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

Mili, Mili

Monday, April 6, 2015

Dear Family,

   Well apparently there is email for us here in Mili. They just
installed it and fixed it so it's not too slow. So hello from Mili!
    Mili is a really cool place. We live in this really small concrete
house by the beach. It kind of sucks sleeping on the ground my hips
and back hurt every time I wake up but I guess it is life.
   The first two days we were here there was no food on the island so
for 2 days we ate 3 servings of plain rice which also kind of sucked
but now we have ramen so we’re all good. Plus we were able to get some
soy sauce so in case of rice eating emergencies it isn't that bad.
Also the mosquitoes are straight from Outer Darkness, I swear my legs
look like a mine field.
    Speaking of minefield Mili Mili used to be a one of the Japanese
bases so the whole island has become really hilly from all the bombs
that were dropped. There are still some bunkers and Japanese military
structures here. At one persons house there is an old generator that
wasn't destroyed. Today we may go and see the turrets that are still
here from the Japanese military. I think it is totally awesome, it's
cool seeing all the WWII stuff here. I’m literally on the islands that
all the Island Hopping battles commenced between the U.S and Japanese.
   The food comes on a old amphibian U.S military boat that the
Military gave them. When it comes it brings supplies to the island
like food for the Mon Wia's (stores) and things that the Iroij's
order (the kings/Princes of the island). Then the people make their
living off of kawainini which is husking, and cutting the coconuts to
then sell to Majuro. Depending on the pounds of each bag they fill
they get a certain amount of money for each one. Technically if we
wanted to we could do it and get paid or we could give our work to the
stores for food and stuff but that's if we need to and we don't right
now.
    Because we came here when the boat was going to arrive soon our
missionary work is kind of slow because the people are doing last
minute work and preparing for the boat. But soon it will pick up
again.
    Sunday was pretty interesting. Our chapel is built like one of the
huts and we had our strong members of 5 show up to our First session.
We prepared talks and gave them after the sacrament. We didn't have
Sunday school this time but we will next Sunday. Church lasts about an
hour.  40 minutes for sacrament and 20 for Sunday school. We have 2
sessions because some members live on one end of Mili Mili and some
live on the other end so some go to the chapel and then after that
session is done we hold a 2nd session at a personas house for the
other end. Total including us we had about 11 people show up. We are
going to work to get more less active and new converts to come.
     We are going to start working on a bigger chapel right by our
house on an old concrete foundation that used to be an old classroom.
Today I think we are going to go cut wood to prepare for the building.
I guess I am living really close to Elder Kolipoki type stuff haha
(Other Side of Heaven). I am already starting to feel that sense of
I'm on an island in the middle of nowhere so this may be a long 4
months hahaha. Hopefully it passes and I get used to it better.
      Well thanks again for all the support you give me and I love you all.

-Elder Romney​

Dear Family,

 

This week has become pretty chaotic as I was going to be working in one area and the president had a skype call woth our ZL and told him lots of things are changing. Most importantly im going to Mili an outer island. There is hardly any modern things there, the most modern thing there is solar panels for power. I will be fishing (spear fishing, shark fishing, net fishing) and kawainini every day. Kawainini is husking and cutting out the meat of a coconut. Kawainini is how the local people of Mili make money. They make bags and bags of kawainini and then a boat comes and pays them for their work. To get there we will be on a kawainini boat on Wednesday.  Faleono said they finished the airport so maybe in the future air maybe will be flying there. Usually Elders live in the huts you make out of sticks and banana leaves and whatever surrounds you. But my new companion who is from Pohnpei said we have cement floor .  So we are lucky! We also sleep on those mats like Elder Kolipoki, here they are called jaki's. (Pronounced like the name Jacky) Elder Bascom said that the members in Mili are really great and the pastors of the other churches respect you because they are actually ex Mormons. The reason they are ex is because at one time the elders left and the church kinda fell so they started another church. When I get there I will be branch president, Elders quorum pres, every leadership position in a branch. Me and my companion are the leaders out there. We can marry people but only on permission from the Mission President. Mili has about 200 people I believe. Probably less. Faleono said that they installed internet for the first time there but the day he left it wasn’t working. So I may or may not be emailing for 4-6 months. To communicate with the office we ham radio in. It is pretty exotic haha. If you imagine a post card picture if a small beautiful island it is what Mili looks like. It is beautiful. I will have pictures of it all so don’t worry haha. So that is the bug news from the Marshalls!  

I love you so much and thanks for all the support. 

- Elder Romney

 

Pictures and Videos taken in Mili

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtvXI8N9P4g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAWmzTUYIzc

Farewell Haka

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

I can email quick, sorry yesterday was super busy sending the intake Elder Faleono was in it was also really sad. Here is the Haka that we did for them.

 

Elder Romney helped say goodbye to a group of missionaries who have finished thier missions and are returning home with honor!

2 Baptisms and Planting Seeds

Monday, February 23, 2015

Dear Family,

My mission is pretty legit right now. My companion is literally another me except Samoan. A Samoan, from San Diego.   Like I’m pretty sure I was supposed to be his twin along with Salano, so triplets. But literally my mission is awesome. I love this mission. The work is hard though right now but we should be having some baptisms soon. The success is almost there. But I’m having a blast while working hard. It’s the best.

Love you guys so much, thank you for supporting me.

P.S. only 18 months left! Almost home with honor!

-Elder Romney 
 

Monday, March 9, 2015

Dear Family,

Hey family, so I fell in the shark sanctuary last week and became food, just kidding.  No the power went out and we were playing some freaking awesome basketball so that is why I did not write. Last Monday I was on, so I was playing pretty good. I always like playing really good ball because I'm a 220 pound 5' 8'' guy and I can play with the rest of them. The best shot I made was against the tallest biggest guy in the mission who is from Samoa. I pushed into him and hit a fade away and everybody was like What?!?! did that just happen? It was pretty funny. 

Not much news to go on. Transfers are coming up soon as an intake is going home. Faleono is pretty trunky but we are still trying to work hard. Faleono said he is going to try and come to my homecoming. He is the man. We really are twins, even down to having butter cover the complete face of the toast. It's going to be sad to have him go home but I will see him in life so it's all geezy. 

Well it is a pretty uneventful week but my mission feels like it’s on light speed or something. I am in Rita South so it's the same apartment I had when I started my mission in the Marshalls.

What I like about my companion is basically everything, he is another me. Which sometimes it can get boring because are so much alike so we go and talk with the other elders and stuff. It's a blast.

We are hoping for 6 baptisms this week but it could be a bit lower than that. So we are hoping for the best.

Weeks go faster than the days themselves. It doesn't make a lot of sense but it feels that way.

I love you guys and know that I might be called to an outer island where I can't email for 4 months so be prepared. But that probably won't happen soon. Anyways I love you guys and all the support you give me.

-Elder Romney

Monday, March 16, 2015

Dear Family,

 

This week went by really fast. We were able to get 2 baptisms on Saturday and now we are looking at maybe one on Saturday which is pretty awesome. We got a referral and it looks promising. Missionary Work is such an important work to be done. It is awesome to be able to meet anyone and be able to try and help them. It's just a really cool opportunity to be a missionary. I am still trying to get the language down, it's seems that right when you seem to get it, it gets more challenging and harder. But I am trying.

We don't have a lot of other investigators but we are studying with them and seeing if they will progress. Right now we have investigators that are interested but they seem to be more interested in just learning about the church and not committing to change as we teach them. It's hard but at least we are out there planting the seed.

Transfers should be happening next week and I am going to be working in Batkan in long island. It's where I worked for like a week before I left for Ebeye. It's one of the bike areas so that is pretty cool. I love riding bikes.

Thank you for all the love and support you give me. It means a lot.

-Elder Romney

Back in my birthplace

Monday February 2, 2015

Dear Family,

Well some big news right off the bat, I'm going back to Majuro next week, either on Monday or Wednesday. I will be working in Delap, which when you look at the picture on my blog is like an older picture of my area. But that’s where I will be working. I can give you more of a detailed area map when I get there. I felt bad though because one it was totally unexpected. WE all thought that the two guys that have been here on Ebeye would be finally going back. Only one is and it isn't Sieler hah. It is Koi. So Sieler will be on Ebeye at least another 2 months. Ebeye is his first area. He was the guy form our intake that was sent to Ebeye when we arrived in the Mission field so he has been out in Ebeye since I’ve been out my whole mission haha. I just had to laugh a little bit haha.

So because of that there isn't much news on upcoming things in our area. But I can gratefully say that I Left this area better than when I got here. At first I was really depressed to be leaving Ebeye because I was trying so hard this last couple of weeks with Sieler to improve it and make it better. I finally listened to my own advice I was giving Sieler about how it’s ok to leave an area that you have been working so hard in and haven't been able to stay and finish what you have started if you can say you left it in a better position than when you started. So that has made me feel good about leaving after my short stay in Ebeye Central. 

Not much else to report on other than that. I know this work is really important. I also bear my testimony on how important everyone that is a member of the church is. One of my big quotes I have shared with members here in the Marshall Islands is how you don't need to have a name badge to be a true representative of Christ. When you are baptized we all receive the true name badge of Christ and represent him. So my message to all the members in the Corona Ward and every other member is that YOU are a tool and representative of the Lord. YOU, being a strong member of the church and magnifying your calling are being a tool in the Lords hand. Every time you tell a person you are a LDS member, a "Mormon", you are testifying of him and representing him. Never be afraid to say you are a Mormon and never be afraid to share your testimony or beliefs in this church. It is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING you can do as a member of this church is not deny HIM, to share your testimony of Christ and of His true church. To Be a Mormon and Live it and Show it through your actions. If you can do that and endure to the end you are in good shape for the second coming. I know that we are always on the Winning Side. If you always remember that than "Staying On the Boat" like Elder Ballard talked about should be Really Easy. Never be afraid to say you are a Mormon to anyone because that is like Denying you are in the Most Powerful and Unbeatable Army in the Universe. God's Army. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Our Redeemer, and Savior, Amen.

 

-Elder Romney

 

Monday, February 9, 2015

Dear Family, 

I leave tomorrow for Majuro, so I have my last day here in Ebeye as my p-day, so that’s nice. Because Transfers are so crazy here in the Marshalls, I do not know where I am working now but I am working with Elder Faleano. So at least I know my companion. There isn't a lot more news than that.

I have been working hard to leave this area better than it has been before and I feel pretty good about it. I do have to leave a few days before a baptism but it looks like Cole has had that happen a lot so I can't complain, he has a lot tougher mission than I do. 

Other than that there really isn’t a lot to report on, which makes it difficult to write a long email, but I will have a long one next week!! haha. I love you guys and hope you are all doing well, eat all the Chinese food in remembrance that I can't. It's all good. I understand.

 

-Elder Romney

 

Monday,  February 16, 2015

Dear Family,

I am now working back in my birthplace Rita South but we kind of are white washing it so its going to be a hard couple of weeks till we can find some more investigators. Right now I’m working with Elder Waniel crom Vanuatu. He knows French really well so sometimes I have him talk in that because it sounds awesome. I’ve always thought learning French would be kind of awesome, so it’s cool. He is really cool and he actually just came out on the mission in January but he is pretty good at Marshallese already so it’s really fun. He is only my companion for a week though as I’m waiting for Elder Faleano. It’s going to be some hard work but it’s going to be good work. So it’s hard but it’s going to be really good.

I love you guys a lot and thank you so much for the sacrifice you give for me to be out here.

 

Elder Romney

Elder Romey's Testimony

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Dear Family,

I knew I was staying in Ebeye. It is actually going to be changing again when president comes but for now I'm with Elder Sieler. It has been fun talking about back home with him just cause he lived in Sierra Vista so like an hour away and he knows some people I knew.  It was a hard week trying to rebuild the area but yesterday was a great day and we got 8 lessons. That's a great day! 

Some news on Thor is not what I was expecting as an answer for what to do with him but it is for the best for now. We had to drop him. We went in to have a final lesson just to see if we should or not and it definitely helped us decide to let The Lord work on him for now. We went in there and bore really strong testimonies and finally got him to tell us why he lets us come into his house if all we do is get nowhere with him. He finally said that he was trying to convince us that we were wrong after our really strong testimonies, he even pulled out the 1 Corinthians verse about being blinded. Woooo I was about to explode when that happened, I controlled it and bore a really powerful testimony that I found out the church was true by studying and praying and asking god, not because of anyone else, if I was a Mormon because I grew up in it or was going off of other testimonies I wouldn't be on a mission or a member of the church right now, I also threw in that testimony that he was really confused.  But it turned out alright I think. It just helped me realize what I have been thinking for a while is that he wasn't ready for the gospel. I had been thinking for awhile of what a missionary’s goal and purpose is when we go into a lesson and teach someone and I kept thinking that he just wasn't ready. He isn't ready for the Lord’s servants yet so it's time for the spirit to work on him before he is taught again by the missionaries. So it wasn't the answer I wanted nor the solution I wanted but I knew it was the lords decision and that it made sense for him to have a break and think if he really wants the gift we can share with him and his family.

Well I got the package thank you and the crocs are awesome. I know in the past that crocs have always seemed weird to me but now that I've worn them I now know why they are so popular and great.

Thanks for all the support you give me and everything you do so I can be out here. I love you guys very much.

Tuesday January 20, 2015

Dear Family,

This week was pretty uneventful other than transfers are happening tomorrow officially, which will be nice because we need a change here in Central Ebeye.  As a companionship it just wasn't working that well and the work was slowed and I want to change this area so this transfer will be good. I don't know exactly who I am working with so I guess next week you will know. 

I have continued to teach Thor this week and I feel that I have explained the plan of salvation like a general authority would. So much detail and such long lessons and so many questions. Elder Bascom was working with me yesterday and he taught Thor with me as well. He definitely backed me up on how confused he is and how many questions he has. I finally figured out why he has such weird thoughts on the interpretation of the bible and has so many questions. He has been a member of 8 different Christian churches and has gathered a pretty skewed version of a lot of doctrine. So it's no wonder he has such a hard time accepting what we tell him. I've also noticed that sometimes he will even pray during a prayer said by one of us elders. Want to bring that up with him in a polite way but don't know how. I want to baptize this son of a gun that I will spend my whole mission in this area if it comes to it. It's going to happen I just have been trying to find out what do. Been praying to know what to do and for him to have a change of heart so we can get him baptized cause I know how much he wants the truth and how much the gospel can bless his life. So hopefully that can happen. Work hard!

Thanks again for everything you do and I miss and love you all.

 

-Elder Romney

Ebeye - View out the door on one side

View out the door on the other side.. note the Ferry.  Ocean View on both sides.

Thor's Testimony

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Dear Family, 

This week was pretty much a normal week. Right now we need more investigators and it’s hard because our area is small and not a lot of people want to study with us at the moment. So we need to do finding but other things have made us busy so it’s hard right now haha. But it should pick up soon if we keep working at it. We just need some good investigators so when others fall through we can have more to schedule and get to. But everything else is all good. Because you want to know more about investigators I’ll share what I shared with Aunt Tonia about one of our investigators.

Yesterday we were teaching a very interesting investigator we have. He is very funny. We can sit with him (on the floor criss cross apple sauce) on the floor for up to 3 hours. If you think your hips are bad be thankful for a couch or chair. (Most people don’t have furniture) anyways we have such long lessons for a couple of reasons. One he is very much a biblical Christian. Like if it isn’t in the bible then it’s hard for him to believe it and we can get border line bashing for a little bit on some stuff. It’s never contentious though. Part of the problem is he is not very opened minded, if he’s interpreted a verse or scripture one way then that’s what it means and we have to try and convince him to look at it differently. So along with that comes the second thing is he has questions galore. So what should be our usual 15-20 minute lesson turns into 2-3 hours. Now to my main point, we taught him the plan of salvation.

We break it up into two parts and teach the pre existence and earthly life one lesson and afterlife the next. As you can imagine for a guy like Thor ( that’s his nickname cause he has really toned strong arms and forearms haha) the plan of salvation is a lot to take in for someone who’s never heard anything as detailed as the plan of salvation. Last year his wife died. That was something we brought up and he bore a pretty powerful testimony, one that made me think of Ryker. As we all have thought recently and I’m sure multiple times is that we want him back. We don’t want him gone.

But Thor’s testimony was really good. He talked about how during New Years Eve he was eating food and having a good time and he started to think about his wife and how she should be enjoying this and being here and having a good time. But then he said he felt a prompting not to think about that. He said that he actually shouldn’t wish that because she is up there (and we said she was in the spirit world happy and resting and hearing the gospel, before he said this testimony) And how it wouldn’t be good if she was here because she could be getting her illness (that killed her) and she wouldn’t be as happy as she is on the other side of the veil. And it really made me think, especially from this investigator in his simple English, that he understands. Ryker is up there happier than he was here, and if you think about it he was a pretty happy guy and loved life. And we know our desires and personality are amplified in the spirit world. So to wish him back would actually be worse for him. But we don’t always see it that way. I miss him a ton. So much, more than I can say, but I was thankful for Thor's testimony because it helped comfort me a little more knowing that he is really having so much more joy than the joy he already had. He’s with Hinckley he’s with family he’s in good hands and we know he is working in the calling he was given when he died. He’s an elder, working as an elder and having that joy. And that really helped comfort me more to think about that and understand that.
So that was my spiritual moment this week and I thought I would share it.

That was my experience so far this week. I love you all and miss you guys. Thanks again for all your support. 

-Elder Romney

  

 

 

New Year ~ New Letters

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Dear Family,

 

This week work got a little better because it wasn’t such a busy week but then came new years and New Year’s Day was funny. Absolutely no one was out. If someone was out and about they were drunk tired both or a kid. New year’s night tested my patience because one of the branches came and were about to project a movie on our house with half of it on the window we sleep by and a huge speaker. But they moved inside. Thennnn in the morning it was like 4:30-5 music was blasting so I was about to go get the speaker and throw it over the wall and tell everyone to go home haha. But I got some ear plugs and it made it quiet enough to sleep again for a little.

 

The bad thing though was many members and people got drunk. It’s such a passive rule here in their culture. If they go tell the bishop they got drunk they skip the sacrament one Sunday and take it the next. It’s more like a slap on the wrist here. And it’s sad because it’s not a little tiny rule the church tells us. It’s not a fine print rule in the church curriculum or something. Which in our church there isn’t really a tiny rule to begin with. People don’t say oh by the way tithing is supposed to be paid but it’s up to you. Bu the way we shouldn’t go out and drink and smoke weed, but it’s all up to you. It’s not like that. Every rule in the church is very clear. And I know this is me talking, I’m not perfect by any stretch of the imagination but it’s for all of us to follow strictly. The word of wisdom is pretty important so it needs to be fixed. But how do you change a whole culture point of view. It’s hard, you can’t really do that. But we try the best we can. 

The two investigators we had got drunk on New Year’s so we had to postpone their baptism for next Saturday. So far we have made sure they understand the rules pretty well. I think they realize that they shouldn’t have done that so they should be good. They really do want to change for the better and we want to help them. So they should be baptized pretty soon as long as they follow the commandments. 

I would like to tell you about how interesting people’s lives ate but sadly I can’t. They can’t do a lot. They are stuck on a small island for their whole lives with nothing really to do. The really fun things you can do like boating or scuba diving or wind surfing, those are all hobbies or things people like to do that can afford that. People can’t afford to do things like that unless they are like a land owner or king. They have interesting fun lives but the rest of the people just survive I guess. It really makes me feel humbled because I have been able to experience things that they will never be able to, my life at home or just being a missionary is such a fascinating experience and only a few get to have those experiences. If a member can make it to a temple that is a big deal or if they are be able to go to America for college or something that’s a big deal. I’ve met a few people that have been able to do that and they are really cool people to talk to. You can tell the difference between a person who has been able to experience things and learn compared to those who have done the same routine throughout their whole life never being able to have that. Its humbling, it really is. That’s why our job as missionaries here is so important because the gospel can be something that these people cherish. That’s why religion is a big thing here because its something they can do and learn from and look forward to. The people that can truly accept the gospel and live it never backslide, because hey cherish what they have as families and eternal perspective. Because so many people just have nothing, or very little. It definitely is something for me to look at and motivate myself to be better as a missionary so I can help these people. Being a missionary and truly being able to help people and change their lives is such a opportunity and learning experience for me.

I hope everything is going well back home and am glad that the new building is opening up soon for you guys. That’s such a huge blessing to have a chapel out there. And hopefully soon we will have the temple out in Tucson built so we can have that blessing as well. I love you all and miss you. I miss home sometimes and everybody there, but I try and remember why I am here and what my purpose is. Thank you for the support, it is a blessing to have the support I have back home. Thanks for that. Enjoy the cold weather and snow! I miss that too! With this same weather everyday haha.

 

-Elder Romney

 

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Dear Family, 

How is everyone doing? How is Christmas break? Mine was great it lasted probably a day haha. But its good preparation for when I enter the work force, right?! I was able to get both packages that you guys sent when mission president came. Thank You for those. Also thank all the family members for that money, tell them it was unnecessary and too much!!! Press Watts! That’s their hard earned money! Not mine! Anyways thank you everybody, way too kind to a bonehead like me! Yes my hair is shorter. I’ll upload a picture. 

Yesterday we helped the Loeak family paint their house. By the way this family loves missionaries to death. Their daughter is returned and everything. I’m pretty sure I could use no money and could be well fed for all of my time here on Ebeye. Also I lucked out when my companion told me they do our laundry. I didn’t think there was a mission out there where you could still get that luxury but yet again the Marshall Islands have proved me wrong. Back to the service painting.  Becasue Marshallese people aren’t very artistic they get a huge bucket of one color and that’s what they paint everything. They told us to paint aolep. Which means paint everything so as we were painting I made many smart alec comments as I would look to one of the Loeaks and pretend to paint a window saying "aolep?" Got a good laugh from them. Also know that it is just one coat of paint, so it is in no way professionally done, especially since it was done by kids family and elders with paint rollers and brushes haha. Took a good chunk of our day but was fun. 

We should be able to get 3 baptisms next Saturday. This Saturday they will get the interview questions. The standard of excellence is 2 baptisms a month for each companionship. So we got our monthly goal! Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! Am I hearing a raise in food money?!?!?!?! 

Also to give a good example of how expensive food is, a quart of milk is $3 so a gallon is $12. A cheap box of Mac and cheese is $2. Bread is still pretty good but butter, meat, condiments are probably a dollar or more than what it is in America, usually $2-3 dollars more. So if you think food is expensive there, think again, I wish I could be in America (as far as prices, in love with Marshall Islands, wouldn’t want to be anywhere else), its honestly pretty cheap to live in America if all you want is your needs.

Thanks for everything you guys do and thank you for all the support. Also all my cousins aunts and uncles, family dogs, the rats at uncle Jess's home, whatever other pets and members of the family thanks for all your support as well (there are many of you) It’s nice to have such a big family that you are close to and along with that, have such a big family that are members of the church and live righteous lives. It has always been such a great example to me that not only my immediate family but my extended family is on the same path and goal as I am. Trying the best we can to hold to the rod and endure to end. It is a real blessing that not many can say about their own family. Remember that, we are a very blessed family. Thank you again. 

-Elder Romney