10/26/15

Gutenberg everyone! (Key and Peele reference) This week has been fantastic. Last week I struggled with my confidence in teaching. Before this week I planned on doing this by myself, to learn and to grow on my own. I realized how wrong I was. There's no way I can do this with out the help of my savior and the atonement. So I prayed to have courage to talk and to have help in knowing what to say. We had a lesson with the two old ladies, Connie and Sarah. We taught the restoration and I just went for it. It wasn't smooth by any means but I did it.

On Thursday we had a lesson with Tony. Our plan was to teach at his mom's house and teach the Plan of Salvation. We got there and Sister Page (his mom) wasn't there and he was still far away. So we decided to briefly meet him at a McDonalds. The Butlers and Elder Gille determined that this lesson was going to be my day of reckoning and I knew it too. I was prepared to just go for it. But with the time shortage we killed off our former lesson plan and they said what ever I talked about they'd help me run with it. When we met I started talking about what we learned about investigators getting opposition when investigating. As my thoughts were drawing to a close the Spirit helped me remember the story of my Grandma Jill. She was taught by missionaries and she said that when they'd leave, Satan would go ham and make things really hard. I told Tony this story and he really related and it touched him. I roughly said " I am literally here today because someone in your position stayed strong in learning what we're teaching you." ( I may have changed the sentence structure to make myself sound more intelligent) That was a great experience and helped me gain a even stronger testimony in knowing God will place the words in my mouth at the very moment I need it.

With my Grandma Jill at my farewell before I left on my mission.


Another funny part was when we said our closing prayer we all looked up and a woman was standing right next to Elder Gille who had joined us in prayer and boy she was a surprise!

During the week we had a Zone Training which included going to the park where I got to play baseball (catch) again. I had to take the glove off every time To throw but it was nice. (Go Mets) we did service this week with the University of Pittsburgh in the Burrough of East Pittsburgh. It had a small town feel with proud towns people of the "rich" historical background it holds. It felt like the town from Hoosiers. Also the leaves are starting to really change and its epic.

Painting service with Seagull, Snickersbaard and Co.


Others highlights this week was teaching a lesson Down Town, riding ten buses in one day, Seeing meet the Mormons, and our man Rob gave a awesome closing prayer in sacrament meeting that mainly addressed breast cancer, ok it only addressed Brest cancer. Lol It's been a great week.

Elder Simmons

We had 400 flyers. Passed out about 30.

Floss picks for days!

Me and my boiii, Elder Gull!

Man Van selfie.

Elder Gille's trouble with his umbrella. Also a possible kidnapping.

10/19/15

This week has been full of ups and downs. I'm exhausted a lot of days and my feet integrity seemed to get shorter and shorter each day. A lot of times I feel inadequate but I'm working on it, practice will make better.

It's been an eventful week. I went on exchanges with Elder Syndergaard and we walked all over the city, it was a good time. He's s funny guy my favorite quote was to Elder Gille in reference to the wizard of Oz is "Was everything in Color once you left Kansas, or is it still in black and white?"

Near the river with Elder Syndergaard.

We met some new people this week and we've gotten to meet with our people to teach. Our main tops yinzers are Tony, Tonia, and Nick. We had another lesson with Tony and his mom, with the Butlers. He had some walls up at first but Elder Butler completely tore them down. He brought the spirit in so strongly and Tony had a change of heart. He wants to come to church but he couldn't because he had work in the morning.
Right before Tony's lesson we by chance met with Tonia and I gave her a priesthood blessing. The Spirit was strong even though I struggled with every thing to say. Hopefully we'll see her again soon.

We had a crazy dinner with Nick, crazy Linda, Debbie, and Elizabeth. There was absolute madness going on with Linda and Debbie but we had a powerful lesson with Nick. He's always told us he wasn't going to convert but during this lesson he said I think I need to be baptized again. Hallelujah! We're super happy with the progress were making with our investigators. And we should be meeting with more soon.

Other highlights consisted of a crazy woman in a power chair on the bus screaming at me then everyone else on the bus. She isn't a people person obviously. Also on the same ride I met a guy who claimed to be an angel and gave me some very interesting papers. Only on LSD I think can one write this kind of stuff he gave me. So he was entertaining as well. On Sunday Elder Masina and I walked around the Steelers stadium during a game so that was pretty cool.

We were privileged to go to members houses for dinners everyday this week, the Lovelands are always a highlight.

I'm also starting a lighter collection. Authentic Pittsburgh Discarded Lighters, I'm at 2 so far. It's been cool to see all the leafs change color, and now freeze because it got cold the past couple of days! I'm having a good time out here and like any good adventure there's ups and downs. But all is well.

Elder Simmons

Giant Cookie

With the "Shady Dog" hot dog vendors.

Steelers Football Stadium

Tryin' to be cool.

Letter of the week goes to my siblings who never cease to surprise! Lol!

10/12/15

What a week!

This week we walked like pioneers on a taco Tuesday! We had some crazy things go down. First off Joe the beloved is getting divorced and is moving somewhere! That came out of now where. We also met with Mary in Wilkinsburg, she's not doing so well because she doesn't want to join a church, and won't pray about knowing if she should join, won't wake up in time for church, and finally won't trust anyone to give her a ride, so we're stumped. Our only hope with her is the Book Of Mormon. Other than that what can we do?

While in scenic Wilkinsburg we got to have fun with little kids and meet some people who asked for "literature." What are we British now? In Homewood at the Italian ice place I learned the man running it is named Deacon Simmons! I always knew I had some African American in me! On Wednesday we were going to visit with sister page and outside the place we met this lady named Tonia (ton-ya) and we had a lesson with her that day. Holy cow is this woman prepared, the spirit was amazing strong. Thanks to the help of the power hitting Elder Butler. It was the best lesson I've ever had. She committed to be baptized next month before we even introduced the Book Of Mormon! Hopefully her health will get better so she can get to church and be able to focus on reading the BOM. She couldn't go this week.

We got to have another dinner at the Lovelands this week and they are heaven sent, we have a lot of fun with them. I really enjoy getting to know this Ward, there are some awesome people in it. Mainly during the week walked and talked. We met a bunch of new people that we'll hopefully get to meet with in the future. Nick came to church! He really had a good time, some things about temple work were introduced and I think that's where we'll be able to snag him on our fishing line of Jesus. #reelinferdayz.

This week ended my first transfer out, and that meant some people left and others came, a new missionary Elder Syndergaard, from world class Pocatello Idaho, has come to Pittsburgh. He's companions with elder Masina. He's bigger than Masina so nobody is going to mess with them. He's funny.

Me and Elder Snickersbaard!


There was a day it rained pretty bad, we were standing outside and it was fine, then a gust of wind came and it just dumped on us. It was as if Mother Nature blew us a kiss before screaming at everyone for littering on her. The mornings have gotten a lot colder but the days are just peachy. On some day of the week we went to the Shady Dog, a really good hot dog stand, the guys there are super cool. I got a whole meal for free! I'm trying to have a out look on life like they do.

It was a very solid week. People can be frustrating, and disappointing, but they can also be amazing,and up lifting. You'll never know what you'll get around here!

Elder Simmons

The nicest area, Morningside.

Stanton Heights is aight, I guess.

Dog pile!

Almost the right spelling of Lehi.

This house was blasting music all morning.

10/5/15

Hey everyone this week was awesome! We hit he streets to contact a bunch of old contacts! One day we walked for over seven hours and no one was interested! BUT it was by far my favorite day! I love being able to walk around Pittsburgh and be working. Even if I don't see the results. By the end of this week we got five more investigators! And three unofficial ones as well. I'm super excited to be able to teach these people!

Waiting in the rain at the bus stop.

Walking home from conference last night we were determined to get another investigator. So we started walking and immediately missed a bus. Perfect! Now we can walk and talk. We met a woman and her daughter. The little girl was watching Veggie tales! The woman is very interested and willing to learn from us, it was a great end to an awesome weekend.

Sweater day!.

Watching General Conference at a members home.

Speaking of a good weekend conference was too awesome! I took conference for granted so badly before I left. It was really powerful. One session a investigator came to the church to watch! I was so pumped when she came. At the end of the session she seemed nonchalant about it all. That kinda bugged me because we're obviously teaching her wrong if she doesn't care about what the prophets are telling us. So we need to work on that one.

The Districts of Pittsburgh.

But all and all we had a super sweet week! I'm pumped for this week to get to be able to teach these new people!

God bless,

Elder Simmons

Letter of the week goes to Darcey who drew a dreary scene in which I hate birds.(I actually enjoy birds immensely.)

Dinner at the Butler's with the gang.

Cooked green beans. Surprisingly good.

PNC Baseball park in downtown Pittsburgh.

9/28/15

What up everyone!

This week has been great! We had a zone conference that my neighbor Brother Ott was at so that was solid!

This week we stunk on lessons. 6. Yikes. But we did have a lot of meetings this week. Thanks to the 40 day fast our ward is doing, we've been getting a lot of meals and now these families have been giving us groceries too!! 5 different families gave us food! It's been such a blessing because I ain't got no money on my card until recently when I got repaid. Not the point. It's crazy to see the blessing flow onto us.

This week the plan is to work like the second coming is in a month. We're going to start hitting all the people that have talked to missionaries in the past and it'll be awesome. I just want to work hard. I don't enjoy sitting around very much lol. But things will get picked up for sure. I'm excited, we have some solid investigators. One lady and her daughter are awesome. They just seem prepared in their lives for the gospel and the daughter who is in 7 th grade is super spiritual. It's awesome to see a child be so close to God/Jesus. Another lady we visited in Wilkinsburg (don't google it mom) also seemed very receptive to the message we shared. Angie we are still giving space. Nick (Debbie's friend) is reading the Book of Mormon and is enjoying it, he doesn't know he's being converted really haha we try to be friends first because that's the only way he'd ever change. Nick is awesome, he is a DJ apparently. And this week we'll finally get to meet with Armetta who is such a sweet and sharp old lady. She loves that we focus on the family so much, so the plan of salvation will be a sweet lesson for her. I'm excited for this week! And in the words of Big Black. DO WORK SON.

-Elder Simmons

Shout out to Uncle Dan with the best letter of the week award. Creative, comical with no plot line. Made my day.

A video from my new upcoming album "Yinzed - Pittsburgh Harmonica Hymnals".

9/21/15

This week has been pretty good! We met with a lot of members this week because the Ward is doing a 40 day fast and they're encouraged to feed us the day they fast. Fine by me! A highlight of the week was the general authority visit, Elder Stanfill of the 70 visited us. He's a really cool guy.

Half of the mission!

Representing Timpanogos High School in Pittsburgh!

I enjoy talking to all the kind people that are here in Pittsburgh. There is always some crazies that are entertaining. Roger, a homeless guy we talk to all the time told us a weird story about a troll and a guy who just likes money..idk but it was interesting. In general people are very kind to us. There's always the few who think they know what we believe and are completely wrong. But what can you do?

Alot of the days I'm super tired. Saturday was the worst/best day. A lady named Lindsay asked us to help move some furniture. She shows up with a full U-haul. Filled with furniture. A table and four chairs, two dressers, an entertainment center, two sofa type chairs, a big old TV, and one giant really heavy couch. This couch was at least 200 lbs. only Gille and I were there to help, oh and did I mention that she lives on the THIRD FLOOR? And this stair case was small and windy. It took us over a half hour to get that thing up there. Half way through I felt the symptoms of passing out so we had to take a break. At one point I was underneath the couch and thought if my muscles give in..I'll probably be crushed and die. But here I am, with only slight back soreness. That was one of the hardest things I've had to do In a half hour span.

Anyways this week was fun, try to share the gospel with someone this week. You can decide to change someone's life by getting out of your comfort zone and speaking up!

Do work son

Elder Simmons

Possible Harmonica Album Cover Photo!

More Sweet Graffiti.

At PNC part for a Pirates baseball game.

Pirates Baseball Game

Brad (AKA Mr. Baseball) was able to go to a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game with his companion. He made friends with the fans in front of him and borrowed their flag!