July 16, 2012
Hello Family!
The people of Brantford are great. There is one element to the work here that I did not expect... the church is very young and "immature" here in Ontario. Wards are fairly small, there are many smaller branches (I believe), and in general the church is very immature. I guess young would not be the right word, and I don't mean immature in a negative way. But its a funny attitude you get here. Communities in Southern California have a lot of respect for the church, and here the church has not branched out and reached out as much, so there are not many relationships or ties with the city, at least here in Brantford. We are hoping to change that. We hope the ward will do some service for the city of Brantford soon. Whether its picking up litter along the roads, repairing and fixing up parks or other public facilities, or whatever else could be of benefit. Jesus Christ lived an entire life in the service of others. From the day-to-day "going about doing good," to His infinite and eternal sacrifice for each of us. Everything He did, was for others.
That's a lesson I would do good to learn from, I know that for sure! Its one we can all learn from. I know that when I do things for MY own benefit, it is never truly fulfilling. But when I do things with other people in mind, the joy I feel lasts much longer and is truly fulfilling.
Reema, who was baptized about one month ago, is doing really well. We had some people who doubted her sincerity, but if you just heard her prayers and were able to look her in the eyes, she is one of the most sincere people you'll ever meet. Her good friend, who brought her to church was Lydia. I talked about Lydia several weeks ago. Her favorite thing to say is "God is great, all the time!" And you can definitely see that attitude in Reema. She is so grateful for the goodness that God has shown her. She is so grateful to be a part of the big extended family of the Brantford Ward.
Well... again, I want to focus in more on personal emails.
You are all in my prayers. I love you all so much. Look to God, and live.
Love,
Elder Brett Simper
Friday, July 20, 2012
Brantford, Week 8
July 9, 2012
Hey family!
I hope everyone had a good 4th of July and a good week! It has sure been hot up here. I didn't know how hot and humid it gets here. A few of the days were about 40 degrees C, which you double and add 30 and get approximately what it is in F. So thats about 110 degrees. But it just felt like 110 with the "humidex" which is like a wind chill, but the opposite... and with humidity, not wind... obviously. So yeah, for some reason I was expecting more mild summers. But that's not the case! I've never sweat more in my life. But that's okay. Its been a pretty good week. Most of our teaching appointments cancelled, so we spent most of our time trying to find new people to teach through street-contacting. But its been good for me. I'm pretty sure I've lost a few pounds just this week alone. I've been eating a lot of salads too, which, I know-- is not like me. But its been helpful. I was also glad to get out and talk to people more this week. We did not do as much finding in the weeks before, partly because we had lots of appointments, which is good... but it was still good to see that my talking-to-people skills were not as rusty as they, for some reason, felt.
I think I said I would try to take pictures this week. I failed... sorry! I will try again.
I've been thinking a lot this past week about unity, and happiness. And I think part of "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" says it best: "Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities." These principles can be applied to individuals, marriages, entire families, single parents, any and all relationships. It takes work to achieve unity. Sometimes it feels like we will never be able to reach our goals, or it feels like we are stuck in situations that we cannot get out of. But living these principles will always make you free. But you have to want it, you have to work for it. All things of value require that you work for it.
I want to spend a little more time with personal emails this week... so I'm ending this shorter than usual.
I love you all. You're all in my prayers.
Love,
Elder Simper
Hey family!
I hope everyone had a good 4th of July and a good week! It has sure been hot up here. I didn't know how hot and humid it gets here. A few of the days were about 40 degrees C, which you double and add 30 and get approximately what it is in F. So thats about 110 degrees. But it just felt like 110 with the "humidex" which is like a wind chill, but the opposite... and with humidity, not wind... obviously. So yeah, for some reason I was expecting more mild summers. But that's not the case! I've never sweat more in my life. But that's okay. Its been a pretty good week. Most of our teaching appointments cancelled, so we spent most of our time trying to find new people to teach through street-contacting. But its been good for me. I'm pretty sure I've lost a few pounds just this week alone. I've been eating a lot of salads too, which, I know-- is not like me. But its been helpful. I was also glad to get out and talk to people more this week. We did not do as much finding in the weeks before, partly because we had lots of appointments, which is good... but it was still good to see that my talking-to-people skills were not as rusty as they, for some reason, felt.
I think I said I would try to take pictures this week. I failed... sorry! I will try again.
I've been thinking a lot this past week about unity, and happiness. And I think part of "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" says it best: "Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities." These principles can be applied to individuals, marriages, entire families, single parents, any and all relationships. It takes work to achieve unity. Sometimes it feels like we will never be able to reach our goals, or it feels like we are stuck in situations that we cannot get out of. But living these principles will always make you free. But you have to want it, you have to work for it. All things of value require that you work for it.
I want to spend a little more time with personal emails this week... so I'm ending this shorter than usual.
I love you all. You're all in my prayers.
Love,
Elder Simper
Brantford- Week 7
July 2, 2012
Dear Family,
I need to apologize for last week's email. It wasn't consuming me, but
it at least bothered and nagged at me all week! It was not a very good
day last Monday, but its no excuse for me to be so negative. No one
wants or needs to read things that are as bitter as it was. I am weak,
but I'm glad the Spirit was nagging at me and reminding me of my
weakness, and I hope you can forgive me for my weaknesses.
Transfers are the time periods we go by on a mission, and they are
periods of 6 weeks. I say that because I had no idea how transfers
worked before I got out here. Anyways- I am one week into my second
transfer. I am more than half way through my training. The church has
a new program where new missionaries are to be trained and ready to be
a trainer by the end of their first 12 weeks. My first 7 weeks have
been full of experiences. Many positive and happy ones, as well as
some negative and bitter ones. As I have thought a lot about these
experiences over the past couple of weeks, I have realized that I'm
learning so much. I'm learning about how choices we make affect the
people around us. I've learned what to do, and what not to do. I think
one of the most important things I've learned regarding these things
is the idea that experiences we have, are 10% what happens to us, and
90% is how we react to things. And much of our experience depends on
our ATTITUDE. For example... last week, I made the choice to be
offended, to be bitter, to be hurt by someone. I didn't hate them, I
didn't have any feelings of malice towards them, but I was angry and I
wanted to prove them wrong. (I didn't in person, but I did in my mind
and in my email). But I should've reacted in a completely different
way. I should've just let it go. Sure, the things could've still
bothered me at the time, but after it passed I should have just let it
go. Learn from it, and move forward!
As I've been reflecting on the past couple of weeks as I've typed this
email, I've thought about the name I wear on my name tag. I am
supposed to represent the Lord Jesus Christ. And I must live in a way
and act in a way, and have the appropriate attitude, so that I can be
recognized as such. And another huge lesson I'm learning is that every
thing we do as missionaries must be done to glorify God, not self. I'm
learning that's a complicated thing to do. Its not like I go about
every day seeking to glorify myself, but at the same time- with an
email like last week's it was very much about me, myself, and I.
Nevertheless, I need to remember, as we all do, to be patient. To be
patient with our experiences, with other people, and with ourselves.
Each day is a new day, a day to decide to be better than yesterday. We
all are trying to have a good day every day. And much of that depends
on our attitude.
-----
Brantford is a beautiful place. The eastern part of the continent is
so old, and rich with history. Most of the buildings and houses here
are over a hundred years old. All old brick homes. Our house is not
though... its probably old, but its not brick. It is so green, and so
pretty in the country areas. I will have to take some pictures of some
of the places we have traveled. The scenery is nothing like the south
western U.S.--- On the Indian Reserve and country areas between
cities, there is a ton of green rolling hills. Big corn fields. And
some cities look like old Europe. It's really neat. I figured I should
say some things like this, since I haven't done much explaining of
those little things that make me smile. There are tons of squirrels
here too. Even different colors! Not just the reddish-brown we are
used to, but there are gray and black squirrels. They climb on all the
trees, and power lines, and all that stuff I've never really seen them
do before. Except the tree part, I've seen them do that. But most the
time it seems like they are on the ground all the time in California.
I will take some pictures today, and maybe send them next week.
I love being on my mission, and I am so grateful everyday to be here
in Brantford. I'm grateful for Jesus Christ, and His prophet Joseph
Smith, who taught that "The worth of every soul is great in the eyes
of God." And when asked, "How do we 'endure it well?" He said, "We
trust in God... and go on." I know these principles are true. God
knows each of us personally and loves us. Each experience we have is
for our good.
I love you all so much. I hope you have a good week!
Love,
Elder Brett Simper
Dear Family,
I need to apologize for last week's email. It wasn't consuming me, but
it at least bothered and nagged at me all week! It was not a very good
day last Monday, but its no excuse for me to be so negative. No one
wants or needs to read things that are as bitter as it was. I am weak,
but I'm glad the Spirit was nagging at me and reminding me of my
weakness, and I hope you can forgive me for my weaknesses.
Transfers are the time periods we go by on a mission, and they are
periods of 6 weeks. I say that because I had no idea how transfers
worked before I got out here. Anyways- I am one week into my second
transfer. I am more than half way through my training. The church has
a new program where new missionaries are to be trained and ready to be
a trainer by the end of their first 12 weeks. My first 7 weeks have
been full of experiences. Many positive and happy ones, as well as
some negative and bitter ones. As I have thought a lot about these
experiences over the past couple of weeks, I have realized that I'm
learning so much. I'm learning about how choices we make affect the
people around us. I've learned what to do, and what not to do. I think
one of the most important things I've learned regarding these things
is the idea that experiences we have, are 10% what happens to us, and
90% is how we react to things. And much of our experience depends on
our ATTITUDE. For example... last week, I made the choice to be
offended, to be bitter, to be hurt by someone. I didn't hate them, I
didn't have any feelings of malice towards them, but I was angry and I
wanted to prove them wrong. (I didn't in person, but I did in my mind
and in my email). But I should've reacted in a completely different
way. I should've just let it go. Sure, the things could've still
bothered me at the time, but after it passed I should have just let it
go. Learn from it, and move forward!
As I've been reflecting on the past couple of weeks as I've typed this
email, I've thought about the name I wear on my name tag. I am
supposed to represent the Lord Jesus Christ. And I must live in a way
and act in a way, and have the appropriate attitude, so that I can be
recognized as such. And another huge lesson I'm learning is that every
thing we do as missionaries must be done to glorify God, not self. I'm
learning that's a complicated thing to do. Its not like I go about
every day seeking to glorify myself, but at the same time- with an
email like last week's it was very much about me, myself, and I.
Nevertheless, I need to remember, as we all do, to be patient. To be
patient with our experiences, with other people, and with ourselves.
Each day is a new day, a day to decide to be better than yesterday. We
all are trying to have a good day every day. And much of that depends
on our attitude.
-----
Brantford is a beautiful place. The eastern part of the continent is
so old, and rich with history. Most of the buildings and houses here
are over a hundred years old. All old brick homes. Our house is not
though... its probably old, but its not brick. It is so green, and so
pretty in the country areas. I will have to take some pictures of some
of the places we have traveled. The scenery is nothing like the south
western U.S.--- On the Indian Reserve and country areas between
cities, there is a ton of green rolling hills. Big corn fields. And
some cities look like old Europe. It's really neat. I figured I should
say some things like this, since I haven't done much explaining of
those little things that make me smile. There are tons of squirrels
here too. Even different colors! Not just the reddish-brown we are
used to, but there are gray and black squirrels. They climb on all the
trees, and power lines, and all that stuff I've never really seen them
do before. Except the tree part, I've seen them do that. But most the
time it seems like they are on the ground all the time in California.
I will take some pictures today, and maybe send them next week.
I love being on my mission, and I am so grateful everyday to be here
in Brantford. I'm grateful for Jesus Christ, and His prophet Joseph
Smith, who taught that "The worth of every soul is great in the eyes
of God." And when asked, "How do we 'endure it well?" He said, "We
trust in God... and go on." I know these principles are true. God
knows each of us personally and loves us. Each experience we have is
for our good.
I love you all so much. I hope you have a good week!
Love,
Elder Brett Simper
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