Pictures from Regina Marques (bishops wife) and Transfer information

Mais fotos! ~ More Photos

Este irmão ao lado dois dois missionários é o Líder da obra missionária na ala. ~
This brother beside two two missionaries is the leader of missionary work in the ward. (picture above)

Hoje teremos transferências! Saberemos logo mais se ele vai ser transferido ou não. Se eu souber posso lhe falar logo mais.

Today we transfer ! We'll know soon whether it will be transferred or not. If I know I can talk to you soon .

Seu filho vai ser transferido! Mas nós ainda não sabemos para onde ele vai!

Bem, foi um grande prazer alegrar os seus dias com algumas notícias e fotos de seu filho!

Um abraço!

Ele é um GRANDE missionário! Nós vamos sentir muita falta dele, com certeza! Parabéns pelo filho especial e valoroso que vocês têm!

Your child will be transferred ! But we still do not know where it goes!
Well, it was a great pleasure to brighten your day with some news and photos of your child !
A hug!
He is a missionary GREAT ! We will really miss it, for sure! Congratulations on special and valiant you have !

Monday April 27, 2015

Hey can you send me a picture of bro and sister Yeargin. I miss them a ton. That's tough though that you all are sick. I cant imagine how that its. So today you'll have to be patient with me because this computer is really slow and I really dont have patience to mess with a computer like that. So if there are a ton of words spelled wrong its because of how slow the computer is. But anyways this week was super fun......it was probably the hardest week of my mission up till now. Literally we have no investigators and we couldnt enter anyones house....and i had fun week with my companion. its better now but oh yeah, lots of prayer. We however had a super fun service project, so here in brazil they bould houses with a type of clay brick and to build a roof they use brick andthem pour cement on top of the bricks. So what happens s that here when you build a house, and you arent super rich, its literally you and one construction worker building a house, and to do the roof its like barn raising, everyone comes to help. Becuase......you dont have a cement truck, you make the cement, fill up buckets and carry it to the top of the house.....so this house happened to be above, well basically it was 3 flights of stairs....carrying a bucket full of cement......I had a blast, it was so much fun, however I learned how I'm like half the person physically that i was when i started the mission. Literally. It was super tireing but really fun. Eveyone was so tired and exhausted afterwards. It is an experience that I will never forget.Literally though, my companion had no energy for the next 2-3 days. BUt it was super fun. BUt i will think twice when some one asks again, because it took a really long time, and its really hard work. But I loved it. 

So as for the rest of the week we tried to work, did a division with some return missionaries here in the ward And they taught me a ton. BUt the tings I learned this week are patience, faith, love, and hard work. I learned that its not as easy as we think to follow the Spirit sometimes and you have to be fearless and testify of the truth in every contact, so that they can feel the spirit and have a desire to learn. That the lessons are best taught by a team who are following the Spirit, that we have to be humble and recognize the Lords hand in every thing we do.I learned again to love the Lord and His plan for us. I learned to love and treasure the scriptures even more. I learned to share that with those I love and how to use your heart to teach. It was a super good spiritual week. And I learned a lot.

haha i switched computers, now its a little better. but anyways. We were transfered. So we will be going to a new area tomorrow. Should be fun. I think that it will literally be my last area. I have only 11 more weeks. So the chances of me leaving in the other transfer to go to another are very small. but who knows. really other than this there hasnt been too much that is going on. Working hard, I'm learning a lot. As for the meat, yeah its pretty big here butI've been eating less of it. Just a ton of rice and beans. But its all good. Hope your on! Love YOU!

Elder Simonsen

Monday April 20th, 2015

Well i actually saw the prom pictures yesterday but i had no idea who she was with. We were at the bishops house and the wife showed me the pictures. I had no idea who any one was......Amon has changed a lot. Is he taller now? 

As for the pictures of coutrney.....she looks good. The pictures are pretty.......

Yep sounds like a ton of fun and i saw that brooklyn is super tall. It will be weird when to see everyone again. I also realized looking at her pictures (bishops wife) how much skinnier i am..................I'm eating so much.... oh well.

As for this week. This week was actually a super hard week. Haha each week can only get better ;) but we started the week with not a single investigator. Literally, not a single one. We are visiting the less actives as much anymore because you can literally lose yourself doing that. There were weeks that we had almost more lessons with them than with actual lessons. And so we decided to find new investigators........................................................................................................................................................................and we knocked on doors.................................................almost the whole week......................................................................................................................................................................yeah but towards the end of the week some people started opening their doors and as crazy as it seems we managed more lessons this week than any other week i've been here. We also had a couple members turn away from the church, and some other fun things that aren't as important............................................but the GOOD NEWS-> we are still here, and we are doing fine. We had two huge miracles this week and I'm so grateful for these miracles. Obviously had more than 2 but these are the two i would like to share.

So one was on tuesday, we went to visit a reference of an investigator. We talked with her super quickly on sunday, gave her a pamflet and went on our way. Tuesday we went back to just do a quick visit and see if she read the pamflet. She opened the door and invited us in. So we entered. We sat down, talked a little with her got to know her and the we asked her if she read the pamlfet......she read the whole pamlfet and had done the prayer at the end. She started to explain how our prayers are completely different and how she said she felt that she was really inviting Heavenly Father in her prayer and how she felt a great peace and how much she loved to use that prayer instead of Our Father. So then we decided to teach her the first vision, and afterwards she asked about baptism, so we taught about baptism and helped her rocognize the Holy Ghost, then she asked what are things that stop people from being baptized, If she could be baptized again, and so we explained that she could and then taught her the commandments. Word of wisdom and law of chastity. She then said she would throw out her coffee and she would keep the commandments. We invited her to be baptized and she accepts without hesitation! A huge miracle and I'm so grateful to have been there to be a part. we didnt get to talk to her since then, she has kind of dissapeared but the Lord still blessed us and even if we never find her again or get to talk with her it was a huge blessing.

Also had another lady that the Lord guided us to her house, we felt that we should go knock doors in a certain area, and after much rejection had a family with their front gate open, and they let us in. Taught the first lesson andinvited them to pray. She had a little bit of a hard time during the lesson but in the end she understood. Came back the next day and she told us that she had felt a peace so great when we were there and when we left she kept feeling that peace and it kept reminding her of the things we taught and how she loved that peace. We explained that it was the Holy Ghost responding her prayer (John14:26) and we invited her to follow the response and to be baptized, she wants to but she want to first keep the commandments and visit the church, she said she wouldnt drink coffee anymore and that she would go to church with us and it was a true blessing. She didnt go, she had to take care of her grandson and took medicine to sleep and literally didnt wake up. 

But i'm so grateful for the blessings of the Lord I know this is His work and that there are people prepared to recieve the Gospel. I know that He will guide us to them and that we must help them to recieve the restored Gospel I'm doing everything I can to be always worthy of the Holy Ghost so that Ha can guide us in our way. It requires a lot of patience, lots of suffering, and lots of love. I learned to hold my tounge this week....and to let things go. I'm trying to just love everyone independent of what they do or think of me. It's not easy, especially when they dont treat you exactly right but you still have to love and to serve them. You must always be humble and always think about others. I'm doing good, and loving the mission. I miss you all a ton but I still have lots to learn. 

Love,

Elder Simonsen

Brooklyn April 20th, 2015

Brooklyn, 

YOU LOOOOOOOK AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Você é linda!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Maravilhosa!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love you and hope that you had tons of fun at prom. Still looking forward to your letter!.......

Love,

Elder Simonsen

Monday April 13th, 2015

Well this week was interesting. Really this week didnt have too much. Just a couple really big trials but it's all going well. Monday I spent the whole day listening to conference. I really enjoyed elder Bednar's talk about fear and how we can conquer our fear. How we can have godly fear which is really loving and trusting in the Lord. I really enjoyed the priesthood session talks of PResident Ucthdorf and President Eyring. They were really powerful and President Monsons about priesthood blessings. I'm really trying to work on me now, Trying to be a better person, more like Christ. watching my thoughts, words, and actions. I'm trying to develop that pure love, that fills our souls. I'm just trying to be a better me. And be patient meek and humble. Haha its not easy. I dont have to agree with everything thats being done and what some leaders think but I have to be obedient and respect the callings and try to just learn. I'm trying to follow the Lords plan and serve best where he wants me to serve. to be the man he wants me to be. I've learned quite a lot this week ;) I can say its all good now but it sure was tons of fun ;) Good stories for when I come back. Speaking of which I recieved that fun call, I'll send you that email so special. About July 15. 

But anyways the week is good, the work is hard. We have a lot of investigators that are having word of wisdom problems. BUt the Lord is preparing a way. I don't know exactly His plan or how it will all work out but I will do my best so that I'm on His side when its all done and that I can say that I did His will.

As for personal study, I'm going to read the new testament, I'm going to focus more on Jesus the Christ to finish it, and I'm reading the book of mormon. I'm in 2nd Nephi 11 or 12. I'm trying to work on reading more dilligently the book of mormon every day. Its not as easy because I'm always studying another thing or the doctrine and covenants or the bible. But I'm going to make a bigger effort. I know that this time is the time that I have to give to the Lord. The only reason I've been focusing on the school is because I had to register for classes. If I wait I wouldnt get any of the ones that I would like. So all the decisions come to now.........but its all good I only think about them at night and on monday. But I know that the Lord will guide me. 

Sounds like you all are having tons of fun and that everyone is doing good. As for Brandon maybe it would be really good to watch conference with him. Maybe rewatch the prophet speak or another talk the sisters think would be good. Use the internet and hook it up to the tv. Use the resources you have because here it isnt that easy. Most everyone doesnt have internet at their home. They have it on their phone but when they use it all in the first 2-3 days....doesnt leave too much space for us. 

Sorry today I wont write too much but it should be enough. My companion and I are doing good now. Its much better then this last week. But the work we are doing is true. It is a stone cut without hands that will roll forth to bless all people in the whole world. I know that Christ lives and that He loves everyone of us and that if we follow Him with faith we will be saved in the last day. I love you all and hope all is well.

Love Elder Simonsen

Monday April 6th, 2015

Alrighty so .....this week has been super fun. As for conference, I only watched sunday, and had the amazing opportunity to watch the Priesthood session in between the sunday sessions. Literally 6 hours of conference. But At least the next conference I'll be home and will be able to watch it without worry and what not. 

We could only watch saturday if we had investigators with us....So we were going to try and get the saturday afternoon session but lunch was super late. like we got to lunch at 1:30 (first sesion starts at 1 here and the second session at 5) and we left lunch at 4......i was super excitied.... (every conference we miss most of saturday because of lunch, oh well) then we had to help a investigator change rooms. Her mom had cancer 5 years back, went through treatment and hasn't left her bed since then. she is obeise and already had health problems. But because of mold in her room she needed to change rooms. they told us on friday so we made arrangements to switch the rooms saturday and because we left lunch so late, we knew there would be no way to get to conference. We tried to put it on her computer but....it didnt work too well. we were busy moving things. I'm super happy a member went there to help though. if not we literally would not be able to do it. It took all four of us to put her in a wheel chair because she cant walk. So we literally lifted her off the bed into the chair. But it was good service. I'm happy we could be such a big help to her.

As for college I'm working on it still. I'll be honest and say that its not easy. I Know where the Lord wants me to be and I'm prayer to confirm that its right but I've been having a really hard time. It's a big decision and I want to make the right one. I've also been having tons of problems with my companion. I love him a ton, but he does not want to be here and does not want to do anything. Anything. He had a lot of super tough companions and literally stopped doing everything. So i'm working with that and having no money............well we are starting to get paid back from the buses we took because I finally managed to send the reembulsment (recipt) so in a little bit we should have money again. But don't worry we aren't super hungry we are getting a lot of food. From investigators and members. So we just have to be humble and accept when they offer. Its interestinf because I thought I knew what poor is.....haha I'm learning a little better. But Mom, you dont need to worry, the Lord is taking care of us. these trials are here not only to test our faith but to help us grow. to prepare us for the rest of our lives. I know that eventually we will pass and look back and be grateful because of the things the Lord has taught us. Don't worry about me, I'm on the Lords errand and as such He will take care of us. As the scriptures teach 

" And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider thelilies of the field how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin;

 29 And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these.

 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, even so will he clothe you, if ye are not of little faith.

 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

 32 For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

the Lord will prepare a way for us but we must learn to trust in Him. We must go until we think we cannot go anymore and then the Lord shows us that we can. Especially when we are with Him. Salvation isn't easy and if the Lord who was perfect suffered all these things are we greater than He? No, so just smile and wave ;) the Lord is with us. (They who are with us are more than those who are against; Elijah)

So yeah the week is going, We are learning and we are growing. I know these things will be hard because if it were easy it wouldnt be called salvation. If the kingdom of God Didnt require all we have, we wouldn't be grateful for what we receive. I know that for college if I had stopped and asked the Lord what He wanted for me instead of what I wanted, I could have resolved the problems before i left. MAybe even before I went to college. But I also know that in the Lords own time are things given, faith includes trusting in the Lords timing (Elder Neal A Maxwell) I know that I need to work to become a Religious Professor at BYU. The problem that I'm having is the major. There really isnt a set major that leads you there. thats why I thought biology, or maybe History or literally anything. But I'm feeling that it might need to be the middle east. I know the most commom major for these professors is the Ancient Near Eastern studies, and I thought that might be the answer. But I've been feeling that maybe I need to study the middle East itself. I heard that in a prayer I had, and thought that maybe it would be the Ancient one because I didnt think byu had that major. But following the middle east major I don't know How i would be amply prepared to become what the Lord has shown me I need to become. Maybe I'm lacking faith, I know that fear is stopping me from moving forward and I know that fear is the opposite of faith. And I do not doubt that Satan is using this fear, I feel paralyzed to make the decision because I know it will change my life. I know that he is working against me so that I don't reach my potential because I will make a difference. I know that he is trying to take my prayer and my faith. I do not have any doubts that he is real and that he is literally fighting against us and our Father. What I need to do it have the faith to put him behind me and trust the Lord. Depsite what ever consequence may follow. I read in the last conference a talk that talks about currents (ocean currents) and in the last part there is a quote from President Kimball-

If we can create … a strong, steady current flowing toward our goal of righteous life, we and our children may be carried forward in spite of the contrary winds of hardship, disappointment, [and] temptations.”¹²

The name of the talk is trifle not with sacred things.

I really like this quote as well.

Heavenly Father has blessed us with the supernal gift of the Holy Ghost to guide our choices. He has promised us inspiration and revelation as we live worthy to receive such. I invite you to take advantage of this divine gift and examine your choices by asking yourself the question, “Are my decisions firmly planted in the rich soil of the gospel of Jesus Christ?” I invite you to make whatever adjustments are needed, whether small or large, to ensure the eternal blessings of Heavenly Father’s plan for you and those you love.

Anyways thats the news flash. Here in like 4 weeks we can talk face to face :) will be so much fun but its in the next transfer so......I wont think about it too much yet. I love you tons and hope all is well.  Love you!

Love, Elder Simonsen

Pictures from Bishops Wife