of general conference where a member from our ward fed all 26 missionaries in the stake. He is an awesome guy. After Conference, I had to say goodbye to the ward members which was really sad. I will miss the Gonzales family the most because they remind me of my family at home and the spirit is so strong at their home. Very mission-minded as well. I have seen like 6 nonmember family members in their house and we baptized one of them. Hopefully, Lassalle will be just as great.

Well, new things are going to happen so until next week, have a great week.

Elder Jewkes