8/31/15

Hey everyone, my first area is the city of Pittsburgh!! It's not downtown but it's still for sure the city still, which is super lucky. Apparently President Johnson only sends his best missionaries there. Guess I messed that up lol. The first full day was insane, we first visited sister Jennings who is coming back to the church and wants to go to the temple soon, that was cool. They also had a turtle chillin in their house. Then we walked past the cops to Joes house

Joe has a bad smoking problem so it's hard with him. After lunch we met with Rob he's about to be baptized this week. He talks a lot. A lot. Next we met with Dean a 16 year old kid who raps on YouTube or something. He reads the Book of Mormon every so often, but we're working with him. Thanks to Dean he introduced is to Nikka, who has been interested in different religions because what person isn't in Pittsburgh with the hundreds of different churches here?

For dinner we decided to go to Chipotle and on our way to this detour a poor drunk guy on a bench talked to us and we told him to come to ARP (Addiction Recovery Program) and change but the poor guy was a wreck. Yeeesh. That night on the way to volleyball we talked to a guy and he got our number (he actually texted us) and was interested in our message. He went to volleyball with us it was so much fun. So my first day we taught seven Lessons. It was insane, The next day we taught these two old ladies and it was awesome they commited to baptism the first lesson, they just need to stop smoking. Next wasn't so good because we tried to help this guy but he had some choice words and he called us some choice words. He sucked tbh. There's a special place for him. We saw him twice that day and jeesh he just sucks the life out of you like a Dementor. But oh well! We haven't seen him since, thank goodness The next day (Thursday) we got to eat gumbo at sis. Eldridge's house, man can she cook. I ate so much food. I got a Poly Point from Elder Masina (the peeps who lived down the road-lived in the 3rd ward went to timp)

Point is I'm having a great time here in good old Pittsburgh

Elder Simmons

Breakfast on the apartment balcony.

Preparation Day: "New shirt and tie I got at Burlington-it describes my mornings perfectly."

"Went to get a stuck Volleyball and this went down."

"Did this actually happen? Nope, no it didn't."

8/30/15
Here are some photos of Brad when he reached the mission home.

8/26/15

Hey everyone! I was blessed and got my first area in Pittsburgh the city! It's super rare and I have a great companion, it's a walking area, it's great here. It's not downtown but it's for sure in the city, you can tell partly from the gay bars on my street, lol.

My companion is the one next to me in the middle

Lastly here's me and the cops after our first lesson! - Elder Simmons

8/18/15

8-18-15
Hey everybody! The MTC has been awesome! I've learned so much and I've had so many fun experiences I want to share. To begin I might say that I have not gained weight but I've been working out to the opposite effect. I've come to learn I am terrible at volleyball but enjoy it a lot. Sunday was a big highlight for me. I went on splits with Elder Goodrich (he went to Mountain View) and we sang with the MTC choir, who that night also sang with the Tennesse/Nashville tribute band, it was really cool. After we watched a talk Elder Bednar gave in the MTC called the Character of Christ. It's an amazing talk, I learned that we need to turn outward, not inward. Avoid the natural man people. After we went back to our classroom, two sisters and a elder asked for a blessing and I participated and the spirit was so strong, I can promise that priesthood power is real. My district is awesome were all such close friends already.

Yesterday (8/17/15) Elder Goodrich got a package from his family and in it was a envelope from his girlfriend. In it was a ponytail! As in she had just cut her hair and sent it to him! Later in her letter we all learned that that hair wasn't from the past cut but from hair she kept OVER A YEAR AGO! Like who does that!? Another funny experience happened yesterday too. So Elder Logan(Virginia) and I were with Elder Hone (Lehi) and Elder Goodrich (Orem) We were in a room with a two way mirror. We were watching a discussion happen through the window. Our lights were off and when they were on one could see straight into our room. As we were watching, Elders Eubanks (Idaho) and Montgomery (Oregon) dropped in, and as the were leaving Eubanks had the great idea to prank us and turn the lights on. Instantly we all started silently begging and pleading that he would keep them off. I've never silently pleaded so much in my life. He turned the light on. Instantly all of us dropped to the floor/slunk in our chairs. As chaos ensued Elder Goodrich swam in his desk to the light switch, throwing everything off it. He hit the lights and we just were dying on the floor laughing. I can only imagine what it was like for the others in the discussion. Trying to invite the spirit-then suddenly half a wall lights up with four Elders in complete pandemonium, totally ruining the lesson. LOL. We got out of there fast.

Don't get me wrong here, I've learned so much and I've felt the spirit so strong. Today we got to go to the temple today and it was fantastic.I'll attempt to get pictures on here somehow. Yeah i'ts not working.

Next week I'll be in Pittsburgh!! Woohoo!

Talk to y'alls later

Elder Simmons

8/14/15

Hey there family/blog. 
Here's my email, I'm doing good. I have learned a good deal already. I have a good companion with sleep apnia so the first night sleep wasn't so good but now it's all good. I've taught one fake lesson so far and I cried three times talking about our lesson. I can see a slight problem. I really would like to be able to have a control switch and just use the tears when wanted. But it looks like that's not going to happen. But anyway. I'll be leaving here not this Monday but the next, I'll first fly to Detroit then Pittsburgh. I'm excited to get out there. The hours go fast here but the days go long. The food is great, I have no idea why people complain about it. My district is awesome. I get to workout tonight which will be nice cuz I am set on staying fit. Anyways I'm doing good, feeling good. 

Sincerely-ish

Elder Simmons

8/9/15 Farwell