Mother's Day!

From Elder Sumrak's Mom:  We had the great blessing of speaking with
Elder Sumrak yesterday for Mother's Day.  He told us great stories about his
mission and shared his testimony with us.  He truly loves his mission, the 
country of Sierra Leone and most importantly, the people of Sierra Leone.
I so greatly appreciate the people of Sierra Leone who are so kind and
generous to our son!


Family!!
So great to get to talk to you yesterday and all of our wonderful family.
It truly was a blessing and I enjoyed it VERY VERY much! and what are
you talking about mother, you are coming and visiting Sierra Leone
with me one day, and I will show you to all my recent converts, and
where we baptized, and everything, and you are going to absolutely
LOVE it!:) ah I can't wait haha...one day.

Well, I really already talked about everything that I could possibly
think about yesterday but, had a sweet river baptism of Elizabeth
on Saturday and fortunately she came and was confirmed yesterday
in church. The branch is doing well and has finally be declared
tithing worthy, so I know along with that the richest of blessings
will start to flow to these wonderful people for their obedience to
this ancient and eternal commandment. Their fields will be rich for
the harvest, literally, and many more blessings will come their way.
If you apply 3 Nephi 24: 8-13 literally to Sierra Leone, it really
makes it quite amazing and realistic, which is very nice to read with
people here, especially farmers, because it doesn't take
interpretation, its quite plain and simple haha,thank you Book of
Mormon, I love you :)

I have the greatest testimony of tithing and anyone that reads this
and thinks I'm crazy can just  pray about it, because
tithing is one of the greatest blessings this world has to offer. It's
not a commandment...it's a blessing. It's our only opportunity really to
give of what we have literally to the Lord, and yet we are still
unprofitable servants, in that the Lord has blessed us with what we
have given, and even further more in the profound charity of our
Eternal Father in that he continues to bless us for our honesty and
integrity, thus furthering our never ending debt to our loving
Father...It really is quite simple. I apply it to the Africans here,
that God gives you 10 bon bons...you give him 1, so then he gives you
a 100...then you give him 10, then he gives you a 1,000...yeah, that
is how tithing goes...have the faith to try it and see if you have
similar results, because my life has been blessed in abundance even
beyond that. I have seen it in my life, and especially in the lives of
my family.  Thank you!:)

Well, really I don't have to much to say this week, my burn (Elder Sumrak
burned his leg on the hot exhaust of a motor bike) is finally
healing up and no further wounds from football today. I look forward to
good competition when I get home. People do have talent here, but
unfortunately talent, athleticism, and experience will never
compensate for the necessity of sense and knowledge. Anyone can play,
but no body can play like the man who knows football. An old man of 40
(Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs) will forever be more effective then the
fastest most talented youngsters because of their knowledge of the
sport. I encourage everyone to watch and admire their knowledge of the
game. They sabe football more then we sabe what rice tastes like, and
that's saying something :)

I want to acknowledge the legend Sir Alex Ferguson and commend him for
his patience and love for the club of dreams. (Side note from Mom:  Elder Sumrak
told us that May 11th was Bob Marley Day in Sierra Leone and his music was
played loudly all day everywhere) Also, Bob Marley...not
quite a role model, but rather enjoyable music, thank you for your
contributions to this world...I hope you accept the gospel in your
current state :) 

But, I love you all so very much and love this gospel and this church.
It is true! If you don't know...or want to know, I encourage you to
pray and ask, because you will receive an answer...don't doubt that.
Read James 1:5-6. It's a promise, not a maybe, trust in God and try it
for yourself. Take care my dear friends and family, I promise to have
more to talk about next week, but my experiences have already been
previously exhausted on my wonderful family!

Love,
Elder Jesse Sumrak