Like Stones in the River

So, FAMILY AND FRIENDS! It is great to be able to e-mail, kinda late
today, but we had a lot of busy busy things going on and yeah...but,
we didn't get letters until this afternoon, So I haven't been able to
even open them and read them because I have been so busy but thank you
to all who wrote me and I will be sure to address you and any
questions you have in my next e-mail.

But, to take your email one part at a time momma dearest, I am doing
fine now! I have completely recovered, but added some new injuries of
course that I will talk about later. but, no more getting hit by cars
:) and Sis Roggia is my Doctor. I was able to just go and grab drugs from
the pharmacy, which they have tons of here, but I really don't notice
ANY of the drugs from back home, but maybe I'm not looking hard enough,
or possibly sketchy.... But, one conversion this weekend :) and no
apartment...but, My dear Elder Hales and Elder Symons from Hill
Station were moved out today, but no place for us or the others yet,
and they tear the apartment down on Friday...so  it will be very
interesting what happens to us...and no news on transfers yet but I am
excited to learn what will happen. I am ready for whatever the Lord
wants of me :)
And momma you are so silly, of course I can boil pasta, I just made
spaghetti with Elder Hales last night hahaha. We just throw in the
noodles, boil em up, add some canned tomato paste with water and boil
that too ( throw in some spices and some hotdog) and boom, you got a
semi tasty meal. So, you don't need to send me those things momma
dearest you silly goose, you would be surprised what I can find here,
Its just the prices that would more suprise you haha. Lets see a
comparison for example. Yes, they have plain Special K in the
supermakrets...for about 50,000 Leones...yeah, thats about 12 dollars
for a box I could finish in 2 sittings haha :) but life is amazing! We
have a freezer for everything and an inconsistent fridge that has
broken 3 times now since I have been here, so you aren't being silly
with you questions momma :)
In regards to seminary, that is so awesome! I am glad that they are
starting a new brilliant year with such an amazing teacher. Your
awesome momma :) keep spoiling them hahaha. and Peter truly is
amazing. That reminds me of a song that I play every morning when I am
bucket showering hahaha, its something like "Like stones in the river
we are tossed and turned, when the current moves so strong, but stones
in the river are shaped until the edges are gone, polished made
smooth, that's what we will be if we put ourselves in God's hands,
each day of our lives is a gift from the giver, smooth all the edges,
like  stones in the river" so I enjoy that very much momma :)
Life is great here momma and I don't need a thing :) I just love
reading all your letters and everyones dear elders and if anyone wants
to send pictures I love those the most!!!!!
MOMMA i loved yours packages, I got both of them this week and Elder
Ngerem also got his. I thoroughly enjoyed it and my box is getting full
of all the goodies haha, so I shared with the Elders and we even
started adding the peanut butter to Elder Hales chocolate rice and oats
and gosh it is delicious :) thank you so much momma dearest, it was so
great to get a package and I even think I found all the money! I hope!
but, it said that Lauren Byrd had a letter in there but I looked all
over and couldn't find it :/ so I hope that you might have accidently
not sent it, or maybe I misunderstood, but maybe you could clear that
up for me : because I would love to hear from her :) I have tons of
stamps now which is sweet, so now I'm not scared about writing too many
letters. The pictures were great too! I love the old chubby pictures
of me and the emo me hahaha everyone had a good laugh at those so
thank you so much momma you truly are amazing and spoil me when I'm
across the world :)

A SPECIAL HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE MOST AMAZING YOUNG LADY,
LAURA SUMRAK :) I love you dear sister, and I hope you have an amazing
birthday and Thomas gives you like uh cake or something yummy haha or
adds some more stuffed animals to your ever growing collection, but I
am super excited for you and Thomas that you now stay in a place where
you can keep them all :) congratulations guys and I can't wait and
come crash at your place when I get back :) I love you Laura, Have an
amazing day, you really deserve it. Thank you for all the postcards
and everything you do for me.I am so happy that Thomas married you and
so lucky to have you as my wonderful sister :) have a great Day!

So, the disappointment of the week...Elder Hales moved out earlier
today, and I didn't get to say goodbye :( but, I will see him like 3
more times this week for interviews, conference, and baptism, but they
moved them out of our district so NONONONO! I was pretty upset. I am
going to miss him so much. .I wrote some letters this afternoon and man, sitting all
alone in our new room (elder hales old room) writing letters by
myself...the Africans get letters, but I never see them write any :/
so I just sit there and write alone hahaha, but I will endure :) I
just miss those guys. We partied last night and had some cake and ice
cream. Yeah, we go all out here! That was delicious! Elder Hale's
wonderful family, I will do my best to keep you updated on your son
and how he is doing. right now, he is doing great! he is anxious to
see what happens at transfers and gosh he is just a great and
enthusiastic Elder, with a missionary personality that is one in a
million. Only Elder I know who would walk around the apartment singing
"I'll take you for a ride on my big green tractor!" but, he is an
amazing missionary.

So, this week we had BOKU exchanges. We had splits with branch
missionaries on Tuesday, exchange with Elder Symons on Wednesday,
Exchange with Elder Ekpo on Friday, and Exchange with Elder Adah on
Saturday, and all of them came to my area, so I had to take the lead
and be the boss man. Which was a very nice and learning experience
since in less than 2 weeks I may be training in my area, but who
knows. Wow, I learned so so so much from those Elders, gosh it was so
great :) i enjoyed seeing how they all teach and learning whatever I
could from each of them, but I learned something very powerful from
Elder Ekpo...and that is understanding. Let me talk small about Elder
Ekpo:
He is an old missionary, been out about 16 months now, he always acts
like an old man, and really is probably like 26, but we refer to him
as Poppy, or grandfather. He walks like he has a cane sometimes, and
actually does in his bedroom. He knows the scriptures super well and
loves to impound deep doctrine into us through the chalkboard
frequently throughout the day, writing questions or other doctrine that is fun to
find in the scriptures :) but, sometimes we get into huge bashes with
everyone  and gosh it is really a
great learning experience. But, going out with him was sweet. He
really taught me how to teach the people here,
He teaches them like they are little children, asking Do you
understand me? Say it back to me? Or asking the same question 3
different ways hahaha but, he does it to like 40 year old men and
stuff and gosh it is great, everyone just listens as if he is the
chief of the tribe or something it is great. For example, On Tuesday
we taught Sister Regina, and she could not understand ANYTHING I said,
and  I was speaking Krio...so I tried english, nothing...So i did my
best and my branch missionary did most of the talking. But, we went
back to her on Friday with Elder Ekpo...and this will be referred to
As The 4 Reginas and the 15 children.....

So, there were 5 women in the room... Regina Regina Regina Regina and
Isatu, and 15 children gathered around us. And we were reading chapter
1 of 1 Nephi with them and the man Elder Ekpo had them all hooked like it
was novel, and it was great :) all the children were listening and he
would ask like "who was Lehi" and everyone would be like, "A prophet!"
even the old women hahaha but, when I tried to teach as well, they
didn't understand me....and Elder Ekpo was awesome...he goes "Why do
you not understand this man? He is teaching you in your own language
and you're not hearing him? He is not the problem here. You all are. So,
get whatever thoughts that are clouding your mind out of your head,
and pay attention. Yes, he has white skin, but if you quit looking at
his skin, and listen to his words, he is teaching you simply and
clearly the things that will help change your life." and from the next
moment till the end of the lesson, they all understood me. Everything
I said. Even when I would ask questions and they would answer them
back and ahhh :) it was truly an amazing learning experience with
Elder Ekpo. He is an amazing Elder and I love him dearly. He is from
Nigeria :) Them Nigerians!

But, on Wednesday, I had a sweet experience with Elder Symons. We had
just left the apartment and were making our way up A LONG hill where
they are building a new road, and a bunch of construction workers
started shouting at us. So, we ran over, and there was a man sitting
down with a rock in his hand, furiously scribbling on a big concrete
block. I thought there was something wrong with him, but came to find
out from his friends that he was deaf, and couldn't speak. So we
waited and he wrote on the rock "we are all sinners, and thus we all
fall short of the glory of God." He then stared at me with a puzzled
look, while all the other 7 construction workers stared at me to
respond...I had no idea what to do....I was just like uh...so i
grabbed the rock from him and started writing on another piece of
concrete "But, we are all able to repent." and the man gave me the
biggest smile I think I have seen in Sierra Leone, and wrote in big
letters overtop of repent "CHANGE" and ah I was so touched by how
excited he got. So, we gave him a tract with our contact info (we were
late to a lesson) and weren't able to get his contact information
(obviously) but, I really hope to see him sometime soon, because I
want to take him back to the chapel and use a chalkboard to teach him
:) ah amazing moment.

Yeah, so I realized this week how much rice I eat...I eat rice 3-4
times a day! ah, its going to make me FATO! I have been exercising so
hard in the morning, and even at night if I have time I do like 300
crunches, but geez its not easy when all you eat is rice and heavy
sauces with it hahahaa :) but, I am doing well. They say that this area
in the mission has the BEST food, so I better enjoy now because when I
get moved I will reduce ALOT in weight, and gosh seeing pictures of
some of these Elders and what they used to look like I believe it
haaha, but I will be okay. Right now we got tons of food so I will
stock up before they go kill me :)

So, there has been very little rain this week. Apparently, this is
where the rainy season starts winding down. It will still rain about
everyday, but only for like 20-30 minutes, and then will quit. so
that is very nice :) haven't worn my rain boots in like 2 weeks now.
My shoes are holding up pretty great right now! If you saw em you
would be surprised. After a day they are like orange and look
terrible, but give me the polish and everyday I go out looking
good...for like 5 minutes :)

So, had an interesting talk with Elder Ngerem and Ekpo yesterday
morning. Tey were talking about black magic and juju and all that
stuff and how they have witnessed it and everything, but they told me
not to be worried because I have the priesthood and the faith in
Christ that that stuff can never effect me. But, what they were saying
is pretty crazy....Ah, like I have seen groups of people doing it here
a couple times, but we just pass on our way, we don't want anything to
do with that. But, apparently there is crazy stuff going on in the
giant circles that form around them...ah :) But, I am glad that my
faith in Christ is so strong :) I know through him that anything can
be done, and I don't need to worry about a single thing :)

Also, funny fact, met a girl named Lequisha :) hahahaha oh that name.....

Also, Elder Satati from the quorum of the seventy is coming this
Friday to have a special conference with just the missionaries!:) Ah,
I am so excited to sit down and listen to him. The meeting is like 4
hours long :) So,. I will take lots of notes and will make sure to
share whatever I learn with all of you, but he is the only black member
of the Seventy and he is pretty awesome I hear :)

So, adventure of the P-DAY! Today was intense! got up, did my laundry,
no bloody knuckles this time ;), and helped the Hill Station Elders
pack up, had our last chocolate rice oats with peanut butter :( , and
then all the branch missionary and members showed up...for the
ENCOUNTER!!! Well, to kill the rising action, I played a game of chess
with Elder Hales in front of about 25 Africans who all ooooeeed and
ahhhhheeed everytime we played a move and Elder Ekpo would be yelling
"ah what are you thinking," "what makes you play this game" "very
clever my young one very clever" "that was the best move I have ever
seen you play". We were using a little hourglass timer too so that
made things very interesting :) but, I ended up winning without even
realizing it. The time was so short that the most time you ever had to
think was 15 seconds, which made us pretty sporadic and hectic.

But, after the game, the Elders and about 20 of the members went to get
transporto to go to HILL STATION to play an epic soccer game. We all road
in about 3 separate poda podas,but all met up at the field. It was a
turf field, which is the nicest field here they say (but, little
background on the "nicest field". The turf is uh tearing up all over
the field, so uh...yeah it looks like a tennis ball that has gotten
ran over. It is inside of a cage about the size of a tennis court,
with metal fences that are lining it that are jagged, broken, and
missing in some places. The pitch is super sandy, so everyone is
falling. But, to be honest it really is the best field I have played
on here :)

But, we were up against the Hill Station branch. THey talk SO much and
they really are a great bunch of branch missionaries. They were
undefeated, having beat every branch inside the district, and have
even beaten many Elders...but today was different. We played 7v7, and
for Kendall Boyd, it was just like FIFA STREET. but, man the game was
viscious!!! Throwing each other into fences the whole game, slide
tackling! yes, slide tackling everywhere and gosh it was so crazy.
Needless to say, yes I was bleeding, and further yes, I am still
bleeding from my knee and elbow as we speak, but I have it all
bandaged up. But, back to the game.

Started off by us taking the lead by about 3-0. They came back and
3-3, and the game was pretty balanced until the second half when we
Elders starting getting tired. We were playing about 50 minute halves
haha so we were exhausted, and they took off and were up on us 5-8.
But, we didn't give up. I was able to get 3 assists and bring the game
back in, and we ended up finishing an epic game 9-10 :) we won! it
was awesome. I finished the game with 1 goal and 4 assists so it was
super fun...but then we couldn't get transport home....so we had to
walk about an hour and 15 minutes home hahaaha, and I am SO sore. My
quads are practically bursting. But, all in all it was a wonderful
experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it and I am going to take elder
Ngerems pictures that he took of the game :)

But, this week was amazing, and the next one is sure to be as well. SO
much is going on. But, as stressed as I truly am, and nervous as I may
be. I know that this gospel is true and this church is true. If it was
not for the Holy Ghost I would have broken down long ago. But, the
Lord knows me individually and truly loves me and cares for me and
makes my burdens light. This mission is growing and is truly amazing
:) Just baptized Sister Mary Kamara yesterday, and no members
came...but I know the church is still true :) I love you all so much
and thank you for all your letters, prayers, and support. This is the
only true church on the Earth today, and I am willing to add my
testimony with BLOOD just like Joseph Smith, and Even Jesus Christ. I
love you all and hope you have an amazzing week :)

-Love,
Elder Jesse Sumrak (aka. Gareth Bale)