Derrick's Weekly Letter 8.25.14

Dang! I am sad that I could not write Happy Birthday to Jared and HJ this week! In the short letter I only said to send everything to the mission office and I would really, really like some more ties. The tie is literally the only thing that you can change everyday. So that would be nice. Haha! You can’t have too many ties. So, if at all possible, please send me a tie every chance you get. I want all my stuff sent to the mission office because we are going to move soon, so I don't want it to just get lost. The zone leader go to Tempe a lot and they just give me the mail when they pick it up.

    

I love it out here and Elder Rook is the best!! We get a long really well and we work hard everyday. Our teaching pool is ............................ Yeah, everyone here is very well off and are pretty set in their ways. We are just on “finding mode” right now… just trying to get some more investigators. (Mom, tell Jared and HJ to write me, I have so much advise for them).

Tracking is obsolete, and street contacting is pretty scarce here. It is so hot that no one is ever outside. But yesterday, we had a rare opportunity. We were headed out to the church building and there was a guy out walking. I was able to strike up a conversation and lead into God and all that. He was not interested at all, but that is a big step for me to be able to just walk up and talk to somebody.

I can’t believe that I have almost been out a month! The MTC seems like a blur!!!!! But we are going to stop by a less-active and part-member family tonight. Members in our ward have been working with them and now they say they are ready to take the discussions. We also, on my first week stopped and talked to a guy, that on my own, I would not have just walked up and talked to . He said that he had grown up in Blanding and had his mission call, but then stuff happened in his ward and he decided not to go. We talked to him for a few minutes, and we asked if we could end with a prayer. He said, “Yes, but first let me go grab my daughter. She has gone to your church and she says that she wants to be Mormon.” So we turned around and left....jk hahahaha. We were like, “OK. We would love to help you out with that!” Haha. So we set up an appointment and he was not home when we stopped by again. She lives with her mom most of the time and we just happed to run into her the 2 or 3 days she is with her dad every few weeks.

We are teaching a Lady named Mary, but she has been meeting with missionaries for 2 years, and she won’t really make any steps to progress. So, the next lesson we teach her is going to be an ultimatum lesson. 

Then there is Sister Freily. She was raised LDS, and her parents work at the San Diego Temple. She went less active for a few years and now we are teaching her and she really want to go to the temple. Her husband works 10 weeks out-- and 2 weeks home in the New Caledonia building-- a power plant. He is not a fan of the church. 

This week we were able read a little bit about Elder Bednar’s talk “Flooding the World” with social media and the internet. We can, and we are doing all we can to get all of our members on and use it. The Church grows so rapidly. Here, wards are normally split every 3 years. They just split 1 week before I got here, and so everything is pretty new. We have an awesome ward mission leader and assistants!!!! We have had meetings about how to flood our area with the gospel, and we are on our way to do so.

I have learned so much everyday here!!!! It is crazy to see how much the Lord can help me in my life every day if I just pray. Prayer will change the night to day. I have learned so much about Commandments. I have just been able to have my eyes opened and realize the commandments are the way to be happy. God want us to have joy! So he helps us know exactly how to do that. You are always serving either God or Satan, and that the gospel blesses families! I never really understood that till I got out here and saw the world for real.

I know that all I am called to do is to teach people to be happy. It is sad when people are willing to settle for so much less than they can have, and that they just don't want to follow Christ. I know that the gospel will help lift and help anyone on earth no matter what they have done. The gospel is for everyone!! I know that is true, and I love being able to teach what little people I can about it!

P.S. I walked out side last night and it felt super good!!! Got inside and I looked at the thermometer and it read 99 degrees. Yeah, the Lord has blessed me....or the heat has just burned my nerves!! Either way, I love being a missionary!

Picture: I was on the phone and he randomly took a photo… What a silly! Ha! He is a stud pants!!

Derrick's Trainer - Elder Rook (Esplin Jr.)

Hah! Well, it is pretty cool here. (P.S. not temperature wise). It is cool that I get to spread this message to the world. Yes, I am in a biking area. I am assigned to work in the Grove 2nd ward. I live outside of our area by about 3-3.5 miles. So, just to get to where we start with appointments is that far.

The Lord really blessed me today, my first P day. He has aloud the temperature to be less than 3 degrees  (The lord loves and blesses me).

Our Bishop is way cool, but the members are even better! The members love to feed us dinner. No joke! We have had a dinner appointment everyday and have them lined up for like another 2 weeks. The member are way cool. Everyone here is VERY, VERY wealthy. They have very nice houses. It took 4 days to see a normal size door. I guess goliath-size doors are in right now. Anyway, they are not humble so they don’t really want to listen. And on every door they have the little peek holes. So, sometimes people come to the door, look through the peep hole, and walk back into there house. There are like 15 gated communities here! Like everyone here is loaded....

Yesterday, I saw my first dust storm! It was way cool! We were just biking and Elder (Jr. Esplin haha!) Rook saw this thing. It was way far away, so I really didn’t pay attention to it. But then, after we knocked on like 2 houses, the wind started going nuts!!! And we had to seek shelter. So we started biking to our church building (like 1 mile away). We were like literally right next to our Church building and this car pulls up and asks us if we needed some shelter? We say yes, and we follow his car back, no joke, right next door to where we were just at!! And we get in and talk to them. It was crazy!

These people were very heavily into there own faith and they were not very interested, but we invited them to go see the open house that is being built in Phoenix. I hope that we were just able to plant a seed. Anyway, the Dust storm was nuts! While we were inside the dust blew past us, and then it starts to Dump rain!!!!!!!!! And it is pretty dark!. It is kinda crazy how it will just be light, and 10 minutes later it will be way dark and raining! So yeah, it has rained a few times since I have been here, and so that just makes it humid! Yeah…109 like everyday with a lot of humidity. (Satan really doesn't want we out here. Haha. They say that is has been a really mild summer, but that it has rained a lot more than they are used to.

Biking here is not really that bad. It is really flat here so it is mostly easily riding. The wind that you make when you are riding is almost like having a heater blowing in your face at 20 miles an hour............. but sweating here is just normal and it is kinda a culture thing here. Everyone sweats and sweats hard.

People here are almost never just outside because it is hot, so street contacting is almost obsolete. Elder Rook is just like what we were hoping for. He is exactly obedient and hard working. He is our District Leader and is way easy to get along with. We work well together.

And… if you get into a house you WILL get a bottle or glass of water! I will send a pic of the water bottle collection I have after like 2 days.

And everything here is dead or wants you dead.

Here are some pics:

1) Flight to Phoenix Airport

 2) MTC with Elder Clark

 3) Elder Dawes, Clark, Baker, & Kwao?

 4) My trainer, Elder Rook (Esplin Jr.)
Bishop Tomlinson, of the Grove 2nd Ward in Chandler, AZ, sent this picture to my mom during the week;)

5) Elder Rook picking up his new Trainee

 6) 25 new arrivals to the Tempe, AZ mission

 7) President & Sister Toone with Elder Dawes (Derrick looks like he's about 13 in this picture next to President Toone!!! Sheesh!

Derrick Arrived Safely to Tempe Arizona Today

Derrick called from the airport around 7:15 this morning. He spoke NONSTOP (not even lying) with me (mom), Brian, and Megan (Nancy was at drill). He ended up calling Brian back  because mom had to go to work. He was talking so long he ALMOST missed his flight!! Haha!

President Toone was kind enough to send these pictures of Elder Dawes and all of the arrivals today. Yeah! These are the first pictures we have received so far! Thank you President Toone!! (BTW....Derrick's a BIG kid...but not in these pictures!!! WOW!!)

The following is a letter from President Toone to Brian and myself

:

Dear Brother and Sister Dawes,

                   

Sister Toone and I wanted to let you know that Elder Dawes arrived safely.  Attached you will find two pictures that we thought you might enjoy: one is your missionary with Sister Toone and me, and the other is the group of missionaries with whom he arrived in the Arizona Tempe Mission.

We are so pleased to have Elder Dawes serving in the Arizona Tempe Mission. Monday is P-Day at which time he will let you know his mailing address, the zone and district to which he is assigned and the name of his trainer.

As we met with Elder Dawes, we stressed the principles of obedience, hard work and worthiness.  This mission holds great potential for each missionary assigned.  The members are strong and love these great Elders and Sisters.  You can be assured they, and we, will do all possible to watch over your son.  It is a very special responsibility we feel toward our missionaries.  We want to see them enjoy a happy and successful mission.

Our missionaries have permission to Skype or telephone their families twice per year, on Mother's Day and at Christmas.  If you need to get a message to your son or if you have any questions, please call us directly.  We do want the missionaries to receive letters from home on a regular basis encouraging them in their proselyting efforts.

 Thank you for raising a missionary who has a desire to serve the Lord.

Sincerely yours,

President James L. Toone

JLT:imn

Derrick's 2nd email from the MTC 8.11.14

So, I will be hitting up the airport about 5-8 in the morning. I will call mom’s phone. I only have 3 calls. So even if you don’t pick up that counts as one. I will call anytime between then. My flight will be leaving at like 8:30. I am really excited to see my room purple...................... haha!

Yes, the food here is pretty amazing. I am really excited to finally get out in the field. The MTC is amazing, but you are just ready to get out in the field and that is where I am right now.

Hahaha! I will have to go grab my cord. I brought my camera to show pics, but I didn’t remember the cord.

I hope Agathe is having a good time in Castle Dale. What did she say when she was coming to the middle of nowhere? Hahaha!

But I will write you a letter when I find out my address there.

Hahaha, but truth be told, my district leader told me I had a package after I had read that you had sent me chips and salsa. So I will go pick that up when I am done writing. I am doing laundry right now. ...:/

Yesterday was pretty amazing. We watched a talk with Elder Bednar. He talked about the character of Christ. It was amazing !!!!!!!!!!!! He kind of defined it as when the natural man would turn in and be selfish.  He (Christ) would always turn out and look at things about others. If you can, I would highly recommend looking it up and watching it. It is about 1.5 hours or so, but it is super amazing. And you should watch the new Mormon Message. It is very spiritually uplifting. I love hearing stories about how the Lord had prepared people to hear the gospel!! I love learning about to best help the people.

We had a guest speaker and his main point was that nothing else matters when the investigator is talking and gaining a relationship with God. I know that is true. If we can only get the people to show a little bit of faith then God can do the rest. And they will want to listen to the rest of the message that God has for them.

I am so grateful for the teachers that have been here for me!! I had 3 and they all taught different but to the point… and I needed that. I love to learn and feel the spirit. There is so much here that there is to learn that it is amazing! My testimony is growing rapidly. I am trying to be more Christ-like with all I do. I am trying to be more forgiving and loving for all the people I come into contact with. I am trying to see them not as the natural man, but how the Lord would see them. I am so grateful that I am able to grow a stronger testimony in the prophet Joseph Smith. The Lord definitely knows how to help me the most. I am so grateful. I love to be an instrument in His hands.

2nd Snail Mail from MTC 8.9.14

To Family:

I know the Lord loves me and He answers prayers. He has shown me so many miracles. He has been able to form me into his arm tool. He loves me so much. He is able to show me miracles.

Today I was wanting to help an investigator, and I prayed to help him. He helped me find a scripture in the scriptures that would work perfectly for him. The Lord flipped the pages of the Book of Mormon and the Bible with my hand. They were in order what to teach this man. Scriptures I had never read some of them. The Lord works wonders. I am so glad I am out here. And I love feeling the Spirit so much. And I love my Savior!!! He is helping me come closer to Him one step (even if small) at a time.  As I bear my testimony to different people I come a little closer to having a little stronger testimony and love Him a little bit more.

Today I was able to learn about how to teach people…not lessons. We do a pretty good job with that. We go in with a lesson, but most of the time we go by the Spirit and teach what the investigator “needs” to hear. I am so amazed at how the Spirit works with me. I don’t really “most of the time” hear promptings. But when I look back, things were perfect; Things that I couldn’t do by myself.

The Lord is so great. He answers prayers. I pray so much as a missionary!! And He comes through every time. I am so grateful for this experience.

I am super happy. I got a lot of letters! Let’s just say that there were a lot of jealous missionaries. I loved the donuts! I loved the food here! Ha-Ha! This place is amazing. It is crazy to think that I’ve only been here a week and I’ve grown so much.

I love to learn. We have a fiery red-headed teacher. He’ll be an apostle. He is amazing. Elder Clark has so many life-experiences that have made him have a very firm testimony on a lot of things. He is super cool. We get along very well. We quote “Napolean Dynamite” all day!! We are some funny guys! He is super cool.

I’m almost ready to head out. This place is amazing and all, but I just want to get to work. I have in my room three others. Elder Clark-I’ve told you a lot about him. Elder Kwao (K-wow) that is how you pronounce it. He is 22 and lived in Ghana for most of his life. He moved to America after 19 years to Ohio. He is super funny and easy to get along with. He’ll be an awesome missionary!! Yes, he is black. Elder Barker, he is from Missouri. He had a brain tumor when he was 12 so half of his face is paralyzed. He is super cool also. He is the District Leader. He is amazing. He has a sweet testimony. We are all pretty close.

I have an Elder that looks and acts like Hunter Hatch. He is from Montana and so cool. His name is Elder Folkmen. They are super amazing. I have an awesome district. We are able to share spiritual experiences so much. They bring you together more than anything else, I think.

Good luck reading this. I thought I wrote it well. I looked back over it and….I was wrong. My testimony has grown so much I can’t even believe it. Our Branch President is so funny. President Brown, Oh my gosh, Best president ever!

I am glad to hear from you. Sorry I wrote on the small notebook…that is all I had. Tell all my friends to hand write me.

Love you all. I’m glad to hear the reunion went well. I’ll be leaving Tuesday morning real early. More details Monday. Wow Mama….no time for your only son??..............:( Wow…JK. Love you!

(Insert from Mama….I have no idea what he’s talking about here….It’s not like I haven’t written him and emailed him a bazillion pictures!!! Gonna have to ask him about this comment!)

I started writing to you all on big paper, but Elder Kwao has a hard time knowing what to write to his mom. So I tried to help him. Then I was having a hard time with my companion. (He was having a hard time—home stuff). So I started bearing my testimony and turned it into this letter. This is my note-taking pad of paper. P.S. I need a few more of them.