25 January, 2016 - Another week in MoVal

Dear Friends and Family,

Things are going great here in MoVal. The work is still going and things are going well.

Tuesday wasn't DDM. President said that there is too much going on to need to do so. Therefore, it was a regular day of work. We got to teach a few people and didn't really do anything out of the ordinary.

Wednesday we had a world-wide missionary broadcast by the mission board (Hence the reason of DDM being canceled) . It was really good. It focused on the Fundamentals of Missionary work. Afterward, we were able to take a member with us to pick up 2 new investigators: John and Anthony. We'll see what happens with them.

Thursday was weekly planning. I also picked up my bike from the shop. Fun times. Then we had our Book of Mormon Study and went on splits to see Roy and Ray. Again, nothing out of the ordinary.

Friday was a day full of meetings. There was a Multi-zone Conference from 7am to 1pm and then the Trainer-Trainee meeting from 2:30 to 4:30. We didn't really get much work done, but we tried.

Saturday we were on exchanges and I went to "Donkey Land" where the wild donkeys roam. It was fun to have something different. While we did work there, Elder Doi got a great lesson with Julian and committed him to come to church on Sunday. There was great work done in both areas.

Sunday no one came to church... again. I don't  know why no one is coming to church! For the past 3 weeks we had members to go pick them up but last-minute things always happen. It sucks. After we were able to pick up a new investigator named Laura. She had taken the lessons before in Long Beach and we are going through the lessons again. She seems promising.

Today we played Basketball, soccer. regular P-day stuff, and currently E-mailing until dinner time. 

This past week has been kinda long but I know what I am doing and I am starting to see the fruit of my labors. I love you all!

Elder Jewkes

18 January, 2016 - Pics

This was a fun balancing game. Very similar to Jenga. We got ALL the pieces to balance on one stick!

Score on the Hippo! A gift from an investigator, Carol. She said to bring it back for the next lesson but I am not sure if that means I am borrowing it. We'll see.

It rained pretty hard.

18 January, 2016 - Hey guys!!!

Dear Family and Friends,

Sorry for not E-mailing last week, I had done a terrible time with time management but I learned from my mistakes and I won't let it happen again. Anyway, this past week has been a little slow, but the work was still done, nonetheless. A summary of 2 weeks ago, the rain made missionary work a little more interesting. It was kinda unexpected, but it was still fun to bike in the rain.Other highlights include helping a less-active return to church, continuing to find people who aren't ready for the gospel, continuous progress with current investigators such as Ed and Carol. We had a fun time on a Blitz in the Hidden Springs area. Found them a few people to contact. Fun fact, a member of the bishopric served in the same mission as my companion's (Elder Doi) Dad. It was a cool coincidence. As well as a 6 hour meeting with Elder Hamula from the Seventy. It was super good. So for this week:

Tuesday was my P-day in which I didn't make time to E-mail. I got a haircut, cleaned the apartment, shopping, all that good stuff.

Wednesday we had a service opportunity with the Salvation Army. I have always enjoyed doing service for them since I got here and they love us as well. We had a lesson with a referral named Hugo, but he wasn't interested afterwards. Then we went walking around trying to find more people to refresh our teaching pool. Dinner with the Nunley's was a lot of fun as usual. We talked about the temple since Sis. Nunley is a recent convert.

Thursday We had our D.D.M. meeting due to P-day being on Tuesday, our usual day. We had Ed come to our weekly Book of Mormon study...after we went to picked him up. He lived just down the street so it wasn't that bad. After that, we met up with Daniel, an investigator, had dinner and started working on those people that the Bishop wanted us to see.

Friday we had exchanges. I stayed in my area and Elder Langley came to my area. Elder Langley is 23 and a great example of a missionary. He is on his second transfer and coming out at age 23 isn't easy. We didn't have much luck today. No one was home, bad time, etc. It was still a good day anyway.

Saturday was kinda ruff in the morning. We got 2 referrals from the Spanish Sisters and only one said to come back maybe on Thursday. I hope so. No one was home until after dinner where we took our ward mission leader to see Ed. And He said He'll go to church and we had a member planning on picking him up.

Sunday Ed didn't come to church. He told our member that he needed to take care of him mom, who is rather elderly. Church was still good. I haven't realized until now how hard it is to get people to come to church. I thought it would be one of the easier parts of the work. Anyway, after studies we had dinner with the Hanson's and got back to work looking at the Prospective Elder's list with not much luck if any.

Today is a normal P-day for a change. We played basketball in the morning, we are E-mailing now so I won't forget or make time for it. After P-day we plan on seeing Jay (17) and Daniel (31). Not super solid but we'll work on that.

So that is what life is like in Moreno Valley. I can't believe that we are already half way through this transfer! Time flies so much! Well, I love you all and have a great week.

/ Elder Jewkes

Yeah I did a terrible job with time management this last week but I'll do better. I think I felt the earthquake. You don't feel it much here. Members keep asking me if I felt an Earthquake and I am like ,"Uh...no?" To busy working I guess. Yeah it rained a bit, but all the gear I have is working well. The overshoes really helped a ton. I don't like having Lake Perris in my shoes. We seem to play basketball a lot early in the morning and on P-Day. My Zone Leader, Elder Foy, wants to make me "an unstoppable, unblock-able beast". We'll see how that turns out.

 

 

 

Oh I need some money on my Chase card for bike repairs. It gear guide at the back wheel got caught by the chain and bent it into the bike wheel. I got it to the nearest bike shop and they said that the estimated cost would be $80-$100 including labor. I'm not sure how much money is on the card but I wanted to let you know just in case. I have been borrowing another Elder's bike who isn't using it right now since he is in a car. The repairs is estimated to be done tomorrow afternoon. Just wanted to let you know. It is an used bike after all, but I am trying to take good care of it.

 

9 January, 2016 - Dinner at Hanson's

6 January, 2016 - Earthquake Concerns

6 January 2016

Dear Brother and Sister Jewkes,

We have had some minor earthquakes in southern California recently. Some have received national news attention. We write to let you know that we have taken precautions to have our missionaries prepared for emergencies in a variety of ways. Earthquakes stronger than 5.5 on the Richter Scale, which may cause damage, are rare. Recent earthquakes have been 4.5 or below. These small quakes typically cause no damage and only prompt conversation about who was even able to feel them.

We want to assure you that if we have any larger earthquakes that may be cause for concern we will write to keep you informed.  In the event that communication or transportation becomes a problem in a serious emergency, we have each of the seven stakes in the mission apprised of missionary locations in their stake so that stake emergency personnel in the more immediate vicinities can quickly respond and check on missionary safety.

Again, we express our gratitude for sharing Elder Jewkes with us in the missionary work of the California Riverside Mission and want you to know that his safety is our highest priority.

Faithfully Yours,

President John H. Mullen and Sister Jana L. Mullen

4 January, 2016 -Greenie!

My Greenie Elder Doi

4 January, 2016 - A new year...and a New Missionary

Dear Family and Friends,

This past week has been the end of another year and the beginning of a new one. Who would have thought that I would start a new year with a brand new missionary to train.

Tuesday I was with Elder Frost for the day. Elder Frost is another trainer in our zone. He is from Samoa and has been out for 19 months. We had a lot of fun as we tried to do the work in both of our areas. Elder Frost covered the Samoan ward and another ward so it felt like working in an entire stake!

Wednesday was the day that we picked up our new missionaries! Since Elder Frost doesn't have a driver's licence, I was the driver. It was my first time driving to the mission office. It was fun to be in a car while it lasted! So we arrived at the meeting in Riverside and were trained on our responsibilities and calling as trainers. We got to eat lunch with the new missionaries and then our companionship were assigned. My "greenie" is Elder Doi. He is from Garden City. Kansas. He is about 5' 6" and weighs 115 lbs. I am 2 times his size! Elder Frost is training his MTC companion, Elder Simpson. After the meeting and needed trip to Walmart for food, not much work got done.

Thursday We had DDM since there were going to be 3 new missionaries and everyone wanted to meet him. We also had our usual Book of Mormon study...with a new missionary! Everyone seems to like him. Which is good.We went street contacting, had dinner, and went to our Zone Activity since it was a holiday. We played Volleyball, soccer, and Basketball. It was fun.

Friday we were asked by President Mullen to do a "deep clean" of our apartment. Basically, we washed every inch of our apartment. Poor Elder Doi, he had to clean the apartment he only spent 2 days in. We were also asked to stay in until noon it being a Holiday and everyone is still sleeping or having a hangover. Safety reasons. Again, tried to see as many people as possible.

Saturday was our first full day of work, finally. We were able to get some good lessons in with investigators and strive to find more. We also had to throw our weekly planning in since we didn't have any other time to do so. This week just has been unusual with holidays and training. It has been good though.

Sunday we had church. Not one of our investigators had come but we were able to pick up a new investigator named Omar. He is actually Elder Doi's first contact and he seems to have the most potential at this point. There wasn't much luck for the rest of the day, but that's alright.

Today we played soccer as a zone and basketball. Then we came home, showered, and started E-mailing. After we are going to go shopping, have dinner with some members and go to some appointments.

This week is the start of a new year and as part of that I have the opportunity to train a new missionary to become a better missionary, which was one of my New Year's Resolutions anyways. Go figure. All is well in Moreno Valley. I might stay here for a while. Love you all.

Elder Jewkes

P.S. There is a General Authority, Elder Hemula of the Seventy, touring our mission and he is meeting with us on Monday so I will get the opportunity to E-mail next Tuesday. FYI

 

 

 

 I really did get a greenie! His name is Elder Doi and he is from Garden City, Kansas. He is a really good missionary. It is weird Elder Frost and I weren't seen I saw Elder Puskas taking pictures of us with his tablet. The funeral seemed that it went well. Tell the guys they are wimps for not going outside. I would do it!