Friday, December 22, 2017
Monday, December 18, 2017
Beef Chop to go Please
Hello. All is well here! Fun fact it rains sideways here. It's the best because your umbrella somehow gets wet on the inside! Also I let this member borrow my umbrella but I have a feeling I'll never see it again so I found one in our apartment that us red so when I walk down the streets I have a red coat, red umbrella, and red backpack. It's the best!
This week lots of people canceled on us or went out of town but we still had some good times. We had a first lesson with two sisters, the food first off was delicious, and it was incredible to see the way they responded to the restoration, they loved it, it felt familiar and right. This to me is such a testimony of the truth of this message. We were even able to discuss the step we would ask them to take once they know which was baptism. It was helpful to talk about this in the first lesson to establish why we were here and help them realize the importance of keeping their commitments.
This week I worked on making more mistakes! I had a few of the most uncomfortable contacts of my life but also some good ones as well! Haha I think one lady I talked to thought I was immigration services or something. It was not my best. Buuuuuuuuut... I'm learning
I am learning that submission is a part of humility. Sometimes you just have to get over yourself and do it, this is really difficult but I did a little better this week at talking with others, being patient and sacrificing my will a bit!
Fun story, we have this investigator Rosa, she is a hoot! She has spent her life just absorbing every religion possible and worldy ideas as well and is like a Buddhist catholic free spirit. She loves to talk and has some pretty fun views of the world, fortunately she loves Jesus. We have been working on teaching the plan of salvation but she has so many questions it takes awhile. So she comes to church, yay. Haha and we walk into gospel principles and the topic is the milenium. HahahahahahahabababahahHahahah
I feel pretty lucky to be here at Christmas. We have a great branch, chapel, missionaries, and the cutest senior couple ever who really want to make Christmas special. Plus we are thinking about Jesus alllllllll the tiiiiiiimmmme so it's the best!
Hope you all have a fantastic week and do something to share your testimony of Christ. What a blessing it is to know we have someone who knows us and loves us perfectly. Through him we can find strength we could never on our own.
Love you,
💓Hermana Simmons
This week lots of people canceled on us or went out of town but we still had some good times. We had a first lesson with two sisters, the food first off was delicious, and it was incredible to see the way they responded to the restoration, they loved it, it felt familiar and right. This to me is such a testimony of the truth of this message. We were even able to discuss the step we would ask them to take once they know which was baptism. It was helpful to talk about this in the first lesson to establish why we were here and help them realize the importance of keeping their commitments.
This week I worked on making more mistakes! I had a few of the most uncomfortable contacts of my life but also some good ones as well! Haha I think one lady I talked to thought I was immigration services or something. It was not my best. Buuuuuuuuut... I'm learning
I am learning that submission is a part of humility. Sometimes you just have to get over yourself and do it, this is really difficult but I did a little better this week at talking with others, being patient and sacrificing my will a bit!
Fun story, we have this investigator Rosa, she is a hoot! She has spent her life just absorbing every religion possible and worldy ideas as well and is like a Buddhist catholic free spirit. She loves to talk and has some pretty fun views of the world, fortunately she loves Jesus. We have been working on teaching the plan of salvation but she has so many questions it takes awhile. So she comes to church, yay. Haha and we walk into gospel principles and the topic is the milenium. HahahahahahahabababahahHahahah
I feel pretty lucky to be here at Christmas. We have a great branch, chapel, missionaries, and the cutest senior couple ever who really want to make Christmas special. Plus we are thinking about Jesus alllllllll the tiiiiiiimmmme so it's the best!
Hope you all have a fantastic week and do something to share your testimony of Christ. What a blessing it is to know we have someone who knows us and loves us perfectly. Through him we can find strength we could never on our own.
Love you,
💓Hermana Simmons
We did a little skit for the talent night and I was the arms and she was was the face it was awesome
Monday, December 11, 2017
Galacia not Galactica
Okay the first thing I need to clear up is I am in GALICIA España not GALACTICA.. Haha I felt like I disgraced every galician person with that one, so thank you autocorrect.
Second thing, wow, rain! It's starting to get insanely windy and rainy. Actually we are on dangerous wind warning in the area right now so that's cool. We'll see what my Target umbrella can take!
This week we had zone conference, it was fun to meet all the missionaries in the area, play some fútbol and wow them all with my singing abilities. That's right I survived. Haha that's all I have to say about that. I learned a lot to about how to be a consecrated missionary now, time in the field is irrelevant to level of consecration to the work.
That night we went to the town and sang carols, it was a success I've got to say. It was super fun we had about 50 people singing with us and people really enjoyed it and it was a cool way to contact after. Haha Thacker and Eli YouTube the song A burrito de belén, that is a super fun Christmas song. Actually me and my comp made the front page of the newspaper here! Pretty sweet eh!? (Paige is in the red coat)
Who knew singing would become what I'm known for, funny enough right after this I almost died. I've been a little sick and something came over me so I spent the last three songs behind the elders coughing until I started dry heaving. Hah. It was a success though.
So on Saturday all 4 of our appointments fell through but this lady out of the blue called us up which was a little miracle but we got super lost! Because my comp hasn't been in this area long and well obviously I haven't either. We took the wrong bus and I got super car sick. Hah it has surprised me how often I make the plans to puke in the alley. But the good kind of puke in the alley, then we wandered the streets we couldn't get a hold of her. But by sheer inspiration my comp remembered a street name and we found her apartment! We were able to teach her and her two kids, they are Romanian but have lived here for a while, her husband was out of town but he is interested too! We are pumped to teach a family! After that we sprinted home because we had to get to bed! It was quite the experience!
I learned a lot about becoming a consecrated missionary this week. Experience as a missionary has no correlation to consecration to the work. Once again I am blown away at the chance that I have to be a missionary and gave God's trust in his important work.
This week I have felt the fulfillment of the scripture in Ether 12, "If men come unto me I will show unto them their weaknesses." I have most definitely seen lots of areas I can improve. I definitely have fears I am working on putting on the Sacrificial Altar. I'm just going to focus on improving a bit day by day. I'm grateful to recognize some of these weaknesses so early on because I know I can overcome them and become a better missionary. This week was like step one in Ether 12, Recognize a weakness of mine ✔️, now I get to work on humbling myself and having faith (acting), and I believe that through christ my weak things can become strong.
The Christmas spirit is great up here and we have really been able to share lots about light the world! So ya!
Love you all! Have a happy week, I'm praying for snow for yall.
♡ Hermana Simmons
The picture of us eating is this weird miscellaneous meat sandwich that missionaries are obsessed with here. I think it is some middle eastern thing, it's called Kebab, so this was the night of our K-babtism.. It's kinda a big deal. It was pretty good. Then just have these random dried slabs of meat and they shave it for you and make a sandwich.
Thursday, December 7, 2017
I'm alive
Hey! Sorry it's been some time. So I'm not dead. This week has been insane but all is well it was zone conference this week so the schedule was way off and conference is in our area so it's been insane getting everything ready.
Anyways that is my little solo, soul searching, hobbit journey north.
️Hermana Simmons
First,
Wed: so yesterday I walked from the mtc to the church the aps took us to the mission home. We hung out with the president and his wife for a while learned a bit about how our mission works. Ate homemade Cafe Rio. Ate seconds. Then met our trainers. Everyone got to meet their trainer but two. One girl is training in the islands and yours truly got handed a series of train tickets because I'm going to the farthest north west tip of Spain to the beautiful A Coruna! So last nigh I spent the night with some sisters in the city and went contacting. Then got up at 5 to start my journey. As I'm typing this I'm on the train. Wow. I cannot describe how lucky I am to be on this train! It's a 5:30 am to 7:30 pm travel day, but wow Spain... First we went though north central Spain and it has the classic Spanish countryside look. Almost sort of Tuscan. A few hours later I was right at the Portugal border going through mountains with scattered lakes and mountain villages. After spending the last 6 weeks right in the city I didn't expect to be seeing these beautiful European mountain villages! I can't describe how beautiful. Then when I hit the western ocean I had a few hours north along the coast in beautiful green Galactica Spain. Wow. I'm not quite to a coruna yet but I can't wait. Google it and you'll understand how beautiful my new home is! I wouldnt be mad to spend the next year up here in the north.
Anyways that is my little solo, soul searching, hobbit journey north.
I typed that a while ago.. But now on to more current events
My trainers name is Hermana Glover. She has been out six months from Indiana. She is a stud. She is a whole ton of motivation packed into a 5 foot little body. I have so much to learn from her. Her older brother was my EFY co-counselor in Tonga, small world!
My trainers name is Hermana Glover. She has been out six months from Indiana. She is a stud. She is a whole ton of motivation packed into a 5 foot little body. I have so much to learn from her. Her older brother was my EFY co-counselor in Tonga, small world!
Sorry don't have much time because there is a fútbol game about to start up in the parking garage I got to get in on but I'll share an experience from this week.
So my Spanish is OK. Enough to participate a little in each interaction. We met this lady on the street who was a balloon vendor. And started talking to her. Well she was really in a place where she needs God in her life so we ended up sharing the whole first lesson. And somehow I end up holding the balloons. Hahaha ha picture this I'm holding like 75 balloons trying not to fly away and they are blowing everywhere but at the same time I got to teach about Joseph Smith and share the first vision. It's the best.
I am so impressed with this area! There is work to be done! It's been little crazy getting ready for zone conference but we are staying busy.. Lots of investigators, but not many progressing so there is a ton of work to be done! There are so many people willing to listen to us on the streets too. It kinda surprised me!
I have a vocal solo tomorrow in front of two zones and the president.. I'm singing and my companion is fluting.. I'm crying.... Sweet mercy.... This isn't a joke..... I knew the mission would be a challenge but I had no idea how big of a challenge... 
Anyways sorry I have no time! I will email Monday. I promise. But I'm happy. I am going to work hard this week to participate more in our companionship. Haha I have no time to be funny anymore. Oh boy. I got to fix that! But yeah I'm happy, just humming along. I promise I'll send more next week!
Love yall
You'd better believe I'm still a snow flake making machine
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
From the Mission President
Dear Simmons Family,
We had the great pleasure today of welcoming your daughter to the Spain Madrid Mission. We spent the day together at the mission home where she received training and orientation on her missionary assignment. We thoroughly enjoyed our time together and felt a wonderful spirit present. We appreciate all that you have done to prepare your daughter to serve the Lord and for the sacrifice you are making in giving her to the Lord for a time.
Hermana Simmons has been assigned to labor in A Coruña with Hermana Glover.
We thought you might enjoy these pictures that we took during our lunch break. May the Lord bless you and your family in all of your endeavors.
Sincerely,
President and Hermana Pack
Monday, November 27, 2017
Transfers
Heyyyooooooooo! I just finished packing my suitcases. It would have been helpful to have Eli and Logan help again. But tonight is my last night. Tomorrow I will meet the APs from the mission and we will go to the mission home. We will spend the day going over the info we need to know then get our travel info. We will meet our trainers tface to face if in Madrid, if not over Skype and then if I'm in any of the Madrid areas I might have lessons to teach or dinner with members. If I'm traveling a ways to my area then I will spend the night at the mission home and head out early the next morning so I can spend the day getting to work!
️️ Hermana Simmons
I'm so ready. I'm so excited. Hah, the mtc president here told me the mission isn't actually that hard, we make it hard. Essentially what dad always says. Don't tell yourself a story! So yeah! I'm so excited. And so ready.
One cool experience from this week, the park was awesome Saturday. On the train back we sat by the angriest man I've ever met. He ripped us a new one for the entire time. All we said to him was hello! Good news. My Spanish is getting better because I understood pretty well what he was saying. I've never had anyone speak so terribly to me before.. Oddly though I felt the spirit during this.. I felt the authority of my calling. This man has no idea the power we have! I felt if the spirit so directed I could pull an Ammon and slice his arms off, or Nephi and shock him, or Brigham young and tell him, "cut the thread that binds you to a prophet of God and sink yourself to Hell." (I've made an effort to learn this is Spanish)
But I didn't feel so prompted so I just sat there then left and felt sad for Him because some day he'll realize what he did.
Moral of the story. There is power given to the servants of God to fulfill his work that is real and strong. I felt that. It's awesome! I can't wait to teach about Jesus all the time!
See you all later!
My pday are switching to Monday so I will bewriting you next Monday.. So until then!
Have a good one!
And read the book of Mormon!
Love you guys.
Thursday, November 23, 2017
Happy Thanksgiving
It was and orange week again. No offense to the pears but they just aren't as consistent.
The park this week was the best! Haha I had the coolest comp! She the quirkiness little lady but such a stud.. Hahaha she would fake trip herself just so she could have a conversation starter with people! I was very impressed and learned a lot from her (methods to trip myself included)! My Spanish is helping me get by. I know the gift of tongues is a thing because when I'm sharing the gospel and on the lords errand I can understand and communicate okay for the most part, but as soon as I'm in a store asking for help, Suddenly I feel like people are speaking Italian. Haha we will see how it goes in a few days. Honestly though, I'm ready to get to work. I know it will be hard. But if I could get up at 5:30 to scrape ketchup chunks off elementary school tables everyday and still have some fun then by goly I'm going to have fun these next two transfers.
One of my favorite things to do here is mess with the non English speakers. They all are working on their English and asking questions so I like making up incorrect random phrases to teach them. Today I taught them the saying, I'm in a Fat napkin. Hahaha ha they all understand the meaning and have accepted my invitation to use it this week in casual conversation! It's hilarious! You learn a lot about yourself as a missionary. I have learned I'm a good liar.
Oooooooh that reminds me. So the sisters here think I'm psychic because I've learned this other weird skill I have. I can guess people's food preferences based of what I know about their personality. For example I usually am always spot on about how people like their meat.. You can just tell a medium rare person from a medium well person. It also works vice versa, you can tell me your food preferences and I can make blanket statements about your personality, desires, fears. It sounds ridiculous but I'm oddly pretty accurate. Who knew? But the sisters think it's hilarious and I give several food horoscopes a day.
Today we are going to have a special Thanksgiving lunch and then I get to go get my Spanish residency card! So that will be a fun Thanksgiving!
Wow I love the people I have met here. My companion Hermana Pinkney is awesome. She is exactly what I needed. We have so many differences but it has been so great learning to work with each other. I really love her. Also I have the best district in the world. The sistrict! I cannot explain how much fun we had this week!
Right after this we have our Thanksgiving feast and then I get to go become a legal resident of Spain. So yay. I have my entry interview with my mission president, so woop woop for that! I'm excited to meet him. Then in the morning I will walk over to the mission home and go from there! Crazy! I'm ready. My spanish is what it is, but I've got all the will in the world!
Nice thing is that's all I really can give and God help me out with the rest. I'm learning so much about Jesus christ. I'm beginning to understand that we really can apply his atonement every day, not just for mistakes. He enables us to have strength beyond our own. Wow. I love it. I love him.
Thanks for your love and support. Pray for me and my friends as we become the freshest new greenies in town!
Write ya when I write ya!
The park this week was the best! Haha I had the coolest comp! She the quirkiness little lady but such a stud.. Hahaha she would fake trip herself just so she could have a conversation starter with people! I was very impressed and learned a lot from her (methods to trip myself included)! My Spanish is helping me get by. I know the gift of tongues is a thing because when I'm sharing the gospel and on the lords errand I can understand and communicate okay for the most part, but as soon as I'm in a store asking for help, Suddenly I feel like people are speaking Italian. Haha we will see how it goes in a few days. Honestly though, I'm ready to get to work. I know it will be hard. But if I could get up at 5:30 to scrape ketchup chunks off elementary school tables everyday and still have some fun then by goly I'm going to have fun these next two transfers.
One of my favorite things to do here is mess with the non English speakers. They all are working on their English and asking questions so I like making up incorrect random phrases to teach them. Today I taught them the saying, I'm in a Fat napkin. Hahaha ha they all understand the meaning and have accepted my invitation to use it this week in casual conversation! It's hilarious! You learn a lot about yourself as a missionary. I have learned I'm a good liar.
Oooooooh that reminds me. So the sisters here think I'm psychic because I've learned this other weird skill I have. I can guess people's food preferences based of what I know about their personality. For example I usually am always spot on about how people like their meat.. You can just tell a medium rare person from a medium well person. It also works vice versa, you can tell me your food preferences and I can make blanket statements about your personality, desires, fears. It sounds ridiculous but I'm oddly pretty accurate. Who knew? But the sisters think it's hilarious and I give several food horoscopes a day.
Today we are going to have a special Thanksgiving lunch and then I get to go get my Spanish residency card! So that will be a fun Thanksgiving!
Wow I love the people I have met here. My companion Hermana Pinkney is awesome. She is exactly what I needed. We have so many differences but it has been so great learning to work with each other. I really love her. Also I have the best district in the world. The sistrict! I cannot explain how much fun we had this week!
Right after this we have our Thanksgiving feast and then I get to go become a legal resident of Spain. So yay. I have my entry interview with my mission president, so woop woop for that! I'm excited to meet him. Then in the morning I will walk over to the mission home and go from there! Crazy! I'm ready. My spanish is what it is, but I've got all the will in the world!
Nice thing is that's all I really can give and God help me out with the rest. I'm learning so much about Jesus christ. I'm beginning to understand that we really can apply his atonement every day, not just for mistakes. He enables us to have strength beyond our own. Wow. I love it. I love him.
Thanks for your love and support. Pray for me and my friends as we become the freshest new greenies in town!
Write ya when I write ya!
Have the happiest of Thanksgiving! What a beautiful holiday, thank you Abe.
Much love,
Hermana Simmons
Much love,
Hermana Simmons
1. So I love matching now I guess.. Hah. Okay.
Well family I don't know if you still go around and do that thing where we say what we are grateful for and tanner says Camo and Eli says girls but if you do here is my version.
Can I just say I'm incredibly grateful I am just learning Spanish and not Russian like the other missionaries here at the mtc!
Anyways...
First off I am so grateful to be here in Spain for Thanksgiving. Don't get me wrong I am really missing some stone box catering right now and Thanksgiving as a family Is so great. But I am so grateful the lord has given me this opportunity to be stretched and refined as I participate is his work.
2nd I'm grateful for my brothers, man.. I lucked out! I'm grateful for tanners (and Olivia's) example as a missionary. And I hope you other three know a mission is worth every sacrifice.
3rd I'm grateful for my grandparents. Who have sacrificed much of their lives to providing a better life for their posterity and setting a righteous example of enduring in the gospel.
4th I'm grateful for my mom. She is everything I aspire to be. She has such a quiet and steady strength that is so beautiful. And if I could be the type of mother she is I would be beyond happy.
5th I'm grateful for my dad. I'm grateful he is my friend. I'm grateful for the love and concern he has for me. I'm grateful for the way he knows our savior and the priority he has made it to teach our family.
Most of all I'm so grateful for our savior. He is more real and personal than we know. He gives power, forgiveness, life, mercy, confidence, joy. He really is our savior and our brother. I know him, I know he loves me and has made a way I can receive all the glory of our father in heaven. It is beautiful. It's the most incredible gift.
Okay yeah there is a lot more, like I hope Olivia knows what a great blessing she is in our family, I'm feeling pretty grateful needless to say. But I hope you all have a fantastic Thanksgiving and eat more than you thought physically possible for me! I love you all soooooo much!
Happy Thanksgiving!
️ Hermana Simmons
Can I just say I'm incredibly grateful I am just learning Spanish and not Russian like the other missionaries here at the mtc!
Anyways...
First off I am so grateful to be here in Spain for Thanksgiving. Don't get me wrong I am really missing some stone box catering right now and Thanksgiving as a family Is so great. But I am so grateful the lord has given me this opportunity to be stretched and refined as I participate is his work.
2nd I'm grateful for my brothers, man.. I lucked out! I'm grateful for tanners (and Olivia's) example as a missionary. And I hope you other three know a mission is worth every sacrifice.
3rd I'm grateful for my grandparents. Who have sacrificed much of their lives to providing a better life for their posterity and setting a righteous example of enduring in the gospel.
4th I'm grateful for my mom. She is everything I aspire to be. She has such a quiet and steady strength that is so beautiful. And if I could be the type of mother she is I would be beyond happy.
5th I'm grateful for my dad. I'm grateful he is my friend. I'm grateful for the love and concern he has for me. I'm grateful for the way he knows our savior and the priority he has made it to teach our family.
Most of all I'm so grateful for our savior. He is more real and personal than we know. He gives power, forgiveness, life, mercy, confidence, joy. He really is our savior and our brother. I know him, I know he loves me and has made a way I can receive all the glory of our father in heaven. It is beautiful. It's the most incredible gift.
Okay yeah there is a lot more, like I hope Olivia knows what a great blessing she is in our family, I'm feeling pretty grateful needless to say. But I hope you all have a fantastic Thanksgiving and eat more than you thought physically possible for me! I love you all soooooo much!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thursday, November 16, 2017
4..5...6.... I don't know how long I've been here
Okay. After eating more oranges than I ever thought possible I have made the desicion to switch to the pear.. So far so good.
I don't know what else to say about the MTC. At this point I'm just trying to absorb as much as possible. It's like they pour everything down your throat in 6 weeks and you spend the next 6 months digesting it! I'm just excited to get going with the digestion process already!
Terrible analogy but you get the point. Its so great, spiritual, and ridiculously fun. Man I can't tell you how much fun I'm having.. So, soooooo, soooooooooooooo much fun.. I wake up loving life and go to bed feeling the same, although somewhere in between I just really want a nap. As great as it is I can't wait to get to the field.. I'm excited for a great challenge with much more rewarding consequences!
Wow. I've got to reiterate how much I sing here.. It's crazy. This week alone I've sung for like 8 hours! I know called to serve in Spanish, English, Portuguese, Italian, French, German, Norwegian, Swedish, and good old Russian. Haha I'm singing in church this week. Boy, Its like being a sister missionary they just assume you sing. No. But oh well. It's great!
I love my teachers. I love my bunk bed mates, I love Spain, love the MTC president. Lotta love going around.
Saturday at the park was great, got to have some good gospel discussions, put a few more book of Mormons in the world and make some great friends! Spanish people are great.. They don't really want to hear about religion but they really are for the most part really loving. At the park I could actually understand people! That was sure nice! For all you non Spaniards, people only talk to me in the vosotros, so that's fun. I love the accent too, it's just so natural! The rest of the Spanish speaking world is missing out!
I'm learning lots about the gospel too, especially about Jesus Christ.. It's obviously important for me to be learning the language and gospel doctrine and how to be a missionary... But seriously the best way to do all of this is develop my personal relationship with christ. When we know christ, we naturally want to share. When we understand his atonement, we trust he will give us power beyond our own. And when we know our resurrected savior, we overcome doubts and fears in our lives... I think this applies to everyone.
No matter what trials or problems you have in life, yes there are specific things to do and answers to help but I really believe the fist think to do is place greater focus on Christ. When we do this all other aspects of our lives are blessed.
I love the simplicity of the gospel.
I love it too because the simplicity of the gospel matches the simplicity of my Spanish haha!
Being a disciple of Christ rocks!
Love you all!
Hermana Simmons
I don't know what else to say about the MTC. At this point I'm just trying to absorb as much as possible. It's like they pour everything down your throat in 6 weeks and you spend the next 6 months digesting it! I'm just excited to get going with the digestion process already!
Terrible analogy but you get the point. Its so great, spiritual, and ridiculously fun. Man I can't tell you how much fun I'm having.. So, soooooo, soooooooooooooo much fun.. I wake up loving life and go to bed feeling the same, although somewhere in between I just really want a nap. As great as it is I can't wait to get to the field.. I'm excited for a great challenge with much more rewarding consequences!
Wow. I've got to reiterate how much I sing here.. It's crazy. This week alone I've sung for like 8 hours! I know called to serve in Spanish, English, Portuguese, Italian, French, German, Norwegian, Swedish, and good old Russian. Haha I'm singing in church this week. Boy, Its like being a sister missionary they just assume you sing. No. But oh well. It's great!
I love my teachers. I love my bunk bed mates, I love Spain, love the MTC president. Lotta love going around.
Saturday at the park was great, got to have some good gospel discussions, put a few more book of Mormons in the world and make some great friends! Spanish people are great.. They don't really want to hear about religion but they really are for the most part really loving. At the park I could actually understand people! That was sure nice! For all you non Spaniards, people only talk to me in the vosotros, so that's fun. I love the accent too, it's just so natural! The rest of the Spanish speaking world is missing out!
I'm learning lots about the gospel too, especially about Jesus Christ.. It's obviously important for me to be learning the language and gospel doctrine and how to be a missionary... But seriously the best way to do all of this is develop my personal relationship with christ. When we know christ, we naturally want to share. When we understand his atonement, we trust he will give us power beyond our own. And when we know our resurrected savior, we overcome doubts and fears in our lives... I think this applies to everyone.
No matter what trials or problems you have in life, yes there are specific things to do and answers to help but I really believe the fist think to do is place greater focus on Christ. When we do this all other aspects of our lives are blessed.
I love the simplicity of the gospel.
I love it too because the simplicity of the gospel matches the simplicity of my Spanish haha!
Being a disciple of Christ rocks!
Love you all!
Hermana Simmons
1. We went to the royal palace these week
2. My shoes almost lasted a month.... 
3. Some picture my teacher took while we were in the park. These are the nicest ladies ever we met. They told me I have a baby angel face. I told them about the Book of Mormon and give it to them and in return they gave me an orange. It's awesome, people are great!
Thursday, November 9, 2017
11-9-17 Week 3
Okay I have to reiterate something... I AM HAVING SO MUCH FUN. I would say everyday at the mtc there is like an hour in the day where I'm beyond tired or frustrated or annoyed with something but overall, it's so much fun! My friends are awesome, girls are crazy but it's the best! Teaching lessons is really fun! Playing futbol in Spain is the coolest, and we must be at a lower elevation or something because despite how many oranges I eat in a day my mile time is oddly impressive.
Oh! Mom! I keep forgetting to tell you this! My painted fingernails lasted I think maybe three days into the mtc. I got some compliments though so worth everything!
This week I had my first, truly terrible lesson, some how we spent the time talking about the purpose of a physical body rather than testifying of christ.. Also had some great ones so at least I'm learning! Would you believe it if I told you I already went through all the candy I brought! Haha Thacker would understand!
I have learned so much, hah, imagine that! This week I really committed to this work. The thing I want most is to be an instrument in God's hands. If I ever would have committed this much to sports I could have gone a lot further! At the park Saturday I felt a little discouraged. I felt my actions did not reflect the level of commitment I feel on the inside. Not a huge fan of feeling like that. I realized just how far beyond me this work really is. If I am relying on myself, no matter how committed I am I cannot have success. I am seeking to learn how to more fully draw the enabling power in my life. To find strength beyond my own to be an instrument in the lords hands.
Each week we write letters to the MTC president and he reads them and responds, all he wrote on mine was meet with me 9:15... So yeah... I did.. Because that seriously is like the next best thing to having an apostle sit you down, have you read from his personal scriptures and teach you about christ. Him and I talked for like an hour. I know he is a busy man.. He probably had to blow things off to spend that much time with me, but it was an incredible opportunity. I am learning so much about Jesus Christ. Really, it was a fantastic experience. That man understands how do draw power from Christ into his life and I really don't see a reason I should wait till I'm 60 to have that too. He helped me understand a few things and then invited me to put my heart into studying. I am sure going to! I have soooooo much faith in christ. I know I can have this power to do his work and I'm going to keep seeking it!
How I love this gospel. Everything about it is beautiful but honestly it all comes down to Jesus Christ. He is the reason for all things good. I know he lives!
Thanks for your prayers and support, keep praying for the missionaries, we are doing our best in a work that is far beyond our own capabilities!
It's awesome.
It's fun!
Its such a blessing!
Love you all!
Hermana Simmons
Oh! Mom! I keep forgetting to tell you this! My painted fingernails lasted I think maybe three days into the mtc. I got some compliments though so worth everything!
This week I had my first, truly terrible lesson, some how we spent the time talking about the purpose of a physical body rather than testifying of christ.. Also had some great ones so at least I'm learning! Would you believe it if I told you I already went through all the candy I brought! Haha Thacker would understand!
I have learned so much, hah, imagine that! This week I really committed to this work. The thing I want most is to be an instrument in God's hands. If I ever would have committed this much to sports I could have gone a lot further! At the park Saturday I felt a little discouraged. I felt my actions did not reflect the level of commitment I feel on the inside. Not a huge fan of feeling like that. I realized just how far beyond me this work really is. If I am relying on myself, no matter how committed I am I cannot have success. I am seeking to learn how to more fully draw the enabling power in my life. To find strength beyond my own to be an instrument in the lords hands.
Each week we write letters to the MTC president and he reads them and responds, all he wrote on mine was meet with me 9:15... So yeah... I did.. Because that seriously is like the next best thing to having an apostle sit you down, have you read from his personal scriptures and teach you about christ. Him and I talked for like an hour. I know he is a busy man.. He probably had to blow things off to spend that much time with me, but it was an incredible opportunity. I am learning so much about Jesus Christ. Really, it was a fantastic experience. That man understands how do draw power from Christ into his life and I really don't see a reason I should wait till I'm 60 to have that too. He helped me understand a few things and then invited me to put my heart into studying. I am sure going to! I have soooooo much faith in christ. I know I can have this power to do his work and I'm going to keep seeking it!
How I love this gospel. Everything about it is beautiful but honestly it all comes down to Jesus Christ. He is the reason for all things good. I know he lives!
Thanks for your prayers and support, keep praying for the missionaries, we are doing our best in a work that is far beyond our own capabilities!
It's awesome.
It's fun!
Its such a blessing!
Love you all!
Hermana Simmons
Mom, if the ensign calls and wants us to model for them, we accept!
We got to go see the crystal palace, you know you have made it in life when you have peacocks wandering your estate!
Sunday, November 5, 2017
11-2-17 Week 2
Okay the MTC... You pretty much are just hanging out with your friends all day talking about the gospel and trying to speak Spanish. we still talk about music and boys and how we are going to do our hair on p-day, and cute dogs and girly sorts... Today some girl split open an apple with her head. It's the best! Seriously, it is the weirdest place ever but also the best! Some days I think we have a little too much fun! Like today I learned all the irregular conjugations in the preterite, but I also wisely learned from Hermana Boggess that you "can't kiss personality". Wow we have fun. Let me tell you living with all girls is crazy and so different but fun!
I feel like sister missionaries can be summed up in one small story from this week. We went to the gym and after everyone got a 5 minute workout we spend the rest the time in the weight room doing a massage train.. Sister missionaries... Massage trains...
The number of oranges I have eaten has now surpassed 35 and I have spend approximately 40 hours waiting for my companion in the bathroom but I love it!
Thanks for your prayers, we have more unity when we teach. ! We have really had some great lessons.. We finished with our first investigator. She shared with us that she has really felt the spirit and has actually applied things we have taught and has felt the spirit! Yay!
This Saturday at the park was great we had been proselytizing for like an hour with no real success. We met this guy who was awesome, he had heard of Mormons but thought we were polygamist Amish people. He couldn't believe it when we told him we are normal, I asked about his family and told him about mine, we are very similar! He had soooooo many questions so we pretty much taught the first lesson, shared Moroni 10:4 and 5 bore testimony, asked him to read the book of mormon, and set an appointment for him to meet with the actual missionaries here in the Madrid mission who can speak better Spanish than We! It was such a cool experience. It's pretty crazy that there are people who are really looking for truth in their life! It takes like an hour of getting rejected to get to share one message of christ but it is soooooo worth it!
So I am in the grand old MTC choir. Hahahaha more or less! I am somehow a soprano... I can't sing high enough but I also can't sing anything but the melody so stand in the middle of the sopranos and Altos and do my own thing. I think the gift of tongues music style is a thing. I know called to serve in English, Portuguese, French, Russian (kinda), Spanish of course, and next week we will learn German. It is fun singing!
The best part about being in such a small mtc is I have a personal relationship with the mtc president. He is an incredible man! I met with him this week and we chatted, he reminds me so much of my dad. He and I have a similar attitude about the mtc I think. I don't know it really isn't that hard. Obviously we work hard all day but that's life. You'd be amazed though so many girls have such a hard time! We were really able to talk about how I can help! Christ looks out for the one! I have one sister in mind and I am going to do all I can to help her realize how awesome this opportunity is! He and I talked for like 20 minutes. I told him the thing I really miss is talking to boys.. Haha girls are great but I love my boys. Can you believe it Eli... These girls don't think fart jokes are that funny!? I was telling them what it is like to kill a chicken and they were mortified! Anyways talking with the president was incredible. I set my ultimate goal for the mission, to always keep myself in a position where I can witness miracles. I believe I will have that opportunity if I work hard and focus on Christ!
Once we become completely dependent on the enabling power of Jesus Christ, we learn to love whatever situation we are in. I love being a missionary! What a blessing!
️️️ Hermana Simmons ️️️
3. Touring the city
I feel like sister missionaries can be summed up in one small story from this week. We went to the gym and after everyone got a 5 minute workout we spend the rest the time in the weight room doing a massage train.. Sister missionaries... Massage trains...
The number of oranges I have eaten has now surpassed 35 and I have spend approximately 40 hours waiting for my companion in the bathroom but I love it!
Thanks for your prayers, we have more unity when we teach. ! We have really had some great lessons.. We finished with our first investigator. She shared with us that she has really felt the spirit and has actually applied things we have taught and has felt the spirit! Yay!
This Saturday at the park was great we had been proselytizing for like an hour with no real success. We met this guy who was awesome, he had heard of Mormons but thought we were polygamist Amish people. He couldn't believe it when we told him we are normal, I asked about his family and told him about mine, we are very similar! He had soooooo many questions so we pretty much taught the first lesson, shared Moroni 10:4 and 5 bore testimony, asked him to read the book of mormon, and set an appointment for him to meet with the actual missionaries here in the Madrid mission who can speak better Spanish than We! It was such a cool experience. It's pretty crazy that there are people who are really looking for truth in their life! It takes like an hour of getting rejected to get to share one message of christ but it is soooooo worth it!
So I am in the grand old MTC choir. Hahahaha more or less! I am somehow a soprano... I can't sing high enough but I also can't sing anything but the melody so stand in the middle of the sopranos and Altos and do my own thing. I think the gift of tongues music style is a thing. I know called to serve in English, Portuguese, French, Russian (kinda), Spanish of course, and next week we will learn German. It is fun singing!
The best part about being in such a small mtc is I have a personal relationship with the mtc president. He is an incredible man! I met with him this week and we chatted, he reminds me so much of my dad. He and I have a similar attitude about the mtc I think. I don't know it really isn't that hard. Obviously we work hard all day but that's life. You'd be amazed though so many girls have such a hard time! We were really able to talk about how I can help! Christ looks out for the one! I have one sister in mind and I am going to do all I can to help her realize how awesome this opportunity is! He and I talked for like 20 minutes. I told him the thing I really miss is talking to boys.. Haha girls are great but I love my boys. Can you believe it Eli... These girls don't think fart jokes are that funny!? I was telling them what it is like to kill a chicken and they were mortified! Anyways talking with the president was incredible. I set my ultimate goal for the mission, to always keep myself in a position where I can witness miracles. I believe I will have that opportunity if I work hard and focus on Christ!
Once we become completely dependent on the enabling power of Jesus Christ, we learn to love whatever situation we are in. I love being a missionary! What a blessing!
Fotos
1. Spanish study.. Okay I'm fairly certain my companion edits all the pictures, I still have acne, don't worry. Things haven't changed that much
2. Temple at night
4. Our Halloween festivities
5. Bad Hair, Great Life
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