28 March, 2016 - A new transfer...and same companion!

Dear Family and Friends,

Well, it is about time that I have a companion for another transfer...9 months later. In fact, all 6 Elders in the University Heights Ward stayed. That isn't that impressive because 4 of the 6 have only been here a transfer or less. Any-who...

Tuesday We had our weekly DDM meeting which was good. Then after lunch we did some office work and had a chance to meet with the Guyers who are progressing slowly but surly and we actually had a different dinner than the other Elders in the ward. It felt lonely. Funny story, the Oleson's little daughter wanted to try a spicy pickled carrot. She learned that it was gross, gave it back, and asked for another one 5 minutes later. The cycle repeated for a while before she learned her lesson.

Wednesday there was no office work for us to do so we had an early lunch and went straight to work and had a lesson with Yvonne who is getting really close to getting baptized. We are working on her coffee and Cigarette addictions. But she is so ready! 

Thursday we had companion study with Bro Decker from the UCR institute and had a great study about the woman with the issue of blood, the woman taken into adultry, and the woman at the well. Then we did our weekly planning and had a great lesson with the Guyers again. Doing good. Then we helped the Armstrongs (LA members) fix their stove for housing inspections. 

Friday was rough, we were in the office longer than planned and no one was available to let us in so we talked to a lot of people and set up appointments later on. We had dinner with the Darringtons (Member) and the Jurls (PMF). The non-member, Lee Jurls, is great, super cool but not quite ready for the lessons.

Saturday We had breakfast with the Stake Presidency and all the missionaries in the stake and had a good talk about missionary work in the stake. Then, we had a blitz in our area and got some referrals to try this week. Blitz's are great. Then, we were able to see some other PMF's, the Mamawals and the Pacillas. Bro. Mamawal is getting closer to taking the lessons and Alex Pacillas is doing well. They said they were planning on coming to church tomorrow. We told them even the Catholics will be at church.

Sunday was Easter Sunday! The Ward's (our homeshare owners) fed all 6 of us Easter Brunch. It was tasty. Then we had Alex Pacillas and the whole family to chruch as well as Yvonne. After Church we had Easter Dinner with the Crocketts and the Dillmans. Sis Crockett invited Yvonne and she was all for it. We had so much fun. Then we tried to stop by some more people with no luck.

Today we said goodbye to the missionaries leaving (after doing some moving for office work) and the usual Email and shopping and laundry and what not. Nothing too special.

This past transfer has been a learning experience for me in many ways and I am looking forward to learn some more this transfer. I love you all, I hope you had a great Easter and Until Next Time..

Elder Jewkes



 Yep I am still with Elder Stabler...finally. It's kinda weird actually. I don't need to spend time adjusting to a new companion this time. Elder Doi is following my footsteps apparently. He is on his 3rd transfer and he will be with his 3rd and 4th companion (Trio) and in his 3rd area. Just to let you know. Anyway, Easter was great. The flowers did make it here and the Ward's loved them. Plus, no one answered because we are working too hard (hehe). You are over snow!?!? I am over with the sun but that won't be going away anytime soon. Us Utah missionaries are so jealous of all the snow in Utah. My peeps are doing good. We have Yvonne who is super close to baptism, we just need to make sure she quits coffee and smoking, which shouldn't be too hard. Other peeps are gradually making their way. The office work is going well. More like heavy beds than dressers. The new transfer means busy time for the office elders. The best moment of the week was 2 free breakfasts in a row! We had a stake breakfast with all the missionaries in Riverside hosted by the Stake Presidentcy and the Wards fed all 6 of us in University Heights ward for Easter Sunday. Don't worry, I'll just buy some shoes soon.

21 March, 2016 - Photos

21 March, 2016 - Another week

Dear Family and Friends,

This past week has been a good one. We got stuff done, best numbers this transfer for us, and blessings have been flowing. 

Wednesday there wasn't really anything to do in the office so we got some more time to proselyte in day. We were able to meet with Yvonne and Hoy today as well as visit the Pacillas. Apparently, the less active family has a 9 year old son who hasn't been baptized yet and we are working with them to get back to church and have the son, Alex, get baptized. It was a miracle that Alex spoke up that he hasn't been baptized.  We were able to snatch some food from the Relief Society Dinner. 

Thursday was Saint Patrick's Day. That was fun because my companion, Elder Stabler wasn't wearing anygreen...hehe. We had our weekly planning and our weekly Companion Study with Bro. Decker from UCR Institute. He is an amazing teacher who teaches a class of mostly non-members. After we ran to Home Depot to pick up a new fridge for the office. Then we had our interviews with President Mullen and he gave us some suggestions that will help us in our area. We didn't really get in with a lot of people so we had some time to implement those ideas.

Friday  we took a trip to Norco to drop off the old fridge from the office and worked on getting the new Easter Videos available for our not-so-smart phones. It is a lot harder when we don't have iPads. We met with Yvonne who is struggling with quiting coffee and smoking so we are working with her. Then we met with Alex. It is harder to teach to a 9 year old than it is with a 50 year old. Age makes it,harder.

Saturday we had a blitz in the southern half of our ward for the other Elders and we all had great luck. Let's just say that the South Elders will be busy on Tuesday. We tried by some people with no luck. We ate dinner with the Ward at a ward game night. I have a great video from "Minute to win it";where my companion, Elder Stabler got beaten by Yvonne, our investigator. It was a lot of fun.

Sunday we had church. Chinese had an investigator confirmed and we brought 2 investigators: Josh and Yvonne. All 6 missionaries and the Ward Mission Leader spoke in sacrament meeting. Apparently, I did fabulous on my talk on Family Home Evening.. After Church, we had dinner with the Sandovals where we all tried some Habaneros. Elder Walker couldn't handle it, not could Elder Phipps. They have 2 giant turtles in their back yard! We saw some other peole and called it a night.

Today we went to a nearby park and played "Black Cherry" and spun around on some spinny things. Some of us almost got sick. Got another video for that. Then we went to The American Legion post #79 and say an Union Pacific train and the "Little Water Buffalo"- an amphibious tank used during WW2 that was made in Riverside, There is some cool history here in Riverside. We helped some members moved out and currently E-mailing.

This week was great and I have some videos and pics attached or to come. Love you all! Until next time.

Elder Jewkes



 Yeah we had Josh Guyer and Yvonne Chavez come to church yesterday so it was alright. I haven't really gotten any updates on referrals for other missionaries. I did get the package on time. I came on Thursday so that was cool. We do have access to the kitchen so I could have made cookies,  Well, due to the extention in the MTC the transfer doesn't end until this Sunday so Elder Staber has set the record for being with me the longest but the transfer isn't quite over yet. The only thing I am in need of is probably Tennis shoes mine are worn out from all the P-Day fun stuff and service and all that.

15 March, 2016 - Another Late E-mail

Dear Family and Friends,

Again, another late E-mail. So sorry for that things popped up in the office. Anywho...

Tuesday we had our monthly ZDM meeting. It was really good stuff. We were also able to pick up a new investigator named Sylvia and seems solid. Her husband, David, has no interest but will let her investigate. I hope that he will come around. We also met a less-active who is critically overweight and is going through a weight loss program so that's good.

Wednesday I was on exchanges with Elder Merriman. He is from Syracuse, Utah and he goes home in June. While on exchanges, we took a trip to Corona to drop off a bike, picked up 2 investigators, Maria and her 12 yr old son Angel. So for the past 2 weeks, out of the 4 investigators we found, I found 3 of them while on exchanges. Weird.

Thursday we had our temple trip since we didn't make the one we were supposed to go to. We also took Elder Walker since he missed his temple day since he was transferred halfway through. After the trip, we saw the Guyers (Investigators) and the Pacillas (LA). 

Friday we needed to take an emergency trip to Jurupa to turn a 2 man apartment into a 3 man apartment...or should I say 2 woman to 3 woman. We also had our home-share inspection. We failed because Elder Stabler's desk was a mess! I was good. Oh, also there were some homeless people having a physical "Arguement" in the Institute parking lot. While Elder Stabler and Elder Phipps (Marine) sorted it out, I took Elder Walker to work in both of our areas with no luck. Fun stuff.

Saturday we had a blitz in the Zone Leader's area. I have found two potentials for them and one for Spanish. Kinda cool. Afterward, we went on a mini exchange with Elder Merriman to pick up a car in Menifee since Elder Stabler can't drive... that means that we had to drive separately on the way home. Even though we saw each other on the way home, it was still weird to be alone in a car. Then we tried to see Yvonne and Sylvia before dinner where we had to go to the Adult Saturday Night Session of Stake Conference. It was good.

Sunday was Stake Conference. Afterward, we were actually on an assignment from President Mullen to download videos to our phones so that we can show them to people on the streets. Have you seen the video yet? It has Ziba David from NCIS in it. It's kinda cool. Nothing much happened afterward.

Monday was P-Day. We had a special meeting for one companionship in each zone with the Mullen's to learn and receive insights on how to further progress our areas. We also did some yard service for the Armstrong's...that's up in my alley! They had a lot to do and very little time to do it. It was emergency service.

Today we had DDM, did an errand for the Cook's (The Puskas' replacements) Now we are E-mailing and plan on trying to visit some people.

Well, that's my week. We are on Week 6 of this unusual 7 week transfer and it is sneaking up quickly. Until next time.

Elder Jewkes

Well, pizza is a easy meal to get so... Riverside has one stake but there is two zones. In my zone, Mt. Rubidoux, There is University Heights (6), Riverside YSA (2), Mt Rubidoux (2), Canyon Crest (2), and 2 of the Deaf Branch and Arlington Heights. The other Zone, Riverside, has the other 2 Deaf and Arlington Heights, Arlington (4), Woodcrest (2), Orangecrest (2) and the Spanish Ward (5-Trio of sisters and a set of elders).Complicated.

7 March, 2016 - Another week in Riverside

A cool gift from Bro. Ward. (Sign of Melchizedek) He has tons of these.

Dear Family and Friends,

I don't know what to say. It has just been another week doing the usual.

Tuesday we had DDM as usual. Then did the usual missionary work like contacting referrals and walking around trying to find more people.

Wednesday we had our weekly planning due to other meetings through out the week. Also, we were divided for dinners so I needed to play chauffeur and drop everyone else off for their dinner. After all that craziness, we were able to see some less actives and whatnot. After dinner, we tried walking around at night when it is cooler to try and find people. We got some return appoinments from it so I guess it's working.

Thursday we had to set up for the Mission Leadership Council meeting (MLC). The meeting goes from 9am to about 3pm so we needed to be there early to set up and stay around to clean up. It was worth it though. For lunch we eat pizzas that are like 3 feet long. It was super good. After ward we had lessons with Yvonne, the Bethea's (LA) and the Pacilla's (LA). It was an alright day for being in the office for about.9 hours from 7am to 4pm.

Friday there was two meeting we needed to set up for. One was for the trainers and their new missionaries to evaluate how training is going. Free breakfast. And the other was a training on how to use the new video coming out on the 13th for Easter. I also got to inspect some cars as Elder Cook was learning how to take over for Elder Puskas. Nothing much really happened after all the meetings and whatnot.

Saturday we were on exchanges with the Zone Leaders. I spent the day with Elder Young in my area. Elder Young is from Vernal, UT and has been out as long as I have...and he is already a zone leader. Thank goodness, so I don't have to. The day was amazing. We stopped by the mission home to drop off something for President Mullen, had a blitz for the Canyon Crest  Sisters with lots of success, found a new investigator named Alfredo. So we were walking around and he popped out of no where and asked us to bless his house. After we did so we talked about the Book of Mormon and we had set an appointment tomorrow. It was crazy stuff. We also stopped by the Mamawal's (PMF) and the Guyers. Since dinner canceled on us the Ward's (homeshare owners) fed us. We were super grateful for that. It was a really good day.

Sunday Yvonne didn't come to church because she was sick but the Guyers came. Sister Guyer and her son Josh (17) were there and then had to go home after sacrament meeting because Sister Guyer's mother, a 5 year convert, wasn't feeling well. Who can blame her? She is like 70 after all. We also were asked by the other English Elders to give a blessing for a less active with them and found a new investigator for them, the Less active's brother. We also stopped by the Pacillia's again with their home teacher, Bro. Meru. They are struggling badly so if you can pray for them that would be greatly appreciated.

Today we played dodgeball: Riverside Zone vs Mt. Rubidoux Zone (our zone)...we won like 5-1 or something like that. Now we are e-mailing, going to eat dinner soon, shop, and stop by some potentials along the way.

Again, nothing much happened minus the meetings and exchanges. This week definitely went slower than others but this upcoming week is looking really promising. I love you all and have a great week.

Elder Jewkes



 How many workee's are you involving right now? Yep Elder Puskas is from Alberta Canada so I get to hang out with him before he goes home next week. Elder and Sister Cook are doing great here. Elder Cook is also jealous of the truck as well. I don't know who isn't. Well, we really haven't really been out of the office super early so far because of meetings this week but I will let you know when we actually get home before noon. I think we are good with dressers for now, although the Cook's senior missionary sized dresser (double the size of regular dressers) was a pain to move. Honestly, when has Tucker really had good manners to begin with? I really miss my bass so much I don't know what to do. I am having music with drawls. I wish I can play my electric here but I don't think that is approvedAlso, do you remember when I had two journals and I only brought one to begin with? Well, I need the other one. I am almost out of room. I have enough room for another week maybe a week and a half so there isn't no need for overnight shipping or anything like that.