2/22/16

What's up world! It's been a week. It's been a week. Tuesday we got to go out to PSU (Penn State University) like we always do on Tuesdays and Fridays. They are my favorite days to just talk to people, or to just say hi and compliment something about them. May I add the timberland boots trend here is the worst. All these white guys wear these unlaced brown boots and don't take care of them so they look like complete trash. With the culture in Pittsburgh the timberlands were well taken care of. The treatment of these boots are a foreshadow of freedom in this country. Atleast that's what I hear. The best part of Tuesday was when a woman walked past me and I said hi and she replied back and stared at me trying to figure out how she knew me. As she stared at me I stared back with a face that said, it's me! After a good 5 seconds of staring she said "what are you doing here??" She probably read the tag or something as she said that because she started walking away real quick. But I replied "just doing missionary work!" It was rather hilarious.

Yep, welcome to the Relief Society.

On Wednesday we did some fat driving to a referral we got! She ordered a bible, she had all the info, email, phone number, address and everything. We get there and this standard Pennsylvanian family is just chilling on their porch, we ask for the woman who was there, they go grab her, then heart break. She says she didn't order anything and acted as though she had no idea. There's no way someone would prank these people-they didn't have neighbors! So that was a disappointment, they wouldn't even take a bible. Oh well, we got some sweet pics at a bench over looking State College.

Thursday-service day was good stuff. I am actively increasing my cooking skills. This week instead of cutting 200 apples and potatoes, I help cook over 200 hundred chicken limbs and such. It's was tiring for sure but I had a good time. It felt like the good ole days at BYU football games when I worked Concessions, way back when life was simpler. But it was a good time.

Friday an event called Thon started, a 46 hour dance marathon for charities having to do with pediatric cancer. So it's a pretty big deal they raised 13 million dollars last year. I talked to like 9 people going to the event. They may or may not have been all female, but that shouldn't change any opinions of my character. The gospel was preached ok? I got to hang out with Elder Ord so that was a joy, that is as soon as he remembered who I was. Elder Olds late onset Alzheimer's is getting to him.

With Elder "Old".

Anyways on Friday was the memorial of Sister Wells, what a great experience. (Mission Memorial Page) The spirit was so powerful it was madness. There was talks on the plan of salvation and with my recent New Testament studies I just got the overwhelming peace, joy and love that the Savior gives us through his atonement. It's such a higher plan that I cannot understand. "The Plan of Happiness is an understatement."

Friday was a good day, except busing the sisters around like I was some kind of chauffeur for the freaking back seat driving circus. Saturday we went out and tracted, which is what we need to be doing a lot. We finished a street, gave out a Book of Mormon to a guy who loved his bible but shockingly took a Book of Mormon. Eventually we turned down a street which got rich real quick. Most of the cars had PSU staff stickers on them, no one was interested but everyone we talk to is kind at least. I did however get chased by a dog who tried to bite me. But don't worry, it was an obese, old bloodhound, who looked like a beached whale as it barked at us in their lawn.

To wrap it up I Gave a talk on Sunday, it was about hope. It was decent I only had a day to prepare it so it wasn't the best. Also a returning member moved into our ward with his fiancé. Their getting married this week hopefully. Then we learned she isn't a member although she said she used to be a Catholic, and soon we'll make her a Mormon! It's pretty exciting that The Lord is helping us out as we put the effort in.

Anyways,

Elder Simmons

Iced windows are fun!