ONE WEEK!

Hello all...

Well my time here in the MTC is coming to an end... I only have a week left!  That's crazy... well this week was pretty busy and insane....

Well why not go with first things first....
So this week.. our Zone Leader and my roomate Elder Larson went home... It was super tough for all of us but we all know that he did the right thing... He had been talking to the District President for a little while and we all didn't reallly know what was going on but we hoped and thought everything would be alright... But on Tuesday after dinner him and Elder Sorensen came back both really puffy eyed... and we kinda guessed what was happening... anyway.. Elder Larson lives in Orinda (San Fran) and he was the only Mormon in his school etc... but he said that before he came he didn't really have a testimony and said he had come to be a good example to his little brothers and his family... but he said he didn't realize how important the church was... he said he had gained a true testimony here and had gained a love for the Lord.. and in Preach My Gospel says as we grow to love the Lord and follow his commandments and teachings we feel his love and it brings us to want to repent and come closer to Christ.. and E. Larson said that was true.. he said there were things that he needed to clear up and he said he wasn't going to be selfish and continue on... he said he wanted to be fully ready and have the spirit when he taught investigators.. he wanted to be completely ready and worthy because some of the investigators that we are going to teach that may be the only chance they have to hear the gospel so he didn't want to be unworthy and teach by the spirit and not give them the full chance to accept the gospel.... well it was rough but it was a really good experience.. we all pretty much cried Tuesday night and a lot of Wed. morning when he left at 4 and after that too... It made me really appreciate the amazing opportunity to be here... and how thankful I am for this gospel and the gift of repentance..... We all didn't realize how close we were until E. Larson left... but ya... anyway... I could write on and on about this event that occured but for times sake I will move on ... and you can ask me questions if you feel the need...

New things...
Well since Elder Larson left... E. Robinson and I are now companions with E. Sorensen... and also since they were the Zone leaders that means we are now the Zone leaders!! yay! I guess... ha ha I don't know it's pretty much no different but I will just have to go to more meetings... ha ha but ya...

Progressing investigator...
Well this week our progressing investigator was baptized....!!! ha ha It was an awesome experience to be able to teach to the needs of an investigator and it really was like a real person.. or at least I think it was... We did the whole thing in English and it went awesome... so this next week we are starting another one in French.. so we will see how that goes...

TRC..
Well we have now taught the 1st lesson twice in French and this week we taught the second lesson along with the parole de sagesse . or the Word of Wisdom... The lesson went ok ... I don't know, I never feel really good about teaching in French because it just isn't as good as English but we seem to get through it.. but this week we all have been trying to speak all the time and it has been going really good my French has improved.. but i know it is still not good enough to go to Belgium...yikes!...

Dallin H. Oaks...
Well I finally got to see an Apostle speak... Elder Oaks came and spoke to us on Tuesday it was pretty kickin.. he was really good... short and sweet and to the point... he talked about how we need to teach with the spirit and the way we keep the spirit is always is to always be worthy to take the sacrament... he really spread a new light on the importance and the simplicity of the sacrament... ..

Teachers...
Well this week we haven't had any of our teachers.. Frere Brown is on vacation so... we have had subs all day everyday.. and it kinda sucks seeing as how they don't really know us and where we are and what we need to learn.. sooo it's definitely tough... but oh well...

So all the new people.... are different there are some really cool ones though... The dutchman is pretty awesome he is really funny.... also E. Milburn from London, England is pretty awesome.. so hilarious..

OH>... I almost forgot.. Brett left this last week.. we met up at the temple and got some pictures.. he was the same old Brett..... ha ha.. but ya... well... I have more to write so I will continue in a letter peut etre..

au revoir..
Elder Simonson