Week 56 - Sept 25, 2015

Week 56 - Sept 25, 2015
Jacob:

Hi, everyone! I promise next week I'll try to write earlier! Probably right after lunch!

Anyways, yes I did get a new transfer. I'm now a district leader! That means making sure that the elders in my district get the mail and assignments that they need for the week! Just before coming to emails my new companion Elder Gates and I had to track down some elders in our district to get them their checks because most of the elders have P-day on Saturday, but Zion's Bank is closed on the weekends, so nobody could cash checks on that day. (We also saw some people dressed up for Comic Con, including a group which one of the elders said was the heroes from Disney's Big Hero 6.)

I gave my first blessing this last Sunday before transfers happened. My old companion Elder Teichert stopped our former district leaders and asked if we could help give a blessing to help him sleep better and get over some flu-like symptoms. I pray that his new companion will help him to stay on track and on schedule.

I am also ready for General Conference! I hope that the new apostles will be appreciated just like the old ones were.

I got that razor and it works very well. For my birthday I need a pillow, a nail clipping kit, and a cup coaster. I would also like a metallic ink pen, an advent calendar for the holidays, and some LEGO Mixels sets (if you can't find them at the store, try looking for them online!)

I hope to be a good district leader and that I will have the energy to make the most of my mission!

Tony: 

That's real exciting about the District Leader opportunity, Jacob!  Do your best to pray for and help those who are in your district.  That will help you think less of yourself and more of how to help them come closer to Christ.

It's neat to see that your letters are getting longer and longer.  We sure enjoy seeing you grow from a distance.

Got any pictures this week?  We especially like the ones with you in them.

 

Jacob:

 

Tara:  Wow! District leader is really exciting! I'm sure you will do a great job! Tell us a bit about elder Gates... Did you move to a new apartment? 

Jacob:

Yes I did move to another apartment. With each move I find it harder to move my stuff, but I will try to get prepared ahead of time.

Elder Gates is a new elder, and I am the first to be his companion after his first two weeks in the mission field! I hope that I can help him to be friendly to the other missionaries.

Tony: Looks like your hair is really short and you're gaining a bit of weight.  Do you weigh yourself during fitness time?  Stay healthy!

Tara: I love the picture and I love you! 

Week 55 - Sept. 19, 2015

Week 55 - Sept 19, 2015
Jacob:   Hi, everyone! I wanted everyone to know that I am doing very well! I have started the habit of reading the Book of Mormon during morning because I can get ready pretty quickly, but my companion takes a while. I'm usually done with the daily assigned reading by then, but if not, I try to find breaks in my day zone for doing that.

    These past two weeks I have encountered a problem; my razor is dying. Since the light doesn't come on when I plug it in I assume it's a problem with the razor itself. So I'm doing some quick shaves before it finally dies out.

    I also bid a solemn farewell to Great Grandpa McLean, and I pray that he will be safe in heaven. I have not been able to talk with any of the apostles as of yet, but with less than a year ahead of me, I hope that changes. I am also looking forward to General Conference, and I hope that the week of shopping before it I can get enough food for two weeks!

    My companion and I have a driving meeting tonight, so I'll be sure to take some good notes. Maybe I'll take a couple pictures there, too!

    Be safe in your travels and know that you are in my prayers! I love you all!

Tara: 

Hi son!  So good to hear from you!  Sounds like your razor is dying.  We will get one sent to you ASAp.  If you need one right away, just get some shave cream and a disposable razor to use till your new one comes.

We usually do our Book of Mormon reading in the morning also.  It just seems like if I try doing it later, it doesn't get done.  I drop Emily at the school for marching band at 7, then go to my work parking lot where I eat breakfast in the van, listen to my scriptures, and put on makeup for work at 8.  It sounds silly to do it there, but there isn't time to go home, then go to work.

Is there anything you want us to tell Grandma and Grandpa while we are there tomorrow? 

We love you so much!  Be good and be happy!

Love mom 

(Quick note on Sept. 22)
Jacob: Apparently my zone leader’s assistant has signed me up for a flu shot on October 21. I looked at the banner and I noted that without Medicare or insurance it costs about $35. I just wanted to know if we had insurance or if I had to pay from my pocket?

Tony: 

I think that'll probably be covered under our DMBA insurance.  I'll have your mom check to be sure.

I see the razor was delivered to the mission office today.  If you haven't received it yet ask one of your superiors to check in the mission office.

 

Tara:  Insurance should take care of it. You should have a copy of your insurance card in your binder. Let me know if you need another copy or any other information.  Love you!

Week 54 - Sept. 12, 2015

Week 54 - Sept. 12, 2015
Jacob:

Hi, everyone! I have had a pretty busy week. We have two "Preach My Gospel" lessons this week, the first is Sunday and the second is Monday. Fortunately we just started preparing for the second lesson yesterday. For our linking project we had a few sites that only had certain people and we took a side track and did those before going back to what we were usually doing. The people in charge of the project were thinking about making an evening zone that focused on adding links to our template, but for now it's just an idea.
This morning after we got done with shopping our regular checkout lane was taken so we had to move to different lanes. I found a lane, but the person at the register was an old woman who was so used to working at her usual computer in another lane that she had trouble checking some items out to me. It wasn't really a problem until she got to the carrots; she didn't have the number for them, so she had to ask another cashier for help.

I got that package that the Rodriguez family sent, and I was delightfully surprised. It contained five large boxes of "Pop Tarts," a Disneyland-themed journal, a Mickey Mouse pen, an Oswald the Lucky Rabbit t-shirt, and a Mickey Mouse ice cream bar (not a real one, it was a squeaky toy shaped like one!) I will be sure to thank him as soon as possible!

I heard that a recording of last year's Christmas concert, Keep Christmas With You, will be available on DVD October and on television Christmas, so if you want it you need to be prepared to get it. It features Santino Fontana from Frozen and the Sesame Street Muppets! I got a chance to see it last year; I think I remember telling you my favorite part was when Count helped Richard Elliot with the organ rendition of "Twelve Days of Christmas."

I know this week's email is a bit lengthy, but I have so much to share this week! I hope to talk again and have a great rest of the year!

Mom:  Hi kiddo! I love the long email!!!!  Sounds like you are doing good. I will watch for the dvd... We haven't seen it yet and I can't wait to watch the Count!  That sounds like a great package from the Rodriguez family.  I'm glad you are feeling loved!   Be good and do good! I love you!!!!!

Jacob:  We were coming back to work after lunch break, and we saw this just between the Church History Library and the Conference Center

Week 53 - Hump Day!

Week 53 - Hump Day! - Sept. 5, 2015
Jacob:

I am very aware that today is my year mark. So today I decided to buy a small bottle of "Sprite!" I have had a good day so far, and some of the young elders say that the second year passes by very quickly. I hope that I can make the best of things before my time comes!
Our team for our Early Missionaries project has split up into several groups; I am in the "linking" group, which means that we will be working on adding more website links that make mention of each elder already in the database. I am enjoying my work and I am putting all that I can into it.

I got that package you sent this week on the day after you sent it, though I'm afraid some of the lollipops got broken; did you get them that way?

This Labor Day we are watching Fathers of Faith and doing an "Indexing extravaganza." It seems we usually have one each time we have a day off of our zone work, unless it's a holiday and they have something more meaningful planned.

Anyways, I need some more of that special shampoo, since my supply is running out. I think that's basically it, so keep in touch!
Tara: 

Hi son.  Sounds like things are going well. That candy was already broken.... That's why we got a bag of it for only $3! It wasn't a great candy factory, but we had fun anyway. 

I am working on getting that shampoo... The prescription expired and the doctor doesn't want to renew it without seeing you for a checkup. I told them that you are on a mission, and can't come in, so they said they will see what they can do. I haven't heard back, so I will check again this week.  

A small sprite sounds like a good celebration treat!  Did you get that package from the Rodriguez  family? Elder Rodriguez posted some pictures of you and him on Facebook today, wishing his "greenie" a happy hump day.
Jacob:  I didn't get that package from the Rodriguez family yet, but I look forward to it! I don't think that image you sent made it through would you mind sending it again?
Tara:  I just sent those photos from Elder Rodriguez' Facebook post. Hope they show up! Have a great week.  We love you and miss you!  By the way, I watched that movie you and Erik made in junior high, "Lost Without A Hall Pass".  It made me giggle!   Love you!

Week 52

Week 52- Aug. 29, 2015
Jacob:

Hi everyone! I am glad that you got to do all those things for a vacation! It is unusual when you don't have anything to do for a while. But with summer coming to a close, it will be nice to be involved in more constructive activities.

With the Book of Mormon challenge I have learned to be more patient with my companions. I have determined that also means being flexible with my schedule when things don't quite go my way. I hope that I can take this lesson and make it a part of my life back home.

As far as money goes, I don't think I have any problems with spending it. I keep a "surplus" envelope containing mostly change from previous shopping trips. I've never bothered counting it all up though, it's just in case I don't have enough money for a shopping trip on a certain week.

Anyways, I hope that you have a good week and I hope that we can all have good times.

-Elder Derricott

PS- Until further notice, I will be using Gmail for weekend emails.

Tara:  Hi son!  Good to hear from you! I'm glad to hear you are learning and growing through your experiences. Also glad that you have enough to meet your needs. Did you get that lotion I sent?  I'm also curious about whether or not you have had to deal with bedbugs yet? I hear that it continues to be a problem in some of the apartments.
Jacob: I have got the lotion, but you also said you would send a package of candy, which I have not yet received. I am curious as to how long it takes for packages to get here. When did you send it?
Tara:  Actually I haven't had time to send it yet... Hopefully this week I will get it to you
Jacob: Okay! I love you!
Tara:  I love you too my boy!

Week 51

Week 51 - August 22, 2015
Jacob:

It happened again! I try the computer for my Outlook email, but the online website doesn't come up. So I have to use Gmail again this week. If you want to converse you will have to add Gmail to your list, just in case the Outlook website isn't working.
Anyways, this week in Salt Lake City I noticed a haze going to and from zones, have you heard anything about that? Elder Teichert and I are still getting along, and we learned that we are still companions for another month.

As for work, I have gotten a new project. I am working with a senior missionary and another young elder to attach more links to the names that everyone has worked on for the previous project I was involved with.

I got a chance to look at those photos over the week. I especially liked the one where Erik and Emily had fake mustaches and were posing with a cutout of that cowboy whose name escapes me (guess I need to watch a couple westerns when I get back!)  About that ice cream place; is there anything about it that makes it special, or is it just a popular place to visit?

I hope to see more of your adventures soon!

Week 50

Week 50 - Aug 15
Jacob:

Hello, everyone! My Outlook Web account isn't working today, so unless I hear otherwise this week's report will have to be sent via Gmail. Anyways, there wasn't a lot of rain this week, it's been mostly dry. Don't worry, I am still trying to stay hydrated.

I got that care package and that note that said you were on your way to Denver, Colorado! What are you planning on doing while you're there? I would like to see some pictures of your adventures along the way.

My work at the Church History has been coming along well. I am almost through with one of the projects my boss sent, and hopefully she will have more instructions before I finish up. Yesterday I was using the Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel website for some of the work, and sometimes I came up blank. I quickly found the reason: I had accidentally left the birth year of a previous person in the search box! So I had to go back and do the searches I deemed "not found" and look up the information all over again! Sometimes it is helpful to look up a person you found on the Overland Travels website in FamilySearch, too.

I believe that's all for now! I hope to see you again soon!

 This is the view of the Capitol building from the 26th floor of the Church Office Building after our monthly Mission Conference. This one struck me because it talked about how being happy or miserable was not a reaction, but a choice.

Week 49

Week 49 - Aug 8
Jacob:     Hi, everybody! It sounds pretty hectic down there in Rexburg! I hope that you are doing all you can to stay safe and sound! Salt Lake has had quite a storm last night. I took a picture of it and I'm planning to send it to you later. Some of the storm drains were flooded and I was worried about getting back to our apartment! Fortunately by the time our evening zone ended the storm had let up enough so that it wasn't too serious.
    I am very aware that I am reaching my year mark. I don't have anything planned, but during the fast Sunday when elders reach or are close to their year mark they have first priority of bearing their testimonies in Sacrament Meeting. We sure enjoy having such a nice ward here in the city!
    As for work, I am going over some work I did previously and making some corrections and adding some sources I didn't add for the first pass. I predict it will be some time before we get to the second pass.
    Take care and be safe!
    -Elder Derricott

Tara:  Hi son! I don't know if you will get this because we have spotty reception. I'm flag you were safe in the big storm and look forward to seeing pictures. Your work sounds really interesting. I am learning how to attach sources in family search... Is that similar to what you are doing?

Jacob:    Yes, it is similar. Basically my day zone work involves missionaries from the first hundred years since the gospel has been restored. That's all I can say about it for now. This was taken during evening zone's break period. I don't know if you can see it, but the storm drains were flooded. Fortunately by the time we had to leave the storm let up.

Week 48

Week 48 - Aug 1, 2015
Jacob: Hi, everyone. I don't know if you will be able to read my email on vacation, but I just wanted to let you know that I am having fun here on the mission. I have also taken more of an interest in doing family research and attaching sources to some family members.
    This week we moved some furniture from an unoccupied apartment and storage to apartments that would soon be occupied. We were released early from our day zones to help out. There were times we feared that the furniture would crush us, especially going around tight corners and stairwells. We also wound up ripping a chunk of plaster off one of the corners of the apartments, but the people in charge said that they would take care of it.
     Also the Assistants to the President asked me if I would be willing to give them some ideas for a class they wanted to start teaching. I offered them some old PowerPoint presentations from the evening zone Research Essentials class, which they gratefully accepted.
    I saw the pictures of you in old towns and in Blodgett Canyon. It looks like a lot of fun! Is this your yearly summer trip, or do you have something else in mind?
    Well, take care and I hope we can talk again soon!
    -Elder Derricott
Tara:  Hi son!!!! You are writing earlier than I expected. Those pictures were of a trip to montana we took last weekend. Unfortunately I don't have any new pictures this week. We haven't seen any pictures of you for a bit?  We would love one when you get the time. We are at home this weekend, but in a couple weeks we are going to Denver for our family vacation. It sounds like the moving was a big deal! I'm glad you didnt get crushed!  Today we are cleaning house and doing yard work. What are you doing the rest of the day?
Jacob:

    We've got a big Preach My Gospel lesson to plan for Monday, plus laundry and hopefully evening sports. The lesson is on the Great Apostacy and were were told about it this Thursday. With the amount of reading we have to do I'm glad that we were told about it sooner instead of today or Sunday. We've started on scripture reading, and hopefully we will have something pulled together before Monday comes around.
Tara: 

We are excited to start our Book of Mormon challenge today!!!  You will have to keep us posted on how you are doing with it. I bet you learned some cool stuff about the apostasy... I have to admit that I don't know a whole lot about it.  Sounds like you are doing the same kinds of stuff as us today.  Thanks for the pictures!!! We love to see what you are doing.  Our favorites are the pictures with you and the other elders in them. We love you and miss you a ton! As always, we are so proud of the good work you are doing!   Is there anything you need? We love you son!!!!!
Jacob:     I could use some more of that special shampoo and lotion, and are you still working on getting a copy of Our Search for Happiness?
Tara:  I forgot about the book... Sorry!!! I will try to find it and get those sent this week. Is your dry skin/dandruff acting up?
Jacob:I'm actually doing fine, except the spaces between my fingers feel a bit dry.
Tara:  Good. Just use regular lotion till I Han get the other sent. Have a great week and know that we love you!!!

   The first picture is the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square in the Conference Center. The second one is the temple's reflecting pool after being drained.

Week 47

  Week 47 - July 25, 2015
Jacob: Hi, everyone! I am having a good time in SLC! I am working hard in my zones and I hope that things get done as close to perfection as we can. This week we celebrated Pioneer Day. We were going to go to a big parade, but because of the crowds we didn't want to attract any unwanted attention. So we went to sports in another church building (our stake center was taken) and talked with each other. Then we went up for a hike up Ensign Peak. Once all the elders were there we listened to the story of how the early pioneers found this place and we sung a couple hymns from the top.
    I tried drinking warm milk before going to bed, and it seems to be working just fine. So don't worry about the sleep I'm getting. I could, however use some more of that special shampoo and lotion. It's sad that Uncle Vance is gone, but he's in a better place, and I hope that he can live a happy life there.
    Are you planning on going on any big vacations before summer ends? Even if you're not, I hope that you will have fun anyways! Take care!
    -Elder Derricott