Cadet Jacob Dick

We received a letter from Cadet Dick today.  He is doing well at AFROTC field training at Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, AL.  Read below for a portion of his letter:

"It is now training day 10.  Double digits! I go to church tonight [Saturday, May 25] then leave on Monday [Memorial Day] to go to Mississippi.  It will be HOT.  I get back on training day 26 and sleep! My biggest surprise coming here: I've never been so tired without the option to sleep! I love your letters, keep them coming!  P.S. I am still sick and it hurts to eat but I shove my face anyways because I am always hungry.  We don't eat much.  Also, today I went on my hands and knees and stuck my fact against the carpet to pick up every little blade of grass and piece of loose carpet.  There are a lot.  I didn't know being an officer would be so glorifying.  P.P.S I take a shower approximately once every 2 days for 4 minutes or less.  Also I eat for approximately 24 minutes a day and sleep approximately 5.5-6 hours a night.  Wake up at 0400 every day.  Love, C/3C Dick"

Jacob's "Pass and Review" is on June 11th and we pick him up on the morning of the 12th.  We will put him on a plane headed to South Africa at  6pm on the 12th.  You can look up on YouTube "Pass and Review USAF" if you want to see what the graduation parade is like.

Field Training

We feel so blessed! The military relations couple assigned to Maxwell AFB has been able to have sacrament meeting with the cadets for the past 2 weeks and they emailed us a message from Jacob and some pictures. Technology and missionaries are wonderful!!  Jacob sounds great in his message. We get to see him at graduation on June 11 and we will pick him up and take him to the airport in Montgomery, AL to fly to the MTC in South Africa. A copy of Jacob's messages are below. 

May 18, 2013

"It is not as bad as I thought.  It is good to see a light in the darkness.  I got to bless the sacrament in church today.  So far I have yet to go to bed at 2100 and sometimes they wake us up before 0400.  But usually they wait until 0400, and I am so grateful for it.  I am so tired.  I am so tired. I am so tired.  But so far I am alive.  Although I eat my meals consistently under 5 minutes and at attention, I have still managed to gain weight.  Until next week.

I'll be seeing you.

Love,

 

Jacob

 

Joshua 1:9"

May 25, 2013

"It was so good to hear from from y'all in Sacrament Meeting today!  All of my buddies from BYU came.  It is always good to see them. 

 

While y'all are out at the beach this memorial day, I will be training with my brothers and sister.  We are transferring to Mississippi on Monday for deployment training.  It puts things into perspective.  I have a new appreciation for the men and women who lay down their lives and careers to give y'all the freedom to celebrate and speak freely.  We sacrifice ourselves and stand at attention and eat fast and go without music and sleep so you don't have to.  I appreciate the honor I have to be here.

 

Happy Memorial Day!

I'll be seeing you.

Love Jacob

 

John 15:13

I am so blessed to have this gospel.  It is why I am in Maxwell and why in 18 days I fly to Africa to tell my family there how much their Father cares about them."

Last 24 hours at home

One family tradition continues...annual beach run series in Atlantic Beach. What a fun family activity! Jacob has a bad cold so he didn't run. He took the jobs of cheerleader and photographer. This morning Kevin and I took Jacob to get his last hepatitis vaccine before we put him on a plane headed to Air Force field training in Alabama. June 12th we'll pick him up and then put him on a plane to the MTC in Johannesburg South Africa. Exciting times!!

Jacob, Mom, Bogue and Dad at the beach race...Pier is already running!

Cadet Dick and his brothers

Saluting lesson

Beach Run Series 2013

Jacob had to get his last Hepatitis A immunization this morning before heading to the airport

Checking his bags one last time before boarding. We're so proud of him!

Jacob's last facebook post:

Alright Facebook world it is time for me to sign off for 2 years. Tomorrow I fly to Montgomery, Alabama to participate in Air Force ROTC Field Training for 28 days. After I am released on June 12, I get to see my family for a few hours and then I get on a plane to fly to Johannesburg, South Africa to spend 2 weeks in the MTC there before heading to Kenya to serve a 2 year mission for the Lord. For my non-Mormon friends, I will be dressed up in a shirt and tie walking around teaching people about my gospel. I can write once a week and I can call home twice a year. Other than that, all of my time will be spent serving the Lord.

I want to share with you my testimony. I know that this church is the true church restored to this earth through Jesus Christ through the boy Joseph Smith. I have seen the gospel work in my life and I am eternally grateful for being born into it. I know that there is a true and living prophet on this earth today, Thomas S. Monson, who leads and directs this church under the direction of Jesus Christ. President Monson leads the church righteously and by divine inspiration. I know that because of the great sacrifice by God our Father in heaven, who sacrificed his only begotten son to suffer and die and be resurrected, my family is able to be an eternal family. We will be reunited after death in the Kingdom of God. I know that Jesus Christ bled and died so that I may live and have a way to return to my father in heaven even after being an imperfect being on this earth. Through the Atonement, I am able to see my father in heaven again. I know that He loves me and knows me individually. I have seen his hand in my life. My prayers have been answered. I have seen miracles in my life and in the lives of all those around me. He is the true God and my father. I want to return to live with Him again and it will be a joyous reunion. I know that my Savior and brother, Jesus Christ, suffered and died for me so that I might be able to return and see my Heavenly Father. I know that Jesus Christ was resurrected to fulfill all parts of the Atonement so that God's Eternal Plan of Happiness could be accomplished. I know my Savior lives. I say these things solemnly in the name of my Savior, my Redeemer, Jesus Christ, amen.

I would love to hear from you! It gets lonely sometimes when you are 8,000 miles from home. My mission address is

Elder Jacob Kevin Dick
Kenya Nairobi Mission
P.O. Box 46162-00100
Upper Hill Road next to Citigroup
Nairobi
Kenya

You can also send me a FREE typed letter by way of the following.

http://www.dearelder.com/
Select: Kenya Nairobi Mission
Select: Write a letter
Address: POB 30150
Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0150

Please check out my blog at elderdick.blogspot.com My loving mother will (or should) be updating it as I send pictures and letters home. She may or may not update my Facebook as well. 

Well, it's been good. I hope to see y'all again in 2 years!

'Til we meet again,
Love,
Elder Dick

Shopping done!

Finally...all supplies are purchased. It is a little challenging getting everything ready a month early knowing we can't talk to Jacob while

he is at field training. Everything has to be ready to go to Kenya when Jacob leaves for field training on Wednesday next week. Stressful...good stuff but still stressful!

Temple Day

May 4, 2013 is a day to remember! Jacob was able to attend the Raleigh Temple and receive his endowments as he was surrounded by family. In the same session Jacob's future cousin-in-law (is that even a real word? she is Jordan's fiancé) was receiving her endowments as well. Sam and Jordan are to be married in the Washington DC temple on Friday, May 10. What a wonderfully spiritual day we had that was only made better by sharing it with others we love!

Daddy and Jacob (love these pictures from the back!)

Jordan, Sam and Jacob outside the Raleigh Temple

The whole gang :)

Jacob, Daddy, Mom, and Nana

Jordan and Jacob (the returned missionary and the future missionary)

Jacob and Honey

Nana, Daddy, and Jacob