Cleaning the Beach

I heard from Saidu like you did and I willl be writing him for sure for the
next 2 years, no doubt, he is a great guy and even his brother came to
church yesterday! I'm not sure if he has ever come before, so it was
really sweet :)

They have been focused a lot lately on Families because each week for
the next 6 weeks I have been assigned a district discussion topic
concerning families, so its fun to be creating those discussion
lessons and trying to provide interesting material for a spirit filled
lesson in which we can all be edified and uplifted by each other, and
by the spirit. My personal studies are going awesome and I am in like
Leviticus 10, using the old testament manual word for word, so its
slow going but I am really enjoying learning about the tabernacle and
all the temple symbolisms and what not and can't wait to go back to
the temple and look and see all the symbols and what not for myself.
Its also interseting to learn about all the sacrifices
and how they all are shadows and tellings of christ. It really is
interesting how everything in the old testament points to Christ. From
Abraham and Issac to the birth of Moses to the Sin offerings before
the tabernacle, it truly is marvelous...

Had some small palava in the apartment this week but we got everything
settled out and fixed up and what not. once again, prayer saved the
day and chilled my burning emotions and prayer is truly amazing. The
spirit is changing my life, who I am how I think, everything, as long
as we hand it all over to God, its all good. we just need to be brave,
and follow Elder Bednars advice and bury ALL THE WEAPONS we have, as
the Anti Nephi Lehis did...it would have meant nothing if they buried
their armor and shields and swords but kept a small dagger tucked in
their pocket, just in case...thats not faith, thats a backup plan, and
with God and faith, their is no back up plan, either hand it all over,
or your holding it all back.

My name tag finally snapped this week when snagging on someone while
entering the poda poda. It was already starting to splinter so I had a
new one ordered, so now I am a pearly whites missionary with a brand new
white name tag and ah, if you put it next to my wo wo yellow one it
would make you laugh out loud, it really is atrocious...just like all
my white shirts, all my shoes, and I can probably guess the inside of
my body as well, speaking of which, an abundance of worms has been
found in our water sources...YAY! we looked inside our water
containers yesterday to find little worms swimming at the bottom...so
we poured some bleach inside...3 hours later...still swimming, so gosh
my body is probably lined with them and they are eating me away, no
wonder im so hungry all the time, TISH!

My workouts are still going good and I hope I am putting on some more
weight. I eat a whole lot more and lots of protein everyday. protein
shakes, eggs, sardines, chicken, baked beans, everyday, makes me
pretty full but I hope it is working. having some fun workouts from
dads book he sent me and its great. the exercises are challenging
parts of my body I haven't really targeted before, but I seriously
miss a legit gym...like the good ol BYU gym. that one is legit. I love
that gym haha :) no bad, I'm patient! pushups and situps will do for
now.

We had a big ole stake service project this weekend which actually had
quite an impressive turnout. It was at lumley beach, and we woke up at
5:45 and managed to arrive at Lumley junction by 7...they told us it
was close...it wasn't. We walked down the beach for about 40 minutes
before arriving at the Belliar Park Ward work site on the beach area.
We were sweeping the boku boku trash off the beach and gosh it is just
filthy. syringes, needles, shoes, crap, beer bottles, just lots of
tish that I don't think anyone has cleaned in YEARS, so we swept with
brooms and shovels and rakes and worked and worked for hours as numbers
consistently continued to flow in, until about 50 youth were gathered
on our end of the beach and we ran outta tools for everyone haha. So,
I didn't realize it until yesterday when I woke up but my hamstrings are
TIGHT! I was bent over sweeping for 2 and half hours and ahh....they
are still tight now haha. Its like a little handheld broom, imagine
taking the stick off the broom and there you go, and it started
POURING and you can imagine how that makes sweeping a beach...soaking
muddy sand and sweeping...yeah that doesn't go together, but the
beach looks absolutely beautiful now and we really made a difference.
I think 400-500 people from the stake were there, all in our yellow
helping hands shirts, so maybe pictures will be in the liahona or
something ;) but I doubt it because of the rain. I was absolutely
FREEZING and got a pretty bad fever, but nothing stops us from
continuing our proselyting efforts. already made a oath to myself that
I would never miss one day of proselyting due to my own choice or
health...I will endure! to the end!

Well...nothing else is really going down. we finally played some
football today and I really enjoyed finally getting to play again
today and I'm not TOO rusty although I really need some real legit
grass and to strap on my good ole football boots and go out and do some
work! our jogs have been going well in the morning and  my
companion and I are active and fit. He is a boss and he is doing great, I
love my companion!

Wish I had more to say but I guess I am pretty boring, huh? sorry haha
I love you all so very much and hope and pray that you are all doing
well...I'm tired haha...peace love and idk, apple juice ( I miss apple
juice...) bye bye!

Love,
Elder Jesse L. Sumrak