Derek Letter #5

Derek's first baptism!

They have a brand new church building in their area. It reminds me of our Bainbridge Island building. It's so exciting for them to have a building now.

This is where they used to meet...behind a Chinese restaurant!

Hey family!

It's good to hear that you had a busy yet fun week! The olympics started on Friday and I was bummed to miss it yet at the same time I was happy because I chose to serve a mission and not give up in the MTC as one person here in the branch did back in April. But I better get used to it because I am also going to miss Winter 2014. My mission has been so cool so far and I hope it stays that way (cool not as in weather-wise; it's been over 100 all last week pretty much). It's good to hear how the Padres are doing. I love hearing about them even though I can't watch them. Nice! Huston Street signed an extension! That will be great to see him in a Padres uniform when I get back.

Yeah, I have been using my priesthood so much! And it is really cool to be able to make even non-members happy when I use it on them or someone they know. Mike's baptism was this past Saturday and it was really special to me because he wanted me to do the baptizing. Okay, don't laugh at me, but we were both pretty nervous and I had to baptize him 4 times before it was right. The first time I forgot to close my eyes when I said the prayer and he stuck his foot out of the water. The second time it was everything (eldow, head, arm). Third time it was his elbow, and before the fourth time brother Seljastad calmed him down (this whole time I thought it was my fault) and then we got it right. The congregation cheered when we got it right (I didn't feel that was appropriate, but whatever). That was very special because the building had literally just been completed and it was the first function in the new building. It only took under 2 hours to fill the font too! But it was kind of small and low but that was okay because we got it done. As always, it took me a long time to change and dry off and I got back just in time to see the last 2 seconds of the 20 minute video to show while we changed. We then confirmed him a member of the church yesterday in the new chapel and after church, he also received the Aaronic Priesthood. So he's set to lead his family down the right path. Even if they don't want to join the church right away. Brother Chandler taught the gospel principles class AND the combined Relief Society lessons. I know that he's a school teacher but that's a lot of stress for one week of church if you ask me. His lessons were very, very good though. He's the bomb.

Yeah, he did live a little longer than expected just as I said in the blessing I gave him so that was really cool. Yeah, I guess I could've given him a blessing but he wanted to battle through it on his own...I don't know. I am pretty sure he prayed a lot. Maybe his home teachers gave him a blessing, I don't really know. We are also teaching this new person named Orki. He is in the army and his wife's friend went on a mission to Florida who speaks like 7 different dialects of Spanish. He has a lot of questions. He is Christian just as we are and he wanted to know a lot about the gospel. I think tomorrow night when we go teach him again we'll try and invite him to baptism.

Yeah, sorry Pennie but you just can't go chase a frisbee because you'd be so confused. Go ahead and tell her the truth. Bandit is so cool. As for our room, we have a bathroom and the kitchen is still under construction, but we just wash our dishes in the bathroom sink. It's not like that's bad or anything. I think we kill 1 large creature a day in our room. The common theme has been crickets, but I also killed a spider as big as a silver dollar the other day. Sometimes I feel lazy and just vaccum it up with the little roller vaccum that we sister Crouch gave to us. I haven't seen any roaches here but I love it when a bird goes up into the trees and owns a cicada. Those large flies deserve it.

Yeah, I memorized the first lesson, but I'm only a third of the way done with the second lesson and Elder Clare is almost done with it. The "Our life on Earth" section is super long and that's the part that is next. I hope Cody knows how important it is get to know those scripture mastery scriptures because they sure are helping me out here. Hey, did you get my letter to Cody and Jayce? I hope they enjoy hearing from me as much as I love hearing from them. Eating fast can be hard. Especially when the food is terrible. There's this one sister in our branch (should be ward because of how big the congregation was yesterday) who always gives us terrible food. Good thing she gives it to us in containers so that we can just go throw them away when she's not looking. I'll be darned.

That's way cool you went to Seaworld last Monday. Did you guys ride that new ride that they have there? Seaworld can get rather boring after 5 hours don't you think? I guess not for younguns. It sounds like girls' camp was so cool! The young women have always loved you and I'm sure you did great. Brother and Sister Walton sure sound like the people that love to help and teach because that's exactly what they do. I wrote a letter for them but don't have their address. Could you give that to me. Sorry if I already said that before. 1 AM, huh? That's fun stuff right there...especially 2 straight nights. Hey, at Disneyland did you ride the new Cars ride? It sounds like that would be a fun one for little kids. Cody and Jayce sure made a wise choice by not going. Especially because it seems like they go three times a year anyways. 

Let me know how the high adventure goes. Dad e-mailed me this morning too. What exactly were Dad and Cody planning on doing at lake Powell? You went to Gene and Michelle's? I am way jealous. What were Rifka's friends names? I think I could probably remember who they were. They sound like they were in my FHE group. Was it Sarah/George, Aimee, or any other of her roomates? 

Yes Cody! I remember presenting my project to Mr. Intimidating, brother Hatch. At least he passed. If you don't want to do the same amount of work as you did for mine, have Cody pitch in more so that he knows what he's talking about on project day. I remember I didn't know quite enough even though I still got it done. Haha, he had to wear Dad's. That's funny. Who's Mr. Boyd? I loved my counselour a lot and didn't care that he lived in San Marcos. Brother Gonzalez was his name. Good idea. got to get it done before the sports start kicking in. That's why I did mine before high school. Too bad Cody can't turn back the clock.

It's great to hear that you might go to Provo. I can't give you any advice so it's up to you! Have fun a the Wild Animal park. A guy in my branch, the branch mission leader brother Earl (it's so hard to remember to say "branch" because of how long I've been in a ward), went to a REAL wild animal park in Africa. Well, he's there this week. He went to Tanzania. Hey, why don't you do some missionary work by sharing the link to your blog in my facebook wall so that people can get an idea of what I do. I hope it becomes interesting to them. I have unfortunately run out of things to say. I love you all and hope you get pumped up for school coming back in a few weeks! Love,

Elder Derek Sutherland

PS: "Nine thousand nine hundred ninety eight, nine thousand nine hundred ninety nine, ten thousand. Where's the "X"? It should be right here. The map said ten thousand paces east."

"Oh, east? I thought you said 'weast'."

"That's 'west', Patrick. You're fired again."

Derek Letter #4

Hey family!

I looooooved those pictures and really wish I was there. Yeah, that pitcher, Randy Wells, we picked him off on waivers a couple months ago since seemingly everybody in our rotation was getting hurt...and in the minors too. I guess he has been called up since I was was set apart. Anybody on the team doing well? I also loved the other pictures. Those girls are really cute. Sorry, I should've said happy birthday last week, but I forgot. So HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Good job on finishing up your classes, I'm sure you were stuck in the computer room all the time working. Ah, how I miss school...not. I want to hear if Tyler graduated from BYU-I and how that went. I don't think I mentioned this but my branch president in the MTC, President Mickelsen I think was Tyler's mission president and knew him really well in ijhffioh;owiy3948riowfawej, Russia. Let me know when Tyler and Rifka get engaged (just making assumptions).

So, last Monday, we gave up the car because once every 4 weeks we have to go a week where it's bike week. But since the bike I'm supposed to use still needs repairs, we had to walk everywhere or snag rides from members. Let's just say I got super sweaty over the week. I really don't mind the heat but sometimes it would be nice to have a car, or at least a bike. We get a car back tomorrow. So we have this golden investigator I told you about named Mike. His baptismal date is this Saturday and yesterday he spent in hour in the branch president's office to interview for the Aaronic Priesthood. He said that he wants me to baptize him and Elder Clare to do the laying on of hands. It's been really cool to use my preisthood here in the field: this past week we had dinner at a member's house that the wife was super pregnant and their 1-2 year old daughter had whooping cough. So we gave the daughter a blessing. A couple weeks ago I gave a blessing to an inactive family's Dad who passed away this past Wednesday. He died of natural causes and gave him a blessing to live just a little more longer, which he did.

As for Thomas, he couldn't meet with us last week because he wasn't "prepared". Elder Clare thought he was ready and I think we are going to show him the Joseph Smith video this Wednesday. We also met with a guy named Josh who has several health and mental health issues. He also smokes a lot and occassionally drinks. He gets depressed from all the news in the world, especially the recent shootings at that movie theater in Colorado on the Batman movie midnight showing. I heard about that and it's just sad what the world has gotten to (like the wars in Syria and Middle East) but I know that that is Satan's way to happiness. It just starts with one person at a time to change, then the whole world will change.

I finally memorized the first lesson! It took a while but I got it done. On to lesson 2 which is longer than lesson 1! No, I'd rather prefer e-mail letters by you and/or Dad and written latters by everybody else. Don't worry Jayce and Cody, I have your letter I wrote to each of you right here next to me about to send so expect it in the mail later this week. I got your package last Tuesday and was grateful for it. On Thursday the people we live with, Brother and Sister Crouch, went to the hospital in Topeka. Brother Crouch had his final round of Cemotherapy and is probably hurting today because he said it takes a few days for the effects of Chemo to get to you. Sister Crouch had knee surgery on the same day and some of their family is here to help them out. I don't know is I told you this but they have a dog named Bandit here and I have to say he is way cooler than Pennie. He really understands when you speak to him. If you say "speak" he will bark. If you say "Do you want to get baptized" he will bark or even say "Do you want to read the Book of Mormon?" He will bark. His barks are really loud too. Sorry Pennie, you've been beat. He also has toys that we play with him. We usually use either frisbees or paint bucket lids and throw them as far as we can, and he will go get it and bring it back, even if it's in the thick foliage. Just say "Where's your toy?" and he will get it. Then you have to say "drop" to give it to you. I love that dog.

The members feed us dinner every night. I love it. I'm not trying to be too picky, but maybe it seems like I am. Most nights, I'm given ice water to drink. I loath ice water because I get teeth freezes and it hurts. Just give me cold water please. You know that I eat really slowly sometimes. That's my main problem because I'm still eating and eberybody else is done and migrating to the couch for our message. I never get full either. We're actually not supposed to help with the dishes, although I'd like to and want to but the members are so nice anyways. Yes, I use my Camelback everyday! It's so nice to have cold water when you're walking around everywhere. Also, everybody here says the phrase "I'll be darned" instead of something like "cool" or "wow".

So we're also teaching this part member family where the Mom is a member but nobody else is. The husband, ironically, wants them to get baptized so we went over out in the middle of nowhere to teach their 2 daughters ages 12 and 8. They said they'd get baptized and hopefully they stay active. But it will be really hard because they live 40 minutes away from the closest meeting house and also in a part member family. We need to get them to the temple. They are the Taylor family. Well I love you guys and wish you the best in everything you do. Look for missionary opportunities everyday. I'm sure I forgot something to say but that's okay (good ryhme, huh?). Love,

Elder Derek Sutherland

PS: "I see someone coming"

"Give me those. Sound the alarm."

[bite] "AAAAHHH!"

"Sorry Wickershoms. I promise I'll clean all this up later."

"Bring the amo!!!" (slow motion armpit fire)

"I love the smell of bananas in the morning."

"Banana in the hole!" (launch)

"Woah. [Russian accent] I'm beginning to think this diplomatic process is beginning to break down."

Derek at the Provo Temple.

Barbara and I made a ton of cookies and sent them to the MTC when Derek and Jeremy were in there together.

 Derek with his Mission President and his sweet wife.

 Derek's introduction to cicadas.

 I'm sure missionaries are happy to see this sign.

Derek's companion studying in their basement apartment.

Derek Letter #3

Hey family!

I'll tell you about everything. So I woke up Wednesday morning at 1 AM at the MTC to make it to the travel office by 3 AM. Everybody got up on time and were awake when we left. I got to the airport and talked to you on the phone for a little bit. Sorry it was a little early in the morning. In Denver, the stupid phone card was being retarded so I couldn't use that anymore even though I tried for like an hour. On my way to Denver I talked to this 19 year old girl from Orlando who was flying home from a backpacking trip to Wyoming. She was very nice and willing to hear what I had to say about the gospel. I gave her a Mormon.org card and encouraged her to check it out.

Sorry Cody and Jayce, I forgot your letters at the place that I am staying so I won't be able to write to you until next week. After the flight to KC (where the All-star game is tomorrow), I was picked up at the airport by President Keyes (pronounced Kais) and we went to see some of the sights. We went to the brand new Kansas City temple and took a couple pictures. We then went to Liberty Jail and the Independence visitors center across the street from the snowcone for the community of Christ. After that we had dinner and a nice evening at the mission home where I stayed the night. That night I found out where I was going and who my new companion would be. I'm here in Wamego, Kansas (15 minutes outside Manhattan, the home of K-State University) and my companion is Elder Clare from Gilbert, Arizona. He is 6'3'' and I like having a tall companion to match me. Apparently the last few missionaries here in Wamego have been tall and they've just been growing and growing; the branch members joke about that a lot.

I am living in the basement of a member's home in Belvue, Kansas out in the middle of nowhere. All I hear at night outside is the cicadas, and some cows. About a month ago, the missionaries moved from a 5th wheel trailer into the basement. That trailer is so stinkin' hot I don't know how they survived. The super nice old couple that lives in that home are about to finish the super new basement. Oooops, just realized I forgot my camera again. Elder Clare has been out a little over a year and he and I are already getting along great. No offense to Elder Ellis, but he is much better because of how patient and supportive he is. My first day wasn't too exciting. I got here and after lunch we tried to go see some people but to no avail. So then we just did some tracting for the rest of the night. I had dinner at the nicest family ever, the Chandlers and they were in awe that it was my first day. It was kind of funny.

President Keyes is soooo cool. They can watch TV if they want, they can set their sleeping schedule whenever they want (talking about mission presidents), but then he wouldn't have the spirit he needed to fulfill his calling so he follows the missionary schedule to the best of his ability. Each day I wake up at 6:30, work out, eat breakfast, study for an hour by myself (it's not enough study time), then study as a companionship for 2 hours. We then eat lunch and go out and do the Lord's work until 9 with dinner in there usually at 5. I then have planning and go to bed. Okay so for studying, if you go to Ch. 3 of PMG and go to the end of each lesson it will have the 45 minute lesson plan. For all 5 lessons, I am supposed to memorize all of the bullets and sub-bullets with a scripture for each bullet. If I do that, then I can drive a car wooh!

With letters, you send them to the mission office then they will forward them to me. I have an hour instead of a half-hour. But the time is still running down quickly. As far as the heat, I got welcomed with 106 degree days. Going tracting in that isn't fun just because I sweat so much. But other than that I don't mind it as long as I have water, haha. Today has been nice though with it being only in the 80's. When I got off the plane on Wednesday it was hard to breathe because of the humidity, but now I'm fine and lovin' it.

As far as you guys, I was thinking that Cody and I were in the same airport on the same day. Cool, huh? Sounds like you are having a blast with everything going on at home. Sorry I couldn't call longer, I wish I could've. Yay! That room is painted finally! What color did you make it? As far as sports are concerned, Don't talk to me about the Olympics please. GO PADRES! I'm glad they got a good streak going there for a little bit. Can you watch the games yet? Or is TWC still being retarded? What! Steve Nash is on the Lakers now?! I can't believe it.

So, all the slacks I got at Mr. Mac are dry clean only which is a huge hassle. I need some that are machine washable. I have 2, but I'd like to switch the others out for washable ones. As far as my acne stuff is concerned, I ran out the other night and need some ASAP (Act swiftly awesome pacaderm (how do you spell that?)). I am also out of soap but I think I can get some at the store.

So for church, we meet in the back of a chinese restauraunt as a branch. But a brand new building will be opening up at the end of this month! I'm excited and I just wonder how the members feel being in that small place. The restauraunt looks like a church building, at least the rooms we have reserved so it's not bad, just small. Hopefully the missionary work can go up because of this new building. So I am getting a lot of secondary smoking here. That's just what everybody seems to have a problem with. In a lesson yesterday, a golden investigator smoked his last cigarette right in front of us and said he was done now. I'm very happy for him but that was hard to bear just sitting in front of him and getting all the leftovers shoved down my lungs. There's also another very close investigator named Josh (the other was Mike) who also smokes a ton. He would smoke a pack and a half every day ($300 a month) and is now down to 5 a day or something. Bothy he and Mike have a baptismal date and are getting themselves prepared for that.

Well, I got to go! I love you guys so much and miss you. I loved the pictures and am grateful for your support.

Love,

Elder Derek Sutherland

PS for Cody: "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA, IT'S A GIRAFFE!!!! HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA

How is it July already??

This has been a great week! We started off with a Family Home Evening with the Stearns family. We had a kick ball game, adults against kids first (adults lost) and then Stearns against Sutherland. Then, we set up badminton. It was a blast. Sorry I don't have many pictures.

Before we left the house, Pennie really wanted to come. We brought her and she was hilarious.

Pennie was enclosed inside a baseball field, except she found a way into the next field, where a huge pit bull was playing. She high tailed it back quick!

It was such a beautiful evening and very fun to hang out with their great family. 

Cambrie and Cody had to be competitive with everything we did, they even had to sprint against each other.

Wednesday was July 4th and Cody flew to Utah to attend pole vault camp. Mark and Jayce took him up to the airport in Long Beach and then hung out with Grandma and Grandpa Sutherland. (I stayed home and worked on the camp program, and tons of homework. Ugh!)

But the day started with a red, white and blue breakfast! (We put blue food coloring in the waffles, if you can't tell :)).

They went to Irvine Park and visited the zoo there.

This picture is included for Alex serving in Mexico...haha! 
(Do you get it?)

Santa Ana is the only city in all of Southern California where fireworks aren't illegal. Consequently, everyone does it. We have gone up there for years to do fireworks and the kids love it. (With Cody out of town, Jayce was the only kid....)

Today was the competition at the pole vault camp.

Caitlin took this awesome shot today -

It looks like he could hang out there all day! Way to go Cody!

Elder Sutherland Letter #2; Still in the MTC

Hey Family!

It's been two weeks here and I don't want to leave it's been so great. I got my travel plans last Friday and I found out that I am leaving suuuuuuuper early on the fourth of July. I have to be at the travel office at 3 AM and my flight from Salt Lake to Denver is at 6:47 AM MST. And once I get to Denver I have a 2 and a half hour delay before I fly to Kansas City at 10:47 AM. I will be able to call home too. I have to get one of these phone cards from the bookstore here and for only $5 I can call for 500 minutes at an airport payphone. So to Mom and Dad if you want to get up before 5 and talk to me that would be cool unless you want to wait until I get to Denver either way is fine. It will still be pretty early either way I guess. I will have to call home though so the ring might be a little loud.

I have seen Elder Mackie a ton here at the MTC and got to say goodbye to him the night before he left. I'm sure the few hours that he's been there in the Philippines have been great. I took some pictures with him but I can't send photos from the MTC for some reason so I will just wait until I get to the field to send them to you. So my P-day here at the MTC is Thursday but I'm not sure when my P-day will be in the field so it may be almost 2 weeks until you getr another one of my e-mails.

Wow Cody way to get up early! That's pretty cool that you got up so early just to say bye to a close friend. EFY is way awesome. You'll have to tell me about it unless you already sent a letter about it and I just haven't gotten it yet. It sounds like you all had a great time here for the 2 weeks in Utah and Dad 1 week. I am really grateful that Aunt Barbara and Uncle John let us raid their house every time we come up here. I can't express my thanks enough.

I saw that the Heat won the Finals and the Kings won the Stanley Cup thanks for letting me know. I was so pumped when I heard that especially since nobody I know likes the Heat. And Dad, I know that you're worried that I think about sports too much, and I understand. I am really trying hard to become a good teacher here at the MTC, I was just wondering who won and actually I really wanted to know since I am a big Heat fan you know. If it was another team then I could just know and that would be the end of it. I just want to let you know that I am 100% committed to learning here at the MTC. I'd like a Heat championship T-shirt maybe for x-mas or something, but you don't have to worry about that now. I also want to know who won the baseball college World Series.

As for one of Mom's letter and paragraph of questions, I will answer them. Things here are awesome. My district is so amazing and I love being with them so much. The package with the towels you sent me I sent back yesterday so you should be getting it tomorrow or Saturday. Being district leader has opened my eyes to how busy Dad must be as a bishop yet how patient, loving, and Christlike he must be because those are all attributes for a good district leader. I am loving it and it has been amazing becoming acquainted with the branch presidency because they are all great men and their wives are super nice and insightful. I have lots of meetings but I love them because you get to hear how the other districts are doing. My zone leaders are awesome. We got new zone leaders this week and they are both from England. So it's always funny trying to get them to say an American accent. Regarding gym time, I go over to that field almost every day to play beach volleyball. Yesterday I played softball and went 0-0 with 2 RBI's. On P-days I do get to go to the temple. The Provo temple is so beautiful especially the endowment room. I didn't know missionaries couldn't particpate in prayer circles so last week I embarassed myself trying to go in but being denied. That's okay it's the temple and I am just happy to be worthy to enter.

Hmmmmm something to tell the ward. I don't know, just that I am very thankful for the letters I have been recieving from everybody. It has been a real treat (TTTTTRRRRREEEEEAAAAATTTT!!!!!!!!) It has been a DELIGHT!!! You can tell that to Cody too. He'll get it. AHHH, 2 minutes. Yeah, go ahead and send the backpack to the mission home. You can send either a Samsonite, swiss gear, camelback, north face. I have seen all kinds of brands here at the MTC. It can have a logo on it just not something that stands out. Yes I got the box of cookies.

Sorry I have to go! I wish I could answer all of your questions but I have only 15 seconds left. Love You!

Elder Derek

Utah Fun!

We were in Utah for two weeks between taking Derek to the MTC and the boys' sports' camps. It was way fun! John and Barbara are incredibly kind to let us stay for so long. 

This was our going away dinner on Tuesday night at Brick Oven, before Elder Sutherland entered the MTC.

       Our handsome missionary!                                 Cute Cait & Bill!

We had some family pictures taken before Derek went into the MTC. It would have been nice to have Dallin with us, but Jayce is going to change so much while Derek is gone, we went ahead and took one anyway.

This one is not my favorite -

 But I like this one -

Later in the week, we went bowling. It was way hot outside, so indoor activities were appealing.

I think Jayce ended up winning! :)

Another fun activity was Nickel City. 

Jayce stayed at this game the whole time...

 ...because it churned out the most tickets.

 Cody was having a good time, too. 

(But he refused to smile for the camera.)

Tough competitors!

I actually played lazer tag with the kids. It was a very long 15 minutes in that dark room. Yep, I was "Commander" and I still lost. Caitlin was "Cyclone" I think. She rocked it.

The Hoopes were so good to have a mini PQ2 reunion. We had a yummy barbecue with the Garrabrandts and Sextons.

Jayson did a football camp while we were up there. Yep, they were playing in the stadium! Derek would have been so excited. I thought the camp was just eh, and it was super hot! Jayce insisted Caitlin and I stay the entire time one day. We ate J-Dawgs (got it all over ourselves) and sweated. Fun times!

Jayce's favorite thing to do when we're at J&B's is to go see the river in their back yard. It is full of fun bugs and plants.

My little explorer.

Hayley and Johnny joined us!

Such a beautiful place!

On our last day in Provo, Jayce and I went exploring to the cool museums at BYU.

Jayce would have only been an appetizer for this big guy!

The Monte L. Bean museum was very fun. 

So many cool stuffed animals!

We had to be at BYU at 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning to pick up Cody. He had another awesome year at EFY. I am so grateful for that program! I was hoping he could help me stay awake during the long drive. What was I thinking?! He was exhausted!

Derek's First Letter!

Hey Mom! It's Elder Sutherland

 

I hope Cody is enjoying EFY and all is going well at home and with everybody. Did you let everybody know about Dearelder.com? Make sure to let everybody know because that's the easiest way. Also please don't send me e-mails because I have a time limit and can't read them on time. As for your questions that you sent me in a letter last week here are your answers:

 

1. When I first got here I unloaded my stuff and went to orientation. The first day so far was my least favorite.

 

2. I got my stuff organized and I am all settled in nicely.

 

3. My companion is Elder Ellis and he's from centerville, Utah. Everybody in my district except 2 of us are from the Mormon strip (Arizona, Utah, Idaho). He's pretty cool and types really fast as I type this, haha.

 

4. My classes are great! We have Brother Craft and Brother Gonzalez as our teachers plus the occasional trainer teacher. They are really cool and insightful on everything. We also teach them as they pretend to be investigators. Brother Craft is "Shawn" and Brother Gonzalez is "Beto".

 

5. The food is pretty good. Although I am already getting tired of it after only one week and can't wait to be fed in Missouri. I enjoy the meals because it means I get to sit and talk with everybody in my district.

 

6. I exercise 5 days a week. Well...kind of. Our district likes to play volleyball and I think it's really fun so I play it. I don't get much out of it but I do it, haha.

 

7. The spirit is great here although it is the toughest thing about it too. That is the main thing I am struggling with when I try to teach with the spirit. I keep thinking it's the spirit but I'm just not sure when I teach these people.

 

8. So almost everyday we teach somebody in TRC. Elder Ellis and I are teaching a really smart diplomat from the Bahamas who is named Alexandre Paul. He has a thick french accent and is hard to understand sometimes. We also teach an inactive member named Cole Jolley. He's from the Utah area here and is 20 years old. He went inactive because everybody was pressurizing him to serve a mission in his home ward when he didn't feel like it was for him, so he only goes when girls invite him, He is a very cool guy and appreciates our visits. I have been quoting movies a lot here and most people don't get it. I miss being able to laugh histerically with Cody doing that. Although some elders in my district say "But the children love the books" a lot. You can ask Cody what that's from. I laugh every time I hear it. I really appreciate all the letters and tell EVERYBODY to keep them coming. I see Elder Mackie almost every day. I took some pictures with him at the temple but I forgot my camera in the room so I'll send them next week. Elder Rollin Grimmett is in my zone and I see him a lot too. I have talked to him about what he did prior to coming up here. hmmmmmm...11 minutes left. As far as the missionary walk, whenever I do it I feel like a retard so I don't really do it. OHHHHHH Let me know who wins the NBA finals please because I heard the Heat are up 3-1 on the Thunder. Also tell me who won the Stanley cup and keep telling me how the Padres are doing. The package you sent me I did not need at all because the first morning I was there I bought some towels so can you give me intruction on how to tape it back up and send it back please? I would really appreciate it.

 

I have been appointed district leader and as such brings a lot of responsibility. Each Sunday I have meetings all day long, uggghhhh. I feel like Dad. But then again I shouldn't complain because at least I'm not zone leader. I'm sure I forgot something. Well, anyways I guess I'll finish now. OH Wait! The first night I was here I got really home sick because it finally hit me that I'm actually doing this, but now I'm over it and ready for my mission call. The MTC is great and I am very very grateful to be here. I love you guys soooooooooooo much and am thankkful for your support. I'll talk to you next week and can't wait for the letters and stuff from everybody. Bye, and I love you. Until next week,

 

Elder Derek Sutherland