7 December, 2015 - Another Week

Dear Family and Friends,

Things has been interesting around here in MoVal. Another missionary going home and the whole San Bernardino thing. Everything is good though.

Tuesday our weekly DDM meeting where we as a district decided to strive for 20 lessons a week during the holiday season and work on keeping dinner appointments an hour or less as stated in the handbook. Afterward we were able to get 3 lessons in today with an investigator and a Less-Active/Recent Convert. We had dinner at our Ward Mission Leader's home and talked about the work in the Lasselle ward.

Wednesday was also good. We got 4 lessons in today. We ran into one of our investigators in the street on our way to a Recent Convert who disappeared. We set an appointment for tomorrow after talking on the street for about an hour. We also ran into a less-active who used to go on team-ups with the missionaries. We asked him to come to an appointment with us but he said he wanted a week to get in shape spiritually. Also got super close to getting 2 new investigators. We showed them the Christmas video and invited them to learn more but they said they weren't at the time in their lives to look for a church. At least the seed has been planted.

Thursday we had 5 lessons which is really good. We met up with Ed, the investigator from yesterday. He is really interesting in the "Mormon". We also had our weekly Book of Mormon Study, met some members and had a lesson with Jose, who is 14. I don't think they are too interested if they ask how much longer you will be coming to his house. Also our mailbox was broken. When we went to check mail it was open and the lock was broken off. We told the front office and they said they'll work on it.

Friday wasn't as good. We had our weekly planning since Thursday was busy. The mailbox got fixed, but they just replaced the lock which meant we had to get a new key. Luckily there was no charge and now I have a key for nothing. I'll keep it and call is my Priesthood Key. After that was said and done, we only had 3 hours to work before we had to report to the Stake Center for the Creche festival. It was also the night we had exchanges so we started the exchange there since Elder Olsen, the DL was there as well. I guess Elders Moss and Lanley got 2 lessons in afterward since they left with the ZL's early since there wasn't a big enough of a turn out for 6 missionaries.

Saturday I was on exchanges with Elder Olsen in the Hidden Springs Ward, It was a good day. We met with a Less-active and their Ward Mission Leader, had Lunch at Subway, like when Olsen was on exchanges with the ZL's earlier this week, met some members in Retcher Canyon on the North Boarder of the mission, got smoothies since a member just dropped $40 dollars for the both of us. The money stayed in the area. We had dinner and went back to the Festival since Olsen had investigators coming. Then, we exchanged back. Meanwhile, Elder Moss got 5 lessons in our area with Elder Lanley which totals up to 7 since we exchanged.

Sunday was church, then we had a "Break the Fast" at the Merrill's, watched the new Christmas video, and watched the Christmas Devotional...which was broadcasted at the Festival. So I went to all 3 days!!! Which was really fun because there was music also. 1 Lesson and the total was 21 lessons for the week. Goal Achieved!

Today we went bowling as a Zone, I got a 136 and a near turkey! New high score!! Then we got lunch, currently E-mailing, then we will get haircuts, shop, eat dinner at a Member's and get back to work.

This week was really good. Yet, there is always room for improvement. I am looking forward for the upcoming week. I am OK with all the craziness happening around the area. I miss you all and have a happy Holiday Season!!!

Elder Jewkes

P.S. A lot of Members in the Hidden Springs ward has connections with Cache Valley which is super cool. Some of our members do as well. Most people talk about Salt Lake or Provo. There is more Utah than Salt Lake and Provo people!!!



Answers:

 It took me awhile to register that as well. For our zone, we got a call from our Zone Leaders and they told us to continue Proselyting with extra caution. Also heard about a violent robbery in the Riverside Mall recently. The world is too crazy! Nice, my own shrine!!! Can I see a picture of it? Cookiekah is going strong then? There are some decorations up in the apartment. There are still 4 elders for at least another week. I hope they move out before they exchange with the AP's. They are kinda intimidating.  The transfer calls are the day after Christmas so I am spending Christmas in Moreno Valley. (At least it's not Hemet right?) The weather is alright. It started to warm up again. I wear a sweater at night not because it's cold, but for the stupid wind chill from bike riding. I feel like a wimp. Moreno Valley is pretty big, there are defiantly palm trees but not a ton, there are "mountains" in the area. Most of the good sized mountains are by Hemet/Idyllwild area. A little smog, 7 wards: 5 English, 1 Spanish, and 1 Samoan. I never thought of taking pictures of Church houses. Will do. A lot of our investigators are teens in high school and with finals they are really busy, but William is doing alright. There is an investigator named Edmundo Bonilla who is really stuggling: anxiety, family issues, payments, etc) so it would be great to pray for him. Is Kyall praying for my current companion or for all 8? Does she even remember all 8? I barley can. Not much from Salt Lake for now. I heard from other missionaries the Christmas contact will be via SKYPE.