Week 91 - May 26, 2016

Week 91 - May 26, 2016
Jacob -

Hello, everyone! We have had transfers this week, and this time around nothing has been changed. I'm still with Elder Robinson in the Access Services part of the Family History Library. Our prep day is still on Thursday, so that might be a slight obstacle.

This week I have had the opportunity to listen to Music and the Spoken Word with guest artists GENTRI, so it was a great opportunity to listen to them in person for the first time. I have heard some of their songs from the music players the other missionaries had including "Guide Me to Thee," which they performed with the orchestra.

I don't know if you heard, but on Memorial Day we're planning a pancake breakfast at our stake center, then we're hiking to the Salt Lake cemetery and later some other activities. I've forgotten if  any of our ancestors were there, so if you could send me any information about who might be there and where the are (preferably in the next hour or so) I would be thankful!

Do you have any trips planned for this summer, or are you waiting for me to get back for that cruise? I have been doing well, and I am eager to get what I can done before the mission is over!

Well, see you later!

Sincerely, Elder Derricott

Tara -  Hi son!!! So good to hear from you!  Once again your p-day snuck up on me!!!  So sorry!  We are doing good!

I think we do have some ancestors in the salt lake cemetery.  I will try to look real quick and see. We don't have any trips planned till after you get back... Emily has a lot of summer activities and Erik will be in school till the end of July.


Sounds like you have a fun Memorial Day weekend planned... We will probably have a barbecue, but I don't know if anything else special.  Maybe we will go to visit a few graves, like Grandma Graces and Uncle Vances.

How are you feeling and how is the exercise going?

I love you!!!!

Week 90 - May 19, 2016

Week 90 - May 19, 2016
Jacob -

Hello, everyone! I am doing very well. I have been doing good this past week. We had our bi-monthly "Hail and Farewell" dinner to say good-bye to all the missionaries leaving this mission and say hello to all the new ones coming in (it's hard to believe that the next one will be the last one I will be attending!) But I'm still trying to stay strong through the end!

It's nice to hear about what everyone's doing! I would like to be with you when you are trying new things. I think it would be nice to go to another country, but only if we can have at least somebody who knows the language! I would also like to show you many of the things that I learned about the mission!

You don't have to worry about getting me a copy of the Ensign, I already have one, plus a study guide. I will be going through it a couple times before the end, plus a month of whatever reading challenge we have next. I am also trying to stay healthy and getting some morning exercise into my day. Sister Tate told me that because I work inside most of the time I would need some supplements to add to my diet. The only problem is that I bought so many that I don't think I can use them all up before the end of my mission!

I work hard to feel the spirit everyday that I am here. I pray that everyone will do their best and make the most of their time here. I want Emily and Erik to know how proud I am for their effort to get more done. Bless you all!

-Sincerely, Elder Derricott

Tony -  What kind of supplements did you buy?You can probably bring them home with you.

Tara -  Hi son!  I'm just starting a student meeting. I loved this nice long letter! I love you a ton!!!!

Emily - Hey Jacob! Has anything funny happened to you this week? Love ya!
 

2016-05-13

2016-05-13
We got an e-mail from Sister Barbara Shurtz, a missionary in Jacob's mission. 

Sister Shurtz - These are pics from our training Olympic s and him getting his red lanyard

Week 89 - May 12, 2016

Week 89 - May 12, 2016
Jacob -

Hello, everyone! I am doing very well over here in the city. This week we had a mission conference, and I learned a lot that might help me sometime in the future. We also learned that President Oliver, of our branch, has some form of cancer and he expects to die within the next six months. I think a good idea would be to pray for him so that he can feel better, but if not then maybe pray that his death will be painless as can be.

I had a fun Mother's Day phone call, and I am doing very well and keeping my focus on the mission. However, President Tate told me that when I next met him I should have an ecclesiastical endorsement form. I'm asking the mission coordinator, Elder Musgrave, for help on that part. I was told that on the report I would need my student ID, so could you send that for me if possible? I was also wondering if there were some sort of animation class or something on BYU campus that I could look at?

Not much has happened this week, it was pretty much the same thing as most other weeks. I am, however, trying to improve my morning exercise routine. I have now included that "planking" exercise.

Well, that's it for now! See you later!

-Sincerely, Elder Derricott
 PS. My mistake; it was President Larsen that has the disease, not President Oliver

Tara - Hi son!   Good to hear from you! I'm not used to your new p day schedule so sorry I do t have a letter ready for you!   Sounds like you are doing good!   We will pray for pres Larsen!!!!  I don't have your I card here at work with me, but will send your I number when I get home tonight, so check your email for that.  We are good... Just working and Kurds going to school this week.  We sure miss you and love you!!!!

Jacob -  I will probably get it sometime next week, then?

Tony - Your I-Number is : xxxxxxxxx

Week 88, May 5, 2016

Week 88 - May 5, 2016
Jacob -

Hello everyone! It's fun that you got to see and be in these concerts. I still try to go to Music and the Spoken Word as often as I can, so I'm not too upset. However, my call home is expected to be around 10:00 and my companion will call around 9:00, so we might have to miss out on MSW. At least now you know.

President Tate told me to remind him at our next interview and he would help me with the Ecclesiastical Endorsement. My next meeting should be in a couple weeks or so, so I hope to get started on that soon. As for lessons, I can't think of anything I need now. I would, however like to take a class that deals with Photoshop so that I won't be left in the dark. After all, it's not like riding a bicycle.

I got my underwear, and they seemed to do well for the first week. I just washed them today, so I hope that they are still a good size for the rest of the week.

Turns out I was misinformed about our weekend activity last week. Instead of the concert we went to see Press Forward, a musical about the life of Nephi and his brothers. It was pretty entertaining, and if you wanted to see it the group who performed said they would post a video on YouTube.

For the most part, I am pretty healthy. I do have a question on how to prevent diarrhea, so I would be very pleased if I could receive some answers.

Thank you for listening to what I have to say. Happy Mother's Day!

Sincerely, Elder Derricott

Week 87 - April 28, 2016

Week 87 - April 28, 2016
Jacob -

Hello, everyone! Transfers have happened yet again. My P-day is now on Thursday, so you will have to make adjustments accordingly. I still have the same companion, but this time I am in Access Services. Basically that's making sure that the books in the Family History Library are in order. The first day was pretty eventful, though. I had a little bit of training with the library's computer programs, and I hope to be able to know how to use them. I also have a new companion, Elder Robinson. He's been out for almost as long as I have, with a two-month difference.

This weekend I am excited because the whole mission is going to see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Spring Concert. From what I hear, the concert will feature Mack Wilberg's work The Prodigal. It's a new piece featuring the famous parable set to lyrics. It will be exciting to see how it all works out. I will try to send some pictures for you.

I want to shop for some more fruits and veggies, so I have a couple questions. First, are there ways to determine the freshness of a melon (watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, etc.?) Also, what is the best way to preserve green veggies? If there is anything else you would like me to know, please don't hesitate to tell me.

I think that's it for this week! I hope you all have a good week!

Sincerely, Elder Derricott

Tara -

Hi Jacob! Fun to hear from you today!!!! I am at work and can't take a lot of time writing... Did you move apartments? I sent garments yesterday so they should get there in a few days.  Did you get the gift card for new shoes?  

Keep green vegetables in the crisper of the fridge, and if they start to go bad, cut off the bad parts before it can spread, so the good parts stay fresh longer.  As for melons, don't buy any with soft or sunken spots. You can smell them, where the vine was attached, and if it smells like melon it is supposed to be ripe.

At first you said you have the same companion, then later you said your new companion is Elder Robinson? I am a bit confused? 

I love you and am glad that you are doing good!!!! I would love some more pictures, and to hear about the spring concert.  Our church us from 2-5 in the evening, so if you can do your Mother's Day phone call in the morning, that would be best.  Love you tons!!!!

 

Jacob -I am sorry for the confusion. I do have Elder Robinson as my new companion.
Any other advice on freshness of food?

 

Tara -Keep it in the fridge, and only buy as much as you will eat within a week. It doesn't stay fresh much longer than that. Also, wash it before eating. Don't put bananas in the fridge because it makes them turn brown.

Did you get the money for shoes? 

Jacob - Yes I got the money for the shoes. I also took the opportunity to buy the shoes this week!

Week 86 - April 23, 2016

Week 86 - April 23, 2016
Jacob -

Hello everyone! This week has been interesting. There has been some sort of bug going around with the young elders, and unfortunately I was one of the victims. As a result I haven't been able to get up early to do early morning exercises. Fortunately my cold is going away and I hope to do better this upcoming week. I have also been taking some medicine and stuff with Vitamin C to help me out with the cold.

We also had the opportunity to go on another monthly temple session this week. It's a good time to think and reflect on what God has done for us so that we can retain our agency.

We had our stake conference last week. I especially liked the testimonies given by some of the stake members. I would like to take the opportunity to bear my testimony next time there is an event like that.

It's nice that you can have such a nice trip up at Yellowstone. I'm not sure when, but some of the young elders say that we might be going up to the location where the Bible Videos were filmed. That's just a rumor, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

I haven't gotten that gift card yet, but I hope that the money can be enough so that I can get some new shoes. Also, this last week I have somehow ended up with only four pairs of undergarments and I might need some more. If you would be so kind as to send me some asap I would be very happy.

I don't believe I have heard of the Salt Lake Children's Choir, but I would like to hear some of their stuff.

I hope that I can get better, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely, Elder Derricott

Tara -  Sounds like an unfortunate laundry mishap!  What size garments do you need, and how many pairs?  I'm sorry you haven't been feeling good, and hope you get better soon. Which temple did you go to?

Jacob - I need about 5 pairs of medium-sized garments. We went to the Salt Lake temple and I expect that we will keep going until the mission gets enough money for another temple trip.

Tara -  I will get some garments sent soon. I love the Salt Lake temple, but have only been inside a couple times.  What a blessing it is that you have been able to go so much! What kind of medicine are you taking got your cold?