6/28/16

Well folks I can honestly say that this has been the craziest week of my mission, by far. I had a good last Monday in State College, had a great dinner with the Biggers who are awesome.

Tuesday I headed to Pittsburgh for transfers, we left early so we could stop at the Peppis in Point Breeze. It was amazing get the #7 add bacon. It will never disappoint. We drove through a few places, past the apartment, gay bar, and Roger who was still sitting in his regular spot. If I had known I would be back I would've visited some people as well. Got to say hello and see you later to some friends at transfers so that a was a joy. Before I knew it I was crammed in a truck pulling a trailer.

I got to make some new friends on the way there, we had some good times on the road. The funniest was when we pulled off to try to find gas. We drove past some Amish houses going like 45 ish. We go around a bend and we all see 3 big, white, majestic Geese. The Geese, probably being pets, were too cocky to get up and move. We got closer and closer and we couldn't swerve because we were pulling a trailer. We all went silent in wonder of what was about to go down. The geese finally got the picture that we weren't avoiding them when they only had a few feet left of life. We saw them start to try to waddle away, looking terrified, as the went under the truck! THUD THUD THUD all at once. You could feel them tumbling under the floor of the truck. And the trailer dragging behind was the exclamation point in the phrase, "FINISH HIM!" The geese were very dead, Elder Prizadeh said to have seen an explosion of feathers behind us. As soon as we all realized he did actually flatten those big birds we laughed for at least 20 minutes straight. We never even found a gas station so the whole detour was to induce the triple homicide. Got to my apartment by the end of the day.

Wednesday we went to the DC temple and did baptisms with the Halls, a returning member. Bro hall is funny, he's got a lot of misconstrued concepts thanks to history channel, but that's alright. Wednesday night we get a text from the APs asking if they can sleep over with us, we had a good time with them, played some good final rounds of pirates dice.

Thursday morning we get to our church, and both the Chambersburg and Lancaster zones were there. We didn't know what was going on before hand we just knew it was a meeting. Everyone was nervous, President Johnson started with telling us how he and his wife moved all around the country knowing it was God's will each time. Sis Johnson talked about different examples of groups of people leaving places from the scriptures. The hints were getting obvious. Elder Davis and I got a map of the Maryland Baltimore mission and we felt strongly that we were going to be right. President Johnson got back up again. He showed us a call packet, then the letter, then he took the words, " your assignment may be modified according to the needs of you mission president." With that slide he said, "so now it's getting a little clearer." Then he said, "Now let's make it real clear here." And switches the slide to the big blue logo of the Maryland Baltimore Mission. Bomb dropped. Now we had a good 1/2 hour of answering questions. Some people were crying, were they all sisters? Maybe. I wasn't I was more excited. What this means is that all of us missionaries will no longer go to Pennsylvania after these areas but somewhere in the Maryland Baltimore Mission. I'm glad to be with a good bunch of missionaries who I'm good friends with! I am bummed to be leaving a whole bunch of friends. I've made some awesome friends. I'll get to feel like a brand new missionary not knowing anybody so that's fun too. But it'll be a fun change! Since thursday we've all been in a weird limbo. It hasn't felt normal at all. But Sunday finally came and I had a good time. The members here are pretty awesome, it's a big ward. And a family we had dinner with brought a friend who is interested in the church, to church. Members doing missionary work is the best way. So I'm happy to be in a place where they do it!

New Maryland Baltimore Mission boundaries which now include Chambersburg and Lancaster stakes

There's a chance the new mission president will want to integrate the other missionaries as soon as possible so I may only be in Lititz for a short time. But there's a slim chance of that. The more realistic option is have is stay together for a while then send Elder Davis down to Maryland. But who knows! It's obvious that I'll never be able to predict what's going to happen to me in the mission. It's been the craziest week of my mission and maybe even my life. Never would've guessed that my last vacation that took me to Baltimore before my mission, would be the same city where I'd get called to be a missionary in.

Elder Simmons

Our group of missionaries that will now be part of the Maryland Baltimore mission.

Elder Ord has volunteered to hug everyone for me.

6/20/16

What a crazy week, if you want to know what I did this week just read last weeks. Except what I'm about to tell you. This week was the end of the transfer. And I really wanted to leave this place. You get a feeling after a while and when it comes you know it's your time to go. But the guarantee of me leaving was not known and could only be predicted at around a 50/50 chance. So I didn't know what my future was, but I did know what my ideal situation was. I wanted to go out east, to a stake where I could go to the Philly temple open house in July. Out of the three desired stakes/zones my ideal want was in Lancaster. So I prayed a lot this week, with the most sincerity I could muster. "Please God, get me out of here." I was down for any area and with any person because dreams are dreams and just leaving would be enough for me. Saturday came and a leadership call in the morning for either Haroldsen or I would increase the odds of me leaving substantially. And it came and president asked for Haroldsen, and after I gave the phone to him I ran down the church hallway screaming for happiness. And it was a really loud scream. I wouldn't be surprised if president had heard it through the phone. So that first part really helped my case for leaving. But of course Haroldsen wouldn't help me out. So my options were either he's the district leader here or some other leadership not here. The most realistic was him here and I would be gone. That was my best guess until a half hour before the email arrived. I got a email for district leaders with upcoming schedules. Immediately I was left to think, I'm still the district leader and Haroldsen is gone. Haroldsen being a punk was even saying he thought I could stay, thanks bud. So I had no idea what was happening. But the email finally came and I learned that I am leaving state college and I am heading to the Lancaster zone! I'm headed to the Lititz ward! Oddly enough the ward where brother Hilemans son lives. Elder Curtis went there and it was his favorite area. Oh my companion is Elder Davis who is already a homie of mine. And the best part of all is that on Wednesday I'm going to the DC Temple! I went from not having a chance to go, to going to the temple as soon as possible! So crazy! My prayers were answered more than I could have ever guessed. Some told me it's because president must love me, nah we're not even close. What did work is me praying in faith and my will aligning to God's. That's how it worked. That Saturday night I packed, I've been ready to go on Tuesday since. 

Sunday was a good day getting to say goodbye to some good friends. I gave the young men a shout out during my couple minutes of thought during sacrament. It was a pretty decent talk and at the end I turned to the bishop and gave him a classic limp-hand hand shake. The rest of the bishopric got firm ones. Bishop Gardner and I were tight in the end there, we love giving each other a hard time. A few other members were sad to see me go, the Reeds, the Williams, Sherry, and Sis Liechty said I remind her a lot of her son Jacob. The Liechty family in general I was really close to, hope I made a good influence one them. If anything I hope the young men learned that you can still be yourself, work hard, and have good times while being a missionary. Cuz you can. Anyways I'm sad to lose some of these friends but not really. I'll see them again. When I took a last picture with Charles, Judith, Bilky, and Joddy I told all of them they have to smile with their teeth. They're all notorious for looking like prisoners getting their mugshot taken in pictures. They all smiled, except Charles. "Charles! Smile with your teeth!" Charles calmly with his great accent, " I do not have teeth!" We all died laughing. Anyways Lancaster bound and couldn't be happier!

Elder Simmons

Me: Charles, smile with your teeth! Charles: I do not have teeth.

In an Amish buggy.

At said Amish farm.

This is Eduard Lopez or Lopi! He used to play for the Orem Owlz when I was a bat boy. At the end of the season he got traded to the Tampa Bay Rays. Couldn't believe I found him!

Our last District meeting ended on a high note, literally.

The drumming struggle was too real.

What happens when you let a baby cow lick you.

6/13/16

Tuesday was the same ole thing, one can literally just read last weeks and it would be the same Tuesday. Talked to a few people at Penn State, read the BOM with bro Henderson, lost at Yahtzee.

Wednesday was the prepare for zone conference day it turned out. Time was spent on cleaning, mainly the car. Wasn't my favorite but oh well. We did go out to a tiny town called Birmingham. We started to knock some doors but the place was dead. We talked to a lady and she told us that this is a girls trade school town, so during the summer it's pretty empty but during the school year there's girls everywhere. Not sure if we missed out or lucked out there. But we looked around the school and it was pretty impressive. We had a 45 min dinner at the Huffs, it went so fast. We walked in, were escorted right to the table and we ate, had a message and we're out in no time. The APs came and slept over for zone conference, we played some fun rounds of pirates dice together.

Thursday we had zone conference. I enjoyed seeing a lot of friends again. I also felt some good things. President Johnson really touched me when he told us that he had some bad attitudes while on his mission and was miserable. I don't want to be miserable so I decided to change somethings I had been giving a half effort before. I can't say the work is fantastic now, or that were teaching tons. But I can say that I'm happier because I'm striving to be better. Oh other news is that dinners with missionaries from other wards going with you is highly discouraged, it should be a rare case to have groups of missionaries now. There's a number of reasons for that. One concept is always having your line in the water. I'm not crazy over that phrase, but it's a reason to some people. Another reason is picking up other missionaries and dropping off is a waste of miles. That's very true. The university sisters weren't happy about it, Pres Johnson specifically called out our situation, and said sometimes you have a area that doesn't feed you well. He also said, I'm not here to make friends. Pretty crazy but it was by far the best zone conference of my life. It'll be hard to break it to the ward, but they can drop off groceries still. After the conference we normally would've gone to Texas Roadhouse but we had a dinner with Sherry. I had 4 hot dogs and 3 servings of baked beans. I paid for the baked beans soon after when we went to Laura Beth's house. We read the BOM with her, and I also got to talk baseball with bro Reed. Mets fan.

Zone Conference

Friday's highlight was one the sisters put up their "Meet the Mormons" sign along with a poster of the first vision. The wind was blowing and the poster would try to run away. And the sisters would have to try to set it back up, they eventually gave up, but not before I got funny videos of them trying. Their "Meet the Mormons" movie night that was being advertised to the general public had a whoppin 13 people. 3 investigators and the rest members. Success? Sure, may as well be. We went and played with the drumming group for a second time. Elder Haroldsen loved it, I liked it as well. It's a dang good way for people to see that were not freaks but normal people. There was a girl there who saw her friend playing with us so she came over and watched. She was wearing a Dodgers shirt so after I had to ask. Her dad is a Dodgers fan and she's been to LA once to watch them. I got to tell her where I'm from and the question of why are you here always comes up. Then she asked what do you teach people. So I told her about the BOM, what it is and why we have it. She was so surprised and said, oh I didn't even know that existed! She went to a catholic school but is obviously willing to branch out after she accepted my offer for a BOM. Next week she said she'd be there and I'll give her one then. It was awesome because I got to talk to her and gain trust like she I would with a friend, then be able to talk about the BOM without her feeling like I'm a salesman. That's a nice feeling.

Saturday we had the adult session of stake conference so that was a good time. They had some recent converts talk about the temples. The feminist recent convert got-I wouldn't say controversial but it was uncomfortable at times. Especially because I was sitting next to Ronda and Roger the whole time. I kept thinking, please don't say something ridiculous, one of my two investigators are here. Temples are awesome though that was the theme for Sunday as well. Now I just want to go to an area where I can go to the temple. We'll find out this week if I'm leaving or not!

Elder Simmons

6/6/16

Tuesday we had some carpet cleaners come to do what their title assumes. Two jacked bald guys came and we were leaving after we let them in. They said good luck going out there today in the shirts and ties, they know how it feels because they go out and proselyte for the Jehovahs Witnesses! So some J-dubs cleaned some Mormon missionary's apartment, how funny! I wonder what they thought when they saw all the literature and books. They were super nice to us but when we left they could say anything they want. When we got back I checked under my pillow for a Watchtower (J-Dub newsletter) but they didn't leave me anything. Darn! We had a good lesson with Bro Henderson, but I lost at Yahtzee. Which is a tough way to kick off a week. Ps it's hot still.

Wednesday we had district meeting, it was decent. It should help member missionary work for all of us at least. After lunch Haroldsen and I went out to Port Matilda to try two previous people we talked to. We ended up walking to a house that had a younger lady playing with her dog. We got talking to her, she was really kind to us, she's never seen missionaries over in her neighborhood before so she was interested in what we had to say. So we sat in the shade and taught her the restoration. It was pretty legit, she has a young family and wants to start going to church, she has an unbiased mind, and she believes that the 1st vision could've happened. We gave her a BOM, and she asked great questions that really showed her understanding of our message. One was, if I read this book and like it and was interested, where is your church at? We got to really testify of reading with real intent, opposed to just being nice to us, which is the name for so many out there. I hope she does read, I hope her husband will support her. I know the blessings that can come to her and her daughters are more than she can comprehend at this point. There's nothing more that I want then to have them be happy.

Thursday was a good day of service, at both Grace Lutheran Church, and St. Andrews Episcopalian Church. We also had a good time at the Reeds in which we read a great chapter of the BOM together and had a lot of laughs while doing it. One being when Laura Beth said to her dog, Hey Princess! What are you doin?? Then I said, oh I'm just sitting here! Good times, good people Friday same ole trying at Penn State, I talked to a few people but no dice. We had dinner with the sisters for the third night in a row, then we bounced over to a lesson with Jackie, with the Gardners there as well. It went really well, the members did more talking than we did. They're going to help her out with moving and we're going to try to get her boy into the young men's program, which would be awesome. We also gave her a BOM and she said she'd read it. It was a good hour and a half we had with her. She really likes to talk. Next time we see her we're going to go over the restoration with her. It was a good night.

Saturday we balled in the morning and we had a decent turn out. When you're not good at basketball you have to put more hustle to get the same results so I was really pooped. Smith and I went to downtown and walked around. A big music festival was happening there, but no music because it was the morning. Anyways we talked to a guy sitting at a table trying to get people to donate plasma. He admitted that he was a member and that he was baptized 5 years ago, has done baptisms at the temple, owns a quad. He's a solid guy but now he's not into things. We had a great conversation and it's obvious he knows it's true, he just needs to change and get to church. So we told him to go.

Billy and Joddy!

In the evening we had a lesson with Charles, Judith, Billy, and Joddy. We had a good lesson on temples. After we had time to try some former investigators, so we went to one guy named Matt. No one was at his house when we knocked but boom, he pulled up in his car. He let us in to talk, we learned he's talked to missionaries before but didn't embrace the BOM, etc. I didn't want this to get out of hand because I've gone into someone's house and just bashed forever. So I said we're not here to argue on doctrines but we're here to talk about Christ. And we did, we also talked about his life, what he wants to do, his conversion to being a Lutheran, etc. There were a couple times where he told us his struggles and I was able to give him suggestions to help him out. He really took it to heart. He told us about the struggles in his head of having Christ like thoughts, not judging, all that. And a scripture popped into my head which was, D&C 121:45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distill upon thy soul as the dews from heaven. I didn't bother with the priesthood part but the rest was awesome. He really liked it. We prayed together at the end and it's obvious that God loves His children no matter the faith. That was pretty awesome.

Sunday had a tough start, in the midst of fasting for her, Kelley texted us back and said they talked about it and aren't interested. What a bummer. That was a hard hit to me and it's just frustrating to have hope in people then it get it crushed... over and over and over again. It makes it really hard to have any faith in relying on people. Will I ever get my hopes up again? Probably. Will they get crushed almost every time? Most likely. But I'll keep trying till it works out. After that text we went and walked around in the rain. My life just oozed with Charlie Brown sadness for an hour as I walked and got wet and didn't care. But since then I've regained my happiness again. Church was a good time, I tried to get more into fasting, I've never been good at it. After we tried contacting some people, then had a spontaneous dinner with some awesome members. Got to love that. The week flew by, good grief.

Elder Simmons

The Swag Queen, Sister Williams

Playing catch with Brother Hileman

Frisbee at Penn State