6/26/17

Hey everyone!

On Monday we weren't doing anything, and because of the thunderstorm it was raining like crazy. So Elder Vu and I decided to run down to the harbor and get wet in the fountains. Well that was fun, we were extremely wet. I brushed off the thought of lightning safety as I was walking through a fountain next to a harbor, during a thunderstorm.

First an update on my last day of Baltimore. Not sure how much this spread across the nation but Baltimore's age is starting to show.

A steam pipe exploded, it was pretty nuts, we got there before the firefighters and such. Last pics with Hank.

So on Wednesday I left the crazy city and went to Eldersburg/Randallstown, and I'm with Elder Campbell. He's from Mapleton Utah. He is only my 5th Utah grown companion. We get a long just fine and hes got a nice camera so life is very good. Oh, and we have plenty of work to do. Its been great.
OH and I've been fed super well this week. I've been fed everyday and I've had 2 steak dinners and even ate crabs one night. And I ran across my mom's high school so that was cool.

The school is in need of an overhaul.. but its cool still.

Anyways this week we tried a whole lot of people and we found 2 new people who are pretty dang solid. The best one by far is named Elkinah. We were trying a potential and he opened the door and we started talking to him. He's in his 50's probably, from Liberia. Something we said got us in the door. So we sat down and taught him a pretty quick Restoration lesson. He was moved by the Spirit pretty hard. He told us he was going to make it his duty to come to church. He even told a different relative, who was talking nonsense, that they needed to listen to us because we're missionaries who are trained and our time is precious. Wow. So that was super cool.

We also have a member and his fiance who are doing great. Her name is Rita. They are getting married July 9th and then she'll be baptized soon after.

We found quite a few others who may become something soon. Its been really exciting.

Anyways the week was great, I love having a car with A/C. Our apartment doesn't have A/C so that's been rough. Good news is that we're moving in two days.
Sunday was the best day by far. A whole ton of people knew me already which was super cool. If you're wondering why that is, its because my mom grew up in Eldersburg and quite a few people know the Mudgett Clan. But Elkinah came to church! and he had a super amazing experience. Sacrament was about reading the Book of Mormon. 2nd hour was on the gift of the Holy Ghost. 3rd hour was a testimony-ish type discussion, in which Elkinah told the Elders Quorom that he has felt something very strongly and that he'll be attending here every week. He told us he wants to get baptized but first wants to learn more, which I think we can help him with.

Pretty good first week with 5 more left!

Elder Simmons

6/18/17

Hello everyone, this week has been pretty fun. Turned out to be my last week in Baltimore because I'm getting transferred to Eldersburg this week. So by next Monday my life will be much different. I'll be in a car, and not in the ghetto of west Baltimore. It doesn't really matter to me where my last 6 weeks of my mission are. I'm going to try my best to make it productive and fun.

On Tuesday I was on exchanges in Pikesville. It's got a lot of Jewish people there. I realized it must be what non members feel like in Utah County. Every corner had a synagogue, and most cars have anti-Nazi bumper stickers. We gave out some copies of the Book of Mormon. I've been kindly calling people out who say they know the book but don't. Its been a good way to see if people actually know what they're talking about and if they're interested.

Thursday was good, we gave out 3 copies of the book of Mormon, we also helped a guy from Iran get home. He lives in DC but came to Baltimore for a green card. He got the card but then started smoking something green and got lost. So we helped him out.

Friday was the best day by far. Half the mission met in Columbia and we listened to Elder Neilson and his wife. He is the director of the missionary department. It was a super good meeting. Learned a good amount, felt a good amount, ate a good amount. I sat with him during lunch so that was cool. After that spiritual high I was trying to tell a guy about the Book of Mormon and he said it was not the word of God. I reminded him that he's never read it so he doesn't know. But he was sure it wasn't. That wasn't cool.

Saturday we were in the quality ghetto trying to contact referrals. We never get any trouble there so its all good. But we hear about crazy stuff going down and think where were we for that? We did see a fight. Here's a picture

That was something.

Sunday was good as always. Heres some pictures of my week.

Holding lit juggling batons with a street performer. (kapowshow.com)

My friend Terry.

Bro. Curry was with us for two dinners this week. oh happy Fathers Day by the way.

Elder Simmons

6/12/17

Hello everyone who reads this. This week has been a fun one.
Even though I had pink eye technically (the non spreadable kind causes by allergies), and today my right eye's Sty has blown up leaving me looking swollen silly at best.

Tuesday I was on exchanges in my area with Elder Fisher. We had a good time, we tried a lot of potential investigators who weren't home. (that seemed to happen a lot this week) But it was still a great day because I was able to give out 3 copies of the Book of Mormon. Also Hank was interviewed.

Keeping out of the sun, waitin' for a bus.

On Wednesday I went to the eye doctor. It was my fist trip to the doctor's office for myself on my mission. At Rite Aid I gave an employee named Caleb a Book of Mormon. So now we have a better excuse to get strong pain med prescriptions, like everyone else in the city. We attempted to see Edward with Bro Garner but he wasn't home. We tried again later in the week. He was texting us on Sunday, he's gone off the wall. Super bummer there. Pittsburgh Pirates were in town against the Orioles this week, I was conflicted when we past some Pirates fans and wanted to say "GO BUCS!" but I was wearing a Orioles tie. What a mess.

Two "entrepreneurs" let me hold their fat stacks of cash. At least $3000 I was holding (tax free too!)

Friday Henok got interviewed and he was good to go. We tried a bunch of people on Friday but no one was around. Its super hard to meet up with people when they're never home and never answer their phone! But I get my satisfaction from effort not results so can't complain

Here's the neck brace picture I didn't send last week.

Saturday was a great day. Hank, Henok and Kevan all got baptized! So here's the pictures.

I had the opportunity to Baptize Henok. That water was HOT. Like it felt like a hot tub in that font. (I didn't fill it.) But Henok was baptized, and audibly said, "Wow" afterwards. Hank was next and Elder Hyde Baptized him and I stayed in for back support. Hank's foot came up a few times so the third time was the charm for him. Then Kevan was baptized by Elder Petersen and I got to help lower him as well. It was super cool. It was a great baptism. Sunday was also great with the 3 men's confirmations. Henok was telling us that Saturday afternoon he was super happy, was laughing all the time and had a two hour conversation with his wife and they didn't fight. He told us how the Spirit was so strong on Saturday and it was even more powerful as he got Confirmed. Hank also expressed some of his feelings and told us that as he was confirmed the Spirit awoke him. More literally then metaphorically because he slept really bad the night before. It was a highlight for me to hear their testimonies. The power from God is here. Its great.

Finished off the week with a wonderful meal at the Hydes. Couldn't get much better then that.

This week we're going to have a heat wave. That should be fun.

Elder Simmons

6/5/17

Hey everyone, in contrast to last week this week has been much better. I don't know if its because circumstances have changed or my attitude or both. But regardless its been a much more positive experience. The letters from the Primary were cute, by the way. On Tuesday we emailed because Monday was Memorial day and out of respect for the soldiers who aren't able to email their families we waited till Tuesday. Or its because the library was closed Monday. We tried to see Edward but he wasn't home, his problem is that Mormons think black people are cursed. Satan always goes hard before or after baptism, but we'll get him back. I just have a feeling he can't be gone gone. He was so solid. But in the same neighborhood we met a lady named Toni who was very interested with the Book of Mormon and asked if she could meet with us. (She missed the appointment later in the week but its a work in progress.)

Here's a guy we saw one morning, had the Officer check him out. Turns out he was just sleeping. Have yet to see a dead body or hear a gun shot surprisingly.

Wednesday we saw a few potentials I've been trying to see consistently for a while now. Dennis is one of them, turns out he has actually been reading the Book of Mormon and has some questions he wants to talk about sometime. He told us to come on Tuesday. We gave our 80 year old friend Mr. Holly an Ensign. He's Jehovah Witness so we gave him the Christmas edition haha. Also saw Hank Wednesday and we read some good chapters in the Book of Mormon. He's excited to get baptized this Saturday if all goes according to plan.

Here's a really fat Moth who was injured in some way.

Thursday was a bit less happy, we weekly planned, and then tried 4 people in one area. All of which weren't home. But it was like 5:30 pm. Friday we gave out 3 copies of the Book of Mormon. If I can give out 1 a day then I have to call it a good day regardless of anything else. So it was a very good day. 2 of the people we gave them to we got phone numbers/addresses'. One guy's Godmother was a Mormon and the other was a referral. The referral's name is D'ong. I thought at first he was an Asian man but I was wrong. I've never taught a Asian person come to think of it.. Anyways D'ong was very cool and he wants to meet with us and have his Fiance be there as well to make it a family matter. Super awesome.

Saturday was a stacked day. We helped some members move and got Donuts for it. It was the most organized move I've ever been to. We saw Henok and talked about the Sacrament and keeping the Sabbath day holy. Along with his Baptism coming up this Saturday. It was a great lesson, but sadly he missed church. I'm not really worried. He's reading the Book of Mormon and opposition has been a thing for him from the beginning but he decided to be baptized himself so its just a matter of time. We also saw Hank with Bro. Allred. Those two are good pals and we had a great time there. "Hanky Panky" is a very funny guy, his humor is witty. There's a wonderful picture of us wearing his neck braces but that'll come next week. Hank is also very excited to get Baptized.

Sunday was nice as always. Church was wonderful. After church we gave a woman a blessing. Her friend in Hagerstown is investigating and sent us to visit her. She got in a really bad car accident. It was nice to teach her about the restoration of the Priesthood power, and to testify that in essence Jesus is giving her a blessing. Then to give her a blessing to feel the power and have the Spirit's words come out of your mouth is very powerful. The fun part of Sunday was running into some black guys who preach about white people being evil. They recognize me very easily and cussed us out. But I've gotten much better at not caring what other people think about me, so it didn't bug me at all.

Looking forward to another good week.

Elder Simmons

5/29/17

This week has been bad all at once. I'm doing fine and my companion and I get along great. It all started on Wednesday when we were supposed to go to the Temple with Edward but he wasn't texting back, and then he did and there were very long texts that didn't actually tell us how he was feeling. But it wasn't good. We went over there and he wouldn't answer the door. So then the trip was off and suddenly we have a recent convert that is trying to not be a member anymore. He had some sort of anti we think, but the main problem is he thinks he can help people better with out the church. The church is too small to bring his friends to, and if its not from the Book of Mormon we don't give any thought to it. It has been like he has forgotten everything that I taught him, and everything the Holy Ghost testified to him. It was the Spirit he felt coming into church and what he felt at his baptism. Its been awful. It was one of the worst days in the history of Elder Simmons' ever to occur. But each day I have felt the pains of him making his own decisions leave me. I know I did my part. We're going to try to get him back though. I'm sure whatever he's going through has been miserable as well. So there's that story.

People we did see were Hank. He is doing awesome, we had some very good Book of Mormon reading with him and taught him about the temple. He's even done a lot of Family History already. Boo-freakin-yah. We're hoping he stomach incision is not infected so he can get baptized on June 10th.

Good ole Dalijah spitting out raps.

Henok we also got to see. We went over the Word of Wisdom, read the section in the Doctrine and Covenants. Turns out he stopped the major problems in Africa. and when he came to America he stopped drinking tea and coffee. It was a very nice lesson to have.

Some cool trains, that maybe I wasn't supposed to stand on...

Zone Conference was this week. I've been going to the same Zone Conference since September. Only one other Elder has been in it longer then I have. But it was good. We learned about things that I can't specifically remember right now. But it was 7 hours of things.

This was a interesting night. We were "watching" the game with two homeless guys (one since has received a Book of Mormon). Then the young guy came up and said he wanted to take a picture with us. So I got out my camera and this happened. Then he went on his merry way. Pretty strange, but that's what Baltimore is for.

Also a huge gathering of "Magic the Gathering" enthusiasts came to town. I don't know (or care to know) anything about the game, but these guys were nice enough to let me sit by them for a second.

This week is looking much more up. I'm super determined to get more investigators. I want to finish this whole mission thing right.

Elder Simmons