Blessings of Sierra Leone

Hello Dear Family! 
Wow, another wonderful week has passed by and its sad to think that this was my last time orienting a new group of missionaries, but at least it was my favorite one so far, so that is a sweet positive! On Tuesday, we didn’t get to go to the airport to pick up the elders, only 8 showing up this time, but we had plenty of work to take care of before we hopped in the Barney’s sweet ride and got a ride down to seacoach to receive the missionaries at the dock. Had a fresh and excited young group with Elders from America, Nigeria, Ghana, and Tonga, and we got them all back to the mission office safe and sound. 

We got up early to start cooking for them…we meant to buy raw eggs, but Jokella got us boiled eggs :) so we broke them all and scrambled up boiled eggs with hot dog and onions and lots of pepe, and it was super yummy, though it kind of hurt my tummy a little bit, not too strange to think why. We then ALL went up to the mission home where Elder Stanford and I got to do a fun orientation with all the new guys! We shared some Krio phrases and the like and helped them understand some of the unique challenges and also blessings of Sierra Leone, so then we all went up to Leicester Peak where the missionaries got to receive their assigned area and companion, and we sang High on the mountain top, and then had a brief testimony meeting. It was a great experience and the spirit was so strong, besides the beating sun, it really was wonderful! We went down to the mission office for lunch and then shipped out all the newbies to their areas, then Elder Stanford and I were out the door with a nice little heel click and big smiles on our face! We got to go and teach some wonderful families and wow did we see some sweet miracles this week! More to come! 

Thursday, we got to help a young lady leaving to go to Ghana. We got to set up her email and give her a brief orientation and then even stand in on the setting apart, so that was awesome. I love being able to hear the wonderful blessings pronounced on them by President Ostler, and its so sweet to see how different they all are, but the great blessings that are promised to them if they will only be obedient and diligent…that’s all it comes down to in the end, God wants to bless us so much and just wants us to be obedient so he can :) we then had a brief sit down with President about the mission concerns and our focuses for the transfer…then, Elder Stanford and I went to planning and spent about 4 hours planning out the transfer, so we are excited for all the trainings, meetings, exchanges, and blitzes that we are organizing, and its going to be busy busy busy everyday but we are going to go HARD until the end. Even with all the craziness and the busyness of this week we still managed to go out and teach 20 lessons, so we are trying to be examples to all the other missionaries that we need to be diligent, no matter how much time you have left or how new you are, or how many meetings you have, go out and fulfil your calling to help these wonderful people with the only thing that will save them and bring true lasting happiness in this life…the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love the gospel so much and it just makes me so happy…I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, that is for sure, and oh that I were an angel…oh well, actually I would prefer not to be a ministering angel, but no need for that tangent, life is good! I’m ranting… 

Friday, we got to go and attend the Freetown zone’s district and sister trainer leader orientation meeting, which was really nice, then out the door to go and teach the whole day, and then Saturday we had a FULL day of proselyting and got to some awesome people! 

On Sunday, we saw some wonderful miracles as we left early in the morning to bring an old sick man to church. We were leaving his house, him on his broken crutches limping away, when a BIG grizzly man saw him struggling to climb the hill…it started to rain, and this man, smelling like pure marijuana comes and taps me on the shoulder and asks for permission to help the man, I thought the old man was a little brittle and told him to be careful, but the big guy just hoisted the old man into his arms and carried him up the hill. It really touched my heart, because then the man didn’t even wait for thanks or anything, but just continued with his business. We put the old man on bike and then we went and joined him at the church, which was just a great service…besides the trouble I felt of seeing Sister Samba…but, that’s a big story for another day and not for my smiley self this day. Today…football, until the jamba boys wanted to play and refused to leave and we had to leave and go play in the compound..and then they popped my like 5 th ball now :/ geeze, going through too many footballs! Hopefully can do with just 1 more! I pray! Haha, then we went to town to buy Africana and that was just too much of an adventure…now, just laying down in the office waiting until the internet comes back on so I can send this blasted email…but, at least I finally get to rest now…right? :) Life is great! Woot woot!

Love,
Elder Sumrak