9 November, 2015 - Office Christmas info

9 November 2015

Dear Brother and Sister Jewkes,

It is our great opportunity to serve with your son, Elder Benjamin Coy Jewkes. We are grateful for your willingness to loan him to the Lord and thankful that we may work alongside him. This is a wonderful time to be a missionary. Many people are looking for guidance in their lives. Parents are seeking a safe path for their children. The light of Elder Jewkes shines brightly in a darkening world.

Thank you for supporting Elder Jewkes through email and letters. Thank you for your prayers in his behalf.  Your love and support mean so much to him. We will write about Christmas phone calls in the next letter, but perhaps it is time to give some thoughts on Christmas gifts.

Important:  Mark non-Christmas packages DO NOT HOLD. All other packages will be held at the office between now and Christmas so that we can deliver them at our Christmas conferences.

Please remember that a mission is a time of consecration for missionaries. Gifts that do not take their focus off the work are best:  clothing, side-bags to replace backpacks, restaurant gift cards, pens, personal grooming items, appropriate music or art (that which draws their thoughts to the Savior), family pictures. Please do not send:  books not in the approved missionary library, dart boards, bow and arrow sets, etc. (think apartment damage), knives, games that take more than a half hour to play (they can only use them on preparation day), things that will disturb other apartment dwellers (think noise).

Please mail Christmas packages to arrive at the mission office by December 10.** Mail or ship to the California Riverside Mission Office, 5900 Grand Avenue, Riverside CA 92504. Packages will be held in the office and delivered on either December 22 or 23.

 * This prevents packages from being stolen from beneath apartment mailboxes.

 * It prevents anxious missionaries from succumbing to the temptation to open their gifts and eat their treats ten days before Christmas! :-)

 * It prevents packages from getting lost when missionaries must move.

We understand that missions are expensive and that a family's circumstances can change quickly. Every year people offer to help with gifts for missionaries. It would be our joy to help Elder Jewkes receive Christmas gifts if you are unable to send them. Let Sister Just know by calling 951-788-9690.

With love,

President John Mullen and Sister Jana Mullen



** If you choose to mail your missionary's Christmas gifts to their apartment, please call the office (951-788-9690) and let us know. We will carefully track missionaries who have not received packages by December 10th and purchase gifts for them.

Also, please share this information with other family members who may be sending packages.