Breakfast For Champions

Tomorrow is Mothers Day and to all mothers with missionaries it's a very special day because we get a phone call from our missionary son or daughter. Derek will be calling at 9:00 a.m. London is 7 hours ahead of Arizona time. This great picture is Pres. Foulger making breakfast for God's Champions. Derek is top left next to the President. Derek is now serving in the town of Watford as a Zone Leader. He said the ward is a great missionary minded ward and they should
be seeing alot of baptisms in the next few months. We just got Derek's release date which is Sept. 3rd.
This is a picture of the Parilment Building

Missionary Update

Norwich skyline

Above are a few pictures of his last area in Norwich, Norfolk England. It was colder there and even snowed a few times. There's lots of cathedrals and pubs. They say you can go to a different pub everyday of the year and a different church each week.
Derek is top row on the left Mission Office/Hyde Park Chapel
The Hyde Park Chapel is home to two wards, the Hyde Park Ward and the Britannia Ward (Young Single Adult), The England London Mission Office, A Visitors' Center, and a Family History Library. The missionary couple that runs the Family History Library is a couple from Gilbert, Arizona the Scott's.

I don't know why I haven't been posting more about Derek on his mission he is having a phenomenal time over in Jolly Good England. Since Dec. 29 he's been serving in the Norwich, Norfolk area and had great success teaching and baptizing. Since the middle of February he has baptized 7 people and he had more lined up to baptize but was transferred this past week. He now is in London as Assistant to the President. And he will be working in the mission home at the Hyde Park Chapel/Mission. He said Pres. Foulger called him on Sat. night and said he was going to serve in London. So Derek left on Sunday on a 4 hour train/tube ride by himself! I thought that wasn't allowed to be by yourself. He said he didn't get to bed till about 3 am and is very tired. But hopefully he will settle down and learn the in's and the out's of running the mission. He said it is crazy driving in downtown London and almost killed someone the first 5 minutes behind the wheel. If anyone knows Derek he is a kind of crazy driver at least when I would ride with him. But I think he was just trying to see how far he could push me before I would scream. But so far he hasn't had any problems and past the driving test which I hear is very difficult to pass. His mission companion is Elder Winder from South Jordan, Utah. That's where my brother lives, I wonder if they know him. Ha Ha. I love it that he is working so closely with Pres. Foulger and learning a whole other side to the mission which is the administrative end. He lives in a basement flat that he says is not so nice in Central London but is about a 15 minute walk from the mission home. He says he has never had so much fun on his mission as wouldn't change it for the world. Pres. Foulger will be ending mission in July . He has been the best mission President. He always writes us and tells us about the responsibilities he is giving Derek. Always such kind words. I have never worried about Derek for one minute he's been in England. The members have been so kind and he's had such great companions.

Elder Green in Basildon

Elder Green spent 4 months in Basildon which seems like an awfully long time to stay in one place. But he was extremely successful there. He was made a zone leader right when he was transferred there on August 25th, and was also a trainer at the same time which was a little difficult. He just got transferred to Norwich on Monday, Dec. 29th. But he and his companion, Elder Shaw were able to baptized a very nice family the Saturday before he left. The Mangono Family, from Zimbabwe. The mother Lisa, son Obrian, and daughters Memory (12 yrs.) and Marian (13 yrs.). The Nicholl's Family from the Basildon ward contacted me through facebook and I was able to keep in close contact with whats happening to Elder Green through their messages. It was amazing, he would be at their house for FHE and that night I would get an update and pictures. It was like I was right there experiencing it with them. I feel like I have become close friends with them and am eternally grateful for their constant watch over my son. When we talked to Derek on Christmas he was hoping to stay longer in Basildon, because of more baptisms coming up. But it was not to be the case. We talked to him for about 40 minutes. He bore his testimony to us in the end and I mentioned something about "enduring to the end" and he corrected me and said it should be "enjoying it to the end". I will always remember our conversation and his dedication to the Lord and his commitment as a missionary. He was at the house of the Stake President and the President let him use his phone to call us for free. Derek and his companion lived in the guest house behind the Stake President. There is about 6 acres of wooded property behind the guest house. He didn't seem to suffer any and was living in the lap of luxury. He had many great experiences while serving in Basildon and grew tremendously. I know the Lord is guiding his every step.

Derek in front of the mission home in London

More Mission Pictures

First Glimpse of Manchester - England

Derek's Mission Sept. 2007 - 2008

Last Goodbyes from PHX Airport Terminal.

Derek's Mission London England (The Best first Year)

Well Derek's been out on his mission a year as of September 19th 2007. Time has really flown by and he is loving every minute. He is serving in the England - London Mission. This will be a quick overview. The towns he's served in order is: Bletchley, Chelmsford, Aylesbury, and Basildon. He's had 6 companions: Davis, Horne, Sorensen, Smith, Mackliet and Guenche. His last area he was made a zone leader and is getting lots of opportunities to teach and serve. He's had several baptism's and has one coming up this Oct. 4th. This weekend all the zone leaders are going to the London Temple and then have a 2 hour meeting with a general authority, which he is looking forward to attending. Derek's letters have been so inspiring and fun to read. He has really caught the missionary spirit and spends every spare minute reading the scriptures or studying out of
Preach My Gospel. Thank you everyone for all your support and prayers. Here's a few pictures of his first year.