First off, I have some news. I leave this next Friday, the 4th of November. The moved upped our departure date from the 8th. Pretty much that means I probably don't get p-day next week because we'll be in an all day orientation class. I may be able to drop a note but other than that, you'll have to wait till Monday the 7th for a full letter. Monday's are p-day in the field. :)
In other news, I've had an okay week. I'm tired. All the time. One more week. I love Elder McDaniel to death and he and I keep each other sane. We've been talking as much as we can, every day since like week 2.5 here in the ccm. I greatly appreciate having him here with me.
I always pray for Jacob. I miss him a lot. All the latinos think he's my older brother when they see pictures and they say he looks buff in the one of he and I in front of the golden gate bridge. I talk about him a lot and think of him often. I miss gaming with him. And running with him. And climbing with him. And rocking out with him. And watching the Cosby show with him. He and I have a great deal to do when I get home, especially if he's leaving right after I get back.
The weather is fine. We get storms off and on and the temperature is sitting in the 60's and 70's right now. I'll let you know how that keeps going. I've decided I'm for sure going to live in scotland one day. I just want to. Also, I think I'm going to start a band when I get home and call it Dumbledore's Bathrobe. Yes I did come up with that name, so don't steal it. It'll be metal band and it'll be totally hefe (boss).
I've really been struggling with inviting people right off the bat and seemingly on focusing on getting people baptized. I feel like that´s the focus of too many misioneros and that they just want the number and to get the people in the water but that isn't why I'm here! I had a very stirring experience with elder Mcdaniel last night in a role play. I had the problem that the baptismial fecha es muy pronto y no siento listo (I had a problem with the baptismal lesson its too early and I don't feel ready) . Es muy rapido. (Its very quick) Pero, cuando nos fuemos hablando, (but while we were talking) he asked me to pray. Out of the blue. And to ask if these things were true. Ironically, earlier I'd really been wondering what the heck I was doing down in buenos aries and wanting to go home.
During the prayer, I asked if the gospel was true. I know it is. I got the answer, again. I don't know how many times I've received it. But God cares enough to tell me again and He told me last night. I also realized, that we're not here to pressure people to get baptized, but when it's time, it's time. And we have to act on the guidance of the Holy Ghost and it'll all work out because it's the Lord's plan, and it's the Lord's time. Needless to say, he and I were both teared up by the end of the prayer and it's just one of those things that you had to be there for.
I'm still goofy. I'm still crazy. I had a dream about climbing last night. I still miss metal. But i'm the lord's servant. And I'm supposed to be here. And I'm thankful for the opportunity.
Chao
Elder Simpson
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Second set of pictures from the MTC
 |
| Elder Gomarrah and I. He's from Paraguay and is 26 |
Elder Gomarrah and I chest bumping.
I showed him that the first week he was here and he
couldn't get enough of it.
Such an excellent elder.
Elder Chafala and myself
Me, Elder Mazon, and Elder Mcdaniel (Elder Mazon left this last transfer)
Elder Hayne and i. He was my roomie this last transfer
He was really funny. Such a riot.
Email from Oct 20th 2011
Well here it is. This is my last three weeks in the ccm. This is the time where we are supposed to ramp it up as much as we can because these are quite possibly the last english speaking days we have so if we don't understand something, we'd better ask now. This means the days fly by at a snails pace. Yes I just said that because both of them are true. These past 4 days have been some of the longest because somebody let slip that I had maill.....ON SUNDAY! And I don't get my mail until Thursday. Needless to say I was rather peeved. Other than that the week went well. First off I just want to say thank you to everyone that sent me mail. It made today spectacular! I was so happy to get all of them! You'll all be getting replies soon, (I hope) Mail leaves friday and Monday so I should have all the replies out by then.
My spanish improves each day and I'm astonished when I remember how to conjugate this or account for that irregular verb or remember some word or another. I know it's not me (there's no way it could be) and I'm so grateful to have so many blessings from the lord. I do core in the mornings for a half hour, sometimes during mid-day when they let us out to be in the yard, (usually Elder Mcdaniel and i just walk laps and talk during this time. He's my very best friend here. We talk about everything and do as much as we can together including hell-raising and rabble rousing) and then I do it again for a half hour at night. My entire district does it at least twice a day so in the mornings and evenings the floor is filled with grunting half asleep missionaries. A pleasing thought no doubt.
I'm so happy to hear about everyone at home. It really makes me happy to know my prayers are paying off. No I'm just happy to know you are all doing so well. I love Elder Chafala. He left this last transfer but he was a shred of light in the ccm. Not only was he funny, he too has an absolute love for all things awesome, namely death metal. We were always air guitaring together and singing (if you call death metal vocals singing. Needless to say, everyone now knows that he and i are metal officionados.
Last week during proselitismo we passed a house as we were moving rather rapidly to the pick up point so as not to be late. We passed this house with a little girl playing with some dogs in the front yard and I shouted a hello as we passed. I then stopped. Backed up, memorized everything about the house because God told me to and then we took off with me telling my companion we were going back next week.
Fast forward a week to this just passed Saturday. It's about half way through the day, we've had moderate success and no real interest. I remember we're supposed to go to this house so we go buzz em and wait. They open the window and ask what we want but because of the road behind us can't really hear us. They close the window and I was like great. Nada. Then they opened the front door and came out front! So i'm already blown away and we tell them we're misioneros y tenemos un mensaje sobre las familias eternas y un plan de felicidades. (we tell them we are missionaries and have a message about eternal families and the Plan of Happiness)
They go okay and unlock the gate at which point I swear to you I nearly had an anurism. We talk for about thirty more seconds in the patio area before they ask if we want anything to drink. This is the first time I've ever been in a house down here so i'm completely overloaded. We sit down and just start talking. Juan Pablo lived in the Chicago for a year and worked for IBM as a consultant and he and his girlfriend just moved into the house two weeks before we got there. He likes american sports and rugby and his girlfriend has a 10 year old daughter.
We then started teaching. We taught the plan of salvation. They liked that. The kingdoms of glory intrigued them. Then Juan Pablo talked about growing up in italia (Italy). They both voiced their distaste with churches that get money and forget about all the people that really need there help so we talked about the gospel of Jesus Christ being a gospel of love and all about the welfare program the church has. We then talked about the first vision and the book of Mormon which they also apreciated. At this point, about an hour and a half later, she stepped out of the room to let some friends in. We then committed Juan to read all of Moroni 10, pray about it and write down any questions he had. We said we might not be able to come back next week but he said he'd like to hear more from other missionaries. Needless to say, I cannot describe the feelings that were in there so many times.
They offered to feed us by the way which almost never happens. So after two hours, we walked out completely blown away and really really tired. It was such a blessing to have this happen and I've kept them in my prayers. I hope we can go back next week so that we can teach them more, because my Spanish is better. There's more I'd like to say, which I can't remember so I'll go. I've already stolen a few extra minutes because it's transfer week and no one else needs to email so for now, I take my leave. I pray for you all and I love you all so much!!
Real men cry. Jesus wept. Remember that. Also, an alarm clock in the ceiling at 2 am is always hilarious Words to live by indeed.
¡Chau!
Elder Ender
My spanish improves each day and I'm astonished when I remember how to conjugate this or account for that irregular verb or remember some word or another. I know it's not me (there's no way it could be) and I'm so grateful to have so many blessings from the lord. I do core in the mornings for a half hour, sometimes during mid-day when they let us out to be in the yard, (usually Elder Mcdaniel and i just walk laps and talk during this time. He's my very best friend here. We talk about everything and do as much as we can together including hell-raising and rabble rousing) and then I do it again for a half hour at night. My entire district does it at least twice a day so in the mornings and evenings the floor is filled with grunting half asleep missionaries. A pleasing thought no doubt.
I'm so happy to hear about everyone at home. It really makes me happy to know my prayers are paying off. No I'm just happy to know you are all doing so well. I love Elder Chafala. He left this last transfer but he was a shred of light in the ccm. Not only was he funny, he too has an absolute love for all things awesome, namely death metal. We were always air guitaring together and singing (if you call death metal vocals singing. Needless to say, everyone now knows that he and i are metal officionados.
Last week during proselitismo we passed a house as we were moving rather rapidly to the pick up point so as not to be late. We passed this house with a little girl playing with some dogs in the front yard and I shouted a hello as we passed. I then stopped. Backed up, memorized everything about the house because God told me to and then we took off with me telling my companion we were going back next week.
Fast forward a week to this just passed Saturday. It's about half way through the day, we've had moderate success and no real interest. I remember we're supposed to go to this house so we go buzz em and wait. They open the window and ask what we want but because of the road behind us can't really hear us. They close the window and I was like great. Nada. Then they opened the front door and came out front! So i'm already blown away and we tell them we're misioneros y tenemos un mensaje sobre las familias eternas y un plan de felicidades. (we tell them we are missionaries and have a message about eternal families and the Plan of Happiness)
They go okay and unlock the gate at which point I swear to you I nearly had an anurism. We talk for about thirty more seconds in the patio area before they ask if we want anything to drink. This is the first time I've ever been in a house down here so i'm completely overloaded. We sit down and just start talking. Juan Pablo lived in the Chicago for a year and worked for IBM as a consultant and he and his girlfriend just moved into the house two weeks before we got there. He likes american sports and rugby and his girlfriend has a 10 year old daughter.
We then started teaching. We taught the plan of salvation. They liked that. The kingdoms of glory intrigued them. Then Juan Pablo talked about growing up in italia (Italy). They both voiced their distaste with churches that get money and forget about all the people that really need there help so we talked about the gospel of Jesus Christ being a gospel of love and all about the welfare program the church has. We then talked about the first vision and the book of Mormon which they also apreciated. At this point, about an hour and a half later, she stepped out of the room to let some friends in. We then committed Juan to read all of Moroni 10, pray about it and write down any questions he had. We said we might not be able to come back next week but he said he'd like to hear more from other missionaries. Needless to say, I cannot describe the feelings that were in there so many times.
They offered to feed us by the way which almost never happens. So after two hours, we walked out completely blown away and really really tired. It was such a blessing to have this happen and I've kept them in my prayers. I hope we can go back next week so that we can teach them more, because my Spanish is better. There's more I'd like to say, which I can't remember so I'll go. I've already stolen a few extra minutes because it's transfer week and no one else needs to email so for now, I take my leave. I pray for you all and I love you all so much!!
Real men cry. Jesus wept. Remember that. Also, an alarm clock in the ceiling at 2 am is always hilarious Words to live by indeed.
¡Chau!
Elder Ender
Friday, October 14, 2011
Email from Oct 13th 2011
Hi All,
I haven't seen the sun in a week and it's been pouring for 5 of the last 7 days. It's been a rough week, and so i'm just trying to refocus myself. I think part of it is the weather and i just get discouraged by the language a veces por que es muy dificil y I(at times its difficult and I) expect myself to be doing so much better. We're expected to be doing so much and carrying on full blown conversations at almost full blown speed and it feels like a deluge sometimes. I drown in the absolute flood of words and there are currently state senators from Utah and Idaho in the computer lab with us absolutely going crazy with questions and wondering how it's going. It's rather funny to see and I can't begin to imagine the jet lag they're feeling right now. Political figures. Ha. I love these people. This is just so funny. Trying to be all nice and get to know us. hahah they're like us we're just better at getting to know people faster.
We just got called into the kitchen to listen to the senators for a few minutes which means I get 15 more minutes to write. I have not seen the southern cross yet because we only go outside once a day and that's at 3:30 in the afternoon but I'll be sure to find it in a couple of weeks when I get into Uruguay.
So a lot of the misionaries are from all over the place but most of the natives are from the different states in Argentina like Jujuy and Mendoza. I'm so glad Jake is doing great at running. Tell him to love every minute of it because I hardly get to run. I do core three times a week to stay in shape so I get a work out in and I think I've lost a few pounds already but nothing really beats taking off into the hills for a few miles. Jake is a rock star and I miss him so very much.
Confirmed date of departure for Uruguay at this point: November the 8th. Wish me luck because I'm going to need it. Elder Chafala is the greatest. He's one of our roommates and he absolutely loves death metal. I'm surprised and totally delighted with all the metal heads that I've found down here. Looks like I was born in the wrong country because a lot of them just love it down here.
I got a letter from grami too which absolutely made my day and p-days are just the best day of the week. OH! Proseletismo (Proselyting) went great! My understanding is getting a lot better and I can carry on a pretty decent conversation at a pretty solid speed. We learn so much every day and it never slows down. This transfer is almost over, bout a week left. After that it's 3 more weeks and they huck me into the deep end. Good thing God is the life guard.
¡Chau!
I haven't seen the sun in a week and it's been pouring for 5 of the last 7 days. It's been a rough week, and so i'm just trying to refocus myself. I think part of it is the weather and i just get discouraged by the language a veces por que es muy dificil y I(at times its difficult and I) expect myself to be doing so much better. We're expected to be doing so much and carrying on full blown conversations at almost full blown speed and it feels like a deluge sometimes. I drown in the absolute flood of words and there are currently state senators from Utah and Idaho in the computer lab with us absolutely going crazy with questions and wondering how it's going. It's rather funny to see and I can't begin to imagine the jet lag they're feeling right now. Political figures. Ha. I love these people. This is just so funny. Trying to be all nice and get to know us. hahah they're like us we're just better at getting to know people faster.
We just got called into the kitchen to listen to the senators for a few minutes which means I get 15 more minutes to write. I have not seen the southern cross yet because we only go outside once a day and that's at 3:30 in the afternoon but I'll be sure to find it in a couple of weeks when I get into Uruguay.
So a lot of the misionaries are from all over the place but most of the natives are from the different states in Argentina like Jujuy and Mendoza. I'm so glad Jake is doing great at running. Tell him to love every minute of it because I hardly get to run. I do core three times a week to stay in shape so I get a work out in and I think I've lost a few pounds already but nothing really beats taking off into the hills for a few miles. Jake is a rock star and I miss him so very much.
Confirmed date of departure for Uruguay at this point: November the 8th. Wish me luck because I'm going to need it. Elder Chafala is the greatest. He's one of our roommates and he absolutely loves death metal. I'm surprised and totally delighted with all the metal heads that I've found down here. Looks like I was born in the wrong country because a lot of them just love it down here.
I got a letter from grami too which absolutely made my day and p-days are just the best day of the week. OH! Proseletismo (Proselyting) went great! My understanding is getting a lot better and I can carry on a pretty decent conversation at a pretty solid speed. We learn so much every day and it never slows down. This transfer is almost over, bout a week left. After that it's 3 more weeks and they huck me into the deep end. Good thing God is the life guard.
¡Chau!
Elder Simpson
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Email from Oct 6th 2011
I literally just got out of the fastest haircut of my life. I sat down and 2 minutes later I was getting hurried off so the next missionary could sit down. And I lost a ton of hair in the process, makes me chuckle. I loved conference it was a blast. We watched all 5 sessions in conference. We watched all the sessions live except for priesthood which we watched Sunday morning.
Now I'll share a little story with you about how the Lord blesses us. This has been a really rough week for most of my district. We're on week 4 or 5, can't really remember any more, and so the work load is increasing and so are the expectations. We now have 2 progressing investigators so we're teaching every day and classes are more and more in Spanish. We get more grammer and we also teach the native districts for a half hour during the day. Needless to say, we wake up tired and get hit by an absolute deluge. Then you throw in the fact that we're learning increasingly existential and somewhat odd portions of spanish on a daily basis, for instance the usage of the words por and para, and you get some somewhat grumpy missionaries. I know I've offered more than a few prayers of suplication as of late and gone to bed and not been able to sleep because my brain is going a bajillion miles an hour.
So, God decided it was time to answer our prayers. We do story time at 9:30 some nights in order to unwind and grow more together as a district. Tuesday night, we decided to share spiritual experiences. The first one was like a blow to the guts. I had been wondering if I should be out in the field and how on earth I could handle all of what's going on. Then our District Leader went and spoke of his father. Then I lost it. I felt the spirit so strongly and I knew that I could do all the things that I needed to and that I listen the spirit will guide me and that try as I might, even if I can't see God right then, or I've hidden my face from his sight, he still knows where I am, what I feel, and loves me very much. Then elder McDaniel bore his testimony and I already love him and he lost it too so you've got a couple of nearly grown young men crying about how much god loves them and this is where it gets great. An elder I've been struggling to love opened his mouth and I was filled with so much love for him that all the problems have left. I hope it stays like this because this is so much better and he's a great kid. Needless to say, the testimony meeting was exactly what a number of us needed that night and you could have burned a house with the intensity of the spirit we felt.
On to expounding about God. I understand so much more now, and will continue to for the rest of my life. I pray for you all the time, (we pray A LOT) and it's all going well. The mind is willing but the flesh is weak. I am still a man of flesh and bone and try as I might, I will never be able to pay back the love of my savior. Christ loves us, and only through the atonement can we be redeemed. I'll write soon. I love you all and God watches over you.
Love,
Elder Andy
Now I'll share a little story with you about how the Lord blesses us. This has been a really rough week for most of my district. We're on week 4 or 5, can't really remember any more, and so the work load is increasing and so are the expectations. We now have 2 progressing investigators so we're teaching every day and classes are more and more in Spanish. We get more grammer and we also teach the native districts for a half hour during the day. Needless to say, we wake up tired and get hit by an absolute deluge. Then you throw in the fact that we're learning increasingly existential and somewhat odd portions of spanish on a daily basis, for instance the usage of the words por and para, and you get some somewhat grumpy missionaries. I know I've offered more than a few prayers of suplication as of late and gone to bed and not been able to sleep because my brain is going a bajillion miles an hour.
So, God decided it was time to answer our prayers. We do story time at 9:30 some nights in order to unwind and grow more together as a district. Tuesday night, we decided to share spiritual experiences. The first one was like a blow to the guts. I had been wondering if I should be out in the field and how on earth I could handle all of what's going on. Then our District Leader went and spoke of his father. Then I lost it. I felt the spirit so strongly and I knew that I could do all the things that I needed to and that I listen the spirit will guide me and that try as I might, even if I can't see God right then, or I've hidden my face from his sight, he still knows where I am, what I feel, and loves me very much. Then elder McDaniel bore his testimony and I already love him and he lost it too so you've got a couple of nearly grown young men crying about how much god loves them and this is where it gets great. An elder I've been struggling to love opened his mouth and I was filled with so much love for him that all the problems have left. I hope it stays like this because this is so much better and he's a great kid. Needless to say, the testimony meeting was exactly what a number of us needed that night and you could have burned a house with the intensity of the spirit we felt.
On to expounding about God. I understand so much more now, and will continue to for the rest of my life. I pray for you all the time, (we pray A LOT) and it's all going well. The mind is willing but the flesh is weak. I am still a man of flesh and bone and try as I might, I will never be able to pay back the love of my savior. Christ loves us, and only through the atonement can we be redeemed. I'll write soon. I love you all and God watches over you.
Love,
Elder Andy
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Missionary letter from Sept 29 2011
Hi All,
All the elders in my district are bound for montevideo oeste and there are hermanas (sisters) but there are none in my district. I think there are like 8 now. We just had transfers today in fact. We are watching General Conference live on Saturday in english but we're watching priesthood the next morning and then everything else live on Sunday. (Note: Argentina is one timezone ahead of Eastern). Sunday's are always in English which makes them and p-days the best. :)
During proselitismo (proselyting) I defiantly had a faith building experience. Elder Tyree and I went back to a guy named Cristian we had met the week before and talked to briefly. Unfortunately, that was the day he decided to open up to us. He sat there and talked to us in very rapid nearly incoherent spanish about how much he loves his family, how he had to leave them behind in Peru and how he dearly wants to be with them forever. I didn't understand a word he said. And that, is the gift of tongues. I know without a shadow of a doubt, that's what he was speaking about yet I could not understand him for the life of me. Elder Tyree and I walked away from it feeling desperate and somewhat depressed yet when we conferred, we both knew of what he spoke. I testify to you that was such a blessing of the holy ghost.
I learn at such an accelerated rate that I promise it's the Lord blessing me. I know this is his work, which is why i can teach lessons and understand a great deal more now than I did three weeks ago. The Lord watches us and blesses us which is why he sent a lightning storm to Buenos Aires last night. he knew i'd get up and would be fascinated by the almost constant rumble of thunder and rapid flashes of pure electric power. God's the best. No proselitismo (proselyting) this weekend so I'll have to come up with some other stories to tell you guys.
Proselitismo (proselyting) was great. We knocked doors for half of the time and then street contacted too. Juan was there and he had some really heavy questions. He opened with, in the Book of Mormon, why did so many people die for their faith. That was great to try and answer :) he then moved on to the importance of Mary in his life and why wasn't she mentioned as a member of the godhead? Then we talked about the after life, all in broken Spanish. But i'd say my Spanish is 500% or 600% better by now than when I got here. My English is getting worse and worse though and I'm constantly frustrated by the fact that I don't know the words to express what I'm feeling or how to say what I want to. Not to mention the fact that a lot of the locals don't know the words I have an affinity for when I find them in the dictionary. I mentioned the word for necromancer and also for leviathan and they looked at me like I was speaking a different language. Pun intended :)
For now I'm going to call the email good so I can be sure to get you those pictures. The lord is blessing us in his work. When they announce the number of active serving missionaries in General Conference, know I'm one of those numbers. :)
Elder Simpson
All the elders in my district are bound for montevideo oeste and there are hermanas (sisters) but there are none in my district. I think there are like 8 now. We just had transfers today in fact. We are watching General Conference live on Saturday in english but we're watching priesthood the next morning and then everything else live on Sunday. (Note: Argentina is one timezone ahead of Eastern). Sunday's are always in English which makes them and p-days the best. :)
During proselitismo (proselyting) I defiantly had a faith building experience. Elder Tyree and I went back to a guy named Cristian we had met the week before and talked to briefly. Unfortunately, that was the day he decided to open up to us. He sat there and talked to us in very rapid nearly incoherent spanish about how much he loves his family, how he had to leave them behind in Peru and how he dearly wants to be with them forever. I didn't understand a word he said. And that, is the gift of tongues. I know without a shadow of a doubt, that's what he was speaking about yet I could not understand him for the life of me. Elder Tyree and I walked away from it feeling desperate and somewhat depressed yet when we conferred, we both knew of what he spoke. I testify to you that was such a blessing of the holy ghost.
I learn at such an accelerated rate that I promise it's the Lord blessing me. I know this is his work, which is why i can teach lessons and understand a great deal more now than I did three weeks ago. The Lord watches us and blesses us which is why he sent a lightning storm to Buenos Aires last night. he knew i'd get up and would be fascinated by the almost constant rumble of thunder and rapid flashes of pure electric power. God's the best. No proselitismo (proselyting) this weekend so I'll have to come up with some other stories to tell you guys.
Proselitismo (proselyting) was great. We knocked doors for half of the time and then street contacted too. Juan was there and he had some really heavy questions. He opened with, in the Book of Mormon, why did so many people die for their faith. That was great to try and answer :) he then moved on to the importance of Mary in his life and why wasn't she mentioned as a member of the godhead? Then we talked about the after life, all in broken Spanish. But i'd say my Spanish is 500% or 600% better by now than when I got here. My English is getting worse and worse though and I'm constantly frustrated by the fact that I don't know the words to express what I'm feeling or how to say what I want to. Not to mention the fact that a lot of the locals don't know the words I have an affinity for when I find them in the dictionary. I mentioned the word for necromancer and also for leviathan and they looked at me like I was speaking a different language. Pun intended :)
For now I'm going to call the email good so I can be sure to get you those pictures. The lord is blessing us in his work. When they announce the number of active serving missionaries in General Conference, know I'm one of those numbers. :)
Elder Simpson
First Pictures from the MTC in Argentina
Elder Wray, Elder Simpson, Elder Crawford and Elder McDaniel
Elder Smith and Elder Simpson
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