26 September, 2016 - Rain!!

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been an awesome here in Hemet. Some good things, some learning experiences, and another week to serve the Lord. So...

MONDAY- we played soccer at the stake center and then did the usual p-day stuff: shopping, E-mailing, etc. After dinner with the Wallace's, we went to try someone and then we just walked back to our apartment and did our laundry while planning and getting ready for bed and stuff.

TUESDAY- we had our weekly DDM. Before hand, the Zone Leaders had a little training on how to improve our contacts to find more people to teach. DDM was really weird now that there are only 2 companionships. It was also short, but good. After lunch and studies we went out...in the rain. It was great. Elder Rose totally biffed while biking around. The bike slid from underneath him. It was kinda funny. Then, we went tracting. That only happens here when it rains. We talked to some cool people and found a few potentials. Then, we had dinner dropped off and tried some more people. That was our day in the rain!

WEDNESDAY- we went seeking in the morning after studies. Then after lunch we went to an old folk home and played Bingo with old people! It was awesome! I was the caller since I suck at bingo. After, we went seeking and had a lesson with Alec. We taught him everything and we are getting his baptismal interview set up. Super excited. Then, we had dinner at the Gonzale's and celebrated Ruby's 15th birthday. It was awesome. Then we got home to plan.

THURSDAY- we had service at the Historic Hemet Theatre. It was awesome. We spent 2 hours tightening bolts on the seats. That theatre is almost 100yrs old and is still functioning! After service and lunch we did our weekly planning, went seeking, had dinner with the Sorto's and managed to see a part-member family. Before getting ready for exchanges tomorrow with the Spanish Elders.

FRIDAY- So, we had exchanges with the Spanish Elders...I went to their ward...so I had no idea what everyone was saying. High School Spanish has failed me!! We still had a good day. Saw some people, had a lesson. We then exchanged back. Our area had a good day. They talked to a lot of people, had a lesson with Kiah, it was great.

SATURDAY- was a normal, but long day. We tried by some people with no luck we talked to a few people through out the day. We found a new guy named Edward and he said he was praying to get help fixing his life and to get back on the path and then we showed up. #miracles! After that we got home to plan for tomorrow.

SUNDAY- Today was Fast/Primary Program Sunday! It was sick. The little kids were awesome. Alec came to church as well! He stayed for Sunday School but had to leave after to work in Perris. Then after church we had our studies and had dinner with the Minor's. They fed us some nice stake! Our bishop was proud that our ward feeds missionaries the best. They aren't wrong. After dinner we met with Chris and Anthony&Debrah. Good lessons. Then we got home to plan for tomorrow.

TODAY- we went up to Idyllwild to go hiking on a trail called Devil's Slide. It was a lot of fun. Elder Carillo and I tried to find the Lost 10 Tribes of Israel. We were calling out "Dan!?" "Reuben!?". It was great. It took longer than we thought it would so we got back, ate quick lunch, and got here to E-Mail.

So later today we are going to try to see some people after dinner with the Wallace's and get home and do our laundry again during planning.

So that was our week. This week, we have zone conferences, General Conference Weekend (Mormon thing like Labor Day weekend) and some potential appointments. We'll see how it all goes. I miss you all. Have fun whatever you are doing!

Until next time...

Elder Jewkes

Rain in Cali!!! (+rainbow + palm trees)

Best stuff in California

I found a Limo! (kinda redneck but still a Limo)

19 September, 2016 - The start of a new transfer

Dear Family and Friends,

So this was the first week of the new transfer. I stayed in Hemet with Elder Rose (2nd time with a companion for longer than a transfer). It got hot thought out the week on bike but that's alright we had a pretty good week anyways.

MONDAY- we signed transfer journals for those who were leaving/played basketball. After E-mailing, we hung out with the Valle Vista Elders and played monopoly for hours. Then after P-day, we got in with Eric. He has a super intellect approach to the lessons but it's a start and we can see the change that is happening in him. Baptism is a concern because he was already baptized...twice. It's a process. That was it for the day.

TUESDAY- we got some free haircuts from a member of the Valle Vista ward. She had been doing that for 20 years so she is pretty pro. Then, we went seeking, had lunch, did our studies when it is super hot and no one is out. Then we tried a bunch of people from investigators to potenials to backlogs to referrals and we got in with no one! We had dinner with the De Tomaso's. That was about our day. We went home and planned.

WEDNESDAY- we had our ZDM meeting. Both districts were there of coarse. My district and Elder Porter's district. The only change of the transfer for me was that my district went from 3 total companionships to 2. Now I have the Spanish Elders in my district. YAY. After ZDM, we had lunch and finished our studies. Then we had an appointment with Eddie which fell through and then we tried other people with no luck. Then we got back to plan.

THURSDAY- I had a meeting in Riverside for all the district leader so My companion and Elder Porter's companion stayed in my area while we went to the meeting. We left at 7:40am, the meeting started at 9 and we got home at 3:30. It was a long meeting about being a District Leader. It was my 3rd time being there. After, we had an appointment fall through so we tried other people with no luck. Then we had dinner with the Gonzale's which is always super fun. It is awesome to hear Adam Gonzale's Sr.'s testimony every time and it really lifts up my spirits every time.

FRIDAY- we had our weekly planning session. We went with a member to see some people with no luck but he took us to In-N-Out afterwards so that was fun. Then after lunch, I had Elder Frisby while Elder Porter had a doctor's appointment in Riverside so we spent most of the time seeking...the 3 of us...we looked like the mafia or something. After we dropped off Elder Frisby, we tries some people with no luck and we had a late dinner since lunch was our "dinner appointment" and came home to plan.

SATURDAY- we went seeking for 2 hours to find more people to visit/teach then we had lunch. After we did studies and went to our appointments with Debra and Eddie, which both fell through...but we got to see Ken in the process so that was neat. He had some concerns about the Book of Mormon "you can't add to the bible". So we explained it and committed him to read it and to pray about it. Then we had dinner with Sister Pearson from the Valle Vista Ward since we had no dinner. After we went to the Adult Session of Stake Conference. It was neat it was about following the prophet. Then we got home at 9:30 and planned. 

SUNDAY- we had the general session of Stake Conference. We had 2 members from our ward speak: Bro. Campbell from the bishopric and President Minor of the Stake Presidency. The theme was "we thank thee O God for a prophet". After conference we had lunch and did our studies and we went to see Aaron who wasn't home so we saw Eric instead. He is making some progress and just wants to meet his Maker. He just wants to go Home. So we are helping him be ready for when it is time to go Home. Then we got home and planned for tomorrow.

This week was full of testimony builders from the Book of Mormon from teaching Ken and the Plan of Salvation to Eric. Being a missionary just gives you the opportunity to bear your testimony and to let it grow. Rather if it be a full-time missionary of a member missionary. Member missionaries get the same opportunity to build and bear your testimony. I love you all! You'll hear from me next week.

Until Next Time...

<3 Elder Jewkes 

Everything is going great! I know, heat sucks. It got warm this week when it started to get cool. Mother Nature is really playing some mean jokes right now. Nice, Ryanne chose percussion. We can Jazz out when I get back. I want a bass to play here but that will pe pretty tricky to get.  But I could use an electric shaver. That will save money and time. The suits are working great. No issues yet. We have a baptism scheduled for 28 Sept but he needs to overcome smoking first. It might get changed. By the way, I only had 1 can of Soda. I think the grossest thing I ever got was Jamaca. Some weird Mexican drink that was pretty bitter.

12 September, 2016 - A new transfer is about to begin

Dear Family and Friends,

This is the start of a new transfer...and I still have Elder Rose! Guys, this is the 2nd time I had a companion for 2 transfers.,,I am starting transfer#11...Elder Rose is my 13th companion. My mission has been crazy! Anyways...

MONDAY- was P-Day. We e-mailed, shopped, and played some pool at a member's house. After dinner, we didn't really get in with anyone.

TUESDAY- we had DDM. The Zone Leaders made a bet with the San Jacinto Zone that we could find more investigators than them. Winning zone got free fountain drinks. It was on! It was Elder Cressman's last one so that was a bitter-sweet moment. Then we had lunch and studies. After, we went seeking for a while we got in with Ken Wagner ( a new investigator) and put him on date for 12 Oct for baptism. After trying by potentials, we had dinner. After, we tried some people with no luck and we went to our apartment to plan.

WEDNESDAY- we went seeking in the morning, had lunch, did our studies in the afternoon, tried people, ate dinner and tried people. That was our day. No one was home or let us in.

THURSDAY- Elder Porter had another doctor appointment so we had a car for the day. Always fun, we tried so see people with no luck. We really didn't see anyone which sucks but next week will be better. After we went seeking had dinner and tried some more people before it got dark. Hemet is not a place where you want to be out at night. Then we got back to the apartments to plan.

FRIDAY- we had studies, did some service at Salvation Army. Afterwards, we had our weekly planning session, went seeking, had dinner and tried some people with no luck.

SATURDAY- we had a blitz for the Valle Vista Ward. It was alright. Then we had lunch and finished our studies. Then we went to see some potentials in a certain area to find as many new investigators as possible. Then we had dinner at a missionaries

SUNDAY- we had Alec come to church! YAY. He has gone 3 times now and is looking good towards baptism. After, we went to see Kiah with Bro. Tanuvasa and then we went on visits with the Elders Quorum Presidency and had dinner with Bro. Tanuvasa. Then we had studies and got ready for the next transfer. (By the way: we lost the bet, but the Zone Leaders had to pay for the drinks so it was nothing)

Well, that was our week and we are about to begin a new transfer. I love you all! Talk to all ya'll next week!

Until next time...

Elder Jewkes

Gift from 3yr old (kids love me)

5 September, 2016 - Another week in Hemet

Dear Family and Friends,

It feels like I just E-mailed all ya'll yesterday. Well, it has been a short week since I last e-mailed (5 days to be exact). This one might be shorter than other ones but you can see why. Anyways...

WEDNESDAY- was our temple trip as I had said last week. It was super amazing to go. We ran into some sister missionaries from the Rancho Cucamonga Mission. That was kind of fun. Then we ate at Café Rio, it being the only one we can go to. We weren't able to see anyone after that but it was still a good day regardless.

THURSDAY- we went contacting in the morning since it was cooler. Then we did our studies, ate lunch and did our weekly planning. Afterwards, we tried by a few people, got in with a Less-Active member who hasn't been to church in a while due to health issues. We taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ to invite the spirit in her home. Then, we had dinner with Bishop Minor which is always fun. Afterwards, we knocked on some doors with no real luck. A few doors later we get a call from a member who wanted to drop off money for dinner so we ended the day earlier than planned. Then we planned for tomorrow.

FRIDAY- we did our studies and then after lunch I got to babysit Elder Frisby while his companion, Elder Porter, was at a doctor's appointment. We had him for about 5 hours. Traffic got really bad on the way back from Riverside. We got to use their car for the day so that was fun!

We only got in with A Recent Convert, Daniel. He hadn't been to church in a while and we were just checking up on him. Then, we ate dinner at Carl's Jr with the money from yesterday. After that, we got ready for exchanges. I was leaving the area, allowing the Greenie to take over the area. He was so nervous but I knew that he would be alright. When I called the sisters that night they thought I was crazy, but I have faith in my companion.

SATURDAY- I spent the day in Valle Vista with Elder Porter. We got to see their investigator, Jeff, who was getting baptized the next day. Then we went to do some service with the sisters but by the time we got there it was all done. So we stopped by some yard sales on the way back for lunch. I found a pretty cool tie! After lunch we tried by people with little luck. We visited a few members and had dinner. Then we exchanged back. Elder Rose found a new investigator, Anthony, during the day. I knew that he was able to do it.

SUNDAY- we had MCM, then church. No one came this week. Some people just don't understand that they need to come to church in order to be baptized. Then we had a member feed us lunch. Then we did our studies and tried some people before it got too dark. We found some solid potential. I hope something comes from that.

So that was our short week. Next time, I will tell you what will happen with transfers. It will be exciting I promise.

Until next time...

Elder Jewkes