Elder Romney back on Majuro for now

We got to SKYPE with Elder Romney on Saturday 02/06/16 to make up for not being able to do it on Christmas. That was nice. Here is the letter he sent yesterday and a few from the last few weeks. Please pray for him that he will not get more Kidney stones. He really does not want to have to leave the mission for further tests or to have to come home early. He keeps getting stones in the same location in the same kidney. He has been told "No more soda" and cut back on rice. Not sure what he will eat and drink. Poor Kid.

02/06/2016 Handsome Elder Romney

02/07/2016

Dear Family,

Last week was a good week of work. It is nice to be in an area where the work is fun and in abundance. Last week we were able to baptize 3 investigators, although I was in the hospital with another kidney stone. That was the only down side. That makes this the third one I have had on my mission. Nonetheless, it was a great week of missionary work. This week will also be a busy week as we have interviews from the president as well as Zone Conference and then to top it off another 2 baptisms this Saturday. Transfers will be announced at Zone conference or in our interviews. I think I may be working in Uliga, which is the area right next to mine. I'm excited about the idea of working in Uliga, but not necessarily the changing companion part. But that's part of what a mission is all about. It was great to skype you guys, and I can't wait to see you all. Especially getting to spend time with my sister and brother. Thank you for all you do for me and I love you and this Gospel.

-Elder Romney

01/31/16

Hello,

Well the baptism didn't happen this week because the family wanted to throw a party for the kids that were getting baptized, i was a little disappointed but as long as the baptism happens this week it will be fine. ​Other than that the week was a really good week. It was nice being able to go out and work hard. In Jaluit it was just so slow and there was hardly any work, but here there is plenty and it just makes everything better. It also makes time go by faster which makes the last 6 months of potential trunkiness go by faster so yeah. But I will make sure it is filled with good work and effort. Sorry I was using the card, I had absolutely no money. I needed some food, and the stuff on amazon was some more protein powder some vitamins and a new pocket knife. The knife might seem weird to buy, but I have pretty much used one everyday of my mission, and mine finally broke. So I needed a new one. Most people probably wouldn't understand that. I'm hoping i will get to interview with president soon because i think he gets back today, and it would be nice to get an interview with him. I've only had 2. One the first day of my mission in the field, and the 2nd one was sometime last summer, so it would be nice to get one, but if I don't, not that big of a deal.


01/24/16

I am back in Majuro haha. My average time in an area has been 6-8 weeks and it is chaotic.. I swear if they move me next transfer I am going to revolt. I have a baptism next week, my companion is Elder Angilau and I love him, He's about to go home but we are going strong. He is from Seattle and is probably the most humble guy I've ever met. He is great. I'm only sad that he has to leave in four weeks.

Elder Romney Update

Elder Romney is currently serving on an atoll called Jaliut.  He has very limited internet access, it takes several hours sometimes just to open a browser window to his email so we will not hear from him this way very often and when we do it will be short and sweet.  We were able to SKYPE with him right before he left at the end of November.  We might be able to talk to him on a phone for Christmas.  We love our Missionary.

Playing Catch up

Monday November 2, 2015

Dear Family,

I have been in Delap for a week now and it seems like a great area. We need to get some more investigators though. This last week we got two baptisms, they were these 2 little kids that haven’t been baptized for some reason, so their dad baptized them last Saturday so that was cool. Other than that we don’t really have that great of investigators so looks like Elder Soromon and I need to go finding. 

Elder Soromon is from Vanuatu and is just a crack up guy. Sometimes it’s hard to understand his broken English but we are both good enough at Marshallese to communicate as much as we need to.  I mean we don’t have any deep conversations on life or politics but we can say like "hey you should make some ramen right now". All you need right?! 

The ward is pretty awesome, but I haven’t really gotten to meet a lot of them as last Sunday was the day they show conference in Marshallese. But I’ve heard it is a great ward and we have an awesome bishop so that already makes it good. 

So that is my situation right now, not much else to report on other than that. I miss you all and love you very much and thank you for your continuous support and love for me.

-Elder Romney

 

Monday October 26, 2015

Dear Baamle, (family)

Today I got transferred into Delap, which is like smack dab in the middle of town. It should be fun, my companion is from Vanuatu, and is just a really funny person. The house needs to be cleaned but I'll take care of that. The ward here is really good and has a lot of youth. 

They don’t do mutual here, but every week we get everyone together and play volleyball and basketball with them, so it’s basically mutual. Probably more fun than mutual haha. The Delap ward shares a building with Uliga ward, which its area begins about 5 minutes from my house the opposite way. My area starts from the right of my house and the other area starts on the left. Most people would think I’m lying when they think about their missions but it used to be when there were more elders in the Marshalls, six of the elders could walk out onto the street and wave to each other. So to say we are close knit group is an understatement. We dinner at each other’s houses, wake up and exercise with each other, it's pretty awesome. I haven’t been driving for a couple of months but I heard a rumor about the next transfer in December and I’m on the list to be Zone Leader, but don’t get too excited or anything, it is the Marshall Islands, nothing is set in stone until the minute it happens, so we will see about that, about that we will see.( if you can name that movie the line is from I’ll buy dinner for that person when I’m home haha). 

I haven’t been able to see conference, probably won’t in English so I won’t get to see it unless someone can send me a copy of it on a flash drive or something.(hint hint) I don’t know what I think about the new apostles other than they are new and are chosen by the lord so they must be great, haven’t been able to watch conference yet. I love you guys and miss home.

-Elder Roming Sopporro (His self given nickname, Roming means Ramen and Sopporro is the best brand of Ramen Noodles.  Apparently he introduces himself this way and gets a lot of laughs, they love it)

 

Monday, October 12, 2015

We were able to get two baptisms last week including Margaret.  I guess third time’s the charm. The next big news is transfers are coming out this week and I honestly don't know what's going to happen so it could be exciting, don't know. So looking forward to that and seeing what happens. Other than there isn't that much going on. It rained a bunch last week so that sucked. I need some new shoes, a bag, and pants. I think despite me trying to go my whole mission on the stuff I brought is finally starting to go, but I guess that what happens when you use the same things every day, in a tough environment that's hard on that kind of stuff.

 

Monday, October 5, 2015

 

I got that package thank you! And yeah it has been rainy lately. And yeah we have a baptism this week so I'm stoked for that. One is Margaret so she might show up hopefully and the other is a kid I started with my companion so that is a first on my whole mission. It's awesome to start with somebody and see them get baptized. That's really cool.

 

Monday, September 28, 2015

It was a good week. We had a couple of people that were progressing pretty well and by the time I get back next week could be baptized soon. Jaliyah is really cool and I wouldn't mind coming back here if I had to go outer again. I just realized I have about 10 months left. That's just crazy. Got to make the most of the time I have. But yeah I was told I will be coming next week, so I'll need the same amount in my account. Sorry it is so expensive but Air Marshals increased a bunch of their fees and added more, probably because the government just does not give enough to them to keep their planes and stuff in good condition and things like that. It's so sad the government here is so corrupt, but it's only because the people are not educated enough and care enough to realize that they are being taken advantage of. It reminds me of a quote by Jefferson about how ignorance brings less freedom. The more the people of a nation don't know or care enough about what is happening the more freedoms they lose. 

 

Monday, September 21, 2015

Jaluit reminds me of Laura but just more outer island is hi guess haha. They said the least time I could spend here would be 1 week but that is if everything went well with the doctor. But the hospital is always slow so I might be a couple weeks at the least. Hopefully it is quick because I want to get back to my area and investigators. But I will work hard here.  And my companion there will be Elder Kim, my MTC comp. pretty awesome!

 

Friday, September 18^th, 2015

Hey so I am not dead or anything just a power outage. Although I do have some news. Next Monday im going to an outer island for about a month because an elder got sick. So I'll be in Jaluit for a little bit. I will still be DL but gone for a bit. So they said tell you so you know that and I need to get $300 for baggage and fees for going and coming back and I need to get it tomorrow cause I can't get it on Sunday. Sorry if that causes trouble or anything. But I will be able to email because they have Internet out there so you won't get paranoid ;) love you! Talk to you Monday after landing. Make sure I can withdraw the money cause otherwise I won't be able to pay for fees and baggage.

 

Roming Sopporro

 

District Leader

Monday, August 30, 2015


Dear Family, 


So this is my first day as district leader because Elder Tentau left yesterday. I know the job but I don’t really know if they are going to tell me specifics or what they want me to do, but it’s not that hard. My new temporary companion is Elder S and since Tentau was gone for the last 4 days of last week we have found about 10 potential investigators so that is exciting and hopefully we can actually get some work going. The only beef I have with S is that he thinks he is the world’s leading expert on everything and has a big ego. So it is again another time to help with learning patience and humility. I think God has been doing this on purpose..... But it’s good, I need it. But at least it’s someone to talk too and laugh a little. Unfortunately my companion I’m waiting for to come from an outer island is from the Solomon Islands and he is from the island that has been known for people not talking very much. I find myself turning into a recluse because of all the companions I’ve had where we don’t really talk and stuff. Its depressing I hate it. As much as I love to have time to think and do things myself it’s nice to have someone around to interact with. Oh well, maybe it’s another thing god is helping me with or something I don’t know. And no I don’t have anyone to email other than you so that is also kind of depressing, not as in you are depressing, as in I feel I’ve been forgotten from everyone else. It’s all good though. I guess it’s nice to be off the grid I guess, sort of lonely a bit but I don’t know, roll with the changes haha. Only dad will get that reference, long live the classic rock! And tell Zach congratulations and make sure to be careful with the car. How is everyone? Anyways love you guys have a good week.


- Elder Romney


 
Monday, September 7, 2015

Dear Family, 


Last week was good but also ended in a small disappointment. Margaret was supposed to get baptized on Saturday but was in town instead and didn't come back until Sunday. So I think I will wait until next Saturday and really help her and her family know how important Baptism is. I think I maybe I haven’t done a good job on that and I need to make sure she understand more fully why what we are teaching her is so important. So I blame that on me and maybe my over eagerness to get a baptism. Baptism is important but not if your investigator doesn't fully understand the details and importance of that covenant. Other than that it was a great week as far as lessons and finding. We found 12 potential investigators and are studying with most of them consistently and I think we could have some baptisms by the end of September to early October.  

I asked the AP to lay out some of the things I need to do as DL and asked him why President wanted me to be DL. President apparently has wanted me as DL for the last 2 months and really has faith in me that I can fix the issues and bring better success to that area. That answer really helped me because I didn't know if he called me to be a DL as more of an experiment and test or more because he really needed me in that role. So that comforted me and helped me better understand. So that was really cool and helped me a lot. I already have learned a lot and hopefully this leadership and maybe future leadership can refine me into a better leader and more importantly a smarter and more humble leader as well. Also it is helping me become a better missionary in the process.

So that is my mission so far. Things are hopefully picking up and we will get more success soon.


-Elder Romney

Arrak

Monday August 10, 2015

Dear Family,

I am serving in the Arrak area which is on the complete other side of the island. In two weeks president wants me to be the new district leader which will be interesting for me because up until now I have always felt like the young new guy but now I feel like I’m going home in like a month. Everything just flies by and I know I will wake up one morning and not really comprehend that it’s time to go. I drive a big silver van (if you want to see it go to my Facebook cover photo).My companion is Elder Tentau and we are teaching Around 7 investigators right now. We should be baptizing one of them soon, a young girl. They are great and we are doing this and that and I love this area.

Right now I’m reading the Book of Mormon over again along with the institute book and answering the questions in each chapter in a journal. I’m early on in the Book of Mormon just finished with Nephi seeing all the visions he asked to see for better understanding. They are some cool chapters and really interesting, every time I get to the verse where it says he is forbidden to write more I wish he could have written more but then we would know things we don’t necessarily need to know or we wouldn’t be able to comprehend. One thing I have come to know very strongly is that the only thing we need to focus on in gospel study is the basics. We don’t need to know the deep and unimaginable because that’s what we get to learn when we get to the celestial kingdom, God has given us what we need to be able to receive eternal life, more would just get in the way of our progression. Because as humans we always want to know more till we get to the next big question, however God knew this and stopped where the basics end. Because that all we need to focus on in this life. The answer to why we are here is Moses 1:39. The answer to what we need to do here is Alma 34:32. As well as the commandments and doctrine we find in the rest of the standard works. I think people sometimes try to focus too much on the advanced doctrine or try to get the gospel to the fine detail (like things like caffeine or watching TV on Sundays and unnecessary made up details) but if we focus on the basic commandments and doctrines and fundamentals of the gospel and prepare ourselves for eternal life than that’s hard enough to do and is all God requires of us. Worrying about little things like if drinking Mt Dew while watching TV on Sunday or judging others on what they do because they don’t do it your way is not Christ like and unimportant to our progression. If we progress everyday and become better every day in preparing ourselves for the next life and gaining faith unlocking and using the potential our Heavenly Father gave us, even if it is baby steps then we are on the right track with our hands on the iron rod. Nothing more than the simple principles should ever matter more than doing that. Keeping the simple commandments and becoming more Christ like is hard enough without worrying and stressing ourselves out with trying to become smarter then the next guy in the gospel, or what other people do and live the gospel. I know this is true and that god gave us the things we need to get to where he wants us, no less and no more.


-Elder Romney

 

Off Mili, Back to Majuro, and being Sick

July 29, 2015


Elder Romney has had a few difficult months since I last posted and most of his emails have not been public post worthy.  He got bad skin infections while on Mili and had to take antibiotics and take measures to get better.  His skin did clear up and he was doing better.  He lost about 20 lbs while on Mili from lack of food and that probably contributed to his skin problems.  In May he was transferred back to Majuro and was shuffled around for several weeks while they waited to decide where he would serve.  His food and money were also stolen several times.  He then became very ill and was in a lot of pain in early July and they decided he might have a kidney stone and might have to leave the Island and go to Fiji for a CT scan.  After more than a week of severe pain they did an ultrasound locally and decided it was just an infection and he was treated with antibiotics again and that seemed to clear up the infection and pain.  He was in poor spirits for a few weeks as well but has since recovered and is doing much better.  Here is an excerpt from his email on July 26th.

"Sorry for not emailing last week it was a busy day. Last week the president held interviews for everyone and his interview helped me a lot. It wasn't what I was expecting the interview to be or the results. But first he just wanted to know what was wrong and I told him what I told you and he said that this mission is exactly the opposite of what I think. And about the bad elders he just told me "you should see the huge line of emails and authority you go through when dealing with whether or not a missionary is going home. He pretty much said that I don't have the authority you might think I do haha. Anyways he then told me my transfer which is happening today that I will go to the other side of the island, I drive a car now and I am the designated driver and when my new companion leaves in a month I am the new district leader, so that was not expected and I hope I can really help and do a good job. What really helped me most was how much faith president had in me, that hit me really hard and made me get out of the funk I was in. The last week I have been happier and also working harder and that also helped pick me up. "

His mission president , President Weir wrote us a nice little email and said

Brother and Sister Romney,

Elder Romney is physically well. He will be transferred to Arrak on Majuro and at the end of August he will become the District Leader for the Laura District on Majuro. He is doing wonderful work. Warm regards, President Weir

End of June before he got sick.... 20 lbs lighter

Elder Romney said to thank everyone for the support and love.  When he was sick and we told him we were fasting for him he replied with this message:

"Don't fast for me, please fast for our mission and work to get better. That's where the blessings and miracles need to go. Love you guys and thank you for the support you give me."

Thank you everyone for all your thoughts and prayers in Elder Romney's behalf.  He is doing so much better now and looking forward to his new assignments.

Spiders and ramen and rice oh my!

Monday April 20, 2015

Dear Family,

This week the missionary work progressed slowly, but it should get better. The problem here is that a long time ago there were missionaries here and they converted some people and the church started to grow and then they left and because the Marshalls didn't have their own mission then missionaries didn't come until a year ago.  I’m the sixth elder to come to Mili since a long time ago and it's reopening a year ago. When the missionaries left they didn't know what to do so they became the leaders of the two other religions here.  Which is ironic now that elders are here and starting to help the church grow. But it does help us receive generally good feelings from the people because the leaders of the two other churches still respect us and like us so that is good.

I was starting to get used to living like I was camping until last night I turned over on the concrete rather uncomfortably as my hip got used to it and then looked at one of the walls as a big spider was crawling on it. Then I got up and it ran around to the other side of the wall where I stood with a flashlight hoping my comp would wake up miraculously and kill it for me which he did after about 10 mins of waiting. I know I play rugby and a huge poly running at me doesn't scare me ( that bad) but a stupid spider does is ironic but it's true.  I hate spiders. The scene in the second harry potter movies always comes to my mind when Ron says. “Why couldn't it be follow the butterflies" My dream is that all spiders turn into butterflies. Then the world will be a better place. 

Well I think I am losing a good amount of weight, I’m not as hungry and if I am I look at the bag of rice and choose water over that so yeah… If I come back all sexy I can thank the lord he sent me here for more purposes than preaching. 

 I’m doing alright, Mili has its beautiful days and then its rainy stormy days but all in all it's a blessing to be here and be a servant of the lord.

-Elder Romney
 

Monday April 27, 2015

Iakwe Familia,

That is spamellese (Spanish and Marshallese together, Genious I know.)

The missionary work is going. I have to say I was kind of getting low, losing my motivation, but then I was asked to teach an English class after school to a group of like 20. It was really cool, but the first class was kind of boring but it had to be reviewed. I did the alphabet but put emphasis on the different sounds each letter makes with different words. Mostly because Marshallese doesn’t have some of the letters and if they do it's confusing because in Marshallese a letter may make a different sound. (Example: B's, P's, and V's are tough for them)  But teaching the class is really fun and kind of re-motivated me and I've been doing better in lessons and being more motivated.

We finally got some food, we had to set up an account and go into some debt but it's all good. We are going to pay it off when we get paid.  Cause we were one, running out of food, and two, about to send an airstrike on all ramen factories and rice fields across the world. But we are good now. Don't worry. But for all moms I know that statement means absolutely nothing.

The last few weeks we have had a consistent 10 members at church. We are trying hard to get our investigators to come. In time our numbers will get better. We just have to keep babying everyone to come to church and they will eventually come.

I am doing fine and am thankful for the support.

-Elder Romney