Familia de Oro,

This last week was a pretty long week but very rewarding. We had some fun doing divisions with the getting over some good trials, going on divisions with the assistants, and watering down a policeman.

Elder Zenteno is just a really awesome guy and is always there for me when I need help. We understand what is important but enjoy our time while doing the work of the Lord. When I get down or when I have had trials these past few weeks he has been there for me to support me in any way he can. Well this week was my turn to try and help him out. He has been having a few problems back at home and has been really discouraged and such. We had quite a few good talks and laughs together, and continued to work super hard. He is such an awesome guy and I really appreciate all of the things that he has taught me... especially how to love the people.

We went on divisions with the assistants. I traveled to the other side of Guadalajara while my companion stayed in our area to work. It was pretty good, I learned a lot of stuff... stuff I liked about the lessons, stuff that I didn't like about the teaching, and we made some plans on how I can become better as a missionary and a leader. One thing that I learned from Elder Wilhelm is his constant desire to become better. He honestly speaks Spanish so well and you can tell he works on it every day so that he can help the people better understand our message. I'll be honest... I've been super lazy with my Spanish. I just kind of got to my comfort zone. I understand everything that everyone tells me, and I can communicate my message with the people easily, but I haven't really been improving in my communication skills. I told Elder Wilhelm straight up that that's what I wanted to learn... how to connect with the people better... he than helped me make a language study plan so that I can use my time wisely to improve in my language... pretty much to stop being lazy with my Spanish. The divisions were really good.

Also, we baptized a policeman or I guess I should say a policewoman this week. She's awesome. Her name is Silvia and was super ready to be baptized and is definitely a member that will edify the kingdom. I love missionary work. 

Love,
Elder Summers

Dear Family,

This week was a pretty good week. We had some trials... especially in sacrament meeting. To be more specific, out of all of the 10 baptismal dates that we set the last week... none of them came to church. It's tough because we felt like people really did have interest in our message, a lot of people all ready said that they recieved an answer that this message is true and the Book of Mormon is the word of God, say that they are going to go to church, and then don't show up and don't answer their door when we go by Sunday morning. Agency is awesome... but it's kind of annoying sometimes.

We did have a couple people that did come to church and really do want to learn about and follow Jesus Christ. One of which is a sister named Alma (Alma is actually a very common name down here but it's always for women not men). She is a really neat lady that has a lot of faith in God and believes in Jesus Christ. She comes from a different faith but her faith is based on Jesus Christ as her savior so our message really touched her in a very special way. We found her in the street in front of her house sweeping up some leaves. We offered to help her but she told us no but that it would be wonderful if we passed by to share a message with her about Jesus Christ. We went to her house for the appointment but she didn't have very much time so we shared a quick message about the Restoration. We then passed by another day and had a complete lesson with her. She enjoyed the lesson, accepted a baptismal date, and before we could invite her to church she asked us where it was and if she could come to the services. Well when we got to church we found Alma sitting there ready to listen and very happy to be there. She told us that she got lost on her way there... took a wrong bus, but asked people for direccions in the street and eventually found her way there getting there on time. She's awesome. She also was saying hello to everyone and was just super happy. She also mentioned how nice everyone was, the love she felt, and the unity of everyone there. :) Got to love finding prepared people that actually want to follow Jesus Christ and act as well :) 

I also had a very humbling experience going on diviciones [splits] with one of the district leaders named Elder Taveras. He is awesome. He has been out in the mission for 6 months and is just an awesome servant of the Lord. He is always smiling and happy to see anyone. He is also from the Dominican Republic (just like my last companion) so we had a fun time talking about his country and food (más que nada, platanos [mostly about bananas]). Anyways, after planning for the next day Elder Taveras told me about why he came here on the mission. He told me that his life was super hard... his family had struggles with the normal, daily life... for example, making rent and finding food to eat everyday. He also has more respect for his Mother than I have ever seen in anyone. He told me that there were days that his mom wouldn't eat so that her 3 boys had something to eat during the day. Elder Taveras doesn't appear like he is someone that has had such a tough life... he is always smiling and ready to help in anyway he can. He loves everyone and is an excellent missionary. He is an example to me... he told me that he is here on the mission to bring happiness to others the way his family received happiness from being part of this church and is out here because he loves his mom. It was a humbling experience and yet again I have failed to recognize all of the many blessings the Lord has given to me my whole life. 

This week was good and I am excited to see what this next week brings to Elder Zenteno and I.

By the way Elder Zenteno is simply awesome.

 Love,Elder Summers

Familia de lujo,
This week has been pretty awesome. Elder Zenteno and I have had some of the funniest experiences I have had in my whole mission. I really love this guy... I think he's officially my best companion.

First off the World Cup here is super crazy. I have only heard and heard about fútbol all day. It is a really fun culture and I have loved being here during the World Cup... but the worst part was that I couldn't watch too many games ("ojo" dije no pude ver muchos partidos ;) [look closely, I said I wasn't able to see very many games]). But seriously, everyone here is addicted to soccer.

When México was playing there was no way that you could get a lesson in. People were either so facinated with the game or so drunk that they wouldn't give us the littlest bit of attention. When México won their first games everyone turned loco. People were yelling in the streets, kids were running around with Mexican flags, and there were a whole bunch of fireworks going off. Soccer is crazy here... I love it!
On the other hand when México lost, the whole city was super depressed. It even made me sad... okay not really but it was pretty crazy.

I was able to get a couple of games in with some people in lessons though. I saw part of the game with Germany vs. Brazil. We knocked on a door of a future investigador and they invited us right in and told us to sit down. Well as good missionaries we obeyed... and the TV just happened to be turned on right in front of us. The game was pretty pathetic I might add... it was actually pretty sad and I felt bad for Brazil. But I'll be honest it was great seeing part of that game. And then after what some people might call two misionaries being disobedient... we set two baptismal dates with some people after finishing a a game of soccer. I love the mission.

Something that has been happening very frequently lately is that Elder Zenteno and I are being praised for our race. That's right. Everyone yells at us and tells us congradulations! But what the people don't understand is that we aren't GERMANS. But we tell them thank you anyways. :) It's honestly hilarious.

Another funny thing that happened this week was that we were getting rejected in the street at night and kept walking. We saw a taco stand and I turned to Elder Zenteno and said (in the Mexican tongue) "That looks so good. I want some tacos." My companion then said, "Well go buy one if you want one." I said "I don't have money." Two seconds later we walked passed a man and he said "Hey young men, (jovenes) I invite you to some tacos." I looked at Elder Zenteno with a huge smile and we went and had dinner with a random guy on the street. This man turned out to be a preacher but uses a different method of teaching. He preaches super loud yelling at people in the street and praising the Lord. Let's just say we received some pretty funny looks from everyone at dinner when he blessed the food. :) I love being a missionary :) ¡Y tacos al pastor estan bien ricos! ["and tacos al pastor are really good!" Also, Tacos al pastor directly translates to "in the style of the shepherd" but means meat cut from the spit and are usually pork]

My Birthday was awesome. We went and bought some awesome things at an awesome place and went to a mall and I had a great time. :) My birthday last year was honestly pretty bad... having your birthday on a P-Day makes a huge difference. Thank you everyone for wishing me a happy birthday and thanks everyone for supporting me in my mission of Guadalajara paradise.

Love,
Elder Summers

Hola Familia,

I really don't have much time to write you all today but I want you to know that things are going well here in Libertad 1. Elder Zenteno is just awesome. I love him so much. We are working hard but we are kind of changing the way that we are working... we are working more on quality than on quantity. Before I was more focused on the numbers with my other companion and guess what... the numbers looked really great but the people were not really progressing all that much. We may not have had the best numbers.. . but we have really helped people come unto Christ. I feel like I can rely on my companion in anything and has really helped me get over some trials this last week. I am enjoying the mission and working hard... but am really enjoying my time here as well and focusing more on the people than the numbers.

Love,
Elder Summers