A Sweet 2013

Hello Hello Everyone, Christmas has past and I hope it was Merry Merry! My week was great, especially Christmas day when I got to talk to my sweet momma and papa and grandma, grandpa, nick, uncle dave, thomas, laura, and lumi on skype. It was so much fun and was great to see them all. It truly was a tender mercy from the Lord because NOBODY was having internet luck on that day at all, everyone who tried to skype failed, even others who came to the office failed, yet our connection was flawless for the whole duration of our chat, so I was incredibley grateful to the Lord for that :) Oh, family, how I love and miss you so! great to see you though, wow that rhymed, sweet! 

The night before Christmas we had our district spent the night and we had a great time hanging out and eating Jollof Rice, courtesy of Elder Oyetola, who was running around like he was on Iron Chef or something, just throwing food and what not and spices around and gosh our walls are stained haha but it sure was exciting to watch, and even tastier to eat :) I got up at 5:45 like usual to go workout on Christmas day, joined by Elder Rogers and Gherkins and Elder Gherkins and I battled it out on our jumpropes. We managed to fix my broken one :) with some electrical cord, electrical tape, and fire, and got me a pretty nice makeshift one that is still holding in there with 2,000 jumps a day, so its got some good milage on it forreals. We had fun working out, then had our studies, then they were out the door to their business. We had a sweet unplanned devotional though in which we all sang hymns and bore testimony of Jesus Christ through our studies and it was super sweet :) the spirit really directed the study and we all left feeling quite edified.  

My companion and I caught transport over to the Lumley area and met up with the Goderich district to eat at ARABIKA, some arab restaurant that turned out to be a bar/club like place, but fortuantely we were like the only ones there, so no walhala, and we enjoyed some overpriced half decent food, but more just each others company haha. we came on home and enjoyed skype..and then our bishop provided us with a nice FM of rice and fried stew for dinner, and we just chilled and I wrote tons of poetry hahah, was feeling very inspired by the sesason really and just kept on writing and writing until late.

So, I guess that was Wednesday...I think. We did tons of office work on Thursday, and really Friday as well, when we had a transfer coordination meeting with President Ostler, Bishop Markus, and the Lauritzens and Kanzlers. Tons of stuff to do, but we are ready for the workload ahead! or trying to be ready...   NO traveling this week. This week is CRAZINESS! 22 missionaries are coming on Tuesday next week, so this week is all preparation for that, doing transfers, making new areas, coordinating the travel plan, informing leaders, preparing all the supplies for new missionaries, new areas, new apartments, new districts, redrawing google earth maps, programming new phones, and some how trying to go and see our TWO investigators who came to church! woot woot! thats right we had investigators :) haha so I'm super excited for the week...and nervous....we have a game plan though, Sister Ostler made one:  drink water, eat consistently, and pop ibuprofen  :) 

We found a family this week through some sweet inspiration and the help of Elder Taylor, and honestly my lack of following promptings that lead the Spirit to prompt someone else for the benefit of this family :) I kept looking at this one area next to our apartment and telling my companion we NEED to go tract down there, but stuff just kept coming up and we forgot about it and kept going where we go. Well, Elder Bogh and Elder Taylor while passing through that area to the chapel contacted a young girl, H. and then she came to church consecutively for 2 weeks. We went to go and visit her and she wasn't home, so we talked to her neighbour and taught him and committed him and his wife to baptism :) and she came to church on Sunday with Howa, so we are really excited for them. The Lord will get his work done, and it helps me to learn to always remember and act upon the promptings the Lord gives me, fortuantely nobody was hurt this time ;) I need to be diligent and obedient to the promptings to avoid anybody missing out on this wonderful message! 

Well, we have all the zone leaders from Bo/Kenema on the way here to spend the night for the the MLC tomorrow Mission leadership council tingy, so we need to go and prepare the place a bit for them...mosquitoe nets and what not. Maybe have some nice rice for dinner...whats new? My companion did make some SWEET Egusi stew with Eba this week and it is SOOOOOOOO good!:) enjoyment de boku boku wan.  

My companion and I went to the musuem today by the Cotton tree and we had a lot of fun. Got to learn a ton of things, then went over to the monument side of the musuem to do that tour as well, and found Sister Nansamba and Sister Asiimwe, our Ugandan sisters there, so we did the tour with them and had tons of fun and took lots of pictures. We love our Sister missionaries and are glad they are doing well and enjoying their p-day. No football today :/ but thats okay, hopefully can squeeze some time in next monday to do it....but I sure doubt it :) but no bad, got football for the rest of my life right!? yes yes! Everyone I hope you are doing great and I love and miss you bing bing! enjoy the new year and hope everyone had a merry merry Christmas...love you all 


Love, 
Elder Sumrak
Jesse 

Baptizing in the Ocean

Merry Christmas!!

I am happy to report that my eyes are doing quite well thank you very much! I was able to wear my contacts today for a couple hours to play football and what not before they started bothering me, so very big improvement, and besides that they haven't been bothering me at all :) Thank you so much family for your prayers and concerns. you are all so very sweet! 

and oh Nick, I loved those pictures you sent momma. That boy looks so big and strong and confident now, with a nice sassy haircut to go with him, he is looking good. Definitely not the small boy I left 18 months ago, thats for sure! and Brennan is looking good and healthy as well and looks like a good fit for Best Buy! Digging his beard for reals, keep it up B-Dog :) miss the heck outta that guy as well! 

and right on top of it, kushay bishop, get Nick and those papers finished as soon as possible :) Glad I am going to hopefully get to see the chump when I get home though. That is going to make my day :) 

So...the ocean baptism was so sweet! We headed out early and fought for transport over to the Goderich area, which is the bushiest area in Freetown I have seen but it is absolutely beautiful, I will certainly send some pictures :) We showed up to the chapel and then there was I., the young lady that I contacted on the streets of Messima Bo over 9 months ago! I taught her and her family, and her mother and sister were both baptized after I left...now, 6 months after them, she and her best friend have finally decided to be baptized, and the sisters called saying that she requested me :) So it was a sweet reunion and a sweet baptism. We walked down to the beach and it was so beautiful. One side was very beachy but the waves were rough, so we made our way to a nice enclave of rocks where there was a more gentle inlet. I had to baptize in power stance to avoid standing on the rocks and slipping haha but all in all it was done the Lord's way, and that's all that matters :) It was a very sweet moment and I joked with Elder Weller that I had just baptized someone in Virginia...I TOUCHED VIRGINIA!? what?! haha good times. So, then we had a very rough time getting back to the Belliar Park chapel, and came to find out the Belliar Park Elders had texted me last night asking me to baptize P., but I was busy doing follow up calls so didn't see it :/ but, on Sunday I got to confirm P., and stand in on confirmations for I. and A., so all in 4 of my investigators were baptized and confirmed this weekend, so it was very sweet...now if only my area was that fruitful right now haha :) 

This week was full of Conferenecs and business but it was very sweet. We were assigned to order and pickup the Christmas Phone Unit cards , so we finally arranged a deal and had to go get it the morning of the conference but got it all done. We went to the kissy/waterloo zones christmas conference on Wednesday which was very sweet, but not as sweet as our own Christmas conference on Friday for the Freetown/Lumley zone. So many sweet sweet people made donations and contributons from the states and the Africans got such nice things for christmas! NICE things! like, making me jealous nice things :) nice white shirts, belts, ties, socks, headlamps, journals, athletic shirts :) they were all so happy and grateful and it just warmed my heart to see how happy they were :) Those I bought jersies for were pleasantly surprised and oh so very happy.  It was a great week, and even today was sweet. 

Went and played some football in the morning and it was funny because I bought a lot of jersies at the beginning of my mission and put them all away in a box and just got the box out last night. So, I had bought one jersey without trying it on and when I tried it last August I couldn't get it on AT ALL and was like oh whatever, I'll give it to my wife when I get married one day or something or a cousin haha, but today I brought it out and tried it on and it fits very nicely :) I'll send a picture haha. we played sweet footbal then just relaxed. 

We have the sweetest young lady in our ward, her name is J. and she is always there for us. She brooks for us every monday, but now our washing machine works...so I just give her some random handtowels and pants just so I can still pay the poor girl haha :) but she does everything for us, we are usually too busy to go and buy food and she will go and do it for us and deliver it and anything we want. She is there in like 30 seconds. we call and she comes running with visible sweat on her face and she will go help us with anything we need, the sweet girl and today I call her to go and get somethings in town and she shows up like an hour later and I'm like, what took you so long? and she hands me 2 christmas bags with a tie and apples in each. I was like, WHAT? This girl is so sweet haha so I had actually called her to go and get me small food and ironically had asked her to go buy some woman spray but didn't tell her why, but was planning on giving it to her haha so she came back and I gave her HER christmas bag which I had gotten her a hardback Book of Mormon, sunglasses, some food and then the 2 bottles of spray! she was so happy and ran home :) hahaha I love Christmas time! 

Our 1st counselor to our mission president hosted all the missionaries at the chapel today and provided us with REAL delicious food and it was so nice of him. We had like a salad of sorts with fried rice and roasted chicken and it was so delicious and so nice to see the 2 zones again, even though its been like 3 days haha :) now we just finished up and emailing for the night. Ah...great week...not going to get to do much proselyting this week either though :/ and next week we'll get almost zero trying to prepare for the 21 coming on January 7th... ugh but, I love being able to help out and do my part. I love missionary work and I love this gospel. I love Christmas season so much and reflecting on the birth of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Studying his condescension is so humbling, as  you realize that the Son of God, the one who created this entire world, suffered himself to be fed by a mother, and to be raised as a child...its seriously mind blowing and pretty much incomprehensible, yet he did it for us, and we can't ever show gratitude enough, but we sure can try. I love this plan of salvation more and more everyday...this gospel is amazing and I am so richly blessed by it. I love you all so very much and wish you a very Merry Merry Christmas! Love you all! 

Love, 
Elder Jesse Sumrak 

Short and Sweet

So, no boku time so I will type as fast as my little fingers can fly and really my hands are so small by the way. There are 6 missionaries in Makeni right now, including our Elder Clawson who is 1st counselor in the branch presidency there and Makeni is SWEET! It's really clean and pretty, but besides that really just looks like the rest of Sierra Leone, just with some rich things you wouldn't expect, like a giant shopping mall? or strip malls? its kinda weird haha and everything is super expensive but that is where the rich people all live. 24/7 light and water baby, those missionaries ENJOY...but then again...so do I now. I have light and water. and they came with a washing machine this week :) so, now business is booming  and I have time to take care of more important things besides sitting in the bathroom scrubbing at my clothes for an hour! 

This week was rather stressful though, with painters coming from Tuesday to Friday and having to lock all our stuff up. Found stuff missing like all my gum, my pens, and our bananas and some peanut butter and small things as well, and who knows what else I'll find is gone when I actually need it and go searching...but ugh small small :/ now that that stress is over I am a lot happier 

and my day last week...haha I have those days quite often :) but its okay! and heck yes we bought that fruit! The Burns tried to buy some and got 2 pineapples for 20,000....I was not happy with that, so burst out my krio and told the Kanzlers to drive to the next pineapple stand where I made it clear I was not a white man from america and drove off with 3 bigger pineapples for 15,000 :) haha oh its so much fun. whenever an African calls the couples they say ummm...I can't understand, I'm going to hand the phone to a local so they can help...then hand us the phone haha its really fun :) 

But, with what little time I have I will try to fill you all in. Had a baptism this Saturday and I  got to baptize J., a 18 year old boy in our ward, and also baptizing was P. and G. in Belliar Park, 2 of my investigators while I was there :) and it was so sweet because P. and his children are being baptized and he is going to baptize his wife this month so its really awesome. he cried and hugged me after the baptism...and that's not typical African by the way, so it was really special and he asked me to do his confirmation, so I was very lucky to walk into Belliar Park sacrament meeting and confirm him! hhaha so cool! 

Christmas primary program this Sunday as well and boy was that crazy. These kids are so talented, and the songs they learned well...but they were taught a little wrong so some of you would laugh  because that is NOT how I Am a Child of God goes haha. but these kids had memorized entire scriptures and what not and the whole program was memorized...really, imagine, kids the size of Kennedy (who is 4) getting up and quoting doctrine and covenants and the first vision without batting an eye...but that is how they learn here. and by learn that mean just memorization, because they have NO idea what any of the words coming out of their tiny little mouths mean. It was funny to find that even the beautiful prayer at the end was memorized as well, as I heard the woman whispering from across the room....or shouting hahaaha oh sa lone... 

but, my time is extremely short on this great super pday. got to play some football and watch MEGAMIND! yeah...who approved that one? oh yeah...that's right me :) and yeah did some Christmas shopping then had an appointment with a a less active and our bishop and ward mission leader but no, we had to stay and receive missionaries at the compound haha but whatever the Lords will be done. :) 

well, that's my week in a nutshell. I love this amazing work that I have been called to do and I give a hearty hearty kushay to my cousins Drew and Katie who served amazing missions and changed the world...one person at a time. and I hope that I can be as great as missionaries as them one day...but I only have 6 months to do it so I better get on it quick. Amazing job cousins :)  thank you for your example. I love everyone so much, have a merry Christmas. As I enjoy Michael buble Christmas songs, boyakasha! 

Love, 
Jesse 
Elder Sumrak 

New Pictures

Off to Makeni

Yes, I am a tad bit more busier then usual, and if you saw my daily planner you would just laugh because each day has like 8 to do boxes...mine are usually filled and I have them extended to have like 12 to do boxes haha so at least I'm always busy :) never have to wonder what next...except when you find yourself NOT busy, which doesn't happen too often fortunately. and mom, you asked if I ever fall asleep early?...I wish! Saturday and Sunday night we didn't even leave the office until 10:35 because we were having to do follow up calls and prepare to send them to President Ostler haha, we get to call the zone leaders and check on how their zones are doing and they just had lots to talk about so we literally sat in the office Saturday and Sunday evening from 7-10:30...but, its good, and I feel like I know all  my wonderful missionaries so much better now :) and I do manage to get up at 5:45 everyday to workout still...its not easy and leaves me pretty pooped but I get it done, no problems!  

My Nigerian companion, Elder Nwosu is great and we are having such a good time together. MTC mates always do I guess, but we just teach in sync, think in sync, and really are just everything in sync right now, so its a lot of fun. we are always goofing off and pretty much constantly in a service competition of sorts. He will come in and see me polishing his shoes and next thing I know my shirts are ironed and haha its just a really nice companionship, I am very lucky to be serving with him. He is an OLD man, he is almost 26 now, so its funny to see his expectations and everything when he gets home compared to me. "I got to get married when I get home! like, within 6 months..." "Man...I got to watch world cup and blow all my time away, I don't know what you're talking about...you're going to have kids before I get married haha" oh we have lots of fun. 

On Tuesday we had our MLC meeting for Lumley, Freetown, Waterloo, and Kissy Zone. Its where all the zone leaders and the APs come together with President and Sister Ostler and we talk about new implementations and things to best help the mission.We report our monthly zone goals and actuals and it was so nice to be there. It was awesome being able to contribute and be a part of great changes taking place in this country. Its very nice also to get to work with President Ostler so closely, even Wednesday we got to sit down and discuss with him and the couple for like 2 hours about how best to get the convert date entries in as soon and correctly as possible, so its fun being a part of everything and having my voice be heard as well. I really notice how much Heavenly Father is helping me because I am picking up so many new things so quickly and I know that I could not do it without his help. I learned lots of new little things this week, like adjusting all the missionary photos, printing, cutting, laminating, magnetating (thats a nice word) and organizing them on President's board. Nice little things that I couldn't do before :) its fun haha. The Lauritzens and the Kanzlers are so friendly and great and make the office very comfortable and make life for us very optimistic and fun. We enjoy and love and appreciate them so much :) 

Well, we are rebuilding our area slowly but surely, and with all of our distractions and what not last week we still managed to squeeze in about 17 lessons last week and found some really sweet people. We have an amazing ward who help so much and have always helped... they help us out with food, that's for sure, but not with investigators at the moment, and its hard FINDING and TEACHING but if they could help us with the finding then everything would run pretty smoothly :/ The bishop's wife cooks for us every Wednesday and Saturday evening and gets someone to leave it at the compound for us :) and then on Sunday afternoons we go there for lunch and get to coordinate with our bishop as well, so very convenient haha. they are all so sweet to us and I know that the Lord will bless them abundantly for their sacrifice and hospitality :) 

We traded our P-Day today so we could go to Makeni on Wednesday and we are excited to be one of the first 10 missionaries to go to Makeni, so its going to be awesome and I will make sure to take lots of pictures so that you can all enjoy...one day. Its going to be a bushy journey, but I hear that Makeni is pretty sweet, so lots of videos and pics are on the way :) 

We had stake conference on Sunday and boy was it surprisingly great. We got all bluffed up with polished shoes and ironed shirts and what not and was doing my personal studies when a young man, A., from the stake frantically called that the stake printer was broken and that he needed our help, so we let him in to the office and he was printing the conference programs haha, so I helped him the most I could and folded maybe a 100 before he had to run, but gosh we had 850 people at the conference. we actually looked and sounded like a real stake, with a choir and everything, and we missionaries got to do a special number, even though Elder Nwosu and I didn't get to practice, but we flowed pretty well :) everyone said we were the best haha and Elder Curtis gave a beautiful talk and somehow, I guess by the spirit :), everyone understood him and had many people really touched by his talk. He pretty much gave them the Restoration straight up  and then told them what they could do to know the Book of Mormon was true. read it chapter by chapter praying to know the truth, or take a specific chapter and pray after every verse, which many of our investigators accepted the challenge to do, so we will be following up tomorrow to see how that is going :) But, the conference went well and were lucky enough to catch a ride home with the Kanzlers as well haha so SCORE! 

Well...That's my week, by the way, EFY arise and shine music is AMAZING! don't know about this years efy, I haven't heard it. Anyone know how it is? I love you all so much, life is great and I know that our Savior lives. Jesus Christ really did die for us, but what I love about Christmas is that we really celebrate his birth...that he came and lived, even though he LIVED before this life, and still LIVES today. oh for those who say X-mas, wo unto you, for let us keep Christ as much as we can :) for without him we are nothing. I love him so much for his condescension... the creator of the universe suffered himself to enter a vulnerable human baby shell, and had to grow up, certainly with some godlike advantages, but suffered and humbled himself to go through what we go through...life...I love him so much for that. He truly did abase himself that he may exalt himself above all, and has offered us the same opportunity, so let us take what he has given us and go with it with a smile, thank you, and I love you! Merry almost Christmas! 

Love, 
Jesse 
Elder Sumrak 

New Missionaries!

Hello my dear  family and friends! this week has been complete chaos and miracles and awesomeness and change and what not, but it sure was great! Also, I heard something about some missionary film that is in theaters or something? true or false? please confirm and report! So, Monday last week was pretty lazy and chill and we just spent most of the day in preparation for all the upcoming missionaries. Tuesday morning was spent doing all the last minute preparations, ordering the foods, preparing the orientations, and getting the tickets and what not. Around 12:00, we joined President and Sister Ostler to drive down to the docks, where a super sweet speedy boat drove us across the ocean bay to Lungi. It was a lot of fun being on the boat and on the ocean again, looking out I could almost see Virginia Beach, but then seeing how much trash was in the water even over 3 miles out from the coast...I silently prayed that VA was VERY VERY far away, so this polluted water would never enter my beautiful beach. The nice rocking of the boat put everyone to sleep except for me, but then we arrived at Lungi and a bus came to pick up all of us passengers and drive us on to the airport. Get to the airport, get frisked a little bit by some security, then went inside the terminal to wait for the new missionaries. Did memory games with flashcards with President and Sister Ostler so we could learn the missionaries faces and names. Then we got a call saying that ONE didn't make it, that the plane filled up and that he had to stay until a flight on Thursday would take him...Poor Elder Chola :( 

Well, the missionaries starting filing out one by one and we were trying to rush them and their bags over to a safe and consolidated area where President was, and it went pretty well. Some bags were torn from poor airport facilities and one sister had bad nausea, but everything else went surprisingly smoothly. A large private bus came to pick us up and transport us to the ferry and the excited missionaries sang hymns the entire way haha, it was pretty entertaining. It was 19 missionaries, 13 Elders and 6 sisters, from so many countries, but only Africans. Many from Nigeria, and some from Ghana, Uganda, Zambia, Kenya, Botswana, and I think even other countries haha, they were a super fun and excited group :)  

The ferry ride was incredibly slow, like usual, but we had a lot of fun mingling and getting to know all the new missionaries. They all gathered around Elder Nwosu, Wootton, and I, and just wanted to hear every single little thing about Sierra Leone, and it brought back memories of me 17 months ago, asking my boss men (elder Barth and Appleby) the tiniest of questions, trying to learn all that I could. And having gone through that experience, I was trying to make this new adjustment as easy and happy as possible for these new missionaries, and they are very fortunate that things have changed in this mission...for you shall see how spoiled they are as the story continues. The ferry landed and we got everyone back on the bus and then had to go and look for our bus driver which caused some small palava, then we were back on the road...but right outside the mission office is a large amount of construction work at the moment. And its 8:30 at night and its just complete chaos and we're not moving and its just not possible to make the left hand turn to get into the compound..."Elders, can you please take care of this." Of Course! So the 3 of us jumped out of the bus and started doing everything we could to open the space for the bus, pushing taxis backwards, blocking off the bikers, and just complete chaos, but we managed it and got the bus into the compound successfully. So, the Elders went on into the chapel while we unloaded their bags, then joined them on up there for a feast of chicken sandwiches, peanut butter jelly sandwiches, apples, oatmeal cookies, and what not...I did not get that welcome party when I came hahaha. After, the new missionaries had to do some new paper work for entering the country and what not, then they all went to the office to receive their assignments from President Ostler and boy were they excited to get those! We got them all calmed down and put them to bed, then went down to the office to write in our journals then get to bed... 

Woke up at 4:00 on accident because my dumb universal clock screwed up and I meant to get up at 5, but It seemed pretty normal though because there were freshies ironing and showering and what not ??? but, while I was shaving Elder Wootton came in and was like you know its 4 right? and I was like tish, so I shaved and slept another hour, then got up early so I could shower ahead of everyone and start getting ready for the day, preparing the breakfast for the new  guys and what not. Elder Nwosu and I set it all up for them. Bread for sandwiches, chewy bars, apples, and 2 boiled eggs and I refilled all the bottles for them haha pretty crazy but managed to get them all fed and what not on time and to the chapel for orientation. The orientation didn't start until an hour later at 10, but it went well, and Elder Nwosu and I even got some time at the end to do some instruction and practice on companionship inventory with the group which went nicely :) We did some office work and kept the Elders occupied and did everyone's chores and what not around the place, printing maps, programming phones, and updating phone lists and what not, but eventually got all the new elders sent out with their trainers and only had 8 left to sleep with us who were off for Bo and Kenema tomorrow. We also had Elder Coffie with us, who would be leaving the following day...my district leader from Bo :) old man haha. Elder Kanzler took us all up to Goderich to drop off some elders there and then continued on with us assistants to the mission home for the farewell dinner/testimony of Sister Attiogbe (my mtc) and Elder Coffie. We had an amazing dinner which I counted for my thanksgiving dinner, of roasted Chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, peas, carrots, pineapple, banana, guava, peeta bread, and then for dessert ice cream with oatmeal cookies...so yeah, I definitely forgot I was in Africa for a little while ;) we 3 did the dishes and then joined everyone including the Ostlers, Lauritzens, and Kanzlers to listen to the departing missionaries testimonies...and then back to our apartment we went. 

Up early again the next day at 5 to make sure all the elders were outside to wait for Bishop Markus to come with the van to take them all to the bus station. I was already awake so I just stayed up and gymed and did like 3,000 some jumprope or something haha. and then Elder Wootton left us on for his new assignment in Hill Station. We did our weekly planning. and then down to the office for the rest of the day to do all the work with the new transfers. Updating the transfer list, phone list, assignments, all the internet updates and what not and informing new missionaries about certain things, then late in the afternoon we rushed to the bank to get our subsistence. We were late and transport was impossible, but fortuantely the Burns drove by and gave us a ride. and had to beg security to let us in, which they did, then had to beg the last accounting woman to please help us, which fortunately she did, miracle after miracle I tell you. Eventually came home and had dinner...I think we had like frosted flakes or something haha HAPPY THANKSGIVING!:)  

Friday we had a lot of office work as well. 3 missionaries were leaving Sierra Leone for Nigeria and we had to help weigh their bags and then give them a brief orientation and open up their myldsmail accounts and what not, then we got to stand in the circle with President Ostler and Stake President Swaray to set them apart, which was pretty sweet :) but in the evening we actually got to go to our area for the first time and got to teach a lesson in Dwarzak! Yay! That was nice :) nice to be out teaching again haha it sure it different, but fortunately teaching is just the same :) Came on home and had some potato leaf, courtesy of Elder Nwosu. 

Saturday we had had a ward baptism that we attended, then had to stick around to help out the Elder Who came late Thursday night and get all his paper work filled out... 

Yeah...so life is good. It's a bit different, only got to teach about 8 lessons last week, which is definitely different for me...but, I'm getting used to it :) It's nice because we have a water heater haha so hot showers are new indeed, as well as AC...yeah can't complain about too much really...but, more stories and interesting things to come. Always excitement here in the office. Love you all so much and hope and pray you are all doing well! take care! 

Love, 
Elder Jesse Sumrak 

New Companion!

Hello my dear family and friends! What a great week has transpired and how many more great weeks are yet to come! This was Elder Rogers and I's last week together, and boy was it a good one. teaching families, making Kanya, and just getting work done. Interviews for all the missionaries did get in the way a little bit, actually every single day this week 1-2 hours were cut doing interviews, but its worth it since that is our ultimate goal and desire right? baptism, and true conversion, so I am happy to play my part :) 

An eye doctor came on Saturday to the baptism, we were there to watch S. be baptized, an older man who Elder Labrum and I found and taught together, so I wanted to be present for his baptism. The doctor told me that I had an iritis? or something like that? and told me that if it continues it could be a problem but he gave me some steroids to put in my eyes to fix em all up so it shouldn't be too much of a problem. 

I am trying to think of what else has happened this week but everything is really just blurred by the transfer news and how busy I have been today...and even more blurred by how busy I am going to be tomorrow and the rest of the week and next weeks to come hahaha but, it is exciting, although I will miss my boy Elder Rogers. We truly had a great companionship together and I hope I can be at that guys homecoming, he is a forever friend and companion. 

Well, I got the flu on Wednesday and muscled through it, felt great Thursday, just to rebound on Friday with the WORST headache of my life which had me bent down to my knees quite literally, rather humbling huh? but, I called Sister Ostler and she said  a wicked flu was spreading across Freetown and many missionaries had symptoms as me, but I dropped some medicine and the fever reduced and I have been feeling a little weak since, but a lot better, that's for sure.  

Friday, we waited patiently for our transfers news, then during my follow calls with Elder Hill he told me it would come the next day...so we were patient yet again. 

Saturday was super busy and we were running around everywhere teaching our families, I kinda knew I would not spend 5 transfers in Belliar Park so I went everywhere saying goodbye, which was fun and sad, but in the end it turned out okay. Our last appointment was with our family of children and unbaptized mother and she was so upset because she hadn't had time to cook for us or make the dessert she wanted and was begging us to forgive her and we were just like its okay its okay! we come here for you! not food, but she wouldn't take that, so she gave us a huge bowl of rice, I guess cutting from the whole family, which I didn't want her to do, but the way she looked at me I knew if I refused I might end up with her cooking knife in my chest, so we gladly ate :) hahaha. The family then sat down all in the parlor, with friends included and everyone, and we were about to start with a prayer when the phone buzzed...Assistants... 

"Na Elder Sumrak" 
"Hey Elder Sumrak, this is Elder Wooton, man have you gotten us that dishsoap yet?" 
"Man, you know how busy I have been running around doing your interviews and what not, when do you think I found time to get your dish soap?!" 
"I was just letting you know because you need some..." 
"Listen, if you really need it Elder Wooton, just go buy some and get a receipt and Ill refund you tomorrow." 
"Well, you are going to need it Elder Sumrak, because its your dishes now..." 
"Oh... 
"You okay?" 
"yeah"... 

Elder Rogers "Are you crying!?" 
hahahaha 
*hang up the phone* 
"So, who is going to pray?" 

So, I got called as the assistant, which is an awesome blessing and I am super excited to be working with my MTC buddy Elder Nwosu, a 6 foot 3 Nigerian man who is hard working and awesome! We are working super hard and have been all morning trying to get all the beds and money and nets and pills and everything prepared for tomorrow because the 20 new missionaries are coming, but I'm super excited because I get to go back on the ferry tomorrow to go pick up the new missionaries at the airport and then orientation on Wednesday, then finally might get to hit the area on Thursday. Its funny because I have been on all 3 mountains in Freetown west really. I started on Mt. Aureol, went South to Belliar Park, crossed the valley now to Dwarzak, but the ward is awesome and I'm so excited to work with president, the couples, and everyone in helping the Lord's marvelous work to move forward! I love this gospel and its definitely a different side of the work that I never envied, that's for sure, its funny because Elder Rogers and I were in the AP's apartment to get something on Saturday and I saw their chore list and was like....wow, I sure hope I'm never an AP....haha but, somebody has to do it. And, I'm ready to labor and do whatever the Lord asks me to get this great work done. These leaders and couples are so sweet and I'm excited to work with them. 

It is nice though that our apartment has AC and a water heater and what not...but, boy it makes me feel like I'm not in Sa Lone anymore sometimes hahaha where is my suffering?! I'm supposed to be suffering! 

Not much going on really, I have been stuck in this compound all day, but transfer time is always hectic time, so I am really excited to finally get to the area because we have such a strong ward that does such a great job of fellow shipping and even home teaching/ etc. so its going to be so much work and so much fun and I have so much to learn and so many ways to grow, I feel just like a lost lil puppy again, but you do your first time on mission, first time taking over, training, 2nd area, senior companion, district leader, being an assistant, but you fall down make some mistakes, get back up and keep going and by the end of the 2nd week you are just doing it like you've been doing it for months haha, but...I hope I have more to write about next week, more adventures, more families, more friends, more missionaries, more miracles...It was hard to say goodbye to my ward yesterday...but, then again, we meet in the same building, so I guess I'll see them next week ;) I truly love our lord and savior Jesus Christ, for I have seen how he has changed so many lives, just in the past week alone. Watching grown men change their whole lives around, just because the spirit has touched their heart. It's real...It is so real and please always remember Heavenly Father LOVES you. He loves you so so much. he loves us all. He WANTS to bless you, just ask, be obedient, be diligent, and he will help you. I can hardly function a day much less a week without his steady and guiding influence of the holy spirit in my life...We are all truly blessed with this gift :) I only fear that everything I do everyday is what keeps the holy ghost so strongly in my life, and fear that one day life takes over and that it won't be as strong...but, I know if I remain diligent that that guiding influence will ALWAYS be with me...I love you all...have an amazing week!. 


Love, 
Elder Jesse Sumrak 

Land of Miracles

Mother! so great to hear from you and if you don't mind I would LOVE
to hear some of those poems and stories of mine that you 
found if you have time :) haha and
wonderful creations this week...um frozen popo...uh I made sour sop
pancakes with jam and vanilla flavoring last night, but that's about
it on my creative scale this week ;) and no district leaders do not
usually cook, but I just do it because I love these guys and I know
how tired they can get of rice...if they are anything like me!

And YES!  the boy who missed his baptism last week DID
come this week :) and it was another great family baptism! We had 
the 4 children of this sweet woman who were baptized this Saturday, and
she even came to watch (which is a big deal here might I add) as well
as A. came to watch his son :) So 5 family confirmations
on Sunday and gosh it was just a magical Sunday. 4 families were
re-united/united in church due to the Lord's magnificent hand and his
abundance of miracles...it truly was amazing :)

And no...I don't teach many young men at all anymore. My teaching pool
is mostly 30-60 year old men with wives and children. That is mostly
our focus. Get the man, you get the family, so we are doing our best
here :) teach some mothers...but unfortunately the man has control, so
we mostly go for the man of the house now!

and about the little girl...yeah, it really was heartbreaking but she
is doing better! we saw her the other day and her leg really is
reducing in swelling...so we will keep praying for her :)

Quote of the week "Breastfeeding while riding on bike? Most impressive..."

by the way, Elder Donaldson, a missionary friend
from here just returned and is now Rebecca's home teacher!? weird huh?

I love this work and I want to do my very best and finish strong, no
rush,

hahaha oh mother, you are hilarious! starting trouble in church, good
thing father isn't there to stare you down :) how is it finally
sitting with him again?! sure has been a while huh?

and Elder Rogers and I scared a boy SOOOO bad this week...he was just
standing there and we both just walked up to him like 1 foot away and
stared down at him emotionless, not a smile, not a frown, and for like
5 seconds, and then he just went crazy screaming bloody murder and
starting clinging to my leg, and jumping around literally in circles,
I was afraid he might throw himself from the cliff we were on hahaha!
oh it was good :)

girls chasing me...nah, not here, though there are a couple who still
propose to me on occasion...that's always awkward.

Well...We got to play some football today and it was pretty awesome!
no lie, I was just feeling so naturally on the ball, and I just ran
around with no sub for pretty much 2 hours straight, and now I'm
exhausted but gosh did it feel good :) Got a little bloody of course,
but can I play football without? then, we went into town and got us
some big ole hamburgers...then the Lebanese man I was sitting with got
up and left...half his roasted chicken...so naturally I just finished
it for him, and even the other elders had to laugh at that...they were
like uh, is that yours? I was like um no but it was just sitting there
and we can't waste it...is that legal in america? because I might do
it when I get home :) maybe I'm just cheap...

But we had a great and inspiring zone conference this week that just
got us even more pumped up to go out and do the work and we just had a
great time! we just went the extra mile everyday with planning and
studies and ending our proselyting and the Lord truly blessed us with
an abundance of miracles. So many new investigators and the church was
filled up with investigators who we had only contacted on the street
haha so it was so neat to see the Lord bless us, but who knows where I
could be heading next week...Will I stay and finish Elder Rogers
training? Or will I go?! DUH DUH DUH! Whatever happens...no problem :)

Love,
Elder Jesse Sumrak


Mom here:  Here are some other tidbits that Elder Sumrak shared with me:

Mom:
One part of your letter last week struck me.
That part is when you walked by the one man whom you had walked by for
months and this time you stopped to teach him and he said "my time has
come.:"  gosh, that gets me every time.  We take so much for granted and
that simple phrase is so powerful - my time has come.  I love your
mission - it is so inspiring to me! 

Jesse:
awww mother :) and what's even more inspiring and I know that the Lord
is watching us, and share this with  father as well. But, on Saturday
that same man told us at the end of the lesson..."Elders, I had
already made a decision that day, that if you didn't come and talk to
me, I was going to ask you to come and talk to me...." how amazing is
that mother?! that very same day!? and he brought his wife and 2 kids
to church on Sunday. oh mother we are so blessed here and the Lord's
work is moving forward. Honestly, there are powers at work now during
this harvest that are unprecedented...its not me...its not Elder
Rogers...It is truly the Holy Ghost, and at times when taking the
sacrament, I swear the veil is so thin I might just ascend haha....I
am so blessed. I love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ...I love life
:)

Jesse:
Oh momma, yes its coming to dry season so I sweat everyday...a lot.
and I'm doing great! played some awesome football today so I'm nice and
happy :) and wow, my shoes are holding up okay, I got a man to sew
them back together for me, so they will hold up :) 

Who knows where I will be, I would like to still be here with my boys, but
we will see what happens...I only have 5 transfers left...and to put
it in perspective, I had been here for 4 transfers in Belliar
Park...isn't that crazy mother! I'm in the oldest 10 missionaries in
SIERRA LEONE! WHAT?! I truly am
blessed...Can't wait until after Thanksgiving...CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!!!:)

The Mountain

So, another great week here in Sierra Leone, with lots of excitement, 
miracles, disappointments, and exhaustion! But, it sure is sweet! 
First, On Thursday I volunteered our services with our 1st counselor 
in the bishopric because he said he would be transferring his house, 
so we offered to help out. Well, we showed up after our weekly 
planning around 1 PM…and 

 well, I want you to fathom this, but I’m not sure I could put it in 
the right words for anyone to fully explain the brutal experience that 
we had. We arrived and helped to clear off some furniture and dust and 
what not, which created a surprisingly great dust cloud…then we got to 
work hauling up our chosen instrument of torture to the destination. I 
imagined it might be far, maybe across the river or up the hill or 
something…but, what would come next I never would imagine. We hiked 
STRAIGHT up the mountain, I want you to imagine a staircase, and then 
take away the stairs, and add rocks and dirt, then imagine me with a 
couch on top of my head, then imagine a 35 minute walk with it on my 
head, then imagine we drenched to the bone in sweat! My gosh, it was 
horrible, and when we arrived all we could do was stare down the path 
and the bush and rivers we crossed and just laugh and laugh…and then 
cry, we said we would  be going to go get the next load. Which was 
a giant couch, that Elder Roger's and I both put on our heads and 
fought our way up the mountain again and then down…all in all 2 trips, 
and 2 and half hours of work haha we were filthy! Everyone was like, 
ah why is the white man so dirty? Whatti happen white man? I really wanted to 
yell at them but, I'm much more humble and charitable than 
that of course :) They rewarded our efforts with a big bowl of cassava 
leaf which we were both too dehydrated and water depleted to even taste 
or enjoy, but it’s the thought that counts right? 
The baptism this Saturday was amazingly awesome and depressing. Of 
course, A. and his sweet wife were there on 
time for their baptism, my first family, and…well, their son had a 
test that morning and was supposed to meet them there, but he showed 
up about 2 hours later…but, no problem, even though it really bummed 
me out to baptize them without their son, they requested he just do it 
next week. Well, A. is not a small man, and when I went to 
baptize him he did some weird like fetal position thing and threw us 
both back into the water almost hitting our heads against the wall 
hahahaha well now its not entirely funny yet, but  probably
in a couple of weeks I will laugh my head off 
hahaha :) oh mission, why can’t you be simple? But, no problem, in the 
end, they both were baptized and both were confirmed on Sunday and 
both even got up and bore their testimonies during testimony meeting, 
so it was beautiful and awesome and we have a big ole family this 
weekend as well, momma and children and the small boy will join them 
as well. Exciting work going on here, we are trying our best :) 
I was a cooking champ this week and cooked for my whole apartment 
on various nights. Last Tuesday I made French toast for everyone, 
which was really good, although I used up the rest of my syrup so we 
just dipped it in sugar and it was yummy! Then, on Wednesday I made an 
ebba and tomatoe stew which was pretty delicious. Then on Friday night 
I made spaghetti for everyone, and then last night I made my pumpkin 
flavored pancakes, and making pancakes for 4 people takes a long 
time…so kushay to all the mothers out there who cook for their 
children, because I sure have felt like a mother this week cooking for 
these kids. Also, feel like a mother when they  pile the 
dishes in the kitchen and make a mess and just dump trash everywhere 
and then track their grimy lil feet around the apartment and then…for 
some reason I clean it all. Not sure why, or why I even feel so 
inclined, but whatever I do it because I love them or something like 
that. I sure do appreciate you though my sweet mother and I feel like 
a lil tish for making your life so hectic throughout my development, 
thank goodness it only took me 21 years to finally get some sense, 
just know I'll be a lot better when I get home :) 
Today was SUPER P DAY! So, we all got up and got transport over to 
Lumley beach to have our awesome zone p day, and our zone is massive! 
We have like 5 districts with 32 members so it is by far the biggest 
zone by like 2x in the mission haha, but we played football, took 
pictures, volleyball, rugby, had lunch, and just relaxed and had a 
good time. Its weird because my MTC is going home in 2 weeks, Sister 
Atigobe, wow, makes me feel old and gives me a certain sense of 
urgency, so its game time! Les do dis! But, it was fun, especially 
since I have 3 of my *children there, Elder Dancan, Elder Labrum, 
Elder Rogers, and my grandchild Elder Eshun and my other adopted 
grandchild Elder Koopmans :) so that was a lot of fun and the football 
was a good time, until my shoes tore…but, no problem, I'll get those 
fixed by some guy on the street or something. I can sew shirts and 
what not now, just need to learn to sew shoes…how hard could it be?? 
At our district meeting on Tuesday we set a district goal that each 
companionship would contact 50 people this week, and for other missions 
that might not be much, I don’t know, but for us it’s a lot haha, but 
we went out and did our best and  think we got like 30 which was 
sweet. We had one guy we contacted who we always greet on this one 
road, and he was like Wow, my time has come! I know that you have felt 
something that inspired you to talk to me today! Well, when we went to 
see him the next day, he confessed that he had desperately been 
searching for a church, but his wife told him to be patient, and that 
an opportunity would come soon, so we were what he was looking for :) 
and he wants him and his children and wife to be baptized, so he came 
this Sunday to scout it out and loved it, so we are super excited for 
him and our faith in finding has increased considerably. The Lord is 
truly preparing his children to receive this message everywhere, and 
often times its those people right in front of us who we never thought 
would ever be interested. Same thing with S., who Elder 
Labrum finished his teaching, contacted him one day after passing him 
for 3 months walking past, felt inspired to talk to him, hasn’t missed 
church since :) sweet things are going down for sure, and A. is 
going to be called as Assistant ward mission leader on Sunday, so 
things are looking up up up! 
Well, the other night we had interviews with President Ostler and 
didn't get out until 7:00 due to the line, and we had an appointment 
with the Simbo family at 6…and she was freaking out calling us saying 
ah, the food is here, don’t you bounce us, you better come…so with 
headlamps prepared, we strapped up and made our way UP the mountain in 
the pitch black, just hoping not to die, and arrived to a GIANT dish 
of groundnut soup, boku crabs, fish, chicken, beef and the lot, which 
was great…then, we sat down with the family and we all made ginger 
beer together so I could learn how to make it and It was sweet, she 
ended up giving us a gallon to take home, but geeze, the humility and 
charity and generosity of these people is so incredible, words can’t 
describe, as this family LOVES ginger beer, and everyone chips in to 
make it, and then they give us the entire gallon, and end up drinking 
like half a cup each…I was like here here take some more and they all 
say NO NO! its for you, enjoy enjoy…and ugh I feel so helpless…these 
people are just so incredibly sweet…I love them all. 
Well…yep, that’s the excitement for the week. 
My poem a day continues about football at least, those are pretty good 
psalms you know. I heard Manchester United beat Arsenal 
yesterday…well, actually from all the yelling it would have been hard 
NOT to hear that they won, but kushey kushey to them, keep it up boys 
in red! 

So, to answer some of your questions momma, my health is great...ish 
:) and I did have a uh hard week but sweet of course! and the shell on that crab 
was sofi kinda but definitely still had a crunch to it haha :) I 
kinda want to go home and just go catch crabs and boil them up quick 
and eat em :) I guess I got to cut out some stuff or something? I 
don't know haha seemed simple enough, but I'm so naive. 

Oh...and the children! 
Yes, they attack, they attack with their dirty little hands haha but 
they are just precious and we love them and usually are just doing 
spin moves on the street dodging em and running away from them ahhaha, 
my favorite is go in for the high five, dodge it and give em a slap on 
the back of the head :) gets them laughing at least haha. and avoids 
me catching cholera ;) 
They have the attack pose is where they just start sprinting at you 
and drive head first right into the place you shouldn't haha, It's not 
a coincidence anymore! but, we work the same way, if we ever approach 
or start to run at them they SCREAM and RUN and their parents will 
yell and pull them towards us while they scream bloody murder. "COM na 
ere, de white man go carry you go! He go carry you go!" 

and sometimes the primary does a program, but it depends on the ward. 
haven't seen anything here :/ but i did in Mt Aureol and Messima and 
it was about as organized and crazy and cute as back home :) still 
didn't know the songs, got the stubborn kids up there because their
parents tell em to, then you got the beautiful children like Quinn 
just singing their heart out :) 

I love you all so much:) Have a blessed 
week!!!!!!!!!!!! 
love, 
Jesse 
Elder Sumrak 

Fasting is a Blessing

My eyes are doing great and perfect and I'm so grateful for
the fasting and prayers because I know that they truly worked, thank
you so much, for my eyes are almost even better then they were before
haha, so God is truly watching out over me, and thank you for
assisting :)  I am truly
doing well and happy and I know its not a coincidence. Maybe I will
continue to fast every Sunday if I can keep this happiness level haha,
because life is truly great right now, and I am loving the mission,
area, companion, district, everything!

And ENDERS GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT? I forgot about it! I'm so jealous!

Wow, so much craziness going on back home, and so sad that I won't see
Clayton and Tori and Rachel for such a longtime, but I'm so proud of
all them! and Katie and Drew coming back from their missions is so insane,
it never really feels like its going to end for me haha but I guess that's a
good thing ...I hope :)

Well....some of the craziness this week! well, Tuesday we went to
F. house for a giant meal, which was FUFU with bitterleaf with the
hottest pepay inside to this day on mission haha, Elder Rogers and I
were in tears as we ate laughing and crying and rubbing our faces with
the condensation on the Vimto bottles haha, they spoiled us so much!
both had a vimto, opened the plasauce pot to find bitter leaf, with
cowskin, crab, chicken feet, and fish! What, are we the king of Sa
lone or something?! it was so good, We ate the whole chicken foot,
bones and all, and I ATTACKED the crab. It was the first crab of my
life, and I didn't know how to eat it...so I just ate all haha
I do not like fufu though haha its like eating Playdough
or something. but Thursday she made us the same thing except with
toulah and rice, and it was sooooo good, we are so spoiled in that
house oh what a sweet sweet family :)

Okay...so, the hardship of the week, we came to the chapel Friday
evening to meet with bishop and I glimpsed someone white and next
thing you know "What the white chick is going on here?!" which had
Elder Rogers and I in tears, but there was this pale British 21 year
old girl smoking a cigarette outside the chapel, so I tried my best
to give her a chance at the gospel..."I don't believe in God"...she
said. um....excuse me? Sorry I haven't heard that statement except
from Korihor for the past 16 months. could you repeat that? I didn't
know what to do...I had never taught an atheist, so I uh, invited her
to church and then went and sat in bishops office to wait...well, she
came inside to sit down and talk to us and I was like ah, leave I
don't know what to say to you!!!! but, as a representative of Jesus
Christ,I did my best, and bore my testimony of conversion, asked her
about her beliefs, and then the comedy of our weekend which the
missionaries are still laughing about haha, only because they love
me...

Me: This is the Book of Mormon, the Book that changed my life. (taking
out the book)
Flair (the british chick): oh, I have plenty of books I came with like 20
Me: (never being rejected before in my life by the way) uh, how about 21? :)
Flair: No thats okay, really.
Me:...It's free....
Flair: (ultimate shut down) if you gave it to me I honestly would
never read it...

ooooooooooo....is this what it feels like to really be rejected,
because its a first time for me. Other missionaries, you may laugh,
but this is new to me :( but we had a great laugh about it later and I
know she will be baptized one day :)

But, I truly know that this gospel is true and will bless all the
lives of those who accept it. Jesus Christ really is our savior! It's
not a story. When you close your eyes and talk to that person you
can't see, there is a man named Heavenly Father, God of the universe,
who is actually listening. Sounds crazy, huh? you bet it does! Hard to
believe? Sure! Do I belive it?  I would die for it. isn't that crazy?
I would die for someone I've never met (with my temporal knowledge)
never seen, or talked to face to face. yet i'd give my life in a
heartbeat, and already have in fact, and will continue to do so. I am
a representative of Jesus Christ. I love God, his son, and the holy
spirit, and I know they all love me. Just a small testimony that
occured to me during my atheist experience afterthoughts.

So, we have had quite the experience with trying to get beds in our
apartment...showed up 3 weeks ago, 4 beds, 6 elders. eventually got it
okay, got 1 bunk bed, 4 beds, everyone taken care of, but our room was
too small to study and have beds, so  I requested bunks. 3 weeks
later...they arrive, we set them up, they had forgotten the base supports
for the bottom mattress. we sleep in the parlor on mattresses. 4 days
later, they bring the parts , wrong parts, still sleeping on mattress
on the floor in the parlor, with nice lil nets over em haha, and last
night a random torrential storm came, blew up the windows, and I was
so lazy in bed just threw the sheet over my head while I was getting
soaked haha after about 15 minutes and quite wet I finally got up to
close them hahaha oh life in sa lone is fun :)

Did a TON of contacting this week which is fun. I love contacting with
a Book of Mormon in my hands because I love talking to everyone about
it!

S., my branch mission leader and best friend in Bo, came and
visited this weekend and came to church on Sunday. The poor guy is
having the hardest time going on mission and was coming to finalize
his passport but with all his family dead and nobody to help him, its
very hard, I did my best to help him and he just texted me that he
arrived safely in Bo...Please keep him in your prayers, he is trying
so hard to serve the Lord :)

So, Elder Rogers, my awesome companion, we have had such a great week
this week. We have had some hard days and bouncy days and trying
experiences, and already 2 fast days together, and man we are having a
great time though. Whenever we get down, we start teaching or
contacting using movie lines or song lines, it really lightens the
mood and keeps us going in the heat and what not. "I got a feeling,
that you have never read this book before." "Why so serious?" "Want to
see a magic trick." "Look at me now." oh, we have a great time with
many more :) I love my companion, he is a great friend :)

Well, I leave una wit me testimony dat I no se God dey en he lov we
boku boku!!! Take care my friends and family and my beloved future
missionaries and now current missionaries. Rachel I'm so proud of you,
kushey kushey :) love you all!

Love,
Elder Jesse Sumrak

Eyes

Well, first off HAPPY BIRTHDAY FATHER! you were a scary man in my
youth and how fitting that your bday is on Halloween and I"m sorry I
don't have such a great gift to give you this year, like that giant
remote I got you that one time, but I just want you to know I love you
and miss you lots and hope and pray that you are doing well. you are
the best father in the world, thank you for your example, and I hope
if I follow after you I can become as great as a man as you are :)

Hahaha well...remind me when I get home about that snake story and I'll
let you know more. But why did nobody tell me that Tori got her mission
call?! the only person who told me was grandma and grandpa and I don't
know if everyone assumes I just know?! haha its okay :) but, I do end
up giving a lot of priesthood blessings, mostly to members, some to
investigators, and a few to missionaries. Gave about 5 this week I
think, and received one for my own self and my condition the other day,
but they are just so peaceful and make me feel so happy :) I need them
more often haha.

And Elder Rogers is doing great! he is a great new missionary and we
are having so much fun together. Our personalities and attitudes are
so alike and we have a great attitude towards the difficulty of our
ward and area at the moment, but we are doing our best and getting it
done. He definitely has me laughing most of the day and our sense of
humor keeps us optimistic and going on this difficult course. I love
training, it makes me a better person and makes me try harder to be
more obedient and a better example and I hope I am helping in that
aspect in his life as well.

Well...the excitement for my week...as we sat in the internet cafe last
Monday, I was waiting for Elder Rogers to finish up and my eyes started
to hurt a bit, but I continued to type and just figured that I had got
pepay or something in them, well we joked and laughed about it, but
then it wasn't too funny when I couldn't open them anymore, then it
kinda wasn't cool. but, it was sporadic, and the light would cause
them to close and then open after like 20 seconds, but I still tried
to teach our appointment that evening and literally ended up teaching
with my eyes closed...which actually was kinda funny, then made our
way home and it cleared up a little the next day, but I couldn't wear
my contacts all week. It was off and on having little attacks during
the week, and then Friday night was terrible as, the lights in the
apartment were giving me a headache, and soon I couldn't stand ANY
light at all, and sat in my room in complete darkness, even turning a
flashlight on hurt my eyes, so I called for help and got to see Sister
Ostler the next morning and Saturday was probably THE HARDEST day out
teaching of my mission haha, I couldn't wear my contacts and was
advised to wear my sunglasses, so that meant that I was going blind
haha, so...walking through our area

Person: Elder Sumrak Elder Sumrak!
Me::"Elder Rogers, who is it, who is it?"
Elder Rogers: I don't know I don't know.
Me: Elo, Ow di Bodi!, man who am I talking to?"

So, we had a great time of pretty much that the ENTIRE day but, by the
end of the day I returned home, and my eyes are doing a lot better
now, I got a blessing and everything and I KNOW that I am going to be
okay :)

Tuesday night we were heading home and the white man return
missionary, R., caught us on the road and invited us up to come
see him and P. and his wife and enjoy some coconut, so we did, and
it turned into us staying for an hour and half talking about religion,
politics, wars, and prophesies and everything! P. the white british
jehovah witness) is a great guy with a hard past but a great knowledge
and testimony of the Bible, I pray that he will one day recognize the
truth and have the faith and courage to pursue it. Well, we did enjoy
coconut and some sweet coconut/mango drinks, and had a good time
before getting home.

We had a humbling experience visiting the F. family earlier
this week, when some pretty random rain soaked the roads and got our
pants and shoes completely muddy, caked in clay and tish, but when we
showed up at her house, she instantly was on her hands and knees
scrubbing our pants and shoes with her hands and it was just the
sweetest most charitable thing. She started cleaning and quickly her
daughter came outside with a rag and cleaned off our pants and
wow...we were just standing there in awe and gratitude for these
amazing daughters of God and their unmeasurable charity and love. All
I could think about was Jesus Christ washing his disciples feet...and
even Ruth out in the fields...and just how humble these great examples
were. I hope that I can be as great an example of faith and charity as
these wonderful people I have been called to serve...and see THEM
serving ME...I truly do love them.

We had a very faith growing strange experience this week while
contacting, when one man earnestly asked us to bless his lame son, who
clearly has some mental problems, but the man had faith that we could
heal him. So, Elder Rogers and I told him to pray that night and to
talk to his wife, and even come to church on Sunday, and after church
we would come and give him a blessing with the whole family
there...well, Elder rogers and I studied all week, and on Sunday we
fasted, but he called and told us he was not able to make it...but, we
continued our fast anyways. I would love to tell you a miracle
happened, but instead a miracle happened within Elder Rogers and I ,
and despite what would appear as a wasted fast and time spent in vain,
we took to be a faith building experience that we do not believe is
over yet :) so, its sweet that what would seem a failure, has been
quite the success for us, not sure how to explain it, but you can just
assume we're crazy.

Got to take out all the youngsters today to
get a giant egg burger which they all enjoyed.
Also made us amazing pancakes last night with strawberry, peanut
butter, banana, oatmeal deliciousness and got the whole apartment
converted to eating oatmeal in the morning. Though, the others tend to
eat fried egg, ketchup sandwiches for dinner every night. Its such a
young apartment haha 1 12 week, 1 6 week, 2 2 weeks, and Elder Bog at
12 months and me at 16 haha we are a youngling for sure, but we are
having a lot of fun! also made some cookies today, typical Jesse style
with bananas instead of butter, and they turned out okay, while we
rocked out to some Hercules...oh we have a good time, I try to be a
good example to all of these guys and do everything perfect, but I'm
not perfect, and I make mistakes, but I'm so glad that the Lord is
helping me with this hard task. I know he will make up for my
imperfections :)

well...yes, that is my week. I love you all very much! A happy happy
birthday to you my dear father and I love you as well my dear mother,
hope everyone has a wonderful week ahead of them! take care!

Love,
Jesse
Elder Sumrak

New Companion!

Hello World! Back at the King Harman Celestial apartment
and things started out stressful as tish! So I came into
an apartment with absolutely nothing, not even
beds for my Elders, so I had to completely destroy my new companions
first day by going shopping the whole day to get half the things our
apartment needed to just survive...but, no problem, now things are
going great and I got the place looking nice with all the supplies it
needs, or most of them, and things are going nice and
smoothly...mostly.

Yes, I am still District Leader of a brand new District, the Dwarzak
District, in which I am in charge of 8 Elders, (Elder Labrum and
Eshun) (Elder Bogh and Kollie) (Assistants Elder Wooton and Nwosu)
and ourselves. It is going very nicely though and I will be having my
first district meeting with them all tomorrow. We are going to have a
good time though, things in the district are sweet and 3 of us Elders
have Lord of the rings and 3 of us have good workout ethics, so I am
feeling quite comfortable :)

Stress level now? reduced...fortunately, although our baptism was
depressingly cancelled on Saturday as our beloved brother P. called
Friday night to inform us his  Auntie refused to let him be baptized
but, we got to see him yesterday and he is still enthusiastic and
praying for a miracle and we are as well, and I know that God will
make it possible for this amazing young man! our investigators aren't
PLENTY at the moment, but WE DID have 2 full families at church
yesterday investigating and that just made my day to be honest.
Husband and wife and child. and husband wife and 4 children, so I am
super excited for these progressing families!

My new companion is...ELDER ROGERS! and of course The Best 2 Years is
the first thing that pops into your head, but me too, and I'm just a
great Elder Calhoun aren't I? Hope I'm a little cooler than that, but
he is a great Elder and we are having a great time. Only 18 now, so a
young gun, but has great desire and work ethic so we are having lots
of fun climbing these mighty mighty hills. Going to the orientation
was nice too, and when we found we were companions we really just
become best friends immediately, so we are going to enjoy the next 6
weeks for sure :)

and I'm glad that you got to go and enjoy that video of us missionaries singing
haha, as you can see I don't know how to do it very well, either that or I am very
tired...or maybe both :)

and I would love to come visit Primary and show the kids WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN PEOPLE ARE RIGHTEOUS AND OBEY THE LORD AND GO ON MISSION! 
they get a rich abundance of blessings and an experience that changes their
lives, their spirit, and even makes them age and look like they are a
30 year old! 

Well, this week was honestly a week of big and small miracles, and
Elder Rogers is seriously loving it and we are having such a great
time, the Lord is truly watching over us and helping us in this great
work.

First...Rain Miracle # 79:

So, we are teaching one family on the VERY TOP of the mountain,
seriously, the tip top, and we are teaching a great lesson to
A, his wife, his nephew, his sister, his son, his
cousin, and his best friend. So the rain
starts POURING at the end of this super spiritual lesson (and Elder
Roger's first lesson in fact) and we come to the end and we pretty
much closed, but a hurricane was going on around us and I couldn't even
talk because they couldn't hear me...so after about 5 minutues, I Yell
"I go pray for we ya, for beg Daddy God for let de rain stop!"
A. nodded and everyone closed their eyes. So I prayed, and as
soon as the words left my mouth, it started to lessen...and lessen...and
my shout turned into a talk and then a gentle conversation with God,
and before I said amen it was finished. And all the kids started
laughing and everyone was just amazed and Elder Rogers was more amazed
than all of them haha but it is so cool how the Lord hears our prayers
if we have the faith to pray and ask him. I know our Heavenly Father
loves us an He is so great to show me so many signs and wonders in my
own life, not to give me faith, but to confirm my faith...mission is
sweet!

Miracle 2

So, I come home to a dark apartment, as some Elders are out back trying
to turn the generator on, so they all call me with that annoying title
that just indicates something bad has happened "District Leader
District Leader".... I have a name hhaaha, so I go out back to
look at it and as soon as I do, everyone scatters and goes back to
their own thing, cooking, reading, relaxing, and I'm super tired and
frustrated and the generator is on and nothing is turning on and I
can't fix it and Im super not happy and just yelling but nobody can
hear me hahaha im not a mechanic! im not even a boy scout! why do I
have to fix it?! hahaha and so in my frustration and utter uselessness
I bowed my head and prayed for peace and I felt the spirit just bring
such peace and relief to my troubled heart, and I prayed to God saying
I have NO idea how to fix it...please help me....I walked over to the
gen, flipped a switch, messed with some knobs, unplugged something,
turned it around plugged it back in, and all the lights came on...and
I just prayed again thanking the Lord because I am just a useless
instrument, that can only be played when the sweet Spirit is at work,
I just need to continually improve myself to let the Spirit more fully
and more frequently use me. :) Oh, life is great and frustrating and
great haha,

and uh...well that's all folks, not much else going on in the Belliar
Park area, my poor legs are getting quite tired of the mountains, or
maybe my 30 minutes of jump rope every morning haha, either way I am
getting old, but trying to fight it and stay as young as possible :)
life is sweet...life is sweet

Love,
Elder Sumrak
Jesse

More Training !

Hello Hello! So, just straight off the bat, we received transfers
news, and Belliar Park is splitting into Belliar Park and Sorie Town,
and Elder Labrum and I will both be training, and will be moving back
to the Celestial apartment at King Harman road, and will be training
there together, so Papa, Pikin, and grandpikin all together! AND all
of my trainees are ALL training now. Elder Dancan is finishing training
Elder Koopmans, Elder Etuk is training, and now Elder Labrum *tear,
they grow up so fast...

And Hermana Hiebert is my great friend from BYU! She is Canadian and
is awesome :) she wanted to email you and I encouraged her to but I
guess she wrote a letter instead, she is awesome! you will love her :)

Well, this week was well, extremely relaxing and chill and spiritual
and hard hard working and I am at the most peace and least stressed I
have been in a longtime...now all those things don't quite meet up,
but as I have relied more on the Lord and less on my own strength,
Elder Labrum and I taught the most lessons this week in all the 12
weeks we have had together, took the most pictures, enjoyed and
relaxed the most, and worked our hardest haha, we were seriously doing
it the way it was meant to be done. Missionary work doesn't HAVE to be
stressful, if led by the spirit and a spirit of hard work as well, it
can be very peaceful, very rewarding, and satisfy by the mind, body,
and soul. This is true in everything I believe. Don't let things
stress you out that you can't control, control what you can and leave
the rest alone, when it comes it comes, deal with it, till it comes,
leave it.

But, talking about stress and surprising peace, I sat down in Bishop's
office 30 mins before church started yesterday and began helping the
clerk with some errors in the MLS and other paper work, and trying to
give the illiteracy class teacher his papers and teach Musa how to
read at the same time haha bishop asks
"Elder Sumrak, can you give a talk?"
well...wanting to be a blessing and not a burden and aid in whatever way...
"Sure Bishop"
"Okay, tenki, 10 minutes on Home teaching."
"Today?"
"Yes, today."
"Okay, no problem."
So, I grabbed a Book of Mormon and drafted up a quick talk and the
spirit guided and it went rather well actually. I thought it was
pretty cool how much I have changed as I thought about it....before,
if I had been given a talk 2 weeks in advance I would have been
stressing about it for 2 weeks! but, when given only  30 minutes the
Spirit was able to comfort and guide me...To be honest, 6 months
before my mission you might ask me to turn to Jacob and I would take
out my bible hahaha, but I am grateful to the Lord for how much he has
taught me and how well I have come to know the scriptures. I love
them so much and I am always So happy when I read them...ah the Book
of Mormon, and even the Old Testament haha, I love it too much!

Well, did shake things up a little bit yesterday when 2 white men and
a beautiful sa lone woman came walking into the church compound after
our sacrament meeting. One was P., a British business man who
married a sa lone woman and is a Jehovah witness has been receiving
lessons from Elder Hill, and his buddy, R. , a return missionary
from the U.S. was visiting him and invited him to church. so. they
were wrong on the time, and joined us, and Elder Hill and his
companion joined us as well and it was really cool and the whole time
I was thinking...I have NO IDEA how to teach a white person the gospel
hahaha, but it was a lot of fun and they were really cool people.
R. served in Chile in 1981, and he is  awesome good :) super
sweet people in all the strangest places.

Also, started a random project the other night, when I realized how
many sweet memories I have that I experienced BEFORE i started keeping
a daily journal. June, 2011, I started keeping a daily journal and
have not missed a day to this point, but there were 18 years of
memories before that, so every night I write a story or 2 from before
then, and it is a lot of fun and makes for a lot of good stories, but
I'm not quite as good as my dad in telling stories ;)

Well, after our service was over, immediately a man had me
by the hand and was leading me to a seat and telling me he wanted to
talk to me...a missionary for some church and just was
going off on some program of his or something and  I
just cut him off, bore testimony, told him our purpose, introduced the
Book of Mormon, and some how he committed to read and pray abut it and
left...well, about an hour later passing up the mountain, we saw him
sitting in a small shack reading the book...so, we hope that a miracle
might happen to "Missionary Prince" or so he called himself hahaha :)
good times!

Well, all is well here and I am surely enjoying mission. Of course,
uncertainty lies ahead, and I'm nervous about training, as always, but
I put it all to the Lord and peace enters my heart, for where fear
abides, faith is not, and the spirit is not, so I will close my eyes
and trust "one step enough for me".

Miracle of the week: The apartment was dark and I was using my
headlamp as we prepared for bed. Elder Labrum fumbled around the room
as he prepared to get into bed, and failed to mount his fan on the
table, which we place on top of my chair, so as the fan can reach him
on the top bunk.
"Whatever, the powers not coming back on anyways" he said as he started
to climb his bed.
"Where is your faith Elder Labrum, the power will come back on in less then 5-"
*lights come on*
Elder Labrum peeks his head around the door and just stares at me...
"Dude! that is so cool!"
"...Yes...Yes it is...."

Oh, The Lord even hears our smallest prayers when we have the faith to
act and do and ask. I have a testimony that I KNOW the Book of Mormon
is true. Haven't heard of it? Well, I beg, try it, ask for a copy,
they are free! Don't you want a free book? Who doesn't want a free
book? Try to read it, don't like it? decorate your shelf with it, no
problem! But, I promise you will love it, and it will change your
life. My invitation to all, family, friends, neighbors, anyone
reading this, please just try to read the Book of Mormon...if you
haven't before just try it. If there is something missing in your
life, you will find it. If you have everything you need in life, you'll
find more. This is my PROMISE to you, and I love you all...If you love
me, this is the most serious request I have ever made to you in my
life...Please just read The Book of Mormon introduction page, and pray
about it. If you do that, then any debt you have ever owed me is
fulfilled, and any debt I owe you...well, I'll take care of it later :)
just try it, I love you all and your Heavenly father loves you so very
much! take care!

Love,
Jesse,
Elder Sumrak
Sa Lone Bor Bor
"Saidu Conteh"
Ginger beer man
your friend