Hey Family and Friends,

This past week as been the Best week so far. We have had a lot of success. We have 2 gators(we call investigators "gators" because we are in Florida LOL) that have goal dates to be baptized! The first one is Curtis. He is doing great and is very interested in the Church. His goal date to be baptized is Feb. 16. Then we found a family that has one of their kids that is an unbaptized member. His name is Evan Nagy. We started teaching him yesterday and we are most likely going to baptize him on Feb 9 or Feb.10! So there is 2 so far with a baptismal date.

We have other gators that are really progressing.  Olivia, who really wants to be baptized, Brian, he also wants to be baptized, Jonathon Allen, he also wants to be baptized, and many others. Those are just some of the main ones we are really working with.

 Here is a very funny story that happened to us on Tuesday. We were driving to a Dinner appointment which lives on a dirt road( we drive on dirt roads A LOT just FYI) so we turned onto this dirt road called Robin Hood. All was great UNTIL it turned from DIRT to SAND!!!!!!!! So we have a car NOT a truck. So what happened? WE GOT STUCK!!!!  We were not thinking to much about it until it happened. So we were digging the car out for about 45 minutes or so. GOT NOWHERE!!!!! So we weren't to far from the members house that we were going to dinner for, so we called them to come help us get unstuck. Their son came with a 4-wheeler and a rope. For the first couple of times there was no success because the front end of the 4-wheeler wanted to pop wheelies and almost flip over. So it took 3 of us to hold the front end of the 4-wheeler down and then we FINALLY got it out. ;)

Anyways, I had my first Exchanges on Wednesday. That was fun. We did exchanges with our district leaders. So, my companion stayed here in Hudson and I went to the Palm Harbor A area. I put a picture of me and the elder I served with on the exchange at the end of this email. But, guess what was going on with them? They have a all car area too. BUT, their car was in the shop getting the bumper fixed. SO, we had to RIDE BIKES!!!!! That was a great Missionary Experience. I felt more like a Missionary that day. The one thing that sucked was the the seat was SO uncomfortable. But it was a great experience.

So, that is a brief overview of what happened this past week.

I love and miss all you guys so much and cant wait to see all your faces again after 23 Months and 1 week............. Well............ less than that because of the age change they cut the time at the MTC to 2 weeks now. So, Transfers will be every 5 weeks instead of 6 weeks now. So, i will leaving my mission a week early!!! LOL ;)

Love your best family member and best friend ever,

Elder Josh SImonson

Here is the picture of the elder I served with on exchanges. His name is Elder Hubbard.

Hey Family and Friends,

This past week has been great. We got Andromeda confirmed yesterday. That was a great experience. But anyways, Florida has been nice to me so far but I wouldn't call it winter anymore. For the past few days it has been in the range of 80 to 86 degrees. That is not winter weather but i cant do anything about that.

I had a zone meeting this past Wednesday. That was really great. I got to meet the rest of my zone and we all just had a great time. One of my friends from the MTC is in my zone. The rest of the week was just like any other week. We just went and visited people. But, yesterday was kinda cool. There is this fenced area that has many animals in it. Here are some of the pics that i took there.(be at the end of this email) But i will also include a pic of me holding something at a Less actives house(also at the end of this email). But anyways in one of the pics is me with zebras. The only thing keeping us from touching is a fence. That was a really cool experience. First time i have ever been that close to zebras. But there were some water buffalo, goats, emus, and a pig.

But anyways, This past week has been great and this weeks scripture is 3 Nephi 5:13. It is my most favorite one so far and is a really great one.

I love and miss each of you and write me when ever you can write. Love to hear from yall.

-Elder Simonson

(now the pictures)

Hey Family and Friends,

This past week has been one of the best. We did have a Baptism this past Saturday. The name of the person who got baptized is Andromeda Andres. She didn't get confirmed yesterday because her sister went into labor early that morning so she will be confirmed next Sunday. But anyways, I just want to say that i miss you all so much and that I will keep sending pics of stuff and will try to write back if you write to me.

Last Wednesday was probably one of the best District Meetings that I have had so far. We went out and had Subway. When we got there a guy being held down because he tried to rob the place next door(that's not the part that made it the best) but when the cops came by and took him we started to talk about how the guys on TV carry that heavy microphone around for shows. We all started to laugh so hard because we were wondering how they ran so fast in cop TV shows when they have to chase on foot and we started acting like them running around. You had to be there to understand better but that is one funny story so far on my mission.

Here is a pic from the baptism that happened 2 days ago.

from left to right its me Elder Simonson, Andromeda, Elder Grimmett, and Elder Murry(elder grimmetts past companion before me)

Love and Miss you ALL so much,

Elder Simonson

Monday December 31, 2012


Hello Family and Friends,

I am having a great time on my mission.  My first area is Hudson, Florida, and my companion is Elder Grimmitt.  He is from San Diego, and we get along great. On Christmas, I was able to Skype with my family!  I was happy to see my family even though I have only out for about a month. It was great to see you guys. I hope to get letters from the rest of my family and many friends. So far out of friends I have only heard from Brett Darcy. Tell Brett that I am proud of his choice and that he needs to keeping writing me. As for the rest of my friends at least write me, i just want to know how you are doing and what you have you done for fun since i left. I have been waiting for more letters from friends but I know that you guys are busy and dont have time to but whenever you do try to write me! Again I just want to know how things are going. LOL. Anyways tell Shae that I was very happy when I got her letter this past week. Tell her that I miss her so much and cant wait to see and text her again after my mission. So come on family, If Shae can write me SO CAN YOU! I hope to get more packages from others. Mom, Just to let you know that i will be sending my SD card tomorrow to you guys so you can have the pics you have been waiting for for about a month. So then you can post them on facebook so everyone can see. I did see my blog today. I like the way it is put together. Very nice. Great job DAD & MOM.
 But anyways, We should be having a baptism this weekend!!!!! Super Excited if it does happen!!!!! Her name is Andromeda, and as long as she has been able to quit smoking, the baptism will happen!  I never thought I would have a baptism this soon!  We also have 4 other investigators who are getting close to baptism as well.
My first area is a car area, so I haven't even had a chance to ride my bike yet!  We also are in a house, just me and my companion.  I will send pictures of it so you all can see.
But again I love each and every single one you guys(family and friends). You have no idea how much I miss hanging out with all of yall. I cant wait until we get to hang out again. So far for funny stories is that for our district meetings, we made gingerbread houses and gingerbread men. Those were some funny times. I did take pics and they will be sent to my family and then they will post them on facebook. I hope everyone on facebook that is my friend is keeping up with my mission and i hope to hear from most of you that want to hear about how my mission is going. Again I love and miss all of yall so much, every single one of you and cant wait till we meet again.
 This is something that  will stIart doing from now on when I email on p-days.  I will share my favorite Scripture from this last week. For this first one, it is in 2 Nephi 4:34 and it says " O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever." i just wanted to share that first sentence. You can read the whole scripture but I just wanted to share that first sentence. It is very important to trust in the Lord forever. If we dont, then we will be lost. So I hope that all of my friends and family will trust in the lord forever.

Again i miss you all so much and cant wait to see yall again in 2 years time.

Love,

Elder Joshua Bryan Simonson

P.S. virtual hugs for EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S.S.  My address is 13303 Whaler Dr   Hudson, FL  34667     Email address is joshua.simonson@myldsmail.net