"My Favorite Missionary"!!

Well It has been quite awhile since I have updated Derek's blog so this may be a long one! He has been out 18 months now and I can hardly wait for Febrary 14,2012 to come!!
He has served in a total of four areas and has had 9 companions. I will try and list areas, dates and companions:
Arrived in Chile on April 13, 2010 with his first companion being Elder Low and his first area LoPrado. On July 12, 2010 he got a new companion ~ Elder Wagner.
He got transfered to Rosende on August 16, 2010 with Elder Pando. On September 27, 2010 Elder Deardon became his new companion. On December 20, 2010 he transfered to Lampa and became a District Leader with Elder Elder being his companion. While serving in Lampa as District Leader a new Elder (Elder Brundt from Highland, Utah ~ our Stake) arrived in Chile. Elder Brundt and Derek did not know each other, but because Paul is our Stake President, he told Elder Brundt about Derek and they wrote to each other once before Elder Brundt left on his mission. Elder Brundt was assigned to Derek's District and Derek was able to go on splits with the first 2 days this Elder was in Chile. (It seemed to be quite a blessing to Elder Brundt as he was quite homesick and having the Stake Presidents son and someone from his hometown there was again a blessing for him. Derek told Paul that he would watch out for his flock from the stake and help take care of them ~haha! On March 14, 2011 Elder Ibarrola became his companion. Ond April 25, 2011 he again was transfered to Quilcura and became the Zone Leader with Elder Tialavea (one of his favorites). On June 6, 2011 Elder Kanahele became his companion (one of his favorites)
On July 1, 2011 he recieved a new mission President ~ President and Sister Essig from Logan, Utah. Derek seems to enjoy them but he does miss President and Sister May very much (He truly loved them) On July 18, 2011 he got another companion Elder Redd.

In July we (the family) were able to attend President and Sister May's homecoming and finally meet them. I just cried!!! I can see how Derek loved them, they did such a wonderful job and to know that these 2 were watching over my son for 1 1/2 years really hit me hard.

This is Dereks closet in Lampa ~ I am amazed at how clean it is! Is this really my missionaries apartment? Haha
Elder Anderson and Elder Elder at one of their baptisms
Isn't Elder Anderson just the cutest!!
Derek found a McDonalds and he was in heaven! What a smile, now that is what a mom loves to see!!
This is his food ~ nothing changes, he can down just as much food in Chile as he did at home. I just can't imagine him losing the 40+ pounds that he has ~ he is going to look so skinny!!

HAPPY "HUMP DAY"

Derek has been out for one year now!!!

Derek is now serving in Lampa, Chile and has been since December 20, 201.

He is loving every minute of his new area and the people are amazing!!!

He says Lampa is the largest area of his mission and covers for example ~ from Salt Lake to Payson. He says he can be in a bus for over 1 1/2 hours and not cover his whole area!

He is now in the full blown summer months and I'm jealous ~ haha!

Most importantly he has had NO INJURIES since he's been in Lampa!! YEAH!!

Here is part of a letter we just recieved!

"We are working super hard and the lord has really blessed me so much as I have dedicated myself to him and have been giving it all I got! He expects a ton out of me and its really crazy at
times. There is so much work for me to do now and really just more keeps coming! I haven’t been focusing on finding investigators but the lord keeps putting them in my way and it’s amazing! I haven’t knocked a single door in this sector but now I have 20 investigators with fechas! The lord is really blessing me! I’m still getting to know my huge sector and to add to it today was changes and Elder Elder got transferred! I’m with a new elder named Elder Ibarrola he is from Paraguay! The Lord and Pres. May expect allot from me and i’m ready and excited to work my butt off again this change! Its gonna be a ride that’s for sure!!!!"

Elder Anderson and Rosa Herrera and Pres. Jacque (the Branch President)
Rosa Herrera got baptized on February 6th and it was sweet! Derek said she felt a little scared because she is a big girl so she asked Derek and Pres Jaque (branch President) to baptize her. I stood behind her and basically lifted her completely out of the water after because President couldn’t lift her up haha it was funny! But it was freakin sweet!!!!

Elder Anderson and Francisco

Elder Anderson, Giovani and his friend and Elder Elder

Elder Anderson, Micro and Elder Elder

Derek on his p~day! They took a hike up the mountains!

Derek with a gun???? Who knows what they were doing, but you can sure tell he had fun!!

Elder Elder (from Logan, Utah) and Elder Anderson
Derek with his Christmas presents! The best part of the day was talking on the phone!! We only got 40 minutes and it was the shortest 40 minutes of my life but the best also!!!

I love my missionary and I'm so very proud of him and his dedication to the Lord and to the work and people of Chile! What more could a mom ask for!! I LOVE YOU DEREK!! :)

Rosende, Chile

The only real solid investigator that we have right now is a 48 year old man named victor. Wow the lord has definately worked a miracle in his life so far... one month ago this man was in the streets selling and doing drugs and beleived in being posessed by demons and it was a big mess in this mans life. We started working with him and helping him out and wow has he changed! It has been a dramatic change in the period of a couple weeks and truely i think it has been from his assistance in the church. He has 3 assistance in church and came to one session of conference which he loved. This man has completely changed and although he still has a ways to go with the word of wisdom he is progressing dramaticaly and the lord is working a miracle in front of us here in rosende! The coolest part was yesterday at church Victors prima came up to me and told me thank you for the work you are doing with my cousin, noone beleived in him and he has no support at home but you beleived in him and now he is changing. It was such a great experience for me for her to tell me that and it gave me that purpose of why im here in the mission. He even came to church sporting one of my white shirts and a tie that i gave him!! He was looking good and deffinately felt the spirit in the church. He was laughing with the members and it was so funny! i cant tell you how much i love this man! he is amazing! My way to get to him is the scripture that says come unto christ like a child haha so i always tell him he is a nino pequinito! its so funny! this man has changed his life around 360 degrees! He sits outside sometimes with his mom and just enjoys a little fresh air and all wow this man is great! The lord is really blessing me with the people he has put in my life!

(This is the letter Derek sent to his mission president and he published on his blog ~ he was very proud of Derek just like we are!!!)
Derek with Victor
Derek sporting the wedding tie on the day of Steven & Suany's wedding
Derek sporting the boot on his right ankle
He tore some tendons and ligaments in this ankle too!!
Derek sporting a boot on his left ankle

He tore some tendons and ligaments in his ankle playing soccer and is in this boot for 6 weeks!!