1st Letter from Chicago!!! Yeah!

We got our first email from Derek in Chicago. I was going to pick out bits and pieces but I thought it's be fun for you all to be able to read the whole thing. He sounds like he's doing good and excited to be out in the field. Here it is:

"Hola from Chicago. Everything went great yesterday. We got here in Chicago about 12 p.m. and the APs picked us up and we went to the mission home. We met the president and his wife and talked and had lunch-a deep dish Chicago style pizza mmmmmmmmmm. It was really good. We then left the mission home after they put a part in my hair and took pictures. I am serving in a ward that is called the Gurnee 2nd ward. Last night we went to a members home and had spaghetti; it was good. We spent a little time there and shared a message. I shared 1st Nephi 21 14-16 that says that Christ will never forget us. My companion's name is Elder Williams. He is a cool elder, he is funny. He has only been out for a few months longer than me so we are both learning together. Right now they have me serving in an English speaking area but next week at transfers they will put me in a Spanish area, it sound like. Today they have given me some time to write you and to do some p-day stuff. But when we are done here we are going to go tracting for a while, meet some of the members, and then we have a few teaching appointments tonight, I am soooo excited, I cant wait. I hope everything there is going good there. If you send letters the best way to send them is to the mission office. I think you said you have that address, and then they will forward it to me where ever I am. I love you guys! Hope you guys are doing good. LOVE Elder Hyde. Hasta luego"

Derek's Been REASSIGNED!!

We got a call from Derek on August 22 (Last Friday). He said that he has been reassigned. Hopefully it's just for 2 weeks or so until his Visa arrives. He will serve for a few weeks in the Chicago North Mission!!! He is the only one of the Peru missionaries that will go to Chicago. He left Yesterday (August 27). Sounds like there was a senior missionary who had to bring a missionary here to Salt Lake and then he was flying back with Derek. We hope that this will be neat experience for Derek. It's easy for us sometimes to feel disappointed for him, but he will get to say he served his mission in two different parts of the world, how cool!

Delayed, Delayed, and Delayed Some More

As most of you know, there has been issues with Derek's visa getting to him. What we've been told is that Peru changed Presidents and documentation requirements for the visa's also changed. He submitted his paperwork after the requirements where changed, but before anyone was notified. We've heard several different numbers but we think he is about one of 8 missionaries having this issue. All other missionaries going to Peru left after their 3rd week in the Provo MTC. For us (his family) it has been disappointing and frustrating at times. Luckily, I think Derek has the "I will go, I will do" attitude. He seems to be able to go with the flow. Here are a pieces of his letters that talks about the delays.
July 9, 2008
"Next Wednesday we fly out, YEAH. Friday we got our flight plan. We fly out the 16th at 1:10 we go to Dallas. Leave Dallas at 6:50 to Miami, leave Miami at 11:45 p.m. and get to Peru at 4:15 in the morning. That is a lot of flying but I do get to call home I am sure. There are 9 of us flying to Peru that day."
July 16, 2008
"I don't know if you got my message on the phone Monday, I will try and call you again today. My visa is delayed so hopefully it will come and I will leave next week."
July 23, 2008
"Sorry to get your hopes up, this morning we went to the temple, and so we didn't do emails this morning. I am still here in Provo, our visas haven't come yet.. . . I am a little bummed that I am not gone yet but I am enjoying myself, I am just ready to be in Peru."
July 30, 2008
"I guess the reason we were delayed was there was a document problem or something and last Friday they got it taken care of so hopefully some time soon they will send us out. I think I will be in the CCM in Peru for the remainder of the 9 weeks."
August 20, 2008
"The temple was excellent like always, today was the last time that I will be able to go with my district. They are leaving me next week. Some are leaving Monday and some are leaving on Wednesday. They are way excited. I have not really heard a lot about my visa. I am just waiting to hear. I know that you want me to go there everyday but I don't really see the point. Sorry. Most the time we just get the same answer that we will see on the 28th."

Playing Catch Up

Hi everyone! We're tying to play catch up with Derek's Blog. We started a little late and so we're going to try and catch you up on Derek's MTC experience by taking bits and pieces of his letters from the MTC. The direct quotes from his letters will be in italics. Enjoy!

June 26, 2008 (Second day in MTC)

"We have learned a lot of Spanish but it is really hard to retain a lot. It is like trying to drink out of a fire hose that is turned on all the way. Good analogy, huh?"

July 23, 2008

"Today I got my hair cut. She asked me if short was okay and I said ya. I just didn't know short meant SHORT. It's not bad but it is shorter than it's been in a long time. Nobody cuts hair like you Mom."

August 13, 2008

"This morning we went to the temple and went through a session. It is always good to start out the day at the temple."

"It is really fun singing in Spanish, but it is kinda wierd too. I bought a childrens song book so I could sing along with my IPOD. I really like to sing, I don't know why. We go to choir every week, I really enjoy myself."

Here is the rest of Derek's MTC pictures:

(You can click on the window to see the pics bigger)

Missionaries Still Know How to Have Fun!!

Missionary work is important and serious business, but BOYS WILL BE BOYS!! Here are some pictures to prove it!!

This is one of Derek's fellow missionaries, Elder Jumper climbing the wall.

Derek explained this picture and "The Power" that comes with missionary work!

SLAM DUNK!!

New Companion--Elder Miller June 30, 2008

Derek and his new companion, Elder Miller from Texas. Elder Miller will be serving in California speaking spanish.

First Day and Letter from MTC June 25, 2008

Hola Familia,

Everything here is great. The food was good. Everybody is really friendly. Mom, guess who my companion is......it's Elder Bewsey! Cool huh. Today we met our district and our branch. Our branch presisdent seems like he will be funny and a good leader. My roommates are Elder Sweet and Elder Morton. I saw Aaron Mattson from our stake today, that was cool.

I love you guys, Elder Hyde