Owning the Road

Wow, so good to hear from you guys! sounds like you had a
pretty awesome week in Utah, and I totally miss you guys lots. Well,
to start down the list :)
Mom here:  I told Elder Sumrak that we missed his sarcasm and this
was his reply: I have lots of sarcasm and since this week has been really stressful
on me, Elder Burton has got to hear all of it. Also, he fears that I
am slightly suicidal by the way I OWN the road. Man, I totally conquer
the road now, just walk out there like nothing :) imagine me on the
belt way in Washington DC just weaving in and out of the
highway...yeah thats me everyday now, im pretty much a boss. WOW i am
so glad that you got the letter to Brandon momma :) I love that guy so
much, thank you for taking the time to go and do that. He is a great
guy and I hope that he contacts me back hahaha.
That is so sweet that Nick got to go to a bunch of college classes.
That is so sweet and I am rather jealous indeed. and more running
shoes?! Wow, dad is going to have a bigger collection then me when I
get home! don't be a hypocrite father ;) i am just kidding hahah enjoy
pops, you really deserve it for how much you run. And Laura is taking
Nick's pictures? wow I know those will turn out amazing. She is so
talented and Nick and his blue steel will make for some amazing
pictures ;)
And yeah...Thomas good memories at that park (Vivian Park) huh...I hate running...
Conference sounds pretty much awesome and NO we weren't able to watch
it or even listen to it!
So, Sister Roggia texted Elder Burton and me when we were out
proselyting and we were just totally stunned! We took like 20 mins to
just sit down and like ponder about what all this means and it is so
amazing. Nick was on my mind. Rachel was on my mind. Wow...I know they
got some thinking and praying to do but that is so crazy...revelation
is amazing. I went home and prayed about it hahah...18 year olds
serving missions? they are so small!!!! I AM SO SMALL!!! I am battling
muslims in the streets and what not and its just crazy to think 18
year olds doing the same thing haha but the Lord qualifies those that
he calls, so I know if Nick decided to leave right after high school
he would be an amazing missionary, nonetheless :)
You are so sweet to send me another box mother, I love you so much. I
still haven't gotten the birthday package :/ but, its okay. I did get
the stamps though momma so thank you very much! It will take me a
while to drain all those stamps ;) but, give me time and I promise I
will hahaha.  The assistants and president went
to Bo this week, so Elder Burton and I are the big men in charge ;)
or at least we are the ones who have to wake up at 5:30 am to go turn
the generator on for the seminary class to start in the chapel
hahaha...oh joy :)
We have not found a new place but, who knows what will happen...yeah...
But. on to the amazing people who wrote me this week! Thank you so
much Rebecca, Uncle Dave, Aunt Lanae, Kadee Christofferson, Cassy,
Miranda, Rachel, Momma bear, Sis Peterson, Dad, and all the amazing
facebook friends who wished me happy birthday :) and Thomas and Laura
for the amazing postcards hahaha horses.....you are all amazing. Thank
you for taking time out of your schedule to write me :) I love it so
much and I try my best to write everyone back...but its not easy with
such a jam packed monday hahaha :/ i am sorry but I try my best!
WOW, what an eventful week in Sierra Leone. SO much crazy stuff I have
to talk about and just not enough time, so here comes some scrambled
chaos like usual, hope it all makes sense :)
Well, one day on the way out proselyting, the whole entire junction
outside our apt was cleared out and everyone was standing around
staring at the side of the hill we usually climb. The police wouldn't
let us cross so we waited for a minute, and then they blew the rock up
haha! it was a giant explosion!!! Like I was shaken, rock was flying
everywhere haha, but nobody was hurt :) they are trying to make space
for a road they are making, but geeze it was crazy...so in the chaos
of everyone cheering and going crazy, we ran acros sthe street to do
the Lord's work regardless haha
Well, school has started back up in Sa Leone...SO transport is
IMPOSSIBLE to get. All the kids are using them by the hundreds, so
Elder Burton and I cannot get transport up the mountain...here is like
a comparison. In 12 weeks with Elder Ngerem, I think we hiked 5 times
up the whole mountain? maybe? Elder Burton and I hiked every single day
this week, and will have to continue to for the remainder of our time
here haha. It is a good 30-40 minute hike, going like straight up the
whole time. For those who have climbed the Y (BYU mountain)...its like that,
but sketch, and you got people yelling at you, begging at you, and just
flat out getting in your way the whole way up.. :) but, we enjoy and
love it. Specially since RAINY SEASON IS OVER! now, the stereotypical
african sun is beating down on our backs, yeah...Now this is the
africa I imagined back home. HOT HOT HOT!!! Already got a tan like
crazy in 1 week.
But, one day I was not feeling well at all...not at all...and we were
almost at the top of the mountain and I stopped and told Elder
Burton...dude I think I feel runny tummy coming on...he was like man,
what are you going to do? then, it hit me and I was like oh my gosh I
have to go right now! So, I sprinted over to a lil zinc home, knocked
on the door and asked the mamma if I could use their bathroom. She
handed me a kettle (with water...yes...for what you may think...) and
went and unlocked the shack for the bathroom. It was NICE, well as far
as Elder Burton said for Sa Leone standards. A piece of wood covering a
hole...he said usually there is no wood. But, it was
terrible...terrible...but, thank goodness for my mother, mother I love
you so much, because I had packed baby wipes...so did not have to use
the kettle of water for uh..yeah you know. But, that was my great
experience of the week...wow sure you all wanted to hear about that
one, but I thought it was necessary.
Had the cutest experience the other day when we were super busy
crossing through the streets and the smallest lil black boy tugged on
my arm when I walked by and I kinda brushed him off at first because
we were busy and he would have been only about the 200th  kid that day
asking for food, but he whispered "help me white man". So I asked him
what he needed and he asked me to help him cross the street. So, I
grabbed his hand, stopped the traffic, and got him across. He was such
a cute lil guy, and I am so glad that I stopped to help him out :)
Well, Elder Burton and I have been ENJOYING!!! we went to Saint Marys
last week, which was like uh a legit grocery store, and  I bought like
20 dollars worth of mixed vegetables and elder burton got hamburger
and man! we enjoyed this week. It was so good. Also, started eating
this street food called a kingdriver, which is just like a giant sugar
cookie haha, yummy melted flour and sugar or something but they are so
yummy. elder Burton and I hike so much that we have to eat boku
everyday just to have enough energy to get up and down that crazy
mountain. ah...but, we are managing :)
We had interviws with President Roggia this week, which were pretty
awesome. I love that man so much.  I got to sit down and tell him
everything about my area, everything that was bothering me, even my
latest problems, and he helped me feel so much better. He is such a
great and inspired man, and I am so grateful to have him as my mission
President :)
We had one baptism this week, and I got to baptize Adama Simbeh Conteh
:) it was pretty awesome. She is a 24 year old woman, mother of 2, and
is just so sweet. I also got to confirm her in church yesterday which
was a great experience...
but, church yesterday was a total disappointment, in which Elder
Burton and I were discouraged to the lowest point I think I have been
in a long time...only 3 investigators came to church, when we were
preparing for 15 baptisms on October 20, and we were fasting for each
of these amazing people...and only 3 showed up to church. We felt so
worthless and so discouraged...but, when  we finally ate that night,
and prayed to God, we both felt great, and felt like the Lord was just
giving us a humbling expereince, and to not be discouraged but get
back up and try our hardest this week, and that is exactly what we are
going to do :) we are not going to let it get us down but, we are
going to go and do our best. in my frustration I told Elder Burton...
"wow wow wow, everyone comes to us "baptize me baptize me", and
then you tell them to come to church and they say by gods grace i will
be there, then they don't come, then they vex at us because they
aren't baptized yet, but, I know patience and love and
humility is the key, so i will pray for all
of these attributes and pray that those we teach understand the
importance of church and the sacrament....ah :) mission...
So, Saidu the branch mission leader is so sweet...I love that guy.
He is just such a nice guy. Always wants to help me
out and he is just such a charitable kid...I love the tish out of him.
Also, the quote of the week goes to Saidu Conteh. So, every 3 months
we switch service locations and now our branch meets in our apartments
parlor...yeah, it is so small and hot and man it is no good at all. So
saidu in regards to the news "Crappy things are not good in the sight
of God...Like with Cain and Abel, when Cain gave crappy things to
God." hahaha I was weak, oh Saidu. you are such a silly man.
The other day when we were teaching an investigator,
she took out a needle, like a legit like syringe needle and kept
joking around like she was going to stab us...so this joking around
went on for about 30 seconds until I flipped a script! (keeping in
mind this is in krio translated to my english) Get that thing away
from me before you kill me! you stab me with that,
I will beat you!" to which I then took the needle out of her hand
when she was not looking and taught about 10 children about health and
safety hahaa. I was like children, we will talk about the gospel soon,
but you see this needle, you see em? it can kill people! don't play
with em, yeah? You hear me? Never play with em! hahaha Elder Burton
and I were so freaked out by it! we were not playing around. HIV is
not a game at all yeah....sheesh, gets me freaked out just thinking
about it...hahaha
Also, sweet event of the week. Had a muslim guy in the
area approach us one night on the street and we started
to ask him about Islam, so we could understand it better so that we
could teach it better hahaha...and he was like walk with me. so we
walked and talked and then stood off the road and talked a bit, in
which he revealed to us muslim doctrine, how he thinks it is wrong,
and how he has been trying for a long time to change to Christianity
without being disowned by his family ( which is half strange in this
country since muslims marry christians and it really doesn't matter
much here, but to his family it does). He told us that he had had
multiple dreams in which Jesus Christ was trying to tell him that he
needed to go to chrisitanity to be baptized...we are trying to get a
hold of the guy again...he was such a sweet guy....ah....hope we will
find him again.
But, this mission is so sweet. So hard but so amazing. I love it so
much. I love this revelation that the prophet has received. It is
crazy to think about, but so sweet to know that God is continually
talking to a prophet here on the earth for the benefit of the world
and the saints. I know this gospel is true. Nothing will stop me from
teaching it for the rest of my life. I love it and I have seen it
bless my life, and the lives of so many people here who are faithful
enough to experiment with it. Its like a seed yeah :) plant it and
watch it grow. If its good, nourish it. If its bad, burn it. Anyone
that plants it has seen that it is good, now its just getting them the
faith to plant em :) I love you all so much famiily dearest. Momma I
love you. You are all so amazing and thank you friends! I miss the
tish out of you, but almost 4 months on mission. I am old man, as they
call me here hahaha. Can't imagine 18 year olds coming here
soon...what if Nick or clayton came here?!?!? WHAT!!!:) well enough of
my crazy imagination. I love you all and take care!
Love, Elder Jesse Sumrak

Birthday Week

Thank you so much for the letters dear family and friends! Elder Mann
(wrote you buddy), Phoebe and Maddie (letter on the way :) ), sis
peterson, soccer momma, drew, mom, dad, rebeccca (another letter
sent!) , Robin Lee( congrats on the mission call buddy, sent you a
letter), also JEFF LEAVITT, if you even read these reply if you got my
letter punk!

Elder Mann...if you are reading this, this is the shoutout you
wanted.I love you very much my brother, all the way from Ghana. I
can't wait to see you in 20 months my man. I wrote you a good ol
letter with my life story in it today so hope you get it soon. You are
the man! keep on keeping on MANN for life!

But, I got the box momma! but no package yet!:) it was soooooo
sweetttttt!!!!!! I was so happy and have been sharing lots with my
companion. Thank you so much mother dearest.
:) I waited all the way from tuesday to saturday to open it on my
birthday, and we have enjoyed very much. The food was great, the
notepad is sweet,  the zip it monster bag
is pretty much the sweetest case I have ever seen, the pictures were
nice  and wow...thank you mother dearest!

Yeah, Eddie is pretty hilarious! I love that guy so much. he called me
on my bday and told me "te amos"...yeah he is learning spanish? haha :)
got to love him. But, the hat trick he is talking about is when I
scored 3 goals on the ward like 2 months ago when we played, but he
wants a rematch against the white man haha so we will see if we play
anytime soon. but, no no soccer on my bday, or in a while actually :/
just too busy on pday to play really...sad i know. I'm sorry i have no
stories right now mother dearest, but they will come I am sure in the
future. planning on playing this monday :)

So, the new companion is pretty much AWESOME! Elder Burton and I are
running this place like a boss. I got to start taking over and do what
I wanted since I knew the area, and it really helped and me and him
are rocking it, in just one week haha! we have 15 baptisms planned for
October (we are hoping and praying) and we had 75 people at church on
sunday (most since I got here) and 10 investigators at church (most
since I got here), so I am super excited for this companionship. I
love Elder Burton! He is 6'3 and man, just an amazing missionary.
Speaks great Krio, everyone understand him, super organized...we are
going to ROCK it!

Hahaa Sis Peterson is awesome. I love reading her letters to me. I am
glad that you are using dearelder as an example to help others. I am sure the
world will benefit from wonderful women in the relief society! without
a doubt :)

I am so happy to hear about Grandfather! He never quits. Grandad, you're
going to be there when I get off the plane, yeah? :) I know you will
be and I love you so much! I hope I am as healthy and strong as you
one day! haha

Wow, nick is so cool. I love that guy. Glad he is having such a great
senior year and I hope he continues too.

My studies kinda cooled off this week as I am going through ACTS so I
have stayed out of Doctrine & Covenants a little bit, but gosh I love those
manuals too momma. I wish I had them before back home. they help me
learn SO much stuff. But, yeah my bible study is going great, but excited to finish
within the next month or so and get back in my book of mormon ;) never
gets old! then on to JESUS THE CHRIST! woohooo! I love the pictures of
the buddies back home. miss the tish outta them so wish them hello and
my love mother :)

So, the beginning of this week was a little rough. Had tons of
missionaries coming and going and I gave away ALL the food in my box
to the poor elders who had nothing. They were all out of subsistence
and were entering the apartment or going back home and so i fed them
with everything I had haha, even took them out to lunch on their last
day to get them some good food. It felt really good to help out...but,
then me and my compy were both dead, so i took out some personal money just
so we could have transport up the mountain...needless to say we lived
off rice and oatmeal hahaha dry dry dry but we enjoy and we love it!

The week was sorta crazy with exchanges and what not, and the new
elders got here early while the others didn't leave til thursday! so,
on Tuesday we had a 5 man team up in Treeplant of me Elder Burton,
elder ngerem, elder symons, and saidu haha it was so much fun, but I'm
sure we were an intimidating force of mormonism entering the
community. but, all the lessons went great and we ate lots of good
food for Elder Ngerems farewell :)

I also got to see the fresh batch of missionaries out of the MTC. wow,
makes me start to feel old when I see my first new group of Elders
following me. All wide eyed and scared out of their mind, just like I
was haha :) woke up at 5:30 on thursday to see them all off in the
vans, along with my papi and some other good elders...but, I'm really
excited for my new companionship. I loved Elder Ngerem but it is
really cool having a companion who understand me and responds along
with me when we hear WHITE MEN WHITE MEN! haha oh you got to love
africa :)

so, had some pretty interesting lessons and experiences I would love to
share with you guys. We were teaching David Mansaray on Saturday, and
man this guy was just unloading some questions on us haha, we were
teaching the 10 commandments and boy this kid can talk. He was like,
well "is it a lie, if some guys are trying to kill you, and I hide you
in my house, and tell them you went THAT way?" we uh...kinda kicked
our feet in the dirt and said well yes, but, its okay and I would hope
if that happened you would do that..but, try not to lie and uh always
ask god if its okay...if you feel bad afterward,uh repent :) hahaha it
was funny.

Another great expereince, oh GOSH, This one is about the LAW OF
CHASTITY! so, we are preparing this 26 year old big guy for baptism,
and we are teaching him the law of chasitity in his home and he is
just like...wow guys that is so hard .and we bore personal testimony
and talked aobut the blessings and everything and he was just like
guys, this is super hard, i will try though, and I was like man, if
you say try, you WILL fail! I want you to say you will live it! and
then I asked him, do you have a girlfriend? and he said yes and
explained she was muslim and all and we asked him if it was okay if we
could sit down and talk to her sometime and he made a face and was
like well uh,guys....and then his face gets so serious....and he is
like "shes here...SHES here" and she knocks on the door and walks in
:) man, I smiled from ear to ear, and just jumped on it and was like
hey sister we are missionaries and went straight into teaching her the
Law of Chastity and the guy is like "uh, I left something, uh
somewhere," and gets up and runs out of the house...so, now I am on
the verge of busting out laughing while we teach her the law of
chastity, close the lesson, and he never came back hahaha :) still
haven't seen him since, but I hope he is doing okay :) oh, gosh it was
great!

Had a very emotional experience the other day when a mother of a 18
year old girl we teach called us over and started begging for food,
just begging for money to buy rice...and we can't give her
anything...its against the rules and she is just like on the verge of
tears, and asks us to pray for her, but she wants to say the prayer.
So, we all close our eyes, and I think she just wanted us both to say
a personal silent prayer, so we continued...and man, I just felt so
helpless... I just started sobbing like a little baby...this mission
is so hard sometimes. As the woman said, I know your message may be
true, but how do you expect me to even pay attention if I can't even
focus because me and my family are starving to death? ah...its hard.
truly. It breaks the heck out of my heart and I don't even know what
to do sometimes...but, I will pray and hand it to the Lord and do my
best.

Oh, mother...please don't send anything for the children or  have
Rak pak do it or anything...I wish we could but we can't give them
anything. Its hard not to...but i can understand the painful
reasoning. Me as white man can give give give, next elder is poor man
who can't give and all the children cry and beg him for stuff and he
has nothing to give. children are offended and everybody loses...so we
aren't allowed to give them anything :( its not easy here..its not
easy at all...but, thank you and everyone for your beautiful charity.
It is the thought that counts. truly.

So, my birthday...wow, what a wack day haaha! so, it was National
Cleaning day, so no missionaries were allowed to leave the apartment
until 12 (on this day the whole country is quarantined in their
compounds and must clean their house and the surrounding environments)
....(yeah still looks like tish) but that happened...also, our convert
couldn't make it to her baptism, but we had the program and everything
so we still cleaned the font, then waited forever for Elder Hales and
Elder Richards to show up and have their baptism of one lady. it was
fun haha, just us Elders and her, so we grabbed some kids cleaning the
compound and got them to come in and give talks and testimonies hahaha
;) the baptism was intense. the water drained or something so Elder
Hales baptized this lady in like knee deep water haha, he is such a
boss! ah he is the man :)

but, we didn't even get to proselyte til like 5 and we had a quick
lesson, and then the Conteh family called me up and said they had
birthday dinnner prepared for me. So, we went to their house and
wow,,,they prepared so much for us :) they prepared this ground nut
soup with rice that had like chicken, fish balls, fish, beef and ahh
so good, and they  bought us fantas and sprites and wow :) what a
sweet sweet family. the big 2-0. I feel old as mess...my body is
exhausted. the mission and this mountain is not kind, but the lord and
his grace and mercy help lift me back up and down everyday...I know
this wouldn't be possible without him...I couldn't even get out of bed
without him....

I really enjoyed all that the Conteh family did for my birthday
 and it felt nice to have some love from the wonderful Conteh family.
A little home away from home...but, i truly miss you guys and can't
wait to celebrate 22 with you guys one day hahaha....

But, it's been a long week. I love my new companion and really look
forward to the week ahead of us. We are going to work super hard and
do our best to have these 15 baptisms, all before the 20th  No one thinks
we can do it,but gosh dangit we are going to pray and fast and we are
going to do it! WE WILL DO IT! :) I hope haha :) well I love you all
so very much! I love the mission, of course I will experience some
heartaches and some problems...but, I will endure. I read a scripture
in like Acts 16 or 17 today that said something about "through much
tribulation to enter the kingdom of God"...its not easy for
anyone...Everyone has their own trials and tests they must pass
through in this life. I will pass through mine and endure and
hopefully the Lord will be proud of me. Crap and tish will happen but
I know if I do my best and keep my eye on the prize the Lord will
raise me up and give me the strength and inspiration and encouragement
I need. Life isn't easy...but, if it was it wouldn't be worth living.
yeah, I am in a cheerful mood as you can tell.

I love all of you so very much. The mission is the greatest thing I
could ever do. You find out what is most important in life...and
figure out that the Lord will never forget you. Things in this Earth
will pass away, but the things ordained of by the Lord will not. Ever.
I love you all. I miss you. I hope you all have an amazing week and
life and everything and yeah yeah yeah.

Love,
Elder Jesse Sumrak

New Companion

Momma! it is so good to hear from you and to hear that you got my
letter! I was so worried because I know how you worry ahaha ;) that is
why I asked Sister Roggia to do that for me and she is so sweet to go
and do that. I am very very grateful for her! geez, it is fun being district
leaders companion. or was...or actually still is ;) dun dun dun. but,
thank you for sending all of the packages   I will make
sure that everyone enjoys. I shared all the food pretty much last
night and this morning since transfers were going on and there were
many hungry elders. I gave away all of it but the peanut butter pretty
much because nobody had food and we are out of subsistence and it was
sunday haha :/ combined equals no food!

I am glad to hear that dear grandfather is on the mend, and is up and
kicking. There is nothing that can stop him :) I sent them both a
letter last week so I hope it gets there soon! I sent 12 letters last
week! Talk about carpal tunnel forreals haha, my hand hurt so bad!
but, on to the tranfers news...

I am not training! Which I am kinda relieved and kinda bummed about.
My companion is leaving to go to Bo to be zone leader, and I received
one of his MTC mates, Elder Burton to my area. He is a giant 6 foot
something Elder who is cool as tish. I have only known him for the
past 3 hours haha but he is a super awesome guy and I am super excited
to work with him. Two white guys...off to work hahaha...at least I
have someone I can talk to now who will talk to me...can't wait to
show him all of the area! It is a lot of change though and it is kinda
overwhelming, but it will be okay. I am really excited for some change
though :)

I am sorry to hear you guys were sick :/ but I'm glad to hear you are
doing better! I pray for your health safety and happiness everynight so
maybe I was unrighteous durin the week ;) But, i love you and hope you
all continue in health, and father as well... hahaha I don't think
there is really anything I need from Utah...well actually I have a
library I would like to start building ummm but that is for when I get
home...but i will talk more about that later...

Thank you sososoososososo much for the dear elders and letters my
wonderful friends and family :) Mr. Whitley ( i wrote you a letter :)
), Missie Babb, Ruthie, patrick wilda or should I say Pweezy Baby (
you will never know how accurate your letter was...but I try my best
never to do so ;) ), aunt deb, katie cutler, cassy, drew, soccer
momma! printed out fine momma dearest!, Rachel (How do they know ghost
in the graveyard!?), Moma, dad, ( your letter didn't finish
father...but i love you) and the amazing Thomas and Laura! Thank you
all so much family and friends! I amp out letters as fast and as well
as I can every monday.I will continue to do my very very best.

But, on to the week yeah!!! Well, in your next box momma, Tums would
be great! Those ones you sent really saved me this week haha! My
companion was making some really spicy food so i was having to pop two
of those both morning and night. He likes to put peppay in it, which
is super spicy haahaha but the people here like to put it in
everything! like all food and even drinks! So, funny story, We eat
groundnut soup at a members and geese it was spicy, so she offered us
some drink, ginger beer! which we gratefully accepted...but, I didn't
know that they put ginger and peppay in it...yeah, so it is freezing
cold, so i just start drinking it from the plastic wrapper like
crazy...to then find out my mouth was 4x times as hot, and my lips
were starting to swell up and I was sweating an ahh it was painful
haha but oh what an experience...especially when I had to finish it so
not to offend our wonderful hostess....oh the mission :)

We had power like...20 % of the time this week, so no fans any of
these nights or nothing, and lots of gyming in the dark, but it has
gone okay. no problems!

Taught this one family, with this one sister who is apparently high up
in another church, and we asked her to say a prayer at the end and gosh it
lasted for like 10 minutes and she was just like singing "in the
mighty name of JESUS" and it went on
forever and ever but, she is slowly coming around to the gospel, but
we will do our very best :) the Lord is the one doing the work, I am
just the instrument haha. Just like who does the work, the shovel, or
the digger?

The apartment has not been torn down...but, the wrecking crew showed
up saturday morning and were ready to tear the place down, to which we
told them No No, we are still living inside haha, to which they
were not very happy about. But, we will see how that goes...lots of
Elders coming to the mission. 12 news ones. lots of new areas opening
and lots of craziness going on, but it is all very exciting watching
the progress in this country, and being such a big part in it. It is
truly inspiring :) the Lord's work is moving, and everybody prepare
for the 2nd coming, because if its spread all over this country, it
will spread over all the other ones soon enough!

Interesting event, our taxi had to push another taxi up a hill the
other day, yeah...so what, made a giant dent in the back, but if you
need a push you need a push. so we pushed their car for like a whole
mile and yeah...trashed that car hahah :)

We had 2 conversions on saturday! which was pretty awesome :) I got to
baptize Susan Penikia, and Thomas Burima! it was a very special
baptism and the spirit was so strong. Susan is such a sweet lil girl!
she is only 12, and has no family in the church.- all alone. We were
teaching an old lady, Sis mary, the one we baptized 2 weeks ago, and
we saw her (Susan) listening in on the lesson, so we invited her to church.
Her mom let her come and she came with sis mary. she has come to
church every sunday since and bore powerful testimony after her
baptism. it was so sweet!:)

Yeah, speaking of which...hymns here are crazy!
The piano is NEVER in sync with the singing. Like seriously, it is
always ahead or behind, yet everyone just keeps singing and gosh it
gives me a righteous headache even trying to sing to that craziness,
but they all love it and just scream their heads off...its just
screaming hahahaha...oh boy you got to love africa...tia...tia...

I had a pretty intense week of workouts forreals this week. Two
workouts a day, sprints in the morning 200 pushups, then at night 150
bench, with 400 crunches and geeze it has been pretty awesome. I am in
good form still, just trying to keep that rice off the belly haha, can
only do that with good ole hard work, just as long as I don't work
myself to sickness. We have had like no food this week haha, we have
eaten oatmeal for like almost all of our meals. that and rice with
small small flavorings. but, we enjoy/endure/love it yeah!

Laura! in response to your postcard! I see monkeys about every other
day, but more on a leash than in the trees. My apartment is in the
city, and my proselyting area is on the mountain, in an area cleared
for farming, so not many trees...but whenever we go into the bush then
you see lots of monkeys...and you ALWAYS hear monkeys...but seeing em
is something different indeed. no Merkats though...sorry...I think
that is off the island of freetown. Not much wild life here...except
for giant spiders, mosquitos, and ants that are finding their way into
my bed...oh boy...

Thomas, your running sounds so sporadic haha, new shoes, 5 finger
shoes, bare foot, whatever you can do man. you are always inspiring
though! I am doing my best to keep running here so that when I get
home I can go straight onto at least a 3-5 mile run...and always be
able to do 500 + crunches...as long as I can do that, i consider
myself fit...ish :)

yeah...also, fun side note. before the baptism, i looked at Thomas Burima's
shoes as he approached the font...yeah, he was wearing bowling shoes
hahah...oh you got to love it. nothing is wasted in this country.
absolutely nothing...I believe some people cook grass for foods sake
haha :) whatever works I guess..

My companion was a former crazy pastor in a church. This does
not mean stand up sermon, this is the yelling and shouting and
screaming around the stage...which has spread to Nigeria. You can hear
it everywhere everywhere everywhere and see signs and stuff for it on
every street sign/corner/house and geeze...apostasy is everywhere.
Screaming pastors and the whole lot makes it all very interesting, but
suprisingly opens the doors for our gospel in a strange
way...----everyone here has religion...some form. I have not met an
atheist and have not met anyone that just flat out does not attend
church/mosque. The muslims are prepared to hear the gospel in more
ways than one (latter day prophet? Special book? revelation?) muslims
aren't surprised to hear  some of the things we have to say. Some can't read, but
they "know" the bible. So, these people are very hard to teach...they
want miracles...they want signs...oh, Jesus Christ would have some
fierce chastisement for these people, but we do our best to help them
:)

So, Mr. Whitley, I got your dear elder today, and I felt inspired to
tell you about some of the political chaos going on here...well first,
there was a giant fire started yesterday in some form of protest. We
can hear riots here and parades and such outside almost every other
day, and I have saw large crowds gathering, full of all african
craziness a number of times. Fortunately, we have always been
conveniently and coincidentally inside and out of the way. Dozens of
cars will fly by with people all wearing the same color screaming and
banging on everything and ahhh, its craziness. We had to delay our
baptisms for 5 plus mintures while they stood in the water waiting for
reverence to return from the craziness going on outside the walls. ah
:) its scary exciting.

Whenever they play the national anthem, which is like 2 or 3 times a
day, everyone hearing it must stop and salute the flag...so, Elder
Ngerem and I were walking through the town the other day in front of
the President's office, not knowing the song was playing, and people
were yelling, "stop stop stop! they will shoot you!", so upon
realizing they were talking to us, we immediately stopped haha, I
don't know if they really would have shot us...but, rather not tempt
fate haha :) also, whenever the president's car leaves his office to
go home...the whole city stops. traffic stops and pulls over, and many
many of the citzens stop wherever they are, to wait as the large parade
of cars surrounding the president's hummer come barreling down the
road, sirens blarring. it can stop traffic for up to 15 mintues. ah
pure  craziness...but maybe necessary...who knows.

This week has been a very spiritual testimony building intense study
week...We had district study last sunday night, and talked
doctrine and also talked about best ways to explain FAQs. We had
doctrine talk on tuesday night, and talked deep doctrine on whatever
subject we want, using the scriptures, manuals, and Elder Ekpos
journal which incorporates many many doctrinal study guides...I
learned so so so many things. Things that have changed my life. Things
that have changed the way I think.
So everyday, now I spend hours at night, pondering over
doctrine and covenants, studying the manuals, and geeze, the stuff I
am finding is awesome! It's so awesome and I enjoy it very
much,,,but it honestly exhausts my mind, because I never stop thinking
about these things. takes awhile to fall asleep, think about it while
gyming, while traveling, even dreaming. it is intense...but, there is
so many things I would like to study that I am not able to study on my
mission, because I really just need to be focusing on the basics right
now, but I really need to satisfy my appetite and my questions to ever
focus, so my search will continue in my approved library for now :)
but, I was wondering if you could use some of my funds from my bank
account to pick me up some books in utah for the future. or dad you
may already have them...but i want to build my own library....

Like:Doctrine of Salvation, History of the Church, Church history and
Modern Revelation, Mormon Doctrine, Teachings, and Joseph Smith
manual...AH it is so crazy :) but, if you can't get them or they are
expensive no problem! i got a while until i get home ;)

I love you all so very much and know that this gospel is true! it is
true true true.Jesus Christ loves us. we are his joy, and we may have
joy in that we are his joy. none of us will be lost...so come unto
christ and receive his joy. He has taught us so many things, and he
truly loves us...Abide in him, that he may abide in you. Keep all the
commandments, not just some...I love you all more then I can ever tell
you, more than I can even comprehend...I miss the tish out of all you,
but I am constantly trying to perfect myself, and I hope I am a very
different person when I return home...farewell family and friends, I
love you :)

Oh yeah -----John 16:22------ that is me....hahaha

-Love, Elder Jesse Sumrak
your son, friend, crazy guy...

Pictures 09/18/12



Working hard!

Elder Sumrak and Elder Ngerem



September Zone Conference

Elder Sumrak and Elder Hales reunited

Good Lessons to Learn

Elder Sumrak was unable to email this week because the internet cafe lost its connection but Sister Roggia was kind enough to send this email from him!!

Momma bear! Ah, so great to hear from you. Geese (yes i will continue that Thomas and Laura :) ) I love being able to talk to you guys on Mondays. I didn't get letters until this morning, for like the past two weeks combined, so that is why I have not read all of them yet, but I did look and see who all wrote me so I can thank them. Yeah, they are still from September 2, haven't gotten anything more recent...but that is okay :)

 

Thank you so much Aunt Deb, Katie Cutler, Drew Hooper, Father, Sister Peterson, Jeff Hales, Rachel, Cassy, Elder Mann, Katie, Thomas and Laura, Kasidy Jackson ( I wrote you a letter today by the way :), you will receive in Africa time....like 3 weeks hahaha), Rebecca, Moma! (Thank you for the talk as well, I enjoyed) Kristen (wrote you as well along with Rachel), Miranda (miranda, send me your address hahaha, everyone else was getting my letters but I guess they do not go to Canada :( so i will wait to send it to byu when I get your address) and Sister Peterson! Thank you so much everybody :) it always makes me so happy to see the office Elders come back and give me a giant stack of mail. It really is great to know that there are people thinking about you, especially when you are thinking about them :) so thank you so much everybody! you are all very sweet and I appreciate your letters SOOOO much!

 

Hahaha oh momma dearest :) Yeah, there were many opportunities that I had to score that I gave to other people, but it's okay, as long as we won right? :) I don't shoot very often, I like to try to keep both my feet on the ground as much as possible. but fortunately, my wounds are almost all healed up, but the one on my knee is taking time, since all week it has been getting stuck to my pants and been getting ripped up :)  but, I pray it gets better. I was finally able to run for the first time today since the game last week, which was a really nice relief! The other Americans weren't at the game :) it was only me this time, I missed them very much!

 

I am SOOO glad that Grandad is doing good :) I said many earnest prayers this week and prayed to the Lord that I will be with my grandfather again before our short time on Earth is over :) so, I am glad that the Lord is helping answer my prayers and pray he will continue too! I love you very much Grandad and you amaze me with your strength and determination. There is no defeating you!:)

 

So about the mission homes. We are still in the same ole poop apartment haha, it gets worse everyday. Came back from church yesterday to find 4 separate rooms had multiple leaks in them :/ yes, on my bed, in the food, on the table, on some records :/ but we deal with it and press onward. No one wants to pay money to fix a place they are tearing down, but they just haven't found us a new home yet...but, when they tear down our place, they are building the new mission home there, so lucky whoever gets this new marvelous building they are planning :) mission presidents hahah got to love them.

 

Awwww man, bummer about the letter/money. I am sorry momma. Yeah, I can look again through the sleeves, but I don't think it is there. Wow, what punks. Everything else has been arriving fine though, or as far as I know what is in the package haha :) but, Lauren Byrd I love you my friend! I am sorry your letter did not make it, but I will try to write you a letter tonight and can't wait to hear from you again. I am really sorry and I miss you very much my besty!

 

Life without Elder Hales is rough...but, I am able to endure. I have to fix everything around the apartment now haha and string up the line for the clothes and what not like he taught me, so I will try to make him proud, I actually saw him shortly on the way here to the cafe :) Love that guy. But, its kinda lonely a lot of the time. Write in my journal by myself, write letters by myself, chill by myself. I just get to study LOTS of the scritpures and already finished the entire Liahona...but its all good :) and all the Reginas were somewhat related, but here in Africa, I never really know, and I have given up trying to tell. Every moma, even in the church, has 2 plus children, and never the same father, so I can never keep up with it all :/

 

The conference with Elder Satati was amazing! It was long and he talked for over 2 hours, but we all left edified. but, to be honest, I think the man has way to much doctrine stored up in his mind haha, he KNOWS so much! But, it was a really great conference and I enjoyed it soooo very much :) the best part was getting to see all my wonderful MTC mates. I got to see Elder Mcdonald, Elder Nwosu, Elder Hales, and Elder Edwards! AH, I felt like Alma when he saw the sons of Mosiah. They are all doing so well and it was great to reminisce with them. They all stayed in the assistant living room...which was turned into a barracks with 9 bunk beds fit into a room that before held a bed, a table, and two couches haha, so it was pretty crazy! but it got the job done :)

 

Thank you for mailing the letter momma :) but as far as need...I am doing okay. I need maybe some protein powder for a Christmas present or something hahaha....all we eat is rice rice rice and I have to starve myself from meals to stop from getting a super belly! like all my mtc buddies are getting belly haha, because all we eat is carbs all day everyday! ah, its crazy! needs...uh i love the lil propel packets :) those are sweet, and anything really...:) it is all so good. Maybe some like...idk...gum or something hahaha your so sweet momma I can't think right now for some reason, but that must mean that nothing is very dire at the moment. ;) ah so great to hear about Brennan! yeah he always has been hairy :) but, i will have to write him sometime soon. They have bandages for us in the apartment, but maybe you can send me some icy hot or something oh and MULTIVITAMINS! like workout ones or something...I'm almost out of the ones I brought :) yeah, well thank you momma sweetheart!

 

But, back to the week, of course, I got sick again. and was very weak for a couple days. I have been gyming very hard to try to stay fit, and I think it might be taking it out of me haha. I gym in the morning and at night, and usually average more then 400 crunchses a day, with tons of other workouts. So, I am taking it easy for now :)

 

Oh yeah, broke up a fight on Saturday night. We were walking home through the streets of Freetown and two guys were going at it, and me and my companion ran over and broke up the fight but gosh, they were going to kill each other, but I think when they saw a concerned white man come into it they backed down haha, because the muscles on that guy could have ripped me apart without me even putting up a fight haha :) but, maybe they felt the spirit we bring with us and decided to leave it alone...

 

We taught this one girl a couple times htis week, and she is 12 and can hardly understand us. Ah, it is hard to teach children haha, or at least it is hard since I have never done it like individually one on one before. But, we got the job done :) she is going to be baptized this Saturday, along with 2 other people, which I am SUPER excited about :)

 

I got to try multiple foods this week which was very nice. Had Cassava fruit, which is super yummy and really resembles a potatoes, which they throw in a plastic bag, throw some spices in, shake it up, tie it, and give to you hahaha oh yeah, its cholera waiting to happen. Also, got to try fufu, which was extrememly delicious...then made me run to the bathroom 3 times in the night...but i enjoyed ;) hahah, oh isn't africa great!?

 

Laura! They have lots of fruits here! We are supposed to buy them, put them in a dish, fill it with a water, bleach mix, and let it sit for a while, wash em off and then enjoy, but I don't do it with like bananas sometimes because they have the peel. But, we enjoy lots of fruits here, they are just super expensive. You can buy about 16 bananas for the equivalent of 1$ here, but mangos and apples are super expensive relative to that. They are about a dollar  each, so we really don't get them. but, corn, apples, mangos, bananas, pears, pineapples, coconuts, all can be bought within 30 yards of our home, but we have to spend money wisely...like on a 50 pound bag of rice ;) that will last us a LONG time :)

 

But, this Sunday we will find out transfer news...and its sounds like I am training for sure. I asked Elder Ngerem how the process kinda works and he says usually the District Leader will recommend to zone leader who will recommend to assistant who will recommend to president...and the first 3 all already told me I am training...so who knows. whatever the Lord calls me to do I will do my very best...thats all I can do. I am really nervous, but I know that Christ has told me many things concerning that...such as

 "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. amen "

"Be not afraid, only believe"

"fear not, believe only"

"Have faith in god"

These things always inspire me hahaha :) I am trying my best...a lot of people still don't completely understand me, but my peers almost all understand me, which is our largest teaching pool. I know the area, I know all the investigators, I know the places, I know most of the members now, I know how most things work, so I feel adequately prepared if that is what the Lord requires of me :) but, anything that comes, I will be grateful for and do my very best. Me, I don;t care for position...I just want to be a missionary. Plain and simple. Enjoy enjoy enjoy :)

 

The work isn't easy, especially with wounds and being sick and what not. we didn't have that many investigators at church on Sunday :/ but we are still pushing on and doing our very best and I know that the Lord is happy with our efforts. I think it is funny because something has changed in the past 12 weeks in the branch...I started counting attendance, and the first 6 weeks I think we were averaging about 30 for sacrament, and 40 for after sacrament...the last 3 weeks we have had 65 + people in sacrament!:) which makes me super excited because my 10 converts are super active and stil hanging strong. Ah, it makes me super excited. We are doing our absolute best, and I know that it is only by the hand of the Lord that we are able to do anything. The holy ghost leads us and guides us everywhere we go and everything we do and say, even if we don't always recognize it. I am working hard to try to recognize all of the prompting of the Holy Ghost and act on them, but I can only pray and do my very best everyday. I read my patriarchal blessing yesterday and it really inspired me! I have some great promises and blessings in there and it was a sweet and inspiring reminder to look at it again!

 

I really do know this work is true! I love this gospel. I love this church...The mission is hard and I miss home haahhaha  but, this is my home now, and even the weird things are normal to me now. I love it here and know this is where the Lord has called me. Like stones in the river he will shape me and mold me into the person he wants me to become...as Elder Satati explained...to Become...we must

 

Desire something, decide, act, and the result of our actions is what we become. so when we act positively, we will become that positive reflection. I am doing all I can to do exactly that. I want so much to help all the people here...even adults, even the security guards ask me for food and money...but I am not allowed to give...and realistically I cannot give, which kills me...If i gave every impoverished child I saw in a day the lowest available currency I have, I would be broke in 3 days...It is so sad, and so hard, especially when they all tug on me and beg and what not and ahhh....it is one of the biggest trials I am suffering with...I am taught to give give give and not allowed to give. but, The gospel I give will bring eternal life..while the food I give will only sustain mortality. I guess it is the same as Jesus Christ and the woman at the well...The water we give, they will never thirst again....

 

Speaking of which, we went back to sis aminata this week, the woman that will not listen to me unless I speak Krio. I haven't seen her in like a month, but now she can understand everything I am trying to tell her, but she was SO stubborn now...and told us our church is nothing different then her own, and not her son, nor us, can ever get her to change...so it was the first lesson on my mission we had to end early...which was sad, but I just bore testimony and closed the lesson 3 minutes after we had started.She was starting to yell and get angry and that is not what we are about as missionaries...we have a happy message...but all is well :)

 

I love you all so much and I miss the heck out of you but I know this is where I must be and I will go and Do the Things the Lord commands. I hope you are all doing well friends and family, and you are all in my thoughts and prayers everynight :) love you all so much! please take care and be safe, and remember to always pray, your Father wants to hear from you :)

 

-Love,

Elder Jesse Sumrak

Like Stones in the River

So, FAMILY AND FRIENDS! It is great to be able to e-mail, kinda late
today, but we had a lot of busy busy things going on and yeah...but,
we didn't get letters until this afternoon, So I haven't been able to
even open them and read them because I have been so busy but thank you
to all who wrote me and I will be sure to address you and any
questions you have in my next e-mail.

But, to take your email one part at a time momma dearest, I am doing
fine now! I have completely recovered, but added some new injuries of
course that I will talk about later. but, no more getting hit by cars
:) and Sis Roggia is my Doctor. I was able to just go and grab drugs from
the pharmacy, which they have tons of here, but I really don't notice
ANY of the drugs from back home, but maybe I'm not looking hard enough,
or possibly sketchy.... But, one conversion this weekend :) and no
apartment...but, My dear Elder Hales and Elder Symons from Hill
Station were moved out today, but no place for us or the others yet,
and they tear the apartment down on Friday...so  it will be very
interesting what happens to us...and no news on transfers yet but I am
excited to learn what will happen. I am ready for whatever the Lord
wants of me :)
And momma you are so silly, of course I can boil pasta, I just made
spaghetti with Elder Hales last night hahaha. We just throw in the
noodles, boil em up, add some canned tomato paste with water and boil
that too ( throw in some spices and some hotdog) and boom, you got a
semi tasty meal. So, you don't need to send me those things momma
dearest you silly goose, you would be surprised what I can find here,
Its just the prices that would more suprise you haha. Lets see a
comparison for example. Yes, they have plain Special K in the
supermakrets...for about 50,000 Leones...yeah, thats about 12 dollars
for a box I could finish in 2 sittings haha :) but life is amazing! We
have a freezer for everything and an inconsistent fridge that has
broken 3 times now since I have been here, so you aren't being silly
with you questions momma :)
In regards to seminary, that is so awesome! I am glad that they are
starting a new brilliant year with such an amazing teacher. Your
awesome momma :) keep spoiling them hahaha. and Peter truly is
amazing. That reminds me of a song that I play every morning when I am
bucket showering hahaha, its something like "Like stones in the river
we are tossed and turned, when the current moves so strong, but stones
in the river are shaped until the edges are gone, polished made
smooth, that's what we will be if we put ourselves in God's hands,
each day of our lives is a gift from the giver, smooth all the edges,
like  stones in the river" so I enjoy that very much momma :)
Life is great here momma and I don't need a thing :) I just love
reading all your letters and everyones dear elders and if anyone wants
to send pictures I love those the most!!!!!
MOMMA i loved yours packages, I got both of them this week and Elder
Ngerem also got his. I thoroughly enjoyed it and my box is getting full
of all the goodies haha, so I shared with the Elders and we even
started adding the peanut butter to Elder Hales chocolate rice and oats
and gosh it is delicious :) thank you so much momma dearest, it was so
great to get a package and I even think I found all the money! I hope!
but, it said that Lauren Byrd had a letter in there but I looked all
over and couldn't find it :/ so I hope that you might have accidently
not sent it, or maybe I misunderstood, but maybe you could clear that
up for me : because I would love to hear from her :) I have tons of
stamps now which is sweet, so now I'm not scared about writing too many
letters. The pictures were great too! I love the old chubby pictures
of me and the emo me hahaha everyone had a good laugh at those so
thank you so much momma you truly are amazing and spoil me when I'm
across the world :)

A SPECIAL HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE MOST AMAZING YOUNG LADY,
LAURA SUMRAK :) I love you dear sister, and I hope you have an amazing
birthday and Thomas gives you like uh cake or something yummy haha or
adds some more stuffed animals to your ever growing collection, but I
am super excited for you and Thomas that you now stay in a place where
you can keep them all :) congratulations guys and I can't wait and
come crash at your place when I get back :) I love you Laura, Have an
amazing day, you really deserve it. Thank you for all the postcards
and everything you do for me.I am so happy that Thomas married you and
so lucky to have you as my wonderful sister :) have a great Day!

So, the disappointment of the week...Elder Hales moved out earlier
today, and I didn't get to say goodbye :( but, I will see him like 3
more times this week for interviews, conference, and baptism, but they
moved them out of our district so NONONONO! I was pretty upset. I am
going to miss him so much. .I wrote some letters this afternoon and man, sitting all
alone in our new room (elder hales old room) writing letters by
myself...the Africans get letters, but I never see them write any :/
so I just sit there and write alone hahaha, but I will endure :) I
just miss those guys. We partied last night and had some cake and ice
cream. Yeah, we go all out here! That was delicious! Elder Hale's
wonderful family, I will do my best to keep you updated on your son
and how he is doing. right now, he is doing great! he is anxious to
see what happens at transfers and gosh he is just a great and
enthusiastic Elder, with a missionary personality that is one in a
million. Only Elder I know who would walk around the apartment singing
"I'll take you for a ride on my big green tractor!" but, he is an
amazing missionary.

So, this week we had BOKU exchanges. We had splits with branch
missionaries on Tuesday, exchange with Elder Symons on Wednesday,
Exchange with Elder Ekpo on Friday, and Exchange with Elder Adah on
Saturday, and all of them came to my area, so I had to take the lead
and be the boss man. Which was a very nice and learning experience
since in less than 2 weeks I may be training in my area, but who
knows. Wow, I learned so so so much from those Elders, gosh it was so
great :) i enjoyed seeing how they all teach and learning whatever I
could from each of them, but I learned something very powerful from
Elder Ekpo...and that is understanding. Let me talk small about Elder
Ekpo:
He is an old missionary, been out about 16 months now, he always acts
like an old man, and really is probably like 26, but we refer to him
as Poppy, or grandfather. He walks like he has a cane sometimes, and
actually does in his bedroom. He knows the scriptures super well and
loves to impound deep doctrine into us through the chalkboard
frequently throughout the day, writing questions or other doctrine that is fun to
find in the scriptures :) but, sometimes we get into huge bashes with
everyone  and gosh it is really a
great learning experience. But, going out with him was sweet. He
really taught me how to teach the people here,
He teaches them like they are little children, asking Do you
understand me? Say it back to me? Or asking the same question 3
different ways hahaha but, he does it to like 40 year old men and
stuff and gosh it is great, everyone just listens as if he is the
chief of the tribe or something it is great. For example, On Tuesday
we taught Sister Regina, and she could not understand ANYTHING I said,
and  I was speaking Krio...so I tried english, nothing...So i did my
best and my branch missionary did most of the talking. But, we went
back to her on Friday with Elder Ekpo...and this will be referred to
As The 4 Reginas and the 15 children.....

So, there were 5 women in the room... Regina Regina Regina Regina and
Isatu, and 15 children gathered around us. And we were reading chapter
1 of 1 Nephi with them and the man Elder Ekpo had them all hooked like it
was novel, and it was great :) all the children were listening and he
would ask like "who was Lehi" and everyone would be like, "A prophet!"
even the old women hahaha but, when I tried to teach as well, they
didn't understand me....and Elder Ekpo was awesome...he goes "Why do
you not understand this man? He is teaching you in your own language
and you're not hearing him? He is not the problem here. You all are. So,
get whatever thoughts that are clouding your mind out of your head,
and pay attention. Yes, he has white skin, but if you quit looking at
his skin, and listen to his words, he is teaching you simply and
clearly the things that will help change your life." and from the next
moment till the end of the lesson, they all understood me. Everything
I said. Even when I would ask questions and they would answer them
back and ahhh :) it was truly an amazing learning experience with
Elder Ekpo. He is an amazing Elder and I love him dearly. He is from
Nigeria :) Them Nigerians!

But, on Wednesday, I had a sweet experience with Elder Symons. We had
just left the apartment and were making our way up A LONG hill where
they are building a new road, and a bunch of construction workers
started shouting at us. So, we ran over, and there was a man sitting
down with a rock in his hand, furiously scribbling on a big concrete
block. I thought there was something wrong with him, but came to find
out from his friends that he was deaf, and couldn't speak. So we
waited and he wrote on the rock "we are all sinners, and thus we all
fall short of the glory of God." He then stared at me with a puzzled
look, while all the other 7 construction workers stared at me to
respond...I had no idea what to do....I was just like uh...so i
grabbed the rock from him and started writing on another piece of
concrete "But, we are all able to repent." and the man gave me the
biggest smile I think I have seen in Sierra Leone, and wrote in big
letters overtop of repent "CHANGE" and ah I was so touched by how
excited he got. So, we gave him a tract with our contact info (we were
late to a lesson) and weren't able to get his contact information
(obviously) but, I really hope to see him sometime soon, because I
want to take him back to the chapel and use a chalkboard to teach him
:) ah amazing moment.

Yeah, so I realized this week how much rice I eat...I eat rice 3-4
times a day! ah, its going to make me FATO! I have been exercising so
hard in the morning, and even at night if I have time I do like 300
crunches, but geez its not easy when all you eat is rice and heavy
sauces with it hahahaa :) but, I am doing well. They say that this area
in the mission has the BEST food, so I better enjoy now because when I
get moved I will reduce ALOT in weight, and gosh seeing pictures of
some of these Elders and what they used to look like I believe it
haaha, but I will be okay. Right now we got tons of food so I will
stock up before they go kill me :)

So, there has been very little rain this week. Apparently, this is
where the rainy season starts winding down. It will still rain about
everyday, but only for like 20-30 minutes, and then will quit. so
that is very nice :) haven't worn my rain boots in like 2 weeks now.
My shoes are holding up pretty great right now! If you saw em you
would be surprised. After a day they are like orange and look
terrible, but give me the polish and everyday I go out looking
good...for like 5 minutes :)

So, had an interesting talk with Elder Ngerem and Ekpo yesterday
morning. Tey were talking about black magic and juju and all that
stuff and how they have witnessed it and everything, but they told me
not to be worried because I have the priesthood and the faith in
Christ that that stuff can never effect me. But, what they were saying
is pretty crazy....Ah, like I have seen groups of people doing it here
a couple times, but we just pass on our way, we don't want anything to
do with that. But, apparently there is crazy stuff going on in the
giant circles that form around them...ah :) But, I am glad that my
faith in Christ is so strong :) I know through him that anything can
be done, and I don't need to worry about a single thing :)

Also, funny fact, met a girl named Lequisha :) hahahaha oh that name.....

Also, Elder Satati from the quorum of the seventy is coming this
Friday to have a special conference with just the missionaries!:) Ah,
I am so excited to sit down and listen to him. The meeting is like 4
hours long :) So,. I will take lots of notes and will make sure to
share whatever I learn with all of you, but he is the only black member
of the Seventy and he is pretty awesome I hear :)

So, adventure of the P-DAY! Today was intense! got up, did my laundry,
no bloody knuckles this time ;), and helped the Hill Station Elders
pack up, had our last chocolate rice oats with peanut butter :( , and
then all the branch missionary and members showed up...for the
ENCOUNTER!!! Well, to kill the rising action, I played a game of chess
with Elder Hales in front of about 25 Africans who all ooooeeed and
ahhhhheeed everytime we played a move and Elder Ekpo would be yelling
"ah what are you thinking," "what makes you play this game" "very
clever my young one very clever" "that was the best move I have ever
seen you play". We were using a little hourglass timer too so that
made things very interesting :) but, I ended up winning without even
realizing it. The time was so short that the most time you ever had to
think was 15 seconds, which made us pretty sporadic and hectic.

But, after the game, the Elders and about 20 of the members went to get
transporto to go to HILL STATION to play an epic soccer game. We all road
in about 3 separate poda podas,but all met up at the field. It was a
turf field, which is the nicest field here they say (but, little
background on the "nicest field". The turf is uh tearing up all over
the field, so uh...yeah it looks like a tennis ball that has gotten
ran over. It is inside of a cage about the size of a tennis court,
with metal fences that are lining it that are jagged, broken, and
missing in some places. The pitch is super sandy, so everyone is
falling. But, to be honest it really is the best field I have played
on here :)

But, we were up against the Hill Station branch. THey talk SO much and
they really are a great bunch of branch missionaries. They were
undefeated, having beat every branch inside the district, and have
even beaten many Elders...but today was different. We played 7v7, and
for Kendall Boyd, it was just like FIFA STREET. but, man the game was
viscious!!! Throwing each other into fences the whole game, slide
tackling! yes, slide tackling everywhere and gosh it was so crazy.
Needless to say, yes I was bleeding, and further yes, I am still
bleeding from my knee and elbow as we speak, but I have it all
bandaged up. But, back to the game.

Started off by us taking the lead by about 3-0. They came back and
3-3, and the game was pretty balanced until the second half when we
Elders starting getting tired. We were playing about 50 minute halves
haha so we were exhausted, and they took off and were up on us 5-8.
But, we didn't give up. I was able to get 3 assists and bring the game
back in, and we ended up finishing an epic game 9-10 :) we won! it
was awesome. I finished the game with 1 goal and 4 assists so it was
super fun...but then we couldn't get transport home....so we had to
walk about an hour and 15 minutes home hahaaha, and I am SO sore. My
quads are practically bursting. But, all in all it was a wonderful
experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it and I am going to take elder
Ngerems pictures that he took of the game :)

But, this week was amazing, and the next one is sure to be as well. SO
much is going on. But, as stressed as I truly am, and nervous as I may
be. I know that this gospel is true and this church is true. If it was
not for the Holy Ghost I would have broken down long ago. But, the
Lord knows me individually and truly loves me and cares for me and
makes my burdens light. This mission is growing and is truly amazing
:) Just baptized Sister Mary Kamara yesterday, and no members
came...but I know the church is still true :) I love you all so much
and thank you for all your letters, prayers, and support. This is the
only true church on the Earth today, and I am willing to add my
testimony with BLOOD just like Joseph Smith, and Even Jesus Christ. I
love you all and hope you have an amazzing week :)

-Love,
Elder Jesse Sumrak (aka. Gareth Bale)

Miracle Journal, Good Food, and Safety

So, A big ol thank you to the wonderful people I received letters and
dear elders from this week :) Sister Peterson, Aunt Deb (awww poor
aunty), Cassy (do I have to call you mrs p now?, Jeff Hales, JENALYN,
Miranda (I wrote you a letter dearest candian but don't know your byu
addresss so both have been sent to canada), JENALYN again :), Moma,
Dad, Moma again, Drew Hooper, Rebecca, and thomas and laura I got two
post cards from you :)

Ah mommma dearest! it is so good to hear from you :) let me address
your letter step by step! Ah I am so glad that Elder Hale's pictures
got there okay and geez all these pictures of me on the mission blog.
I want to see these pictures myself haha, maybe you can send them to
me? The hamburgers were amazing. It was an egg/hamburger ah so yummy
:) and french fries might I add, so delicious. Not many places around
here you can find it, but the mission will spoil us sometimes ;) and
Sister Lauritzen, one of the couples, made crazy cake for us, which
was especially delicious. Nice to have some delicious food every once
in a while :) Elder Hales and Elder Symons should be moving out in 2
weeks, and us as well possibly, but nothing is really final yet, and
besides, transfers are in 2 weeks as well, so should be some exciting
news by then. Thank you for the boxes momma, but in the last package
all I found was $15 in the pictures, so i hope that was all that was
in there but you are so sweet for sending me them momma. I like how
you send me money slowly though, it keeps me from spending too much ;)
hahah like me and my companion bought nigeria jerseys today! legit
ones too that you can't buy off the street. So sweet! we bluff big
time (bluff here is a common word used to mean you are trying to look
fancy or rich,   in a way, used as friends as a joke, but could
be taken rude I believe if used on a stranger )

Everything is a learning experience with a
child in Africa so no worries my  dearest mother! hahahah Elder Hales
has been  STACKING in the boxes this week! I think he may have gotten
2-3, geez he was so happy :)

Ah, so good to hear about all the school and everything back home,
awww grandparents....Please tell Grandfather how much I love him and
pray for him, i sent them an e-mail, but that is before I read about
the surgery...I will definitely be praying for him.

and wow momma you are so awesome! i am reading the New Testament
right now as well :) Paul is the man! no doubt! but thank you for
sending stamps and pens, I definitely need them forreals, but mommma
your packages are perfect, I just love PICTURES :) everyone always
gathers around and I get to show everyone you guys, so pictures of the
house maybe, the family, anything. I love them :) but on to the
weekkkkkk


So, Sierra Leone is amazing! I love it more and more every single day,
so here comes another letter of complete chaos while I try to tell you
loved ones my week here :) So, we will start with my new hobby of
polishing shoes. I do it about every other day now haha, I love
polishing my shoes and always making em look nice, even though 30
seconds out of the compound they are dirty again, but I know the Lord
wants me to look my best so I sure do try :) the shirts are all
started to slowly get a nice lil yellow tint to them :) shows
character huh?

I got hit by a car this week! we were in the market trying to buy
some things for the apartment (joys of district work) and it was super
crowded and my backpack was full of stuff for the apartment.I was
talking to this lady trying to get her to lower the price for some
soap when a van came by quickly and hit my bookbag and sent me flying
past the lady, knocking over a couple things hahah gosh all the
africans who saw it started brushing me off and helping me up and some
even started chasing down the van and beating on the side of it haha
:) oh, but not even a scratch on me forreals, so don't you worry :)
another testimony that the Lord truly is looking out for me :)

So, my white pant bottoms got a little dirty when they fell last week, so i
was trying so hard to get the dirt out that my knuckles started
bleeding trying to wash em. Ah, still got scabs on them :) but, geez
, I will forever more appreciate washing machines when I return home
:) but they are healing nice and quick, but it was really hard to wash
today.

Elder Ekpo scammed me this week. the zone leader. He is borrowing a
chess board from a member and came and asked me if I would teach him
how to play, so I did. Then he wanted to watch me play someone so he
could learn. so I beat Elder Hales and Elder Symons...then Elder Ekpo
said he was ready to play...in which he beat me in 4 moves...Yes, He
hustled me hahah he is his school/district champion back in Nigeria.
Gosh, he is the man :) he kills everyone. Elder Hales played him like
4 times, and Elder Ekpo even removed his queen and both rooks and was
able to win...he is crazy good.

My biggest temptation on a mission in Africa...football!(soccer) the season
has truly started and it is everywhere. I have to hide from it!
everyone is just sounding it in the cafes and on radios as loud as
they can! you can hear people roaring at 11 at night whenever someone
scores. So we usually can guess the score of the game before it is
even over. Even during church I knew who was scoring haha, but I
manage to always keep my mind focused, so no problem :)

So, this week and last week I have been suffering from bronchitis (as
confirmed by momma Sister Roggia :) ) I have had a terrible cough and
trouble breathing, but after I started taking some Augmentin
antibiotic, I am doing a  lot better and I am almost at 100 % again.
Everyday, no matter how bad I felt, I made sure to get out and go at
the right time, and while I was proselyting, the Lord truly blessed me
with strength...at the apartment....not as much haha but, when I do
his work he gives me all the strength I need ::) but I am doing fine
now so don't worry about me. I am back to gyming and even played
football today :)

The amazing Wednesday with Elder Hales!!!!!! Finally, the day came
that I got to go and proselyte with Elder Hales in my area. First time
taking another Elder to my area as well :) but Saidu joined us and we
went on up the mountain and had some SWEET lessons. All the lessons
were with guys our age and wow it was so sweet. Elder Hales is a great
missionary and teacher and the people understand him great :) It was
so sweet to work with him. We had a sweet lesson with a boy David
Mansurray. I took out the plan of salvation to teach that, but after
following up on a book of mormon reading (alma 34 do not procrastinate
the day of your repentance) he asked what is repentance? so I took out
lesson 3, gospel of Jesus Christ and man we had the sweetest lesson
like so far on my mission. The spirit was so strong, and the boy was
like, well when I prayed about the message, I started crying...So i
went to sleep, is that bad? and we explained to him what he was
feeling and ahh sweet sweet lesson :)

On our way down the mountain, we had a very uh...strange encounter. A
drunk army man yelled at us from the other side of the road, so we
went to go and see what he wanted...yeah, it is kinda uncomfortable
talking to a drunk soldier with an ak in his hand, asking to have a
bible. |So, we gave him a Word of wisdom track :) and he sent us on
our way haha, oh Sierra Leone, you got to love it :)

Elder Ngerem and I started eating at this one shack right outside of
our apartment who cooks some beef and stuff for us at night. He just
puts it on a metal pan over his fire grate and presses on it with
newspaper to cook it, but it is super delicious, and we add it to our
spaghetti meals for a very yummy treat! also, had bread (about 2 feet
long hahaah) with milk on it this week. It was super yummy and super
filling. Guess it was just sour milk or something, but it was yummy
forreals :)

We also got a giant bag of rice this week! which should last 6 weeks I
would say. ahhh we had our branch missionary george carry it and man
he was struggling. It is super big :) so we will enjoy boku rice.

For some reason I feel inspired to give Aunt Deb a shout out :) "Do the Roar!"

So, we have been spending a lot of time with the assistants Elder
Barth and ELder Appleby this week. Ah, I love those guys so much. We
talk about everything and it is really sweet to hangout with them and
see how all their duties and responsiblities, and geez those guys
are busy. They truly are veterans of the mission, and I learn so much
from them. Elder Barth is my father (papa, he being Elder Ngerem's
trainer) he has taught me so much :) I truly enjoyed talking to him
this week and learned so many things.

but,, Zone conference this week was truly inspiring ( besides the
amazing food) and I learned so so so so so many things! this week has
been a week of personal revelation to me :) everytime I have opened my
scriptures it just has been flooding me! but the greatest revelation I
have received this week is that Priesthood authority (and really
anything) is useless without faith. If you don't have faith in the
power you hold, then it is powerless. Just like in Matthew when the
apostles ask Jesus Christ why they were not able to cast out the
devils, he tells them because they didn't have enough faith. and also
when the people in the city believed not, they received no mighty
miracles because of their unbelief. Jesus Christ can't work miracles
in our life if we don't have faith that he can. You can't expect
miracles if you don't EXPECT miracles. SO, I have started a miracle of
the day account in my journal :) and I truly see them every single
day!

Saturday was another exchange day, so Elder Baffou Apiah accompanied
me to my area, in which we had like 5 bounces haha but for some reason
he has never really liked me. He is a Ghanayan, and I tried so hard to
be friendly to him haha, asing question and everything and talking
about life and everything but he wouldn't even look at me, just say
yes or no and keep walking...so, not everyone is going to like us in
life :) but, we just have to do our best and pray for the rest and
then pray to God  heheheh but, I love him, or try my best to at least.

Also, random fun fact. Couples here really don't hold hands? at all?
or show any sort of public affection, or even attention to each other?
weird yeah. but, guys hold hands here, not gay at all, it just means
you are best friends. Like, Saidu will always grab my hand when we are
walking and stuff but there is nothing weird about it. Of course, for
me I would always be like ah man what are yo doing kinda subtle deal
in my mind you know? but then i see what it means to them in their
culture and it is still weird for me, but I love them so i will not
offend them haaha ;)

The mission is so sweeet and I love it more every week :) I love all
of you so much and I enjoy hearing from everyone so much :) Sierra Leone is
truly sweet and this mission is amazing! we may get a stake this
month! (fingers crossed) but  I Love you all and hope for the best!
Take care and may the Spirit always be with you :)

oh, and Jeff Leavitt, if you are reading this...I love you. Hope you
got my letter. You are the boss.

Love
Elder Jesse Sumrak