Monday, September 30, 2013

Week 46

Wow that is so crazy to think that M...Sora...Seestra...Hermana? B is already in the MTC! It was so cool to see all those people. Glad to know that everyone is still alive haha.

(Concerning pictures Mom sent from another senior missionary blog) I was actually the one to take those photos at the mission home with all those senior couples. We picked up the food for them and were just in time to hear the final testimonies. When you walked in, you could feel the Spirit, almost like a blanket. President Hill bore his testimony as well. He talked about the hard work of the senior  couples and then about the missionaries. He didnt know that me and my companion were there, so what he said about the missionaries was very special for me. He said that the Romania Moldova mission has some of the greatest missionaries he has ever met. Now, if he had said that to a room full of missionaries, some would state that he only said it to boost their spirits. The fact that he said it without knowing that we were there, and with the Spirit in the room, there was confirmation of the love that President Hill has for all the missionaries. It made me want to work harder and to be a better missionary in general. 

(The picture Elder Ormsby took of the senior missionaries.  He thinks so highly of these people.  God bless the senior missionaries - their service is beyond price.)

The statue in Piata Revolutiei is such a strange thing. No one can really say what it is or what it means, but there are some people who say that it represents a "piercing of the conscience". There were a lot of people killed during the Revolutionary war. They wanted to remind the people of the horror of it all. The red stuff, we think, is an "after touch". 

(from the senior missionaries' blog)

I am very jealous that you were able to go to the temple. What a blessing! So cool that the E's were sealed in the temple. It makes you think about the eternal family, how we can be together forever. What a blessing it is to know that. Not even death can pull you away from your family as long as you follow God's plan.

I will be talking to President on Tuesday to find out what the plan will be for the upcoming transfers. I can't think of any other reasonable solution than to stay an extra transfer. 

Elder G is a great missionary. He is very close to being done with his mission (31 days) and he has had some health problems, but is still working!

I havent gotten any of those pictures from Sora L (she took all the pictures, it cost 35 lei per camera), but I will get those to you ASAP.

Love Elder Ormsby

P.S. Will you please ask E to write me.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Quick note and pictures

So Elder W is being ET'ed out of the office. An elder decided to go home so because we are in a 3 some, Elder W is the one to go. This means I might spend another transfer in the office. I think I will request it. There are a lot of things to learn and a whole lot more to figure out, having only one transfer to train the new guy would be both stressing and next to impossible. The Lord knows, and all will be well.

Vârstnicul Ormsby

 Elder Ormsby and Elder W

 Elder H

 Peles Castle

 Peles Castle

 Peles Castle
From Wikipedia:  The first three design plans submitted for Peleș were copies of other palaces in Western Europe, and King Carol I rejected them all as lacking originality and being too costly. German architect Johannes Schultz (1876–1883) won the project by presenting a more original plan, something that appealed to the King's taste: a grand palatial alpine villa combining different features of classic European styles, mostly following Italian elegance and German aesthetics along Renaissance lines. Works were also lead by architect Carol Benesch.[1] Later additions were made between 1893 and 1914 by the Czech architect Karel Liman, who designed the towers, including the main central tower, which is 66 metres (217 ft) in height. The Sipot Villa, which served as Liman's headquarters during the construction, was built later on. Liman would supervise the building of the nearby Pelişor Chateau (1889–1903, the future residence of King Ferdinand I and Queen Marie of Romania), as well as of King Ferdinand's villa in the Royal Sheepfold Meadow.

The cost of the work on the castle undertaken between 1875 and 1914 was estimated to be 16,000,000 Romanian lei in gold (approx. US$ 120 million today). Between three and four hundred men worked on the construction. Queen Elisabeth of the Romanians, during the construction phase, wrote in her journal:
Italians were masons, Romanians were building terraces, the Gypsies were coolies. Albanians and Greeks worked in stone, Germans and Hungarians were carpenters. Turks were burning brick. Engineers were Polish and the stone carvers were Czech. The Frenchmen were drawing, the Englishmen were measuring, and so was then when you could see hundreds of national costumes and fourteen languages in which they spoke, sang, cursed and quarreled in all dialects and tones, a joyful mix of men, horses, cart oxen and domestic buffaloes.


Elder W looking pretty tired.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Week 45

Dear Family, 

Alright here goes all the adventures that I have been having in the past few weeks. I will include a "story" that I wrote to one of my friends out in Hawaii, which may or may not be true. I wont tell which until I get home haha.

I totally forgot that M was entering the MTC soon. It is crazy to think that she will be in South America in a little less than 2 months. The members there will greatly appreciate the fact that she can play piano. 

Ok, I am about to say something that will make Mom laugh. I regret not keeping up with piano. There I said it, I wish I had continued piano. There are only a few missionaries that can play the piano and when there isn't one in the branch with you, there is either the stereo or acapella. 

 Continuing. 

I am so happy that the E's were able to go to the temple, that is such a cool experience. How cool is it that they invited you to the sealing as well. Please say hello for me. 

Mom, I am very proud of the fact that you have completed your thesis. It is such a great accomplishment that will bring blessings into our lives, your life and the lives of the people you work with.

I laughed so hard reading that first two sentences. He ran into a mailbox. Running backwards. Talking on his phone. Man, I bet the person on the other side of the phone was like "wait, what just happened?" hahaha.

Ok, so what I didn't tell you was the story of a trip to Galati.

Dun dun DUN!!!!!

So the story goes that on a day like today 2 missionaries, an assistant and an office elder, decided that they wanted to have an exchange in Galati. They opened their hearts and allowed the elders who resided in this river city to travel with them, as they were in the same location as the a fore mentioned 2 missionaries. As the story goes the 2 missionaries weren't able to finish their chores until 6 o'clock pm, after which the assistant was famished. Together they met up with the river-city dwelling missionaries where they ate Subway, all but the office elder for he was neglecting food in exchange for bounteous blessings. As their meal settled into their stomachs all the missionaries realized it was getting late. 

With out further a do, they went off on their adventure, not stopping for directions (men don't need directions). As they began to drive around the monstrous city of Bucuresti they realized they were almost lost, and as such, needed almost directions.  Locating the nearest drunk, our valiant office elder asked in his Moldavian tongue the quickest way to Constanta, for that was the route by which they needed to travel to arrive at the river city. Drunk as he was, our intoxicated fellow gave the best directions he could, after scratching his plump belly of course. Noble and full of valor our missionaries sped off, but as the time to turn arrived the assistant stated that this was not the road that he wanted, so they continued on. After cruising for a league or so the missionaries were befuddled. Why had they not reached the well constructed road. The road on which one could travel as fast as his small 4 stroke engine could take him? Fast as lightning, or as some say, in a quick manner they turned around. 

Flying the way they originally came, with comments from the river dwellers whose  tempers were a flare, they returned to the city of many gypsies. Asking for a route to Constanta once more, for that was the route by which one went on the way to Galati, our missionaries proceeded to a different road. This incredibly straight and smelly shortcut eventually met with the way which is free (but not really there was a toll). After the many kilometers which had passed it was beginning to be late, nearly 8 o'clock as the sun stands. Tearing down the freeway, passing Dacia, Audi and Opel alike, these missionaries were finally advancing towards Constanta, for that was the route by which one took on the way to Galati. Nearing almost 10 o'clock, as the car timer stands, they arrived.

Our valiant yet tired missionaries halted for fuel, both for machine and man. Deciding that the hour was past for which to hold pride, they chose to ask for advice upon which road to take to Galati, after which they found that they had passed the turn off and needed to proceed 50 some odd kilometers back towards Bucuresti. Once again the assistant stated that this was not so, that he had passed through Constanta on his way to Galati. There was a way, and he would find it.

From the helpful river-dwelling messengers, the 2 missionaries found that if they traveled by way of Talcea, they would eventually arrive at the city where the river lies. Now remember, it is far past late and none of the missionaries had slept much in the days which had passed. Twisting and curving down dark roads, maneuvering around potholes and large cracks, they managed to finally reach Talcea. After circling the same passage multiple times they finally found the path towards Galati.

Winding through small towns and past large windmills our missionaries received a message. Wondering who would attempt to communicate with anyone at this unfortunate hour, our office elder opened the text. Tired and having a slight headache it took him a moment to read, and then translate the message. Esti in Ukraina. You are in Ukraine. The hour of midnight having already past, a road which hadn't had a sign in many kilometers and a text message stating that they were in the Ukraine, our missionaries became very excited. Nervous, intrigued and almost giddy. Why had they not passed a border? Had they somehow gone through a city into a strange land? Where guard dogs, helicopters, tanks and swearing Ukrainians surrounding them as they chattered in a hushed whisper?

After much speculation our office elder suggested that they must have had a Ukrainian cell tower bounce a signal off their phone, which still meant they were very close to the border. With a little more energy they finally reached a sign which stated that they were a mere 30 kilometers from their final destination. At last they began to see the lights along the river. With only 2 kilometers to go, they turned down a road, only to find that it led to the river. A dead end, a blank alley, a ferry crossing. They were on the wrong side of the river at two hours in the new day.  

Hearts heavy with disappointment, these missionaries turned to the next large city hoping to find a large bridge, a hotel, or a shallow area in the river. After traveling another 45 minutes they began to see hope. Again each sign stated that their new city was only a stones throw away, but just before they reached it they ran into a ferry crossing. Our assistant was exhausted, both physically and mentally. Switching seats, our office elder began to drive down a narrow foot-path which led to a ferry crossing. This crossing was different however do to the fact that it had an actual ferry docked. After talking to the captain, or one of his underlings, the missionaries drove up onto their new mode of transportation. It was almost half past the hour of 2, and the ferry was not to leave until 3.

Tick tock went the clock. Minutes passed while our office elder fought off exhaustion. He knew that he needed to stay conscious or they would never reach that city on the river. As the hour hit 3, they began to move. Water rushing past many thousands of gallons per second, they traversed this massive river. Reaching the other side, they trudged over to the apartment of the river-dwellers and crashed, only to wake up to 5 1/2 hours of service

THE END!!!!

What a great story! I should write children stories haha.

So the other story that I told Secondborn, but didn't want to tell you because I wanted to have something cool to share with Secondborn was...we wrecked another car. This time it was one of the brand spankin' new Opels (gutless cars that they are) and we were hit in the same place, although a little farther up. We were turning left when a taxi driver tried to beat the light and shoot the gap between us and the car in front of us. Well, he lost and so did we as it hit the back right wheel (pretty lucky cause it took most of the impact and then distributed it by spinning us). Airbags deployed in the front (me sitting passenger, I wasn't driving) and we all got out to inspect. Well the car is broken, that's easy enough to see. We spent the next 5 hours at the police station where the missionary who was driving finally stated that it was his fault (so not his fault, the taxi driver was speeding and probably blew the red) mostly because he was tired and it was 11 pm. We will find out soon enough if the car is totaled or if we will get it repaired. Other than that, there hasn't been a lot of fun stuff in our lives. 

That's about it. Life has been super stressing as of late. After the wreck we were asked to pick up a temple president who would be speaking at the district conference. We woke up the next morning in a very good mood (I forgot to say this was 3 days after the wreck) when all of a sudden I remembered that we had forgotten to go to the airport. After freaking out, we had called the hotel only to find out he wasn't there and had never arrived, we found him in the hotel he was really staying at. He had a good attitude about the whole thing and said that it was easy enough to forget with everything that goes on in a missionary's life.

That's my life!

Elder Ormsby

P.S. We are going to Peles castle on Wednesday. If you would like to have some pictures, I request some pictures from all of you :)

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Week 44

(No email on Monday....)

(On Tuesday...)  sorry, it was real busy yesterday. I will try and write you tonight or tomorrow.

(Later Tuesday...)  One of our skype investigators was baptised last Saturday. These are the pictures. We are very grateful for the Czech sisters who helped a lot with C.

Vârstnicul Ormsby





(Today...) That is so weird to think that we have missionaries in the ward now. I know that we had some that traveled from ward to ward, but now they stay in that ward...in Idaho, where there are a lot of wards...wait, maybe i understood that wrong. That would be a ton of missionaries. I would love to be in the class with P and B. P has a ton of great stories! Glad that Sora B got her martisor. Who is Sister M? I have forgot many of the people in our ward, unfortunately. Last week was great. We haven't found an apartment yet, but we are still looking. Office Elder stuff is going fine. You should have received some pictures already from one of our skype lessons. I am surprised that you haven't sent an email in all caps ahah.

Hey Dad, 
That would be way cool if you started your own company. Whatever happened to that brake design? When is the next time you will have that retreat for your company?  

I really loved going to the games with you. It was a great way to see a small part of what you do (watching the game from the roof wink wink, nudge nudge). Mostly though, it was a chance to hang out with my dad, which is something that I really miss right now. Hindsight 20/20.

Tell Thirdborn and Secondborn to write me!

Elder Ormsby




 The district



Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Week 43

Glad to hear that your thesis paper has gone through. What an achievement this is! 

Someone was asking me if The Love Magnet was still doing hip hop class, I will have to give them the affirmative now. I can see The Love Magnet sitting in the back saying "Not right now, I need a break". I know that she is having a blast!

I have not heard of this book [The Power Of Everyday Missionaries], and as of right now I don't have a lot of time to read outside material, but I will definitely look at it when I get time. I have a printed copy of Temple and Cosmos by Hugh B. Nibley that I would like to start, but it will probably have to wait until December. Its not that big of a book, but to really get his words I will need to have some "down time" (missionaries never have down time haha).

It makes me really happy that you have started up FHE. I know that it can be really difficult to match every one's schedule, but it will help the family out so much.

Choir!

It is so cool to hear how much missionary work has grown in the past year (crazy! its almost been a year!!!!!) out in [Idaho].  I'll bet that Brother H is doing a great job as a ward mission leader. It is so interesting how different missions are. Idaho and Utah are not finding missions. They have a lot of members who can give out a lot of referrals. It is less effective to go tracting than it is to talk to members. Here it is the exact opposite. We are a finding mission. We cant take that 1 out of 3 people, we take the 1 out of 3000. It will be interesting to talk to different people about their mission and how they reacted to different situations. 

That's rough about Grandpa. I haven't received any letters from them since the MTC. Granted I haven't been the greatest writer in the past, but I do have a goal to write 10 letters this transfer. It will almost be more than I have written my whole time here in Romania! I will keep Grandpa in my prays and I know the Lord will do what is best. He has done a lot of great work for our ancestors.

The Temple. Don't take it for granted! The one thing that I miss more than all of you is the Temple. Which, to me, is kind of a strange feeling. I have grown up seeing multiple temples within 30 minutes of each other, or at least one within 20 minutes (Boise). I never took the time to really appreciate how special it is to have a temple close to you. What a blessing that is! To have a House of God near by, with the opportunity to help so many people is something that many people long for outside of America, and Utah for that matter. Go to the temple. Enjoy the temple. 

Something President Hill has said is this "All people inherently want to be obedient. The only reason people are disobedient is because they don't understand why they need to be obedient."
As I start to apply this thought into my everyday life, I am slowly (oh so slowly) learning to have a bit more patience with people.

Elder Ormsby

p.s. The package arrived well without needing any further payment

 Elder Ormsby asked Thirdborn to do companionship study with him via email.  It is tradition for new companionships to buy matching ties.  So Thirdborn picked out this tie and sent it to Romania.  Elder Ormsby sent back the picture to show what he thought of the tie.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Week 42 - Transfer Week and Incoming Missionaries

This is the week. The one that office elders prepare for only 1 week after the previous transfer. We are really prepared though. I made sure that I started their papers the week after transfers, right as we got all their info. The only wrench in the engine is a missionary that was placed in the group about 2 weeks ago. Luckily we had almost all his paperwork done, so there wasn't a lot to do, just take in his minister of cults forms and what not. Keep your arms crossed this week for us. Elder W will be my new companion here in the office. I am very happy about this because he is such a capable missionary and will be able to do a lot of good for the office.

It still blows me away, and is very hard to imagine, that there will be ward missionaries in our ward. Even writing the word "ward" is a strange thing. Having youth as ward missionaries is such a good idea though. They will be able to learn so much and will communicate with the younger generation really well. I will send that email ASAP.

We had to move out of our apartment because they are placing missionaries in our area (we are very much north of all the other missionaries). They are starting a group in our area, although we are not invited, and the missionaries need a place to stay and to have "home-base". So we are bunking with the assistants, with five missionaries in one apartment, it will get a bit crazy. Hopefully we can find a new one soon (I will actually be in a tripanionship as there will be another missionary with us on assignment). 

I had the idea to write a few groups of people such as the young men and the elders quorum, I think the sacrament idea is great too.

You're always in my prayers and I love you all very much,

Elder Ormsby