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.