31 May, 2016 - cracker fun

The backyard is looking amazing! I wish I could help, (primarily so that I could enjoy it) HEHE. maybe in a year or so. The box made it... and I even got Elder Smith to join me in cheese cracker creations!!!

 

31 May, 2016 - Memorial Weekend

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been a great week here in Riverside. Long, but great. Anyway...

Tuesday- we had our weekly DDM meeting as usual. It was Elder Smith's first one... and the AP's were there. He was a little worried but it was great. Then, we went to the office and visited our PMF list for the day and went contacting after dinner since it is the best time to find people in this area, which makes sense but also unusual.

Wednesday- after studies we reported to the office, they didn't have much to do so we got out of there rather quickly. After lunch, we went to our 4 scheduled appointments... only one came through. (Raymond is super awesome) We even brought a member with us after dinner for our 7:30 appointment. Oh well.

Thursday- after studies we got to help the Canyon Crest sisters and Orange Crest elders swap apartments. It was fun. We also got to go to Ontario to pick up 3 new 2016 Corollas. Ontario is out of the mission but we got permission to 1) leave to Ontario to pick up cars and 2) drive home alone to bring said cars home. CRAZY!!! Probably won't ever do that again.. After we did our weekly planning and went to our appointments with no luck. Nothing much really happened afterwards.

Friday- we had Raymond's interview. He is super ready. He just needs to talk to President Grant about his parole, but there is nothing to worry about, he is an elect person!!! After the interview, the office staff gave us money for lunch... the catch was we needed to bring them some. We have a really good sandwich place by our home-share and they love it as much as we do. After lunch and office stuff we finished our weekly planning since it was cut short and got to see the Pasillas (PMF) we got Alex (9) on date for the 25th and he can make that as long as we can get the family reactivated.

Saturday- we had a blitz in our area so we got some good referrals from everyone in the zone. After lunch we just visited a bunch of potentials trying to get some new investigators. Not much luck. Then we went contacting and had dinner with the other Elders (Also known as UH Dixie) since we only got money for dinner.

Sunday- was excellent! We had Raymond and Josh Guyer there. It was great. Raymond was so involved in Elder's Quorum and everyone is looking toward his baptism on the 12th. That's awesome to have that kind of fellowship! After church, we visited Luis and said we could come back next week to see how his reading is going. Then, we got called last minute to help the Housing Coordinators to deliver a chair to a Senior Sister Missionary who had a 5 hour back surgery. She said sitting in that chair was the best feeling she had since the surgery. It is great to help out.

Monday- we helped some Elders in Corona move apartments. It is great when half of the Corona Zone comes out to help. Then we had regular P-day and had dinner with the Wards and helped them pick the remainder of their oranges off their trees.

Today- we just got back from a service project for a Veteran Cemetery in Riverside. We removed flags that they placed for the Memorial weekend. Yep, all 170,000+ Flags. Luckily, a bunch of people from the community to help. After, we reported to the office and now E-mail all y'all.

It has been a great week. I can't believe that we are halfway through this transfer. With Elder Smith being an OE, I have no Idea what will happen. Whatever does happen, It's part of the plan. Until next time...

Elder Jewkes

23 May, 2016 - A rather short week

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been really short, probably because our last P-Day was Thursday. There were some good things that happened though. This E-mail will be a little shorter but anyway...

Friday- was our weekly planning after we did some little things for the office. We got to walk away with one of the new 2016 Nissan Rouges! So nice. Not for long though, only until the end of the month. We left the office with a total odometer of 23!!! After planning, we got to see Raymond with Bro. Dillman. He is soooo golden and ready to get baptized. No one signed up for dinner but they provided money so we went to a local place called Zorba's. It was super good. It is fun to try the local places instead of Wendy's or McDonalds.

Saturday- Was a very special day. We had a meeting all morning with Elder Christiansen from the Presidency of the Seventy as well as Elder Christoffersen from the Quorum of the 12!!! It was really cool. The entire mission gathered in Riverside. Yep all 160 missionaries plus the senior couples and office staff!!! That rarely happens! After that spiritual overdose, we had a lesson with Bernardino with Bro. Mock. Bernardino seems interested but hasn't committed to a specific date for baptism. He was the only one home but we plan of picking up his wife and 4 kids: 13,11,9, and 7. Looking forward to that. Then we had a full on bash by some non-denomination Christians. (I didn't. I hate bashing because it goes nowhere and no one leaves happy). But we were able to end the day with a ward BBQ. Raymond was there and he had fun so that's good. 

Sunday- we had a special Stake Conference. It was amazing! President Mullen basically trained all the members in the stake to help us with missionary work. Lots of hand raising, participation. He started with a conversion of a recent convert in our ward who was first introduced to the gospel by her 6 yr old kindergarten student. President committed the 6 year olds to do missionary work...followed by their parents, the Stake Presidents and the Bishops. The whole conference was basically on missionary work. After, we needed to bring a big flower pot back to the mission office. It was full to the brim with water so we spilt water all over the chapel. Awkward. Then we finished our weekly planning and called it a day after dinner.

Today- we started early with helping some elders in La Sierra move from their homeshare to their new apartment. Then, we played Trashketball, (which is basically ultimate Frisbee with upside down trash cans and the point was to hit the trash cans with the ball.) The YSA Zone leaders always brings their investigator, Andrew. He is super cool. Then, we ate lunch with the ZL's and came to E-mail.

Well, I guess the E-mail wasn't that short after all. Oh well, that makes all ya'll happy. Until next time...

Elder Jewkes


 Wow, is it almost summer already?! Time sure flies. So Elder Smith is from Orem, Utah, he goes home in September, which is the cause of confusion with him being an Office Elder. Office Elders are serving for 4 transfers...Elder Smith has this one and 2 more... interesting. Who know's what'll happen. His nickname is "Babyface" Smith since there are 4 Smiths in the mission. Babyface meaning that all the people we talk to thinks he is like 12 or 14...he's 20. The Rouges are really nice! We are "test-driving" one of them and they work wonderfully. There are only 5 seats so it won't replace the "Burb". Really nice cars. We have it until the end of the month.

19 May, 2016 - A REALLY LONG WEEK!

Dear Family and Friends,

Sorry for the wait. Our Mission President decided to make our temple trips our P-day this transfer so that is why I am E-mailing on a Thursday...so weird. Any ways, a long week means a lot to write about. So without any further adu...

Tuesday- was long and boring because we were in the office all day helping out with the incoming orientation. It is fun to meet all the new elders and sisters and it is exciting to see who trains who. After the meeting, we dropped off some Spanish Elders to Menifee and got back to try some doors with no luck.

Wednesday- was ZDM and boy was it a great one. Half the zone are new so it was different and exciting. After ZDM, we ate lunch, did office work and tried some doors and contacting with decent payoff. It is hard to do a lot of missionary work with little time, but we are trying our best.

Thursday- had a mini exchange with Elder Phipps since our companions were at a DL training so as the DLB's we did what we could. There was a lesson for Elder Phipps in the morning and then we went contacting until dinner when we swapped back. Nothing much happened after dinner.

Friday- we had our weekly planning in (finally). It should be Thursdays but obviously things popped up. Any way, after that and office work it was dinner. It is hard to work with little time so this week has been a rough one but we did our best.

Saturday- we had a blitz for the other elders of the ward. It was pretty successful. After lunch, we were able to meet up with Raymond, who is solid and looking forward to attend church. We also picked up Aaron as a new investigator which is always good. Then we did the regular stuff with some luck. Got some return appointments so...

Sunday- was great! Raymond showed up to church and loved every single bit of it. He looks great for baptism on June 12th. Then we finished up our weekly planning, ate dinner, and went contacting to help with our numbers.

Monday- was NOT P-day! It was kinda rough but we made it through. We did have some time to do laundry and we defiantly took that time. After that, office work, and lunch, we went out to meet some potentials and former investigators with some luck. After dinner, we were able to meet up with Hoy, who doesn't really have a desire to act oh well, he just isn't quite ready yet but he will be soon.

Tuesday (The 2nd)- we had office work and then we got to meet up with Raymond again. This time, we brought Bro. Brambilla so as always it works better. He loved church and wants to go again. The only problem is that he needs a ride, but the ward can easily provide those for us. They have done it before. We also took out a soon-to-be missionary named Matt Mills with us in the evening. The appointment we had canceled, so we went to see some former investigators. He is so pumped to go, it's great!

Wednesday (The 2nd)- we got to put the license plates on the new Rouges...and word is that we get to drive one of them for a little bit since our current car is getting sold. Those cars are soooooo nice!!! Then, we tried some PMF's and met the Gervai's. Cool people. Then we saw Mike Butler...who isn't interested in acting on our message so we may pause him soon. I hope not. Then, we had dinner with the Dillman's and Bro. Dillman (EQ President) gave us a good list of members that can come out with us for teaching appointments. Totally looking forward to that.

Today- was FINALLY P-DAY!!! Boy did I need one. We went shopping in the morning and dropped off some elders in MoVal to get to thier ride to the temple since their car is being worked on. Then, we dropped off our zone leaders to their ride for the same reason. Then, Bro. Ward took us to the temple! It was Wonderful. Bro. Ward is a hero to me because he is in a wheel chair but still goes to the temple regularly. Nothing can stop him. I also appreciate Elder Match. He is deaf and English is his 2nd language but that didn't stop him either. Then we went for lunch and we are currently E-Mailing.

Whew... a long week which means next week will be super short. It won't be until Tuesday because we have some Office work to do. We may move 1 or 2 appartments. Whatever the AP's tell the Hall's (Housing Coordinators) so that they can tell us, being the backbone of the mission. Well, until next time...

 Elder Jewkes

The week was long, we met 2 more Jose's, not much Mexican food, I love Elder Smith he is so funny and still want to work even though he is almost done. The 1st week in the office is super busy and we got our new investigator, Raymond to church. Obviously the temple trip was the BEST!!! No Cafe Rio this time. Didn't have time to go. Speaking of the Mullen's, Sister Mullen really wants to know how you get the Book of Mormon Figurines. She wants a collection of her own. Also, technically Elder Smith it the "Designated Driver" but I can be a good backseat driver if you want me to.

12 May, 2016 - Letter from President Mullen

12 May 2016

Dear Brother and Sister Jewkes,

At the last Mission Presidents' Seminar, instructions were given regarding a change in missionary preparation days (P-days) in weeks during which missionaries are permitted to attend the temple. Beginning immediately, the P-day in those weeks is to be switched to the day on which the missionary is permitted to attend the temple. For this reason you should not be alarmed if you don't get an email from Elder Jewkes on Monday May 16 or Monday May 23. If not, Elder Jewkes will have a P-day later in that week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday) on which to send email.

Again, we express our gratitude for sharing Elder Jewkes with us in the missionary work of the California Riverside Mission. We greatly appreciate the contribution he is making to serve the Lord here, and greatly appreciate your sacrifices and prayers on his and our behalf.

Faithfully Yours,

President John H. Mullen

9 May, 2016 - This is how I document my mission...

9 May, 2016 - A new transfer!

Dear Family and Friends,

A new transfer is upon us... which means changes. So I got a new companion. His name is Elder Smith and he is from Orem, UT. He goes home in 3 transfers, which messes up the OE cycle because office elders usually serve for 4 transfers so we will see what happens soon. He is also a DL (District Leader) which is unusual for an OE. Crazy stuff... Anyways...

Monday- The rest of P-day was alright, we went shopping and tried some people after dinner with no luck. Nothing much really happened.

Tuesday- Was DDM. Elder Stabler did the training this time and he didn't need to worry because he did a great job training on following the Spirit. After lunch we tried some people, went contacting, all the fun stuff. There wasn't really any immediate fruits of our labors but things will work out in the long run.

Wednesday- Nothing real fancy really happened at the office but after lunch we were able to find a new investigator named Raymond. He is truly elect! He asked us to get baptized before we could ask him!That was impressive and unexpected so he is on date for Jun 12.

Thursday- we had the MLC meeting to run and prepare for so we were at the office until around 4 or so. This one was unusual because we had 8 extra people show up to MLC (As it turns out, most of those people became ZL's so that explained a lot). After the meeting, we tried some people with no luck but met some cool people contacting as usual. There are some really nice and cool people... you just have to find them.

Friday- was a busy day. We spent most of the day doing some last minute things for the new transfer including setting up a new apartment in Jurupa for the new Senior Couple coming in tomorrow. We had a great contact with the Cable Guy and he was really interested...however he lives in Rancho Cuchamonga so those elders got a pretty sweet referral. We didn't really got much done after that because we didn't get back to Riverside until 5pm.

Saturday- was awesome! We volunteered to help run the Riverside Stake Annual Tin-Man Triathlon, instead of an Iron Man. After we did a blitz for the Zone Leaders and they got a lot of referrals so they need to get workin' on those pretty soon. Right after the blitz I learned that Elder Smith would be my new companion. With a calling like Office Elder, you get to learn you new companion before most missionaries learn theirs. Perks. Then we taught Raymond who seems golden and accepts everything we have taught so far. The best part was after because we had a BAPTISM!!! Yep, Yvonne Chavez finally got baptized! It was a great day! That was about it for the rest of the day.

Sunday- was Mother's day! Raymond (or anyone really) came to church which was sad because it was really cool. Basically, almost all the men in the ward sang "Love at Home" in a large men's choir. It was amazing. It was also the Sunday where I was able to confirm Yvonne a new member of the church. It was a beautiful experience. I also got to Skype with my family!!! You can't top that!

Even though it was the last week of the transfer, nothing out of the ordinary happened. The exciting part will be the first week of the transfer. I will have to let you know what happens. Until next time...

Elder Jewkes