Monday December 30th, 2013

Okay, so this letter definitely won't be long and honestly wont have much in it today. But this week has been good. Christmas was AWESOME. Talked to my family, cried like crazy. Miss them so much and love them all. After we went to a member's house and I got a present. She gave me a tie, cuff links and a hankerchief. Sweet stuff. If I can I'll get a picture eventually. I really wish we could wear cuff links they would be so sweet. I'd wear those awesome super man ones I have now but It's nice because I can save them and they won't get ruined.

Other then that we have been working a ton. Trying to teach the restoration to every one, we had a zone conference that was really good. The assistant's were there and taught all the district leaders and it was super spirit filled. I didn't get any letters at the conference, so I will get a ton in january when we have transfers in 4 weeks. Maybe if I'm lucky before then. But thank you so much for all the letters and emails. I really appreciate them. I realy appreciate the long email with tons of detail. It really lifts me up. Alright don't have any more time. got to go.Love you all.

Elder Simonsen.

Don't worry I'm fine :)

Brexton sent me several pictures, I'll be posting them this weekend. Thank you for all your letters you have sent him. He needs lots of letters, please and mailing them is the best for him. Here is his address 
Elder Brexton Robert Simonsen Brazil Vitoria Mission Avenida Joao Baptista Parra, 633 Salas 1501/1502 Edf. Enseada Office, Praia do Sua 29052-123 Vitoria - ES BRAZIL
Thanks for all your love and support
Becki

Monday December 16, 2013

Okay so today we are a bit later because today is the last p-day for my companion and we have been running around trying to do a bunch of different things but we finally made it to a computer! 

Yes that is exactly what I tell the people that ask why we are here and we say it so much. But it's always a good reminder. I was thinking about that the other day and it is something super important and you can tell apart the missionaries because of that.

 SO transfers are tomorrow! I'll find out tomorrow who my new comapnion is. Elder Petersen left today (I'll still get to see him tomorrow before I leave) but today I'm with the zone leaders again. Good news is I will stay in our area :) The other news is that pretty much everyone else in our zone is leaving. The other american in our house is staying :) and the brazilian of serra sede is staying as well. BUt everyone else is leaving. So things are going to be so different. Oh and as for the christmas talk. We are going to skype and the only thing I need from you is my old skype password and username. I think I know what it is but I don't remember...worst comes to worst make a new one for me and have me added on your skype account. 

fasting is super cool and super powerful, it's just sometimes difficult but is super powerful. And always get blessings! Don't have fear of them. They are so important and powerful. It's still really cool to give blessings in portuguese. We gave another blessing this week and it's still just cool. Portuguese is going good. My accent is still hard sometimes for other people but I'm improving. Understanding is improving too but when I say improving I can understand places I normally couldnt. Like on the bus and on the phones we use and things similar. It's nice.

The 87 year old man. It's not in my hands. Mission president ruled but. If this man shows a desire to change he can but he has problems other then just killing people and he is kinda of crazy. Like literally. 

So this week because it was my companions last week we visited a lot of members...we still worked but it's at a lot slower pace. Saturday I had the opportunity to go with him to a place in Vitória to buy things for his family. Originally I wasn't supposed to go but because the other missionary didn't show up he called our Mission President and he gave me authorization. Soooo I bought some stuff for you all. In reality I bought a thing for dad, for you, and for talon. Only because they took credit card. (I had no cash on me, it was a last minute thing so I wasn't prepared) BUT you will love what I bought. You just have to wait to get it. Only 20 more months! :p speaking of which when you send me more pictures (packages) can you send me a good picture that stands long ways and not fat. Any picture that you want of family but I would like a more recent one ( one from around the time I left is still recent too) I would be sincerely grateful. 

Thats cool about Brook scoring goals. How does she celebrate them? She does something right? But seriously thats cool she is doing well in soccer. I want to play so bad here but missionaries aren't allowed to. Too many injuries. I miss talon too but I'm doing what's right here in brazil. I miss everyone but yeah, I miss talon a ton. Oh talking about the week again we had the chance to visit our baptisms in the old area yesterday (president authorized) and it was really cool. One has completely changed. His name is jefferson and he is amazing. He is 20 or 21 years old, and he is amazing. We knew when we found him he was different. He wants to serve a mission and he is so strong in the church. The whole ward there loves him and he is just an amazin young man. His mom was the reason we found him and she is finally getting married!!!!!! In february but now she can be baptized too! That has to be the biggest obstacle for some people here. A majority of people here don't marry legally on paper with the government and so they can't be baptized.

Anyways, everything is going good and all is well. I love you all and miss you all so much and can't wait to talk to you on christmas!!!!

Elder Simonsen

Monday December 9, 2013

So this week has been a pretty good week. But one of the things that stuck out most this week is just how many things i'm grateful for. So many huge blessings in my life and I am only just beginning. It's truly incredible when you count your blessings. So the first thing is I love my family they are awesome and I miss them so much. It's nice being here but you difinitely feel that they aren't here.So I'll work backwards this week.

Last night we had an FHE (Family Home Evening)  with that family we always visit. All the kids are members but the parents aren't married so they can't be baptized. The mom wants to and has a huge testimony but the dad isn't there yet. Anyways this family is awesome and they are like our little family here. But so me and my companion walk in super late in the pretty much end of FHE and right there we are asked to bear testimony. We don't even know what about...so they tell us it's about families and I'm just thinking in my head from what we just came from they want us to bear testmony...okay I'll do it. So I bear testimony about eternal families then my companion. Then the dad bears testimony about how important familias are (no one expected that) and then we had HOT DOGS! It was really good but it was also a super cool experience.

So before that me and my companion had gone to church with an investigator and it was a christian congregation of brazil...So different and it was nice but I like our church so much better and we sing so much better. I thought i was going to go deaf in this little church. There were ladies that literally screamed the hymns. I'm not joking. Screamed the hymns. It was a completely different experience from our church. All the ladies wear viels. Completely diffrent and i had a huge headache when we left, my companion did as well. The book of mormon makes all the difference. the restoration is what seperates us from all other religions and churches. Those key factors sacerdócio, profetas, O Livro de Mórmon, revelação. So important. (portuguese for brook :p )

Okay so the zone leaders and my companion got me really good this week. I found out monday night as we were leaving the house that I was going to do a split with the zone leaders and I was going to spend the night. So of course I wasn't happy because I had already spent 3 days last week there and was just getting used to the area so I said one phrase "I like to stay in my area, I don't particularly enjoy leaving our area." So they decided to pull a joke. I thought I was coming home in like one day, so I literally brought pretty much nothing. So tuesday morning they tell me that I'm going to stay until friday. Then halfway it changes to saturday because my companion was going to baptize someone from our old area. So I'm thinking I have one pair of garments that I'm wearing and literally the pants and shirt I'm wearing and pants and shorts to sleep in....I at that point was like okay what ever i'll stay but I wasnt super pleased with every one because no one told me any thing at all. I didn't do anything but I just wasnt super thilled. Still taught amazing with the Leader of the zone. But tuesday night he's feeling bad because I don't have anything at there house so he tells me it's all a joke. I thought it was pretty good but the funny thing is the other zone leader then got the impression that he needed to stay in my area for one more day. So I spent monday to thursday mid-day in the same clothes. Fun experience but we had such a great time teaching. We found this one kid who is amazing and it all happened because of a simple whisper from the spirit. Talking to one lady and she cleary didn't want anything to do with us. the church of the acts of the apostles. So I ask do you know anyone that would benifit from our message. BAM because of this we find this one diamond in the dust. Super cool.

Anyways that was super long. As for letters, generally we get them every six weeks we have just been super lucky this transfer. I got char's letter and grandma stakers and all of grandma simonsens. valentines day. Just candy.

Okay Love you all!

Elder Simonsen

Dec 2, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIARA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Soooooooo......got your package this week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I love how long your letter is.It's killing me that I can't print them. I want to so bad but It's so expensive and actually I have literally zero money right now....I'll go get some today but I used all of my mission money this last week on food...I've been eating like crazy this last week. Like ginormous meals. (Don't know how to spell that.) Okay so first of all. We had a zone conference last tuesday. Was great, learned a ton and finally got recognized that I actually know whats going on ;) We had a new elder there from the states that served for a couple months and President moved him to the front right in the middle of the conference so he could hear more and probably understand. Then he went around asking all the new missionaries that arrived the last 2 transfers, haha I didn't have to move :) Anyways, I recieved a ton of stuff that transfer. I got your package , grandma stakers letter, all of grandma simonsens letters. So happy :) Especially for the pictures in your package. And for the hymn book. BROOKLYN!!!!!!!!!! That was amazing!! I love the sticky notes. That made my day. Thank you so much for it :) Okay so after the conference we had divisions with the zone leaders, so I spent 2 days in another area.

We finally had the opportunity to do service! So after lunch the second day (wednesday ) We (all six missionaries there) moved these bricks they use to build houses from the first floor to the second...took forever and they were heavy and really dirty. So after we finished we were covered in this orange dust and stuff. I brushed all of mine off after while but a bunch of peoples clothes got stained but mine all turned out good. I think my pants mght have a little orange...but they look way better then everyone elses. SO after that we went (Elder Conde and I) to one of their investigators houses and this lady was trying to remove these giant wooden poles out of the concrete with what looked like a chain link fence pole that the tip is like an oar paddle...and trying to use it as a shovel as well. So elder conde runs over there and takes over (it's raining) and after about 5 minutes, I start helping because he cant seem to do it either. So we were literally breaking the concrete with this pole (metal) trying to get these giant wooden poles out of the ground. We got the first one out in like 20mins and she had one left so we though well we'll get it out quick and then teach her.....one hour after we finally get it out. We are covered in dirt because we were using our hands to dig parts of the dirt out and the concrete and it was raining. But we finally did it and it was a huge help for this lady but it was an amazing experience. She made us food afterwards and we taught her a lesson. She is supposed toget baptized this week I think but she has to stop smoking.

So that's just one ofthe super cool experiences I had there with Elder Conde. But I Spent so much time trying to describe that...took forever to write. But the rest of the week has been really good too. Our area is doing good and we are teaching tons of really good people. Our ward is amazing!! I love our ward so much. I'm actually scared of transfers in 2 weeks because I don't want to get transfered. I'd rather stay here. I've learned so much this last week. Alot of it has been personal growth. Conviction and other things. Reading conference is so great and so insightful. I'm in helaman 6 now in the book of mormon and my goal was to finish alma this transfer...so I'm doing pretty good. One of the big focuses in our work this last week or that i noticed was the Book Of Mormon. How important and crucial it is. Alot of our lessons this last week were about it. Everything that our church is, the work, and honestly who I am rests on that.The Book of Mormon. 

All the things are based of it. It's either true or its not. Black or white. But if it is true, then Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God, he restored the Gospel of Jesus Christ and reestablished the church of Christ on the earth, and then that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. It truly is amazing and really amazing that I could say all that in english...actually was kinda hard. But of it I testify in the sacred and Holy name of Jesus the Christ, Amen.

Elder Simonsen

Monday November 25, 2013

So we are teaching this 87 year old man. I have no idea what he is saying most of the time. I feel like sometimes he doesn't speak portuguese, but It's getting better where I can understand more.Anyways he has 23 kids. Yeah, he has had 4 wives I think. But he's a pretty interesting guy. He says he fought in the war against germany but we aren't really sure because sometimes he isn't all there when we talk to him. But he's a super nice guy and he's really cool to talk with but he is definitely difficult to teach. But we have a couple really cool people that we are teaching right nowand the work is going good. The last 3 days have been super rough because lunch was a 2 hour walk away. Then we have to walk back to our area and it is hot here. Like it's summer hot now. But it's nice because I have time to think and kind of relax and practice. I'm trying to memorize hymns in portuguese and right now I have I think only 5 memorized and just the first verse. But it's cool because it's starting get to the point where I don't remember the words in english any more and only in portuguese. (Oh I forgot to tell you but tasha got switched spanish speaking last week and Brennan is in an english area now) But portuguese is coming along really well.

According to everyone here I have a massive american accent because I cannot physically roll my r's but i'll get there ventually. But something super cool is I had the opportunity to give a wife of a member a blessing this week and it was really cool. It honestly felt just like a blessing in english. Exact same thing just no words in english. It was a very nice confidence booster this week. Oh this lady that I'm talking about, she isn't a member but her husband is in the stake presidency (i think) and she cooks amazing! And she says she doesn't like to cook but everytime we are there she is cooking for us or making something in the kitchen.She made us this juice and it smelled really weird like mint (oh from scratch) with pineapple and I was like okay i'll try it....AMAZING! My companion and I were shocked and then she said after she spilt alittle bit."It's a sin to throw this away.." And then something to the effect that the only other juice this good

 will be in heaven. It was so good ,I had like 6 cups.

We are going though some christmas withdrawls here. We can't remember the words to all the classic christmas songs so if you could send me the words I would sincerely appreciate it.But everything here is good. I'm missing american food a lot because we have beans, rice and chicken every single day here but I cook griled cheese hamburgers and corn on p-day. But we walk so much that i'm loosing weight and I'm still working out pretty well in the mornings.My companion and I get along awesome. i'm going to be really sad when he leaves but I'm so excited for him because he's going home. We have a zone conference tomorrow so I might get some letters tomorrow. Hopefully. Might just have to wait until the transfer. But things are awesome here, I'm with a great group of missionaries and working hard. Somedays are hard but the other days are worth it. Sorry I'm just super happy becuase we were singing christmas songs this morning. Anyways I love you all and Hope that you all are doing well and that you are reading the scriptures daily and praying daily because that is where the strenght is. The small and simple things in life are what cause the big things to come to pass.

Love, Elder Simonsen

Jardim Carapina

 The one of me above the view is our old area in Jardim Carapina. This area was really poor but I loved that area.



This is his current location and companion (from Logan Utah) 

Yay for pictures!!!!!! 

Monday November 18, 2013

Okay so I'm a bit later today because we got here and they didn't haveany computers open so I had to wait but I'm finally on. Anyways, this week not to much has really happened. We worked hard this week and tried to find a bunch of new people to teach and we did. We have a couple of families that we can teach now. We did a lot of walking this week, so I'm super tired but today is p-day so I can rest. My companion only has 29 days left in his mission and he is going crazy he is so excited and so nervous to go home. But the funny thing is it's so hot here that when he goes home to Utah, he is going to freeze. But he'll probably be fine.

Portuguese is coming along really well, I can speak it almost the entire day but then I miss english and slip back into it. I'm getting pretty far in the book of mormon. I'm in alma 42 now and it is still so cool reading in a different language. It's starting to feel more comfortable then reading in english sometimes. Thank you for all the pictures, I really appreciate them and I should be able to send a few today because we recieved some from the mission and my companion is sending me some. So you all should be able to see them.

So my big focus this week has been the Holy Ghost. I feel like I focus on that all the time but it's so important because without the Holy Ghost you cant do anything. This isn't our work but the Lords work and through the Holy Ghost you will know what to do. So the first experience this week was during lunch when I gave the thought.I had the thought to share something I had read from Jesus the Christ (pg. 511 if you want to go look) that talks about the two greatest commandments and its when Elder Talmage is explaining how if we love the Lord that we will keep all of His commandments. The spirit was so incredibly strong and was like a wave rushing over me.For me it was like a conformation of what I knewand how important that is. Literally obedience will bring the Spirit into your life more than anything else. Then I had the opportunity to later that day recieve inpiration that we weregoing to teach a lady about the restoration and how exactly we weregoing to do it. And it was cool because right afterI recieved it my companion looked at me and basically said do you have an idea what we should do? Then the next day while I was bearing my testimony about the book of mormon the spirit was overwhelming again. And I literally recieved the words that I needed because I spoke clearly and fluently in portuguese. Following that yesterday we were visiting a woman and we decided to show her some mormonmessages and I had the prompting toshow her the oneabout marriage and divorce. I thought that's weird why would I do that? Turns out that's something huge in her life because she is on her second marriage and such. SO all in all the Spirit is huge in our lives and will guide us and help us as long as we are obedient.

So that's the little sermon for this week.I hope all is well and look forward to hearing from you all next week and how things are going. Happy Thanksgiving! (I think it's this week...)

Love Elder Simonsen

Zona Serra (Zone Conference) 

  The bottom picture is Elder Simonsen's current location. They are going in the church to perform a baptism.

Monday, November 11, 2013

So falo isso. Oração que é guiado pelo Espríto Santo é muito legal. Amazing. and marvelous.

Okay So I have 31 emails this week.......... :) but I'll focus on yall because you all are home. SO funny thing is I talk more southern now then before. Idk why but not speaking english as much it just happened. So I honestly don't remember much of this last week. SO much has happened and it's getting harder to keep the weeks straight. Haha guess I'm super tired. But I'm healthy so don't worry :) An Elder in our district isn't though he had to leave our fhe we had last night. I love visiting this family. The 3 kids all about mine and courtney's age were baptized in july and the 14 year old too but the parents arent because they arent married yet and the mom actually said yesterday that they were trying to get married in feburaury because it cost a lot of money (300 reals) and it takes a while to get the certificate here but that's awesome for them. BUt we watched mormon messages with them and it was cool because the dad who usually doesn't have much interest when we stopped and finished the prayer asked " we arent going to watch more?" And we were like well if you want to you can but we have to leave because we have to be home at 9....and then they pulled out the birthday cake for my companion. 2 cakes!!!!!! They were amazing and then one of their friends that we baptized took the left over of the cake (he is 16) and shoved it in my companions face! He was covered in cake! It was a lot of fun. 

SO yesterday we were talking with this one catholic family and this other thing happened. It was just the parents They are about in their 50's and we were trying to expalin how we baptize and we got in this big arguement about the proper way to baptize right. So we pull out the bible and say Jesus was immersed by John because he had the authority to baptize and the lady was like, no that's not right. John spalshed water on jesus's face and he was baptized that way....my jaw like hit the ground. She said that's what it says in the bible. My companion and I were just sitting there for a little bit and so after that (because we had already tried to explain that the whole different translastions of the bible and that's why the book of mormon is here) we pretty much left. Like we closed really well but we just were shocked. We thought it was kinda funny she thought that because the bible she uses doesn't say that. But just a funny story to share.

We had our primary activity yesterday as well and it was actually really funny because it's just the primary. You get the kids that sing as loud as they can for the solos and then the other kids that try to eat the microphone and it was all in all a really cool experience. Then this little, little kid said the closing prayer, but the problem was no one knew it was the prayer because no one could hear him. So we all sat there for a minute after the prayer and the primary preident was like "should we repeat the prayer?" The bishop was um no lets go eat. But that's awesome talon did so good.

As for conference ensign it's all good, I'm getting a portuguese one so just keep it for you guys there. You don't need to send it but yes I still need the usb cord. Not that i can use it at this lan house but I will want it later. If you could send some candy that would be cool....like bottle caps or something like tootsie rolls. But other than that I don't need anything.

Love Elder Simonsen.

So falo isso. Oração que é guiado pelo Espríto Santo é muito legal. Amazing. and marvelous.

I will speak only this. Prayer that is guided by the Holy Spirit is very cool. 
( We had to google translate to figure it out.. Brooklyn did it) 

Monday November 4th, 2013

Okay so your letter is really long :p but I'll print the parts you sent me and read them. I got the p. blessings on thursday and the line of authority. Thank you (We had to get online to send something to our zone leaders so I only looked at those three emails, nothing else) But I really appreciate you sending them to me and don't worry about printing them, i try not to print here because the pages are bigger and stick out of my binder and drives me crazy but I print what I think is important. This week we have transfers so if I got a package I will know tomorrow but letters get here really fast so those are fine to send and if you send packages just put pictures of jesus on them and i think they get here better. If it doesn't really matter i'll have more pictures of jesus ;) I just see that everyone else has them on their packages. The cold is gone and I didn't get a blessing for it because I got one like the day before for another sickeness and because I already know that that is one of my trials for my mission. Só vai. But I will be staying in this area for this transfer and I'm actually excited about that because we still have a lot of work to do. We have some really cool investators and some realy cool people we are talking with. This one girl, her boyfriend is huge, like every one of her brothers are jacked and then her boyfriend, is definitely a descendant of a lamanite. He's tall and just huge.  It's just super funny because one time we went to see if she was there and her boyfriend answered and said she wasnt and so we are walking away and I turned to my companion and said " That guy is huge" and he was like I  was thinking the exact same thing. They are so fun to visit and they give us cake and drinks every time we visit. The people here really know how to take care of their guests.

Our area of town we are in, in my opinion is a really nice par o town. Like I said before we have a store that's basically like the grocery section of walmart. It's huge compared to the store we shopped in our last area. It's a really nice area. We are in the town of Serra, I think north of Vitoria. Our last area was really poor comparatively but the people were still just as awesome. And we have this huge awesome mountian next to us that looks like it could be in lord of the rings. so cool. Our washing machine is fine but we have to air dry all of our clothes so things are a litle bigger than normal because they stretch while up there but it's all good. I finished Jesus the Christ this week, so that was really cool. I want to read it again but I think I'll focus more on finishing the book of mormon in portuguese now. I'm on like Alma 20 or something.

Don't worry about my food. The lord takes care of us and we have a ton of members here that said if we are hungry just to stop by and they will give us stuff. They actually don't have peanut butter here that i've seen and jelly is expensive but i don't need that, there is other stuff to eat. Like grilled cheese and hot dogs and hamburgers and I have cereal and oatmeal and apples and tons of stuff. We have ice cream once a week. It's all good. and we have hot water. The houses that the missionaries stay in are always taken really good care of. There is a standard for the houses before we can live there and our president takes really good care of us. It's funny because I can understand really well now so a challege I have is remembering to speak portuguese. Because sometimes I forget and start speaking a little english or throw english words in the sentance. But all is well and things are good. I'm keeping my companion for another transfer and then he goes home. So he's having a fun time realizing that. I appreciate the letters and the emails and everything you all do for me. I'm going to try and send a letter for your birthday this week but we aren't to sure when we will be around the post office again (its way out of our area but we try to find time to go if we need so send a letter) so if it's not there before your birthday it will be like right after. Love you all so much and miss you tons. 

Love Elder Simonsen

ps. Did courtney apply for colleges yet? How is Mrs. Jens class and how is her senior year? if she answered in her letter never mind but I'm just curious. And that's fine about Eric. I got an email from David this week so I'm excited to read it. Thanks for the pictures :)

Monday October 28, 2013

Yeah so I didn't get your letter last week but getting two this week was really nice. And I really appreciated it this week. Idk why but it was really good to read it. This week has been really good but I'm really glad dad went and said something to kiara's coach. I've been wondering how she as been doing in school and soccer. I'm glad they moved her to a new team. I hope that she gets more playing time and as for that coach....I'm a missionary and I can't share my opinion ;) Thats cool brook is so close to getting her permit, It will be scary when she gets to start driving but It will be a really good thing too. Just remember, no matter how bad she drives or courtney, I promise, promise that they don't drive as bad as brazilians. I don't ever want to get into cars here...it's so scary. Who needs speed limits here or stop signs? They don't do anything and the motorcyclists...do what ever they want all the time. But its fun and all the more interesting. I've been so close to a bus one time it basically scraped my back pack...but all is good. As for coutrney that's awesome about going to regions, just tell her to remember that even though your spending the night, keep your routine because you will be more tired the next day then you normally are because you stayed in a hotel. But I know she will run great. Just don't forget to pray before the race. That's hilarious about talon and emmy. They are so fun. It's weird not having little kids around all the time and when they are here it's impossible to understand them.

Yes I still need the chord, not that I can do anything with it in this area because the usb ports dont work here /: but I'll need it eventually. I haven't got your package yet but It will come, just takes time. Oh and everyones packages here have pictures of jesus on the cover, Idk if that makes a difference but it's just funny for me to think about. I got grandma's letter and linely's as well. Letters come really quick but everything bigger comes later. We got letters this last week because Elder Gavarret was here ( a seventy) and we had a big meeting in vítoria with the three zones closest to us. It was a super cool and spiritual experience but so they have wooden benches in the chapel and I thought I was going to die. We sat there from 8 until about 12:30...I cannot sit still through one hour of sacrament on these benches! But It was really cool and I understood almst every word except for when president talked...He has an accent because he is from fortelaza but I always get the message at least. I need to practice talking more in portuguese because I have a really hard time with the tenses because they have six where as we have 3 (past present and future) but I had the opportunity to teach and english class saturday and it was really hard to speak about the gospel in english. For example, I forgot the name of the church in english...yeah didn't see that coming. It was really funny though.

Okay so yesterday another funny story. This is about hot sauce called pimenta. So we are at a members house for lunch, the usually rice, beans, and the unusual really amazing meat coca-cola and dessert. So they pull out this hot-sauce the grandpa makes and one of the other americans (a texan) takes some he's like I love hot sauce. SO I'm like me too! I'd love to try some. So he dips a knife in a dropps the juice on my rice and I'm thinking that's it? So I ask him for that 4 more times.....and then take a bite after stirring...it was the hottest hot sauce I have ever had in my entire life!!! I was already sick( yeah I've been sick pretty much this whole week, runny nose, terrible cough, but it's all good I can still proselyte) my nose was running like crazy, I was crying but it tasted so good. So I ate it ALL. They thought I was suffering and were sincerely concercerned but it was the best hot suace ever. It was so funny. And the grandpa said before I leave to go home (because I kept telling them I loved it) he would make one and give it to me :D Anways that's my story for this week. Everything is good the people are awesome and I'm doing ggreat. I love you all so much and pray for you every night and day. Sorry If I didn't answer your questions but I took forever writing this. So ask them again next week. Always talk to everyone about the gospel because the spirit will be there whether or not you feel it or they feel it but the spirit will be there.

Yeah the area is really nice and thank you for sending grandpa's blessing to me. There is just a big focus among the missionaries about our blessings and I was curious about his. I have 20 new emails today but I don't usually read them all and about 5 are probably for the mission. But I'm doing really good. I'm glad you all are recieving blessings because If I'm honest I don't see how I could need more here. I have been so blessed with the language, investigators and other things.

Love Elder Simonsen

Monday October 21, 2013 ~ New Area

Alright so new week, new area and tons of new problems. So first off we basically had no p-day last week. We get to the house and p-day is over. Then we don't know any of the members and it was just not fun. The sister's that we switched with left the area book that was better then most but basically told us nothing. So the next day we get completely lost looking for lunch and walk around for another extra hour trying to find it but we eventually do. Oh and I got sick right after I emailed you so we moved on a day that I was sick. But know onto the fun stuff. I love our new house, it's way smaller but it is so pretty. I'll send you a picture when I get the chord or maybe next week if I have time. But so the first thing about our new area is that it's huge and its hilly. Like those sink holes we have near goldhead state park. People live on hills steeper than those. Oh and I realized that I had been living in a super poor part before because the day we got here we went to the supermarket to get grocieries. We went to like a supermarket like walmart....it is so amazingly nice. Like I was just shocked. I had forgotten they exsisted. It's in a mall like area and its just super nice. We all felt so weird being there because we were used to the super poor area. But like anyways these hills are ridiculous.they are like little moutains.I would be scared to go down these on a bike...they are just intense. Then our area is huge, it takes like an hour to walk to our furthest neighborhood.So much walking. My companion said he has never walked this much in any of his other areas.But I like it, It's nice to just walk and think. Its a little harder though because we can't teach as much but itsokay.

The first miracle this week was my camera. So it literally was a miracle.If you remeber it was broken and not matter what I did I could not fix it. So the  second I walk in the camera shop to ask the lady to look at it and fix it. I pull it out and it's perfectly fine. like it had never been broken. My face was pricelss. I was so happy and just couldn't believe it.It would have been so much money to fix it and it was fixed itself. Crazy. Then the next day we had interviews with the president and the first couple days in this new area  I felt Like I had been knocked back a day once again, portuguese was diffiuclt. I was just struggling. But After the meeting with the president everything started picking up again.And he said we could go to the baptisms of the people who had been our investigators in our last area. I have pictures but I can't send them yet. That was so cool and so fun to be at. Then that night we ran into the bishop at like randomly at a house we were just going to visit and he took us and showed us the area and where members live and it was just really good for us. Then the next day or friday I had splits with the zone leaders so I got to spend the day with one of them in his area. It was a little difficult at first because it had been almosta week since we had taught a real lesson but by lunch I was getting the hang of things again.

So then eventually we go visit this one guy who wants to get baptized but his mom wont let him and his family is evengelical and his sister shows up and basically spends 25 mins lecturing us and wont let us talk. She keeps going on about how we are wrong and all this stuff about not adding to the bible and such and my companion (the zone leader) in the first five minutes tried to bear his testimony and just did it while she was talking and then took to silience. It was an impressive learning expereince. I learned alot from him that day. But since then things have been good.The food is good and the work is good. I love being out here and I love this people. I still have a lot to learn though. I hope all is well at home and that you all have had a good week.

Love Elder Simonsen

Monday October 14th, 2013

Okay so a ton has happened this week. but one thing i want is pictures, if when you send me a letter if you could send another little picture of each person I would appreciate it. And that's awesome with talon and soccer. He's going to do great!!!

Okay so this week so much has happened and it's a little hard to focus today because but I will try to remember the rest of the week. I'll start with why I can't focus. SO last night we had splits in our district (i think that's the english word but i'm not sure and my companion was district leader so I went with the other elder in our district who is a brazilian) any ways it was really good and I can communicate in portuguese but I need help with conjugations a lot because they have 6 tenses compared to our 3...but anyways we met up again at a members house after the splits and my companion walks in (remember he's district leader. oh and the family whose house we were at is awesome, their daughter is leaving in like 2 weeks to serve in england portuguese speaking, yeah not sure how that works but they are an amazing family) and says (clearly frustrated) we are being transfered to another area tomorrow(today) as an emergency transfer. We don't know why and I don't think we will ever know why but we had two baptisms scheduled this week, we have been working wih 2 less active families, we finally had a service activity that I was super excited for because the guy is really cool (the father of a member but he isn't a member) and we were going to help paint their house. (oh btw generally here some houses or most that we visit are like the size of our living room and my room and maybe talons room. thats their house. other houses have like 3 rooms, one house was as big as my room) and we had an investigator that was doing really well with the word of wisdom (relapsed the other day though because it was a holiday) ad even kicked out her boyfriend so she could live the law of chastity. So many awesome things going on in our area anddddd we get transfered. Oh well, the sisters are getting our area and they will definitely enjoy our success and I'm not too devestated but it is a little sad. BUt right now I'm just excited to see this new area.

Okay so the holiday that happened on saturday is called Dia das Crianchas or day of kids. BAsically the kids have this holiday but at night all the parents drink and party. SPeaking of parties on firday they had this really big, like really big concert in our area and I was so glad that we couldn't go near it. We could however go to the vendors near and get some food. I had this thing called a pasties and it was amazing it had a kind of sausage in it with cheese and other things and then we drank I think its this, the juice of a sugar cane that had been pressed. Anyways it was really good. Oh and yesterday at a members house we had this desert...It was amazing!!! I ate so much at that meal and then she pulled out this desert and It was like, I can't even describe it. It was choclate and was like melted ice cream and just amazing. One of the other american missionaries and I ate so much that we were pretty much sick after wards. Like he was laying on the ground and didn't want to move. 

Anyways the mission is amazing and yes it is still dificult. Sometimes i feel like I'm standing on the other side of a glass window watching because most of the time I understand but I can't think fast enough to participate as much as I want to. Or the one time I get asked a question I don't understand what they are saying. But it's all good and it will all come. As for my package I won't know until november when we have transfer meetings. We get letters from our zone leaders but everything else only comes at transfer meetings every six weeks.  Don't worry about money, I have a lot. I transfered my 200 to brazilian money and it basically is doubled in brazil and I have like 200 left. If I get my camera fixed I'll have less but everyone keeps telling me to just buy a new one but Idk what i'll do yet. I'd rather get it fixed because I really like this camera. So not sure yet. But I want to send pictures but The camera won't even turn on because the lense is stuck halfway out so it just glitches. So we'll see what I'll do.That's sweet about brook making the soccer team and courtny's race. They are both doing really good. And kiara should hurry and beat brook on her persoal progress. Where is he applying for jobs?

Oh speaking of which I remembered today one of the missionaries gave me his picture thing, the one of the soldier that has the red, white and blue angle wings with the scripture, super excited to have that. For free too. But don't worry about me I have like 3 times the amount of stuff other missionaries have. That's cool about the bishopric and about you getting braces, what color do you have. And don't feel bad most people here have braces as adults because they are expensive.

Love you all so much and miss you tons!!! Keep doing the things your supposed to!

Love Elder SImonsen

ps. I bought this awesome tiger blanket because it has been so cold with the rain, your going to laugh when you see it and btw, I do not like little dogs, so many people have them here and they are so annoying. I'm talking like little chiawa dogs or however you spell it. Oh and you should read jesus the christ. It gets really good after chapter 20.

Oh yeah and I'm getting fat, Like we eat so much...everyone gives us food. I weigh almost 74 kilograms. Idk how much that is in pounds but just wanted to give you a laugh.

Elder Simonsen

Monday October 7, 2013

Conference was interesting, we were late to all the sessions except the last one on sunday. But I loved conference, it was really good, in portuguese. Priesthood was really good and sunday morning. The others i got as much as I could from them and i got quite a bit but its completely different in another language. i'm glad my letters came and the reason they came so quick is becuae the smaller the package the faster they come. The larger it is it takes way longer.idk why. but as for mail and packages here in the field i get them every six weeks. the president just wants them sent to the mission home becuase it's easier to distribute them at transfer meetings and through the zone leaders then having them get sent to the wrong house and trying to figure that out. But i'm super happy you got the letters, and I will write more eventually but i don't have as much time in the field as I did at the mtc. I get the liahona monthly so don't worry about a subscription but I hope to eventually get conference in english. This last session, not april, i already have april.

The area is really cool and the members are really awesome. We get feed us a ton here.  They have really big lunches in brazil and they don't really have dinner but we get feed so much we don't need dinner. I got some hot dogs from the store last week and for like 3 bucks i got like 40 hot dogs or something so that was really cool. As for rain it rained like 2 times since i've been here but after the first session of conference saturday we dedcided to try and go get a investigator to come with us to conference and it was right after the talk about tithing and the heavens being opened and us recieving blessings...I can testify the heavens were opened and we got soaked. Like we had small rivers running down the streets and the wind was crazy. I looked like I jumped in a pool. and i was that wet. MY scriptures got wet too :( My leather case protected my triplice alright but I didn't zip it up and I din't zip up my bible and the leather binding protected most of the stuff but the center of the books got soaked. SO yesterday they were drying ally day and saturday night. They are okay they just don't look as nice anymore. And my preach my gospel got a little deystroyed last week because I left in in my backpack one day and I sweated through the layering and the outside cover got deystoryed but everything else was fine. BUt don't worry all is well. RUning through the rain was so much fun and a once in alife time expereince. Got soaked by a bus too, it went right through a puddle but I was soaked anyway. I met an elder our zone leader and him and I get along really well. He's a convert but him and I talk about the spirit so much and we are like best friends. Also we were talking about patriarichal blessings, there has been a bit of a focus on it this week with us idk why but they are really cool and I enourage you to go study yours. The only thing here that makes me sick is riding the bus, or driving in a car. We all thought we were going to die yesterday riding in a members car to lunch. The roads arent smooth and people floor it and slam on the brakes. I get so sick. Food wise I've had rice and beans for every meal for about ever now and it's not bad, I like it, I just can't wait to have humburgers. The meals are really good though and there is always ome kind of juice with our meals. The members are awesome and the land is beautiful we are in a valley of sorts and thesurroudning areas are mountians covered in trees and stuff. It's so beautiful. We are going to try and get my camera fixed today so hopefully I can send you pictures eventually.

Thank you for the quotes, I didn't get most of those or even hear those so I really appreciate it.

I love you all and miss you so much. I'm learning so much about myself and the gospel and the spirit. The spirit i the best companion you can ever have and it's so important to have the spirit with you. Remember obedience brings blessings but exact obedience brings miracles.

Love Elder Simonsen 

September 30 ~ First week in the field

okay, so this was my first week in the field! i am in andré carloni, or if you look on a map i'm in serra right around vitória. It's so awesome to finally be in the field. The first day was fun we left the ctm at around 5:30 in the morning and arrived in vitória around i want to say 10. The president's house is a penthouse near the beach and has an amazing view. It's so pretty there. We spent about 4 hours at the president's house and then went to the transfer meeting. My companion is Elder Peterson from Logan Utah. Huge blessing having a companion that can speak english because then he can understand what i am trying to say and help me say it. I recieved a huge blessing because most of the time I can kinda understand what most people are saying. I understand almost everything some one that used to speak english says but the brazilians are a lot harder to under stand. however that has been a huge blessing to understand as much as I do.

Another huge blessing has come with speaking the language. The spirit has helped me so much say so many things I didnt think I could say. It truly is amazing how much the spirit helps us. Like an example was last night we were teaching a lady that has read the book of mormon twice and her 2 kids are baptized but she still hasn't recieved her answer. The spirit helped me testify about recieving answers and I feel like I spoke normally and fluently while I was doing that. It truly was an amazing experience. I love the people here, they are so amazing and I love the work I am doing. It truly is the Lords work because there is no way 19 year olds can go do this. His hand is every where in our lives. We have meet so many amazing people that we have started teaching (haha teaching is a different story, it's a lot easier to testify than to teach for me right now but I'm working on it) The people here don't have much and i realized i don't have much right now either but I have everything I need. And i am full of joy. I love teaching families about the gospel because I feel such a great love for them and I feel their desire to learn. It's crazy becuase the kids always get things way before the parents do. There are so many amazing people in the ward here too, church the other day was super fun, and I understood perfectly one of the lessons taught but I still have a long way to go to learn portuguese. But there is no ther place I would rather be. 

As for my package it hasn't arrived yet but the mtc will send anything that needs to be to the mission it needs to go to. If you have a tracking number call the tracking number and check where it is. Did my letter get there? Let me know when it does because it took 8 stamps to send. Way expensive. but worth it. As for the camera.....so the last day of the ctm we were taking pictures and I gave it to a sister to take a picture and she dropped it right when I let go....so as of right now it doesn't work but I can fix it, the lens shifted I just need to find some one to fix it or have the time myself to but don't worry about it. It will get done and don't stress about it either. I have plenty of time to fix it. Scripture study is good and always fun but a little difficult because i'm in second nephi and in the isaiah part, in portuguese....so i had to slow down. but it's always good. That's awesome about how everyone is doing. I love and miss you all. Make sure you read and pray every day, and when you are EXACTLY obedient you ALWAYS recieve blessings d&c 130. PAtriarichal blessings are really important and I encorage those that don't have it to go get it. It's a huge blessing but don't just take my word for it, find out for yourself. That's what the gospel is all about finding out for yourself. Us missionaries simply testify about the truth and invite all to "come and see." I love you all and miss you!

Elder Simonsen

CTM week 5

This week has been a good week, not too many different things. We just mostly followed the schedule and stuff. One of our investigators had his baptism on saturday and the other has his this saturday. We tried to explain baptisms for the dead to the on that had his baptism last saturday but the thing is we definitely don't know the word for proxy....so for about 10 mins he definitely thought we took dead bodies in the temple and performed the ordinances. But the language is coming really well, we are focusing this week on becoming fluent in the things we know. I can teach the 3 lessons in portuguese without notes but only for about 20 mins for each lesson so just the basics but it's a huge relief to not have to be constantly looking at my notes.

 

 I haven't got your package yet but when It eventually arrives they will just forward it to the mission home so it will come eventually. As for what we know about our missions, you know as much as we do. This monday we find out our travel plans for tuesday when we leave but thats the only thing we will find out. I have one other elder going with me to my mission, I love this elder by the way he's from chile and we get along amazing!, and then 6 sisters, 2 from my district, one from that elders district and 2 native brazilians. I'm super excited to go to my mission though, I just can't wait to finally get there and start the work and be completely immersed in the language.

 

The church in brazil is growing like crazy right now, that's why they keep sending people here:p the country is so huge. Speaking of that scripture you sent me this last week we had Pres. Camargo of the Curitiba temple (president but just called ebcuase 2 weeks ago he was a counselor in the ctm presidency) come talk and he talked about the picture of christ knocking on the door and how that many people thought the artist made an error when there was no handle on the door but there isn't becuase it's the door to our hearts and christ can't invite himself in, we have to let him in. Yes pres. Camargo is amazing and when He speaks I always understand him. Which is good because the last devotional translation to english wasn't very even close to what he was saying this time.

 

That's cool for Kari though, that mission is really cold though. Like it;s the coldest mission in brazil. I'm so happy my mission is warm. I'm tired of all these northern us missionaries keeping the class at like 68. Litereally 68 degrees, and our room...i sleep with 3 blankets. But all is welll and moving forward. I love and miss you all and love you all so much. So who is the new bishop? Oh and don't worry about the package, it will come when I need it. Oh fun thing we were sitting with a teacher yesterday for dinner and my companion's name is Elder Thomas and MY name is Simonsen. and When you and them together in portuguese it kinda sounds like Elder Thomas eSimonsen. Hopefully you get that :P

 

Love,

Elder Simonsen

Week 4 CTM

That's cool about the stake conference and President Bennion will do great. I know the Lavoies pretty well actually from that scout camp this summer. Let me know who the new bishop is. As for a charger your talking about...idk what charger. I don't need a charger just the chord to trasnfer pictures from camera the to the computer. That's awesome courtney got moved up to varsity I hope she has an awesome race. Don't worry about the package getting here okay, it will it just depends on when it actually gets here.

 

We were on a city bus so, we didn't give him a book of mormon and we didn't have any left. Idk how everyone is doing on their missions. I haven't had time to read their emails, I just skim super quick before I leave. Seems they are doing good from what I get though.

 

This last week was brazil's independance day so that was actually really cool to experience. They decorated the entire cafteria with streamers and we actually had ice cream!!! It was the best meal we have had yet. But other then that they realy don't celebrate it too much. You should definitely listen to the national anthem though, It's really crazy on the piano. This weeks devotional was really good we had the area authority for Brazil come and talk and his wife talked. I could understand most of what they were saying but I left my journal in the class room so I didn't get great notes and I'll have to tell you more about it later because I honestly don't remember right now what it was about because that was the Elder and Sister Steadmans last day at the ctm and the talks were really great and spiritual but for me the songs are what stood out. We sung the olive tree in portuguese and one of the teachers here sung it for us first and he was an amazing singer, never would have ever guessed it but the spirit was amazing. Then we (our district did a musical number) and it went really well, and then becuase it was the steadman's last devotional we sung God be with you till we meet again and Elder Steadman, he's pretty old but he's such an amazing guy I love talking with him, starts crying while we were singing and it was just a super spirit filled song. And before we shook the authorities hand I got to give Elder Steadman a huge hug. The people here at the ctm are such amazing men. The other Elder that is always here is Elder Adams and he is in our branch presidency and I've been able to talk with him and he's given talks and they just have amazing stories and are just awesome.

 

The best part of the weeks are usually the devotionals but the mtc is still fun, the schedule is nice but doesn't leave me much to talk about other then I spend most of the day studying. Our investigators are doing really good, one is almost ready for baptism next week and the other just broke up with his girlfriend to live the law of chastity so things are going really well there. As for going out again anf giving out book of mormons  we don't go again because that's essentially what the mission is like. BUt I found out this week that vitoria has cities but around those cities is tons fo forests and homes in the forests and stuff like that so I'm super excited for that because  honestly I didn't like being in sao paulo because I don't enjoy super crowded cities and stuff but I'll go where I need to go. Today I get to [pick up my scripture case, I only got one for my bible because I got a cheap one for the BOM so they don't match but I wasn't going to spend that much for two cases. But on the front I got that picture you got signed for me by I think greg olsen when jesus is hugging the guy and on the back I got that one when jesus looks over the vity from a hill because it looks really good when this guy does it in leather. And for your letters I have wrote only courtney's so I can't send them today becuase we are only supposed to write and p-day and I never have enough time but I wll get them done by next friday. 100%

 

Okay I love you and  miss you all so much!!!!!

 

Love,

Elder Simonsen

CTM Week 3

Okay so I haven't read you letter yet because a lot has happened this so I'm going to write a bunch and then read. So this week was our third week and we got to go prostlyiting. They took us to down town  Sao paulo, to the financial district. SO we basically went to the Wall street of Brazil. They gave us each two copies of the book of mormon and said go for it. On the bus ride there sister smith gave out one and her companion gave out one too. So by time we got there they had given out half of their copies. Me and my companion walked for about 10 mins in one direction when we got there and kept asking people if they had a minute to talk but no one did. So we were wonding if we were even saying it right so we tried talking to one guy who was standing there but all he said was I'm working over and over again so we gave up and walked some more when we found some people handing out stuff, like flyiers and started talking to them. My companion took two and I took two and we started talking about the book of mormon. I think I got the general message across or I confused them like crazy but they understood who we were and what the Book of momron is at least. I handed out one to one of they guys and my companion gave one to each. It was cool to see how truely intereested they were in hearing our message and their genuine interest in what we were saying. Oh and brazilians are amazing, they are the nicest people ever. Even when you say something completely wrong they try to help you and don't laugh at all. So after that we still had one more copy to hand out so we crossed the street and walked the other way. If you look it up we started righ infront of their equivalent of central park but in sao paulo. We walked past a citi bank building which looked really cool and then I started talking to this one guy who was catholic, I testified about the book of mormon and asked if he wanted on, and then he spoke portuguese and the busses were coming and going and I have no idea what he said. So my companion talked to him for a little and I understood the genral gist of what they were saying but he said he would read the book and if he liked it he would give it to some one else too. So we spent about an hour in down town sao paulo and then our whole district got on the bus and while I was talking our teacher on the bus, our bus actually got hit by another bus behind it. No damage just pushed the bus about .5 foot forward. Then that night we were teaching an investigator (our teacher) who was having trouble with His friends making fun of him for being mormona and reading the book of Mormon. So we abandoned our lesson and went back to if the book of mormon was true or not. The spirit was awesome and I definitely had the gift of tounges beacuse I could speak so easily during that and it was a huge blessing. There is a huge difference when you have the spirit with youu and when you don't.

We have only been to the sao paulo temple and the campinas (only because they were cleaning the sao paulo temple) speaking of which today at the temple I was playing around with the listening device and trying to listen in portuguese and I can get most of what they are sayin, llike i understand I just don't think I can repeat back but the last week I'm at the ctm I'm going to try and do it in all portuguese. Brook can use my scriptures, thats fine. If she wants she can even use my older black  ones that are marked up. it's fine with me. So as for the letters they are actually super expensive so I only am probably going to be able to send like 5. Beacuse they are really expensive for some reason............idk why but I'll probably send more anyways.

Thanks for sending the debit card and are you sending my camera chord too? it's okay if you don't because I'll just buy a new one I was just wondering thought. The language is coming better, I can read pretty much any part of preach my gospel and anything that has to do with the gospel in portuguese, which is cool but at little frustrating because sometimes I struggle with talking but |I'm getting better. We stay with the same companion the entire time we are in the ctm. Mind blown about brooke and michael. That's sweet about having two general auhorities as well.

Oh so it would  be a huge blessing if someone could go in my cases of stuff in the garage and get my hymn book, the small english one, I sincerely miss english songs and if you could also find my color scripture markes too because I'm stuck with red right now.

That's cool about seeing rachel, I don't care who rights me but emails for you guys come first. I need to work on the letters for you guys but I'm supposed to only right on p-days so I'm trying to be obedient, I just need to actually have time to write instead of walking around casa verde wasting time like my comapnion wants to. But all is good and things are well. I miss you guys but there is no other place I'd rather be then here right now. It's so much fun and so amazing. I love you!!!

Elder Simonsen

Temple Visit ~ Wed, Sept 4, 2013

Dear Family,

This week the temple in São Paulo was closed for cleaning, and we have had the opportunity to have the missionaries visit the beautiful Campinas temple.  It is a little further away than our temple in São Paulo.  It is a smaller temple set high on a hill, which is seen from a distance as we enter into the Campinas area.  The missionaries have really enjoyed the visit.  We thought you would like this photo.

We have an amazing group of missionaries here in the CTM at this time.  It is such a blessing for us to be able to serve with them. Thank you for your continued support with emails and letters.  They are much appreciated.

Sincerely,

Sister Degn

Sorry, I cannot make the pictures bigger because then some of the missionaries got cut off and we want to make sure we have all present. 

TALON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TALON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I love you and miss you and i'm so jealous you got to go to disney!! I heard you had an awesome time and that it was super cool! I hope you have an awesome birthday and that you enjoy what I got you ( i know every one else will) I love you little bro and I miss you tons! Remember brothers look out for one another!

 

Love your brother forever,

   Brexton

CTM ~ Week 2

I'm glad the font is smaller :p but you wrote a huge, huge letter so we'll see how far I can get. I was wrong about the time I get, haha I only get 45 mins to write so it took me about 10 to read your letter :p I'm glad emmy is potty trained and that she had so much fun at disney. I thought I was going to fall off my bed too the othere night because we sleep on bunk beds and after our brazilian roommate left I tried his bed and it's just way too shakey. That's cool she's growing up too fast though :(

That's awesome courtney didn't get cut till the 7th lap! That was always one of the most fun races. Have fun in mrs jens class though... don't tell her I didn't like her. I think she thought she was one of my favorite teachers. has she even realized your my sister yet? :p

For the phone I think the password is like Brexton24 or something. She can refill the phone on the phone. It's a specific app. Soccer sounds fun! I'm sure it's way better then sitting around doing nothing like she has been. Those days drive me crazy. What cool though is here I wish we had more time. Days are long but there isn't enough time for everything. Like emails for example or what not. As for seminary it will still be fun, dont worry about everyone going to creekside, your not there for them you're there to learn. And it will pay off if you learn sooner then later.

That awesome kiara has mckinze in her class (sorry no time for spell check) that will make things so much fun in class.Mr. siegel is awesome shes going to love his class. And she is going to learn so much about drama from him. As for that skinny class...idk how to respond. I said it out loud and every one was like they called the class what? Soccer is going to be tons of fun.

That's rough about the end when grandma couldn't help but it was nice of some lady to grab talon. Haha that could have been way worse.

That's good he's coming to scripture study, I wish we had more time for it. I spend most of my time reading in portuguese and then what I don't get reading it in english and it takes like at least 30 mins for a chapter. I'm not surprised about the holes. Haha that's awesome he got it done though. I definitely would have had to take way longer to have done it.

Yeah I haven;t heard anything about back home. Like we don't hear anything about anything. It's kinda like prison because we don't really get sunlight but it's tons of fun. We have ahispanic group of elders we hang out with a bunch and we have been talking to lav's district because they have temple day with us. Let me know how the stae meetings go and stuff. Should be interesting how everything changes. Haha it's so much fun going to those firesides, it's cool because we have 2 each week. one either wednesday or tuesday and one sunday night. The last one was by elder anderson when he talked at provo on tuesday. It was good, mostly about following the spirit.

Not much has happened since last week. We learn everyday more words and we  are getting really good at beginning lessons and teaching but we still rely alot on written notes but we can understand most of what they say, most of the time.... the other day we went to teach one investigator ( our teacher) and didn't even get to the lesson because we spent most of the time talking about quitting smoking. We went to the sao paulo temple today...it is the most beautiful temple I have been in. It was just so beautiful. It doesn't look like a lot from the outside but the inside is amazing. The session was in spanish, bc we went with the hispanic group so we had to wear headphones but they made one of the guys in my district do portuguese and he is the one who is having the hardest time with it. Afterwards he was like "i dont eve know what I said" . Really cool and neat experience though. Oh and across from the temple was a WALMART!!!!!! they exsist :) we couldnt go though. It was just nice to know its there. I;m going to try and get postage stamps today because in reality it's way easier for me to get a lot more for everyone in our family individually that way and then I can use this email to talk about the week and such less personal stuff. Oh pizza by the way, they have this pizza that is like nutella chocolate and has bannan's on it. Heaven on earth. Please send the card to the ctm. If you send it to the mission home idk when I'll actually get it and if they will hold on to it and realize i'm coming.

I miss you all and love you tons!

Elder Simonsen

Tell them I say hi too!