The Girls in skirts to the rescue!

Hola Familia!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!!  I can't believe Thanksgiving is already here!  Where is the time going?  We are really excited though!  I got a card from the Relief Society this week, that was really nice.  I appreciated it a lot.  It sounds like everyone is keeping pretty busy.  That's good.  It's always nice to be busy.  We've been busy too.  Very busy.  We're seeing miracles left and right, and lots of funny things too!

Last Monday as we were doing our grocery shopping, we noticed this guy that was kind of looking at us.  We didn't really pay any attention to him though and kept going.  While we were in the healthy food aisle, he came down the same aisle and kind of looked like he wanted to talk to us.  After a couple of minutes of trying to decide which granola to buy he finally came up to us.  And said, "I think you're cute."  Um..... Thank you?  He then proceeded to ask if I lived around here, to which I quickly pulled the missionary card.  After that he went running in the opposite direction.  Which was probably for the best.  Of course this would happen to me as a missionary.  Never in real life.  Oh well. 

Then, on Tuesday, we had the best thing ever happen.  We were going back to the apartment for dinner and we were stopped at the intersection waiting to turn onto the street that we live on.  There was this guy stopped in the middle of the intersection and we couldn't figure out what he was doing.  Then we realized that he was trying to push his car out of the intersection because it had completely died.  Hna Weenig and I looked at each other and said, should we go help him (no one else was).  Then we decided that we probably should.  At that moment the light turned green and we zipped around the corner and parked and then went running into the middle of the street to help this man push his car out of ongoing traffic.  Out of all the people on the Route One, I couldn't believe that the only people to come and help were two girls in skirts.  Oh well, somehow we did it.  But the most amazing thing is that after we had started pushing, another lady (Spanish speaking of course) jumped out of her car and came to help.  And then a kid from the ward just happened to be walking by, saw us, comes running up and says, "Oh hey, sisters," like it was the most normal thing in the world that we were pushing this car.  So after we got the car pushed across the street this other man (also Spanish speaking) came up and tried to help.  It was so great because we were able to teach them both the Restoration and we got the one man's information so that we can go back and teach him more.  Funny how the Lord works.  We also gave the African man a copy of the Book of Mormon and the best part was when we went our separate ways he went running off in the sunset, Book of Mormon in hand.  He's going to get baptized. 

That was such a fun experience though.  We got to help, we got to teach, we got to meet some pretty fun people.  And it was way funny.  I'm glad I wore my stretchy skirt that day. 

But the story doesn't end there.  A couple of days later we were teaching Fabiola and Luis who are the cutest little Mexican family ever, and we were asking them if we could do anything to serve them.  We said, "Really, we're here to represent Jesus Christ and part of what He did was help people."  And Luis said, "I know, and I know you help people.  I saw you the other day pushing that car.  Not anyone would do that."  His wife then scolded him for not helping us, which was funny, but that was so neat that he was there and that he saw that we really do practice what we teach. 

We also went on exchanges this week.  I got to go with Hna Spencer, and she's still in Manassas, so that was great fun.  We got to see a lot of the people that I love.  And Esperanza told me that Jose went to church with her last week!!! That's a miracle!  He's getting closer.  Exchanges are so great though.  It's really hard to leave your area and your companion and all, but I love them.  The Spirit is so strong and I always feel like I learn so much and we have so many little exchange miracles.  Hna Spencer and I were just talking and she told me that she was so excited that I was back to be her companion for a day because it helped her feel a little more of the fire that she came out with and it helped her remind her of why she's here.  That made me feel really good.  And I learned so much from her too.  It was really neat to see how much she's grown since we've been companions.  She's doing a great job down there.  Some of the strongest times that I've felt the Spirit working through me have been during exchanges, and I'm so thankful that Heavenly Father has given me this opportunity to work so closely with other missionaries.  Really, I feel like I'm the one benefiting, because I am learning so much. 

We also had a baptism on Friday.  I feel like I just came here and all the work that Hna Weenig and Hna Wilcox (the one that is friends of the Rasmussens) did is now coming to fruition.  Anyway, this baptism was really special.  Her name is Jill and she's from Colombia.  She's also homeless.  That wasn't the case when they first found her.  When they first found her, Jill was living the life, had all her needs taken care of, and didn't really want much to do with the gospel.  Then everything changed.  Her husband was abusive and left her and her daughter with absolutely nothing.  So now they're living in a shelter and trying to figure things out.  It's really a horrible situation.  But this ward has done amazing things and have helped Jill so much.  And she loves the gospel.  She was so excited to be baptized and to just be washed clean of everything that she's ever done and everything that's ever happened to her.  And you could feel it that night.  You could feel the love of the Savior and you could feel the truthfulness of what was taking place.  And now Jill's daughter, Adla, is so excited to be baptized.  Before the baptism she wasn't that interested, but she told us that she felt something at the baptism that she's never felt before and she wants to get baptized as soon as possible.  Heavenly Father is just putting prepared people in our path.  It's amazing. 

Also on Friday we had a mission conference with Elder Teh of the Seventy.  It was amazing.  The Assistants asked Hna Weenig and I to do a musical number.  We did "I Know that My Redeemer Lives" and it's a beautiful arrangement.  We had about two days to practice it, so that was fun.  But it's okay because Hna Weenig sings like an angel.  I've been so lucky to have such talented companions.  It went really well.  But I was so nervous.  As in shaking in my boots.  I'm pretty sure the entire piano was shaking.  I don't think I've ever been that nervous before.  But we got to perform a musical number for a general authority, that might be a once in a lifetime experience.  I hope he liked it.

Elder Teh gave an analogy that I love that is so applicable to missionary work and to life in general.  He talked about the part in Finding Nemo when they are find the turtles who are all in the current.  And he talked about how in the current it's easier.  We can still get things done, we can float on our backs, baptisms still happen.  But we're just going along.  We're not living up to our full potential and destiny.  Marlin and Dory eventually had to exit the current, and so do we.  We were called to something higher and something so much better.  It's hard to exit the current, but it's better out of the current.  We were called to be Preach My Gospel Missionaries, and we can be.  But not if we're in the current.  And I think that's how it is with life.  We can be in the current, and it's fine, but there's something so much better outside of the current, if we're just willing to do the work to get there. 

This week has also been a learning week for me.  Hna Weenig does missionary work in a way that I have never done it before.  And I'm trying to learn so much from that.  There were times this week that I got a little bit frustrated because I didn't understand why she was doing things the way she was.  But as we've talked throughout the week, I've come to understand why.  She has had very specific and very hard challenges that have molded her into who she has become and I love and respect her so much.  But I was reminded that each person has had specific and unique experiences that have turned them into who they are.  It also gives them specific and unique capabilities in teaching the people they are called to teach.  I don't know if I'm explaining this very well, I know I'm being kind of vague.  On the outside, Hna Weenig is basically perfect.  And everyone in the mission thinks so.  And the truth is, she basically is.  But she has also shared with me some very personal fears and weaknesses and it meant a lot to me.  First, because she trusted me enough to share them with me.  Second, because we have to allow others to have their weaknesses.  We have to allow them to grow.  We can't force them to be perfect just because we want them to be.  Also, it helped me realize that if Hna Weenig (who really, I don't know why she hasn't been translated) can have weaknesses, it's okay that I do too.  As long as we're working on them.  She's teaching me so much. I have a wonderful companion.  And I really hope we're together for Christmas.

I can't believe that I'm going to spend the holiday season in Old Town!  It's really the best thing every.  We've already been invited over to four different houses (we're going to try not to eat at all of them because we don't want to die) and it's so great to be back here.  I love this area.  I love my companion.  I love my mission.  Also, every week President Riggs sends out shout outs from the zone leaders for each zone.  This was the shout out for our zone this week: "Mt. Vernon Zone: The zone had 96% invites! Hermanas Weenig and Simpson had a baptism, put 3 people on date, had 2 investigators at church, taught 30 lessons, had 100% invites, and had found 5 new investigators (and they performed a musical # at Friday's conference with Elder Teh)!!! Wow!"  I don't even know how we did it all.  But it's great.  And we're ready to keep it up for the rest of the transfer. 

I love you all so much family.  You're just the best.  Keep being wonderful and doing good things.

xoxo

Hermana Simpson

Happy Birthday to me....

Hola Familia!

I love you so much.  No, I'm not emailing because I get special privileges because it's my birthday...only because it happens to be the day after transfers.  We stayed.  Hna Spencer and I and we have a new companion, Hna Wilde as well who is waiting for her visa.  From now on please send anything to our real address, not the mission office.

Love you tons!

xoxo

Hermana Simpson

We are reading the Book of Mormon

Hola Familia!

I love you so much!  I can't believe everything that's going on over there.  It sounds so busy!  When is it ever not though?  That's exciting for football and the works to be starting up again.  And I'm glad that everyone is doing well.  Can you believe that summer is already winding down?  I can't!  I thought this summer was going to go by slow, but it's flying by.  This transfer has been the fastest transfer yet. 

Speaking of transfers, Hna Spencer and I are terrified for them to happen.  We want to stay together so bad!  And we have so much going on.  Transfers are Thursday, we have a wedding on Friday, baptisms for Pablo, Natasha, and Cayo on Saturday and a missionary musical fireside on Sunday.  It should be a great week! 

So this week, I don't even know where to start.  Let's see.  Esperanza got the marriage license!  That in itself was a miracle.  She texted us the night before and said that Jose got the day off and was going to go to DC to pick up his passport from the Honduran Embassy, but that after that they didn't have a ride to go and get the actual license.  So we scrambled and found one with our ward mission leader, but then they were actually able to get a ride with her sister.  So Hno Loza just took us out to lunch instead.  So now all we have to do is get her to the chapel on Friday.  And be on time.  President Gonzalez hates being late.  That shouldn't be a problem because we've been teaching her how to be punctual. 

I am so proud of her.  She's so ready to be baptized.  It's taken a lot of work and a lot of prayer to get here, but I can't believe it's actually happening.  Actually I can.  I knew it would, but I didn't know when.  We have truly seen a softening of Jose's heart.  And I know that as he sees Esperanza grow and become, he will be inspired by her example and someday he will join her.  Words can't express how much I love her.  It's been such an experience for me to watch her grow throughout the past four and a half months, and I think I've learned much more from her than she's learned from me.  She just has this inherent desire to do what is right and she does it, regardless of what it takes.

We've also had some stellar lessons with Heidy this week.  She's coming around.  We taught her the law of chastity, and it was one of the best lessons that I've ever been in.  Typically I wouldn't expect that, especially teaching a 15 year old girl, but it was beautiful.  We prayed a lot about how to teach it to her so that she wouldn't just roll her eyes at us, but so that it really touch her heart.  So we used President Uchtdorf's talk to the Young Women call Your Happily Ever After (if you haven't read it, you need to) and we used For the Strength of Youth and talked about the temple and eternal marriage.  And it was beautiful.  I just wish that Heidy could see all the potential she has.  I wish that she could see how beautiful and wonderful she is.  But she's never been told that before and she has a hard time believing it now.  And Kelley, thanks for sending her that note.  She really loved it.  She couldn't believe that someone she's never met before would be so nice to her.  And she thinks you're really happy :)  She showed it to Jhoana who told Adela about it, and now basically their whole family loves you.  We're going to keep working with her.  This week we also really emphasized the importance of the Book of Mormon and she said, "Wow, I didn't realize that the Mormon Book  (that's what everyone in that family calls it, we're working on it...) was so important to read."  We played a game with her where we had her pick a book and a chapter and a verse and then we read it to her and we all made applications about the verse to our lives.  And then we challenged her to read and apply what she reads every single day for a week.  She was excited to do it.  We left her a chapter to work on and the next day we went back and not only had she read one chapter, but two.  We are seeing little miracles with her every single day. 

We also had Return and Report this week (which is for all the new missionaries and trainers) and it was so fun to see everyone.  Basically every companionship of Hermana's has been training this transfer.  It's really fun because they split us up and ask us what we'd like to tell our babies but are too afraid to tell them and they do the same thing with the new missionaries.  Hna Spencer and I talked about it after and we are both very grateful that we're companions.  I'm so glad I have her.

Yesterday at church, we basically ran church.  Not really, but kind of.  Last week they told us that we were going to do a special musical number.  So this week Hna Spencer played the organ in sacrament meeting (I'm off the hook for playing the piano!) and we did our musical number and then we ended up teaching Sunday School (No preparation whatsoever) and then I played the piano in Relief Society.  It was great!  I get so nervous when I have to teach in front of big groups of people in Spanish!  But we did it.  The lesson was on the Spirit World, but since there were quite a few investigators there I was wondering how we were going to frame it.  I was so worried and I was praying that we would get some sort of revelation on how to teach the class so that the investigators would be able to learn and feel the spirit.  As the opening prayer was being said, the thought came to my mind to teach the lesson, but to use to Plan of Salvation to teach it.  So we did that and it went really well.  Better than I expected.  I was so thankful for that and the Spirit was so strong. 

We also had an amazing experience last night.  We just started teaching a lady named Annie who the elders had been teaching.  Her brother's wife and her brother's wife's mom are both members and the mom, Maribel has been visiting from Honduras.  Last night we got a phone call from Maribel and she was really upset.  Her granddaughter Marielise has been really sick for three days and she was just getting worse and worse, but they didn't know where they could take her--they didn't want to take her to the ER because they don't have insurance and they didn't know what to do.  So we talked to her a little bit and asked her if Marielise had gotten a blessing.  She said no, and we asked if she would like one.  She said yes, but that she hadn't been able to get in touch with the Elders.  So we called the other Elders and they came over and gave her a blessing.  As soon as they finished Marielise got up and ran to the bathroom to throw up.  The elders left, and we went downstairs and talked to Maribel a bit longer.  As we were down there, we heard Marielise upstairs laughing and talking.  Maribel went up to check on her and she said that she said that when she threw up she felt like she had thrown up all the sickness and she knew that Heavenly Father had healed her.  It was a really special experience. 

I think that's about all for this week.  It's been a good week and we are content.  Thank you for being so wonderful!  I love you so much.

xoxo

Hermana Simpson  

p.s. what day does Cameron leave?

Ii went to Old Town

Hola Familia!

Wow.  I just love you so much!  I really think that I love you more and more every day.  You are wonderful and I love hearing about all the crazy things that are going on.  I can't believe you saw Mr. Deatherage.  Lukcy.  I love that man and I wonder how he's doing every now and then.  I'm glad to hear he's doing well.  I also can't believe that Cam is going so soon.  These three weeks are going to fly.  I never thought I would leave and then all of a sudden I was gone.  I'm so excited for you, Cam.  This is the best thing you could ever be doing. 

So much happened this week, but you're probably going to get the sweetened condensed version because we are going to DC with our district today and we don't have a ton of time before we meet, but I'll do my best to give you all the juicy details.

First, as you probably already saw, I went to Old Town!  We had exchanges this week and I'm really close with both of the sister training leaders and they knew that I really wanted to come to Old Town, but they wanted to follow the Lord's will too and so they prayed about it and I'm so glad that it was the Lord's will for me to go.  It was everything I had hoped it would be and more.  That area is doing so well and it was so good to see that Hna Stewart and Hna Wallis and I really did make a difference there in building the foundation for what it is today.  It was a really good reminder to me that all the work we do isn't for nothing, even if we don't see the immediate results.  Just being back in that apartment and back on the Route 1 was so wonderful.  I've missed it so much.  We went to all of the sketchy apartments that we don't have because Centreville consists entirely of townhouses and basically nothing else.  And there were so many people!  I loved being back in the city!  I also got the see the Castaneda's.  It was perfect.  Hna Cazier got out of the car and I got out and the kids were playing on the other side of the street and they saw me and screamed and ran over to me and they just hugged me and said how much they missed me.  This whole time Hna Castaneda was on the porch and she didn't see my face, but she didn't know who it was and I turned around and she ran over to me and was so happy to see me.  It felt like coming home for Christmas.  Pili wasn't home, but she came home later and she saw me through the sliding glass door and ran over and we both just started crying.  She's doing so well and she's been going to church and been really involved with the young single adults.  I'm so proud of her and how far she's progressed.  Being able to see them again just made my heart sing.  Oh except for this part, this was gross:  As we were getting ready to leave, Pili says "I have a surprise for you.  Close your eyes and open your mouth."  Okay.  So I did.  And she fed me a bug!  It wasn't horrible.  Until I knew what it was.  Then it was disgusting!  But at least it wasn't spicy.  So that was Old Town.

Other miracle, we finally got to go to the temple!  And it was amazing.  I have such a testimony of VC sisters.  They are so inspired.  We took Heidy and Jhoana and they loved it.  And it was amazing because Hna Pirir (the Hna that gave us the tour) promised Heidy some of the exact same blessings--very specific blessings--that we have also promised her.  These blessing truly come from Heavenly Father and not from us.  This is His work.  It was so beautiful and the Spirit was so strong.  It's something that you can feel as soon as you drive onto the temple grounds.  And it's because it's real.  I want nothing more than for Heidy and Jhoana to be able to experience all of the blessings of the temple.  And I know that they can and that someday they will.  Heidy's been really confused because she feels like she's being pulled in a couple different directions.  Her stepdad basically hates Mormons and her mom isn't the biggest fan of us.  But Heidy likes it and she even told us that she knows that it's true, but it's really hard for her, being pulled in different directions.  We're working so hard with her and she has made such progress.  I've come to love her so much. 

We're continuing to make progress with Esperanza and we're getting so close to her wedding date.  Now Jose just has to pull through for us and actually show up on the wedding day.  Which is going to be my birthday, by the way. 

Speaking of weddings, I got Laura's announcement.  She looks so happy.  I'm so happy for her.  I would love to see Paola's and Braden's as well.  All these weddings are so exciting.  I'm glad it's not me though! 

Well, I think that's about it for this week.  Sorry I couldn't share more, but just know that I love you tons and that I pray for you always.

xoxo

Hermana Simpson

BUGS

Giant mushrooms in Old Town

Mi Querida Familia Castaneda

Temple with Heidy and Jhoana

Reunited with Hna Tuft (One of my favorite friends from the MTC)

Heavenly Father is a God of Miracles

Hola Familia! 

I just love you so much!  Thank you for being so wonderful!  And I have good news:  We made it through the week without any car incidents!  That's right!  No accidents and no getting pulled over by grumpy police ladies. (Yes, I'm still bitter about that.  I really need to get over it.)  But it sounds like you have a lot going on.  Mom!  You are wonderful.  Do you know that?  Also, I'm so glad that you got to go to churchy church!  It's the best.  Even when it isn't.  I've gained a whole new appreciation of church.  So you said that Bro. Porter got put in the branch presidency...Um what branch presidency?  Our stake has a branch?  Of what?  And I'm so glad Sky is still meeting with the Elders.  Lucky you that it's at our house.  I wrote her a letter this week.  I hope Kelley gave it to her and I hope she liked it.  Also, Kelley:  I have a job for you.  Last night I told Heidy to add you as a friend on Facebook  So add her.  And be her friend.  I was telling her about you and Sky and she loved it.  She really needs a friend like you.  She's the same age as you and really just needs to be surrounded by good people.  I also talked all about you in Sunday school yesterday.  The lesson was about missionary work and the teacher asked if anyone had had any experiences with opening their mouths and just talking about the gospel.  Nobody raised their hand for like a whole minute so I was like fine, I guess I'll just have to tell everyone about how wonderful my sister is.  Now the whole branch--or at least the whole Gospel Principles class--loves you.  And about that Mormon Messages, that would be AMAZING!  We've been talking about trying to download some of them but it takes a long time and we always forget that we need to bring DVDs. 

Are you ready to hear about this week?  We saw so many miracles!  I feel like I say that every week.  Heavenly Father is just so good. 

Last Sunday Hna Spencer and I had a special fast for Esperanza and Jose.  We've been working with Esperanza for a long time and she wants to get baptized, but there's the whole marriage issue.  So for the past couple weeks we've been focusing on increasing all of our faith and doing everything in our power to get this to happen.  We asked her if she had really decided that she was going to get baptized on the 31st and if she had explained to Jose that it's something that she really wants but that she can't do it until she gets married.  We even practiced it and I was Jose.  She mostly just laughed through it, but I guess it actually stuck.  Our Heavenly Father is a God of miracles.  After district meeting on Tuesday we went over to Jhoana's and Esperanza was there.  And we were sitting and talking and all of the sudden out of the blue she just says, "I'm getting married!"  We both just about burst into tears right there on the living room floor.  We asked her what happened and she said that she told Jose that she was getting baptized on the 31st.  And he said okay.  So then we told her that if we were going to make this happen then we had to start planning and setting deadlines.  So we picked a date and Esperanza is getting married on the 24th!  And I think we might have turned into unofficial wedding planners. 

She also came to church yesterday, in a dress and she brought the girls.  And Amy, the naughtiest of them all, slept through Sunday School and almost all of Relief Society.  It was wonderful. 

Heidy also started progressing leaps and bounds this week.  We put her on date a couple of weeks ago and then she started being really weird and standoffish so we backed off a little bit.  But this week we were able to sit down with her and just talk to her.  And she told us that she believed it all and that it was something that she was starting to want.  And then we had an amazing lesson with her and the Spirit was so strong.  I know there's a reason that we're teaching Heidy right now and that we're having the lessons we're having with her right now.  It's because she needs the gospel right now.  And she really just needs love.  She's been told that because her entire family had kids as teenagers and out of wedlock that she would too.  We told her that that is not true!  And we asked her if that was what she wanted to happen and she said that she hoped not.  And we told her that she had the power to change that and that if she decided now, that it would never happen, it wouldn't.  That girl needs the Young Women lessons.  Even though I complained about it a lot, I'm thankful for the things that I learned there.  And I am so thankful that I have parents that have high expectations for me because it's taught me to have high expectations for myself.  So thanks Mom and Dad.  We told Heidy that if no one else was going to give her those expectations that she would have to set them for herself and that we had them for her and that most importantly God has them for her.  He knows who she can become and he wants her to experience all the blessing that come from living the gospel and being successful.  Her mom though, really doesn't want her to get baptized.  She's pretty Pentecostal and her husband (Heidy's stepdad) doesn't exactly have the highest opinion of Mormons.  And so Heidy went to church with her mom yesterday and we had a lesson with her that evening and she said that she was just confused.  That she wanted it but she's worried about what will happen with her mom.  She told us that she told her mom that she's going to try and get baptized on the 31st and that her mom didn't say anything but just looked at her like she was crazy.  We brought Alejandra with us (who just graduated and is awesome) and that helped a lot.  She said she was feeling better about it and that she would really pray to find out.  I love this girl.  She's been through so much but this week as we've been teaching her she's had a light come into her.  She's starting to receive the gospel, and even if she doesn't recognize it yet, it's changing her.  We met her mom and the contrast was so big.  She just seemed so empty.  And when we first met Heidy that was kind of how she was, but not anymore.  She has this light and this brilliancy in her and she just sparkles.  It's beautiful. 

We're still working on helping Moises to read the Book of Mormon.  He's being stubborn, but he'll come around.  Here's the thing about that family:  I knew when I met them that they would accept the gospel.  It wasn't like an "oh someday I hope that they can have the gospel."  It was a "this entire family is going to have the gospel and it is going to change them forever."  And we're seeing it happen.  I don't know how quickly it's going to happen, but I know it will.  And they are so special to me.  Even the naughty kids.  Even Moises with his ponytail and tattoos.  It's more than just seeing them in baptismal clothes.  When I think about them I can see them dressed in white being sealed as a family in the temple.  Someday it will happen.  And Hna Spencer and I are doing everything we can to get them there.  It might not happen with us (although I would love it if it did) but it will happen.  They're going to be a part of our lives forever. 

So those were our two big moments this week.  We also had an extreme moment of frustration where we were supposed to go to the temple with the Relief Society and take Jhoana and Esperanza and they woke up early and we got them rides to the church where we were meeting and then only two people showed up.  And one of them was the Relief Society president and the other didn't have a car.  So we didn't fit and we didn't get to go.  Awesome.  I wanted to scream.  But I didn't.  Those are just some of the frustrations that come with being in a little branch.  And to be honest, a part of me was expecting that to happen.  Which is why we're working on strengthening the members.  We still had a super awesome lesson and it was there but it wasn't the temple.  But I think we're rescheduling for this Thursday.  So pray that it works. 

Well family, that's about all that's going on here.  It's finally the best month of the whole year.  I love you so much and keep being awesome.

xoxo

Hermana Simpson

Esperanza's "front door"

Alison

Amy (who we sometimes call the devil child...Don't tell anyone though)

Marely

With Esperanza

Virginia is for lovers....

Hola Familia!

I just love you so much!  I love hearing from you and it sounds like you're doing great!  Keep on keeping on with work and don't let it overwhelm you.  I know this has nothing to do with nursing, but something I've learned as a missionary is that you know more than you think you know.  And for the things you don't know, Heavenly Father has a sneaky way of helping you out.  So don't stress out too much! 

I do have a Bible that goes along with that Book of Mormon and I would love to give her the whole set.  They were together when I left, so ask Kelley what happened to it.

Can you believe that it's going to be August this week?  August is the best month! 

This week has been a little bit tough.  As you already know, we had that accident and it's been a pain to deal with.  Sorry about the scare that created.  Going to the Emergency Room takes up so much time.  I hated it because I just wanted to be doing missionary things.  And I've been pretty sore.  I've been staying away from the hydrocodone and have just been taking Tylenol and ibuprofen, but I have been taking the muscle relaxers off and on and they help.  The only problem is that they make me dizzy and I can't stay awake for the life of me.  I think I'm a little bit more emotional when I take them too.  So I've tried to avoid taking them and I only take them at night or in the morning.  It's just so annoying to deal with. 

In dealing with all of that we weren't able to teach as many lessons as we usually do, and we also got stood up a lot this week, so it's been frustrating.  We really need to find some new investigators.  We're in a hard area for finding though and because we're teaching so much of Jhoana's family that lives in Manassas it's been hard to try and balance our time.  We're working on it though. 

And we're really trying to focus on working with members.  Our branch is a struggling little branch.  With the exception of a few families, no one has really experienced true conversion.  And so it's hard to get them to help with missionary work when they're not even converted to the gospel themselves.  They're wonderful people and we love them, but we really want to help them grow and experience all the joy that comes from having the gospel, not just parts of it.  I know that as the branch becomes more and more converted, this little area will really start to flourish.  That's something both Hna Spencer and I feel really strongly about and so this week we're really going to start focusing on the members.  It reminds me a little bit of what we did in Old Town.  And Old Town is doing so well now.  I got transferred just as it was getting back on it's feet and that was really hard, but our district when I was there built the foundation for it.  And because I've done it once, I know we can do it again.  I think I can finally say that I love this area.  It's taken a lot of time and a lot of prayers, but I really do love it.  I always thought that to love it, I'd have to feel the same way I did about Old Town, but I've realized that's not the case.  I love Sudley and Old Town very differently and for very different reasons but in both instances I've seen them grow and I've grown with them.  I feel like they've become a part of me. 

We had a couple of really wonderful things happen this week and a couple of really not so wonderful things happen as well. 

We taught Moises again this week.  It happened the same way as it did last time.  Kind of.  We had just finished teaching Jhoana and Adela and Heidy and we were getting ready to kneel down and pray and everyone joined us.  Everyone.  But before we prayed, Moises asked a question and that led to another one and another one until we ended up teaching him the entire Restoration!  His questions are so good and I really appreciate that he asks questions to understand, not to criticize.  And so the Spirit was there and we all felt it.  I think the best part of the lesson was when we were inviting Moises to read and pray and find out for himself and he just said maybe.  I asked him why just maybe and he said that he didn't know if God though that he was ready for this or if God had actually chosen him.  At first I didn't know what to say to that, but then the Spirit took over and I just said, "Really?!  Look at it this way:  Out of all the people in Northern Virginia that we could be teaching right now and out of the very short 18 months that we're here, we're spending this valuable time in your house teaching you the message of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Think of all the people that we could be teaching that we're not because we're here teaching you!  I can't think of a better sign that Heavenly Father knows that you're ready for this and that He wants you to hear it.  I promise you it's not coincidence."  I think that surprised him but I also know that it touched him.  And I said the words, but it was really what Heavenly Father knew he needed to hear.  He thought about that for a minute and then said that maybe I was right and that it made him happy to think that God was aware of him.  Of course He is!  This is the most important message in the world!  Of course Heavenly Father wants all of His children to have it.  And I know that He is preparing his children, even those with pony tails and tattoos, to receive it.  Afterwards we knelt down again to pray, because we never actually did the first time, and it was so special.  The entire family was there and they were saying family prayer.  It was beautiful! 

Saturday was Hna Spencer's birthday and we had a birthday miracle.  It's actually kind of silly, but we loved it.  Right after she got here, the buttons on her iPod stopped working and she was really sad because she had a lot of good music on there.  I have mine, but I'm sick of most of it.  So Friday she prayed and asked Heavenly Father if he could somehow make it so that she could listen to the music on her iPod.  And Saturday afternoon we figured out that we could plug it into the car using the USB cable and that we could use the stereo on the car to control what songs we listen to!  That might be the only thing that Subaru is good for.  But really, it was such a tender mercy from the Lord. 

To explain the next miracle, I have to share the other not so wonderful thing that happened to us.  And I'm still bitter about it, so if the sassiness comes out, that's why.  Saturday night we were driving home and we were stopped at the light right before the road that we live on and we finally get the green arrow and turn onto our street and guess what.  No, we didn't get crashed again, but we did get pulled over.  Of course I was driving (don't worry, I hadn't been taking any medicine).  I hate that Subaru.  So the policewoman (of course it was a woman), come over and shines the light right in my eyeballs and says, "Do you know why I pulled you over."  Nope.  You didn't even give me enough time to start speeding after I turned that corner.  What I really said though, sweet as can be of course, was, "I really don't."  She proceeds to tell me, "You waited a few seconds after the light turned green to turn.  You obviously weren't paying attention.  Have you been drinking?"  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!  Of course I just said, "No, I haven't, we're actually missionaries from the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."  She then asks me who owned the car and I told her that it was the Church.  She then took my license to make sure there weren't any warrants out (because I look like such a hardened criminal) and when she came back and chastised me because I had a Washington license and had been living in Virginia for more than 60 days.  She told me that if I didn't change my license they would ticket me and that they could tow the car.  I just nodded and said okay but really I was thinking that she was the most terrible human being in the world.  She was scary and didn't seem like she would listen to me if I tried to explain the whole missionary situation, and I didn't want her to get even more grumpy so I didn't really try to explain.  But following my understanding, I'm not going to have to change my license.  So anyway, she gives me a written warning (because she has to) and it says failure to pay full attention or something ridiculous like that.  Whatever. That was basically the straw that broke the camel's back though, and I just wanted to curl up in a ball and die.  I now have a list of the worst things in the world which include, the Subaru we drive, Virginia drivers, and Virginia police, especially the women and especially at the end of the month.  So that's the back story to the miracle that I'm about to explain. 

Sunday, we were driving to dinner at a member's house and we were lost because of some awesome road construction.  We're on this road, by the police station of course, with no posted speed limit signs or anything, and all of a sudden a policeman starts tailing us.  As in we're about 99% sure that he's going to pull us over for something.  There was no one else on the road and he was about as close as he could be without actually touching us.  Hna Spencer was driving, but after the ordeal of the night before we really just did not want to deal with anymore policemen.  And so I said, maybe I should say a prayer.  And I did and we prayed that we would get pulled over and that the policeman would stop following us.  As soon as I said amen we stopped at a stoplight and the policeman was still right behind us.  But as soon as the light turned green, instead of following us, he turned.  No blinker, no turn lane, no nothing.  It was a miracle!  And the answer to the prayer of two very distraught missionaries.

And that's our week.  Our goal this week is to have no car troubles.  Hopefully we can make it.  Our record isn't too good though.  Anyway, I love you all so much, I think you're the best.  Thanks for being the most wonderful family in the whole wide world.

xoxo

Hermana Simpson

Don't freak out that it's not Monday...

Hola Familia,

We had interviews with President Riggs today and he told us that we should email you today, so I promise this is kosher. And this is the reason why: We were in another accident last night. I'm swearing off driving forever. This one was a bit worse than the last one, but still not that terribly bad. It was rush hour and we were stopped on the highway. And once again the person behind us wasn't paying attention. And she rear ended us. Our bumper is coming off and it's pretty scratched and that's really the only damage. The air bags didn't deploy so she must not have hit us too hard. But we got to go to the emergency room again last night. Everyone mentioned that we were just there four days ago. We felt so dumb. But all is well. I have a cervical strain, and lumbar strain, and a thoracic spine strain aka some wicked whiplash. Thankfully we didn't have to get any xrays this time. So the doctor perscribed a muscle relaxer and some hydrocodone. He said we'd be sore but that we'd be fine in a couple of days. So we're very happy about that. Don't worry about anything, we're fine. I think I might request to be put in a bike area though...

I love you so much!

xoxo

Hermana Simpson

I TOLD HER SHE NEEDED TO PUNCH SATAN IN THE FACE

Hola Familia,

I love you so much! Thank you so much for the chocolate! That was a lovely surprise. It also came on the hottest day of this year and so it was completely melted. So we popped it in the fridge and have been snacking on cold chocolate all week. It's been wonderful. Thank you! This week has gone by at lightning speed. We have been soooo busy! It's so good. And we are working so hard. We are exhausted, but so happy. And we have seen so many miracles this week I don't even know where to start.

We have been teaching Esperanza and really been focusing on getting her to her baptismal date on August 31. And the Spirit has been so strong this week. On Monday night we had a lesson with her and it didn't go so well. When we asked her if she was going to come to church on Sunday she said she didn't know because she was kind of embarrassed to get a ride. That's what Jose always says and we were shocked because she's never been like that. But then we talked to her and said that that was exactly what Satan wanted her to say. And I told her when things like that happen she needed to punch Satan in the face. Hna Wallis used to always say that and I thought it was so cheesy, but I actually used it. And it worked! We came back the next day and asked her if she had read and she said, "Yes! I punched Satan in the face!" She's adorable. And she's been praying so much for Jose to come around and she even fasted on her own! When she told us that we were amazed! We have had so many spiritual lessons with her this week and she's recognizing the Spirit and she knows it true. She bears her testimony to us of the Book of Mormon every time we come over and she tells us that she knows it true. And she wants to get baptized so bad, Jose is just being difficult. We were talking about it with her and she said that he says that he wants to take things step by step. And she just said, "Hello. We have a kid. I think we skipped a step." The Spirit has been so strong this week and we've all really felt it. I have no doubt that she can get baptized on the date that we gave her. She is so great.

Keeping things in the family, we were over at Jhoana's house and we were teaching Heidy and Adela and we watched Finding Faith in Christ with them and the Spirit was so strong. And then we had an amazing lesson with Heidy about the Atonement and we invited her to be baptized and she asked us what she needed to do to be ready. She told us that she wants to be as happy as Jhoana. We promised her that she could. It's so frustrating though because no one besides Jhoana (and us) really believe in her. She's 15 and she's made a lot of mistakes, but everyone just treats her like she's a lost cause. And she isn't. If only they could see what we see in her. If only she could see in herself what we see in her. She has so much potential and no one can seem to realize that. So that drives me a little crazy. But we believe in her. And so does Heavenly Father.

Someday this whole family is going to have the gospel. It might not be right now, it might not be for twenty years, but I know they will. They are being prepared and their hearts are being softened. Now it's all just about doing our best and being patient with the Lord's timing and their own agency.

As we were teaching Heidy, Moises (Adela's boyfriend) came and sat down on the couch. Jhoana was bearing her testimony to Heidy and I felt like I needed to ask Moises what he knew about the Book of Mormon. I kind of ignored it because I didn't really want to and I was scared about what he was going to say. But Jhoana finished and that kind of finished the lesson and Heidy went to the bathroom and Moises was still sitting there. So I turned around and said, "Moises! I have a question for you. What do you know about the Book of Mormon?" His face was priceless. But he said, "Nothing, really." So we explained it to him and he started asking questions and it was amazing! We have been waiting for so long and praying and fasting for the opportunity to teach him and there it was! It was so perfect. And it was so good. We were able to explain all about what the Book of Mormon is and why it's so important and why we need it in our lives. And then we committed him to read it. Hna Spencer and I walked out of there so excited and happy. The funniest part though was that as we were walking out the door, he was like, "Wait! I have one more question!" Okay... "How do you have to have your hair in your church?" It was so funny because he has this kind of crazy, but somehow still well-groomed pony tail. And he loves it. Even though Cindy (his daughter) tells him it makes him look like a princess. We told him that he would be fine. As you know, hair is not the most important thing.

On Monday night (I'm kind of skipping around here) some of the Elders came over and gave our investigator Patricia a priesthood blessing. She's been sick for a long time and no one can figure out what's wrong with her. It was a really special experience and the Spirit was so strong. We all felt it. And Patricia is moving slow, but she's progressing. It's taking her a while to put things together, but each time we visit her, her understanding increases. My love for her and her family grows and grows every time we go to teach them.

We taught Geraldo again last night and he loves everything we say. He wants to be baptized but he takes it very seriously and wants to make sure that he's fully repented before he does because he wants it all to be right in the eyes of God. We told him that we would teach him how to fully repent so that he could be ready for baptism and he was so excited. He told us that when he's baptized he wants to do what we do and tell everyone about the Book of Mormon because they all need it. He's so fun to teach because he's so enthusiastic.

So those are some of our experiences from teaching this week. I wish my writing could do it justice, because it's been amazing. The Spirit has been so strong and at the same time, we've had so much fun. If you're doing it right, missionary work is fun!

Yesterday though, we had the most atrocious day. We got this text message from Jhoana telling us that she probably wasn't going to go to church because her sister had just dropped off her three daughters and she didn't want to deal with the hassle. But she needed to go to church. We are doing everything we can to help her stay strong and grow her faith. So we went over there, told her it would all be fine and we started getting everyone ready. And it was too late to find a ride, and so we walked to church. Three grown ups, six kids all under the age of six. It took us half an hour to get there and it was so hot. We got there barely in time for the sacrament I'm pretty sure we looked like had just come from a war zone. But the kids were so exhuasted that they were pretty good during sacrament meeting. And then the chaos started. Amy, who is almost two was so tired. And she just started screaming and screaming and would not stop. We were trying to entertain Amy and Jordan so that Jhoana could listen and learn, but it was hard. And there was a point that Jordan just looked at Hna Spencer and I and he started screaming too. Hna Spencer juts looked at me and said, "This was not in the job description." But somehow we survived. And Jhoana came to church, and that was really the most important thing. And we found a ride home for everyone. That was a tender mercy. It was raining and we didn't really want to walk home. So it wasn't that bad--actually it kind of was--but it was so worth it.

The only really not so awesome thing that happened this week was that I got three X-rays and we spent three hours in the ER on Saturday. Not as dramatic as it sounds. We were in an accident. With our ward mission leader. Not. My. Fault. We were coming off of the 66 and this exit is really weird because there's a stoplight at the end of the ramp before you get onto the main road. Well the light was yellow, so, being the excellent driver that I am, I slowed down. And I don't know what happened, if he just wasn't paying attention or if he thought I was going to try and speed through it, but he hit us from behind. Thankfully, not a lot of damage was done. Our car barely had a scratch. So that was good. But Hna Spencer had a headache and my neck hurting and so Sister Riggs told us that we needed to go to the Emergency Room to get checked out. I guess Urgent Care doesn't take accident victims. We felt so dumb because we just walked into the ER, definitely not having an emergency. The registration guy was just kind of like, what are you even doing here? Just in case, right? We actually had to because of liability issues or something. But just like we thought, nothing was wrong, just some whiplash. Fun. But I think that it might be best for the cars in this mission if I get sent to a bike area...

Anyway, that's about it. I love you so much and I think you're the best family in the world. Have the best week ever. And I will too!

xoxo

Hermana Simpson

COMMENCE THE JAW DROPPING FOR THE SECOND TIME

Hola Familia!

I love you so much! You are just the most wonderful family in the world! And you look so great in all the pictures that Kelley sent. Sorry about Elder Adling leaving. Read the first couple of verses in Alma 22 for that one. It sounds like this week has been crazy! I'm sorry about work on Sundays though. That stinks. Have faith and be strong. And I'm so sad to hear about Bobbi. She and Bob and Phyllis have been in my prayers a lot lately and that news broke my heart. I'm glad you'll be able to go down to support them this weekend. Give them my love.

We had transfers this week! I was so nervous. And I definitely did not want to train again. I was hoping to be junior companion for the rest of my mission. Obviously that's not happening. Thank you, President Riggs. I was willing to accept the Lord's will, but after the last two transfers, I was really terrified to go through it all again. And this area is a tough area and I kind of didn't want to stay. But I didn't want to train and whitewash or open another area either. There were a lot of things that I didn't want to do, so I had really just been praying that Heavenly Father would help me to accept whatever is best for this mission and that He would help me to be willing and cheerful about doing it. I'm trying to be a Nephi and not a Laman or a Lemuel (You've taught me well, mother). And we had the best transfer meeting. In those couple of hours, my perspective about training changed completely. President Riggs talked about a lot of things that I really needed to hear and I had also read my patriarchal blessing which had also helped me see things in a new light. I'm amazed about how much that talks about serving a mission and I never even realized it! Heavenly Father is so sneaky!

My new companion is Hna Spencer, she's from Mesa and she is darling! She got super sick when she came here (as in throwing up during transfer meeting), but she's been recovering, and we have had so much fun this week! On Friday we did weekly planning, which I really have not liked lately. I felt like it was always just a struggle to understand each other and not the revelatory experience that it's supposed to be. But this Friday was completely different. As in one of the best planning experiences that I've ever had! We both just felt so inspired and I felt like we were able to kind of figure out what would be best to help our investigators. It was such a good experience. And Hna Spencer and I have been getting along wonderfully! Sometimes I just think to myself, this is too good to be true! I'm really excited for this transfer. We are going to see miracles!

Speaking of miracles, we've had our fair share this week. On Wednesday Hna Sorensen and I taught Jhoana's mom! Both her and Esperanza had been saying that they really though their mom would like to learn so we finally went over there with Jhoana. I was really nervous to meet her after some of the stories that I've heard, but Jhoana told us that she was going to love us. So we went over and we get out of the car and there's a kid screaming and everyone is outside in the front yard and I just thought, "Oh no, why do we always have such terrible timing?" But it actually wasn't! It was amazing because we got to meet her gringo stepdad, Eugene. And he took one look at us and said, "LDS, right?" We said that we were and he said, "I used to do that." Um what?! I think the three of us might have gone into shock. Truly. He then said, "You talk about being touched, when I was in the temple, I felt it." Commence the jaw dropping for the second time. So then Jhoana, being the little missionary that she is asked him what happened. And he just said, "I don't know, a lot of things. I got old." And she basically tells him that that's the worst excuse she's ever heard. So that was a big surprise. No one had any idea. Not even her mom. That one definitely came out of left field. We then had an awesome lesson with her mom about the Restoration. And we went back and read with her on Saturday from the Book of Mormon, and she loved it.

We also put Esperanza back on date this week and we put Jose on date with her! We fasted for Jose last Sunday and we have been trying really hard to teach him and we finally had the opportunity to teach him this week. Fasting works. This family is so special. They have been and are being prepared for the gospel. It's a rollercoaster, but it's amazing to be a part of.

And remember Geraldo? Probably not. About three months ago we had a miracle lesson with him and he accepted a baptismal date and then he fell off the planet. Until last night. We went to his sister's house and we knocked on the door and he opens the upstairs window and asked who it was. Las Missioneras of course. He comes running down the stairs, opens the door, Book of Mormon in hand and says, "This Book is important. It's the word of God." Wow. So we had another miracle lesson with him. It was great. We read about the doctrine of Christ and he knows that he needs to be baptized but he wants to make sure he's really repented first. He was just so happy though. He told us that he thought he'd lost us and he was so excited to start reading again. And he made us promise to come back next Sunday. Hopefully then we can start teaching his sister too.

And I just need to tell you that the kid sitting at the computer across from me looks like Cedric Diggory and it's really distracting. I blame any spelling or grammar errors on him. I keep expecting him to pull out a wand.

Hna Spencer and I went to the office on Friday to pick up some of her stuff that had been mixed up with another new missionaries and we were looking at the transfer board and we noticed something interesting. I had orginally been put to train a different missionary, but then the two of us ended up together. Hmmm. It's great though. We've had an awesome four days together. And I'm happier and feeling more motivated than I have been for a while. It's a tender mercy because I told the Lord that I would do whatever He wanted me to do and train whoever he wanted me to train, but I also had been praying that if possible I could have someone that would help me to feel excited again. Not that I wasn't excited before, I think it was just getting lost in the stress. So us being together has really been a tender mercy. I already feel like we've been friends forever. I'm excited to see what this transfer has to bring.

And guess what! Wednesday is my halfway day. Isn't that crazy?! In the words of Grandma, "One pregnancy down, one to go." I don't know what to think. I can't believe that I'm halfway. It feels like I'm still in my second or third transfer. And I'm still in the mindset that I'm going to be a missionary forever, and I'm perfectly okay with that. But sometimes the realization hits me that oh wow, I actually don't have that much time left. I still have a lot to do, and if the next nine months go as quickly as the last, I have a lot of becoming to do still. So mostly I just choose not to think about it because it kind of freaks me out.

I think that's about it this week, family. I love you so much, I think you're wonderful!

xoxo

Hermana Simpson

 

Oh yeah, and one more thing that I wanted to tell you was that one of the missionaries that was leaving was bearing his testimony and he said something that really hit me. I don't remember exactly what he said, but it went something along the lines of, "The pain of disciple or the pain of regret. You choose." And I though wow. That's true. And applicable to everything in life. So yeah, just thought I'd share it.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF BEING A MISSIONARY IS . . .

Hola Familia!

I love you so much! And Mom, you are a superstar! I knew you would do great on your test! You had nothing to worry about! Can you believe that you're finally finished? I bet it feels great! And I'm so glad that Kelley had a good time at efy and that Nathan went to Yellowstone. I remember when Brady and I went. Actually I don't remember that much, but I do remember that it was fun. I'm glad that you had a fun 4th! Ours was decentish. We had a correlation barbeque with our branch president (who I swear is the east coast verson of Grandpa Grover) and it was delicious. I had been craving a hamburger all week. And then we had permission to watch fireworks. But Hna Sorensen was all sickly so we just went home. That was kind of a bummer. Oh well.

This week has been super interesting. We had Spanish Forum which is like zone conference for the Spanish program so that was super good. It took up all afternoon though so we didn't get to teach that many lessons. And the fourth wasn't that conducive to missionary work either. But it's all good. We feel like those that we have been teaching are starting to progress more than they have been in the past, and it's really exciting. It's slow, but at least we know that not everything is going in one ear and out the other.

Also, this was a miracle: We were at Jhoana's and her brother in law came home while we were talking to her and Heidy and instead of running to his room and hiding he actually sat and talked to us for a little bit. He's from El Salvador and we were talking about that and how he ate iguanas there (gross!) and all sorts of stuff. And then he asked me in I'd ever been to El Salvador and I told him no, that I don't think that there's even any people there anymore because they're all here. He laughed and then asked me when I was going to go and I just said, "When you get baptized." The look on his face was priceless! I don't know, it's really fun the things that you can say as a missionary. I never in my life thought that I would ever say something like that to someone. Anyway, we're not even to the miracle part yet. So it comes time for us to leave and we're getting ready to say a prayer and we asked who was going to say it. I whispered to Cindy to tell her dad to say it (he's never said it before--until last week he wouldn't even stay in the room with us). But she told him to and then she told him she would help him. So she runs over to him and shows him how to fold his arms and she whispers Padre Celestial into his ear and he actually started saying it. It was so precious. One of my favorite parts of being a missionary is hearing people pray for the first time. Prayer is so powerful and I just love to hear people talking to Heavenly Father. We were so excited that Moises prayed! This week we are going to turn him into a real investigator. Someday Jhoana's whole family will be baptized.

Last night we had a new member fireside (it's like a why I believe fireside) and Jhoana spoke! She was so nervous, but she did so good. It was in Alexandria, so I got to go back to Old Town for the night! Jean Paul spoke too and it was so special that I got to hear two of my converts bear their testimonies and say with so much conviction that they know that this is the Church of Jesus Christ. It's so special. The funny thing is, with both of them, we didn't do anything. We just got to see the Spirit work with them. Jean Paul leaves for the Navy in August, so that was probably the last time that I'll get to see him while on the mission. It was so good being back though. There were a ton of the members there and it was so good to talk to them and to remember how much I love them. And it just helps me put things into perspective. There were a lot of days in Old Town that I didn't feel like we were making a difference, but then coming back and feeling the love of the members, I know that we did. And I feel like it's the same for this area. That a lot of the time I feel like we're not making any difference at all. But we are. And maybe we won't see it immediately or even in 20 years, but it's still the Lord's work and we're doing what we're doing for a reason.

Transfers are this week and I'm really nervous. Hna Sorensen and I have been together for two transfers now, and it's been a long two transfers. I've learned a lot and I'm so grateful for what I've had to go through, but it hasn't been sunshine and butterflies at all. And I really don't want to train again. But my email from President Riggs this week said, "get ready to train again!" So if that does happen then that's what I need to do. And there's a purpose. I'm learning that it's easier to just accept the Lord's will than to try to fight it. He ends up being right anyway. So I guess we'll see what happens.

Also, I got a letter from Pili this week. She is doing so good. She also sent me Junior's address in Philadephia so I can write him and chastize him and tell him to listen to the missionaries there. And I got the best letter from Alena this week. She's doing so well and I love reading her letters. It's so good to have someone that is so similar to me and that is going through some of the same things that I am. I miss that girl.

That's really about all I have for you this week. I'm so proud of you all. I'm so excited for Kelley and the little missionary that she is, and I love hearing about all the experiences you have with the Elders. I think that you're wonderful and I'm so glad that you're mine. Family, I appreciate you. And I'm so glad that we are forever. We are so lucky to know that. It changes everything. I've come to see that here. And that's what I want more than anything for the people I teach. For them to realize the potential they have as a family. I don't think there's anything more wonderful than that. So thanks for being the best family in the world.

xoxo

Hermana Simpson

p.s. My heart breaks for Bekah and her family and for Bobbi and Phyllis. I wish there was something I could do or say that would make things better, But I know this is something that only the Lord can heal.

GLOW BUGS ARE REAL!!

Hola Familia!

I love you so much! I'm so glad you survived the trek! Good job for not having to go in the middle of the desert! And I'm so glad you all got to go to the temple together. That's great. I'm kind of jealous that I didn't get to be there. That would have been really neat. I love the temple more and more each time I go. It really helps to put things in perspective and I feel less overwhelmed and I get reminded that oh yeah, I actually can do this. That's really neat that Cam got to have a one on one discussion with the temple president. Oh the benefits of small temples.

And Mom, you are going to do fine on your boards. Don't stress out too much because that will just make it harder. If you've put in all the work you should have (which I know you have) and you trust the Lord, He's going to help you pass with flying colors. I believe in you. Just remember that you know what you're doing.

We've been having some pretty awesome thunderstorms here too! Last night we were heading home from our last appointment and there was what looked like this huge explosion in the sky. We had no idea what it was. Then we heard the thunder. And it was the loudest thunder I have ever heard. Like Dobby status. It sounded like he was popping in. It has been so rainy this week. And also so hot. My poor companion has a hard time with the heat. Like a really hard time. The other night we came home and I thought she was going to die. I was a little bit worried.

I've learned quite a few things this week that I think you'll be interested to hear. First, chipmunks and squirrels are not the same thing. How did I not know that? I always thought that chipmunks were just squirrels with different tails. Wrong. They are very different. In my defense, I didn't grow up with a lot of trees.

Second, glow bugs are real! They have this little thing that comes out of their bumsky when they want to light up. They're super ugly up close, but they're kind of nice from far away and they're everywhere. It makes tracting at night super fun.

Third, getting the mail has become a two-edged sword. I hit an all time low this week of not getting a single letter. I think my companion got one every single day. It was pretty miserable. You know you're not green anymore when you stop getting mail. I would chastize you if I didn't know that I had packages at the mission home. They can't forward UPS so I'll have to wait for transfers to get it. And I just laughed at Brady's letter about his companion. I can definitely relate to getting annoyed at the greeness. Oh new missionaries.

And Fourth, men are the worst. Especially hispanic men. It seems like every time we find these wonderful investigators there always has to be a man in the picture making things difficult. Especially when it comes to the law of chastity. Esperanza wants to get baptized so bad. So so bad. But she knows that she can't until she's married, and she wants to do things right. She knows that marriage is more than a piece of paper and she wants to be with Jose forever and she knows that the gospel is how. It's just working on Jose. He doesn't see it like that. He really doesn't understand what marriage is. And we thought we were making progress, and I think we still are, but just not as quickly. I've known that it was going to take time and a lot of prayers to get them married and I know that Esperanza is going to be able to get baptized, it's just a matter of when. My companion, on the other hand thought that it would be a pice of cake, so we came out of our lesson yesterday and she said, "Oh, I think it's going to be harder than we though." I've been trying to tell her that all along. Things like that happen all the time, and it gets a little frustrating at times because for me, it's obvious I can see that and it just makes sense. I knew from the start that it wasn't going to be sunshine and butterflies. It's harder for her to read people. So I'm still working on patience. I'm trying so hard. You would be so proud of me. I only say and do nice things.

The other man problem is Moises. He's Adela's (Esperanza and Jhoana's sister) husband. We watched Together Forever with Adela and at the beginning it shows a couple getting married. When that part came up she said, "I want that so bad." So she wants to get married too. But Moises is being a lamester. And I'm just like really? You have two kids together and are living together. Come on, buddy. Because Adela would totally get baptized if they were married. So it's a lot of patience and faith. I love that family so much. Now if only the men would listen to us.

The mission split this week. It was super sad. I had to say goodbye to Hna Wallis. Who I really do love. I learned so much from her. But it's going to be good.

That's about all I have to say this week. I love you tons. The work is good. I'm learning a lot and choosing to be happy and it's great. I love you so much! Mom, you're going to do so good tomorrow. You'll be in my prayers. Love you Love you Love you!

xoxo

Hermana Simpson

"Wow, I'm sitting here watching this....

Hola Familia!

I'm so glad you got to go to the Broadcast last night! Wasn't it wonderful?! I was sitting there and thinking, "Wow, I'm sitting here watching this and Brady's sitting here watching this, and the whole family is sitting here watching this. All at the same time. So I just pretended like we were all watching it together in the same place. I loved it though. It was so inspired! Missionary work is so important! I felt like I received a lot of revelation while watching it, for our investigators and also for myself. It was exactly what I needed. And know I just feel so inspired. It was definitely a spiritual recharge that I needed after these past few weeks to help put things back in perspective. I hope we can all remember what we felt and use it to help further the Lord's work.

Thank you for your email, Mom. It really helped me. Especially when you said not to lose myself in my quest to be righteous. Sometimes that's so hard as a missionary. Preach My Gospel tells us not to compare ourselves to other missionaries, but it's hard sometimes. Especially when some of them are so righteous and sister wifey and I'm not like that. And sometimes I feel bad because I'm not. But you helped me remember that the Lord called me and he needs me to be me. With some growth and change, of course, but still me. So I'm going to focus on being the best version of me this week and not a mediocre version of someone else.

This week has been better. The work has gone better and I feel like I've been a bit happier. And we've definitely seen the Lord's hand this week. Last week we were talking to Esperanza--some day we're going to get her married--and she really wants Jose to come to church and to listen to us and she wants to get married in the temple. But Jose has a bit of a hard head. So we were talking a lot about faith and about prayers and I felt like I needed to tell her that she could pray that Jose's heart would be softened. And then I felt to promise her that as she did so, that Heavenly Father would answer her prayers and that he would take care of her and her family. And I told her that we would pray with her. So we've been praying a lot for Jose and for a miracle. And this week, we had a miracle! On Tuesday we stopped by and he came home while we were there and he usually runs and hides in the bedroom or something, but this time he sat with Ryan and listened a little. And when we left, he was surprised that we were already leaving. And then we went back on Thursday and he was so welcoming and he stayed! And we taught him the first lesson! It was amazing! He had a ton of questions about church and baptism and what it's like to be a missionary and it was so good. The Spirit, and Esperanza are working on him. His heart is being softened and we are going to do everything we can to keep moving forward. He's really shy though and he's worried that if he comes to church that people are going to judge him if he doesn't know the answers. Silly. We'll get him to church next week. Sunday is the only day that he doesn't work, and Esperanza keeps telling him that it's for a reason. Jose also told us that before, when they were living with Jhoana that one time we came and he didn't answer the door. He was getting ready to leave and he was waiting for us to leave and we didn't leave, so he went and hid inside but really wanted us to leave because he was going to be late. He told us that he would never do that again, and that now we're welcome whenever we want. That is a change of heart!

We also had exchanges this week. It was so nice. I stayed here this time, and I got to have a visa waiter with me. We have a ton of them here. Waiting for a visa must be torture! All our plans for the evening fell through and we had knocked a street and not found anyone that spoke Spanish, and then I felt like we needed to go and see an investigator, Miriam, that we haven't seen for a while because she's never home. So we did and she was home! And so was her husband! We were able to share a short quick message with them and they even turned off the TV without being asked! That in itself was a miracle. We were able to set up a return appointment and everything. Right in the middle of the lesson, her daughter Cessy, who is five, let out the biggest loudest toot I have ever heard from a five year old. Right on her dad's lap. We all just busted up laughing. Her poor parents were so embarrassed. After living with so many boys, I felt right at home.

After Hna Sorensen got back from the exchanges she told me how glad she was that I was her trainer. I was shocked. Especially because she's gone on exchanges with some really amazing missionaries. But she told me that I was the nicest person she's met her on the mission and that she's really glad that I'm her companion. And this was all unsolicited from me! It felt good to know that maybe I'm not completely failing at this. Because I have been working so hard to teach her and to love her and to help her. This past transfer and a half has been oh so hard. I just hope that I'm learning what the Lord wants me to learn.

Zone Conference was so so good! President Riggs is so inspired. And every time he teaches us, I feel like he's talking directly to me. I learned so much. And we got fed lunch! Here's the funny thing about zone conference. Every time that I'm craving something, they seem to feed us that for zone conference lunch. Last time it was Cafe Rio, this time, pulled pork. The Relief Society has been inspired. If that's not a tender mercy, I don't know what is. I ended up playing I Need Thee Every Hour and it went pretty well. I was so nervous though. Like always.

So like I said before, at the broadcast last night I had a really neat experience with revelation. While Elder Holland was talking, a part from my patriarchal blessing and some of it's promises came to mind. And then I had this thought come to me that said, "Learn how to do it right, because you're going to be a missionary for the rest of your life." In Elder Holland's talk from October's General Conference he says that the mission is supposed to change you forever. And I really felt so strongly right then that that's what the Lord wants for me. It was a very powerful experience that compares only to receiving the answer that serving a mission was the right thing to do. I don't really know how to describe it, but I felt at that moment that the Lord has such a distinct purpose for me, and that he is molding me now so that I can forever be who He needs me to be. So I hope I'm doing it right.

Well family, that's about it. Thanks for taking such good care of me! I love you all so much. Be good, don't die on the Trek, don't let the water truck get lost, I hope you go to Ensign and not to desert in the middle of nowhere. But if you do, I hope you don't complain as much as I did. And still do.

xoxo

Hermana Simpson

Apparently Pants isn't a Priority‏

Hola Familia!

I just love you oh so much! And you did it, Mom! Woohoo! I was thinking about you a lot on Saturday. I'm so proud of you! And I loved the pictures! Especially Grandpa's face in the one of the three of you. Mom, you're beautiful! And Nate looks like a little grown up. And my Baby Alex isn't a baby anymore. I can't believe it! Everyone's growing up so fast! And Kelley, you're super cute...I've taught you well! Now that you've figured out how to send pictures I expect to get them on a more frequent basis. Can you believe it's already the middle of June? It feels like it was just February and Hna Wallis and I were walking the Route One and freezing. We're definitely not freezing now. And I've found the one redeeming quality of winter: No mosquitos. I don't know what I did, but those things are after me with a vengeance. I look like I have some crazy skin disease all over my legs because they are just covered with bites. Oh well.

So this week has been interesting. We went on exchanges on Wednesday and it kind of threw me off for the whole rest of the week. Hna Sorensen stayed here and I went to Fredricksburg. And this might be bad to say, but I really don't mind that Fredricksburg is going to be in the new mission and I'll never get to serve there, because I did not like it one bit (I guess there's always the chance that I could get emergency transferred there and end up in the new mission). It's all forest and mosquitos and cicadas (Have you ever seen one of those? They are the most horrid creature I have ever seen. Like a big evil fly that makes the sound of a lawnmower. They are everywhere and they make me want to die.). Hardly any people. Especially of the Spanish speaking variety. I did meet a mean old Mexican man though. I was with Hna Sevilla, who is a native speaker and he assumed that I couldn't speak Spanish so he was talking to her about me. Then I told him that I could speak Spanish too. He was surprised, but not any nicer.

We've been continuing to work with Jhoana and she's great. We started reading the Book of Mormon from the beginning with her, because the last time she did it she didn't understand it so she didn't really like it. Mostly she prefers that we give her chapters to read according to different principles that will help her. But we explained the background and everything and she's been on fire. She loves it. And we got her a triple and she was so excited. She's been asking about how to get a copy of the Doctrina y Convenios and she was so excited that she would finally be able to read it and find the cross references. We've also started teaching her sister Adela and we met her sister Mary and gave her a Book of Mormon too. Adela is going to be a bit harder than Jhoana because she always works and I think she's scared. She knows that it's good and she feels the Spirit, but she also knows that it's going to be hard. And we're still working with Esperanza. She's so good and she feels the Spirit and she wants to get baptized, but she's not married. She also has this idea that after she gets baptized that if she ever makes a mistake then it's going to be even worse than commiting a sin before baptism and that it's going to be even harder to repent. So we're trying to help her understand repentance and the atonement and why it is we get baptized in the first place. We really can't be forgiven completely if we don't get baptized. So we're working on it. That whole family is great though. We love them. And they're basically our entire teaching pool right now. Which is hard because they live in Manassas, which is about ten miles away and our miles just got cut big time so we're not going to be able to make it over to see them as frequently. But the elders can't see them either because there's never a man in the house and it's basically impossible to get anyone to go on exchanges with you. So if the missionaries ever need you to go out with them, Go! Because it stinks when you don't have help from the members. But anyway, we're going to have to figure out some way to get creative about seeing them and helping them progress.

Here's the funny for the week: Last night we went to teach one of our investigators, Patricia, and she's great! I love her, but her kids are crazy. There's three of them ages 8-10. They had gone to Ocean City for the weekend and had gotten home about two hours before we came. We got there and the kids were sitting on the floor playing gameboy or something and we sit down and realize that the boy had no pants on. Nothing! And the one of the girls had this big t-shirt on which was fine, until she sat down and hiked it up around her waist. And their mom just said, "oh don't mind them, they just didn't want to wear pants." So we spent that lesson trying to avoid a bunch of naked little bumskies. Apparently pants aren't a priority in that house.

Personally for me this has been a bit of a rough week. I feel like after Jhoana's baptism we just hit a wall. None of our other investigators are really progressing and we're working so hard to find new ones and to help the ones that we already have and I just feel like nothing is working. I'm trying to constantly be better than I am and to do my best to help our investigators and my companion and I feel like I'm not getting anywhere. Hna Sorensen kind of shut down on me this week, especially in teaching lessons. She's letting herself be convinced that she can't do this and so I've been trying to battle that and she hasn't been participating as much in lessons, so I feel like I've had to pick up a lot. It's almost like we're back where we started. I feel like Satan's just working really hard on pretty much every single person that I know and I don't know what do to. I feel like I'm trying everything, but I just haven't felt that inspired this week. And I can't figure out what it is I'm doing wrong. I'm worried that our area isn't progressing and I'm stressed about how we're going to stay within our miles allotment for the month and I'm more exhausted than I've ever been. I finally felt like we were making progress here on all fronts and now I just feel overwhelmed. But I'm doing my best to stay positive and to be obedient and to have faith. The Lord has His plan, and I just have to trust it.

So that's about it for this week, nothing too exciting. We have zone conference tomorrow though, so we're looking forward to that. And then we have exchanges again on Wednesday. So it's going to be a busy week. I said that I would do the musical number at zone conference. What was I thinking?! Not the best plan I've ever had, because I have no idea what I'm going to play. I guess I'll scramble to put something together. It's going to be great!

I love you all so much and I miss you and I think you're the best family in the whole wide world. And probably the best looking too! Hope you have a great week!

xoxo,

Hermana Simpson