1/30/17

Well this week went by pretty fast. Well Tuesday did not go fast at all. The whole day was spent with us trying to fix my bike tires. It was pretty ridiculous what we went through, if it could go wrong it did. In the end we finally fixed the flat tires, and ironically, the next day we got our car back. Haha. Now I can say I've officially ridden a bike on my mission.

Wednesday we had the Missionary Broadcast and we learned about the new schedule and key indicators. A pretty nice change because I now can wake up at 6:30 and study for an hour then eat and work out.

Thursday and Friday we were at the Italian Sensation in Fallston. The first time we've been able to go to a different location with our Hot Chocolate Stand. Interestingly enough business is much slower at that location then our normal one so we only gave out 5 cups in the 6 hours we were there over two days. Kinda a bummer but at least I can say I tried, and it was nice to be able to meet a lot of new people.

Also it was super cold because the wind was a beast those two days. We did get free pizza though.

Thursday night was pretty awesome because we had dinner with a couple in our ward and their friends. It was a good time to get to know them, hopefully we'll be able to meet with him again and teach him more about the Book of Mormon.

On Saturday we also went over to a nonmember's place for dinner. Walt and Judy are very kind people who sent us home with more left overs then we needed. It was a wonderful time and they really respect what we're doing. the next time we go over there we should be able to give them copies of the Book of Mormon.

Sunday was a good day as well. We met a couple, the mom was Mormon in New Jersey and the husband isn't. But she'd like for him to learn more and he's a really nice guy. Only problem is they are crazy busy with him training for a job in NJ and they'll be moving up there as soon as possible. But we can help right? We are also going to meet with a guy who hasn't been coming to church for a while who moved into our ward. He's going to bring his friend to church too. So things are in fact happening in Bynum Run. Slowly, but steadily. So I can't complain.

Elder Simmons

1/23/17

Heya world.

This week has gone by pretty quickly. We had a zone conference that was pretty good actually. President Christiansen talked about agency for like a hour and a half and it was the highlight for sure. He is a very smart guy. The other parts were so-so.

If the guy hanging loose looks familiar its because it's my old companion Elder Howard, we were in Pittsburgh together exactly a year ago. Time sure does fly.

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were all days we gave out Hot Chocolate to people. It was a very good time. We were able to give out 6 copies of the Book of Mormon. My first 6 week here we only gave out 4. So I should probably be more grateful then I am. One of the guy's we gave a book too is Fred. We had some great conversations with him about the book and he asked us if we believe in Infant Baptism so i gave him Moroni 8 to read. A hour later he comes back and he told us he read that chapter and says we're right on the same page. He also got a copy for his daughter who's getting married in the summer. Then he also both gave us copies of the Quron that he picked up at Barnes and Noble for us. We got his email so we'll see if anything comes out of it.

Another cool experience was when a lady from Spain asked for a book and it turned out that her mom is Mormon but hasn't been able to go to church in America because non speak Spanish. so we got the Spanish Branch's address and time for her.

We've done a lot of walking this week in hopes to try to talk to people. It hasn't really worked because we see like one person while walking. And rain really doesn't help. Tracting isn't effective here so I always am looking forward to being able to give out hot chocolate.

old man goose is always fun

here's a cool speckled Gecko.

One of the most hard core stunts I've ever done

Elder Simmons

1/17/17

This week has been pretty different. We had a zone training on tuesday so that was a hoot. But Elder Stafford and I got the call that he would in fact be going home-the next day. So we packed and visited some people. Wednesday we walked outside our apartment and while loading up the car with his bag I noticed all the contrails and said the classic joke of, "Elder how far away is that plane??" "TWO HOURS!"

So Stafford got dropped off and I got a new companion named Elder Parkinson (yes like the disease). We get along just fine so no worries about my sanity. While in Columbia Maryland, we went to the mission office for President Christiansen's birthday/ a senior couples going away party. So that was interesting. got a free meal and I saw a friend or two.

This week we had the car so we tried a lot of different places to see if we could set up a hot chocolate stand. Turns out the location we have to begin with is a miracle because no one is down to let us give out hot chocolate. So iIve pretty much given up on trying to find a new spot. So we'll see how much longer I'll be trying to give out free drinks to the folks of the upper middle class.

We were able to visit my friend Kelbert and invite him to church. Sadly he works every week. We also delivered a meal to the Blanchards who are a family who are interested with joining but are plagued with medical problems. We stopped by Min who was busy but told us she wasn't trying to avoid us. And we visited a guy named Robert with a member. He's a really nice guy, a really active Catholic. But we had a nice "interfaith hoe-down."

Oh and on Saturday we went to a Indian Pow Wow at the Catholic high school so that was pretty cool.

We tried this week, and what more could I have done? I don't really know. I'm almost to the point that I'd consider tracting just so I could feel like I'm doing my job right. I'm not sure why I've been in this area for 3.5 months and have worked my tush off but nothing has happened. But I'll just keep trying.

Elder Simmons

1/9/17

Hello world. This week has not been the usual hum drum of me freezing. But let me explain first. On Wednesday we had transfers and I said "see ya dude" to Elder Peery. To put it subliminally, life has become much better since hump day. My new companion is Elder Stafford, he's from St. Louis Missouri and we get along just fine.

With this renewed happiness comes a slight twist. Elder Stafford has torn his Meniscus and will have to get surgery here soon. We went to the Doctor on Thursday and he's pretty much got the worst tear you can get. Me and two other missionaries were along for the trip and we waited in the waiting room for two hours. But its ok because we got 5 Guys afterwards and I got to have a peanut butter, Oreo, and bacon shake.

We've waited a few days for "the call" so we can know when and where the surgery will be. So we've been a limbo like state of not being able to do like anything. We've been car-less and the doctor yelled at him for using it too much, so we've been stuck in the apartment all week. Except when we got to go over to member's places and hang out with them. This is a good ward to have a bad knee in. The people here are awesome. The most memorable day was helping our good friend Doug fix his washer.

It was a good bonding moment captured lol

Sundays are always great here. During Ward Council there was a very productive conversation about getting missionary work better this year. Its been weighing in some people's minds and so it will be a great change to see. They are putting missionary work higher up on the totem pole it seems, so I'm excited.

Here is me with Elders Gehrke and Hawley. PPMers got to stick together these days.

So things aren't so normal for me but due to the unusual circumstances of getting a new companion I feel like it is my job right now to be a friend to Elder Stafford as he goes through a rough time. The chances are high he would have to go home for a while. But we still are waiting for that call.

Elder Simmons

1/3/17

Hello. I'm emailing on a Tuesday again because once again the library was closed, thanks Government. But this week in the life of Elder Simmons wasn't anything too crazy. We got to try a lot of people because we had a car so that was nice. We met a friend of a member who is a very nice guy. Very active in his church but we'll be teaching him about how the Book of Mormon relates to the Bible. We also whittled down some people who aren't interested and that's how it goes. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday we gave out hot chocolate.

We got to meet a lot of interesting people, none of which were dying for the true gospel, but hey we tried right? We have been trying to get a spot outside a Walmart but we have as yet to hear from them.

We celebrated New Years in great fashion.

I played Uno with 5, 13 year old girls. Somehow I didn't win every game but it was fun. Also I can't take good selfies anymore.

Also made a new logo for the mission. So thats fun.

The first day of 2017 was a good day. I enjoyed my time at church. and to our surprise we got calls for transfers and my companion is leaving. He has only been here for the 6 weeks. So now I've got the curse of Elder Lewis who had 4 companions for 4 transfers. I'll be getting my 3rd companion in 3 transfers. There you have it.

12/26/16

Hello world.

This week was a pretty fun one. The first few days of the week were pretty rough. we try people and they aren't home and you wonder how you've come so far along but are still doing the same things that don't work. But I'm trying.

Thursday was a good day though. We got to give out hot chocolate and we gave out 15 cups, 2 copies of the Book of Mormon, two restoration pamphlets. Pretty solid. Thats also when I found out Elder Allen, who's still in Lititz, also gave out hot chocolate. He did it for four days and gave out 350-400 cups, got 25 people to sign up and started teaching a family of five so far. I've had mixed feelings on it. I do have plans to expand our franchise so we get more traffic flow.

On Friday we had the mission wide Christmas conference. That was a pretty good time, got to be with my friends. Elder Lewis gave me a haircut.

Each zone did a skit or musical shin dig. My favorite one was of people behind a sheet with their shadow as the actors. It was a story of a daughter dying and then missionaries teaching the mom, the mom gets baptized then goes to the temple for her daughter. It was touching. Also Elder Mink wore an Angel costume in his skit then decided to stay in it the rest of the day. It was hilarious.

After the meeting we went to the Poultons and the Giglio'tos' were there too. We had a fun time, Mike made his infamous Gingerhea and grossed out just about everyone.

Its Ginger snaps in a bowl mixed with water. Me and the kids took apart the christmas themed sign and made a new one that said, "Gingerhea causes Cancer."

Christmas was good, it doesn't feel like Christmas but the perks are great. We got to be with the Andersons on Christmas eve and they even gave us presents. But thanks to all who gave me something, yinz are great.

Oh lets not forget the great skype session I had with my family! The most exciting part was afterwards though. The family who's house we were at, all got sick in the 2 hours we were there. The dad got a headache and started to slowly drive us home. At a red light he says, "oh no." unbuckles, opens the door and starts throwing up profusely onto the pavement. It was crazy. So far I've escaped the Stomach flu that everyone seems to be contracting. This was a narrow miss.

Merry Christmas after party

Elder Simmons