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Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Lots of New Missionaries Coming to Sierra Leone

Sorry for the late post!  I had to take my youngest son to college (BYU) but I am back and here is Elder Sumrak's letter from 08/26/13:

Oh, that box sounds positively delightful dear mother and I am anxiously anticipating this blessing haha thank you so very much angelic momma! 

As for the worms, they were successfully defeated when our plumber came and we reported the problem, the fix is nice, since it was only our water tank that had mold and worms and crap in it, but he climbed on the roof and cleaned it all out so as for now, no more worms...but yes, we drank it haha we just put it through the filter...yes we bathed with it, just use boku bleach, we use it for cooking...boil the tish out of it. but, we have and will continue to survive. also, the Kanzlers are amazing and I love them lots, you should talk to them or email them some time, I know they would enjoy that, being always in the office helping around I get to talk to them quite a lot and they are hilarious. even Sister Kanzler helped us out and bought us some on sale, expiring peanut butter :) yay! came to find out why the beans at the store were so cheap! THEY WERE EXPIRED...so, my reaction when asking the manager might surprise you when I asked...is anything else expired? I'll take it...yeah, lets go sa lone! 

We are trying hard to prepare for more missionaries and doing what little we can do. 20 in Sept, Oct, and Nov, and 10 more now already confirmed for December...that's at least 70 this year, and almost doubling our mission...we found 1 apartment this week with the zone leaders and it completely SHOT our proselyting day but eventually got inside, got boss man Markus  there to take pictures and he immediately started the paperwork with them ....we are desperate haha, not playing around like last year when this happened haha 

Well...sweetness and sweet news and conversions this week! Saturday was a sweet sweet baptism of 11 people, 2 from Belliar Park, 2 from Hill Station, 2 from Mt Aureol, and 5 from Congo Cross and I kinda took charge and made it run like an american baptism haha! made sure it started on time with a program and everything and everyone had whites and the water was actually filled up (if not sort of brown) and I was just happy alone with that, much less the miraculous people who were baptized :) 
Aminata  was baptized who is a sweet 18 year old girl whose whole family is members 
then, Ibrahim , one of the oldest people I have baptized, he is about 35 and is a super strong athlete and person who has just had a super hard life with lots of challenges and set backs both with school, jobs, sports, and even religion, and upon finding him, he was highly addicted to smoking over 10-12 cigarettes a day...he now has not smoked in close to a month, and it was amazing to hear his testimony and his change and even for the first time on Sunday when he came he wore priesthood attire and looked great...what an example that anyone can change... 

Then, the miracle man, Solomon ...so, this young man of about 24, I taught all the lessons to in Bo. He lived WAY out in the bush, far enough that it was a 45 min journey, just to teach him and come home haha, but now he came to Freetown and was living in Hill Station by himself. He found the church and the Hill Station elders, who just had him interviewed by Elder Weller. Well, it was funny because I called them because we were locked in the apartment the other day, and Elder Mongalo answered "Yes, Elder Sumrak?" and Solomon was like WHAT, Elder Sumrak is in Freetown?! So, he asked me to do his baptism and it was a great experience being able to see him again and see him make this promise with God :) truly a blessing! 

Also, got a call from Elder Stanford in Messima that 2 of my investigators, and even a man and his family, that I taught all the lessons are finally being baptized :) SO EXCITED! everything is going great right now and the Lord is showering Sierra Leone with blessings, and even me abundantly. I am so lucky to be here serving the Lord and doing his work...I love it so much and I am so happy. 

Had our interviews with President Ostler this week and also had an exchange with Elder Aseidu, which was great. We had an emergency swap  and we received a younger missionary in our apartment now...so change is always exciting, excited to see what happens next Sunday. exciting transfer, I'm sure, with 20 newbys on the way...WHAT! 

Well...the miracle of the week happened on Saturday night, Sunday morning. Saturday night I was exhausted, and the water was very low, so I knew me and my compy would have to go fetch it from a distance away...but, I prayed while we closed and the rain started pouring...but ended quickly, giving us only enough water for Saturday night, but the time was late...so as I went to sleep I prayed that rain would come so we could have drinking water and bathing water Sunday morning...around 3 a.m my prayer was answered, and I jumped out of bed and went out into the cold rain and put all of our buckets outside, then soaking wet, crawled back into bed...the rain continued all morning and we filled EVERYTHING :) and the rain still continued to pound, even blowing the door open...as I prayed and told God that we now had enough water...if He would please allow the rain to cease so our investigators would come to church....15 minutes later, the rain ceased until our service was over :) miracles are amazing and are so possible if we just have the faith to ask our Heavenly father. He wants to bless us :) just ask! 

Well...Life is great, I love and miss you all so very much and pray for you constantly. Nick...your going to do great buddy, don't worry about it! Thomas and Laura, your the bomb diggity, Lumi...don't poop yourself. momma don't pretend your not happy to have some quiet ;) love you. Pops...go eat something ADVENTURE TIME! 

Love, 
Jesse, 
Elder Sumrak 

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