This past week has been great. I did get a haircut on Wednesday. I will tell you that it is a lot better seeing short hair instead of long hair lol. Last week I had a great p-day. Why you may ask?  Because I went to the BEACH!!!!! Saw the Gulf Coast, Fished off the Pier. I will include pictures at the end of this email. 

Other than that, things have been the same. Seeing people and teaching people. This Saturday, we will be having a Baptism. His name is Evan Nagy. He is a unbaptized member so we have to teach him the 4 lessons and we will be finishing the 4 lessons early this week and then having him baptized this Saturday by his dad. Even though he isn't a gator, Its still good to have someone be baptized.

This weeks scripture is D&C 121:45.

Last night was awesome. We had a fireside about the addiction of bad things on the internet. But one of the things that made it easy to understand was that he related it to a battleship called the U.S.S Nevada. Now the U.S.S. Nevada was attacked when pearl harbor got attacked. So it had some holes in the ship. It was able to make it to a repair place and the holes were covered and it was able to go and be in many other fights.  Even though it had holes it was made whole and able to keep on fighting for so many years after. What does that have to do with this sin that is very addictive? We are all like the U.S.S. Nevada. When we get attacked from Satan, and give into that temptation, we receive the holes. We must go to the lord and ask for his help to repair the holes. Then, if we get over that addiction, and don't give into that temptation again, we will become the Strongest person to fight against enemies of God. We will be able to fight for so many years after and will always be the leader of the pack. So that is how it relates.

I hope that all of you will become as the U.S.S. Nevada.

Love yall so much,

Elder Simonson

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

Tuesday December 11, 2012

Hi Family,
  
  I am leaving for Florida on Dec. 17. I have my flight information and I will be flying to Atlanta, Georgia at 7:15 a.m., then I will head to Tampa, FL. But I will be waking up at 3:30 on Monday to finalize my packing.So, then I will be calling you guys at around 6:30 or so. I can't wait to talk to you guys on Monday! I have been waiting for that moment!

 I have been taking pictures of my companion and my district.I will send pics when I can. I can't send them here at the MTC for some reason. I love my district. We have all become really good friends.

 I just got done with my laundry. I will be getting a hair cut this week sometime.  I have had a great time at the MTC so far. I love my teachers and I am also learning a lot more about the gospel. On Sunday, we had a fireside and we had the BYU Men's Chorus come and they we really good. Going to the temple is the best thing so far. I love going to the Provo temple. It is a very beautiful temple. 

Well, I am off to sing again in the MTC choir.  I did it last week and it was a blast, so off to do it again!

Tell dad that he should not try to blow up expensive engines lol !

Also If you could send me addresses of family and friends so I can write them. I am looking forward to having more letters come in the mail and reading them from family and friends! If you could, please send more socks so I can have more for p-days and working out. Thanks! Tell everyone, including the ward that I love and miss them. 

Love you all and will call you on Monday morning again at 6:30 or so!

Love,

Elder Simonson

 

P.S. I miss you guys and have more people mail me :D bye for now

December 4, 2012

 I just wanted to let you know that I have had a great experience here at the MTC. I have had a great time learning about the gospel. It has help me so much. The food has been great and I try to eat as much as I can but I never do. I have been showering everyday and brushing my teeth too. :D  But I just wanted to say that I miss you guys so much. Tell Nick that the days are all planned out for you and you have to be there at that time. Also Nick, I was so happy that when I got the mail yesterday and read that you are preparing now, that is a great thing. Do not stop. If you are not sure about what you are feeling to do by the spirit, Elder David Bednar said "Quit worrying about it." Also I have a Quote from one of the books that I brought with me, this goes to everyone but I want to focus on you Nick, Taylor, Ash and Mal, but again it applies to everyone.  "Where there is sin, always there is war. Where there is righteousness, always there is peace" so please try to avoid sin. Because if you do then you will have peace. Anyways the days are great and everyone is awesome. My District is just amazing. We all get along together and we just have a great time together. Just if you guys are wondering My companion here at the MTC is Elder Jamie. One thing that is amazing about him is that he is a recent convert. I just think that is amazing. 

I miss you guys so much and you have no idea how much I love you. Nick don't stop preparing. Taylor if I were you I would start preparing today. I know that you still have a while before you leave but the sooner you start, the better missionary you will become.

Love you SOOOOOO much!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Simonson

P.S. mom can you send my address of family and friends so i can write them.