FAMILY! Wow its so great to hear about all your info and everything.
Dad’s stories about the raccoons are great haha . First I will answer
Dad’s stories about the raccoons are great haha . First I will answer
questions about Dear Elder and what not. For Dear Elder they send
them here (somehow) and they print them off and we go pick them
up on Friday. But, ANYBODY can send me dear Elders.
I would prefer if as many people as possible did,
because it is free free free. But it can take about a week to be
delivered to me. If you send them by Sunday, I should receive them by
Friday,, so none this week :/ but I can pray for next week. And Mom, for
the box...here comes the needs, haha and of course you can determine
the wants : baby wipes, hand sanitizer, American FOOD!, anything that
doesn't weigh a lot like goldfish or something haha I just want sweet
American food, pictures of home would be great, toothbrushes...and
maybe some stamps, I would also like some addresses of any friends who
would like me to letter them...like I sent some home today, for you to
distribute if you would please :) but I would like to send them
directly. So just post on fb maybe if any friends want me to write
them. and uh yeah, other then that I am surviving :) don't needa worry
about me. So that’s enough of my whining and wanting...on to my
exciting exciting week haha, here it comes, its probably going to be
sporadic again, but I will do my best to answer all questions you have
first, then go on to story time....
No box yet but I am waiting eagerly :) The money works that we get
because it is free free free. But it can take about a week to be
delivered to me. If you send them by Sunday, I should receive them by
Friday,, so none this week :/ but I can pray for next week. And Mom, for
the box...here comes the needs, haha and of course you can determine
the wants : baby wipes, hand sanitizer, American FOOD!, anything that
doesn't weigh a lot like goldfish or something haha I just want sweet
American food, pictures of home would be great, toothbrushes...and
maybe some stamps, I would also like some addresses of any friends who
would like me to letter them...like I sent some home today, for you to
distribute if you would please :) but I would like to send them
directly. So just post on fb maybe if any friends want me to write
them. and uh yeah, other then that I am surviving :) don't needa worry
about me. So that’s enough of my whining and wanting...on to my
exciting exciting week haha, here it comes, its probably going to be
sporadic again, but I will do my best to answer all questions you have
first, then go on to story time....
No box yet but I am waiting eagerly :) The money works that we get
500,000 Leones a month. Which equals about 120
US dollars. So....A taxi is about 2,000. So I transferred some money
and got some branch missionaries to buy me asierra leone
about 25,000. Which directly equals like 5 bucks sorta? roughly
that...hahah so i am buying many jerseys before I come home. They are
not super good quality but heck...any t-shirt for 5 bucks is a grab
right? much less a jersey? :) so i will make sure to get everyone one.
we usually go to a market which is like a town...made out of shanties
and sheet metal and wooden houses and what not, but its a market where
everyone is selling and buying...and it looks like the streets ofNew
York
of a dollar store and its run by Indian men where it is
easier to find stuff. I eat OATMEAL! like everyday. make it over the
crap stove....not the best, but it gets me through. I am learning to
cook small small (krio for a little bit) We do have electricity which
is a blessing, but its no surprise if it ever turns off randomly...no
shouts of surprise no nothing haha just go stumble through the dark
and find your flash light. We are supposed to be in before every
night but the other night we didn't get back till 10!! no transport :/
We don't go to the mission home ever though, its about 20 minutes
away. (fun fact though, they are tearing down our apartment soon and
building the mission home there in the compound to be next to
mission office) ...
So on to life here :) well let me tell you about Saturday
first...since that was a very eventful day! BAPTISM DAY! My first. Three
of the companionships in the apartment had baptisms scheduled, so we
all went and ironed the dirty baptisms clothes, that didn't fit the
people at all really, and we made our way down to the church, so about
100 yards away :) and then we had our program and prepared for the
baptisms. There were I think 7 people being baptized, and 2 of those
were for our branch. They both couldn’t be a day over 10, but they have
no families who are members and I got the opportunity to baptize them :)
Ones name was Michael, and the other was Francis, but I won't butcher
their last names by trying haha. It was really awesome! We went out to
the dirty font outside and I was able to baptize both of them :) it
was so special. I took lots of pictures before hand so you guys will
be able to see the little lads one day. So we finished the program and
continued on with our proselyting. We went up the mountain to
Treeplanting. It was pouring down so we had our raincoats on. We
taught about chastity, Word of Wisdom, tithing two separate times, but
then I started to feel a little ill. So we went to the branch
missionaries house and I laid down in his bed for a while, but I
wasn't feeling any better...but we had an appointment and this is the
Lords time...I’M not wasting it. So we got up and went over and I had
to lead the discussion (been doing it all week) so no big deal, but
gosh I was dying. My stomach was killing me, I was sweating, I had a
headache...and the lesson went WAY TOO LONG. Went for like an hour and
a half (not my fault) haha. but, at the end I felt like crap, but one
of the boys we baptized in the morning had fallen sick, so we went
over to his house and gave him a blessing real quick...and then it was
like 8:00 (pitch black) so we made our way back to the taxis to wait
for a ride. When one finally came it was a truck. We were riding along
the crap crap road (bouncing along more like it) and I couldn’t
contain myself anymore haha and proceeded to violently throw up out
the window hahahaha oh boy...well I felt better but when we got down
the mountain we still have 15 minute walk home and I felt like tish
and by the time we got to the apartment I threw up for what felt like
5 minutes...and thus started possibly the worst night of my life.
Threw up countless times mixed with runny tummy (you can imagine) and
yeah...sucked so bad. woke up and called sister Roggia and she
diagnosed me with either Mild Typhoid or food poisoning. I died all
Sunday. Was on so many drugs, slept after church...pretty much worst
time ever hahaha but I am feeling a lot better today :) so I had
gotten a blessing...prayed lots...and the Lord has blessed me. I am
very grateful for my speedy recovery and I know that the Lord is
looking out for me...so that was my exciting day.
So, like I said before. I led a bunch of the discussions this week. My
companion Elder Ngerem is great! he really has helped me develop very
quickly and I am starting to feel very comfortable which is a big
relief. I am starting to understand the people a little bit more and
their constantly mixed Krio, and can speak a little bit :) so I know
the Lord is answering my prayers. We had a rough week, not many people
were home so we taught probably less then 15 lessons, but its okay.
But, we had about 12 progressing investigators...but only 1 came to
church...and you want to know why? BECAUSE IT RAINED!!!! RAIN!
US dollars. So....A taxi is about 2,000. So I transferred some money
and got some branch missionaries to buy me a
about 25,000. Which directly equals like 5 bucks sorta? roughly
that...hahah so i am buying many jerseys before I come home. They are
not super good quality but heck...any t-shirt for 5 bucks is a grab
right? much less a jersey? :) so i will make sure to get everyone one.
we usually go to a market which is like a town...made out of shanties
and sheet metal and wooden houses and what not, but its a market where
everyone is selling and buying...and it looks like the streets of
York
of a dollar store and its run by Indian men where it is
easier to find stuff. I eat OATMEAL! like everyday. make it over the
crap stove....not the best, but it gets me through. I am learning to
cook small small (krio for a little bit) We do have electricity which
is a blessing, but its no surprise if it ever turns off randomly...no
shouts of surprise no nothing haha just go stumble through the dark
and find your flash light. We are supposed to be in before every
night but the other night we didn't get back till 10!! no transport :/
We don't go to the mission home ever though, its about 20 minutes
away. (fun fact though, they are tearing down our apartment soon and
building the mission home there in the compound to be next to
mission office) ...
So on to life here :) well let me tell you about Saturday
first...since that was a very eventful day! BAPTISM DAY! My first. Three
of the companionships in the apartment had baptisms scheduled, so we
all went and ironed the dirty baptisms clothes, that didn't fit the
people at all really, and we made our way down to the church, so about
100 yards away :) and then we had our program and prepared for the
baptisms. There were I think 7 people being baptized, and 2 of those
were for our branch. They both couldn’t be a day over 10, but they have
no families who are members and I got the opportunity to baptize them :)
Ones name was Michael, and the other was Francis, but I won't butcher
their last names by trying haha. It was really awesome! We went out to
the dirty font outside and I was able to baptize both of them :) it
was so special. I took lots of pictures before hand so you guys will
be able to see the little lads one day. So we finished the program and
continued on with our proselyting. We went up the mountain to
Treeplanting. It was pouring down so we had our raincoats on. We
taught about chastity, Word of Wisdom, tithing two separate times, but
then I started to feel a little ill. So we went to the branch
missionaries house and I laid down in his bed for a while, but I
wasn't feeling any better...but we had an appointment and this is the
Lords time...I’M not wasting it. So we got up and went over and I had
to lead the discussion (been doing it all week) so no big deal, but
gosh I was dying. My stomach was killing me, I was sweating, I had a
headache...and the lesson went WAY TOO LONG. Went for like an hour and
a half (not my fault) haha. but, at the end I felt like crap, but one
of the boys we baptized in the morning had fallen sick, so we went
over to his house and gave him a blessing real quick...and then it was
like 8:00 (pitch black) so we made our way back to the taxis to wait
for a ride. When one finally came it was a truck. We were riding along
the crap crap road (bouncing along more like it) and I couldn’t
contain myself anymore haha and proceeded to violently throw up out
the window hahahaha oh boy...well I felt better but when we got down
the mountain we still have 15 minute walk home and I felt like tish
and by the time we got to the apartment I threw up for what felt like
5 minutes...and thus started possibly the worst night of my life.
Threw up countless times mixed with runny tummy (you can imagine) and
yeah...sucked so bad. woke up and called sister Roggia and she
diagnosed me with either Mild Typhoid or food poisoning. I died all
Sunday. Was on so many drugs, slept after church...pretty much worst
time ever hahaha but I am feeling a lot better today :) so I had
gotten a blessing...prayed lots...and the Lord has blessed me. I am
very grateful for my speedy recovery and I know that the Lord is
looking out for me...so that was my exciting day.
So, like I said before. I led a bunch of the discussions this week. My
companion Elder Ngerem is great! he really has helped me develop very
quickly and I am starting to feel very comfortable which is a big
relief. I am starting to understand the people a little bit more and
their constantly mixed Krio, and can speak a little bit :) so I know
the Lord is answering my prayers. We had a rough week, not many people
were home so we taught probably less then 15 lessons, but its okay.
But, we had about 12 progressing investigators...but only 1 came to
church...and you want to know why? BECAUSE IT RAINED!!!! RAIN!
I can sympathize and I understand that its not easy....but
you know its worth it to take the sacrament. to renew those
covenants. I will gladly walk all the way to my investigators and
members area with no rain jacket on and walk back to prove to them
that rain shouldn't stop them from coming to church...but I rant too
much. Forgive me haha they are great people, they just need to get
their priorities straight.
So I ate some potatoe leaf this week which is now my favorite, in
comparison to cassava and krin krin.
So, unorganized but gosh that is so sweet that Elder Bednar came and
visited! i am so jealous! I doubt an apostle will visit while I am
here, having Elder Holland so recently. But as the saying goes
you know its worth it to take the sacrament. to renew those
covenants. I will gladly walk all the way to my investigators and
members area with no rain jacket on and walk back to prove to them
that rain shouldn't stop them from coming to church...but I rant too
much. Forgive me haha they are great people, they just need to get
their priorities straight.
So I ate some potatoe leaf this week which is now my favorite, in
comparison to cassava and krin krin.
So, unorganized but gosh that is so sweet that Elder Bednar came and
visited! i am so jealous! I doubt an apostle will visit while I am
here, having Elder Holland so recently. But as the saying goes
for everything here, well at least for me and Elder Hales,
TIA (This isAfrica ). Spider in your cereal? TIA. No running water
today? TIA. Someone pooping on the side of the road? TIA. Get your
pants splashed? TIA. PUMWEI, WAMPATU, WHITE MAN....TIA. but, it is
okay :) we love it here. Let me talk a little bit about my Dear Elder
Hales:
Elder Hales is my MTC mate from Spanish Fork,Utah
with Elder Symons. He is pretty much the man! He lives on a farm back
home, so he can pretty much do anything here. From fixing the toilet,
to the stove, to the shower, to jerry rigging just about anything, he
is the man to go to. We usually have our nightly conversations about
our day, and have started a tradition of our nightly melo (hot
chocolate) and we talk about how the day went and about everything
TIA. and about our Dates back home (DATE = girlfiend, but you don't
say girlfriend here because that implies that you have violated the
law of chastity) hahaha. So, we are pretty much best buds. I am really
happy that he is here with me. Both being fresh, it really is a giant
relief to have someone chill to talk to. He wants me to come home and
work with him on the farm, like 15 minutes out ofProvo
strongly considering it hahah. Well, not interfering with my school
time at least, or my time with Jenalyn :) but yeah, that would be
maybe something to do.
So, my companion, and the Zone leaders believe that I will be training
someone after my 12 weeks of training are up. I am kinda nervous but
they believe I will be. There are 17 new missionaries coming and only
2 leaving I believe, which means that I will probably be training a
freshie, as will Elder Hales, which means I may get to be with Elder
Hales for 6 months, which would be super sweet :)
So, everyone in the apartment loves music. Everybody is listening to
something all the time, and there can usually be heard at least 4
different sources of music at a time. From the lion king, to church
music, to african soul music, to country music, to everything! church
talks, john by the way, they all have everything. But, my companion
LOVES music! loves it so much, but can't afford one of the players. I
gave one of the branch missionaries 70,000 and he went and bought my
companion one, so now he has music! and he is so happy! he is always
listening to something now and its great to see how happy he is :) I
wanted it to be a surprise and didn't want him to know it was from me,
but He almost killed one of the branch missionaries for ditching out
earlier so I gave it to him early...big mistake haha. He ended up
losing it in the taxi on the way home!!!!but for some reason, I never
worried for one second. Not one second. I just felt okay about it the
whole time...a missing radio player inAfrica ....and I didn't worry a
second. TADADADA Holy Ghost maybe? :) I think so. Because the next day
the branch missionary found the taxi driver and he hadn’t stolen it
but was holding onto it for us....So now STORY TIME
We were approaching the taxi bus driver who had the radio to get it
back, but here we go....He had a coffin on the top of the bus. He was
delivering for some boys. Yes, there was a body inside. So the boys
wanted him to take it down the mountain and back up, but wouldn't pay
to go back up. So when the boys saw us approaching, they snatched the
radio out of the taxi driver’s hands and ran up the mountain with
it....We were so lost as what to do. The bus driver couldn’t do
anything...but we pressed on and did our mission work. The taxi driver
found the kids the next day, and bought the radio back for 10,000 for
us, and wouldn't even let us pay him back? Wow! What a great guy :) we
were so happy. Yet, I knew all along it would work out. Crazy huh? The
Lord is truly a part of our work, and a part of our everyday
interactions. So, we promised the man we would come teach him about
the gospel hahaha :)
But, I have so much more to say but I am running out of time
unfortunately...But, ask me more questions so maybe you can hear more
about what you want to hear about haha fun fact ( whenever i am in a
taxi visualize 7-8 people in a 5 person taxi....) :) there yeah go.
But uh yeah, I love hearing about home so please send me Dear Elders
during the week and make em as long as you want. I am allowed to read
those any day, so no limit on those :) I love you family so much. I
know that this gospel is true. I see the Lords hand in every way in
every aspect of this living and this work. I know that prayer works,
or else I would be dead....or worse...on the way back home (gasp!!!!)
Pray to the Lord...He answers prayers. This work is hard. I find
myself longing for home sometimes....but never for a second would I
leave a minute before my 2 years are up. This is not my time. It is
the Lords. I truly appreciate everything of theUS
will when I return. I love you mother (Mother, oh how well you have
preparedme.
prepared me for. You are so wise and I am so glad that I have you.
Everything that you packed is helping me immensely. Gosh, I am so
grateful for you:) you help me more then you will ever know) Father
(thank you Father, your letters keep me smiling and I love that you
still use tish, thank you for your example of boldness but humbleness,
Nick (I wrote you your own letter buddy, that’s how much I love you)
grandparents ( I miss you dearly, please send me their addresses mom
and dad because i want to write letter to them) aunts and uncles, and
all my dear cousins. My friends from back home, I miss you very much
and you are in my thoughts and memories. I miss you so much.
TIA (This is
today? TIA. Someone pooping on the side of the road? TIA. Get your
pants splashed? TIA. PUMWEI, WAMPATU, WHITE MAN....TIA. but, it is
okay :) we love it here. Let me talk a little bit about my Dear Elder
Hales:
Elder Hales is my MTC mate from Spanish Fork,
with Elder Symons. He is pretty much the man! He lives on a farm back
home, so he can pretty much do anything here. From fixing the toilet,
to the stove, to the shower, to jerry rigging just about anything, he
is the man to go to. We usually have our nightly conversations about
our day, and have started a tradition of our nightly melo (hot
chocolate) and we talk about how the day went and about everything
TIA. and about our Dates back home (DATE = girlfiend, but you don't
say girlfriend here because that implies that you have violated the
law of chastity) hahaha. So, we are pretty much best buds. I am really
happy that he is here with me. Both being fresh, it really is a giant
relief to have someone chill to talk to. He wants me to come home and
work with him on the farm, like 15 minutes out of
strongly considering it hahah. Well, not interfering with my school
time at least, or my time with Jenalyn :) but yeah, that would be
maybe something to do.
So, my companion, and the Zone leaders believe that I will be training
someone after my 12 weeks of training are up. I am kinda nervous but
they believe I will be. There are 17 new missionaries coming and only
2 leaving I believe, which means that I will probably be training a
freshie, as will Elder Hales, which means I may get to be with Elder
Hales for 6 months, which would be super sweet :)
So, everyone in the apartment loves music. Everybody is listening to
something all the time, and there can usually be heard at least 4
different sources of music at a time. From the lion king, to church
music, to african soul music, to country music, to everything! church
talks, john by the way, they all have everything. But, my companion
LOVES music! loves it so much, but can't afford one of the players. I
gave one of the branch missionaries 70,000 and he went and bought my
companion one, so now he has music! and he is so happy! he is always
listening to something now and its great to see how happy he is :) I
wanted it to be a surprise and didn't want him to know it was from me,
but He almost killed one of the branch missionaries for ditching out
earlier so I gave it to him early...big mistake haha. He ended up
losing it in the taxi on the way home!!!!but for some reason, I never
worried for one second. Not one second. I just felt okay about it the
whole time...a missing radio player in
second. TADADADA Holy Ghost maybe? :) I think so. Because the next day
the branch missionary found the taxi driver and he hadn’t stolen it
but was holding onto it for us....So now STORY TIME
We were approaching the taxi bus driver who had the radio to get it
back, but here we go....He had a coffin on the top of the bus. He was
delivering for some boys. Yes, there was a body inside. So the boys
wanted him to take it down the mountain and back up, but wouldn't pay
to go back up. So when the boys saw us approaching, they snatched the
radio out of the taxi driver’s hands and ran up the mountain with
it....We were so lost as what to do. The bus driver couldn’t do
anything...but we pressed on and did our mission work. The taxi driver
found the kids the next day, and bought the radio back for 10,000 for
us, and wouldn't even let us pay him back? Wow! What a great guy :) we
were so happy. Yet, I knew all along it would work out. Crazy huh? The
Lord is truly a part of our work, and a part of our everyday
interactions. So, we promised the man we would come teach him about
the gospel hahaha :)
But, I have so much more to say but I am running out of time
unfortunately...But, ask me more questions so maybe you can hear more
about what you want to hear about haha fun fact ( whenever i am in a
taxi visualize 7-8 people in a 5 person taxi....) :) there yeah go.
But uh yeah, I love hearing about home so please send me Dear Elders
during the week and make em as long as you want. I am allowed to read
those any day, so no limit on those :) I love you family so much. I
know that this gospel is true. I see the Lords hand in every way in
every aspect of this living and this work. I know that prayer works,
or else I would be dead....or worse...on the way back home (gasp!!!!)
Pray to the Lord...He answers prayers. This work is hard. I find
myself longing for home sometimes....but never for a second would I
leave a minute before my 2 years are up. This is not my time. It is
the Lords. I truly appreciate everything of the
will when I return. I love you mother (Mother, oh how well you have
prepared
prepared me for. You are so wise and I am so glad that I have you.
Everything that you packed is helping me immensely. Gosh, I am so
grateful for you:) you help me more then you will ever know) Father
(thank you Father, your letters keep me smiling and I love that you
still use tish, thank you for your example of boldness but humbleness,
Nick (I wrote you your own letter buddy, that’s how much I love you)
grandparents ( I miss you dearly, please send me their addresses mom
and dad because i want to write letter to them) aunts and uncles, and
all my dear cousins. My friends from back home, I miss you very much
and you are in my thoughts and memories. I miss you so much.
Have a great week!
Hello, I enjoy reading your sons blog. My name is Jeff Hales and am the Dad of the Elder Hales, Elder Sumrak talks about. Elder Hales doesn't write as much as Elder Sumrak so I really enjoy reading this blog. Elder Hales has a blog as well, elderdillonhales.blogspot.com. I was wondering and would like to ask you if it would be okay to cut and paste the information about Elder Hales onto Elder Hales blog? along with a link to Elder Sumrak blog? My main objective to Elder Hales blog is create a book from the blog when he is done serving. I am so thankful for Elder Sumrak and the friendship he has made with my son Elder Hales.
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Jeff