29 February, 2016 - Finally!!!

Dear Family and Friends,

I finally get to e-mail on a Monday!!!!Thank you, thank you. I'll be here for another 16 months from Thursday. It is crazy to think that I am almost 1/3 of the way done with my mission. Crazy.

Wednesday was a slow day in the office. Things are starting to wind down until the end of the transfer. We were able to see Yvonne(I) and the Pacillas (LA) after dinner. Yvonne is looking pretty solid. She accepted to get baptized on March 13th and has gone to church twice out of the required 3 as of today. I am starting to see the fruits of our labors. The Pacillas are super cool and they signed up to feed us the next day...all 6 of us. 

Thursday was our weekly planning session. Afterward, we started preparing for the Cook's arrival. The Cook's are a Senior Couple who will replace the Puskas' later in March. After that we were able to meet with the Guyers, Dena (mother) and Josh (son). They have been having missionary discussions for a while and still struggle in understanding certain truths, but they really want to learn and understand so it is a slower process with them. That's ok though. After we had dinner with the Pacillas who I was talking about earlier. Having 6 missionaries there telling them that scripture study will bless their lives will really help them out.

Friday Elder Just, one of the Senior office missionaries, is helping us spending less time in the office and more time proselyting. So basically instead of mandatory 10-3 office work, we are on call from 10-3 instead. That will help us do more missionary work. Other than that,  nothing really happened.

Saturday we had a blitz in the Mt. Rubidoux ward for the sisters. It was also the day that the Cook's arrived so we got to meet them. After that, we had some emergency bunk bed assembly to do and then afterward, we contacted Yvonne who was busy at the time. We learned that one of the Elders in the ward, Elder Smith, had to be transferred early. He has Reactive Airway Disease (RAD) which is like asthma but not really so he can't be on bike. 

Sunday was great. We got Yvonne to church since she can't drive. Also, the Chinese Elders had a baptism and since we are the ones with a car, we took them there. It was great. It was mostly English minus the actual baptism, that was in Chinese. Afterward, we were able to meet with the Sandoval's (LA) real quick before dinner. After dinner, all 6 of us ran into a guy who was both drugged and drunk at the same time. Luckily, nothing serious happened. The member followed us to save our backs. 

Today we played basketball, hang out with Elder Smith before he leaves, and E-mail. Later we will shop, eat dinner and try some people afterward. Elder Smith hasn't left yet and the plan is that his replacement, Elder Walker, will come sometime soon and the member he is bringing will take Elder Smith back since they are just swapping places.

It has been a crazy week with every thing that has happened and this week looks just as busy if not busier. Have a great week and will talk to ya next week. Love you all!

Elder Jewkes



 I know this week looks busy as well. There is a Mission Leadership Council (MLC) meeting I have to prepare and run smoothly on Thursday, another meeting on Friday and a training on the new Easter Video that same day. Also, since the Puskas' are going home in a few weeks we have been busy preparing for the Cook's (replacements) arrival this past week. For some reason Senior Couple Missionary dressers and beds are bigger and heavier than regular missionaries. So I may be still grunting but not as a thrower like I did in track!

23 February, 2016 - Another week

Dear Family and Friends,

Sorry for E-mailing a day late. As an office elder, my day was busy with office work but President Mullen said we could move our P-day to tomorrow so...

Wednesday after Emailing and office work, we did the usual missionary work and visiting a part-member family named the Mamawal's. Other than that nothing out of the ordinary really happened.

Thursday we had DDM and all that fun stuff. The day was mostly office work, finding more people to teach, and going through our former investigator records to find people to teach as well.

Friday I was on exchanges with Elder Zeng from China. He is a small guy so we happened to haul 2 dressers and pick up a desk from Lake Elsinore...he had quite the workout! After all that, we went walking and talking to find people to teach, visited the Guier, investigators who are currently sick, picked up a new investigator named Yvonne, who asked us in the middle of our lesson if she can get a ride to church. She seems golden!

Saturday was a full proselyting day. We started with a Blitz in our area to help us out since we only proselyte for half the day most of the time. We got a few referrals that we need to see this week. We also got our weekly planning in and saw Hoy, another investigator. He is super cool but also super busy with getting a PhD in Psychology and all that. 

Sunday we had Yvonne to church and she really liked it. She also asked for a Book of Mormon and a Gospel Principles Manuel. A Recent Convert, Sis Armstrong, was in distress since her Grandpa died before she could fly across the country to say goodbye, so we spent half of sacrament meeting comforting/babysitting until she could calm down. So please pray for her when you get the chance.

Monday we missed half of P-Day. We had our quarterly Cross-fit with President Mullen and half the mission. Then, we had to drive to Lake Elsinore (40 min drive) to close a home share and move the stuff to an apartment which will now house 4 missionaries instead of 2. After all of that it was dinner time and tried to get some work done.

Today we got the rest of our P-day...after taking a new missionary to Lake Elsinore. Elder Fairbanks, the new missionary, was waiting for his visa since he is from Alberta, Canada. Poor guy. He flew in 11:30pm Cali time and still woke up at the usual 6:30. He looked so exhausted.

So I still plan on E-mailing on Mondays but sometimes the office needs stuff done urgently on Monday, not common, so it might be Tuesdays. Don't worry! I won't forget to E-mail. Love you all!!!

Elder Jewkes



 Yeah, Elder Zeng speaks Mandarin. That would be so cool to write a letter in Chinese! I'll ask him tonight. Yep California freeways...sometimes with mattresses, a dresser, and desks in the bed. (That was Monday) I am pretty sure I was called to do the heavy lifting and stuff like that. I am definitely enjoying the car life right now. So the truck is a mission vehicle for Office work, but our proselyting car is in the shop (cars got moved around) so we are stuck with the Silverado for another week or so. "O darn" (sarcasm). The downside is that we are the only Elders in the University Heights Ward out of 3 companionship's with a car and 6 people in the cab gets crowded.

So...home-shares. The members provide a private bedroom and Bathroom for us and we share shelf space, fridge space, and the kitchen.  It does feel a little weird but the Wards are super cool. They are an older couple and they are empty nesters so it is a little quieter than home. I will probably be there for the whole 6 months unless something super crazy happens.

17 February, 2016 - Photos

I love Jesus! Too bad we aren't allowed to use it in public

My sweet ride!

Loved the package!

17 February, 2016 - First week of a new transfer

Dear Family and Friends,

I am SOOOO sorry for e-mailing so late. Apparently, because of President's Day every possible place to e-mail was closed and we aren't allowed to use member's computer and Yesterday was our temple trip, we didn't get to e-mail until today! But I am still alive and things are great. I am now serving in the University Heights ward which covers the UCR campus. Just like home. There are 6 missionaries there, 4 English (We cover the North half) and 2 Chinese. My District Leader is from Mainland China!!! So I am currently an Office Assistant with Elder Stabler, who is from Herriman, Utah and has been out as long as I have. I will be an OA for 6 months unless something super crazy happens, 3 months with Elder Stabler and 3 months with someone else. I might finally have a companion for longer than 6 weeks!

Tuesday we were in the office all day to help out with helping the new missionaries flying in, orientation, and even taking a companionship to Menifee. So not a lot of work got done. We did manage to weekly plan for the 2 hr free time we got.

Wednesday we had DDM, went to Moreno Valley to drop some stuff off and worked on a document that has companionships, areas, phone numbers, and addresses of all missionaries and staff in the mission. We call it the "Book of Life". Hehe. We are usually in the office from 10-3 everyday from Tuesday-Friday which doesn't leave a lot of time to proselyte in our area, but we do the best we can.

Thursday was a road trip to Corona to do lots of stuff from moving bikes to delivering housewares for apartments. After the office work, we tried to see our investigators, the Guiers. A mother and 17 yr old son who is soon leaving for the military. They had to cancel due to illness but we got to meet their fellowship who works with Sis.Guier. We also got to meet our Ward Mission Leader. Who might get a job to teach English in Russia. ( He went to the Russia mission that covers the mountain range that is the boarder of Europe and Asia. 

Friday we went to Lake Elsinore to set up an apartment and got stuck in traffic on the way. California freeway system sucks. Afterward, we had to take an emergency trip to Urgent Care for Elder Smith since out of the 6 of us in the ward we are the only ones with a car. Nothing much really happened.

Saturday was our first full day of Proselyting!!! In that time, we did a blitz for the new UV area so that they have something to work with, contacted a few referrals and got a new investigator named Hoy. He is super cool and really open! It was a rather productive day for us.

Sunday was a regional broadcast. Not sure if Utah was part of the region but it was super good. We got to meet with a few Less-actives and do other stuff. The broadcast was at 10 Cali time but the ward usually meets at 1pm. Super late compared to my other areas.

Monday was P-day. We played Basketball, Volleyball, and did the usual stuff. Didn't really have much luck the rest of the night. 

Tuesday was the temple trip but we didn't go because we couldn't find a ride. It is hard for a ward of mostly college students to give 6 elders a ride to the temple so Elder Stabler and I will go next month with the other Zone in Riverside. In the Office we got to disassemble our Zone Leader's beds so that they can have room, as well as pick up 3 new dressers for the Housing Coordinators. The office has a 2015 Chevy Silverado to do all that stuff and I am the driver since Elder Stabler doesn't have a license. I went from not driving for 7 months to driving a truck for the first time in my life. It feels like driving the Burb so it isn't too bad, plus lots of miles on the Freeway. Elder Stabler said that I drive better than most people with the truck so all is well.

Today we will go back to the office and do that stuff and try to see some less actives later today. Nothing exciting to report yet.

Again sorry for E-mailing so late. I will do my best to E-mail on Mondays. I love you all and have a great week.

Elder Jewkes

Yeah I got the package rather quickly! I loved it all! The office duties that I know of right now include setting up for meetings in the mission office, setting up apartments, deliveries of bikes and furniture and all that jazz. Lots of freeway driving in a 2015 Chevy Silverado. Since Elder Stabler can't drive, I get to do it...after 7 months of not driving at all (minus those 3 weeks with Elder Dunn back in November). It feels like driving the Burb...in a college town...like home. The truck is only for office work and a back up if someone else's car is in the shop and they need to borrow our Chevy Cruze like for the next week or so. There are 3 couples who usually is in the office. The Puskas's (Elder=transportation, Sister=Finance) The Hall's (Housing) and the Just's (Sister=referrals, Elder=everything else) Everything is doing well with Elder Stabler. We live with the Ward's in a home share and they are the best! It's kinda weird not living in an apartment, but it is fun. Valentine's day was the best. Thanks for the package by the way

8 February, 2016 - Photos

My last picture with me and my boy Elder Doi.

This seems rather odd to me

Well, it's mauvelous color

8 February, 2016 - New Transfer...and Companion...again

Dear Family and Friends,

Well, it is a start to a new transfer. And, you guessed it, I got a new companion...again. This will be my 10th companion, 3rd area in 7 months. Crazy. I am now an Office Elder with Elder Stabler in the University Heights Ward in Riverside. If you want to send me anything, the best address is 5900 Grand Avenue Riverside California 92504. I will be here for a while. Anyway...

Tuesday we had our monthly ZDM meeting. It was really good. It took up quite some time and we had appointments that fell through. That was pretty much how most of the day went. Not much happened.

Wednesday we had a service opportunity to serve for the FSA. This time I didn't sweep, I packaged bread and butter for their meal delivery program. At around this time transfer predictions started arising. Some believed that I would take Olsen's place as District Leader, some thought that the ZL's would also cover the new Tongan branch. Boy were they wrong! I'll explain later.

Thursday was our weekly planning session. Part of that was getting new tubes for Elder Doi as well as making cake because my Zone Leader wanted some. It was alright, we had time. We also had our weekly Book of Mormon study. Good ole Jacob 5. We only got half way through. It will get finished next week.

Friday was a regular day full of visiting potentials and referrals. Not much luck came from that but we were able to get some lessons in. The area has really picked up since I got here, Hopefully some good fruit will come from my labors soon enough. Other than that the day was rather bland.

Saturday was transfer calls. I got my Office Elder call at around 8am so I knew for a while where I was going and who I will be with. We spent the day trying to get people committed to go to church and get people set up for my trainee Elder Doi. However, apparently Elder Doi needed to go as well. The Valley View ward went from 2 sets of Elders to 1 set, the Moreno Valley ward went from sharing a set to having 2 sets, one with the Tongan branch as well and our area also works with the Samoan ward. The zone got really mixed up. And I missed it all.

Sunday no one came to church...ugh. But it was still good. It was my chance to say goodbye to the members and get a ride scheduled out. After church we packed and saw three of our investigators. The new Elders are looking at a good couple weeks. Lucky. It was also the Superbowl so it was a miracle we actually got into some houses anyways. 

Today I left Moreno Valley at around 8:20 am to go to Riverside for emergency work in the office. However, that wasn't true anymore. So now I am in Riverside, we are going to see a Less-active later today and regular P-Day stuff.

This past transfer has been a blast! One day, I will have a companion for longer that 6 weeks. Looking good with Elder Stabler. I love you all and can't wait to hear from you.

Elder Jewkes

Yeah...not this time. I got transferred. I am now an Office Elder with Elder Stabler. The plan is that I will be with Elder Stabler for 2 transfers and then train a new office elder for 2 transfers. I will have 12 companions by the end of my first 12 months! YAY! Something funny... probably the member's excitement for the super bowl. It was so hard though... Denver, Coldplay... it was rough. We did get fed every night, one way or another. No one came to church...again but people are progressing so that's good. As it turns out, Elder Doi got transferred out as well. We got "doubled out". That was something interesting. He went to the next ward over but still he got transferred after 6 weeks in the mission. It was hard to work on Sunday with the Superbowl and transfers but we still worked hard and had some really good lessons with 3 of our investigators: a couple named Jose and SImone and Laura. The new elders has some work to do and great people to work with...lucky. Since I am an office Elder, all mail should go to the mission office, I will be there any way so it would be quicker. Also this transfer is 7 week s long now instead of 6 due to the MTC time change so I get an extra week as an office elder!!!  

1 February, 2016 - Photos

Finally found a Denver Fan around here!!!

...interesting Mail Boxes here

Look at all the wild donkeys!!! (with DL Olsen on exchanges)

1 February, 2016 - Another Week

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been another week here in Moreno Valley. Well, this is the last week of the transfer and things will be different. First of all, I might actually have a companion for more than 6 weeks! Second, there are some elders here that have been here for a while (me included) and one going home. It is always interesting to see how things happen. Change is exciting.

Tuesday we had our weekly DDM meeting and we were able to pick up 2 new investigators: Jose and Simone. Lovely couple with a little and we only met with them once so far so we will stop by later this week. As we were out walking we were talking to this guy named Harold and we was talking non stop for like 40 minutes! There are a lot of chatter boxes around here.

Wednesday we had a service opportunity to help out with the FSA and packaging food...however Elder Doi and I were stuck sweeping the work area. It's a good thing my mom taught me how to sweep. While we were walking we ran into the new member of the ward that moved in last week named Tasi Tuala (don't know why he is the Samoan ward). He has an amazing Conversion/reactivation story! There are some cool people here.

Thursday was our weekly planning session. Good stuff. We also had our weekly Book of Mormon study. After dinner we had splits with Bro. Poulter and Bro. Ball. We didn't have much luck with that but we tried and we'll be blessed.

Friday We also had great plans with members but they all fell through (mostly the members). We still went to see an investigator named Laura who had taken the lessons before in Long Beach 3 years ago. We read 2 Ne. 31 and she LOVED it! She loves the church but won't get baptized yet. Please pray for her.

Saturday we had potentials and we decided to walk all day to find more people as well. Through out the day we contacted 73 people! About 10 of them were interested and 1 was SUPER interested. He liked Mosiah 2 and we gave him a Book of Mormon and made an appointment for next Saturday. Super excited! Also got a referral for the Spanish sisters and our District Leader. 

Sunday no one still came to church. I don't understand why it is so hard to get people to go to church. We had 3 people promise they would come and they didn't. The struggle is real! Oh well. We just made plans to improve the importance of the Sacrament for our investigators. We also picked up a lady named Jasele and her boyfriend Michael is a potential. We will see them again on Tuesday.

Today we played B-Ball (in which I am getting better at) and currently E-mailing. After regular P-Day stuff we will see some potentials that said we can come back today. Hope all goes well.

So the transfer is almost over and training definitely made it more interesting. I don't know what is going to happen. My district leader keeps teasing that I will take his place as well as Elder Doi. I have been here for a while so I could leave and have someone else finish Doi's training. It has happened a lot lately. So it is up in the air so far. Well, I love ya all and next week we will find out what the new transfer will bring.

Elder Jewkes

...but I miss the snow! Yay, now you can bike like me. The weather has been really warm lately. I hate it. 70's in January is just sick and wrong!!! Next week is transfers maybe I'll have a companion for longer that 6 weeks now (I hope I didn't just jinxed it). I don't need a Cali license. We have a legal paper from the church so that is we get pulled over for some reason, we can show them that so we don't need Cali Licenses. I don't care, I haven't really driven yet. The bike is good as new...however the tires (not the tubes) are totally worn down so I am going to get new tires today. They are old or something. Training is...interesting. The Lord really helps out with that. It has been a struggle to get ANYONE to church! There was a random person who showed up but we don't exactly know where she lives. The other elders will call and set something up so we can tell if she lives in our area, the ZL's area or in the Valley View area.