Week 30

Hi, everyone! I have been having a good time while on this mission. We are so excited about General Conference next weekend! I wish it would get here sooner; your email surprisingly came quicker than the package you promised!
    My companion, Elder Salle is from Saratoga Springs, UT, and he likes singing and music. He is also very interested in studying other religions, which makes sense since he is a convert for 10 years. He knows a whole bunch of music for the organ and piano, and has been asked a couple times already to play for our ward and our morning devotionals at the CHL.
    I'm afraid you're not being specific; what types of restaurants are you referring to? Are these missionaries in the same mission as us? I know that we're allowed to eat at the food court in City Creek and the restaurants at Temple Square, but as far as I know we're pretty much confined to that basic area except during shopping days and dinner appointments with senior missionaries. 
    Well, I hope that God will keep giving me strength to make it through the mission. See you all later!

Week 29

    Hi everyone, I just wanted to let you know that I am excited for General Conference in a few weeks. I haven't been able to fix my camera, so I might need another one. What would you like me to do with the old one?  
    We have not had any bedbug problems ourselves; I think we're okay as long as we keep our apartments clean. I don't need any bedding, but I would like a couple more pairs of black socks and maybe a pair of white socks.
    I hope that the others will get better soon, and I wish all of you good luck! 

Week 28

Hey everyone! How's it going? I'm glad to hear that Erik is getting ready for his mission and I hope that he has a good time. I wish him the best of luck!
    It's starting to get warmer down here, and we had some much-needed rainfalls this week. I haven't seen anything sprouting up through the flowerbeds yet, but I will let you know as soon as possible. We go to the temple every third Wednesday for endowments, and try to find spots within the month for other sessions. 
    This week our zone leader took the Assistants to the President on a tour around the CHL. We got to show them what we do and I showed them a little bit of some transcriptions I did last month. 
    By the way, when is General Conference? Are tickets available? Even if they're not we can still see it in the Legacy Theater or North Temple Square theater, so I won't worry myself sick over it.
    Well, hope to hear from you soon!

Week 27

Hi Everyone! I am so excited that you get to see my email every single day! I love knowing what you are doing while I'm away.
    As Elder Bowers is now gone, I am the senior companion now. I didn't even have to leave the apartment! Elder Musgrave said that means that I have to be supportive to Elder Salle so he doesn't get too homesick. I told him that it's normal and it wears of in a couple months. I still find it hard to believe that it's already been six months already. The other elders say that after the halfway point the end seems to come quicker.
    In those baskets I would like some Cadbury eggs, plus one of those pointers I mentioned in an earlier post. I would also like a mini Lego set (it's okay if it's less that $10.)
    I hope that you have fun, and I also wish Erik the best of luck on his mission!

P.S., I was going to send you a picture of some areas covered in snow, but I forgot to recharge the batteries. By the time they did charge, the snow was mostly melted. That's why I don't have any pictures for this week. :(

In Which We Hear More About Jacob

Tara's aunt and Uncle, Mike and Linda Hair, are Special Events Missionaries on Temple Square.  When they are serving, they keep an eye out for Jacob, and let us know if they see or hear anything about him.  Here is their latest report.

Linda: "I have great news. We just got home from serving at the conference tonight. Another amazing Tabernacle Choir concert, might I add. And this sister said to me, I need to save my husband a seat. He is helping with an emergency with one of our elders. But he will be here before the concert starts. I assured her it would be fine to save him a seat and while we were talking I found out that her and her husband are over the missionaries serving in the mission that Jacob serves In. I told her that my niece's son serves there and asked if she knew Elder Derricott. Tears came to her eyes and she says they love him. They have watched him grow and become more outgoing all the time. Their names are Elder and Sister Musgrave. She had so many good things to say about your Elder. He is hardworking such a sweet Elder. Elder Derricott has definitely formed a bond with Elder Musgrave, he likes talking to him and they are privileged to know him. After the concert, she introduced her husband to me. Just didn't have a chance to visit with him because of all of the people trying to exit the conference center. Just thought you would like to know.
     
I know you are missing him and I hope it helps to hear how he's doing. And to think what are the chances of Sister Musgrave coming to my section that I am helping with out of that huge conference center and finding out they are serving with Jacob. I think it was no chance at all but an experience provided both you as parents and me that he is being watched over and having a good mission. Glad I could be part of it."

How To Talk To Jacob

I've found that you can "talk" to Jacob if you happen to be online between 12:15-2:15 on a Saturday.  Here's a transcript of our conversation today:

Tony: Hey, Jacob. I'm up at the UofU at a computer conference. How long are you on the computer today?
Jacob: I started on the computer at 12:15 and I will be off at about 2:15.
Tony: So, what do you usually do for the 2-­hour span. It seems that today you've spent the first hour reading messages and crafting your weekly note.
Jacob: Yup. I also take some time to do some indexing or looking at the arbitration results. By the way, I do receive copies of the Young Elder's Epistles from time to time, but that link you sent me about it doesn't work. I think for some reason it's being blocked. What's it about?
Tony: I don't remember what link it was. Do you have it handy? I'll look back in my Sent Items and see if I can find it again.So, do you do indexing and looking at arbitration results at other times of the week, too? What other things are allowed during this special 2­-hour window?
Jacob: We do look at indexing results from time to time, but with the job of being a scribe that may be less often. We also have time to look on LDS-­approved websites.
Tony: That link doesn't work for me anymore, either. It must have just been to an electronic version of the newsletter. Anyway, the point was whether you read them; which you answered that you did. The second point was whether you've ever considered submitting anything to them. Have you?
Tony: Is the job of being a scribe the same thing as being a transcriber? Tell me more about it.
Jacob: I read old handwritten documents and type what is says letter for letter, then send it to someone else in our department to see how I've done. Seeing that it should be confidential, I dare not say anything else about it.
Jacob: I have considered submitting, but I wouldn't know how.
Tony: Doesn't it show how at the end of the newsletter? I seem to remember that.
Jacob: I'll check the next time I see one.
Tony: Do you get feedback on how well you're doing? Is it pretty easy? I'd imagine that some documents might be easier than others.
Jacob: Yes, yes, and yes.

So, if you've ever sent an email to him without a response - it's happened to Tara and I multiple times - you might try the "almost-synchronous" conversation method.

Week 26

Hey, everyone! I must admit that the selection of emails I got today is a little different than what I usually receive. It's nice to see that you have had a lot to do this week! I especially like the silhouettes of Sherlock and John on Emily's birthday cake! When I saw the video I thought I heard bits of "Twinkle, Twinkle" mixed in with "The Imperial March." 
    My new companion is Elder Salle. He is a convert to the LDS Church and he's very excited to be a missionary! He's going to help create org charts and keep the inventories in check. 
    I'm sorry I don't have much to say, but I hope to say more when the time comes. By the way, if Erik gets a new mission email, please send me the address.