8th email

Hello Everyone!

Well, there isn't much to report on. A lot of our investigators that were really progressing are all dropping us like flies! It is really sad! It is sad to see this when you know they have felt the spirit testify to them of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. But we can't take anyones agency away from them.

We had one investigator named Deborah DeLuca. She was a golden investigator! She was truly searching for truth and for answers. 5 years ago she had cancer and was told she was going to die. Well, she lived! She is now free of cancer! She kept all of her commitments except for one. She wouldn't pray about the Book of Mormon. I think she was afraid of the answer she would get. I think she knew she would get answered that the Book of Mormon is a true book and she knew that if the Book of Mormon is true she would have to act upon that answer and join the one and only true church on the earth. Well, when we got to church on Sunday, there was a bag with our names on it. In the bag was all the stuff we gave her (The Book of Mormon, pamphlets, a DVD etc.). She left a note with it saying that no further visits would be necessary. So that was a sad day. She was Golden, but wasn't ready to make that commitment.

We have one investigator with a baptismal date, but it keeps getting moved back. Her name is Nikki. She is trying to quit smoking which is slowing things down. Her Baptismal date is now October 2, 2010. She also needs to start coming to church. She is doing everything else she needs to do. It is just the Word of Wisdom, and Church attendance that is holding her back!

We are working really hard at trying to find those that have been prepared. We are still searching. I know they are out there somewhere, the question is where? There really isn't more to update on. It is all just the same. Colors are changing more up here and I can't wait for fall! Fall is my favorite season and I am surrounded by trees which will soon be magnificent colors!

We are getting kicked out of our apartment and are going to have to move by September 25th. That will be fun! (do you sense the sarcasm?) Hopefullly we can find a place to live!

The dumb blonde moment,(What do you get with two blondes driving in a car on a long country road to a village you have never driven to before?) : So, we were driving to a little village the other day going the back way. We had never gone this way before so we were using a map. We turned on to a street that we thought would take us to this village. Well, 20 miles down the road, we realized we were on the wrong road! I still need to learn to read a map. But now I am a pro at U-Turns :c)

Well, I love you all!

Sister Ashleigh Simmons

p.s. I want updates on everyone else please! So please write me :c) thanks!

7th email

Why hello everyone!!!!

Sorry I have been a slacker with writing about my experiences! I have no good excuses! :c) well, Weather up here in the North Country is crazy! I am actually cold right now with a jacket on. It has been raining for the past 3 days and it is a cold rain. The colors are starting to change and I can't wait to see what fall brings!

We have one investigator with a Baptismal date for September 18th! Her name is Nikki. She is wonderful! We are excited about that. We also have one lady named Valerie who we extended the baptismal commitment to and she said she would have to think about it. Her only concern is her commitment she has made in her church. She is Presbyterian and called as a Deacon. I guess she is assigned to certain people. She doesn't want to let those people down. But she knows the Book of Mormon is True, she knows Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God, and she says she has been waiting all her life to be apart of Gods true church! She is Golden! I know the Lord will continue to prepare her for baptism. That is pretty much all the exciting news here up in Ogdensburg. We are working hard and hopefully planting a lot of seeds.

Here is your randomness of Ashleigh part of the weekly e-mail. You will all probably freak out from this next sentence.... Are you ready for this... Since being here in New York, I have eaten 2 Hamburgers!!! Bleh! Now most of you know that I cannot stand hamburger! But I have been able to eat them and keep them down. They still are not my favorite thing and still gross me out, but this shows how I have been blessed out here in the mission field :c) I know it sounds crazy, but it is true!

That is pretty much all the exciting news for this week. I wish I had more to share, but things are moving really slow up here. Hopefully I'll have something to share next week.

Love you all!

Sister Ashleigh Simmons

p.s. Write me whenever Ya'll want. I won't get offended :c) jk

A short note

You want to hear about my branch experiences? well, the branch is teeny tiny. Our branch president just moved away and now Elder Johnson, the senior missionaries, is the Branch President until they go home at the beginning of October. The branch has about 12 or so active members (Including kids) and all of them are converts. Let's just say the branch is run a little bit differently than the wards in Utah. I'm still trying to get used to it all. We sometimes worry when investigators come because we don't know if it is going to run smoothly. There is no Young Men or Young Womens program, there is one kid in nursery and 2 in primary. The branch has about 100 members in it, but the majority are inactive. We are working on strengthening and building the branch up.

Well, we have an investigator with a baptismal date, and 3 or so that are deeply thinking about baptism. All of our investigators have Word Of Wisdom problems so they have to fix that first. But our one investigators baptismal date is for September 18!!! She has to quit smoking and give up coffee first though. But she is AWESOME! we love her! We are just praying really REALLY hard for her since it is a while away.

6th email

Hello Everyone!!!

This E-mail is going to be short because I only have like 5 minutes left. Well, we got transfer calls! I am staying here in Ogdensburg with Sister Despain. I am glad I don't have to change yet! This sunday we had 4 investigators come to church! They were the first investigators that have come to church since I have been here. Now I know why missionaries say sundays are stressful :c) I think they enjoyed it. We have some really good solid investigators right now and are hoping to commit 3 of them to baptism here shortly. The weather up here is perfect! 75-80 degree weather! Some of the leaves are already starting to change colors! I can't wait for fall and for all the beautiful colors! Yesterday, we helped at one of our investigators place. They are restoring an old farm house. It is over 200 years old. We weeded their Huge garden for about 3 hours. But it was fun. I kept thinking Dad would love to have a garden this big! They have a little girl named Brittney who is 6 and she reminds me so much of Brooklyn and Savannah. We have a lot of fun together! Well, My time is already up! I will write a longer e-mail next week... Hopefully.

Love,
Sister Ashleigh Simmons