11/30/15

Aloha friends. This week has been jolly because Thursday was Thanksgiving! I got to play some fat football and had a really good time. The highlight was the last play of our second game. It was a kick return and Elder Masina was flying through everyone. He came right in front of me and some guy punched the ball out of his hands. I feel like thats illegal but I thought if they're going to play dirty the play shall go on. So I got the fumble and as I crossed into the end zone a fool came and hit me and I fell backwards and as a rolled I jumped back up and kinda threw the football at him. I might've been a smidge heated but it's all good.

The Turkey Bowl Crew

Post Football donuts

We talked to some cool people this week, one being a old grandma who just loves Mormons! So she may as well become one haha. Another interesting guy was on the bus telling a story of how he stopped two "cats" from mugging him. Apparently we just got a referral today for some guy who wants to join because of wearing garments.. So we'll see how that goes!

Our man Nick watching President Monson!

Our main man Nick is scheduled for being baptized December 12 at 12pm! Woot! So even though the work was long it's been a good week. Next week we're going to try a few new tactics. Also go to Christmas.mormon.org and check out the new ish! That should help us out a bit I hope.

Have a sweet week and happy holidayz

Elder Simmons

The light above my head wasn't planned, but the rest was.

The Deer selfie

Slumber party on Ellsworth LOL

Construction got us with no sidewalks

View from the top of the Cathedral of Learning. You can see our church from here!

11/22/15

Crazy week people. So this week was my first week with my man Elder Howard! It was pretty strange being in charge but I know Pittsburgh like I know the topical guide. The part that has really whopped me is I'm the guy thinking about buses, and routes and where to go. It makes things a bit more stressful but its all good.

With my new companion Elder Howard

The highlight of the week was Sunday for sure. Sundays are just the best. The ward members are great and Nick came to church again. He's gotten so much better with not smoking it's been great. Dinner at members' houses are always fantastic too.

Saturday was a interesting day. We went to a nicer area that we don't go to that often. We turned a corner where an old Italian guy was with a Pirates fedora. I said hi and asked him if we could help him with anything. He was really touched by the gesture and he talked with us for a good twenty minutes at least. He said he could feel the Holy Spirit from us. He also told us some great stories about him in the Korean War. He's one of those people who just make being out here all worth it. Then we turned the corner.. to a guy's house who was very nice to us. He was a past potential investigator. It quickly came out that he was a pastor. He was a really nice guy but when it came to having gospel conversations he was rough. He would ask us twisted questions that didn't have a good answer. We were there for an hour. He pretty much was one of the guys who got his authority from the Bible. So we never got anywhere with him. So that sucked. I was so exhausted. There's one example of the ups and downs.

Elder Howard after our Pastor Punishment

Today, Monday, it's been up and down as well already. Nick called us and said the baptism was off. He and Debbie got in a fight. The life was sucked out of me when that happened. Twenty minutes later he called again and said he needed to talk with us. So not all hope is lost. He's too into this gospel to let the people ruin it. Thank goodness.

With Nick on the bus Wednesday heading to A.R.P.

The over all week was good. We taught 11 street lessons so it has been good work. Peace out people I need to eat lunch

Elder Simmons

Scarf Season

Seagull and I

Elder Howard and I

11/16/15

Heya people, this week was a pretty cool. We had Zone training and we all made shirts. I just wanted to play ping pong so I quickly wrote "I'm just here to pong" and that's what I did. Ps I'm getting pretty ok at ping pong. We also played toilet paper dodgeball. Toilet paper is so valuable to me I feel like the Jews and their books getting burned by the Nazis. I also had a nice interview with President Johnson.

The Pittsburgh Zone!


On Tuesday we had a horribly slow day. Our plan turned into riding buses and talking to people on buses. On the first bus I wasn't very excited so I prayed that I'd talk to someone that's prepared to hear our message. I always sit in the back of the bus when trying to talk to people because that's where I have the best chance. So I sat back there and a guy sat next to me with headphones and luckily he started talking to me! He knew some LDS in the military and had gone to church in Green Tree once before! He has a Book Of Mormon and I told him how much I love it because we get personal revelation. So he said lets do it and we flipped to a random verse and it pertained to both of us really well! Maybe one day we'll see him again

One of them Sloooowww days


We have three really solid investigators that are inching closer to baptism. I'm so excited for them and their lives. Nick came to church again which is really the key to conversion. So many members were talking to him it warmed my heart. Dave is doing really well at reading now so we have high hopes for him too! Our man Tony is going to start listening to the Book Of Mormon on his phone as he walks about.

I'll be getting my next companion tomorrow! Crazy, my trainer will be gone and I'll be running the area! Look out haha. Elder Howard and I will do some awesome things here I'm sure of it!

Elder Simmons

Rode a horse today

First time at Pimanti Bros, they always have fries and coleslaw in their sandwiches.

The last supper with the Pittsburgh peeps.

This dog never kisses anyone, not even the owners. I was determined to get a kiss that night.

11/9/15

Hello world. What a week! The highlight was my weekend

Saturday we worked like crazy. We did service for a member with his jank basement, and I couldn't breath right for the rest of the day. We went to Kevin's who said he was going to go to church but he didn't of course. Then we went to a lady's house and cleaned her crazy overgrown backyard. She a born again Christian but at least we got to help her out a lot. But jeesh was her yard crazy. I enjoyed getting to rip off plants off the fence. We sped walked home, changed, got a bus back up to the top of Pittsburgh and taught a lesson. Had a dinner with a member, played some pirates dice with them, then had another lesson with a less active and two investigators. Went to the church and put in our weekly numbers then hustled home! It was a crazy day and I loved it because we were so busy. It's the best to be productive. I thought that day was going to not have any lessons but we had 6 that day. The Lord blessed us.

Then Sunday was the primary program which was adorable. Nick our closest to being baptized had a great time at church and even told members he'll probably be getting baptized soon. Booyah. The amount of happiness after church I had was crazy. I was so pumped and happy that he's accepting the gospel. Friday we'll be hitting him with the word of wisdom. Literally the last and final bump before baptism. Best part is Debbie is going to quit smoking with him so he'll have a support system. We also practiced Christmas Songs for the Ward Choir, yas to Christmas. (Spoiler alert, the church has some ostentatious plans for Christmas)

Also my morning have still been changed for the better, I love reading the scriptures even more than ever and I get so much happiness out of it. Its one of the few things that can bring me a lot of lasting happiness in the life.

Peace out people, read a scripture.

Elder Simmons

New winter boots

Elder Montgomery and I

Twinners! (Please note, Brad does NOT need glasses, he just wears them for fun - Ryan)

Sweet Car!

11/2/15

Hey everyone!

This week has been crazy. The beginning of the week was SLOW. we had a a bunch of cancelations. I had an awesome day with Elder Masina in Northside. Highlights included: Walking to a island by the river, having a awesome lesson with a really prepared guy, eating at Peppis, and getting a straight outta Homewood shirt.

On the Island!

I got in a rut in my mornings. My studies were awful. But then I learned from Elder Masina that mornings set the tone for the whole day. So I was determined to change my mornings. And I have! I love studying the scriptures so much now! I started a study journal as well and that's helped a lot. Our week started turning around. We got to teach lessons and it was a testimony to me how important it is to study in the mornings.

On Friday night there was a concert outside our apartment building, the local talents were awful. SO BAD. But we got to listen to Chris James, who was on the Voice. And the highlight was A Great Big World, they were awesome.

Because of the area in which I live there were so many gay people, so the next day during Halloween we hung out with some guys who bat for their own team. We actually had a really good conversation about the gospel with them. Halloween night we just sat in our apartment and played monopoly (boo) and Jenga. (oh yeah) on Sunday some crazy things went down and we got a new bishop! What! Pretty crazy but I know it was guided by the spirit so it's all good.

Elder Simmons

These things scare me.

The ketchup place!

Hamilton Street in Homewood

Shout out to the Perry family.

Just boarding like I do.