Week 36

May 9. 2015

Jacob:   Hi, everyone! I am glad that you are all at home this weekend. I am also excited to make that phone call, I expect it to be around 6:00 p.m. or later. If you can, could you find a way to preserve a cupcake for me?
    I am so glad that there are such great blessings and I am proud to be an example for my brother and family. You are very supportive and kind to us!
    My week has been very productive. We are working on a project involving missionaries from the early 1830s to 1860 (or maybe it was later.) We're working on getting all of the names onto an online database with some sources, and after that's done, we hope to pull them for a second pass. I don't know what that means, but I hope to know when the time comes.
    We have also got a bunch of rain for the past few days, and it was raining pretty much all morning. Some say it's a good thing, seeing that Salt Lake City has been dry for a couple of weeks now. Depending on the weather we may play ultimate rugby or ultimate Frisbee outside, but if it keeps raining we may play dodge-ball in the stake cultural hall.
    I hope to hear from you again! Elder Derricott

Tara: Hi son!   I LOVE the pictures!!!!!!  That is the best Mother's Day gift ever! ( along with the phone call tomorrow). What sports did you play last week? 

Jacob: We played ultimate Frisbee.

Tara: Ultimate frisbee huh? Did you enjoy that?

Jacob: Yes I did. I also enjoyed a quick jog around the track

Tara: Wow!  Good job!  Have you eaten any of the casseroles I sent?  

Jacob: I ate some of those ranch potatoes, but for some reason they were all soggy and liquid-like. I hope the other casseroles will fare better.

Tara: Sorry the potatoes weren't so good... I hope the other ones are better also. Did you get the Lego/ Joseph Smith picture?

Jacob: Yep. But I thought pirates were only around during the 1700s. :D

Pictures from Sister Beard

We got to meet Jacob's zone leader, Sister Beard, when she was visiting Idaho Falls to see a new grandbaby.  She told us all kinds of great things about Jacob's mission, and even took a pie and a casserole back for him!!  We asked her if she would mind taking a couple pictures and sending them to us, and here they are!!!! The second one has his companion, Elder Salle, from Saratoga Springs in it. 

Week 35

Week 35

Jacob:   Hi everyone! I always enjoy hearing from you and finding out what happens around my old home! I would like to know what time church starts so I don't accidentally call during that time. I also got that food you sent, and it seems like they did pretty well (except a couple of the cookies broke!)
    My mission has been a very great experience! I have some time to read Jesus the Christ, which is all missionaries are challenged to do on this mission! I'm sure you also got Erik's mission email this week, too.
    Elder Salle and I will hopefully get to play sports tonight. For the past few weeks bad weather and conferences cut into that time, and last week they refurbished the floor of our ward's cultural hall. It's a different sport every time, so I don't know exactly what is going on tonight. Since we have such warm weather today we will hopefully play outside.
    Good luck and I hope to speak to you again!

Tony: Looks like a beautiful building.  Any with you in them?​

Tara: Is that Elder Salle playing? I bet you get to enjoy his music a lot! 

Jacob: Yes it is. He likes to practice in the stake center each weekend. I especially like his rendition of "Toccata in D Minor." I was going to send more pictures, but my camera's low on battery. After we get home, I am going to recharge it.

Tara: Hi! Church is from 9 to noon, but we might go up to Montana to visit Grandma and Grandpa. Just let us know what time works for you and we will be sure to be available. I'm glad you got the food and stuff ok. Did you thank sister beard?  I have never read Jesus the Christ. Perhaps that is something I can challenge myself with while you boys are on missions!  Take your camera as you play sports tonight. We would love to get some pictures of you and the other elders as you play!!  We went to garage sales today and got a small camera to send to Erik, so hopefully we will be getting some pictures from him.  It sounds like you are really enjoying your mission. Is there anything we can do to make it an even better experience?  Did you use that laundry stuff, and did it help with your white shirts? 

Jacob: I just used the whitener this morning, and the differences were quite noticeable. I also happen to have some bleach back at the apartment, so I won't let my whites get that soiled again!

Tara: I'm glad it helped. If you need more whitener, it is available in the laundry section at Walmart. Oxyclean is the best detergent I have found for white clothes, so continue to use it, along with a bit of bleach when necessary.  Sounds like it is all under control now! . How are your suits and pants holding up? Any clothes that you need? 

Jacob: I could use some more sock and garments; some of mine vanished without a trace.

Tara: Black socks? How many sets of garments, and do you know what size?

Jacob: Yes, I need black socks. I also need 2 sets of garments in a size 30, maybe

Tara:  Ok. I will work on it. Also, did you get the FCHH mission pin? I got one for dad and Erik too

Week 34

Week 34  
 Hi, everyone! I am having a good time with the mission. I took a trip to Mr. Mac to fix a button on my winter coat (they do repairs for missionaries for free!) By the way, I have lost my umbrella and I can't seem to find it anywhere. Could you send a new one asap? Also the speakers I got don't improve the music; I just get more volume.
    However, we did have a stake conference this week, and we held the last session last Sunday morning in the Assembly Hall. Around 2:00 we went to an organ recital in the Tabernacle where a guest organist played "Toccata in D Minor." and some uplifting musical pieces. I don't think we would've had any other opportunities to see it for the rest of the year, seeing our regular stake meetings go from 1:00-4:00.
    I am glad you got to speak with Sister Beard, and we expect her to be back safely next week! She might be able to help us in the following weeks with a project dealing with missionaries since Joseph Smith's time.
    We sure have had a good time on this mission so far. My year mark is approaching slowly, but the other missionaries say that after that it all goes downhill from there. It feels like I have lived here my whole life! I am excited to read your emails each week!
    Hope to write again!
                -Elder Derricott

        

Week 33

This week has been a pretty good week. We got some more projects that need transcribing, and we work hard to balance our time for other things. I also sent some pictures of what we do during each week. This wee we had a snow storm, and I took some pictures before it all melted away. I also went with Elder Salle to the Assembly Hall because he was singing at a senior missionary conference (young elders held one the previous week.)
    I have been taking some time to read some stories of faith and devotion from Church magazines. Other than that, nothing else has happened. I did, however, see a quail today!
    I hope to hear from you again soon!
    -Elder Derricott

Week 32

These weeks have been pretty good; we're just getting through our work quicker than expected. We may need more work soon!
    It turns out that we were wrong about that driver's ed class this afternoon. There was apartment inspections this week, so we had to revert back to our regular schedule and the Assistants to the President moved our actual time to 6:00-8:30 this evening.
    I did enjoy General Conference this last weekend. My favorite talk was "Where Justice, Love, and Mercy Meet" by Jeffrey R. Holland because as I am on this mission I figure out more about Christ and his life and miracles each day.
    We both enjoyed our Easter packages and I hope to send you some pictures soon!
    <3 Elder Derricott


Tony: Glad there are pictures coming. Have you taken some that you haven't downloaded yet?  Or are you still looking for something to take pictures of?

Jacob: I did find some good ones, but it may be some time before I can actually upload them.

Tony: What's involved in uploading a picture?

Jacob: Actually the camera is hooked up in the same way as a flash drive, but it's hard when you don't actually have the camera with you.

Tony: So you just need to remember to bring it with you next time, huh?

Week 31

Hey, everyone! I just wanted to let you know that I am doing fine. Yesterday I got that Easter package that you sent, and Elder Salle and I can’t wait to open it. Of course, we still remember to set Easter as the day of Christ’s resurrection. He did it so he could know how we feel and so he could atone for our sins. I have a feeling that one or two speakers in General Conference will focus on this principle.

                Elder Salle and I got set up to do some more transcription exercises. Of course I can’t say anything else other than it’s going to help others who do research make it easier to find that person’s information. We had a pretty hectic schedule this week, but we still press on! It’s warm in the mornings, but it can get quite chilly at night. I hope you’re doing alright, though.

                With fond love, Elder Derricott

Tony: Do you still have exercise time every week?  We see pictures on facebook occasionally of boys playing basketball. What do you do during those times?

Jacob: With the warmer weather we started to have sports on the field across from the stake center. It’s been a lot of fun so far

Tony: So what sports do you engage in? Does everyone play the same games at the same time? Would you like us to send you a frisbee or something?

Jacob: Yep. It’s pretty much everyone playing one game each night. I don’t think a Frisbee is a good idea, in case some passerby happens to have a dog.

Tony: Every night is good. Do you still think you're getting your 10000 steps per day?

Jacob: Yes.