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

Week 46

Week 46, July18, 2015
Jacob:    Hey everyone! Life in Salt Lake has been pretty good! I can't believe that it's almost been a year! For the past few weeks I have been wondering, "Where has all the time gone?"
    I don't know if you know already, but our new mission president President Tate assigned a Book of Mormon challenge. Starting August 1 and going on for 3 months we are to read, mark, and ponder the Book of Mormon every day. President Tate also invited the families of the missionaries to participate in this event, so if you wanted to join me, that would be great! I am looking forward to it and I hope to learn a lot!
    I'm glad to see that Erik made it back safely! He sure looks like he is enjoying his return! I understand it may be hard for him to get back into life at home, but he is in my prayers and I hope for the best for him. By the way, what is the picture he and everyone else is looking at and where is it?
    I am glad to write every week and I hope to be the best I can be!
    -Elder Derricott

Tara:  Hi Jacob! Sorry I didn't get a letter sent... It's been a crazy week. I did send a package the other day so it should be there soon. Erik is doing good but it has been very disappointing to him to come home and not extend his mission. Your prayers are appreciated! The picture is in the Byui center. It was in a world fair pavilion many years ago and was donated to the college. It depicts the plan of salvation. I will write more in just a minute, but want to send this so you know I am here. Love you!

Tara:

I  excited about your Book of Mormon reading challenge. I will join you, and see if the rest of the family wants to join also.  How has your sleeping been? A few suggestions are to drink some warm milk before bed, or you can take a melatonin pill. Melatonin is just an herbal supplement... Not really a drug. You can get it in the vitamin area at walmart or a drug store like Walgreens. I hope it helps.    Let me know.  

I think we are going to the Idaho museum today. They have an exhibit about pirates that I think grandpa would enjoy.  We are mostly getting ready for a bunch of family to come tomorrow to hear erik report his mission. 

We love you so much and think of you every day. Be good and do good! Take lots of pictures for us!  Love you!!!

Week 45

Week 45, July

Jacob: Hey everyone! Another sunny week in SLC, though we did have a thunderstorm that kept me up through one of the nights here. I guess we probably needed it, seeing that it has been pretty dry for the last month. Actually, I have been having trouble getting to sleep lately; any ideas?
    I also have got a hair cutting appointment set up for tonight. On this mission some of the young elders have volunteered to cut hair for free, and so far they have been pretty good at their job. They don't leave a lot of hair untrimmed, and they are very nice. I still love shopping, though I feel like I need to use up some of my surplus items before stocking up on more!
    When I first heard Erik was coming home, I was under the impression that he would be back for some time and departing some time later. I was disappointed that he will not continue to serve on a mission after all, but I am getting over it. I can rest with the satisfaction that he has done his very best to bring himself closer to God. Also, I enjoy the possibility of seeing him after my mission is over.
    Well, be sure to take care and have fun!
    -Elder Derricott

Week 44

Week 44, July 3, 2015
Jacob:     Hello, everyone! It sure has been hot here! I expected it to be like California sometime later in July or August, but it has been pretty warm throughout all of June. Frankly I would like to get through the heat as quickly as possible.
    This week I was told that with some members of our data team were going to be absent from a meeting next week, and they needed somebody who could access a certain file required for our team. They asked me if I would be willing, and I said yes. So I got a loaner laptop for the meeting locked away in my work area, and I will be sure to give it back after the meeting.
    This 4th of July we are going to help with cleaning the church and deep-cleaning our own apartments. Later we will give special lessons, have a barbeque, and watch a special movie about Independence Day.
    Don't worry about me getting what I need, I'm doing just fine. In fact, when we went shopping this morning I told Elder Teichert that I needed some detergent and he allowed me to take one of his detergents!
    It's great that you could share the gospel with a few people! I do hope that those people will find what they're looking for!
    Love you all and good luck!
    -Elder Derricott

Tara: Sounds like you have a good plan for the holiday weekend. We are going to the library right now, while Emily is at a water party. Then we will pick her up and go home. We might go to the drive in tonight and see inside out and tomorrow land. Not sure yet. We are glad you are doing so well.  Stay cool and know we love you!!

Jacob:   If you do see them, tell me how they are! I might add them to a list of movies worthwhile to see after the mission is over!

Tara:  Will do.  What movies do you already have on your list?

Jacob;     I have Return to Oz, The Black Cauldron, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and that LEGO Simpsons episode I never saw, among others

Week 43, June 27

Week 43, June 27, 2015
Jacob:  Hi, everyone! How are you doing? What are your plans for the 4th of July weekend? Our day zones in the mission will be closed the day before, so we will probably be getting a schedule sometime next week of what exactly will happen.
    Like I said before, the summer days are hot. I don't know if I said it before, but because it gets so hot out on summer days we wear white shirts in non-public areas like the Church History Library. However, we do have to wear suits in public places like Temple Square and our church.
    I'm sure you heard that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is going to be on tour for the next couple of weeks. This means that instead of performing in the Tabernacle there will be two special pre-recorded episodes of Music and the Spoken Word, one for each Sunday they'll be gone. After the Choir gets back, they will move to the Conference Center for the rest of summer.
    I got the pictures of girls camp, and some of those pictures of what I did in the past. I think I remember most of those events, and it's great to know that I am thought of. I don't have any pictures to show you as of now, but I will try to get some shortly! Love you all!

Tara:  Hi son! So good to hear from you! It's hot here too... Though not as hot as in your area.   Tell us sbout you new mission president? I posted that last pic of you and Elder Teichert on Facebook. His mom was so happy to see it. She said that he hasn't figured out how to email pictures home, so I told her that maybe you could help him. It would be good if you could teach him how to do that.

Jacob: I'll see what I can do


Tara: We don't have big plans for Independence Day... Emily is going to march in the parade. I will take some pictures of it for you. Who is your new president, and have you had much interaction with him yet?

Jacob:  Our new president is President Tate. We haven't had that much interaction yet, but we expect to talk more with our monthly interviews with the president.

Tara:  I'm sure you will get to know him and love him,, just like President Workman. I haven't gotten that book for you yet, but am working on it. I miss you and love you. We pray for you every day and are so happy that you are loving your mission. Keep up the awesome work and continue to share your experiences with us. We love you!!!!

Jacob:  As I sit here I was looking around the room, and I noticed some people with stickers with their name, the FamilySearch logo, and the words "1st Time Visitor" (not necessarily in that order.) It's nice to know that so many people are interested in their family history!

Tara:   That is cool   I just got a new calling as a ward family history consultant!  I don't know what I need to do but I am excited to learn!!!  Hopefully you will be able to teach me!

Jacob:  I'm not sure I would know anything, I'm not a consultant.

Week 42

Week 42

Jacob:    Hi, everyone! I have had a pretty good week. Nothing too exciting except our mission president, President Workman, is going home this month. We expect an announcement Monday about who the next mission president will be. I hope that he will be a good president and do some things that will help this mission and make us better missionaries.
    I'm sorry to hear about Vance and Marie. I did enjoy our short visits with them. If you see them again, tell them I said hello. I didn't expect you to be so busy during the summer, but I bet you have a lot of fun anyways!
    I am still working on that project, and the team I'm with expects to finish it up before the end of summer. Most of the stuff we work on in the Church History Library are categorized as either sacred, private, or confidential. I'm afraid I can't really show you what it's like inside the library, but I would like to take you with me on a tour as soon as my mission is over.
    I had somebody in the Family History Library take this picture. The picture is of me an my current companion, Elder Teichert. He works on scanning images in the Church History Library. It's a bit different working with somebody who's not working on the same project you are!
    I hope to see you again really soon!
-Elder Derricott

Tara:  Hi son! I love the picture!!!! When I get pictures of you boys it makes my day!  Dad and I are just getting ready to go to the temple and do some sealings. I am looking forward to that tour when you are done. I hope it doesn't happen till September 2016 though!  . Keep up the good work. I love you!