Familia, Amigos, y Conocidos,
This week has been another good one. We had some troubles in the companionship, our investigadores didn't show up to church, we got cussed at in the streets about 34 times (in Spanish, in English, in Chinese, in whatever they could use), and shared the message of happiness to many children of God. Ya gotta love the mission :)
So Elder Reyes and I have been working harder than we have before and have been getting along pretty well these last couple weeks. He's a pretty funny guy and we are trying to get better every day. Well during morning studies one day this week we had a bit of an argument. He got to studies late and I asked him if I could use the phone because I had to talk to our landlord. He told me to wait because he was reading the scriptures. I just asked him if he could just hand me the phone and then continue reading after. He told me to wait and then kept reading. I then said something along the lines of this, "I don't know if you are aware, but there's something called Personal Study that startes at 8. You have plenty of time to read then if you want." Rude right? He then got ticked and started yelling at me... something about hitting me in anger and then went to the bathroom for a good 20 minutes. I was angry but I didn't start yelling or anything. He returned right when it was time to leave to work. I asked him if before we left if we could sing a hymn. Not wanting to, he forced out a yes and we sang hymn #202 (in the Spanish hymn book) "En el Pueblo de Zion." We felt the Spirit pretty strong while singing. Afterwards (or after words in this case) I told him that I was sorry for saying the things I did. In the past, every time I asked him to forgive me he would say "okay" and then not talk to me, or he would just not say anything and start ignoring me. For the first time he said something like this, "No Elder Summers, forgive me. I have been being a jerk lately so please forgive me." We hugged like a couple of Mexican bears. We prayed together and then left to work. This was one of the best days I have had in the mission and we worked hard helping people understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
This mission is getting me prepared for marriage like no other thing ever could. I am living with someone from a different background, who has some things in common as me but not all, and whom I might not get along with or might not even like. Plus we are with each other 24 hours every single day. Even in marriage you aren't even with your spouse for 24/7... you at least get a break. Here in the mission you are constantly with your companion. In marriage you choose your companion as well... here in the mission we don't have that luxury. But here in the mission we have to learn how to put our differences aside and work together in unity to get through every single day. It's great. I am learning a ton and enjoying my time here.
Con Mucho Hambre,
Elder Summers
This week has been another good one. We had some troubles in the companionship, our investigadores didn't show up to church, we got cussed at in the streets about 34 times (in Spanish, in English, in Chinese, in whatever they could use), and shared the message of happiness to many children of God. Ya gotta love the mission :)
So Elder Reyes and I have been working harder than we have before and have been getting along pretty well these last couple weeks. He's a pretty funny guy and we are trying to get better every day. Well during morning studies one day this week we had a bit of an argument. He got to studies late and I asked him if I could use the phone because I had to talk to our landlord. He told me to wait because he was reading the scriptures. I just asked him if he could just hand me the phone and then continue reading after. He told me to wait and then kept reading. I then said something along the lines of this, "I don't know if you are aware, but there's something called Personal Study that startes at 8. You have plenty of time to read then if you want." Rude right? He then got ticked and started yelling at me... something about hitting me in anger and then went to the bathroom for a good 20 minutes. I was angry but I didn't start yelling or anything. He returned right when it was time to leave to work. I asked him if before we left if we could sing a hymn. Not wanting to, he forced out a yes and we sang hymn #202 (in the Spanish hymn book) "En el Pueblo de Zion." We felt the Spirit pretty strong while singing. Afterwards (or after words in this case) I told him that I was sorry for saying the things I did. In the past, every time I asked him to forgive me he would say "okay" and then not talk to me, or he would just not say anything and start ignoring me. For the first time he said something like this, "No Elder Summers, forgive me. I have been being a jerk lately so please forgive me." We hugged like a couple of Mexican bears. We prayed together and then left to work. This was one of the best days I have had in the mission and we worked hard helping people understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
This mission is getting me prepared for marriage like no other thing ever could. I am living with someone from a different background, who has some things in common as me but not all, and whom I might not get along with or might not even like. Plus we are with each other 24 hours every single day. Even in marriage you aren't even with your spouse for 24/7... you at least get a break. Here in the mission you are constantly with your companion. In marriage you choose your companion as well... here in the mission we don't have that luxury. But here in the mission we have to learn how to put our differences aside and work together in unity to get through every single day. It's great. I am learning a ton and enjoying my time here.
Con Mucho Hambre,
Elder Summers